The End of an Era...

I haven't even been able to blog about this because I have been in denial, but yes, my first child is actually leaving the nest in 10 days. No one ever told me that it would be this hard, or maybe I am just wired all wrong and it is especially painful and emotional for me. Whatever it is....this is really tough on me. I find myself bursting into tears at very random times. Even in the grocery store when I pass by the "Chalulah sauce" or some other favorite food of Alex's. Speaking of food...I need to add "always open the carton to check the eggs" to my list of things to tell him.....
I know he will be back before his mission, but I just don't think things will ever really be the same again.
We have been to several really great meetings lately revolving around the graduating seniors. Duty to God Recognition Night, Seminary Graduation, and Senior Recognition Night. I was a crier during all 3 of them. The moms were supposed to get up at Sr. Night and talk a little bit about their child. I couldn't even do it, I had to pass the buck to Lane whose tear ducts do not happen to be connected to his heart like mine.
It is not only Alex that I am going to miss, but all of his friends. I love them all so much and they are such great kids to have in our home. I always wanted our house to be the "hang out house" and even though it is smaller than most of his friends' houses, they somehow end up here most of the time and I totally love it. I know that Alex is going to have a blast at BYU Idaho and I am so excited for him. It just came alot sooner than I expected.
So for all of you who want to ring your 3 year old's neck for various reasons throughout the day...please believe me when I say, they will be leaving home before you know what hit you and you will want all of those days back!
One of my very favorite songs is called "Two Little Shoes".
The chorus says..."and each night I kneel. My heart sings a prayer. Thanks dear God for one little boy, and two little shoes on the stair...."

I will get through it. This is just a tough year for me: Oldest leaving home. Youngest going to school. Turning 40!
Pray for me :)

Cute Toes

Thought I would post a picture of my cute toes....a few days ago, 5 of my girlfriends and I all decided that we needed to treat ourselves to a little girl time and get some cute toes while we were at it. I went a little more conservative than some of them. Too bad none of us had a camera on us to get all 50 toes in the picture.
Anyway, it was fun and for my sisters who know I have never taken good care of my feet, I thought you would think this was funny! I use to BITE my toenails...probably still would except that I can't seem to get my foot in my mouth anymore (at least in that way haha)
So if you are having one of "those days".....try getting a fun pedicure!

Happy Birthday Lora Loo

It's about time I updated my blog and what better reason than to celebrate my not so little Lora Loo's 9th Birthday!!
That has become her nickname of choice as of late....the name by which she is known to her bosom buddies and her favorite grown-up Mr. Eyre
Lora definately has a special place in my heart, and although there are millions of reasons why I adore this little girl, I thought I would list my top 9:

1. She is witty
2. She makes great facial expressions when she talks
3. She uses words like HORRIFIC! RIDICULOUS! PATHETIC!
4. She thinks that Brownies and Reeses Peanut Butter cups are on the food pyramid
5. She eats peanut butter on a spoon for breakfast almost everyday
6. She can sing in the shower like no one else!
7. She has an anxiety attack when she hears the word "throw-up"
8. She writes amazing stories
9. All it takes is a giant hug to snap her out of a bad mood

ok, I can't stop at 9.....

10. She can't stand "hair bumps"
11. She takes a baggie of dill pickles each day in her lunch
12. She has a million collections going on in her closet
13. She wants to be Hannah Montana
14. Her Primary teachers think she is the quietest thing ever (whatever)
15. She LOVES her family
16. She loves Heavenly Father
17. She doesn't really want to grow up
18. She can make a toy out of anything
19. She has a great imagination
20. Her eyes light up when she smiles!

Lora is spunky and snorky and sometimes dresses dorky, but we love her with all our hearts! Happy Birthday Lora-loo

Vegetable Message?

