Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! It's my Bday!

Today was Christmas morning, New Years Eve, my birthday and the 4th of July for me.

All THREE of my boys were in school today.

Johnny started today, and my two older ones started last week.

It was sheer bliss.

The house was quiet.

I did my grocery shopping without having to say one "No" or "Leave your brother ALONE!"

No one asked me for sugary cereal, which I ALWAYS say "no" to.

No one yelled "SHOT GUN" immediately after exiting the store.

Also...

NO ONE loaded my car up for me but... ME...

No one emptied the car for me... but ME...

So I do miss them for that.

LOL!

I am the WORST mother in the world...

AND I DON'T CARE!!!

I believe I lost 50 gray hairs today, and they were replaced with shiny black ones...

just from the sheer bliss of QUIET!!!

***

My kids go to school about 10 miles from home, and we take the freeway, and all that junk...

and after school, my two older boys have after school football practice, and I don't like to go back and forth making 4 trips a day to school, so Johnny and I had a little

"Back to school" celebratory sundae at Chili's near his school. Actually, he had the sundae, while I drank Iced Tea...still sticking like glue to my new way of eating... and loving it...

Johnny started his homework, {which he was soooooo excited to have... weirdo}

and we still had an hour to kill after the sundae, so instead of taking up a table our server could turn, I decided to head on over to the Redlands Bowl down the street. I LOVE IT THERE.

We sat under a shade tree, and Johnny finished his homework, and I listened contently to

a lone saxophone player practicing on stage.

It was fabulous.

He was really great.

After each song, Johnny and I enthusiatically clapped for him.

I felt badly that I didn't have any spare change or paper money on me to give a homeless

man that wandered by and asked for help.

Next time we go, I'll have a sandwich ready and some cash.

He decided to have a seat on a park bench nearby and talk with me a little.

So there we were, my 10 year old, me and a little homeless man, listening to a

lone sax player in the park.

I felt like I should have been writing poetry or something.

***

So we headed to the High School, to pick up Alex, he was done at 5. When we got home, all the soccer practices and games had been cancelled due to the poor air quality, because of all the fires around us. I didn't smell anything today, but last night was strong.

At 7, I had to head out, back to the High School to pick up my oldest from Football, and we saw the MOST spectacular sunset I have seen in a long time.

I hate fires... but they sure do make for a lovely sunset. The sun looked beet red, and there were deep purples and oranges, and salmon colors all over.

Gorgeous... but sad... that a tragedy was the reason for the loveliness.

I forgot my camera... it would have been a great one to catch.

***

It was a good day. Quiet, and serene.

When do they get out of school again???

Money Monday

I know you had heard that time = money.

But do you know how true that really is?

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I know you've also heard that if a Mama were to be paid for all the things she does for her family, she would need to be paid something like 2 millions bucks a year...

*

I was thinking of this today, Mother's Day.

I have been a huge fan of multi tasking from way back... from birth... like most women.

Come on... you know and I know that we can all talk on the phone, fold the laundry, nurse a baby, and cook dinner at the same time.

*

Today, I'm going to talk about cooking for our families, and things we can do to simplify this task, chore, delight... whatever you think of it.

For those of you whose HUSBANDS do all the cooking...

I HATE YOU... I REALLY AND TRULY HATE YOU...

Ahem....

Now for all of us NOT so blessed... This post of for YOU!

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I have a blog that I don't write in very often right now, but it is still active...

and I really like the blog.

It's called

Cook Every Day and Stay Sane

I really and truly do each and every thing I write about on that blog.

IF YOU NEED HELP ON HOW TO CUT DOWN ON THE TIME AND ENERGY you spend every evening cooking and planning meals... please visit this blog.

I haven't written on it in about three weeks, but not because it isn't valid... it's because of that stupid snack bar I'm running. I only get time to write for one blog, and this one is my main one.

***

So go visit it and tell me if you can use any of the concepts I came up with.

Have you noticed... this blog is called crazy, and that one is called sane.

Hmmmm....

Maybe cooking is my Zen, and I didn't even know it.

*

Saving time equals MONEY in the bank to me.

My MEMORY MAKING BANK. The less time I am prepping and slaving in the kitchen, the more time I can teach and help my kids cook with me and we can enjoy ourselves in the kitchen... hurry and worry free.

Prep is the key to success in the kitchen. Hands down.

Check it out.

Name Brand or Generic? Does it Matter?

In answer to the title of my post... "It depends."

