Sunday Stew like you've never seen before!!

Okay, so I've been a MAJOR blog slacker, and I'm starting to feel guilty for not documenting like I wanted to. SO...get ready for a quick and dirty run-down of some of the random things we have been up to since school started.

Here is a picture of our sweet Nora at her birthplace! Yes...she was born in the car. If you want to read all about it (and see a little video - it's PG - no worries) you can click HERE.
We had to take one last picture before it was traded in for the new car.
Paul's friend Morris sliced his hand while trying to do something he had no business doing...SO MORRIS!! So, he came over to have Paul stitch him up. It quickly became the neighborhood "place to be." The older boys from the neighborhood had to come and see the action. What we do for entertainment around here....?!
This is a darling picture of Ella and her cousin Romey. They had so much fun seeing each other when we were up in Utah after Christmas. These two have the best time together and I wish they could see each other more often. Grandma Mary took them on a little shopping trip and they came back looking like this. They sure thought they were hot stuff. It was so fun to see their big smiles and loving every minute of it! What cuties!
I was able to catch a quick dinner with some of my long lost high school friends. I keep up with Ashley and Liz (from left to right)...but it had been FOREVER since I had seen Anne, Chris, and Lynette. What a treat! I was so glad they let me crash their monthly dinner party while I was in town. What awesome women they all are. I'm so glad I'm able to count them as my friends.
I was SO LAZY this Christmas and didn't do the annual family Santa Cookies. Ella did have to bring some cookies to class for a cookie exchange and so we did a quicker version thanks to good ol' Kelly! I think they turned out adorable and may have to keep these as the kid version from now on.
I was able to go with my sweet Max to a production of The Velveteen Rabbit put on by the Tempe Center for the Arts. This was a field trip with his preschool class, and I was thrilled. It's one of my very favorite stories and it was so fun to have some time with just Max. I love this kid.
Here is Max with many of the women in his life...and boy does he LOVE these girls. From L to R is Charlotte (his big time crush), Mrs. Gleason (the best preschool teacher EVER), cousin Claire, and cousin Hannah. Boy is this kid lucky. He's going to have some good resources for cute girls in the future!!
For one of Ella's book reports she had to read about a famous historical figure. I was thrilled when she chose Clara Barton. For the report she had to dress up as the character.
I think she pulled it off quite well and was absolutely adorable. We had a great time learning all about Clara Barton and what an amazing person she was.
We threw a little neighborhood party at our house one night. It was a roaring success. How is came about is a great story that I must document for posterity. It all started one day when I wasn't home and Paul was in charge. I guess there were a lot of neighborhood kids around and it got a little crazy. So, in a not so friendly voice, Paul told all the kids that they needed to play outside. I guess it came off a little more harsh than he intended because a few weeks later Ella took him aside and told him that it embarrassed her and that her friends thought he was mean. So, in true Paul fashion, he was going to make it right. The two of them planned and executed a neighborhood party complete with pizza, junk food, and movies. The kids had a great time and so did we.

The funniest part about the story is when Ella was telling some of her friends about it. Paul overheard her explanation and it went a little like this:

Ella: "Hey guys, we are having a party on Friday so that you can meet my Dad."
Our cool kid Max has learned to ride his two wheeler at the tender age of 4. He pretty much learned on his own. I think Paul took him out one afternoon for about 10 minutes. Max figured out that if he could propel himself with his feet and get some momentum...then all he had to do was put his feet on the pedals. He is now an expert and even rode his bike all the way to Grammy and Papa's house with Ella, Jack and Dad! Way to go Max.
Paul won't be happy about this, but I just had to document that he actually did dress up!!! It's a miracle. For the office Halloween party, the theme was 1970's. Paul is in the middle of this picture with two of the other Doctors on either side. I think they're lookin' pretty sweet!!
Here's a picture of the whole gang. Oh, and yes...he does work with all those women!!! Some wives would be worried, but strangely...I think it makes him appreciate me more?!!
Paul took Nora on a little afternoon boating trip with Morris one day. She loved being on the boat and looked so cute. I'm sure she loved having her daddy all to herself.
I know this is hard to see, but yes...that is a child between his mothers knees on a wake board!!! Paul took this picture of a friend on that same water skiing trip. I thought it was pretty cool.
Paul took the kids to a D-backs game. They had great seats with a great view...
Can you tell what he was focusing on in this picture? Was it the kids...or the props?!
I think I talked about Paul taking the kids camping over labor day, but I failed to mention the fishing poles. Can you tell the boys were excited? I think this picture is hilarious!

