Happy Halloween

YAY! It's fall, the leaves are turning, the air is cool and the hint of Halloween is in the air - Literally. Our burn ban is over and the valley smells of freshly blown out pumpkin candles for a good part of each morning...... I love it!

This past weekend Corey and I headed to the coast for a much needed getaway. We haven't been anywhere for enjoyment for months. Corey's mom stayed at our house with the kids so we could go. What a Godsend she is!! We decided to change it up a little and went to two locations instead of settling in for the weekend in one spot. Our first night was spent in Lincoln City - Mostly for the mall and the casino. No luck at the casino this time. But, we were only there long enough to get a dry throat from the smoke that swirled around the room. I'm not complaining - But usually there are several hours of play that go on with us. Just, not this time! :)

We did tour the North Oregon Coast in an attempt to find a good place to take our family in the future. We found our gem - Nice, little community, stores, restaurants and tons of beach for the family to play on. I even got to see the attempts at surfing made by a couple of obvious amateurs - I'm no surfer, but I'm thinking that as much as these guys were off their boards more than on made it pretty easy to identify them as "beginners." Our visit to the Tillamook Cheese Factory was fast, but worth it. The ice cream we had was better than we'd ever had. I'm sure it was fresher than we ever had, too.

Our last night was spent in Cannon Beach. Corey rented a room that was oceanfront, quiet and we had prime views of the storm that was hitting the Oregon coast. We drank tea, sat in front of the fire and watched the ocean - The waves crashing onto shore and pounding into the rocks was such a beautiful sight. I've loved the ocean since I was young, and I can't imagine life without getting to see it at least once a year. In Cannon Beach there's a hotel called the Stephanie Inn, which is graced with a 4 star, top notch restaurant which requires advance reservations to get in. This night that we got to go is our second trip there. The first time was 9 years ago when Corey and I were still dating. It was nice to go back and relive that part of his "wooing". Teehee. This dinner is 4 course with an Amuse Bouche - Food critics know the term - and each time we've gone the food is the best ever. Praiseworthy on all levels! Worth every penny. The wine we had was fantastic, but, I'm thinking I had more than I realized. On the way back to our room it was dark and rainy, but I could see the shadowed outline of a rock - I looked to Corey and said (slurred, I'm sure), "Look, Honey - It's Stacksock Rock!" Now, for all you well traveled Oregonians, you know there's no such thing as "Stacksock Rock." What I meant to say was "Haystack Rock." That's quite different, isn't it? And, as I exited the car back at our room I noticed that the ground I stepped on to was a little softer than the asphalt I should have been walking in. Apparently, not only does a little excess alcohol affect your speech, it also affects your balance - I found myself walking in the flowers next to where we parked. Oopsy daisies! A trip on my heels, a stumble through the door and we're home! Shoes off, jammies on and we both snuggled on the couch and listened to the storm.

Earlier that evening before dinner we decided to go walking on the beach during low tide to see if we could find any clams. NO, we didn't have gear. But, we were just looking. There was nobody else on the beach. You'd think "how romantic," right? Well, there was a reason there wasn't anybody else there. The wind was blowing at 75 miles an hour, the rain was pouring down AND it was dark. Yes, friends, we were that couple out there in the elements while many people, I'm sure, stared in awe and exclaimed "Those idiots!!" I mean, who in their right mind would venture out in a storm with a high tide and wave warning......IN THE DARK??? Us! And, it was fun! We both got windburned and rain smacked, but I got to experience something that I've never done. As I leaned into the wind with my arms out, the wind was blowing so hard that it held me up! Yeah, big momma here was flying! Such a memory!

I also got to be the epitome of stupid wife on the trip. As we arrived in Seaside Corey began looking for a place to park. I wasn't really paying attention to where we were, but when he parked somewhere I asked him "Why are you parking so far away?" Frustrated, my dear hubby drove around for ten minutes trying to find a closer spot. When I had said that to him, I was unaware that we were only on the next block from the strip. When he finally parked it was a good block and a half from the strip, even further from where we started. Needless to say, he gave me shit for that for a while, well deserved. Oops!

We are now back at home and back in the daily grind. On our trip we did pick up the children's Halloween costumes. It wasn't what we originally planned, but absolutely adorable! Just last week Cooper sat with us at the table and said to us "For Halloween I wanna be a bitch!" We couldn't find that costume, or the "witch" costume that he had meant to say, but his Monkey is much happier than the scarier choices he originally made.

The storm is blowing outside, the leaves are dancing all around and the rain is coming at us sideways today. I'm okay with that - I LOVE storms! In Oregon I can say that, cause' they're never as bad as Kansas! And, as long as it isn't bad on Halloween, I'll be happy.

So, from our family to yours, everyone have a safe and happy Halloween!!

Cool days, cool nights, but not too cool for school!

