Orange you glad for me?

That's right folks, Alex earned his Orange belt in Tae Kwon Do. Rock on little dude! So right now he is a low orange belt. We are starting to learn his new form and we will both be testing in November (as long as it doesn't conflict with our Cub Scout camping trip) I will be going for my low orange, Alex will go for his high orange. We have alot of form work to do as well as focus. But it is so much fun, and can you see the pride in his face! I have never seen a white belt come off so fast when SabBumNim brought out Alex's new orange belt. So happy and proud of him. Casey immediately took a dozen pictures to send to his Dad, who is a black belt in TKD.


This is the lovely result from our produce purging, and chicken stock making. Hmmm, notice the steam? Now I just have to make sure I eat through it all. Casey, who is not that fond of veggies, asked me how many servings of veggies this one bowl has. I have no idea, but I was sure glad to see everyone eating them up!

Today I get to visit one of my favorite places ever. Especially since three of my favorite beings ever came from there, the SPCA. I organized a Go See It for our Tiger Cub den to the SPCA, they will learn all about animal care, why we should spay and neuter and dog safety.

We were just there a month ago to get Betty, she has made an amazing turn around in the last month. She looks so healthy, she is playful, and she loves so deeply.

Twain is the cause for my deep love of the special needs dogs. He had heart worms and no one would adopt him. A pure bred weimeraner, but no one wanted him, big oaf that he is. But as soon as Casey and I spied him, we were taken. I will never forget him giving Alex a small lick and the way he would snuggle his head into our legs then look up with those big green eyes. Twain spent about 6 weeks at the SPCA while he had heart worm treatment, we would come and visit him, snuggling him while he was recovering, passed out on his bed. People at the SPCA still talk about him and are always happy to see us.

Penny, well Penny was a fabulous twist of fate. We were orginally going to get another puppy, but a lady beat us to her by 2 minutes (literally). Penny was the puppy in the cage above, about 2 months younger, such a wee baby. But she has been the most perfect fit in our family. She is our protector and mother pup. She is always on the look out for us. It has taken us two years to get her to relax in the house, to put her guard down, and even then that happens only rarely. She is our creature of habit. And our lover of cookies.

Needless to say we love all our shelter pups, and even our backyard breeder pup Bella (of course!). Hopefully today's trip to the SPCA will teach the boys to spay and neuter and will hopefully open up their parents eyes to what they should do for their animals.

And how could I forget to mention our beloved Yuki, I found her in the middle of the street on a boiling hot day. No one ever claimed her, so we were blessed to have her in our lives for 4 months. Sweet Yuki girl.

It looks sweet and innocent

I spy a sweet docile looking specimen of organization. She seems calm enough to approach, I do so with my guard up, you never know how these planner types will respond to you. Easy girl.
Holy Smokes, she broad sided me with a busy week and massive to-Do lists. This specimen is sneaky with her hidden agendas and task lists to keep me busy all week long. Oh no, I am ensnared in her coil binding, errands and chores are being shovled into my mind, I can't help but succumb to her lists and demands. Help!

Yup, that is my to-do list for the day! Hello busy lady. :O) If you are interested in the book, you can find it at www.busybodybook.com. LOVE it, I love how our schedules are laid out right in front of my eyes.

If you are a BBB user and you want a custom cover, leave me a comment, I will get back to you ASAP.

Alex got another one of his Lego kits from the kit club that Lisa got him for his birthday. Every other month they send him a full lego kit to build, a magizine, and sometimes movies. Lisa, this was seriously the best gift ever!! He wanted to show you his new lego car and wave to you. :o)

Udder time

Field trips were one of my favorite things when I was little, loved them! Alex loves them too. In fact every child I know loves them. Yesterday's was a busy crazy fun filled day at the Children's musuem. Another parent and I, who I know from Tiger Cubs, were in charge of 7 boys and one girl. That one girl was more trouble then the seven boys put together. She ignored us, ran away, was stubborn in every way, and refused (!) to listen. Her parents have their hands full with her.

Another parent joined our group with her son who is Autistic, but highly functioning. We ended up carpooling there and back and we of course got to talking about Autism. Let me tell you folks, the numbers are scary. And they keep getting higher. We talked about diet control, sensory issues, immunizations and are they the root?. We talked fears, joys, and troubles with schools. We just talked like moms. The entire conversation ran parallel to another conversation I had Friday night with a group of moms. We discovered that two of us had really hard labor and delivery, and our two sons were so similar in attitude and "issues". Trend here?