Am I right... or am I right...

Certainly, we can all attest to buying Generic or Name Brand Groceries...

Most of the time... generic or STORE BRANDS cost less...again I say MOST of the time.

*

I know people who would rather die than buy anything generic.

Me? Not so much.

There are a lot of great store brands out there that taste and function the exact same as name brand. But like anything and anyone else... there are a few things that I don't or don't want to buy generic.

1. Toilet Paper. "Nuff said.

2. Foil... generic stuff tears all over and is hard to get out of the box.

3. Toothpaste... I just won't buy generic toothpaste.

4.sandwich bags, ziplock... generic leaks and tears easily

5. Shampoo... hey, my Mama is a hairdresser...she won't let me... so she brings me the gallon sized Paul Mitchell or Joico or Goldwell.

***

But buying most items generic is a great way to save money, and one shouldn't be embarrassed to buy generic. Have you tried the Kirkland Signature brand at Costco? It is AWESOME!

I will ALWAYS buy the Kirkland brand if it's offered. It's ALWAYS dollars cheaper than anything else, and it functions and tastes great!

***

How about Smart N Final? Get a free SmartVantage Card and it saves dollars... not cents.

I also like their generic brand of goods. Virtually no difference in flavor or function...

***

Some grocery store brands are great. Try them. Your wallet will thank you!

Make a deal with yourself this month, to buy as many generic brands of the products you use, and put the money saved into a piggy bank for something you want to save for.

Watch how fast it grows.

***

Here is a list of my favorite items to purchase store brand

~

Paper Towels

Toothbrushes

Glass cleaner

Cereals

Coffee (ground)

Coffee filters

Flour

sugar

oil (veg)

vinegar (white distilled)

pickles

cheese

milk

yogurt

OJ(our store brand is better than national brands.. hands down)

jelly

jam

Olives

and so on, and so on...

***

I rarely spend more than $100 at our local supermarket for groceries, for my family of 5, three of whom have hollow legs and eat 24/7.

Costco is another story...but I always end up buying beach towels, batteries by the billions,

and cool shorts and shirts for the men...

BUT!!!

The prices are awesome on the grocery items, so it doesn't hurt the wallet to buy the other items

once in while.

***

What items are your MUST HAVE name brand, and what items can you get generic and be fine with?

It really is a great way to save a little money, and buy something of lasting value instead of food and other groceries for too much money. I'd love to see your lists!

Money Monday... brown bagging it.

Brown Bagging it... It's okay... no one will laugh at you!

*

My kids have NEVER purchased lunch at school... Okay.. maybe three times... but that's it.

We already pay exhorbitant tuition, buying lunch tickets for three kids at $60 each, per month, was an added expense I just didn't see was needed.

I have two hands, I know how to make a sandwich.

Have you ever wondered how much money you can save by having your kids brown bag it to school everyday? Let's do that math. Let's also lowball it.

Let's say you have 2 kids, and school lunch is only $2 a day each.

If they go to school 280 days, you have spent $1120 on inferior, calorie laden, deep fried,

high fructose corn syrup drenched, "food".

Instead if you made their lunch, or like my kids now... they make their own lunches, you would only be spending about $500 a year, and YOU WILL KNOW EXACTLY what their food has in it.

You know and I know that it's more that $2 for lunch as most schools. So imagine the money saved if you make the lunches.

*

I know... You don't have time.

I'm gonna be hard core now, and say this...

Everyone likes to say how busy they are... but we all make time for things that are important to us. Otherwise...bowling leagues wouldn't exist so prevalently. Catch my drift?

*

Make it EASY on yourself.

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1. Teach your kids how to make their lunches.

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2. Have a variety of things for them to choose from to take as snacks. There are lots of nutritious alternative to chips and sugar drinks.

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3. Make all the lunches on Sunday nights and freeze or refrigerate them for the week.

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4. Mix it up... offer soups, left over pizza, yogurt and granola, bananas dipped in yogurt and rolled in granola and frozen, PB & J, Nutella, Tuna, Egg salad, Roast Beef etc...

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5. Shop in bulk. Stock up on Granola bars, nuts, carrots, celery, hummus, ranch, 2 oz plastic cups, pretzels, cereal in large quanity bags, and BAG THEM YOURSELF. You'll save sooo much money if you don't pay for the company to bag them for you.

***

What about you Mom and Dad?

Are there lunches and meals you eat on the fly that you could have brought from home and saved that $10? More than once a week?