Last night just before climbing in to bed I opened the bedroom window - Not for the cool, fresh air that circled the room, but for the sounds of the rain falling on the trees outside. There is such a peace found in nature's sounds. No nature sounds that come from a clock radio can compare to the real, pure, perfect sounds that come from an autumn rain shower. Corey and I drifted to sleep with such ease last night and woke to the smell of freshly watered cedar. I love it when my days begin and end like this. But, in this household, times like those are few and far between....

SCHOOL'S IN SESSION - Oh, help us God. We were warned of the SEVENTH year. And, I mean, 7th grade, of course. I remember my 7th grade year in school - It was a like a bunch of hormonal donkeys had joined together in an attempt to learn something. There were drama queens (A LOT of them), there were the "homeboys," there were the music geeks (ME!), there were the yearbook staff (uh, me too), the cool girls, the dance squad and the basketball players. I attended 7th grade in Portland at an inner city middle school where I was the minority. The Trailblazers were Gods to the students, and if anyone was interested in sports it was basketball - Both boys and girls. I never played sports until I moved to Bend. Lucky for Katie, she's been doing sports since she was old enough to. And, lucky for us, she loves it.

This year is the first year that she has been able to play volleyball - 6th graders are not allowed yet to participate in school sports except for track and field. So, after a little bit of ball dropping on my part, Katie finally joined the team. Yesterday was her first game - I wasn't there to see the first, but I'll be there for the next. The only volleyball that I've watched has been on ESPN, and it's most often been guys, in speedos on a beach somewhere. Not that I ENJOY that kind of thing. I'm just saying, it's a little different than watching inexperienced pre-teen hormonal donkeys try to bounce a ball back and forth over a net. This should be funny.

Cooper has also started preschool. It's the best part of his week, and we have had not even a slight hint of separation anxiety. Not surprising, I suppose. Cooper is such an o

utgoing little critt

er, and loves to be surrounded by people (particularly kids) and by toys, which there are a lot of at preschool. He's mastered his alphabet, is learning spanish and is so proud of the sign language they use in school, too. He's got friends galore and I'm sure will be so excited to have a birthday party with friends included now, too. BUT....If he tries to pull what his father did in preschool, I'm not going to be happy. Corey invited his ENTIRE class to a movie and pizza when he was the same age. There were a few car trips back and forth to town, to say th

e least. Funny to think about, dreadful to imagine happening to me!! haha.

I think that I'm finally beginning to heal after the loss of my sister. I have to be honest with myself though - I regret not knowing my sister better than I do. In fact, many people don't know this, but, before March of this year, I had not spoken to my sister in 3 years. It was the result of a misunderstanding of words - The stubbornness in the blood that we share shined through ten-fold.

If anything was learned from the events that have unfolded the past couple of months it's that life is way too short to have sibling rivalry. No, I didn't agree with all the things that she chose to do. But, she didn't agree with me, either. In her eyes things came easy for me - And maybe they did in comparison to what she experienced and how she lived. But, we both shouldn't have been so damn hard headed. After March of this year, however, we had begun to rebuild the time we had lost. We were in the beginning stages of reconstruction of our sisterhood....... so to lose her when I did was tough. To honor her now, my entire family is reuniting and reconnecting. She'd be proud of us. I think she'd be proud of me.

My mother is now caring for Bobbie's boys - Along with her youngest step daughter. You see, in March, my mom suddenly lost her husband after pneumonia took over his body. So, she barely had time to mourn the loss of her husband before she lost my sister. In all my 32 years, I've never seen my mother as emotionally strong as she is right now. I'm so proud of all that she's doing and hope that the strength continues on for the sake of all the children. My step sister Christy, the one that my mother is currently caring for, is 15 years old and pregnant. Yeah, it's happening all over again for my mom 13 years later. She's exhausted, but so determined to do all that she can for everyone she's caring for. I spoke to her yesterday and she had spent the previous day and night in the hospital with Christy as she suffered from uncontrollable morning (noon and night) sickness which resulted in severe dehydration. After returning in the morning with Christy, she got the boys off to school and rested for a while before getting back to work on the mounds of paperwork she's left to do. And still, that afternoon, she went to my nephew Alec's first football game. Just crazy - But pure love for her kids and grandkids.

There is an account that has been set up for my nephews to help with their care. Columbia State Bank under the account name "Donation account for Alec Jones and Jaydon Reader." She'll be needing as much help as she can get.

It's finally fall! And, it's my favorite time of year. Halloween kicks off my annual holiday rampage and this year is going to be fantastic! We have decided that we're going to dress up for Halloween as a family in some sort of theme. When Corey is involved anything is possible - His history of dressing up in notoriously outrageous stuff intends to continue, so watch out for some Yasui craziness this year!

And, speaking of holidays, I need to get going on the cupcakes with the fondant sorting hats for my niece Aunika's birthday - Yeah, cake art! tee hee!

Happy first day of fall my friends and family!!

Life ain't always what you think it ought to be.....