I always think it is a good thing that I didn't have all boys because I am not a great scout mom. Oh sure, Alex got his Eagle when he was 14, but that wasn't because of me! This seems like a really lame complaint, but getting them ready to go out the door to their scout camps..is just not my favorite thing in the world...you know, scrambling to help them fit all their gear into a small backpack and cramming a million treats in there with it and then yes, making the TIN FOIL DINNERS! I admit, I don't like packing school lunches either. I always try to talk them into grabbing a pizza on the way up, but my boys have convinced me that nothing tastes better than a tin foil dinner made by mom.
So, last weekend, I was busy doing things around the house and realized that I needed to make 3 dinners (Lane, Alex and Abe)....I was murmuring.....
Well, the first potato that I pulled out of the bag was this one.
Need I say more??

Taking a Road Trip...

Well, Lane and I have decided to take advantage of my cousin April just having moved here and her willingness to come and stay with our kiddos while we get away. Having no family here has made it hard to do that very often. While I do have awesome friends who are always willing to help me out, it is still hard to get away for more than a couple days. April is still single and seems to LOVE my kids and they LOVE her right back, so I feel happy that they will all be having a good time. Not to say that she may be in for a shock when it comes down to taking over with all the running around I do with them. Anyway, Lane and I have been envisioning a road trip to visit many of our Usana associates in other states who need a little more help and training. Some hard work now, will set us up for some great residual income to be enjoyed later....that's the idea here. We are having a great time building this business and the friendships that we are making are truly the biggest benefit so far.
Let's see how well Lane and I do being together 24/7 for TWO WEEKS!! yikes, this could be scary girls....I may have to get up and post in the middle of the night and have some venting blogs....no, seriously, doing this together has really brought us closer and we are learning things about each other we never knew.
So, we are off to California, Vegas, Southern Utah, Northern Utah, Idaho and everywhere in between, so if you know of any great restaurants, free hotels or great sights to see that we may not know about...feel free to pass them along.
The weather is awesome here in AZ, so I realize we may be headed into cold country again. I better start digging around for something besides flip flops huh?

One more thing...I would like some opinions of what would be a fair pay to April. I have no idea. She will be driving our car and I will have the kitchen stocked with food, so she won't have those expenses. Mariah went to CA with a family on vacation last year to be "the nanny" and they paid her $400 for one week! Yikes...that is insane I think, but then again, they are loaded and they have babies to tend. So, Mariah, in her logical way, said she thought I should pay April $600-800.....WRONGO!!
Not that she isn't worth it, but c'mom...
So, any estimates would be helpful just so I have a rough idea.

Spiderwick Chronicles

I figured it was time to get that heavy post off there... SO, I thought I would ask if anyone has seen the new Spiderwick Chronicles with their kids yet? I gave Lora a coupon for a mother-daughter date for Valentines and she really wants to use it tonight. She wants to see that movie. Just wondering how it is...if anyone has seen it, let me know.

Sorry, if I shocked some of you with my last DESCRIPTIVE post. Hope I don't get into any trouble with blogger!
Well, today I am actually leaving my house a total mess and I am taking Emma to an open gym play for 2 hours with a friend. She is so excited about it. My house will be here waiting when I get back right? Maybe a little fairy will come in and clean it for me while I am gone....too bad you are all too far away. Hey, Christine, you live close by....ha ha
Abe gets to pass the sacrament for his first time Sunday. He used some of his birthday money to help buy a suit. He has tried it on ten times! He is so excited about it!
Have a great weekend everyone!