The amount of money YOU WILL SAVE by brown bagging it is exponential compared to the kids lunches.

Before we had kids, I would make Bill's lunch every. single. day. for him. After we had kids, I felt like my time had gotten away from me.

One month, I was curious as to why we never seemed to get ahead each month.

I grabbed two high lighters and began highlighting the debit card statement

and each meal out Bill had purchased.

This was abut 10 years ago... and do you know that he ate $700 worth of food

going through a drive thru window?

$700

The very next day.., Bill's lunch was ready for him in the refrigerator again.

I was busy... but not so busy that I couldn't make time to make my hubby a sandwich right along with my kids.

That is a lot of money.

It's called the "Latte Factor" in terms of money.

How many Starbucks runs do we make?

How many times is it 'Just a coke" in the drive thru?

How many candy bar cravings do we have at the vending machine?

They all add up... and add up big.

***

Do you smoke?

That's another money bleeder.

$5 a pack.

Add it up.

It's really high... especially if you smoke a lot.

***

How about going through the drive thru after work to feed the kids?

Do that even once a week, and it's an extra $884 a year out of your wallet, and into the

toilet...literally.

***

Now... make a list of all the things you want to do in the next month. For example... do you want to take a college class? join a gym? buy a new outfit? get your hair done? whatever!

If you end up with more month than money, change just one thing that has to do with purchasing food, and see how quickly you can reach your goal.

***

I sure hope this helps!

Let me know!

Hit that comment button!

Monday... again!

I have been a crocheting machine lately.

I've made about 2o scarves, and my Mama is so excited to sell them at her beauty shop!

If she doesn't keep all of them for herself, she thinks they will sell well.

We'll see.

I'll post a picture of them really soon.

***

Will was out of school today because their sister school, RCS had a Golf Tournament.

Yeah... no school for golf. Go figure.

But... it's an awesome fund raiser, and private schools need lots and lots of money since we don't get any money from the state or city government, so here's hoping it went really well.

***

So Will and I had a nice day together. I'm not used to having someone home with me during the day anymore, so it was weird when I was talking to myself, or just burst into song at any given moment because I got the urge too, that someone heard me and said stuff like...

"Uh Mom... do you always have full on conversations with yourself?"

To which I replied... "Of course! You didn't know that the second you turn 21 it is REQUIRED by law and the higher power of genetics that adults talk to themselves? Sheesh! Get with the program! Dude... I even ANSWER myself! How 'bout that!"

For about 3 seconds he stood there, mouth open, pondering that thought, then said...

"Ha! Good one Ma!"

What eva!

***

We went to the bank to get William an account, and they wouldn't open one for us.

It seems kids need California ID's now, not just student ID's.

I've had a bank account since I was 6 months old!

I bet if we had gone just three short weeks ago, it would have been no problemo.

It's okay...no 14 year old needs checks or a debit card anyway.

But he will need one soon.

We are already teaching him to drive...so he'll be needing to pay for gas somehow!

***

Well, hubby is keeping a place warm for me next to him for our weekly date in front of the boob tube... we watch Heroes together.

Gotta go...

Manic Monday

Well, right now I am supposed to be at our local Market Night.

Needless to say... if I am typing this... I am not there.

Alex blew chunks in class today, and Daisy is not acting right, so I have 2 sick patients today and I just couldn't leave.

I was all ready to go too.

I sure hope they don't drop me from the roster. Today couldn't be helped.

***

I asked Alex if he was embarrassed he heaved in the classroom, and in true blue boy form he said "Heck no! They're lucky I got to the trash can in time, I was ready to blow!"

When I asked why they didn't call me he said it was only 2o minutes before carpool and also I'm always saying they can't miss school unless I see them cough up a lung, and he didn't see a lung... so he didn't ask them to call!!

LOL! That kid! It's so true!

I'm not the "Mama, I don't feel well enough to go to school today" pushover.

Show me the lung! Hee hee!

Worst. Mama. Ever.

Whatev~!

He is feeling better now. He is helping Daisy push fluids.

She isn't eating, so she needs to stay hydrated.

I'm also not a dog-in-the-house girl, but today, she has been in with me all day.

She hasn't moved.

Poor little girl.

***

Have any of your seen the Oprah on today?

I am not one of her biggest fans, but as I was looking through the mish mash of all the things taped on my DVR, the internet predator one caught my eye.