So, there you have a quick rundown of some of the random pictures I had on file. They didn't necessarily all merit their own post, so they all got thrown together here. I feel better now!

It's beginning to look a lot like...FALL!

Here is a picture of the tree in front of my parents house here in Arizona the week before Christmas. I love how you have the gorgeous changing leaves, the bright green grass, and Christmas lights all in the same picture. I love Arizona!!

I LOVE Fall and one of the hardest things about moving to Arizona for me was that Fall is HOT. I hated how hot it still was in October, and then, not having changing leaves at that time either was hard. I have learned to find the silver lining. We DO get fall...it just happens to be all winter long. I'LL TAKE IT! I have thoroughly enjoyed this winter so much. It completely makes up for July and August in my book.

Jack gets to play flag football in January and February here. The grass is brown, but it's perfect weather for that kind of sport.

They are the Jets. We'll take it because we are Brett Farvre fans.

Paul took the boys to this really cool little league baseball field last night to run around and practice in the batting cages. It was a gorgeous day.

Notice the t-shirt...GO CARDINALS!!!

Here's Jack ready for the fastball. Doesn't he just look like a pro?

Here's the picture to top it all off. Where else can you have a lemonade stand in January...and make money? The boys made about $5 and were in heaven in their little chairs waving to the cars. Days like this just make me happy. Do you want to come visit yet?!

Just Do It!

In an attempt to put my word of the year into action I have decided to FOCUS on my blog a little bit the next several days. I checked my draft box and I have 12 posts that have been started and never finished! SEE...I NEED TO FOCUS!! So, bear with me while I try to finish these posts. You will be seeing a lot of pictures and info that is VERY OLD. I'm talking older than even the Halloween posts...and you'll see those too. Enjoy!

FOCUS

I decided to make myself a little reminder of my word for the year. I made a little charm for my 2007 word (simplify) and one for 2008 (Gentle). I was working on my 2009 charm (focus) in my kitchen, while talking to my husband and trouble shooting homework issues. When I stamped the "s"...it was a little off. I was mad and was going to re-do it...then I thought...it was PERFECT. It showed me that it was EXACTLY what I needed to see this year. I now wear it almost daily around my neck to remind me...to FOCUS!!

Re-entry is a Bear!!!

So, I've been out of town for 10 days. I have 118 emails to go through (not counting the ones in my spam email account). I have 258 messages in Google reader. I have 6 piles of laundry to do, and 4 kids to hug and kiss to death...to make up for lost time. It's great to be home...but MAN OH MAN...I sometimes wonder if it's worth it. My kids did great and had a blast...and so did we...so I guess it was worth it. I'll try to update about our adventures...EVENTUALLY!!

THAT'S where it comes from

Whenever people see this sweet little Nora Jayne they always ask where her curly hair comes from! I usually just shrug my shoulders and remember that I used to have curly hair.
I blow dry and flat iron my hair so much that even I forget that she gets it from....ME!!

This is what my hair looks like naturally....and RARELY!! I let it curl once in a while, but then I see pictures like this...or a glimpse of the puff ball in the mirror...and remember why I don't wear it that way. These pictures are what you get when you leave your camera on the counter and a little one gets their hands on it. Thanks Max, for reminding me that the blow dryer and flat iron are WONDERFUL inventions!!!

I feel your pain!

American Idol Judges

Kara Dioguardi (New Judge/Songwriter)

Paul and I were laughing so hard last night as we watched Tuesday's American Idol. (thank you DVR) There was a little arrangement where they were discussing how to pronounce the name of the new judge. It was SO FUNNY because I have the same problem (same name) ALL THE TIME!! Most people default to the "correct" way of saying it, but not always. So, just for the record...

It's KARA...like CARE-UH

NOT...CAR-UH

Clear?

Just so you know...I'm really not bitter about it. When we lived in Wisconsin almost NO ONE could say my name right. I got used to it, and now will answer to whatever.

Oh, and Simon can TOTALLY get away with saying it -car-uh- because of the accent...I actually like it!