Blogging has, for the past few years, been a way for me to express feelings, emotions and share experiences that I have in my life. For the most part the blogs are good spirited, full of fun and packed with laugh inducing events that I get to relive as I type. But, this month has been the worst month of my life and it hasn't been easy to put my feelings into words. My tears have said more than I could even try to say.

A little under 4 weeks ago I got a call that my sister was missing and that the last place she was seen had become a crime scene in which detectives were saying "possible foul play" had occurred. I was numb at the first call, and had a hard time digesting the information that I was being given. Though we had plans the evening I got the call, and were, in fact, walking through the parking lot to the event, we turned around, went home and began what would be the wildest roller coaster our emotions would ever ride on.

Three days after we got notice of my baby sisters disappearance, her body was found in a forested area near Mt. Bachelor. With providence by our side, a security guard who was checking the area after a bike race, discovered her in the early evening hours of Saturday, August 7. She was murdered in one of the most brutal, senseless attacks that Deschutes County had ever seen. My baby sister lost her life at the hands of a man who claimed to be her friend. To this day, we don't understand why. But, I suppose that the reason behind her murder won't change anything for us. She's still gone. I've still lost my baby sister.

Each day of this disaster were such a mad house that I lost track of how time was passing. The first two days I was in Bend felt like an entire week. And, at the end of the second day, when trying to remember all that had happened over the previous 48 hours, it was hard to believe that so much had happened in such a short period of time. It still doesn't seem real. Reporters, television stations, detectives, FBI, funeral home directors, crime victims advocates, family and friends - I spent more time talking with people in one week than I had in years. To alleviate the pain and struggling that my mother was experiencing, I did my best to take over the media statements, the funeral home arrangements, assistance programs to help the family financially and emotionally, and calling friends and family to inform them of the horrible news. To be honest, it was so overwhelming that I hardly had time myself to grieve. To some, I must have seemed cold - detached. But it was just the drive to be the stronghold for my family so that it didn't completely fall apart.

Bobbie's funeral was last Sunday - Corey made a movie for the service and it was beautiful. It would have been exactly how she would have wanted it had she planned it herself. But planning a funeral for someone so young, for my little sister, wasn't something I'd ever imagined. In the past couple of weeks, I've had time to reflect, adjust to life without my sister, and focus on taking care of my family again. I have, however, had several moments of breakdown - Moments when it becomes hard to accept that she's really gone and to know that I'll never get a chance to tell her goodbye. I'll never get that chance to tell her how much I loved her, even though some of her decisions in life I couldn't, wouldn't support. I'll never get to tell her that all those memories that we had as children are still alive and well in my heart, and that I occasionally share some of the silly stories with my husband. She won't be here to be an aunt to my children. But, even sadder, she won't be here to be a mother to her own.

In the weeks to come, we'll be situating her sons with my mother, and making sure that they begin counseling - As much as one hates it, these boys will need it. Bobbie was cremated and her ashes are in a beautiful urn donned with marble and silver. She'll be interned in a glass case with her picture and some other sentimental trinkets at a mausoleum in Bend, Oregon. Crime Victims Advocates of Oregon has a special fund for victims and families of victims of violent crimes. They've paid to make sure that all of Bobbie's funeral costs are covered - All costs. They've been such a great support system for us during this difficult time, and plan to be there for any and all of us for as long as we need. The grieving process has been so different for each of us, and there is no rhyme or reason to our emotions now. But, it's nice to know that we all have the support of family, friends and the advocates for victims to get through what hardships are to come.

I wish I could turn back time. I wish that I could have another chance to talk to her. I wish that wishes came true. So, for now, I'll hold close the memories and feel better knowing that she was received by loving arms - Friends and family and God.

I'm sorry Bobbie. I love you. I'll see you on the other side.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NJqUN9TClM

Pleading insanity for the sake of hilarity

What is the definition of insane? Answer: Not of sound mind, mentally deranged or utterly senseless. Sounds a lot like all the things I go through on a daily basis. But, to label myself as "being insane," I'd be inviting critics of all walks of life to make suggestions, hand out advice and feed me BS that I really don't need. So, more often than not, when someone asks me how I'm doing, I answer with "Oh, I'm keeping busy," or "Doing awesome!" The truth is, when I'm asked how I am, I instantly find myself scrambling for an answer to substitute for "Don't the bags under my eyes give it away?" or "How good of a masseuse can you pretend to be for an hour?" or "I'd love to talk with you, but, as always, the second I get a minute for myself my kids are screaming, fighting, wet or hungry, so I'll have to chat with you later. - Oh, and I'm fine, thanks."

I wonder what kind of a response I'd get if I answered "I've been dying to tell you....I'm insane!"

Of all the things to get "easier" after the first year of having twins and a toddler, getting a backache is not what I would have put at the top of the list. It probably wouldn't be this way if the twins didn't love to be held at the same time. Always. Lucky for us, Cooper is a little more independent and just likes to be off on his own, walking "like a big boy." Yay, for him! My arm muscles are quite strong, and my legs are beginning to tone more with the running around that I do, but the back......It may be time to invest in a back brace!

