Oh... what do you do in the summertime?

When I was little one of my favorite songs to sing in primary was

"Oh... what do you do in the summertime"

This past week we all had a taste of my childhood...we played in the pool!

Growing up in St. George (with its 110 degree days) summertime meant swimming...EVERYDAY!

We didn't have a pool in our backyard then , but we would go to the Bloomington Country Club pool!

We would load up with our cousins, the Trumans...take a cooler of treats, get our nose plugs that looked like silly putty and head out!

I can't really remember that sunscreen was the top priority it is now... so we all got VERY TAN!

Sometimes for a really great treat we would all head up to Veyo pool.

Anyone that is a St. Georgeite has been to Veyo pool...

the corn dogs, cherry 7-ups.. and the wall of chewed gum... and the sign that said " welcome to our ool, notice there is no "P" in it...please keep it that way"...ahhh memories!

My favorite was when my dad would come swimming with us!

He would chuck us and let us dive off his shoulders he was the biggest kid in the pool.

As I got to be a teenager... Las Palmas was THE summer hang out.

My family bought a membership and we were there EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

I would go with my friends, but I had to take my little sisters and brother with me. We would be there from about 11:00 am to about 4:00 pm... one time we took one of Brock's friends... one of Brock's blonde- blue eyed, fair skinned friend. I wasn't very responsible with the sun screen. When it was time to go he was laying on the lawn chair with the towel wrapped around his sunburned eyes and face....OOPS!

I later taught that kid in high school and on the first day I reminded him about almost killing him... He could remember...YIKES!

There were diving boards, hot guys, fun music, and so many fun times. We ruled the world!

This past week we were in St. George and swam every single day. My 78 year old grandma even came down from Cedar City to sun and float in the sun. One day my dad came home for lunch and ended up swimming with all of the grandkids. He had them laughing and crying all at once... just like old times.

We had good treats, lots of cool drinks, & popsicles by the dozens... and this time the kids had sunscreen check every 30 minutes!

I was taken back in time... but, this go around I didn't look so hot in a swimsuit!

A scary night...

Saturday night our phone rang at 1:00 am... never a good sign.

Caylor answered it...said thank-you, got up and went and stood by our stairs.

Then he came back in our room and went into the closet.

He came out dressed - carrying his gun and headed out into the dark house.

I was totally confused and somewhat alarmed.

Here is what happened...

Jackson heard some noises in our un- finished sub-basement that is below his room... he was too afraid to get up and way to afraid to call up to us. He grabbed his itouch and got on facebook to see who was available to chat. He found a little girl named Stephanie and messaged her to call our house and tell his dad that someone was in our house. She did and that was when Caylor got up.

He also heard noises so he got dressed and grabbed his Winchester cowboy gun.

He turned on lights out on our deck and then called 911.

Minutes later, two policemen came to our house...

one through the front door and the other was in our backyard.

The one inside our house asked where our kids were and got a basic layout of our basements... He then took his gun out of the holster and headed downstairs... as he got to the bottom of our stairs he hollered out..." This is the (our city) police... if there is someone in there, make yourself known... you have been warned"

HOLY CRAP!

I was dying, but all I could think of to say to my boys was..."He is going to see my apron body, Bette, and shoot her"...

They thought that was somewhat funny...

The other policeman found the bottom basement door open, but they couldn't find anyone.

They "secured" the basement, checked every nook and cranny and left us to enjoy the night.

Did I say HOLY CRAP?

HOLY CRAP!

I don't know whether it was the wind, maybe my boys left one of the doors unlocked, or maybe someone really was there; and when Caylor started making all that noise and turning on lights he scared them away.

I wasn't really afraid because Big Daddy was here, but sometimes I stay home alone.

Again, HOLY CRAP!

Nothing was missing...nothing was hurt... the basement did look ransacked, but it looked like that before- nothing a burlger did. If there was a burgler, they could have a least cleaned the storage room up.

( this pictures wasn't taken Saturday night... it was taken when we lived in Boise and we had a bird in the house... Caylor successfully protected us then with the BB gun)

Today I am a little shaken by the "what could have happeneds"

I am so proud of Jackson that he thought to facebook someone... Even though he was so afraid, he stayed calm and had a great solution.

I am glad that little girls stay up half the night chatting on facebook.

I am glad that it was only what it was...

I am also glad Caylor keeps that real life "cowboy gun" in the closet ( on a special shelf with trigger locks, of course)

I have never seen him so calm and adrenaline driven...