Lion King and Muhammad Ali

Last night Paul and I were able to go and see the Broadway production of Lion King that is in town. It was AWESOME!! I had seen the show in London about 9 years ago and liked it okay. I was so impressed last night with ALL of the performers, costumes, set, and seats.
One bonus of the program is that Muhammad Ali was there. When he walked in before the show started, the audience spontaneously started clapping. He was just a few rows in front of us. After the show was over he and his daughters were just sitting and waiting for the theater to clear out. Paul decided that it was worth it to go and shake his hand. The moment was caught on a camera phone, so sorry for the poor quality. He and his daughter were very nice, and it was quite a thrill to see "The Champ".

Go Utes!!

Reading this article I was literally laughing out loud!! (sorry I just can't bring myself to type "lol" yet) It's about time the Utes got some support from someone in high places. I've always been a Ute fan, but I'm now a Reilly fan too. (why can't I write like this?!)

You can read the article below, or at the original source HERE. Enjoy, and GO UTES!

Life of Reilly

Oklahoma and Florida can battle for the BCS. But we've already crowned the true national champ.

by Rick Reilly

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Utes trampled Alabama to complete a perfect season. How are they not national champions?

Some gifts people give are pointless: Styling mousse to Dick Vitale. An all-you-can-eat card to Kate Moss. The BCS Championship given to Oklahoma or Florida.

It means nothing because the BCS has no credibility. Florida? Oklahoma? Who cares? Utah is the national champion.

The End. Roll credits.

Argue with this, please. I beg you. FIND ME ANYBODY ELSE THAT WENT UNDEFEATED. THIRTEEN-AND-ZERO. BEAT FOUR RANKED TEAMS. WENT TO THE DEEP SOUTH AND SEAL-CLUBBED ALABAMA IN THE SUGAR BOWL. The same Alabama that was ranked No. 1 for five weeks. The same Alabama that went undefeated in the regular season. The same Alabama that Florida beat in order to get INTO the BCS Championship game in the first place.

Yeah, that's how it is now in the shameful, money-grubbing world of college football. If you're Florida and you beat Alabama, you get a seat in the title game. If you're Utah, you get a seat on your sofa.

Hey, remind me: What do they give out for one of those BCS things anyway? It's been so long since I cared. Something from Sears? This is the sixth year in the past 10 that the title has been in dispute under this cash-grab, fan-dis, monopoly that the BCS has created. Which is why the title game just doesn't matter anymore. It's like being named Miss Ogallala. Or Best Amish Electrician.

Just take a look at the teams that think they're worthy of being called national champs:

USC? Great year. Wonderful. Let's all go to SkyBar and celebrate. But it lost to Oregon State, a team Utah beat.

Texas? You think beating Ohio State by a nubby three points gets you the title? The Big Ten was 1-6 in bowl games! That's like pinning David Spade!

Florida and Oklahoma? They lost. Utah never did.

So that's it. Utah is the national champion. The Utes should probably have two now, actually. They went undefeated in 2004, too, and their coach still thinks they were the best team in the land. Smart fella named Urban Meyer. Coaches Florida now.

By the way, we're calling our title the "national" championship because it actually includes the whole nation­—all 119 Division I schools—unlike the BCS, which includes 66. Yeah, the BCS somehow eliminated the middleman—the NCAA. The conferences these schools play in take their dump trucks full of cash straight from the TV networks and fairness can go suck a lemon.

The Utes won't get the trophy they really deserve, so we gave them one of our own design.

Do me a favor. Call Ohio State president Gordon Gee and ask him why he won't support a playoff. He's one of the most powerful presidents in the NCAA. He could get it done. If he says anything other than, "We don't want to share the loot" then you know he's lying his bow tie off.

"This is not how we normally do things in America," says Utah president Michael Young. "In America, quality usually wins, not conspiracy. And there's a reason people usually enter into a conspiracy. It's money. You make money doing it. And those that are in on the conspiracy want to stay in and keep everybody else out."

Sure, BCS blowhards will hand you schlock about how the college football season is like a playoff, how it's an elimination tournament every week. Really? Well, how come Florida and Oklahoma weren't eliminated with their losses? Utah ran the table, beat everybody set in front of them, including Ala-damn-bama in no less than the Sugar Bowl, and gets the bagel.

Oh, by the way? It was Utah's eighth straight bowl win, the nation's longest streak. Among the losers during that run? Let's see USC, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, and now the legendary Houndstooth Hats.

"What else do we have to prove?" asks Utah's magical quarterback, Brian Johnson. Good question. He and the Utes essentially whipped Alabama at home. Handed Nick Saban a garlic necklace to wear the entire off-season. Stepped on his team's neck 21-0 in the first three possessions and never looked back. Let's see. Who was it that was losing to Alabama until nearly six minutes into the fourth quarter? Oh, yeah. Florida.