I "watched" it while cooking dinner tonight and I was completely astounded at what I heard and saw. Watch it. Not with kids in the room.

It's heart breaking but very important.

My kids have NEVER been able to spend the night at ANYONE'S house, ever (except grandparents) and now my resolve is more so.

Oh. My. God.

I am probably going to remove all pictures of my kids from my blog, and only show feet and hands and the backs of them.

I have already made a rule for myself to be responsible and never post a picture of someone else with out their permission, especially children, but now, I won't be posting anyone else, I don't think.

Watch it and tell me what you think.

Manic Monday

I finally got to talk to William last night!

I hadn't heard from him all day, and was getting worried!

He sounded tired and happy.

He haD so much to tell me!

He was one of the only kids that didn't throw up during a heavy pulling exercise.

He was told he would vomit from the exertion, and he was so proud he didn't.

Here was my reaction to being told something he was doing could have caused involuntary chunk blowing...

"WHAT? THROWING UP FROM PULLING A 75 LB. SLED? WHAT? THIS IS A COMMON PRACTICE? ARE YOU KIDDING? WHY ARE YOU THERE? WHERE IS YOUR COACH?"

Bill then calmly pulled my phone from my ear, and talks to Will and says...

"Stud! How's it going? You didn't blow? Cool! That means you're strong, dude! Are you getting hit yet? Did you get your pads? How many people have you knocked down?"

I was incredulous!

All that stuff was COMMONPLACE!

And William was ENJOYING himself doing it!

He was going to plow into people, and vice versa! Soon!

I'm not stupid... I've seen football games, and have even cheered at them!

BUT NOT MY BABY!

HE'S TOO PRETTY TO GET HIT!

NNOOOOOO!

So then Bill says to me... "Oh honey... it's fun... he sounds so happy... hitting people is what football is about... it's fun"

Here's what I heard... "blah, blah, blah, fun, hitting people, blah, blah , blah!"

Oy Vay!

***

So last night, I did our little community Market Night. I am usually NOT a fan of doing those things, but I HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME!

I met sooo many great people, and got my Mom a catering job with the city!

So cool!

Next month, it will be a proper Market Night, with fresh veggies and other produce, and they will shut down a street in town.

I can't wait!

Manic Monday

Poor William.

I picked him up tonight from practice and his long day at school and he is just exhausted.

It's 8:30 and he's already in bed.

He loved football though.

He says he can feel himself getting stronger and faster every day.

I need to record that "Six Million Dollar Man" Ne ne ne ne ne ne ne music and play it for him

when he comes through the door or lifts weights.

Make him feel like the Hercules he is.

***

We found out that "hell week" on his team is a week where they stay at school the entire week.

Morning. Noon and overnight.

While I wasn't thrilled about it... he will be able to attend. I don't want him missing out on the fun of High School. It will be a memory building week for him, and I don't want to spoil it.

I will just have to grin and bear it, and worry all week long.

***

Bill and the other boys are busy working the tournaments across the street this week.

I think tonight is the last one.

I hope it all slows down just a bit so we can get some more camping in.

***

As for me, I am nursing my hurt leg back to health.

I swam today to loosen it up and it is feeling much better.

***

Thank you all for reading me. I haven't thanked you in a long time...

and I really appreciate all of you!

Manic Monday

I got all those colored sheers I was telling you about.

You know, the ones I am stringing around my entire backyard patio?

Bill put them up yesterday morning.

I thought it would look a little better than it does.

I should have stuck to three colors like I normally do, but noooo, I had to buy 5.

I need to get more of them, so I'll just order more in my three favorites and use the other ones elsewhere or on something else.

I'll take pictures another day.

I had the right idea, just not the right color combos. That's what I get from ordering from a catalog and not shopping it in person.

***

Will started summer school this morning. That poor kid.

He has school from 8-12 and practice from 3-7, and because I am so cheap, I'm leaving him there all day, so I don't have to drive back and forth to Redlands 4 times a day.

Besides, he'll have tons of homework he can do there, in an air conditioned library.

He called me after class. He said they already finished chapter 1 today, and took a test.

He laughed, he said this must be what college will be like.

***

I got an e mail from The cutest blog on the block today, telling me my white background will be around for a few more days. They are getting a larger server, then I can change my background at will again!

Thanks, Kim, for saying the plain background is so not me! That was sweet!