We talked about all the food additives that are factors in behavior and all the ways you can make your household food healthier. I am and was amazed at what people don't know or just don't think about. Or horrors, don't care. Like pre-shredded cheese, don't you ever wonder why it doesn't stick together in the bags at the store??? Some people say it is coated in wax, others say a small amount of plastic. All I know is it is gross and I don't want to put that in my families tummies. Red dye #40 has so many links to health issues, but kids foods are packed with it. Which also makes me think about all the foods that are out there that are dyed for our eating pleasure. Yogurt is not meant to be neon pink. GROSS, personally I think Mother nature has provided us plenty of color to choose from. I could go on about the crushed bugs in foods used as additives (see it isn't a mistake at the processing plant) and coloring agents, and I could talk about high fructose corn syrup, but I won't. Because you are big kids and can google it yourself.

Does this mean that I don't buy foods with gross additives in it? NO, I just try to make the right choice, but sometimes nothing will do but frozen pizza bites. I say buy what you want, but start reading the food labels. Start making small changes, like buying sandwich breads that are 100% whole grain (whole wheat doesn't count, it has to be whole grain) AND be High Fructose Corn Syrup free. We have only found one, Pepperridge Farms. Maybe start buying block cheese and shredding it yourself. It is super easy if you have a Cuisineart. Add veggies to anything you can, like pasta sauces. Last night I snuck in red bell pepper, green bell pepper, onion, garlic and mushrooms. Everyone loved it. Go Veggies.

After the field trip the kids ate lunch in the classroom. Alex is one of 5 kids who brings his lunch daily. Most of the kids eat school lunchs, and man I could go off on this. I recommend seeing Jamie Oliver's School Lunch Project if you haven't. Bleck. Anyways, more kids brought lunch yesterday due to the field trip. I counted 7 Lunchables in that room. SEVEN! All I could think about was the sodium intake and the food colorings and the waxes and the empty calories those kids were scarfing down. Alex always wants lunchables, so we make our own and use a plastic tray that we saved from one actual lunchable. At least I know the meat is better and fresher and I know the cheese isn't coated and I know the crackers are better then others because I purchased healthier ones. *sigh* Then there are the yogurts and puddings in tubes. Ugh. And of course the requist piece of candy in each box. AND juice pouches filled with sugar water, not juice.

*sigh*

People need to start caring about what they feed their kids.

Be educated. Don't take the convience food outlet when it really is your families health on the line.

Offically comfort food time

I have been eye-ing the crisper bin in our fridge for a couple of days and decided to make some veggie soup before all the green goodness spoils. But I needed Chicken stock, sure I could buy canned stock, but I planned ahead and have been saving chicken bones and scraps in the freezer. Toss in some celerey, carrots, onions, handful of peppercorn, and you have stock! Once it sets up overnight in the fridge and I have skimmed off all the fat, I am making a hearty thick veggie soup/stew. Talk about belly comfort.

My favorite Comfort Food queen has a new show starting on the Food Network. Nigella Lawson kicks booty in the kitchen. Her books are my cooking bibles, and I highly recommend them to anyone who wants basics beyond the traditional red checked Betty Crocker. I am talking basics like stocks, roasted chicken recipes, killer veggie gratins, and of course desserts.

The food network has been my channel flip of choice lately. Between Pepin, De laurentis, Oliver, and old school Lawson, I am reloving my food prep. go Kitchen Cook!

My tummy and mind have been calling for comfort food lately. I was able to wear a sweater this past Sunday! Nothing beats snuggling down into a cotton sweater and STILL wearing flip flops. I might have left Cali, but Cali is still in my style. And nothing beats knowing that one day super soon I will have to dig out the down comforters and listen for freeze reports. Soon we will have to dress Twain in his doggie jacket, and maybe Betty too. And soon my parents will be asking if I can knit Sammy a sweater to keep him snuggly. Soon, soon, soon.

And Holy Schmoly it will SOON be Christmas time.

Dazed and Confused in between folds of flannel

I have been sick, the kind of sick that settles on you like a thick dark comforter. The feeling of breathing hot stale air while hiding out under your bedding, that has been me. I surface for the hours that Alex is here, moving, working, doing, but holding out for that second where I can strip and slide between my flannel sheets to tuke my toes into the folds and slip away into sickness.

Luckily today, I am feeling much better. Bugman had school pictures today, an event we always prepare for with loads of smile training and the just right shirt. I woke him up early, popped his butt in the shower, styled his hair, and filled his tummy with breakfast and his sleepy mind with Tom and Jerry. Then off to school where all the girls wore dresses like wedding cakes, and the boys were all "handsome".

Monday, I had the joy of babysitting Sammy while my mom went somewhere. He looks so cute and snuggley when sleeping, but man can he ever whine.

And of course my mom just eats it up that he loves her so much.

People this rawks! Love the Ride'em Cowboy sequence at the end!