I can't say that I'm surprised when I walk into a room, or a store with my purse slung over my shoulder, a baby under each arm and I'm directing cooper with my foot, and people stare with jaws dropped to the floor. I feel like a spectacle, and believe me when I say it's the last thing I want. Yes, I shop with all my kids - Safeway and Rosauers have graciously designed carts just for stupid mothers like me who insist on taking their whole clan of kids to shop. I feel like I have now mastered the art of driving the undriveable shopping cart. But the hardest thing is not shopping with the kids anymore. It's the strangers who insist on stopping me to ask me if the girls are twins, google and oogle at them when I say yes, and then engage Cooper in conversation so he "doesn't feel left out." It's the same thing every single time I go out. And, the comments are the same. "You're one busy momma." "I bet they keep you on your toes." "That's a load of kids you've got there!" I mean, come on....I KNOW that I'm busy - I'm SHOPPING with them. YES they keep me on my toes. And NO my son doesn't need you to suggest that he's possibly being left out of anything. Aaaargh! Self proclaimed psychologists and surrogate "grandparents" can be found in nearly every aisle of a grocery store, and it sucks.

I often try to sing to my kids while I'm shopping, which could easily get me labeled as insane without me claiming it myself. I get in a zone, sing children's songs to keep them happy, and sometimes, I actually shop in peace. So, to all those people who insist on stopping mothers while shopping with their kids: STOP IT! Really, we don't appreciate it. If you'd like to talk to us, give us your number and we'll call you when we have a free moment. It might be a few weeks, but, we'll call if we want to. All hail the mothers who do it all......All hail mothers of multiples!

A couple of nights ago my husband told me a joke. I laughed until I nearly cried. Then, he asked me for something that made me freeze in place. He asked me to tell HIM a joke. Now, you might think "That's not so bad," or "OK, so what's the big deal?" Right? Well, friends, that is a weakness that I haven't ever faced before. I can be funny in what I write, but, never am I telling jokes. It's a totally different concept to me! I did, in all fairness, try to remember one that I saw somewhere to share with him. As I began the joke, that I dug deep in the crevasse of my brain to find, he informed me that he'd just read that same joke a couple of months ago in a playboy magazine. Oh, yeah....That's probably where I saw it too! Oh, well....I guess the joke's on me!

All the hullabaloo about funny stuff made me think that truthfully, every single day there is something funny that we say, or do, and I'm fairly certain that's one of the greatest strengths we share as a couple. For instance, a couple of weeks ago we went through the drive-thru ATM at our bank. Corey noticed that next to the buttons on the screen was braille. He asked, why in the world would there need to be BRAILLE in a DRIVE THRU ATM?? I'm sure someone was just doing what they were told, but, really? Or, why do we drive in parkway, or park in a driveway? I'm sure you've heard that before. The one that got me laughing so hard with Corey was "If you spin an oriental man in circles, does he become disoriented?" Still laughing, even as I type! So silly, but so good for the soul.

And then, my kids....Where to begin. I'm beginning to wonder if it's at all a good idea to take them anywhere. My son, who is brilliant by nature, is very open and honest with whatever he is talking about. Unfortunately for me, right now his biggest concern is his genitalia. I've never been around little boys at this age, so this is a new territory for me, and sometimes slightly embarrassing. Grown men can easily adjust themselves when they're uncomfortable, but a 3 year old boy doesn't know what's going on. He whines, cries, kicks, screams and even yells out occasionally that he doesn't like his jewels anymore...He wants to get rid of them! Oh, poor boy. I unbuckle his seat belt, I shake his pants, make him jump around and do whatever it takes to allow him to comfort himself (almost whatever). He's usually fine within minutes and we're back to shopping, or driving, or whatever it was we were doing before the catastrophe began.

The twins are maniacal runners now. I'm sure they run in opposite directions on purpose, and I think that the tongue sticking out is really a shot at me, rather that just a funny face. It's like they're saying "come and get me mom!.....If you can!" With the Summer finally here, we've spent some time outside lately. I'm thankful every minute that Corey built us the fence. I couldn't keep up with the three little ones without it. I've had the pools out, but for some reason, my children keep being drawn toward the puddles left from the hose being pulled out of the pool, and the rocks that surround the play structure. Instead of splashing, they throw rocks to hear them crackle on the plastic, and then they stick a few in their mouths for fun. They chase bees, they bite the dog, they head for the stairs, they play in the dog water, they splash in the fountain and they stomp on my flowers. It's never at all how I plan for it to go, but somehow we always make it inside safe, happy and maybe a little dirty to boot.

Katie's been a great help since school got out a little over a month ago. This weekend, she'll be going to California for the rest of the Summer, so I'll have to figure out some better ways to manage my time. I'm sure she's ready for her break from us, and hopefully she has a good time. The older she gets, the more she wants to just be here with her friends. And in 2 years, she'll be able to work.....Hard to believe it. This is the first year that I've had all my children together for the 4th of July, and we had a blast. The local parade, fireworks, a little barbecue...It was perfect.