What, you want the Utes to win a spelling bee? Make a prize-winning souffle? Knock up Angelina Jolie? What?

It just slays me. It really does.

Call Myles Brand, president of the asleep-at-the-wheel NCAA, and ask him if he and his greedy presidents are going to stand in defiance of president-elect Barack Obama, who wants a playoff and wants it yesterday.

Ask Brand what he's going to do if Obama starts asking the Justice Department to look into anti-trust hearings against the BCS. The Utah Attorney General has already launched an investigation into that very thing. Or ask him what he'll do if Obama asks the Department of Education to consider withholding federal funds from these schools that have entered into this secret club called the BCS. You don't think playing in the title game means millions in general-fund donations for a school? That's as unfair as anything Title IX fought against.

Until all these people do the right thing, I'll be celebrating with the true national champions—the undefeated, untied Utah Utes. (Our new slogan: Utahk about a team!)

Lemonades for everybody!

To Die For!!

Paradise Bakery Oatmeal

The other day Paul brought home the most delicious, satisfying, and quite lovely breakfast for me. I have been dreaming about it ever since. Like I needed another reason to love Paradise Bakery. I'm totally getting some of this stuff tomorrow!

And the winner is...

Okay...so I guess I'll explain first. Here at our homestead we have a (very) informal contest at Christmas time. After gathering all the Christmas cards/pictures and posting them on our wall for all to see throughout the season, we choose our favorite of the year. We have always just done this amongst ourselves and announced the winner to no one. I decided that this year we are starting a new tradition. We will post the winner here, and that winner will receive a prize. I thought it would be fun for the kids to participate and help decide what the prize will be. Then we can package it up and mail it off if needs be.

It was no easy task to pick a winner this year as there were so many great cards, but the winner became clear...especially when we asked the kids. So, without further adieu...(drum roll)...the winner is:

The Garn Family of Gilbert, AZ!!!!

This card is to die for and will be hard to fully appreciate here on the blog. (especially because my scanning skills leave MUCH to be desired! Here it goes...

Front
Open
Back (better organized than this)

Isn't it AMAZING?! I love how fun and creative it is. I'm sure their kids will never forget it and how "COOL" their parents were for dressing them up like rock stars. My kids were "way jealous". I did get permission from them to post the card online, and I also want to give credit to their talented photographer. Her name is Nicole Mason, and blogs HERE. So, here's to a rockin' new year to all!!!

Now get your creative juices flowin' for next year...you know you want to win!!

Happy New Year - 2009!!

As it is now the new year of 2009, it is time for me to settle on my word for the year. My word for 2007 was Simplify. In 2008 it was Gentle. This year I had a hard time coming up with the perfect word and then a few weeks ago it all came into FOCUS. And that is my word for the year...FOCUS. It poignantly states my objectives in all areas of my life. Like gentle, I can apply this word to all areas of my life and incorporate it's meaning into the day to day. Here are a few of my thoughts on how I will be FOCUSING this year.

I am going to really FOCUS on the feeling. I have long believed that when it's all said and done, all people really remember about an event, encounter, or experience is how they felt. It doesn't matter if the kids are dressed perfectly, if the kids are sitting quietly through Family Home Evening, or if the Christmas Eve Nativity play goes off smoothly...ESPECIALLY if getting to that point means yelling, reminding, and a general feeling of exasperation and frustration.

My 2007 word SIMPLIFY helped me come to terms with it being okay to use paper plates when people come over if it's been a rough day. It helped me feel at peace with the fact that I don't participate in EVERY family tradition that I've heard of or even grew up with. I have realized that if all these things are accomplished, but everyone is the worse for the wear (including me) then IT'S NOT WORTH IT... for anyone.

I am now taking those lessons to the next level with FOCUS. I'm really going to try to concentrate on those things of MOST importance. I've probably referenced an awesome article that my cousin Shawni referred to me, but I think it's worth noting again. You can read it HERE. It is exactly how I've been feeling, and where I want to go in my life as a mother. I truly believe that giving up the things that don't matter will bring me more joy in the long run as I FOCUS on the things in my life that are important.

I could list several things I plan on FOCUSING on in 2009, but I think as a mother the two most important will be teaching and nurturing my children. It is my greatest duty, and I truly believe will be my greatest joy.

Here's to a FOCUSED 2009!!!