Christmas Projects.....

Each year it seems like I make more and more gifts. I either need to start earlier or not make so many *lol*

I made Mazlin, Maleigha, and Allison - Tie Quilts

Allison was sooooo funny... She opened her box, saw it was a blanket and literally thru it down, screamed, I got a blanket & dove on it. This was the picture I could get after she dove on it.

I also stained these little wooden chests for Mazlin & Maleigha - thought they could use for Barbie & Accessories... I made these Blessing Signs for Heather, Annette & Lola for our Christmas exchange. I really liked how they turned out. I'm thinking I'm gonna have to make myself one for the grandbabies & grandkids & granddogs pictures *lol*

I loved making this Advent Calender. I made one for Jenn's family, my family, for Dave's family & I had an extra so I gave to Deb's Daughter Lexi for the girls. They were inexpensive, easy & fun!!

I was still able to make my Christmas Cards this year. I'm not sure I ever took a picture of the completed project but I know I switched my idea 3 times... I'm terrible with cards.. I so wish I was like Annette.. She makes beautiful cards without battin' an eye...

Please don't think bad of me but I have a few more projects to finish..I will post them when I'm done...

Christmas Day

The top 10 things about Christmas Day...

1) Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ

2) All my kids were home - Kevin suprised me and made it about 6 or so - He was in Bremerton

3) Dinner was delicious - Prime Rib, Jumbalia, Green Salad, Baked Potato, Rolls, Apple Crisp or
Spice Cake for dessert

4) Mom did the dishes, imagine that & I didn't feel guilty - I would have helped but we were playing games & she wanted to get them done & I wasn't ready - so I let her

5) For as loud as it was with everyone, it was a really relaxin day - lots of games, lots of stories, lots of laughter

6) Fussball Anyone???? - The number one gift for the boys was the Fussball Table - They both thought they had it figured out that I had snuck it in ... the conversation was hilarious between Adrian & Elijah - "Mom, how did Santa get the table in"... I don't know Elijah maybe it's like on the Santa Claus Movie where the fake Chimney opens up... Mom did you bring it in? Nope Elijah , I tried to move it and I can't.. Well, I can.. I bet you can't ..Adrian pipes up well I can... So they both jump up and tried to slide the box.. neither can budge it.. Mom .. you did it says Adrian.. I jump up and prove to them I can't slide the box.. Elijah turns to Adrian - How did Santa get that in here - It's sooo heavy - Adrian turns & say s "Dude- I was up late last night & I didn't hear anything. Whoa - How'd all this happen"...
(I love when Adrian thinks he has it all figured out & I can atleast put a little question back in his mind )

7) Scott never includes himself in anything & watching him be able to play fussball from his wheelchair, gave everyone a nice warming feeling...

8) Both my nephews made it .... Pat hasn't spent Christmas with us in about 4 or 5 years...

9) My headache from lack of sleep went away

10) Kujo loved her Christmas Present and managed to keep it for several hours before the wing was ripped off

Spending time with the girls....

One of my favorite memories of my Grandma Jackson was spending time at her house in the summer. She taught me how to can, how to freeze & how to bake... I vowed I wanted to be a great grandma like the one she was...

During the past few weeks I had the girls come over after I got off work. We had 3 things we wanted to get accomplish.

1) We made treat bags for their classes

2) We made Christmas Cookies:

3) And we made gifts :

I need more eyes in my head....

The past two weeks have been extremely busy with Christmas. Every night it seemed I had one thing or another that needed accomplished. So with saying that the boys were pretty much on their honor system. Yes, I was only 2-5 ft from them but still tuned them out alot just so I could concentrate on that nights task.... Well, let's just say that not only did I not know this was going on, if they wouldn't have thought it would be fun to take pictures, I never would have found out...







Elijah has a toy box up against the wall and they were leaping, jumping, catching air & landing on his nice bouncy bed a few feet away.... Can you believe they were trying to tell me it just looked like they were jumping, they really weren't *lol*

Frustrated & Busted!!!!

I've only had the baby monitor for about 6 months now.. HMMM ... When will he learn...

5:00 sneaks into kitchen (been watching him from my bed by his door trying to decide what to do).... give him just enough time to get in the kitchen & sneak what he wants..