I am a Marked Woman

Alex and Casey marked me at the Fun day. :O) Alex gave me teepees and Casey gave me a big blue star on the other check. I really didn't want to wash it off to go to the grocery store.

Here is today's scrap, "My Mom Trip". The journaling is still blank. I really want to get it right, but it will go on the lower portion where the ledger papers are. I LOVE it. if you know where I am, you are a SUPER STAR!

One Two Three Go!

We had a typical American family day, well typical for a family who has kiddos in activities. We woke up early and made our way over to Alex's Tae Kwon Do Club. He tested today for his orange belt. The testers get to do their form twice if they mess up the first time. Alex did his form twice, some how he ended up with the wrong punch at the end. But the second time he did great! He also did great on one step sparing, YEAH! We will find out next week if he gets a belt change, keep your fingers crossed. I will test for my orange belt in November. Next week will be a week of fun classes starting with Hopkido and three step sparing. I am really looking forward to class.


Right after TKD we had to run out to a Tiger Cub Fun Day. We went on a hike, played at a mock Alamo, fished, did some face painting, and played on a huge wooden Pirate ship. They also had swimming, archery, and BB Guns, but some of the events were closed by the time we arrived. It was great being able to hike around the BSA grounds, we will be camping there for a long weekend in November, with our entire Den if not Pack. In November Alex will be able to work at his Achery and BB gun belt loops.

After the fun day, we headed back towards home, but first had to pick up our car. It was in the shop for a third day this week. The first two days were for a tune up and new tires. Luckily this damage happened before the car needed to go on a long drive. The damn radiator cracked! At least now the car is all up to repair and the only things that can crap out on it now are major repairs. Isn't that how it always is?

I am super excited to go to Church tomorrow, the new series is all about Music Icons and Faith. Tomorrow is all about Johnny Cash, and the series is being lead by my favorite pastor, Pastor Doug. Lisa will know him from the service she went with me too. He is hilarious and real and so down to earth. Love his messages. And I love the fact that the band will be dishing out some JC tunes. HAHAHA, JC=Johnny Cash AND Jesus Christ. I crack myself up! The week after is about Bono. Should be interesting and entertaining. Alex also has started up a new small group at church, and KidStuff started up again. Our Sunday are turning into busy days.

Our family has also had a new addition added to it. Casey had a fabulous idea to get my mom a puppy for her birthday. Yesterday we delievered Sammie to her a minature Red Shorthaired Dachsand. He is adorable and makes her so very happy. My Dad too has fallen for Sammie and his funny ways. I will post some pictures when I see them tomorrow. Plus, I get to Puppy sit him on Monday! Yay! Did we mention that we have a thing for dogs?

Big A & Little Alex

I love love love this Poppy Ink kit. Two favorite Little Alex pictures, ink, buttons, texture, clear heart, and dots. Love love love it. Just another kind of pile, an organized one.

Journaling: Not out of babyhood, not quite a toddler. Right in the middle of big and little...Perfect. Disneyland September 2003

The slide into autumn...

The weather has changed here, from frying to inspiring. It is once again nice to be outside, but instead of inspecting baby grass and greens, we are ever aware of the turning and crunch of grass and leaves. It is odd that we love the slow death and hibernation of nature so much. Big Mother N sure knows how to pass on in style.

I find myself drawn to Mud colors, as my mom says, I want to create in stacks of moss and bark, blending in some sunburst, soot and rust. I want to play with fall not only in our backyard but in my scrap.

I recieved this yummy super inspiring kit from Poppy Ink yesterday. Thank You!!! And all I want to do is spend a coule days shifting it around, layering the colors and textures before I cut and trim and ink it all up to my endless delight! Isn't it just FUN!?

Of course I love to pile and group anyways. Poor Casey is forever asking where I moved what pile and then where did I stash it? I rarely remember right away because I move them around when I get in a cleaning frenzy. But I do eventually find whatever it is I have piled somewhere.

My favorite piles and groupings...

It is a Conspiracy...

I am offically declaring that there are bigger forces out there that are refusing to inform first time parents about all the nasty things kids can get. Oh yes, there is nasty that comes along with your sweet little baby. But they want you to little of only the cuteness and buy loads and mountains of cuteness baby clothes and stuff.

So now I am informing you about these grossies, which are only a pinch out of a pile:

1. Head Lice
2. PinWorms
3. RotoVirus
4. Hand Foot and Mouth Disease
5. Explosive Diaherrea

I do believe the Japanese, who have a declining birthrate, know something we don't know. Or else the Big brother force is informing those smart people all about the childhood grossies that are out there. Or, they are all just so smart they actually Google childhood grossies as part of their sex education programs. Yes, they are informed, so they either don't have sex, or use triple wrapped condoms so they don't have more kiddos and therefore don't have to expierence any of the above grossies. Only the very brave go forth and dive head first into the petri dish.