A little freaky...

But the moral of this story is...

True story!

I am not laughing and being glib... but it is good to find some kind of humor in everything.

What is not funny... that my boys probably won't sleep down in their rooms for a while.

The good thing that came from this is... I think ADT is getting a new client!

Oh... and Bette is safe!

Aloha!

Aloha...

I wanted to post my pics from our Hawaii trip...

We had such a great time.

A little bit of something for everyone...

Here is what we did...

As a family we all really enjoyed just hanging out. It wasn't a busy trip...lots of beach and pool time. I even attempted boogie board surfing...let's just say I got sand where sand isn't supposed to go and my bathing suit became somewhat of a sand bag...lots of sand between the liner and the suit! Caylor died laughing at me catchin' the waves. OK... so I am not so co-ordinated and athletic...but I did keep my earrings on. We stayed at the Marriott Wailea on Maui! Beautiful! We brought home so many wonderful memories that will last a lifetime... much longer than the henna tattoos we all got.

Mitch- The reason we went was so Mitch could go with his friend to a Just Win football camp in Maui. He was the the only freshman DB and 1 of 6 Howlies... needless to say when they did the Haka...he bailed to the locker room. He did great at the camp. One coach from UNLV thought he was a junior...It got him all excited for the upcoming football season! He was very impressed with all the other players tattoos... I think Mitch wants to be a painted man... he got 2 jaguar ink tattoos ( a tribal band and a mermaid) the first day we were there and then two henna tattoos ( a tiki tribal band and the same band as before) the day we left. It is a good thing they just lasted a few days. Mitch loved to snorkel and just hang out his buddy, Walter. He has an obsession with tank tops and sunglasses...the risky business kind. He was the hottest howlie on the beach!

Jackson was the master of the beach! He built sandcastles, and even buried himself. He loved to boogie board...one time he totally wiped out and thought he was going to die. He quickly recovered and hit the surf again! Jacks was very interested at the Maui Ocean Aquarium. For a boy who won't even touch the gel for his hair, I was surprised he touched a starfish and a sea urchin. When we went to Big Beach and were watching the real surfers in the BIG waves, Jackson was more into catching sand crabs. I could see Jacks growing up to be a surfer...marine biologist...ocean lover! He excelled at the hang loose way of life!

Meg wants to be the next Roxy babe on the beach. She loved the ocean...excuse me, the sea. She swam in the ocean or the pool most every day...ALL day! She really is a mermeg! She made several friends ...one from Alaska, Georgia, and California. She took hula lessons and wondered if instead of having a recital, they were just going to let her perform at the huge hotel beach luau. She was mad when it was only a half hour lesson and she only learned one dance. Although, she was jazzed with the certificate that was delivered to her room later that night. It gave her Hawaiian name...MeKana. She is thinking about changing it legally, or for the second grade at least. She loved everything about the islands and was our cutest little hula girl!

We had a great time... didn't want to come home!

It really was a vacation of a lifetime!

Happy Day Brandy!

Today my little baby sister, Brandy, turns the big 3 0

Yikes!

I am so lucky to have such amazing sisters!

She is a scrapbooker champion....

I think she takes the photo and has it in a scrapbook within 24 hours... unlike me who has is in the book... oh yeah...never!

She is the best mom to her two boys... Jace and Briggs!

She is married to a real hottie... Ryan!

Their wedding was glamorous...like a wedding on a soap opera.
She is beautiful and talented! My other sister Jody and I donated our singing talent to Brandy. It is better for one sister to sing REALLY well than for three sisters to kindof sing.
Happy Birthday!
30... wow you're old!

Get your Freak On!

Last Thursday I was in Hawaii when I heard that Michael Jackson died...

If I would have been home I would have sat glued in front of the TV for hours...soaking up every report and story and rumor. Unfortunately I was with the Media Nazi and was unable to watch very much of it. I have had a tendency to suck into any media frenzy. When Princess Di died, I was up all night with a newborn and watched it 24 hours a day. Finally, Caylor said that if she and I were such good friends she should have come to our wedding or at least send a baby gift. Same with JFk, Jr.... Caylor wondered if we had dated because I was so into it. What can I say... I am interested in pop culture. About this Michael Jackson feeding frenzy... I haven't really heard every little tid-bit rumor that has been reported by every z-list celebrity... I am a little behind. Somewhat okay with that, and somewhat feeling like I am missing out on very important info....