Standing for Something

Ok, I am going to open myself up here and voice my opinion. I think I have a reputation for that...I am interested to know what others think, because at the moment, I am feeling rather alone in this and I would like to know if anyone out there agrees with me. And if you don't.....that's ok, just don't tell me! ha ha
So here is the issue at hand:
Last week Abe's 6th grade teachers sent home a letter announcing that "Maturation Week" is coming up and there would be a parent meeting to preview the material that would be taught. The letter stated that they would be covering topics such as puberty and the birth process.
Ok, so I wasn't about to miss this meeting. Although, I had already pretty much made up my mind that I was going to not have Abe participate in this program, I wanted to be responsible and at least go and see firsthand what the material was going to be like.
I thought I would go a few minutes early so as to get a good seat in what I thought would be a crowded classroom right? WRONG! The "crowd" consisted of me and one other couple! Does that shock anyone but me??? What is wrong with people??? I asked the teachers what the feedback had been so far and they said that most of the forms had already been turned in and all had checked YES, that their child could participate. Without even knowing the material??!! I am sorry but that shocks me. OK, so I get over that and move onto view the video.
I am not a prude or naive, and yes, I know kids need to eventually learn this stuff....but I can say that I was very uncomfortable with this material. While I am sure most people would say it is well done, I felt really uncomfortable sitting there having pictures of penises and vaginas and pubic hair flashing in front of my eyes! Granted, they weren't actual photographs, but very detailed drawings. They discussed things such as erections and ejaculation with detailed pictures. I don't think that 11 and 12 year olds should have this put in front of them with their peers sitting there. Yes, they do separate the boys and girls, but still...and then the teachers tell them that if they walk out of the room and utter one word about it on the playground, they will be sent home for the day. Isn't that a mixed message? Get them all stirred up inside and expect them to have the maturity to not say anything about it! The hope is that they will go home and talk to their parents about it, but chances are that will only happen in a small percentage of families.
I just have such a problem with once again, the government stepping in and hiding behind the facade that they are putting the child first and looking out for them by teaching this at school because it won't be taught in the home. IT is not that I really have a problem with the information being presented. I just don't agree that it should be taught IN SCHOOL. I suggested the idea afterward that it would be great if they could have the video available for parents to check out and take home and view it with their child at home where it was in a comfortable setting. I think they were rolling their eyes inside their heads at me. THe woman teacher was very nice and respectful of how I felt, but the man was not saying much at all. THe other couple thought the video was great and they left shortly after saying they were happy it was being taught in school.
This is my thought...I know this is too ideal, but wouldn't it be so awesome if they could instead, take a week and teach things such as respecting your body, boys respecting girls, modest dress, clean language, appropriate media and entertainment....in fact, all the stuff in the "For the Strength of Youth" handbook. I think that is much more age appropriate and so much more beneficial.
They always say that they have to teach this because kids don't learn it at home. You know what? Many many generations of kids grew up not being taught this in school and they did just fine. IN fact, it was a much more wholesome world back when it wasn't talked about so much! Yes, I agree that many kids will not learn this at home, but don't jeopardize those kids who have parents who actually are having these discussions at home. To me, it is something that has to be taught with the spirit and will that be present in school? NO.
I would like to see a study done showing me that even one kid abstained from premarital sex because they saw this great video in the 6th grade.
I think all this does is embarrass them and raise their curiosity so that many of them will probably want to go home and search out some real photos on the internet!
I know, I know, I am really charged up about this. I am not saying that every 6th grader is going to go home and look at porn, but you get my point.
It is not that I think seeing any of this would really hurt Abe,we have already had several discussions with him on these topics, so it will not be anything new to him. It is just the principle of it for me that as long as EVERYONE does it, then the school system thinks that no one has a problem with it and that all parents want it.
I don't have a problem with them talking about acne and the need for deodorant etc...but let's leave the nakedness and bodily fluid parts out of it.
Abe will probably be the only one that will go with the other teacher and be taught the "alternative program", where they will learn insignificant things such as how to deal with peer pressure, the danger of gang violence and how to make healthy eating choices. (of course I am kidding about the insignificant part)
Yes, he may feel a little dumb about being the only one, but maybe the best lesson in all of this for him will be that it won't be the last time he will have to be the only one doing something different and he will know that his parents aren't afraid to take a stand on something.
I left the meeting and went to Becky's house to get on the elliptical machine and burn off my frustration...but I didn't quite get it all out, so I thought I would finish venting on my blog.
Thanks for "listening"