So, I might not be a comedian. But, the life I live is a daily comedy, and I love being right where I am, sharing the craziness, the sadness and the love in each blog I have time to create.

It could happen to you

The beauty of the Columbia Gorge is overwhelming. The mountains that surround Hood River are breathtaking. The trees and scenic views that can be seen along highway 35 are more beautiful than any area in Oregon. In the Summer, the Columbia River looks like a Chinese Dragon, with surfing sails and kite sails that flow together with the movement of the water and the wind. It's so beautiful, yet, I take it for granted. I drive fast, look past the water, and focus on the roads most of the time. How could I let such fantastic scenery just pass me by every day?

I had a scare today, that has made me rethink my purpose in life, the order in which I prioritize it, and how not to take what I have for granted. Four days ago I began experiencing chest pain - You hear that, and get scared. However, I have had pain before in my chest, and it turned out to be nothing. Well, actually, it was more like anxiety. But, really, nothing. So after the pain continued on to Wednesday, then Thursday, I felt like something just might be wrong. I decided to call the doc. After the receptionist answered and I attempted to make an appointment, she informed me that I had said the magic words: "Chest Pain." After a brief chat with the Triage Nurse, I headed in for an appointment with my doctor.

After rushing to town, I visited with the doc explaining the symptoms I'd had, the feeling I was experiencing and that, since it wasn't going away, I was a bit more worried than usual. By the exam conclusion she had decided it was Pericarditis - The inflammation of the sac around the heart. Oh, crap. She began to go over reasons why I might have this, and we semi-decided that it was part of a virus that had traveled through my body a couple weeks ago, and had apparently attacked the sac around my heart. I was given the option to go to the lab for blood work, or, go home, take 2 Aleve twice a day for a day or two and then come back for labs if I wasn't getting better. I chose the latter. Unfortunately, it wasn't getting better. So this afternoon I headed to town to the lab to have my blood drawn. I just knew that something wasn't right......I knew that I needed to have that test done.

I was home for maybe an hour, when the doctor called me. She said that my SED Rate was elevated and D-Dimer was positive and elevated. Both of these tests indicate inflammation, but the concern was now that I very likely had a Blood Clot in my chest, and the pain was a result of this. This was not the news I had anticipated. And to top it off, she told me that the results concerned her significantly enough that she wouldn't let me wait until Monday to follow up. I was ordered to go to the ER immediately. Now, we had plans tonight, of course, so we had to divert things a little. The birthday party we had intended on attending now became a childcare event for our little ones. But, I had to go....If I had a pulmonary embolism my life could be at risk. This night suddenly became one of the scariest periods of my life.

The ER staff was waiting for me when I arrived, not even 45 minutes after we got the call to go. I was stationed in an ER room, gowned down, hooked up to IV's, Oxygen and all sorts of cords for tests galore. I must have looked ridiculous. With my sweet husband Corey by my side every second I had blood drawn, I was poked, prodded and was intravenously injected with dye so that I could have a CT that looked for blood clots. I was scared shitless and I wasn't sure what to think, what to say or what to do. What if this was it? What if I did have a clot....all the signs say I do? If I died, would Corey be OK? And my kids.....Oh, God my kids.....How will they ever be OK if something happened to me?? I believe that this was even scarier than knowing I was having a C-Section to deliver my babies a whole month early. My chest was still in pain, I was dehydrated and beginning to go a little crazy. The wonderful nurse offered me something to "take the edge off," and boy did it work. About 10 minutes after I received the pain meds we heard cheering in the hall.....The tests came back for me and they were negative!!! No blood clot, no inflammation of the heart. To know that all those nurses and doctors were so thrilled to have the results in hand that they did made us realize just how critical, and how bad, things could have been had the results been different. We had someone looking out for us tonight, and we were exhaling in relief along with the rest of the ER staff. So....What was wrong you ask? Here's the irony - Turns out that I have apparently "sprained" my chest wall muscle from lifting things that are too heavy, repetitively. More namely, I injured myself being a mother. Lifting my little babies (the doc's guess) is most likely the cause of my chest wall injury, causing intense heart attack like pain, and shortness of breath - and because the injury has caused inflammation the blood tests showed an increase in the SED and D-Timer. Isn't that lovely?

In perspective, this has made us think about what we have to lose. We have everything to lose, and could do so at any time. Our lives are short, and we take them for granted. Without thinking that "it could happen to me," we go about our business, working, detailing, focusing, and tiring. But, living......I think we need to do more. When Corey held my hand tonight in the hospital, I felt so much love in his grip and I saw the fear in his eyes. I know now that I have got to stop every once in a while and remind myself that this life is now. This life is mine. This life must be lived and no matter what, it, whatever that might be, CAN happen to anyone.

