EEEEK a mouse

So I know the whole when the weather gets cold bugs and vermin move to where it is warm but this was ridiculous. I picked up my coat off our den (not really used for much more than collecting stuff) and screamed when I saw a huge spider under the coat and another one dropped out of my coat. Of course my husband gives me this hard time about "it's just a little spider". Yeah, no it was two, major surprise factor and I almost put that coat on!

So a few days later I come home from an evening school board meeting and my husband calls down from our room "could I come up there"-sounding a bit off. So I come in to find him huddled in the middle of the bed with his laptop where he informs me that he saw a mouse run under our bed. OK, we are talking second story window. What is up with that? So long story short and much secret time from the kids in case I couldn't catch it, we corner this mouse in my sitting area with the screens we pulled off the windows to paint. Nate has barricade duty seeing as for some reason he really just can't stand mice, and I climb over the barricade with the bucket to try and catch it. I see it cornered behind my scrap booking stuff (who knows whats living back there since it has been so long since I touched it) and start in with "here, here little mousy". Nate very shortly tells me "don't talk to it!" So I had to proceed to chase this mouse from corner to corner until I finally finish it off with a box.

Thankfully, task was completed, I can now scoff at my hubby for making fun of me for the spider incident and we haven't seen or caught another one since.

Side note: as I am at my parents for my 20th reunion- my mother made the comment "most people try and loose weight for their reunion and you look like you gained weight". Yeah, I think I will go cry now.

Cool Hair Ideas

Ok everyone with cute girls-Mahina this one is for you. My sis-in-law sent me this link and it is very fun. I just thought you might like to check it out. http://babesinhairland.blogspot.com/

So I realize this is interesting coming from the mother who's children never look like they have brushed their hair, let alone sat still long enough for any of these elaborate do's, but a mom can dream can't she. Those of you with young ones still, get them used to the brush and rubber bands early because the older they get the more opinions they gain. Enjoy playing with bobby pins and bows. Maybe Sunday I will try and get Eliza to hold still long enough to do something. Funny, she seems to let her cheer coach do her hair....huh.

Pirates Hurting Stephenie Meyer

If you haven't heard, the first 12 chapters of Stephenie Meyers Edward Version-Midnight Sun was pirated and released on the Internet. She is so sad and frustrated that she has decided she can no longer finish the book and has but it on hold indefinitely. As fun as it would be to read the whole thing, she ought to take some time for herself and the family to get over it and then see. If you want to read it go to her home page, stepheniemeyer.com.

A Get-Away

Nathan and I enjoyed a weekend away for our 16th Anniversary. We went and stayed the night in Clackamas and went to the street of dreams. Thanks to everyone who helped get my kids where they needed to go for the day. I can't believe how hard it is to escape for less than 24 hours. We got to our hotel and found about 100 12 year old girl soccer players and their families staying with us for a tournament the next day. So much for escaping children. The homes were not as impressive this year as they have been in the past. I imagine the fear of not being able to sell them afterwards is a concern this time. It has gotten me motivated to start drawing designs for my kitchen. Ideas anyone!

Don't Scratch-easier said than done!

OK, so much for the supposed personal conviction that I am above being irritated by Poison Oak. I have family members who break out if they get within 10 feet but I have never had a reaction to Poison Ivy or Oak. Well my clean record has ended. I am so stinking miserable! Our back yard fence had a 20 foot section with Poison Oak growing into our yard. I didn't want to hire someone who might get it and Nate started clearing it and broke out. So thinking I don't break out I spend 3 days clearing it all back. Guess that wasn't so intelligent after all. At least I saved my kids and husband from the nasty stuff but boy do I ITCH!!!!!

On a more enjoyable note I thought I would give some in site into the difference between my two sons. We went to the library's discount day at Oaks Amusement Park on Wednesday. After a fun, long day I give Andrew and Zach the chance to pick one more ride each. Andrew picks the Spider and wants to ride with Becca "cuz she knows how to make it spin real fast". Zach picks the carousal and wants to ride one that "doesn't go up and down". Andrew put on his roller skates crying when I didn't do his first and went right out onto the floor without me. Zach couldn't stand up straight for anything let alone let go of a wall and spent most of the time crying in a corner to be done. I love all my children and it is fun to see them develop so differently.

The Lazy Days of Summer

Ok, I know I am a huge bum and haven't written in forever, but really-it is summer. So what is up with that anyway. When it is gray and wet outside and I am doing nothing but running kids here and there I find time to write. When I am actually doing things and being busy-possibly even doing something worth writing about but I can't guarantee anything, I don't write. Isn't that the way of life. We went and spent a week vacationing through California. Thank you for everyone who let us stay with them. We went on the best, crazy, intense roller coaster called X2 at Magic Mountain, saw Wicked in LA, went boating, beaching, and just lazy days with friends. It is good to be home. This week is dedicated to the obsession of the Twilight series. The fourth and final book is being released at midnight this Friday August 1st. Yes, the party is at Barnes and Nobles in Tansbourne Center off 185th 10-12pm. Get reading if your not done!

Vacationers return

So we took the family to that new water park Wolf Lodge up in Washington. It is what Roz really wanted for her birthday. It was fun but I agree with Dina who said it is a glorified Clackamas Water Park. It is a huge hotel and then the water park is all indoors and only people staying at the hotel can go in. It is still plenty crowded. They also had this "Quest" game set up on all the lobby's where you buy a wand and then you have these computerized quests and challenges that you run all over the place doing searches for gold, gems, pictures of things, etc. The kids liked that as much or more than the water. You got to save the fairies and fight off dragons with this wand which was computerized.

As for my sicko-Eliza is feeling great now and sees absolutely no need for the yucky pink stuff anymore. It's amazing how the first day she was happy to take it and it went down so easily and didn't taste bad. 5 days later and its not again, yuck and do I have to as she hides. Ah, the joys.

I want to add that my parents are still doing fine. I was happy to be able to go and help do some of those odd jobs around the house for them over spring break. My mom is a 24/7 care giver for my dad who still gets out and plants and works in the yard despite his physical limitations. It has been very fun to help update some of there rooms. It is always more fun to spend other peoples money! Mom, you have done a great job and the house is looking super. There are not two more wonderful people in the world.