Are you kidding me?

Other potential post titles?

• This was not on the list!
• *&^%$^&*
• Jake...the Good, the Bad, the Ugly!
• Theme? Can you name it?
• Why I love The Grocery Game.

Clue was one of my favorite games growing up.

Let's see if you can solve this blog mystery.

Time: 8:48 pm

Evidence: See above & below.

&

I'm pretty sure you all get the idea here.

* * * * *

This was not on the list. - I'm talking about my 'nothing' weekend list.

*&^%$^* - Pretty self explanatory.

Jake, the Good, the Bad, the Ugly.- The good - he's adorable. The bad - he kills cats. The ugly - I don't know how I'll wash him...I can't get near him right now.

Theme - Can you name it? - Candles and other pretty smelling things.

Why I love The Grocery Game. - I got to dig into my stockpile of pretty smelling things to take the edge off. Unfortunately tomato juice hasn't hit my list, so I'll be shopping for that tomorrow.

* * * * *

Oh dear. I'm now nestled into bed, remote in hand, candles burning, praying that Monday doesn't stink too bad.

What does NOTHING look like?

It was Friday night when Marc asked me what my plan was for the weekend. I replied, "Nothing!" It seems that the best I can do these days is make a list. Allow me to list what

-nothing-

ended up looking like this weekend.

Friday night:
Enjoyed babysitting the Nelson girls while mom & dad had a date at Hamley's.
Baked a Confetti Cake.
Tucked girls in for bed at 9 pm.
Watched ER from Thursday night. (I love DVR)
Read Blogs.
Tucked myself in at 10 pm.

Saturday:
Cleaned the kitchen.
Balanced check book. (Is it payday yet?)
Torn down oodles of boxed and supervised the burn barrel.
Sorted through my freezer to make meal plans.
Showered.
Went to Vigil Mass.
Ate dinner at La Fiesta.
Printed out Grocery Game shopping list.
Tried to watch Oprah's on DVR. Fell asleep by 9: 30 pm.

Sunday:
Grocery shopping.
Made homemade applesauce.
Walked 5 miles with my walking buddies. (Only 95 to go...)
Went and visited day old puppies. Not cute enough yet to be considered irresistible.
Began setting up the playroom again. Construction in that room is complete.
Made dinner.
Blogged...
-up next-
...watch Amazing Race. (The one reality show I would be tempted to try.)
...set out clothes for this week. Picture day is Friday...yuck!


All in all the weekend was wonderful. Nothing turned out to be just enough. I read the newspapers, I played on the computer, but I still felt like I accomplished a few things.

I'm hoping as the school year routines become more established I can get back to the 'creative' side of my blog. Right now I'm posting to try and remain 'connected' and to keep track of this insane season called 'Back to School'!

DISNEY DELIGHT

Disney Delights

A List

One Daughter

One Mother

One Grandmother

Two Theme Parks & Four Days




Dozens of Characters







Hundreds of Smiles









Millions in Memories

Disney Learning per Reagan

"It really is the happiest place on earth."

"If it goes up, it's got to go down."

Disney Highlights

Princess luncheon & autographs

Rides-Rides-Rides

Key Lime Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory (twice)

Hannah Montana bear from Build-A-Bear

Disney Fireworks

Real Tinkerbell, flying on a zip line, above the castle.

(That little green fleck above the castle is Tinkerbell.)

Heat felt from the fire from our nearby seats.

Disney Downside

I went on this ride...I hadn't seen the sign.

I did quickly notice the barf bags inside the car after the latch was closed.

LISTS

Lists are the only thing keeping me going these days. I have 'blog' written on a list somewhere. Yet, not on the top of any current list. This is a short post for my favorite stalker...my brother, Jason. He keeps me on task. Thanks to Stacy too, for checking in. I miss you all when you don't post...but I get it. Really, I do get it.

Things I've crossed off my list:

• Set up my classroom.


• Clean out drawers of summer clothes that don't fit.


• Finish one quilt.


• Make a budget for this school year.


• Photo of kids on the first day of school.


• First day of school.


• Round Up Twilight Breakfast.


• Pack for Disneyland.


