The List

Tonight I made up a shopping list for Steve.  It mostly had items on it to make homemade ice cream.  Oh yeah...I'm getting really good at making ice cream.  Our newest flavor, which turned out amazing tonight is lemon cream.  But I digress...the shopping list.  Steve was reading it back to me and it went a little like this:

-whipping cream-

-milk-

-lemon cookies-

-oreos (for the oreo ice cream tomorrow)-

Colby then chimed in and told Steve that he needed some chocolate chips.  Steve grabbed a pen and added it to the list. 

"You're buying him chocolate chips, just like that?" I asked.

"Well...its on the list!"

I grabbed the list and added a few things to it.  The list now read:

-whipping cream-

-milk-

-lemon cookies-

-oreos-
-chocolate chips-

-new table-

-weekend alone with Steve with no children-

Steve read my additions and then wrote in his own:

-new truck with boat-

I finished the list with this:

-vasectomy-

...Steve left after I added that.

The 'Vette

Steve brought home a real "beaut" of a car Monday afternoon.

He tried really hard to convince me that he had traded the car for dental work.

I wasn't fooled

(Actually, I thought he was telling me that he traded his car for it.  Why in the world would someone trade a Corvette for a '97 Accord???)

But the boys believed him.

The excitement was short lived, however, when we broke it to the boys that Dad had only borrowed the car over his lunch hour.

They took turns taking rides and racing the car down the street.

Might as well enjoy it while you can.

I will never understand why boys love cars like this.  It it because they look like the match box cars they grew up with?  It it the loud engine?  It it the flame-like paint colors?  Is it because they think girls are impressed?

I will never understand.

...speaking of other things I will never understand- my almost ten year old son.

Today he froze a pack of tic tacs half submerged in water in the freezer.  Random!  

He also insists on taking off his shirt whenever he gets the chance.  I'm constantly giving him the "put your shirt on right now or else" look.  My eyebrows are getting sore from the glares.

Um

Reread my post from yesterday.

I was a grump.

Feeling much better today (less hormonal I guess) and have decided to be less grumpy.

Who wants to be around a grump anyway?


Feeling better overall.

Except for Andrew...he has strep again.   Chills, sore throat, fever--the works.
Poor little man.

Pity Pot

I'm too tired to write tonight, but my brain is full and whiny and I need to verbally spew so I can sleep.

I'm frustrated with life and the unfairness of it all.

(Boo Hoo)

So- tonight I'm sitting on my pity pot whining about it.

For the last four (???) months or so I've been running.  (YES...exercise running, not running to the fridge...please close your jaw, it's impolite to let it hang like that.)

This is a miracle for me.  Because I don't run.  I've never run.

However in the last few months I've learned to love running.

I even love the sweating.  (don't pass out...yes I really wrote that.)

I'm up to running about four miles at one time.

(please realize that these are not fast miles, but they are miles just the same)

I was hoping to run the Rim to Rim race this September in honor of my (cough cough) 33rd Birthday.

It's about 7 miles.

I want to do this to feel powerful- to feel in control of my own body- for the sense of accomplishment of something I have never done before- something hard- because I want to do hard things.

But tonight I've had the cold realization that there is no way on God's green earth that I have time to train for this race.  And I'm really sad about it.

So sad, I want to sit in the fetal position and cry.  But that would freak out my husband, so I'm writing this whiny post instead.

I have a nursing baby.

If you have ever nursed a baby you realize the fact that running in the morning after a baby has not eaten all night long is not an option- especially if this baby does not take a bottle.

Morning runs are out.

I have three other children and a husband who need a functioning mother and wife.

Running at night and leaving all the night time responsibilities to Steve is not an option either.

(When it didn't get dark until after 10:00 I could run.  It's getting dark closer to 9:30 now and I value my life.)

My treadmill is in the basement...where my oldest sleeps.

Running inside at night is not an option.

I have four children.

Running inside during the day has never proven worthwhile.

Too many sugars to check, bums to be wiped, babies to be held...and so on and so forth.

So here I sit whining about the entire situation because life is unfair.

I've finally found something I like to do that is just for me...and I can't do it.
I don't have time.  That, or I don't know what else can be sacrificed so I can have time.

I have absolutely no idea how other mothers do everything.

How? How? How?

How do they...keep their house clean, fix meals, do laundry, take children to lessons and activities, read scriptures, prepare lessons for Sunday, help with homework, keep up the yard, prepare fabulous family home evenings, make homemade bread, churn the butter, milk the cow...blah blah blah...and STILL find time somewhere in there to exercises and take care of themselves?

If any of you mothers have advice on how to do everything, I really am all ears.

Signed, 

Frustrated and not exercising becomes moms always come in last.

Weekend: The Good...The Bad...and The Truly Pathetic

The Good:

Steve took the boys camping this weekend.  It was three fun filled days of dirt, campfires, smores, canoe rides...and obviously no baths or hairbrushes.

