We Interrupt for a Special ANNOUNCEMENT . . .

MY HOUSE IS CLEAN!

So if any of you have been thinking you should stop by,

or you have something to return,

or you would like to borrow something,

or for any reason at all

PLEASE come today.

Then for once I can avoid that 

"why don't people ever stop by when the house is clean" 

question that I normally have to ask myself after someone has come over.

And as a special bonus -

 if you come in the next 5 or 10 minutes you may be able to see vacuum lines 

(for those of you who know me really well you know this is a BIG deal to me)

So come on people!

 HEAD ON OVER! 

I would have yummy baked treats waiting - 

BUT I don't want to dirty my kitchen quite yet.

OK you can get back to regular scheduled BLOGGING now.

WEEKEND RECAP

FRIDAY was going to be a GREAT day. . .

(can you hear the fun music playing in the background)

My husband had the day off - A whole day with nothing particularly planned

(except me running all my errands without my children - could there be a better day?)

It was a GREAT day until 10:00 am when my husband got the phone call that he had a trial going out on Monday . . . so exit the plans of running errands without the children and enter husband going into work all day long. 

ENTER TARGET

(my friend Jen had called me and told me I had to get to Target. All their backpacks and bags were on major clearance (like $3.00 clearance). 

I packed all three kids in the car and made the 30 second drive to Target.

So I head to the school supply section where there are backpacks on clearance - but not a "whole wall" like Jen had said.

I found the SLING backpack that Kale wanted (for next year of course) but have to admit I was a little disappointed that we had made the 30 second drive for only 1  backpack.

So when we get home I call Jen. . .

"So I only found one backpack"

"What? Was it that picked over?"

"Well not all of them were on sale - only half that aisle"

"Kaylynn, were you in the clearance section at the back corner of the store?"

"What? No I was in the school supply section."

"Kaylynn, the whole back wall of the store is on clearance"

"KIDS get your shoes back on!"

And off we went. . .

Here's what we came home with - and my bill $19.70 (something cents)!!!!!

The good bargain was helping me get over how unexcited my kids were to go to Target twice in 5 minutes!!!!

We made it up to them on SATURDAY NIGHT!

We had movie night - but not in the family room. . .

AT THE PARK!

We watched HAPPY FEET sitting together on a blanket under the stars eating popcorn!

I think the best time was walking home in the dark. The kids had their headlamps on and here was this family taking a walk at about 10:00 at night. I bet we were hilarious. 

So I guess the weekend wasn't a total loss. . .

(By the way  - Monday morning the trial my husband spent his entire day off prepping for PLEAD)

Ya know that Baby Shower Game where they bring out the tray of random items and you have 2 minutes to memorize everything on the tray - then the tray gets taken away and you have to write down everything you remember from the tray?????

When I walked into my family room 

I felt like I was playing that game!

(seriously how much can one floor hold?)

laundry bin (full of clean clothes)

pear notebook

2 white shoes

yellow alphabet toy

red flip flop

buzz lightyear phone

swim diaper

pink blanket (her favorite)

rimmikub game

paintbrush

pencil

1st base

purple sweater

Book of Mormon

teenage mutant ninja turtle staff

chevron car

nerf gun

sock (clean I hope)

bumbo seat

digital camera

chaotic trading card

&

Karalyn

HOW DID YOU DO?

JUST HAPPENED. . .

My project for the day has been our

extra bedroom/guest room/computer room/catch all room!

So since we have been awake I have been cooped up in the room working away.

Thank goodness for PBS kids in the morning and for Kara's morning nap.

But now Kara is awake and Kris is bored . . .

So I set up a new noise making toy in Kara's room (across the hall  from where I am working) and put Kristopher in charge.

Well that didn't last long and Kris was downstairs after about 10 minutes.

So I took Kara from her room and brought her in with me.

A few minutes later from Kara's room I hear Kris 

"uh, Kara where are you"

I decided to play along. . .