The consequence

Under normal circumstances I would refer to myself as a "slacker" for not blogging for nearly two months. However, truth be told, it's not being a slacker that has prevented me from sitting down to blog. It's being a stay at home mother of four children that requires me to prioritize my time, my chores and my own extra curricular activities. Blogging comes last in my list of "to do's" and I do miss it, as it's sort of a way to vent when I need to be honest about things.

March, April and May are always full of parties and celebrations of some sort. The birthday season in the Yasui family kicks off on March 2 and continues weekly, sometimes bi-weekly, until the end of May. Niko and Kathy's daughter will be the only person to have a June birthday, and she'll probably enjoy that. It's really crazy that there are so many birthdays during that time mostly because all of my children and my husband have their birthdays during this short period of time. Seriously, it's like I have to be an event planner for a couple months in order to keep up with the productions at hand. Next week, Kim, Maija and I will be hosting Kathy's baby shower - I even ordered up some personalized M&M's, color coordinated and all, to give as gifts to the guests of the shower. I'm so excited for her and I think she'll be thrilled.

These months present a requirement for some serious prioritization on my part, and a responsibility to complete everything that needs to be done. For the most part, I do this, and do it well. Unfortunately, my daughter has not learned how important this is, and is currently suffering the consequences of her actions. We have a rule in this house when it comes to sports: Do your schoolwork, keep up the good grades and be open and honest with us. Do these things, you play. Fall behind in any way, and you lose the privilege of playing sports. One month ago Katie brought home a report card with all A's and B's - A 3.5gpa with a place on the honor roll. She was so thrilled when she received her copy at school that she brought it home immediately and showed us. This past Monday her progress report, dated a week before, was received in the mail. Nearly all of her grades slipped - And, not just a little. A's to C's. B's to D's. WHAT!?!?!

She actually got a copy that progress report at school last week, but somehow managed to "lose" it somewhere between school and home and still "forgot" to tell us about it. Coincidence that she loses the crappy report and forgets to tell us about it? I think not. We discovered that she had missing assignments, failed tests, and is even turning in her work LATE! There is no excuse for that, as we provide all the help she needs to do her work, and don't require her to do anything around the house until ALL of her work is complete. Now, we've gone by her word and by the work she writes down that she needs to do, but we have been deceived and many of the assignments aren't making it on her nightly homework to do list.

Unfortunately for all involved, until further notice, Katie is off the softball team. I can't express how horrible it was for us to do that, but like I mentioned above, schoolwork comes first. We understand the importance of teamwork, and that by not playing she's letting down her team. But, we have to instill good morals or we're not doing our job. In high school, the rules are the same. Maintain good grades to play. When we hear that her excuse for not getting her work done is that she didn't have time, we have to eliminate the problem. For this instance, the problem is softball. Some parents may look down on us for taking her out, citing a possible forfeiture if any other girl happens to be out for that particular week. But, again, if we don't take action now, and let her know we're serious, she'll never learn. Lucky for us her coach understands, and actually has the same rule in their household. Bad grades? No play. Simple execution of disciplinary action.....not so simple reactions from Katie or her friends.

We know that for the time being Katie isn't happy with us. The feeling is mutual. But, we also know that one day she'll completely understand why we've taken to these extreme measures to get our point across. Sometimes a good reality check can bring a person back to where they need to be. I hope that Katie can get there.

I believe that we've done the right thing...I really hope we have.

And I hope to never have to do it again.

Cell Mate for Life

When our grandparents were young, the telephone had just made it's debut. When our parents were young the rotary phone was introduced. When we were young, the fascination of the light up push button phones was a memorable highlight. In my generation, the phone has progressed from that little corded light up phone, to the big bulky cordless phone, to the digital cordless to the life essential cell phone that nearly every person I know, some kids included, carry everywhere.

Telephone etiquette has drastically changed over the years, and it's not a strange sight to see someone deep in conversation on their phone, dramatically expressing their happiness, disgust or excitement for all around to share with them. But, if you're like me, you don't share in that joy. In fact, I hate it when people purposely talk loud in a public place while on their cell phone. Not much truly irritates me. That selfish act of attention getting just makes me want to puke. Not only is it poor judgement on the callers part, but I REALLY don't want to know whether Joe Cool has a date with Stacy Somebody or what momma Jean is making for dinner that night. Some people have good etiquette. When those people get on the phone they're not making a spectacle of themselves, and usually, they keep their calls short. Sure, I've made my share of calls while in a store, or answered a call in public. But, if you ask my husband, those calls are usually made in panic mode and I often don't answer the phone if I'm in a public place. If I do, I ask the caller if I can call them back. That's the courteous thing to do. Besides, if I wanted to share my personal stuff I'd blog!

One of the silliest things I've seen in my recent years is the wireless ear phone that people insist on wearing like it's a part of their wardrobe. First of all, it looks ridiculous. I mean, if someones going to design an ear phone, at least try not to make it look like someone has lost half of their walkman headphones. The other stupid thing about those phones is that you never know when someones on the phone! So, when you go up to a person who's wearing one, ask them a question, and they start shooting off some random thing about where something goes, or when to pick someone up, you realize that they're actually on a call and feel like the poop head for "interrupting" their phone call. I think those phones were invented for the sole purpose of irritating and humiliating all of humankind.

