On One

Steve was on one this morning and his sarcastic juices were flowing.  Blame the fact he didn't have church meetings so he had to stay home this morning and help; blame the fact that was sore from pretending he had 17 year old muscle tone yesterday at Sun Valley; or blame the lack of caffeine on Fast Sunday...I don't know, but he was in rare form.  It made me laugh.  But, if it hadn't been for my awesome sense of humor I would have chosen to be offended.

For example...

Steve:  Jill, do you want to help me pick out a tie?
Me- as sentimental and sweet as they get:  Ahhh, when was the last time you asked me to pick out your tie?
Steve:  When was the last time you were awake when I put a tie on?

See what I mean?  On One.

When we first got married, Steve informed me he didn't like sarcasm and that he didn't want in in our home.   I informed him that those who don't like sarcasm don't know how to use it.  Well...he learned how in the past 13 years and he's learned well.

He has continued to be on one the rest of the day.  He even put and ice cold Diet Dr. Pepper can in my bed to wake me up from my nap this afternoon.  Cruel.

But I got him.  I made fun of him and his "seven-year-old" lunch today.  What adult out there eats a bologna sandwich with strawberry milk?  I also ate the bottom corner bite of his bunt cake tonight before he could.  It's the bite with the most frosting.  Take that Mr. Sarcastic.

obsession turned reality turned obsession again

It's really not this bad, but lately it seems this way.

We are feeling a bit cramped.

Nobody wants to sleep in the same room as Saylor so all three boys are sleeping in a 10X10 room.  

And Andrew and Colby take turns sleeping in a sleeping bag on the floor.

It's pathetic, but remarkably no one is complaining.

Andrew even melted my heart the other night when he asked Colby in the sweetest way known to mankind whether Colby wanted the bed or the floor.  Colby had gotten hurt and 

Andrew was trying to cheer him up.

It was a proud parent moment.

(They can be rare so I relish them when they happen)

But LUCKILY things will be changing soon.

Our basement is being finished this month and the entire family is giddy-especially me.

Here are a few pictures to document the progress.  

This week the framing and electrical is being done.

Carter and Colby's room.

Their closet is huge.

The bathroom.

I have SWEET plans for the cabinetry.  It is going to be beautiful.

Andrew's room.

The wall in front of the furnace will be extended.

The "extra" room.

It is pretty small to be considered a bedroom, so we will be using it as a storage room.  This shot was taken where the closet will be.  (other side of Andrew's bedroom wall)

I am in heaven and even the sound of hammering and sawing all day long doesn't bug me.

And honestly, there is nothing better than the smell of freshly cut wood...that you know is building a wall.

Awesome.

The Best Prayer Ever

Colby still asks for help with prayers, even though I think he is perfectly capable of saying them by himself.  He's pampered around here, and he knows it.  Steve helped Colby tonight and went through the usual, but not vainly repetitious, routine.

Steve:  Please bless the prophet.

Colby:  Please bless the prophet.

Steve:  Please bless the missionaries.

Colby Please bless the missionaries.

Steve:  Please bless Uncle Spencer that he can get into orthodontic school.

Colby:  Please bless Uncle Spencer that he can get into Arctic Circle.


Yeah...it was the best prayer we have had in a while.


Spencer, we love you and your family.
And wherever you end up, for Colby's sake, we hope you are close to an Arctic Circle.
Good Luck!


...and that you will fix our kids' gnarly teeth for free!

Better Late Than Never

I'm behind on everything lately.  

"Luckily" I have two sick kid-lets and have been forced to have a stay home from church slow-down.

Saylor is down for a very early nap so I'm taking advantage of the free time.  I should be cleaning bathrooms or something truly productive, but this is more fun.

Without further adieu....here are posts that should have been done days or weeks ago.

Last week we had a few warmer days and we ventured outside.

I'm excited for warmer weather and the picture taking possibilities.

I love being able to use a a low ISO number and a fast shutter speed.  Outdoor pictures are much better than indoor- at least when my house is concerned.

 I think Colby could pass better as Steve's sibling than as his son.

This kid is so Dixon it's almost ridiculous.

Even with super chapped lips and a runny nose Colby is the cutest.

Sayor got her first taste of what spring might be.

She ran around like a crazy woman experiencing freedom in the sun for the first time.

Out of hundreds of shots, this one is my favorite.  

Obviously, it was windy...and her hair is getting long.

I'm cracking down on the boys and expecting more help with chores.

This request has been met with mixed results.

Carter is in charge of sorting laundry.  He had the guts to tell me one morning that it was too hard to sort  laundry because he is color blind and can't tell the difference between lights and darks.

Way to exploit your weaknesses Carter.

Last Tuesday, hard work and superior craftsmanship payed off and Steve...oh I mean Andrew...won the Pack 180 Pinewood Derby.

Steve has worked really hard for three years to achieve this honor (once again...I mean Andrew) and as the "Blue Streak" won race after race, Steve's pride (Andrew's) grew greater and greater.

(I don't know if the car is really named the "Blue Streak"...I just named it that for emphasis.)

But no matter who really built this car, I'm proud of my Dixon boys.

Andrew loves his car and will be racing again at District in March.

Steve is already planning for Carter's first car next year and is super happy he has six more cars to build total between Carter and Colby.

...if you want Steve's Derby secrets, it will cost you.

It snowed four or so inches two days ago.

(dang Idaho weather)

The boys played all afternoon in the wintery wonderland.

Saylor stayed inside because of her cold...that and her mother didn't want to go outside with her.

I like to stay warm and dry.

The boys entertained her non-the-less at the kitchen door.

She was mesmerised.