***

Since I had to get up at stupid o'clock this morning to get Will off to class, I did my shopping and looked at new cell phones. Decisions, decisions. My Razr V3 is awful. Everytime I charge it up, it gets super hot, and it's my second one, after replacing it with the first one that did the same thing! So now I am looking at Shines or Blackberry's. I really don't need a high zoot phone.

Just a phone, camera and a qwerty would be nice.

***

I appreciate all the feedback about my altercation with the "lady" and private schools.

Something else happened today while I was out and about, but my fingers are too pooped to push today.

***

Bill and I are also looking at getting a new car. We are keeping the Expedition, it's paid off and fits all the boys gear, and us all at once.

Bill and I decided it's time for a little indulgence and we are going to get us newer convertible.

I told him we should sell the Mustang Conv we have in our driveway, it's a V-8 and an 83.

He says no. Ever the saver, he likes that its a "classic". What. Ever.

It's mainly for me, so I can put put around without using the Expedition all the time.

I want a Jeep Rubicon or a Chrysler Sebring or a Mustang.

He just wants another Mustang. If we get one... it's going to look like a Ford dealership on our front yard. Bill's work truck is a Ford, we still own the Bronco, the Mustang, the Expe and now the new one, if we get it.

Too funny. My Father in Law drives the Bronco for us at his house. We didn't want it sitting around collecting dust, so he uses it, and we are teaching William to drive it in on my Father in Laws property in Hesperia. He has 5 acres, so William can't kill anyone. We hope.

He loves it. Before the gas hike, that was going to be Will's car, but he won't be able to afford the gas and buy the things he wants, so we will just get him a v-6 or 4 cylinder something, but still on the big side. I don't understand people driving around tuna cans. They can get really hurt!

It seems like yesterday I was cooing at my little William, and now I am talking about him driving!

Wow! It's been a great 14 years so far!

It hasn't gone by as quickly as some say, since I am around for everything that goes on with those kids. Every. waking. moment. 24/7/365. :)

***

Alex is playing tonight @ 5:30, so I couldn't go to the game because I have to pick William up from Football practice.

Pray they WIN!

Manic Monday

So much for us having a lazy, crazy summer vacation.

William started Football practice today at his new high school, and on Monday, he is starting summer school so he can get a required class out of the way so he's not carrying 6 academic courses in the fall.

Practices start at 3:30 p.m. and go until 7 p.m. SO, here is what I plan on doing.

I've made a list of things I can make for dinner quickly and easily that transport well, and Alex, Johnny and I will eat dinner at around 6 p.m. at the school, and Will can eat at 7 p.m. when he is done. Oh yeah, I forgot to say that I will not be driving back and forth from Redlands during the practices, we are just gonna stay and plan on doing some fun stuff there.

***

We are going to do our reading, math and spelling exercises for one hour, under a lovely tree there, in the shade. We will breathe deeply and enjoy the outdoors during that time.

Then we may head on over to Downtown Redlands for a nice stroll at the shops and who knows, maybe an ice cream some days. Some days we will head over to the Smiley library and sit in the air conditioned peace and quiet of a gorgeous library. I am also going to ask the Police Dept. around the corner to arrange a time for a tour of their facility. One day, I plan on surprising them with a trip over to Color me Mine around the corner from their school and do some painting. In the interim, the back of my car will be filled with puzzles, balls, badmittion, games and activity books.

Sounds like a plan to me. Now I just have to wrap my head around it all, and get it into action.

***

Today, I shopped again, and spent more of my gift certificates. This time it was Bed Bath and Beyond, and I went CRAZY! I got a really cool knife block, a hands free soap dispenser, some kitchen organization stuff, an ingenius new colander, some new 800 thread count sheets, a new bread board, some new hot pad holder thingys, and a new Olive Oil bottle. Whew!

I still have a Michaels, Nordstrom, Itunes and Macy's cards to use! Woo Hoo!

Birthdays are GOOD!

Johnny and I were alone tonight during Will's practice so he was treated to Starbucks and Barnes N Noble. That kid loves books!

***

So, I don't know when we will get to use our cool new patio with all this running around we are gonna do, but at least it'll all stay clean!

Monday, Monday

It's quiet today... so far.

We had fun today.

While Will was at his weight lifting, we finally went shopping for Johnny's Bday gifts. He got a pair of skates and a power wing scooter. He is still pretty easy to please.

***

Then I went shopping... I spent some of my birthday money. I bought a really cool water fountain for our back patio, and a new wrought iron couch for the patio too.