Then there's the bluetooth. Oregon has recently passed the law that you cannot talk on the phone while driving. That was one of the smartest moves by Oregon law makers. Now, if we can just get those who text while driving to stop that, we'll be set. My car has an integrated bluetooth system which allows me to push a button on my steering wheel to answer and end a call, listen to the caller through the speaker system, and speak to them via a microphone installed in the roof of the car. For the most part, it's fantastic. But, trying to talk to someone when it's raining or windy is impossible. The microphone in the roof also picks up sounds coming in through the roof - So when it's rainy and I'm on the phone it actually sounds like I'm in a hurricane. My only worry now is that one day I'll have a car full of people and my husband will call and say something naughty to me....For all my car load to hear. hmmmm....

This whole "cell phone" rampage that I'm on is brought on by a recent experience I had that I must share.

I was at a funeral a couple of weeks ago at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. While the service was being held, and a poem was being read, someones cell phone rang. I looked over to notice that the man's eldest daughter was scrambling for her phone. My first instinct told me that "whoops, she forgot to turn it off!" and assumed the was hurrying to turn it off. But, no. This dumb broad ANSWERED HER PHONE!! Yeah, in the middle of her FATHER'S funeral she answers her phone, speaks loudly, and informs the friend that she's talking to that she's, in fact, sitting at her fathers funeral service! HOLY CRAP INCONSIDERATE WORST CHILD IN THE WORLD AWARD!! My jaw dropped, along with most everyone else who saw this horrid act of random stupidity. I think that in my life that must be the most inappropriate action I've ever seen. One I'll never forget.

So, really, are cell phones that important? Is it true that people can't live without them? They can't live without texting, tweeting or taking that unimportant phone call at the most inopportune time? What's this world coming to? And the next time you get on the phone, will you be thinking about how your phone call is affecting others? If you don't........you should.

Someone's always laughing

Someone is laughing when Cooper tells us that the reason he had gotten out of bed and climbed into ours the past few nights is because the hickumpotamus keeps biting his hair at night. Where this animal was conjured up I'll never know - We have no stories with hippos in it!

Someone is also laughing when Cooper poops, insists on seeing it, and even tells me he wants to eat it. (Oh, please, not that.....EVER)

Ironically enough, just a couple of days ago, Cooper decided that SOMEONE had to try it. I discovered his err in judgment when I heard him say "Mommy, Rayla no like poopy! Mommy! Rayla no like poopy!!" What?? Oh, man.......scrub, wipe, sanitize.....There's no beauty in that.

Someone is laughing when I am alone and one baby crawls one way, another baby crawls the other way and Cooper is balancing himself on the top of his high chair, yelping to get down before he falls. Two me's would be nice when this happens.

Someone is laughing when I drive down the road and Cooper begins to scream hysterically because he has dropped his string cheese and can't reach it. He sits in the third row - Handing him something is not a possible option when the car is moving.

Someone is laughing when Katie tells us with a straight face that her teacher jerked in class today. Huh? What?? Stupid song, stupid dance, stupid name.....Recipe for a misunderstanding disaster.

Someone is laughing when Corey wakes up to Cooper doing a body slam on unmentionable body parts, resulting in a holler and possibly, a 2 year old getting thrown off the bed. (He doesn't really get thrown from the bed, surprisingly - But the holler happens without hesitation.)

Someone is laughing when I find the salt shaker put away in the pantry UPSIDE DOWN and pull it out only to dump a tablespoon at my feet. Even funnier, I accuse Katie and she vehemently denies ever doing anything so stupid - Until the next morning, when she recants her denial after getting caught putting THREE boxes of cereal back in the cupboard totally empty.

Someone is laughing at me when for three hours I battle with fussy babies and FINALLY get to go climb into my own bed to sleep. But, when I get there, Cooper has already awaken from a hickumpotamus nightmare and is sleeping soundly on my side of the bed. I, of course, don't have the heart to wake him to put him back to bed, so I waddle back in and cuddle up on the couch with the fuzziest blanket I find.

Someone is laughing when Cooper asks for days and hours for a "honey pot" and Corey finally gives in and heads into a Super Walmart on our out of town trip to find one. That someone's laughing harder when Cooper asks for a solid 5 minutes the same question: "Where'd daddy go? Where'd daddy go? Where'd daddy go?" I answer him each time with "in the store." But, after 5 minutes of asking, and apparently not getting the right answer he starts to scream the question - My answer? "He's looking for that damn honey pot!" Naturally, when Corey returns we hear "Where's my damn honey pot?" Someone's definitely laughing at that one.