I'm calling the next two pictures "Monkey See, Monkey Do"

Andrew WILL be washing my window as soon as it warms up...both sides.

lost my earring

Question you hope you never have to call your school secretary and ask...

"Um...Ms. Otero, I think I left my earring in Mr. Brullote's office earlier today, do you think you could go look and see if it is there?"

Now this could seem so inappropriate, but with the background information any reasonable person could see that it was indeed innocent.

(Oh Man)

My children's principal asked me this morning if I would do a reminder recording about the science fair registration deadline which is tomorrow.  The recording will go out to all the parents of my kids' school.

(heaven help me)

I am not thrilled that my voice will be heard in every Perrine students home tonight.

If you are one of my friends...please don't make fun of me.

If you are an voice over agent and think my voice is amazing...I'm willing to talk about a deal.

I took out my lovely gold hoop earring -it was a gift from my friend Alysia-and put it on his desk so it wouldn't clang against the phone when I was recording.

And I left it there.

Ms. Otero found it under his desk.

(Double Oh Man)

Other things I had to do over the phone today...

Read off lot number from every box of insulin pump cartridges we have because a few select had been recalled due to leaking and under delivery of insulin.  

I have about 15 boxes in my home at the moment.

5 of them were recalled.

Glad we hadn't used any of the recalled ones yet.

whining

I have to admit, I've been in the middle of a rut the last two weeks...the blues...a funk...down right witchy (if you are my spouse, you have full permission to replace that w with a b, I know I deserve it.)  Blame the weather, blame the mass quantities of brownies I have eaten, blame the alignment of the stars, blame whomever, but I'm waist deep in a pool of my own self pity these days.

It's getting ridiculous.  I've cried almost everyday in the last two weeks and extra on Sundays.  I struggle on Sundays.

Life is cyclic and just like everything else in the universe, I'm following the natural cycle of being up and then down.  My downs are few and far between, but when they come they are mean and deep.   And the deepness can be sticky and hard to climb out of.

The littlest of things has set me into a weeping-bitching fit.   Such as, my husband just mentioning my church music calling yesterday.  I wanted to crawl back into bed and not come out until my release date is announced.  (sounds more like prison sentence than a church calling...feels like one too)  It would be unladylike of me to expound on this one, idol gossip too...so I'll stop on this subject while the stopping's good.  But let me tell you 2 1/2 callings is way more than this mother of four can handle at the moment.   And...I fully realize I just gave up any blessings in heaven by writing this, but for the moment, a laminate floor in my heavenly mansion is a-o-k with this sinner.  Hand scrapped mahogany is overrated and hard to clean anyways.

I'm also struggling with the unknown and soon to be expected.  This is the first year I am in charge of my boys' elementary school science fair.  I'm overwhelmed with what I need to accomplish in the next three weeks, and some of the items on my "check off" list are just too daunting.  Such as, the ominous phrase of "contact the media"- this is killing me.  Things that are outside of my comfort zone, indeed make me stronger, but are really really difficult for me to tackle.  I don't like trying new things-plain and simple.  I keep telling myself that next year will be easier and that I just need to make it through the next three weeks.

...just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

And if the Times News doesn't hear about the science fair this year, I could really give a whip.

But I'm tired of feeling this way.  I'm ready for a little happy.  I'm ready for a morning when my regular routine seems fun again.  I'm ready for a day when my biggest joy isn't the pint of 340 calorie per serving ice cream.  I'm ready to feel like me again-14 or so days of not being me isn't so swell.  I'm ready.

And if I have to go to a tanning bed (so morally against it), take mass quantities of vitamin D or run three miles in 20 degree weather to find me again, I'm going to do it.



However, I did find $22 in the dryer and I organized the boys room today...so maybe things are looking up.


...now off to my little 340 calorie place of happiness.   I think I'm ready to downsize to a little spoon tonight.  Yep...things are looking up.

That, and the ladle is dirty in the dishwasher.

Saylor's Favorite Breakfast and a few indecent photos

Finding food that my 15 month old (yes, 15 months old as of today) will eat regularly is getting to be a bit of a challenge.  She has weeks where she will eat whatever I give her and then weeks where nothing but chocolate chips will satisfy her palate.

This week she is loving pancakes- could eat them for every meal.

 In fact, this morning she wouldn't stand up to get out of her crib until I mentioned the word "pancake" and then she was up like a rocket, clapping her hands together with joy.

So in Saylor's honor, I thought I would share my favorite pancake recipe for the moment.

It was originally my Grandmother Walker's recipe, but I have tweaked it a bit.  I've added whole wheat flour and substituted the sugar for applesauce.  The kids can't tell the difference and they are still light and fluffy- and don't leave you with that "I just ate white flour and sugar for breakfast and feel like a bloated manatee" feeling.  

-just saying-

Saylor's Pancakes

1 C whole wheat flour

1 C white flour

2 T baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/4 C apple sauce

1/4 cup veg. oil

2 C milk

2 eggs

Sift all dry ingredients together.  Add wet ingredients and whisk together just until moistened.

Drop onto preheated griddle, I set my stove at medium low.  Flip over when tops get dry looking and puffy.

Makes 2 dozen medium pancakes.

I love them with peanut butter and maple syrup.

AND NOW THE INDECENT PICTURES!

I'm hanging my head in Happy Hour shame.

She fished this bad boy out of the trash.

Sick.

Luckily I drank all the soda and what was left was a brown Diet Dr. Pepper water slush mixture.

The 10 year old using the facilities will not be named, but I think Saylor was trying to brag about her stolen trash treasure.

And really, what would life be like without a good Star Wars undie shot?

(looks like I need to put a little more peanut butter on this bone rack's pancakes)