I'm getting a love seat and a coffee table next week, when they go on sale. I so hate paying full price when I know they are going on sale, (because the sales lady clued me in) (so nice!).

***

So now Bill is out back putting it all together. So exciting!

We are in the planning stages of our outdoor kitchen now. Sketches and plans are soon to follow.

I already know what I want it all to look like. I always do. I am an easy shopper too. I just know what I want, when I find it, I get it. When we were building our kitchen, it took me less than an hour to shop for absolutely everything I wanted. Bill was awestruck. I think he thought I was going to be like most women and lament over color, texture, this or that and be indecisive.

On the contrary... he was the one saying... "Are you sure you don't like this better?" I would just say... "No, let's move on, more things to get."

Our cabinet builder wanted to show me tons of books, he was ready with 5 inch thick books for me to ponder. I opened to a page, pointed to the ones I wanted, chose the color, and asked how long it would be before he could come by to measure. It all took about 2 minutes for me to shop.

He said... "Okay, now what do I do with the hour until my next appointment?"

So I showed him the appliances I wanted, and we were done in about 10 minutes flat.

Sometimes he calls and asks how everything is in the kitchen, (he came by when it was newly finished and took pictures of it for a brochure he was making) and then he tells me how he wishes all his clients were like me. So nice!

I shop like that for everything. Except shoes. Those take time... I love shoes!

***

OH! I forgot to mention that

ALEX MADE ALL STARS!

He was very excited. So are we.

Yahoooo Alex! aka Princess, his team nickname. They all have nicknames.

He actually loves his. So weird. One of his coaches called him that because he always fixes his hair before he bats, just for me, and blows me a kiss.

Dorko.

But I love him. He is hilarious at all times.

I hope they do well. They sure are practicing a lot.

Good luck guys!

Are you living the life you want?

EULOGY Have you ever been to a funeral? Well, of course you have. Well, some of you might not have ever needed to, and if that is so… CONGRATULATIONS! *** For those of us who have attended one, have you ever listened to the Eulogy? Have you ever wondered what people would be saying about you if you were the one in the box? *** For example… “Uncle Percival was a wonderful person. He always had a smile on his face, Loved God, prayed every day, and was always willing to lend a helping hand. He lived every single day like it was his last, and never had any regrets. He never met a person he didn’t like. He always made friends wherever he went. He was the kindest, gentlest, most humble person ever, and he is going to be sorely missed.” *** Wouldn’t you love to have that said about you? In one short paragraph, I just said traits I hope I possess. But do I possess them? Not all of them. Do you possess any of them?

Would you like to? *** No I’m not going to sell you anything. I just thought it would be a nice idea to live a life that would make a great Eulogy someday. *** Here’s what I’m suggesting. Write your own Eulogy. I know, sounds a little morbid, but really… is it? Make it as fantastic, flowery, gushing and icky sweet as you can. Write down all the things you wish you were and all the things you know you are. Write down your hopes and dreams as if they all came true.

Write down how much you love someone else, and go into great detail about that love.

Write down all the places you want to go, and all the things you want to do, as if you have already done them! Explain in detail how captivating and sensational it all was!

Write down the risks you took with your business, or your finances and how they all paid off! Write down how incredible you felt when it happened! Write about how you built your church, helped the sick, volunteered, fed the homeless etc… *** Are you getting the picture? Live your entire life the way you want to live it in your Eulogy.

Now here is the tricky part. *** SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE LIVING UP TO THAT INCREDIBLE LIFE YOU JUST WROTE DOWN! Make it TRUE! Make that person COME ALIVE IN YOU! *** Now I know, we haven’t ever been to funerals where awful things have been said about the deceased… but I have been to a few where there were only a few words spoken because maybe that person wasn’t a good person in real life. For instance, “Bubba was a man. He was a man that lived a good long time. He was born in 1920 and died in 2000. He had beautiful blue eyes and always kept his grass trimmed” WHO WOULD WANT A EULOGY LIKE THAT! Not me! *** I would want to know if I touched anyone’s life… ever. I would want to know if my words helped someone else. I would want to know I was loved, cherished, and made others laugh with her. I would want to know that I had hair that other people coveted. (hee hee, weird I know, but oh so true!) I would want to have gone to every country that I want to visit, Greece, Tierra del Fuego, Rio, Australia, Fiji, Turkey, India etc… I want to have a home for each of my children, bought and paid for by the time they are ready to move out, and they only need to take over payments. I want to go to Law School, and participate in Speech and Debate tournaments. I want to have a hit cooking show on Food Network, and a crazy, whacked out, most popular blog that Oprah, Maya Angelou and Steve Martin love to read with a MILLION hits a day! I want to know that I was never a push over, and was kind to those less fortunate. I want to be giving and serving and loving and thoughtful and revered. *** Can you see where it’s going? The only way to do it… is to DO IT! So write it… keep it safe, but keep it where you can read it daily if necessary. Writing things down is POWERFUL BEYOND MEASURE. Reading them daily, is also. *** Won’t you try it? Let me know if you do. And really, even if you just get half of your Eulogy accomplished in your lifetime… how much sweeter was your life, because you chose the path ahead of time!