Today I bought the Essential Michael Jackson album from itunes and have listened to it all day. I am sad that he had to become such a freakish side-show! Why couldn't he have just stopped when he was still black and still had a nose. I was somewhat saddened by the loss of such a musical genius. But then, as you look back through time at all the creative geniuses the world has produced, most of them were freaks in one way or another. As I listened to some of those songs I was totally taken back in time. I even had to pull up YOU Tube to watch the We are the World video.( It was amazing to see the not so surgeried Michael Jackson AND Kenny Rogers) I also watched several of Michael's music videos. Wow what an amazing dancer. I Loved my little stroll down "before Micheal was so damn weird street"! I felt the need to discuss, so I called my Pop-Culture Guru friend, Mindi, and chatted about the freak he had become. I knew that Caylor would have absolutely shut down any conversation starting with " wow, today I was thinking how sad I am that Michael Jackson died, but even sadder that he became such a freak". Mindi helped me talk it out and I don't think I will seek therapy over the loss.

The album is amazing! So many memories from my own life! Too bad his bazaar behavior had to overshadow even his music in the end. I am just wondering how many times I can have the word "freak" in one post? But, then when talking about Michael Jackson... there aren't any other words that quite work. So... Go listen to the Essential Michael Jackson...grab your crotch, wear a glove, and get your freak on!

Mermeg

Meg's first time in the ocean!

She is now hooked and wants to be a roxy surfer girl or a mermaid!

We like to just call her Mer-Meg!

I think part of her wanted to grow a tail upon entering the ocean...

only, she doesn't call it the ocean, she calls it the sea.

Hang Loose!

Aloha!

For the past week this has been the view from my balcony...

I am home now...sob, sob!

Good-bye... Aloha and hello reality!

I am trying to organize my photos and my sleep deprived, red-eye flight brain.

I will post more about my fabulous week in Maui...soon!

More to come... I have missed you!

Paws...not claws!

For those of you that don't know me... I am somewhat of a neurotic picker.

When I was little I was a total nail biter... I never had pretty nails...always hurting ones.

I started getting my nails done when I was 15 years old.

That is 23 years ago...

I have acrylic nails longer...

than I have really needed a bra...

than I have been able to drive...

than I have known Caylor...

than I was in school (from pre-school to my bachelor's degree...)

Even right after I was married and we were poor white trash...

I had fake fingernails.

I would clean my sister's house and mop her floor so she would do my nails... I was a creative bargaining- bartering - fake nail addict.

I hold my pen like a complete idiot because of my nails...

violin? No...had fingernails.

Piano? No.. I had fingernails. ( although, I did take for years and years, but never learned the bottom hand)

Every once and a while I would achieve great satisfaction by biting them all off.(Usually during church or a long car drive.)

If there was any amount of lifting I would pry those little suckers off!

My fingers throbbing and my cuticles thrashed... I would head to my nail girl for my fix.

Last week on the way home from St. George, Caylor heard me cracking away at my hands and just rolled his eyes... he knew what was happening.

I was taking off the nails. It was okay because I was going to see Chalyce the next day.

A strange thing happened... I felt liberated! I cancelled my appointment, postponing it for a week. I was torn, because Chalyce is one of my most favorite people on Earth and she is cheap therapy... how am I going to see her? What will become of my life?

I cancelled the next appointment and am kind of freed from acrylic. My hands have stopped throbbing somewhat and the cuticles are kind of healing.

Maybe I don't need nails for medicinal purposes!

I don't know how long this will last... but I have paws instead of claws.

I can type, text, & play my izits game on my itouch.

I can't pick real zits, scrub my hair or tickle .

I was usually a white tip french manicure type girl...

but right now I am sporting black, short, Adam Lambert type nails...and

I love them!

Meg thinks I am a goth because I wear black every day and have black nails.

Maybe I will experiment with white foundation, lots of black liner, and a wardrobe from Hot Topic.... first the hair, then the 20 year high school reunion, and now no nails...

I must be having a mid-life crisis!

A new nickname...

As a kid growing up in the 70's I loved watching the re-runs of BEWITCHED!

Samantha and Darrin were the best! I wanted to be Tabitha or at least be named Tabitha! Endora and all the rest of the kooky witches and warlocks made my summer days.

I tend to talk in allusions... brief references to known things.