Someone is laughing when Corey is driving on a bridge, on a freeway, doing 55 miles an hour in back to back traffic, in the rain, with both babies screaming because they have a poopy diapers, the bluetooth phone rings, and we're already late to an appointment for a baby and Cooper decides that he is going to use his foot to unlock the door and kick it open and scream "want out, get out!" It's funniest when I rip out the headrest so that I can writhe my not so small self over the seat and hold on to the door so as not to lose a toy or a child. We didn't find it that humorous. But, after we were able to stop Cooper shouts "That was fuuuun!"

Someone is laughing when I cook food for Cooper and he refuses to eat it. But, when he's told that daddy made it, he eats it without hesitation. Hmmmmm......

Someone is laughing when we tell Katie that she needs to clean out the dog kennel, along with other chores, and she declares that day the "worst day EVER!!" Hahahaha...We're sooo mean!

There is always humor to be found. Sometimes we have to overlook craziness to see it. But, somehow, it's always there.

God has a sense of humor

"Pretty mommy," exclaims Cooper while looking at PRINCESS FIONA on his stupid washcloth while bathing a few nights ago. What??!! Of all the people for him to compare me to; Cinderella, Belle, Aurora....He chooses an ogre. Now, mind you, I don't agree with him in the least. But, something is making him think I am similar.....I MUST change!!


It's no secret that I'm no barbie doll, and no secret that I really don't wish to be, either. For my entire life I have struggled with my weight, and for many years I have made resolutions upon the new year to lose the weight. One year, I succeeded...somewhat. And, I put it all back on a few years later. Being pregnant for nearly 2 of the last 4 years hasn't helped any.
Finally, however, I am more determined than ever to make me healthier not just for myself, but for the sake of my family. I can teach them to be healthy so that they don't make the same mistakes I've made. I intend to prove to myself that I can do it without any "fad" diets, or medical intervention. Just plain old getting healthy is the plan. And the first step? Vitamin D....Yeah, turns out I had a deficiency that can actually hinder weight loss and add weight, even though calories had been cut. To date, 10 pounds down. I'll document progress throughout the year but don't ever expect me to reveal my top weight. Actually, when I make it to my goal weight range I will reveal how heavy I started...Trust me, it'll make your stomach turn. So, I'll wait until I'm smaller to share that depressing news.

On my Facebook page today I asked if God was laughing at my family, at me for all the craziness that happens constantly in our life. Sickness, lack of sleep, doctors appointments, sports, "bonks," ..... A friend responded that she thinks God doesn't laugh at us, but rather is just happy when we laugh. Lucky for the man upstairs, I have a sense of humor. I don't know if I could make it through the day if I didn't.

As we sat down for dinner last night I placed the twins in their playpen. They were screaming, as it was 6:30 and I'm pretty sure they were tired. I thought I could eat fast enough for it not to bother me. Cooper was in his high chair refusing to eat his chili, shaking his head back and forth, screaming for "coffee" (Coopers name for soda) and hollering about this invisible "bonk" he had on his foot. Just minutes before this Corey had walked in the door after a long day at work AND an after work trip to Wal-Mart. Those of you in this area know that a 5 o'clock visit to Wal-mart is like retail suicide - Needless to say, he was already rattled when he walked in the door. After a couple minutes of screaming from all three little ones, I hopped up and began the dressdown - Baby1 - Jammies, diaper, bottle, swing. Baby 2- Jammies, diaper, bottle, swing. Nearly 20 minutes had passed now since I sat down with the family for dinner. Cooper continues to holler about the "bonk," Katie's going on about something that happened at school, while giving it the "drama queen" touch, and I'm thinking Corey's about to leave again just to get away from the noise. Finally, in an instant, silence. The babies are down. Cooper has momentarily settled, and Katie has stopped talking. I sit to eat as everyone else hops up and Corey heads with Cooper into the bathtub. Five minutes of quiet pass until Mackenzie wakes, intent on not falling asleep at this time. Once again, the circus begins. This night, it continues into the wee hours of the morning. So much for sleep tonight!!

Not all moments in this household are the screaming wild ones like this. I get moments of quiet and moments where the three little ones are playing happily with each other. I spend little time with my husband, but, we're learning to make the best of each moment. Cooper is learning to share and he becomes so proud of himself when he does. The girls are crawling, sometimes at the same time and in opposite directions. But, the joy in seeing them move is overwhelming. They play, they laugh, they move, they watch, they learn, and they love.

Now, I'm sure some of you are laughing at the thought of my above mentioned chaotic scene with some sort of relation to it. Some of you may have sympathy. Some of you are just glad you don't have 4 children. And some of you are probably happy you have no children. I'm happy to have all 4. I'm happy that these four beautiful kids keep me going and give me great things to write about. I'm even happy that my little boy thinks I look like princess Fiona. Hey, it's still royalty, folks!!

Today I was blessed with some quiet time while ALL THREE children napped simultaneously. And, to top off the already wonderful quiet time, my husband came home for lunch - A rare occurrence. So I got an hour with my husband today, just the two of us, without the screaming, the hunger, and chaos that usually graces our lives. And, just possibly, God is not laughing at me, or with me, for this hour.