Catch up!

My computer is back!!! yahhhhooooo!

This thing has taken a quite a licken, and it keeps on tickin!

I am still going to buy a new one soon, but not so urgently now. I can take my time and peruse the merchandise now.

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OH! I BOUGHT A NEW BED! It arrives in 2 weeks! We got one of those temperpedic ones... but get this!!! It ALSO has the adjustable air chamber thingamabobber too! Way Cool! After 15 years, we were due for major luxury.

Bill is going to build a platform for it and then all I need is new carpet or maybe some tile in my bedroom. SSShhh, he doesn't know that part yet. I might just call Empire Today and surprise him with my "get it done" prowess!

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We had a baseball game tonight, we lost. My Father in Law came down to watch the game, and took the men out for pizza for Will's birthday.

I love it when he visits. He always makes me feel like a million bucks. He says the nicest, most well thought out things. My favorite thing he says is... "Saundra, I couldn't have asked for a better Mama for my grandsons, in the whole wide world, you're the best, they are so blessed to have you as their Mama." It could be a total crock, but I LOVE IT!

Boy it's nice to be back on my own computer. I hope it lasts. I'm not looking forward to plunking down major cash for something that takes up less than 2 feet of space... unless it is jewelry, of course. ;)

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Oh! Something else!!! I had Bill cut a couple inches of hair from my length!

WHY...OH... WHY.... don't I EVER remember that curly hair BOUNCES BACK after being wet?

WWHHHHYYYYY!

It totally was NOT his fault... I just said...

"Yeah, honey, 2-3 inches is fine... it's still long..."

OY VAY!!

I put that stupid blow dryer to my hair and watched it creep up... up...up on my shoulder.

My Mama is gonna laugh her butt off when she finds out.

She says I am too old to have long hair,

and I should go with a much shorter style now that I am almost 40.

Just for that... I will be the longest haired Nana you will ever see one of these days. ooohhhh, Maybe I'll even put some hot pink streaks in it!

I'll be a punk rock granny!

Nah! Too much work to keep up. I'll just wrap my super long grandma hair into two cinnamon buns of either side of my head and call myself Grandma Leia.

Yeah... That'll show my Mama.

MANIC MONDAY

I could have slept all day today.

Waking up this morning was difficult. It was an emotional week last week. It is so difficult to watch your friend suffer with the loss of a parent. She was such a Daddy's girl too.

It makes me mad... World War II war criminals live to be 100 and good men like Butch die at 69. It doesn't make sense.

Lots of undone things have started to pile up on me. I didn't do any prep yesterday... so I have to catch up today. I have 5 boxes of Pampered Chef sitting in my living room, waiting to be separated, I have to work the snack bar tonight at the baseball park, and my pool hasn't been getting clean because our filter needs to be replaced.

Yeah!!! Happy Monday!!!

There are some good things happening this week. I have 2 cousins from Pennsylvania coming to visit for a couple of days on their West Coast Birthday trip. I haven't seen her since we went to Toronto for a wedding few years back.

I got the ball rolling on all of William's recommendations and references today at his present school. It was soooo nice to hear how disappointed they were that he was leaving. I told them not to worry. They were gonna keep 2 Shavers for a couple more years. They were wonderful to be so kind.

So... that's it for now. I have to go prepare for dinners this week. You know how busy life is.

Sometimes I wish we lived a much simpler life... but then I realize it is a choice, and then I stop wishing, and try to put some simplicity into action.

Okay... more later...

Ciao Bellas!

Monday... Monday...

Could not get out of bed this morning!

Slept in until 6:30.

Got my kidlets off to school...

and got a phone call that made me very sad.

My friend Mari's Dad passed away on Saturday night.