I walked into her room and looked at Kris and in that mom means business voice I say,

"Where is your Sister?"

He is speechless.

"Kris where is your sister?"

Now Kris is really kinda upset and I wonder if I should have even played this little game???

"I don't know"

Then he gets down on both knees.

"What are you doing?"

"I have to say a prayer so I can find her."

And now I'm the one who is speechless . . .

I give him a big hug. Pick him up and walk him to the next room where his sister is playfully rolling around on the cluttered floor.

I LOVE BEING A MOM!

PROPOSITION 8

PROTECTING MARRIAGE

On Saturday my husband and I went walking door to door in support of Proposition 8.

OK we took Karalyn with us - I kinda hoped people maybe wouldn't be as argumentative with a baby right there. . .

I will say though on the outside I seemed all gung-ho about going but inside I was a nervous wreck. I hate confrontation and here I was putting myself out there on an issue that on both sides portrays really strong feelings. Many silent prayers were offered as we approached each door. This was our second time walking neighborhoods. I guess the thing that surprised me most was that people didn't even know what Prop 8 was?

 

"We're here in the neighborhood with information regarding Prop 8 - are you familiar with what Prop 8 is?"

Most times people looked confused. . .

"Proposition 8 places into the California Constitution the same language that voters already passed by 61% percent of the vote in 2000, which says, 'only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California.'"

Then people would nod. . .

Is this an I AGREE with that nod - 

Or an NOW I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT  AND I'M NOT VOTING FOR THAT nod?

"Do you know where you stand on this issue?"

Yes

"Can we ask how you would vote on this issue?"

(that's the scary question)

I was surprised that most people answered either yes or no. There were no in betweens. We were ready with the response (not argument) that in the far scope of things this isn't just an issue about Gay Marriage or Protecting Marriage - but in reality this would send the message not only to California but to other states as well that even though 4 million people voiced their opinion on a particular matter that 4 extreme judges took that voice away and put in their own policy agenda.  THAT'S SCARY!!!!!

Or what about the story right here in our own county - where a couple was recently married and on the marriage license where it now reads PARTY A and PARTY B - they wrote next to PARTY A BRIDE and next to PARTY B GROOM and the county came back and declared their marriage invalid - they had tampered with the license. 

I don't know about you but when my kids get married I want them to be known as a BRIDE or GROOM not PARTY A or PARTY B!

The conversation ended with us thanking them for their time and handing them a flyer.

We didn't have any doors slammed in our face and no one was intentionally rude to us, but I'm not going to lie - I was very glad when we finished with all the houses on our list - It put me out there and I felt really out of my element - but I'm so thankful that I played a small part in educating people on the issue.

I'm not done either - I plan on continuing efforts right up until November 4th - and you better believe I will be one of the first ones in line to cast my vote on that day as well. . .

And so I ask for your help as well!

Please get the word out - I'm not asking everyone to go door to door - I know it's scary - but talk to people - wear a button and answer questions if people ask about what it is.  And at the very least please make sure you are registered to vote and go vote on November 4th!

It's a humbling and empowering feeling knowing that we do have a voice.

Let's make it be heard.

thanks for listening

We Did More Than Just Dress Up . . .

Here's our family on the beach - 

this pictures actually looks like we are enjoying a nice family moment  -

 but in reality I am pleading with my children to just take one more picture . . .

So far this is the best we got - at least we're all in it!

Where to begin with all the fun we had this week?

While the guys enjoyed doing this. . .

Here's all the fun we girls had!

Walks on the Beach

Shopping at all the Thrift Stores

MOVIES - Who hasn't seen Mama Mia?

Go see it - (just close your eyes when Pierce sings!)

And I think maybe the highlight of the week -

Watching a wedding sitting in a hot tub in my bathing suit!

Yes the neighbor next door had a wedding on their deck

and we just had to watch!

So where were the kids while their parents were having this much fun?

Well . . .

What could be better than waking up each morning at the beach?