I get up go into kitchen ask what he's doing - Blank stare look - "Getting a glass of milk".. I don't believe him but give him the benefit of the doubt.... I go use the restroom , come back he's drinking his milk... walks out of kitchen, I do a pat down on his pockets & BUSTED.... 2 mini candybars - one in each - so you can't see them from the outside... I grab them , I question him & he flippin looks around like they jumped into his pockets... Why???? Why, does he feel that he just can't tell you.... Why??? Why, when you've told him a million times... Just ask... don't sneak?? Why??? I guess the good thing is he didn't lie in the end like he has tried to so many times before but AGHHHHHh I'm still ticked & it's 5:23 in the morning......

Decemeber 1st.... Who Gets The First Candy....

Well yesterday was December 1st & to decide who gets to get the first treat on the Advent Calender, the boys did Rock, Paper Scissors... They had to do it about 5 times because they kept getting the same thing.. All of a sudden Elijah lets out a squeal of excitement.. He won!!

Rock, Paper, Scissors

Elijah winning

December 1st - 1st day of count down to Christmas...

Student of the Month

Yesterday Elijah received the Student of the Month Award. I wasn't able to go in and see him receive it because the roads from Wilbur Ellis to Warden were awful due to the snow. So I promised him that we'd go for ice cream another day to make up for it.

So today he gets off the bus & asks if we can go for ice cream. I reassured him that we would.

He says mom did you know I got the student of the month award for BEHAVIOR? I said yep Elijah... He says " Are you proud of me?" and I said yep very proud of you. You must have really been trying hard for that & he says "NOPE, just being the ush(short for usual). *lol*

Consumed With ADHD......

Well, as you all may have noticed or not noticed blogging has been extremely spurratic for me. I can honestly say it is an emotional thing for me. My life has been in turmoil or what I would call turmoil that I felt like I was either complaining or whining & didn't want anyone else to think that. But as I was talking to Annette today & we were chuckling about an ADHD incident & she told me that I really needed to write a book because of all the escapades that have happened it dawned on me. My life isn't turmoil, I'm not whining & I'm not complaining, it's just my life & what a life it is... So I am gonna write about my escapades, my frustration, my sadness & my happiness & yes you may think I'm whining & complaining but I'm not, I'm just journaling about our experiences & yes they may have alot to do with ADHD but guess what THAT IS MY LIFE :) and my life is consumed with it on a daily basis... two at a time...

How many times do you go into a store and someone's kid is acting up. You hear the parent, don't touch that , don't do that, what part of NO don't you understand. I guarentee if you follow me around the store you will not hear me say it once, you will hear me say it a million times. And then you may think to yourself, Why doesn't she do something about it... ( Just like I do when I witness this same behavior..) but what you don't know is... No matter how many times I tell them, no matter how many times I threaten, no matter how many times I seperate them, I still will repeat myself a million times and they may last a minute but I guarentee within 5 mins. they both will be doing it again. From the outside looking in you would think I was a parent with little control but from the inside looking out, this is all I can do is to keep reminding them not to touch, what No means, & why they shouldn't act like that in a store.

So yesterday we go to the Dr.'s office to get Adrian's prescriptions. And being that it is a pediatrics they have toys in the waiting room... Well, they have this big Lion that is plastic that has a big whole thru it, so you can climb thru. Well a boy about Elijah's size was there & he not only was climbing thru it, he was climbing on it, jumping off of it, completely out of control. And I will say I was thinking to myself, *my kids would never act like that*.... Just as I was thinking, I turned and the receptionist was handing him papers for his son... the same papers she hands me for my sons so I can tell them at what rate our ADHD meds are working.... OMG!!! I was just judging someone for the same thing that I'm sure I get judged for ... *lol*.. His dad had this look, Oh I've seen that look, the one where you are just wishing for once you didn't have to deal with it, for once your child would mind , for once your child would be calm... Oh how I could sympathize with him & then it hit me... I should tell him how lucky he is ... I get to control two that act just like him *lol*......

First Of The Christmas Projects....

I saw this on a blog somewhere & decided to try to make one for Jenn's girls... I loved it so much I've made four total.. One for the boys, one for Allison (my niece), one for Jenn's girls & my other favorite girls Kesiah & Keeley.