Yes, Andrea, that Mari. We both know her.

He has been fighting Leukemia for about 6 months now, and slipped into a coma last week.

If you are a praying person, please keep her family in your prayers.

They are a very close, tight knit family, and she adored her Daddy so.

It kind of puts things into perspective for me. I will be calling my own Daddy today... just to see how he is. I haven't been able to see him as often as I'd like because of the sports schedule... but will certainly make more time. I just want to give him a big squeeze and tell him how much I love him today.

Bill said he was going to call his own Dad too. We just saw him Wednesday, and already it seems like too long.

I think maybe families should live on the same street. I know, it would be hard at times, but so convenient! Don't you think?

"Mom! I wanna run away! I don't like living here anymore" Johnny when he was 4 yrs old

"Okay, Grandma is waiting... go! Here's your suitcase, darling!" If she lived down the street.

Well. I'm gonna end now. It just doesn't seem appropriate to me all jovial today.

I'll post later...

Have a wonderful day all, and

Call your parents and tell 'em you love 'em.

Ciao!

Manic Monday

Yesterday I spent the day prepping for the week as far as meals go... and in between that

I made the MASTER SCHEDULE for our little family.

I took 3 huge pieces of paper, a tea tin, some markers and 5 peoples schedules and made a

humungous calendar.

Each of us has our own color and each and every day we had a sport, work, class, Asb event, or game we plugged it in.

I kinda wish I had never done it. It looks pretty daunting... to see the goings on for the next 3 months on 3 giant pieces of paper. On some days I have to figure out how to be at three places at once. In the next 3 months, we have exactly 2 days where none of us has to be somewhere else. Bill took one look at that thing and just stared at it. Yeah, big waste of time. It just served to overwhelm us. I love being organized, but to see all you have to do in one big reminder piece of paper, is just too much. I know everyone else's lives are just as hectic, might I suggest not putting it all down where you can see it everyday. It looks much to much like we are trying to invent time travel or something.

Baseball starts tonight! I just love our team! Such a great group of nice people!

On Saturday night, we went to the drive in. We saw 10,000 BC and Fools Gold.

Don't know what to say about 10,000 BC. It was different.

My boys loved it.

We couldn't get over how the cavemen had such awesome white teeth, and their bodies were just filthy! I love that they caught that little overlook by the movie makers.

The leading lady is one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen. She reminds me of Liz Taylor in National Velvet. They really made her eyes shine.

Okay, time for ear drops, coffee, watering my garden (I have lettuce and cilantro!)

and some long neglected Pampered Chef work.

Have a wonderful day!

Ciao!

"Just another Manic Monday"

There's a fungus among us... No, we don't have a disease... ha ha, we are doing

Science Fair Projects in the Shaver Household, as I am sure many of you are.

While my boys are responsible for doing all their own written, research, and journaling work, I like to take charge of the "Decoration" of the board.

Any suggestions on how to simulate mold, mildew and fungus on a Project board, without actually using said disgusting items?

Our back refrigerator looks like a penicillin farm!

No worries, everything is encased in heavy duty plastic.

It's kind of funny checking a refrigerator every day and HOPING for fungus! Sick and twisted, huh? We aim to please!

I could never be a biologist or botanist. I get too grossed out too easily. My boys, however, feel that the more disgusting the better.

I remember having to dissect a frog in 10th grade and a cat in 11th. Do they still do that?

I remember looking at the tag on our cat, who we affectionately called 'Humphrey BoCat", and reading that the cat was "certified" non house broken and died of natural causes. Yeah right.

I always liked science. In college, one of my Physiology courses took a field trip to a morgue and watched an autopsy (my professor was an assistant Medical Examiner). I fainted. Smelling salts smell REALLY TERRIBLE! Did you know that?

Oops, off on another tangent... back to the boys. So, yeah, we are trying very hard to grow some fungus and see which food group grows it the fastest. It seems to grow so quickly when you don't watch it, like all the time in the fridge... but this is taking a long time.

So I'm off to the craft store to buy some pukey color paper, and maybe some green slime, and some little patch of fur to make it look like fuzzy growth on the board. UGH!

Oh! I just looovveee being a Mama to boys. They have the best stuff!

They find the most happiness out of the simplest of disgusting things!

Hey, Let me know what your kids are doing for Science Projects!

We are doing Fungus

Jupiter

and Simulating Cyclones.

Have a great evening!

Buona Sera!