When I taught school this was a problem, because the kids didn't know the "things" I was referencing... they would look at me like I had 14 heads and then I would have to explain myself.

Anyway...

I have a new nickname... compliments of Margie, Megan, & Brooke Aslett...

GLADYS KRAVITZ

I can see my neighbor Margie's house from my front window so I can keep tabs on her.
I would say things like... "I was being Mrs. Kravitz and waited for you to be home before I called"... "or... I saw Brooke and Megan doing blah blah blah"
Not really checking up on them, but as I sit at my computer I look right at their house.
There aren't strange things going on like at the Steven's house...
but...
I have earned the nickname of Gladys.
Even a friend that I met through Margie and her girls calls me Gladys.- in fact, she called me Glitterific Gladys.
It kind of cracks me up.

Peace On Out!

Peace on Out!

I am headed on a mini vacay with my main man!

We are headed to Arizona for his business conference!

He will be in business meetings and I will be here...
My kids are not out of school so Viv has so graciously come to tend!
She has brought an entourage of sisters and cousins...
so... I think a good time will be had by all!
I am jazzed!
The Arizona sun, no kids, an adult pool, a little bit of shopping= HEAVEN!
I am even going to try to hookup with the darling TAMMY while I am in her neck of the woods....
I know I am not a huge daily blogger...but I will be outta here this week!
Peace on Out~!

Hair Today.. .Gone Tomorrow!

Holy Moly! I did it!

I cut all my hair off!

I got in Dean's chair... we chatted about it... and I did it!

A little crazy!

I don't really know how to do it...

I hope I don't look like a goof...

My kids didn't like it...

Caylor said he did...

What do you think?

Well... Maybe I am not going to put it out there, seeing that there is a massive amount of hair in some garbage somewhere and I can't glue it all back on.

So if you hate it just don't leave a comment...

Crazy!

p.s. nice self picture... forgive me! I am a crappy photographer

A new DO...

I am off to visit Dean... my hairstylist & neighbor extraordinaire!

What to do...

What to do?

I think I am ready for something different, but

since I hide behind my hair I can 't go

TOO drastic. No pixie-cut!

Maybe I will just get a trim...maybe a mohawk?

Maybe a little color?

Who knows...

One time I got some crazy red and blond highlights...

Caylor called it "Amy and the Amazing Technicolor Hair-do"... thanks hon...

I think he would like me to go back to the long spiral curly slutty, heavy metal chick crawling on the Jag hair- do I had when we were dating... good-bye 80's.

Although... I did rock the big hair and am waiting on pins and needles for it to come back.

So that leaves me with... what to do?

I don't think a new hairdo comes with a new body and brand new wardrobe...

DANG IT!

Well... here's to the new or old DO...

We'll see!

Touched my Heart...

This week I have had the opportunity to see life from a different perspective...

My dear friend's daughter placed a baby for adoption.

I went to the hospital and saw her darling daughter, the precious baby, and even got to meet the new adoptive mother.

It was such an amazing thing... I am just awestruck at the maturity and graciousness of this most perfect gift.

I watched as the new adoptive mom held and primped and loved that baby...

I was so excited for her.... She is amazing! The perfect pick!

I then watched as the birth mom held and looked, and just loved that baby.

My heart has been breaking for two days, yet happy and proud at the same time.

Adoption is such a miracle!

I truly believe it is another part of God's plan in creating families.

I am praying for the darling sweet young girl... as her body and soul heals and her future is bright!

I am also celebrating for the adoptive family and their new joy.

I am glad that I had a glimpse into this situation... it was amazing and heart wrenching and wonderful all at the same time!

There are such selfless people in the world...

This 19 year old girl taught me a huge lesson.

I aspire to be as good!

Miss Saigon...

Wow!

Last Saturday I roped Caylor into taking me to Miss Saigon at the Pioneer Theater...

HOLY COW!

It was so great! I have seen it 4 times now and still love it!

The music was great, the actors were great, and overall...GREAT!

I was impressed with the performance!

Caylor was a good sport to go with me... he isn't what you would call a real lover of the arts.

I cried at the end...duh!

I love musical theater... Now I am listening to the soundtrack nonstop on my ipod-

Doing a little bit of research about the Vietnam War ( remember I am a History NERD!)

A little obsessed ...again

I love this play!

Happy Day Mitch!

Mother's Day was extra special this year...

It was Mitch's birthday!

I have officially been a mother for 15 years!

