What I should be doing....

As it is getting close to midnight I sit at the computer looking at all that I accomplished tonight in my night of work. While I am impressed I realize that I have just wasted a whole night and didn't get anything done on my list. I am tempted to stay up and get at least one thing done on the list so that I can say I did something I was suppose to, but the daunting fact that I have a 6am photoshoot in the morning is making a good case why I should just stop now and get some sleep.
I should have...
- folded laundry
- made either one of the two wedding slideshows that I want done by tomorrow for two different clients
- worked on an album for a third bride
- file the things in the huge stack of 'to be filed' papers sitting next to me on the desk
- got some final measurements for my couch that I am so close to finishing
- replied to some emails I haven't had time to get to
- cleaned the kitchen

oh my goodness, I am getting so tired just writing all the could have and should have blah blah blah. The list goes on and on. Bottom line, I didn't do any of it. But this is what I did do. Eric came up with a fun new blog. He always sees things a little differently than I do, so it should be fun to read his posts. Plus, with as big as slacker as I have been lately on blogging, maybe he can pick up some of my slack. But I love the name of his blog so much, and he hadn't done anything with the layout, so.....

I made this fun new header and changed his colors and all that fun stuff. What do you think?
To see it in its full glory check out his blog.
http://boysagainstgirl.blogspot.com/
I think it looks great! Okay, now I am just being overindulgent so I'm off to bed.

That's how we roll

Whole House Fan, how I miss you!

My family stayed out in the front yard for a moment or two this evening after FHE to say goodnight to my parents and get the last bit (well, the last allowed for the night) of energy out before bed. It was a warm, very warm 95 degrees today but we were pleased to feel the nice cool breeze tonight as a slight cooling trend will allow those hot summer temps to get back into the 80s which they totally skipped right over this weekend. It was the kiss of summer on my checks as the breeze swirled lightly around that always brings back fun summer memories as a teenager. Never anything specific, just the overall feeling of youth and freedom that so many summer memories stem from.

But the night was growing near and the kids need to get to bed so in we went. I promptly opened the house to welcome in the much cooler air, and now, 90 minutes later I am wishing I could drag my computer outside so I could again enjoy the temperature. See, even with all our windows open the airflow in our house is lacking. It is probably a good 10 degrees at least warmer in the house than in is outside. And unless you are sitting in front of one of the windows, you would have no idea that there was such a wonderful breeze outside. So as I sit at my computer, trying to get some work done, I am roasting. This brings back another summer memory I wish I could capture again so badly right now, although I never realized at the time how much I really appreciated it. My parent had a whole house fan put into their house many years ago, and it always did the trick. I just didn't appreciate the true benefit of the fan and I only like the amount of noise it created.

I will admit, I took advantage of that wonderful house fan in my youth. See the fan was in the hallway leading to the bedrooms. When on, it created enough noise that it was more difficult to hear what was going on in the front of the house if you were in the back. So there might have been a time or two, that as I left for the evening to hang out with friends, I might have moved the timer of the fan to make sure it continued running, at least 30 minutes after curfew. Not that I even needed that buffer of time, or that I was ever, ever late getting home at the set time given to me by my wonderful, loving parents, but knowing that if there was ever a time that I needed just an extra minute or two... opening that front door would be muffled by the sound of the glorious house fan. It was wonderful! I mean to say the thought was wonderful, not the actual action of being late, which remember, I never, ever was. And if by chance I was late, it would have been for saintly reasons like a friend desperately needed a shoulder to cry on, and I left as soon as possible. Or I hit every single red light on the way home and didn't want to speed which might possibly endanger my life, or others. Or there was a dog wondering the streets late at night and several cars had to swerve not to hit it, so of course I stopped and tried to help the little dog find it's home. But we are getting way off the subject.....

So anyway, I sit here tonight longing for the true use of a house fan, so I can suck that breeze right into my home and cool everything down quickly and enjoy this beautiful summer night. To bad so many things go unappreciated for their true benefit until it is too late. So until I get a whole house fan of my own, here's to the many years of wonderful evening of cool summer breezes inside and out and the fun memories of the past and a future full of new adventure.

How many Goats do you see?

The city of Rocklin decided to try an unconventional way of taking care of the over growth in most of there city a little while back. In stead of hiring high school or college kids to come out and chop down all the brush, they hired goats. And I'm not talking about a couple of goats, I am talking about 2,000 goats. No joke! The goats were hired on by the city and let loose on various hillsides in Rocklin for a few days before being moved to the next. You never knew where they were going to be but I lucked out one day as my dad called to let me know exactly where the goats had been spotted. So of course we jumped in the car and went for a drive. It took me a while to find the little fellas, but once I figured out exactly where I was going, you couldn't miss them.




So actually there were mainly sheep, with a few goats mixed in. It was really fun to see them all on the hillside. All different colors and sizes. I was sad that we couldn't touch the goats and the fence was electric, so we kept our distance, but the boys didn't seem to mind too much observing from afar.
At one point all the animals got spooked by something and took off running. I don't think it was from Austin's growl that he let out at one of the sheep, but Ty and Tanner thought so, which began a bunch of growling from all three in hopes of another stampede. No luck.