It's a mini muffin tin ... I cut out squares, put magnets on the back, used my cricut to cut out numbers & waaallllaaa... a very cool Advent Calender.

Thanksgiving Holiday

This year we had Thanksgiving at my house. I can honestly say it was a great success.. The kids had fun, the adults had fun & if you were hungry it was your own fault, cuz the food runneth over. Scott wasn't able to make it . The weather has been rather crazy here in Moses Lake so he stayed home & Kevin took him a plate of food.. Mike & his family didn't make it either but we normally don't see them on Thanksgiving. With all the hustle and bustle, I really do think we lose sight of what it's all about. As I was looking around my crowded house, I was reassured for all the things I'm thankful for.

My kids - My kids have been and always will be my reason for living. I've always worried about whether my kids would want to come home when they were older & they do. And I love it. We always have a great time. I love them so much, and the days I really don't know why I want to keep moving forward I think of them.. They are my pride & joy & I love them all

My family - Dave's family & my family have always been extremely close. We were to eat about 12:00 and Travis (his son ) showed up at 10:00 ready to start grazing.. I love it .. I love that he is that comfortable & knows he's welcome. Daves other son Pat joined us. I think it's been apx 4 yrs or so since he's been home for a holiday... another reason I was so greatful. Then there is Allison. She has grown up so much, she is such a card... My favorite quote of the day. She wants to go to my room, lay on my bed & watch tv & she turns and says "Aunt Darla, I don't like crumbs on my bed, Do you have crumbs on your bed". I reassured her there were no crumbs. She than looks at me and says" I don't like pee either". I thought I was gonna die laughing. I said Allison it's all good Aunt Darla doesn't pee her bed either. That's all she needed .. she climbed up, lyed down & watch Snow White...

This year was the first year of many that Mom didn't have Thanksgiving at her house. I know their were hurt feelings & that's not how it was intended. It's just time for her to be able to enjoy the day, instead of wearing herself out all week & then not enjoying any of it cuz she was so tired. She seemed like she enjoyed herself & I'm hoping she did.

My house - Having a decent place that I can afford to call home. Yeah someday I want to buy but for now I'm ok..

Our health - Aside from a cold here and there or a headache here and there, we've been pretty darn healthy...

My job - I work for the best company & the absolute best bosses ever..... The kids have a snow day & I have a snow day... The kids have appt's, I don't even have to worry about asking for time to get them. They catch the bus at the office & are dropped off at the office, knowing there is ice cream or snacks waiting for them... Did I tell you I love my boss!!!

My friends - I have the best friends in the world & I know if I ever needed anything I could pick up a phone & call and anyone of them would be there... and I would do the same for them.


Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful & this year I feel so blessed & am so greatful for so many things.

The Past Two Weeks In Review

What a busy couple of weeks!!!

1. 1/2 day of school all week long - Kids loved it, I hated it

2. Parent Teacher Conferences - Adrian' s grades are amazing - 4 A's, 1 B, 1 C (was an F)
Elijah's were just below the average on his testing BUT a PLEASURE TO HAVE IN CLASS!!

3. Tricities - 4 1/2 hrs of Adult Time with Annette - Loved it & it was much needed

4. Motel with 2 little hyper boys, mtn dew & the babysitter was sleeping = Mom walking in at 11:00 pm and the boys still bouncin around... Adrian finally crashed at 1:00 a.m. & was up at 4:00 a.m. (very short night)....

5. Chilli feed on Sunday with my mom, Nick & Kids...

6. Halloween Week - Dress up week at elementary school

7. Cinnamon Rolls for Adrian's Harvest Party

8. Halloween Story with props for Elijah's class & treats for Harvest Party

9. 1/2 day of school on Friday (kids loved it, I think it was stupid)

10. Helen Pugh passed away on Tuesday - My cousin Kelly's Mother - in - law

11. Lori Montgomery passed away on Tuesday - Close friend of the family

12. Made dinner for Kelly, Steve & his family & delivered it - Thursday Night

13. Halloween shopping with the boys ....aghhh!!!

14. Halloween Party, 1/2 day of school, Helen's funeral programs

15. Made Maz & Maleighs Halloween gifts (adoreable)

16. Finish printing Funeral programs & pictures

17. Grocery shopping

18. Go to Kelly's work on Programs for 2 hours - bring them home to finish

19. Bake Potato Soup, Rolls, Apple Cake

20. Trick or Treaters - only about 25 or so

21. All my kids dressed up oh my goodness -

Eric - Joe Dirt
Vanessa - Dorothy
Jenn - Football Player
DeAndre - Pussy Cat - Tights and all ( OH MY GOODNESS) Pictures to follow
Kevin - Missionary in Training
Adrian - Harlem Globe Trotter
Elijah - Matt Hasselback

22. Sunday Breakfast with the kids - Bisquit Gravy, Hashbrowns, Bacon

23. Finished Funeral Programs

24.... REST!!!!!!!