(Can't you just smell the inside of this tent??)

It was even better that they didn't take me.

I don't do "nursing baby in the woods."  Maybe next year. (or not)

One afternoon was spent panning for gold.

(I think Steve knew he needed a little extra income to cover my Boise shopping trip.)

Hurray for the Airstream and it's flat screen tv. 

 Little boys can't live without electricity for too long.

MY only question was"Where was the LIFE JACKET?" 

 Steve informed me the water was only chest high on Andrew.

Ghee Whiz...give the mom a heart attack!

Oh, and the best part of this camping trip- me and my mom in Boise.

The clearance racks at Carter's and Oshkosh outlets were freak show fantastic!

(hopefully the camping/shopping trips will coincide next year too.)

The Bad:

We broke the sabbath yesterday.

As you can tell from the above pictures, my children needed haircuts in a bad way!!!

Steve cut their hair on the back lawn last night.

The ox was in the mire, really it was.

Too bad however, because Carter and Colby's hair had turned the most darling shade of honey gold from the sun.  I was learning to love my blondies.  

They are dark haired again- but at least you can see that they have eyes and ears now.

This little chick if fully mobile.  It's driving me CRAZY!

I'm quickly realizing that I need to vacuum more.

She is also a picky picky eater...as in she will eat nothing but what I can personally provide.

She's starving (doesn't she just look like she is starving?) and I can't eat enough to keep her happy.

Baby food is a no go so my next step is straight mushed up table food.

Wish me luck.

The Truly Pathetic.

We had our cat for a entire month.  Notice I wrote "had."  

Gary the cat did not come home Friday night and hasn't been seen since.

The kids are besides themselves.  The tears have been real and furious.

We have searched the neighborhood and the neighborhoods around us.

We have put up fliers.  

(Please don't call my husbands cell number if you see these fliers and feel like prank calling someone.)

We called the shelter.

All to no avail.

The kids are now asking for a new cat.

If....we ever get a new one, I think we should build a fence and perhaps name it "Margie" or "Ardith"

(just a thought)

The Brave Ones

We traveled last weekend to Heber Utah for Steve's Trapnell family reunion.  It was crazy fun.

Because it was held at the Heber valley church camp, many fun exciting things were included in the price of camping. 

One such being...the giant swing.

All my boys were brave and decided to test  it out.

However...

this little man (all 27 pounds of him) was definitely the BRAVEST.

Here he is right before he pulled the strap to release the swing.

Um...that is a dang tall tree

...and a really small Colby.

Here is his frail little body being tossed in the wind.

Notice the smile...and the absence of fear.

Steve and I better watch out.  I think we might have thrill seeker on our hands.

(I am NOT telling him anything about the ladder under Perrine Bridge or a little thing called Pillar Falls.  No-Sir-Ree!)

Oh yeah, I tried it too.

This little miss did not ride the swing thank goodness...and will also not be camping again until she is at least three.  Babies and cabins with 15 other people trying to sleep do not mix.

Sorry Steve for the absence of pictures of you.

I will try harder next time.

Happenings

So in the past few days...

-Saylor started crawling.  She has been rocking on all fours for the past week and spinning in circles on her stomach.  And then yesterday, she took three little crawling scoots (one leg was tucked under) while the rest of us were eating dinner.  AHHHH!  I really am not ready for a mobile baby.  My house is a baby danger nightmare.  ...one more thing to add to the "must do" list.

-Andrew has strep, yet again.  I'm amazed how fast it can put him down for the count.  102 fevers, stomach ache, sore throat and headache are all part of the deal.  Thank you Dr. Brown for having an opening this afternoon.  Thank you also Target Pharmacy for your endless supply of Ammoxacillin- pink happiness in a bottle.

-While at Target waiting for our antibiotics, Andrew and I ventured down the Lego isle.  Um...Legos...on clearance...50% off?  Unheard of!  As Carter would say if he would have seen my cart full of Lego sets- BOO YAH!  Good thing Andrew no longer believes in Santa because Christmas and a few birthday are taken care of!  ...now where to hide eight Lego boxes...

-I've decided that D&B Supply is the best store in Twin Falls...to take kids that is.  The boys had a BLAST today when we stopped in to buy our cat's immunization shot.  (Really???  I have to pay for shots for a cat??  Like I don't have enough little persons to take care of and get shots for???  Now I have to worry about a cat too??  Gee Whiz.)  Anyway, the boys ran a muck in the store looking at bunnies, toy tractors, cowboy boots and whatever else they could try and get us to purchase for their own enjoyment.   Colby did leave the store in a massive tantrum because we would not buy him anything.  (Rotten kid.)  I also left empty handed after I tried on the cutest pair of cowgirl jeans I have ever seen.  They were too long and the detailing on the hem wouldn't allow for altering by my personal seamstress (aka: Mom)...unless I bought a pair of cowgirl boots to match.  I'm tempted...oh so tempted. 