I liked all the baby goats. Too cute. I really want one... but then they get big and aren't as cute. I am glad I can make grown up decisions. These pictures make me want one again though.
The afternoon grew late and we had to leave the goats, but it was such a fun adventure and if we hear of where the goats are next we will be sure to go say hi to our new friends.

Watch out.... he's on the loose

Tanner has been asking for some time to take off his training wheels but there is always something not allowing us to from our health to the weather we have had to put it off for sometime. Last weekend the sun was out, everyone felt good, so we headed out to the empty parking lot next to our house and let him go. Actually I was pretty worried and made him put on the knee guards and elbow pads and gave him warnings continuously as to what might happen when he gets on without his training wheels. I told him he might fall, I told him there might be blood, I tried to give him as realistic point of view as to the possible outcome and how we need to be brave and get on and try again blah blah blah.

Well that was a waist of breath because literally the first time he started off Eric realized he wasn't even holding him and just let go and off Tanner went. Just like that he went from four to two wheels and he never looked back. It took him about 3 more minutes to learn how to jump off when he was falling and I am happy to say there wasn't a single drop of blood or tears the whole afternoon. In fact it has been over a week now of him riding with two wheels and there still haven't been any spills. Oh sure, I know there will be many to come, but I'll take this skin-knee free time gladly.

Part two of this awesome bike filled Saturday happened on our way home from Ty's morning t-ball game. I love garage sailing, but rarely have a chance to go out. I was in need of one thing so I thought I would drive around the neighborhood to see if anyone was out selling stuff. As I drove up our street I noticed a bike on the curb with a sign on it. It looked about Ty's size and so I pulled over to see how much they wanted. To my surprise the sign said free. I looked at the bike thinking it must be broken or really used or something. But it was just the opposite. The bike looked like it had been used maybe twice.
It was the perfect size for Ty. I couldn't have been more excited, and Ty was bouncing out of his chair! So while Tanner learned his new skill Ty hopped on his new bike and flew around the parking lot. And Austin, well he was happy as could be scooting around on his little car making noises the whole way. It was a perfect Saturday afternoon.

Just Becasue

With everyone feeling better Eric wanted to do something fun this weekend. So Friday night when he got home from work he set up the tent in the backyard, just because. The boys love camping so much, even if it is just in the backyard. And boys weekend always means a good time is on it's way. (Just a side note, I stayed warm in my bed all weekend because I really enjoy my sleep and wanted to take full advantage of this weekend.... I mean, I wanted to let the boys have their time.)




Eric pulled out their mattress, so he didn't have to blow up the air mattress which I thought was a good trade. They had a blast jumping on the beds. And why not take advantage of the fun and have a little wrestling match too.




They ran in and out of the tent all night even though it was a little chilly outside. I thought for sure they would be in before 10pm snuggled together on the couch, but I was wrong. Eric left the tent up all weekend and they had another sleep over Saturday night. Unfortunately a storm made it's way into town, so the tent came down, but I have a feeling there will be many more backyard sleepovers this summer. In fact, Eric is already planning the next one which will be held on the trampoline.

Our New Family Joke

From the beginning of this year our family has been hit hard with bad health. Mainly just colds and ear infections, but it has been non stop. Our typical family phone call starts with, 'We saw the doctor again today.'
Maybe it seems longer than ever because it never happens all at once. No no, that would be too easy. Instead it passes slowly to one member of the family at a time. Sometimes we actually get anywhere from one to three days of good health, and then it takes someone else down. I have been blessed to miss almost all of it, although the two times I have been infected I have gone down hard. The boys really have taken the brunt of it. We have had ear infections aplenty, pink eye, a nasty chest cold that keeps me up as night as I fear one of the boys will actually cough up a lung, the flu, or something like it and Austin kept us all on our toes as he went and had an allergic reaction to medication that the Dr. couldn't control.

Good times, good times. We have spent more in medical bills in the last 4 months then I have on all three of my pregnancy combined.... and I haven't even had this baby yet. We are doing our part to keep Kaiser of Roseville well funded. But really, I am so blessed with good doctors. Especially our kids doctor. She is wonderful and I love her. She has gotten to know my family better than I had even hoped, and with each visit I grow to appreciate her more.
I just pulled up my pictures to see what I missed out on posting last month, and I was saddened by the lack of photos I had, but realized not much happened last month other than movie watching, snuggling, and resting in bed. But right now we are on the up and up. Austin is just getting over (fingers crossed) the last of this stomach bug he has and Tanner and Austin go back to the doctor in two weeks for our final decision on tubes for their ears, but other than that we are hoping this will end our ill fate and we can return to the world as the full of life family we are.
We have a busy May so I am getting my fingers warmed up as I prep to post lots and lots of fun things that we have planned. We will looked back on the beginning of 2010 and laugh some day as we recall how many load of laundry we did, trips to the doctors we took and the many creative activities we did with our sick little ones and how grateful we are for each day of good health.