Pumpkin Patch...

Well, what started out as a few people headed to a pumpkin patch ended up as a BUNCH of people headed to a pumpkin patch.

On Friday, our boss called & said if anyone wanted pumpkins to go to this location & you could get all you wanted. Well Heather & I put our minds together (scarey I know) and decided it would be fun to have a small hay ride & go to the pumpkin patch, come back to the office & have some homemade chili & rolls. Well, what started off as small ended up like this :

There were only a few adults up there with all those kids *lol* The rest followed in cars. We went thru 3 Big crockpots of homemade chili, 48 freshly baked rolls, 2 bags fritos, 1 bag of lays potato chips, 24 hotdogs, 2 pumpkin pies, 1/2 of a 13x9 Apple Streusel, some cookies. It was amazing, it was good & we had a blast. They were already trying to figure out how we could make it bigger & better.. I love Wilbur Ellis, they are so family oriented..

Here's a few pumpkin patch pics :

Here is the pickup loaded down with everyone's pumpkins!! Thanks Jason, we were just gonna throw em' in with kids. That didn't happen :)

I HATE ADHD... I HATE ADHD...I HATE ADHD!!!

You have no idea how I wish there was a cure for ADHD. Although you know it's not their fault for some of their actions. It still sucks!!!! Tonight is night #2 of a meltdown... Friday night we had a great evening with Jenn, D, Kevin & the boys. We bbq'd ribs, had a salad and chips , watched "How to Train Your Dragon" , popcorn, candy, the great old movie night. I will never let the boys have another movie night again unless we start at 6:00 so they can be in bed by 8:00 . One little thing sats him off. Adrian went from crying, to screaming, to pretending he couldn't breathe, to talking to himself, to pretending we are a monkey, to rocking in our bed, back to crying & then screaming and eventually in 30 - 45 mins. we crash hard!! I'm exhausted.. I'm at the end of my rope. The worst part is Elijah can't go to sleep cuz of all the chaos. Friday night, Elijah had to sleep with me cuz it was a solid 45 mins of Adrian throwing a fit... Tonight isn't quite as bad so I turned on a fan in Elijahs room hoping to drowned it out.. The hardest part is ignoring it!!! I should walk away.. Do you know how hard it is.. I do but it takes all my energy not to go in and spank him... I shut the door & it's worse .. I'm suprised the neighbors haven't called CPS.... Frustration is a word that I use quite often.. Now tomorrow he will wake up and be a totally different kid....AGHHHH I HATE ADHD!!!!!!!!!!!

The Multipurpose Baby Monitor.....

A few weeks ago Adrian & I switched rooms. He is now in the front of the house & I in the back. I had troubles sleeping at night for quite some time due to the fact I couldn't hear anything. Not good for several reasons.. The neighborhood I live in is a little quirky at times & Adrian loves to get up in the middle of the night / early morning hours and sneak candy, cookies, what ever he can find. He used to have to walk by my but not any more.

#1) Adrian didn't realize I could hear him in the bathroom / kitchen / living room / his room
#2) When he did realize it, he tried turning it off & waa laa it makes a terrible noise on my end (busted)
#3) Learned not to flush the toilet ( but it still picks up the noise of him walking) Busted!!
#4) Still hasn't figured out I can hear him in the kitchen - even though he's really trying to be quiet ( Busted)
#5) Let him keep the cheese stick but conviscated the candy at 4:22 this a.m. and that will also explain why I am posting at 4:45 a.m. as he watches Top Gear on t.v.

So I honestly will say this baby monitor has been worth the $19.00 dollars I paid for it..