• Finish book #4 of Twilight Series.


• Camping w/Nelson's @ Target Meadow.


• Pick Huckleberries.


• Make Huckleberry pancakes.


• Make Huckleberry muffins.


• Freeze Huckleberries.

Things still on my list:

• Upload pictures and update blog.


• Order pictures. (1,000 + photos on computer...not yet printed.)


• Read other 8 books on Summer Reading List.


• Organize Sewing Room.


• Lesson Plan...get ahead a few weeks...stay ahead. Ha-Fantasy world-


• Take Reagan to Disneyland. (Sept. 10-14, 2008)


• Make Huckleberry Crisp.


• Survive Back-to-School September.

Photos may follow...

Future posts will happen...

I'm just not promising when.

Trillum Lake

WHO: Cousin Camping

Anne & Jill - Taryn, Grace, Aiden, Reagan & Madeline

WHAT:Camping

WHEN: August 18-21, 2008

WHERE: Trillium Lake, Mt. Hood

(This is a 2007 photo...it didn't look like this with the smoke from the forest fire and all the rain.)

WHY: To teach the city cousins about camping fun.

Day one: I had to tear down camp at Camp Creek by myself. Marc & the Smith's headed home on Sunday evening so they could work on Monday morning...poor things. HOWEVER-I was left to tear down camp-alone-in the pouring down rain. I tucked the kids into the van w/snacks and a movie. The process only took me about one hour. We headed to Trillium Lake where I set up camp-alone-in the rain. The kids continued snacking and watching their movie. We then drove down the mountain into Hood River. I had gotten passes for us from the RAC in Pendleton to use the club in Hood River. We swam and showered! It was a much needed break from camping. Aunt Jill & the cousins pulled into camp right behind us that afternoon. I showed Jill around the lake & the campground, we ate dinner and feasted on S'mores!

The kids were all asleep in bed by 9:00. Wow-that was a big accomplishment.

Day two: Jill ran around the lake twice. I walked around the lake once. We rode bikes. We made nature prints. We played games. We ate lunch. We drove to Frog Lake and played with the frogs and went swimming. We wore ourselves out...we called it an early night...because the rain came!

Day three: Jill & I decided to ABORT the camping trip a day early. There was a total DOWNPOUR. The good news is that this time I had help tearing down camp. We got the job done and Jill headed back to Portland. She is running Hood to Coast this weekend. The kids and I headed home.

We took a quick detour at Rasmussen's Fruit Stand in Hood River.

We bought apples, fresh corn and wonderful sunflowers.

Even with all the rain, we considered our first Cousin Camp out a success.

Camp Creek

WHO:
Marc & Anne - Billy & Torie

SIX Girls:

Keagan, Milee & Kayle

Taryn, Grace & Reagan

WHAT:

3 day camping trip

WHEN:

Friday, August 15-17, 2008

WHERE:

Camp Creek Campground-Mt. Hood

WHY:

To have fun, of course!

You are silly mom.

Dad & Grace fishing (unsuccessfully) in the creek.

Taryn & Mimsy

Playdoh Creations

Taryn & Keagan asleep in the tent...alone...they made it all night.

Day one: Set up camp - Temperatures topped 100 degrees.

Day two: Hiked and explored the campground. Hit Trillium Lake to beat the heat.

Day three: Explored Frog Lake...yes there is a reason it is called Frog Lake.

My favorite part of the trip...aside from spending time with fun friends...was experiencing:

2 Good - 2 Be True Massage

Featuring the skilled hands of Keagan & Taryn.

It will cost me a movie date later this fall.

Can I say...

TOTALLY WORTH IT!

Sokoloski Day Spa?

One empty flower bed, +

one shovel, & one watering can, +

one Gracie =

&

&

Thank goodness for water warmed in the hose and a huge bucket of warm water to get her 'cleaned up.' I had promised Grace she could make a mud bath this summer. Today was the perfect day to make good on my promise...it was nice and warm...not too hot. She loves the squishy stuff that is evident. Reagan got into a swim suit and gingerly put her ten toes in and decided that she wanted NOTHING to do with the mud bath. She certainly is my girlie girl.