-Andrew is turning ten in a couple of weeks.  For his birthday, besides the massive Star Wars Lego ship I got for a fraction of the original price, I tried something outside my comfort zone and made Andrew a book on Mpix with pictures from this last year.  I should be here in a couple of days and I'm dying to see how it looks.   He's a cute boy, he deserves to be published.

Ladies Man

Colby in the past few months has expressed interest in our cute neighbor Sydney. 

It has come to the point where Colby talks about marrying her almost on a daily basis.

Steve and I got a kick out of his obsession when standing next to the Target bridal kiosk, Colby informed us he could touch the forbidden keyboard- because he was going to marry Sydney when he grew up. 

We laughed for days.

Earlier this week, Colby cracked us up again when he got mad at me when I wouldn't let him buy flowers for Sydney at Costco.

(I almost gave in.)

I reassured Colby that he could give his dearest Sydney flowers from the garden when they came into bloom.

This afternoon Colby was in luck.  The sweet peas have bloomed.

Carter and I picked the flowers and then Steve and Colby walked over to Sydney's house.

Waiting patiently at the door.

His love has arrived.

The transfer.

The awkward moment...

Sweet reciprocation!

This grin tells the entire story!!!

While walking home from Sydney's house, Colby asked Steve if Steve would drive he and Sydney to the temple when they grew up.

Steve said yes...but only after Colby gets back from his mission.

(Hopefully Sydney will wait.)

Pictures of people I love the most...

even if they sometimes act like this.

...now if we could only swing pictures with my Dixon family.  Then I could gush over them too!

My mom talks about when we were little kids that her feet would hit the floor running.  That's how I feel at the moment.  My feet hit the floor running the minute I wake up and they are running until the second I fall asleep.

Despite my constant moving in whatever direction, I feel as if I can not keep up.  And this morning I came to this conclusion.  I, Jill Dixon, can either do one or two things really really well, or...I can do everything I am supposed to do, but they all will be done half a__.  This is frustrating me to no end.

Here are a few of the things I am doing only half a__ at the moment:

Cleaning

Laundry

Carter's summer homework

Gardening

Cooking (Except for the dinner I took into a ward member last night.  That was down right delicious.)

Summer activities. ( I did not take Andrew to swimming the last few days because I didn't want to drive across town twice in one hour.  Pathetic I know.)

Journal writing (aka blogging)

Friends  (I don't talk to or see a soul these days.  It's not on purpose, I just don't have time.)

Grocery Shopping.  (How many days can we live of cheesy chips and peanut butter sandwiches?)

Exercise.  (The one thing I SHOULD be doing for myself goes by the wayside to fit in everything else.)

I'm positive most moms feel this way.

I'm sure ONE day I will become amazing, grow super hero wings, and be able to accomplish everything I want to do in one day.

Until then, I'm going to go dish up myself some more ice cream.  

Eating is the one thing I never ever do half a__.

Miracle Worker

My photographer friend is a miracle worker.

She got this shot of my entire Walker family.  

All twenty eight of us- eight of us being under the age of four.

There were also gale force winds and a small case of the stomach flu that day.

I appreciate her.

I'm realizing more and more that I come from a dang good looking family.

And we're snazzy dressers to boot.

The shoes...ahhh...the shoes.

Once again, Thank you Kerrianne for your hard work.

These pictures are priceless and I wish I could post all 159 of them.

(I'll settle for under 20)

More family pics to come!

Recipes

I promised a few friends recipes...weeks...no, months ago.  

I promised I would email them.

I didn't.

So, I'm sorry.

And here are your recipes.

Snickerdoodle Cookies

1/2 C shortening

1/2 C butter

1 1/2 cup white sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp cream of tarter

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 3/4 C flour

Roll balls of dough in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/2 C white sugar

1 1/2 C brown sugar

1/2 C butter

3/4 C shortening

3 eggs

1 T vanilla

1 1/2 tsp soda

1 1/2 tsp salt

4 C flour

lots and lots and lots of chocolate chips

Bake 375 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Sunday Supper Waffles

2 C flour

4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt 

2 C milk

4 eggs- separated

1/2 C melted butter  (Original recipe calls for 1 full cup of butter.  I cut it in half because I didn't want to have a coronary episode in front of my children.  -but it's REALLY good with the extra butter!) 

Combine flour, baking powder and salt.  Add egg yolks to milk.  Whip egg whites until stiff.  Combine flour mixture with milk and egg yolks.  Mix until dry ingredients are covered.  Add lightly cooled melted butter and then fold in egg whites just until small egg whites still show.  

If I've promised you a recipe and you haven't received it (and you are still willing to be my friend), let me know and I'll try to get it to you in the next month or so.  

If you're lucky.  I work on my own time schedule.