Parenting 101

Well, I've officiallyhad come to the end of my rope in parenting. I was at the point I had no more patience & something had to change. It's him or me. I've talked till I'm blue in the face, I've tried the vinegar swishing in his mouth, I've popped him in the mouth for talking back, you name it & I've tried it. I'm throughly frustrated. I've cried more tears than you can imagine.

The comment that broke the camels back.....

"Adrian I'm going to take your skateboard ($135.00 - New from Nick for no reason skateboard)away from you for a week for once again being disrespectful to me." (Adrian replys) " Go ahead take it away - you never take us to the skate park anyways.....

**** Do you know how many countless hours I've spent at a skatepark while he skated? Did I not travel all over on a Saturday afternoon to different skate parks from Ephrata to Leavenworth??? Did Nick not just spend $135.o0 on a skateboard for each just because ***

As I'm screaming at the top of my lungs cuz I've had it, it comes to me , Wait!!!

I'm the mom.... I'm the adult... I make the rules .. I enforce the rules... I'm in control & I'm a survivor.

Well, we not only lost our skateboard but he now only has in his possession a bed, a dresser & some clothes....

I got control & explained in a very calm voice that I'm tired of his lack of appreciation, I'm tired of him expecting everything, I'm tired of his combativeness, & basically I'm tired of the whole situation.
Therefore, I am the mom, I make the rules & he will either live by them or he will not be living under my roof ...

I would like to report 1 week later & it is amazing... I'm getting pleases, thank-you's, I've only heard a few BUT's & have heard alot of ok's. I think about 4 days after his loss I might have even heard a sorry slip out.. it was pretty meek but I'm almost sure I heard it *lol* He has earned back his bowling ball & a remote control car but I still have a closet full of toys, the X-box, the toy box full of cars, the unlimited amount of legos, and 2 skateboards in my possession!!

Mom wins this round!!!!

Happy 6th Birthday Mazlin!!!

Today is Mazlin's 6th birthday. We've been blessed to have her in our family for just about 1 1/2 yrs. She is such a beautiful little girl. Jenn & D had a birthday party for her at the bowling alley. They blindfolded her when they left home & she was trying to guess where they were going for ice cream not knowing there was a whole party waiting for her at the bowling alley. It was priceless when they took off the blindfold. ( No pics - I left my camera in Wapato when we went to Seahawk Game - Haven't got it back yet :( .

Happy Birthday Mazlin - We love you very much!!!

Food Bank...

Today, I was humbled. Heather & I and two other employees from Wilbur delivered the food to the food bank. We walked into a little building with a wall of shelves that had different types of can goods stacked on them. As the guys unpacked the truck, Heather & I sorted & put the food we had raised away. I was amazed at how little food they had, how much we were able to help & how the food was dispursed to families. It gave me a whole different outlook on donating. They had lots of Tuna, lots of vegies, pretty good supply of soup but the Pastor was excited to see the flour, the sugar, the peanut butter, the Hamburger Helper. They try to limit each family to a once a month visit. They have a standardized list that tells them what to give & then if they have the extra's (flour, sugar, pbutter & etc.) the families can ask if they can take some.. The thought of someone getting excited to receive a jar of peanut butter, has given me a whole new perspective on a lot of things.

I'm so grateful for what we have....

Wilbur Ellis - Warden High School Homecoming Food Drive

Tonight we held our 2nd annual Wilbur Ellis - WHS Homecoming Game Food Drive. It was amazing!! Last year we may have raised 30 cans total. This year we raised 600 Lbs of food!!

The signs, banners, radio advertisements, facebook & school announcements paid off.

Thanks to the Warden Community for giving back!!! It was truely a success!!!

Out of the mouth of Babes....

Mom did they have dances when you were in the 6th grade? No, Adrian do you have dances? No not till next year. Do you know how to dance? Mom, I don't know how to dance, I know how to boogie....

Got to love em'!!!

Go Seahawks!!!

I was lucky enough to be given 4 Seahawk tickets for Sunday's game. Not only did I get 4 tickets, these tickets were in the Clubhouse & we received a parking pass.. What an amazing day.

1-Finally met Nick's friends - Stan & Gloria

2-Trip to Seattle - No kids

3- First time at Qwest Field

4- An amazing game - Seahawks beat the Chargers -

5- The weather was perfect - not to cold, no rain (not that it mattered we were sheltered *lol*)

6- Dinner at the Crap Pot - Thanks Nick !!