YIKES! I am not that old!

Here is a little about Mitch...

(anyone sickened by mothers braggin about their kids turn away now!)

He is a funny kid...Mitch has had a GREAT sense of humor since he was a little boy!
He loves to tease little kids and little kids LOVE him... he is kind and makes them feel big!

He LOVES sports! It is what he lives and breathes! Caylor's parents flew up on Saturday to watch his baseball games...he was so excited and pleased to play for his #1 fans!

For his birthday he got airfare and expenses to go to Hawaii with his buddy, Walter, to a football camp. He is so excited! Walter's dad is a football coach at Utah State and is one of the guest coaches at the camp. We have been so excited for this opportunity for Mitch... We have also been laughing that he will be the little white kid being mowed by all the big Poly kids. It will be good for him....He said he is scared. He is a great athlete and will be able to hold his own.

He is goofy... this pic was for a science project where he had to show his "niches" or his jobs. He hurried to put on one of my aprons for dramatic effect. He is a goofball...but quite a bit of fun!

He has gotten so big lately... this was the first day of school this year 8th grade.... braces and all!

Like I said... GOOFY! And now he has a best friend, Walter, who is just as goofy...

He is fully addicted to texting... just a regular teenager!

I can't believe my boy is 15 and growing up so fast. I am so proud of him... He is a good kid and we love him so much.

Jessica Sprague Alchemy ROCKS!

Hey there... I wanted to give a huge shout out to Jessica Sprague and her amazing hybrid for dummies classes.

I AM NOT A SCRAPBOOKER!

Well... unless you count Mitch's pathetic 1994-96 book with Mrs. Grossman stickers scrapbooking.

I didn't even give into it when, as Caylor called it"Pebbles in my Panties", hit it big in St. George.

Anyway... I found the greatest hybrid scrapbooking class online here

It was soo easy and fun!

Here are a few pages from the book I made Viv for mothers day...

It turned out great (especially for my first attempt.)

It started when I was just born and went through the really great pics of us in 70's & 80's!

We were totally hot and dressed so cute!

The kit was so easy... I got to be creative and pick the paper and colors I wanted to use and then I just had to follow her VERY specific directions on the technique. I learned so much about Adobe Elements ... I'll bet I could even design one myself now, she is such a good teacher.

It ended with a current photo of Viv and the girls...

It was a fun gift to make and give!

If you are at all interested in mixing digital scrapbooking with the traditional 3d kind... for sure check out Jessica Sprague.

I have taken 2 classes and learned SOOOOO much.

Oh.. the places you'll go!

My little apron is all grown up...

You know how designers and clothing people like stars to wear their stuff...

Well...

Last week I made an apron for my friend, Margie...

( ya' know my famous scrapbooking friend...do I sound like a name dropper, good!)

It was super sassy...zebra, pink, and green!

She wanted it because she had a few scrapbooking events and for once didn't have to wear a corporate apron...

She wore it to St. Louise and met with the one and only, Mary Englebreit...

( who sent her assistant over to tell Margie she like the apron)

And then she wore it to Atlanta...

They were having a big auction for breast cancer awareness...

and

she sold the apron for $400.00

Yes that is 4 FRANKLINS, HUNSKIES, WHATEVER!

She also sold one yet to be made for $260.00

AMAZING... it is just my little apron!

It was a sassy apron, a great personality, and a good cause!

This is Margie and the babe that "won" the apron...

Overall they raised $4000 for TATAs

Great work!

Faster Clocks!

The days are getting longer...

But...

The clocks are getting faster!

The last two weeks have been crazy!

Spring is springing...

and baseball has started!

5-6 games a week...

hotdogs for dinner ( aka- spring cuisine)
Play Ball!

The Lazy Daisy Cottage...

The Lazy Daisy Cottage!

This is the cutest quilt shop EVER!

My cousin, Dana is the owner... and quilter extraordinaire!

It is in St. George and has just the cutest fabric and gifts.

I just helped them start a blog...

Go check it out!

HERE!

A great day!

Last week I got a Viv, Grandma Connie, & Dear Lizzie fix all at once.

Viv and Connie came up for a few hours to get Viv's hair cut, and attend some sort of meeting.

They were here only about 18 hours, but we still managed to have a lot of fun.

We met my cousin, Diane, at Dear Lizzie for lunch.

It was a great lunch date.

Viv+Connie+Dear Lizzie+fun cousins= A GREAT DAY!