Or looking for dolphins through the 11 matching pairs of binoculars that Nana and Papa brought?

Or discovering the sand for the first time?

Or running down the beach with mom?

(I know - not the most flattering picture but I remember Kara laughing so hard as the waves would come in - so I can look past the picture and remember the memory - hopefully you can look past the picture as well)

Or pushing your brother into the ocean?

Or watching the sun set with your dad?

BUT there was ALOT of this going on!

Don't worry Kris - Boogie Boarding can be hard - you don't have to master it at 4 years old.

There - you go stick to making drip castles.

Or giant holes in the sand with Cole.

But don't eat the sand like your sister - please!

Kale and I spent a lot of time doing homework at the beach house.

How can you even consider it work when you have this as your classroom?

There you have it!

OUR BEACH HOUSE VACATION!

See you next year Jibson's!

HOW COULD I FORGET. . .

Here we all are in all our

"SWASHBUCKLIN" 

Glory!

(If you're thinking we're weird  - you should have seen the look on the neighbors face who we asked to take the picture)

Did anyone see that wife swap episode where the family dressed like pirates all the time?

I hope she didn't see that episode. . .

What comes to your mind 

when you see a family dressed like this?

Yo -Ho-Ho-A-PIRATING-We-Go!!!

So normally I like to start at the beginning. . .

But in this case it is way too fun to start at the END

of the vacation!

HERE WE ARE!

Each year at the beachouse we have THEME NIGHT - 

This year we were PIRATES!

I think we had more fun than the kids

  (although they did get pirate swords from Grandma  - That absolutely kept them entertained, busy, and bruised)

DISCLAIMER - Our family outings always involve JUMPING somehow!

OTHER FUN ACTIVITIES OF THE NIGHT:

CANNON FIGHT  (water balloon fight) from Ship to Ship!

THE PIRATE FEAST

(Including our Pirate Boats)

And I wish I had PICTURES  - THE PIRATE PINATA!!!!

(I love pinatas but when they are in the shape of a person it just seems a little off when I'm yelling at my kids to WHACK IT - You had to be there!)

So every year I pride myself on getting the perfect family picture of us all dressed up!

This year it just didn't happen - oh we tried but none of them are blog worthy - they really are that bad! So here is our family  - just not all together!

There you have it the end of the vacation! 

I'll get to the rest of the vacation when Kara takes her second nap today!

We're Home

We are home, but we are all a little 

tired

from our week on the beach. . .

So once I catch up on laundry 

and find new homes 

for all the fun stuff we came home with (thanks Grandma), 

we'll give you details on the trip!

In 1 Word. . .

I thought this was fun - but harder than it looks - one word answers - HARD - I'm the kind of person who likes to explain herself and with one word that's a challenge.

HERE GOES:

Where is your cell phone? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . charging

Your significant other? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . sleeping

Your hair? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .#&%@

Your mother? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .teacher

Your father? . . . . . . . .  .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .outgoing

Your favorite thing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .husband

Your dream last night?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .dream?

Your favorite drink?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sprite

Your dream/goal?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pounds

The room you're in? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . family

Your children? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . loud

Your fear? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . spiders

Where do you want to be in 6 years?. . . . . . . here

Where were you last night?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . chaos

What you're not?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . confident

Muffins? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Costco

One of your wish list items? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .mattress

Where'd you grow up?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Orem

What'd you read last? . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .grocery-ad

What are you wearing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . glasses

Your TV?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . Kyle's

Your pet?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . .NOT

Your computer?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . utilized

Your life?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sofarsogood

Your mood?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .optimistic

Missing someone?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .mom

Your car?. . . . . .. . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .transports

Something you're not wearing?. . . . . . . . . . . .bra

Favorite store?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .thrift

Your summer?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ending

Like someone?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .kids

Your favorite color?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . white

Last time you laughed?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10 - minutes

Last time you cried?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 - minutes

AND NOW WE ARE HEADED HERE

TALK TO YOU NEXT WEEK