Lynn, thanks for the tickets!! It was an amazing day with amazing company!!

P.S. - I left my camera in Stan & Gloria's car - It's now in Wapato & still trying to work it's way up .. I'm lost with out it!!!!

A Blogger's Explaination....

I'm back.... I have had computer problems that would not allow me to blog.. I even tried to start a new blog thinking the Chinese Porno Queen had hacked my blog & left me a virus. I was so frustrated.. So much has happened in the past month .. Well, thanks to my favorite computer man in our IT dept. I can blog again :) So yep once again, I'm gonna back blog.. I apologize but I really want to play catch up for my journal... So bare with me..

Seattle or Bust!!!

Deb & I headed out on a much needed road trip.. I picked her up about 7:30 or so & we were off.

We stopped in Cle Elum about 9:30. Deb remembered there was a scrapbook store that she always wanted to go to but it was always closed. We had 30 mins before it opened, so went & grabbed her some hot water so she could eat her oatmeal & then we'd head back to the store.

The store is call Rubys. It was well worth the wait. I loved the selection of pattern papers, brads, flowers, you name it she has it. Well $20 ish dollars later and Ruby's agreement that we could do

a crop sometime, some cards to hand out at the retreats. We were off..

We headed straight for the Pier. It was getting close to lunch and we figured traffic would be terrible. Well, we were wrong, hardly any traffic. We ended up parking close to the Crab Pot and that's where we decided to have lunch.

We were both struggling eating this little thing. I love shrimp & so does Deb but those eyes were killing us both. I really had a tough time when I saw another lady bite off the head & spit out the parts she didn't want ....EWWWWW!!!! *lol*

Deb totally stuffed!!!!

After this amazing lunch we headed for Pikes Market. I had never been & was so excited...

Famous Gum Wall - EWWWWW

The famous fish throwers!!

The beautiful flowers......Love the colors.. very cool......I loved all the musicians on the corner.. could have listened to them all day...

What a great day, with a great friend.....

Wow... What a day.....

My life has seemed like a roller coaster this past few weeks...

Wedding plans - no wedding plans

Adrian has been a total handful - we butt heads on a daily basis and it's not good

Work has been crazy - regulatory inpsection time

Jenn having a baby....

And to think when Kevin told me that Amanda found out she was pregnant a week after they called off their wedding .... I didn't go off the deep end...

Well I did for a few - just because people on Facebook new it before Kevin's family but that's a whole nother story...

So yes.. It's been a crazy, a roller coaster. I've sat and wander why.. I've asked God how big he thinks my plate is. I wandered what they were thinking & then I got a grip.. It will all work out.. One day at a time.. one step at a time....

Labor Day Weekend....

I got up Saturday & decided I wanted to go on a road trip. The boys really enjoy skateboarding, so I jumped on line and found different skate parks in the area. We packed a cooler, picked up Jenn and we were off.. The first stop was Walmart. I had to get them knee pads and elbow pads because we were moving up . These skate parks were all concrete they even had the big bowl.

Ephrata was the first stop - We skateboarded, flew our kites & had lunch...

We then packed up and headed towards Wenatchee... The kids were excited as the next park was a concrete skate park with a bowl.

Jenn was all about the food *lol*

We loaded up again & headed to Leavenworth. The boys had never been there. We were all excited.

We got to the park it was a huge bowl with a skate deck around it. The only problem was there were bigger guys on bikes there. The boys had to stay around the deck until some bigger boys with boards showed up the bikes took a break. The boys were able to go into the bowl and skate. They had alot of fun...

We skated about 45 mins or so then headed into town. We hit Jenn & I's favorite shops. The hat shop is always fun. Elijah would not let us even put a hat on his head where Adrian had lots of fun & was throwing in the accent's to his voice to match the hat.

After we visited the hat shop & the toy shop we grabbed Elijah an icecream and headed for the beer garden *lol*. I love the beer garden on the corner that you can get a brat of many kinds. The boys were able to go in & both Jenn & I orderered brats. They were so good...

After we fed our faces we walked to show the boys the goats. The one came up to the fence . The boys were thinking it was pretty cool.

Well, it was a great day & we all really enjoyed it!!!