Needless to say one certain kiddo I know and love has one of the above. BLECK!!!

"Baby, I am on a plane ..."

This morning while Alex and I ate the breakfast that Casey made for us, CNN played a brief message that a woman on one of the highjacked planes left for her husband/boyfriend/child. She sounded so strong, so together, so matter of fact, until her voice broke at the end and she cried and hung up. I immediately welled up with tears, immediately choked on the egg in my throat. Immediately felt the same sorrow I felt five years ago. Once again, we explained it to Alex. Once again, we told him how he ate Cheerios in his high chair while Casey and I sat riveted on the couch that dark morning, how he said, "UhOh, go boom." when the first tower fell. Five years...

So this morning marks the start of a busy week, an up early every morning week, a week of intense preperations. Alex tests for his Orange belt this Saturday, so we will be going to every practice and practicing at home. We also have a big Tiger Cub event this Saturday, which we will be late to due to testing. We are also getting the car all prepped up with a tune up new tires, and mabye window tinting. So we are just busy.

But as I sit at my desk with my now ever present tink cough of cuppee, I am oh so happy that it just started raining (hard!), I have a yummy english muffin to snack on, fresh coffee, and a To-Do list that is all ready half way done. Plus I have this sweet new muffin warming my feet.

Meet Betty, we adopted her about a week ago from the Human Society. She had come from a horribley abusive home (can you even call it that!). So we swooped her up, got her groomed, and now we have the most loving adorable muffin ever! She hates to be seperated from us, she adores Alex, she loves to just sleep all day, she is a senior dog, she is geting cateracts, she is slightly deaf and she makes us happy. She scares the daylights out of Bella though.

As an odd aside, I have discovered Imogen Heap, her song "Hide and Seek" is amazing. Where have I been while all this fabulous music has been swirling around?

Old Tributes

On Labor day we decided to take a drive out towards two towns that we have never been too. As we were driving along, with Off the Beaten Path as our driving companion and tour guide, we spied this beautiful old cemetary. Of course we had to stop. It was lovely, old, quirky, so very sad, and so very fascinating. I loved the many old metal crosses that are head stones and the detailed craved stones that aged with black in the cracks and dips. As Casey walked around picking up headstones that had fallen over or broken in half, I picked up flowers that has blown over or needed some sprucing up. We read the headstones, marveling at the age of them. Talking to Alex about them, remembering them by simpley repeating the names. So many have gone forgotten, except for the town who made a huge effort to replaque all the tombstones with the names and dates. There are trees filled with windchimes, plastic flowers to forever adorn the graves, fresh dirt on some, no grass, but ancient walls and paths between the rows. Beautitul in a very Texas way. As we were driving out, we spied one lone tombstone on the very edge of a stone wall with cactus growing all around it. There, but just on the outskirts.

Code LD

Today, at Alex's school, there was a lock down. All of the parents that were waiting outside to pick up our kiddos were ushered into the library in the dark and told to hide behind the bookcases. All the classrooms were locked and had their lights turned off, all the kids were ushered into protective corners of the rooms. All because there was a Home Invasion in the neighborhood. Two males were on the loose, the cops were chasing them down, and the school was a target destination. All I wanted to do was bolt out of the library down the long hall to Alex's room. But I stayed with all the other parents because I knew the kids thought it was a drill and I didn't want to cause panic. So with forty other parents and the arms of my two friends around me with one friend whispering prayers, we waited 15 minutes in the dark till the cops gave us the all clear. As soon as I got Alex, I hugged him, hard, and whispered my own little prayer. As soon as I could get him settled at home, blissfully aware of the scarey situation, I called Casey because that kind of stress is something both parents handle better together. And I needed him. I needed his strong voice, my Casey.

Prayer: Please God, keep our children and teachers and all of us parents safe from the crazy bastards that are threatening us. Please keep your watchful eye over us all as we go on through the day. Please give me the composer to keep a light voice with Alex to not frighten him, and to hold my fears at bay. Please give me the mental ability to keep extreme fears from taking over my rational thoughts, and please help me to remember that not everyone in the world is a crazy bastard. Please God, remember us and hold us close. Amen.

The Dare Devil in us all...

Because we are missing it. Because we love it. I had to find this clip from old school disney with Alex. I love it, love the sky, the sound, Alex's scream, Alex's AGAIN at the end, Casey voice coming from behind the camera. I just love it.

Love to make it...

Love to make it, but eating it all drives me batty with monotony.

Pesto Pinenut bread, hmmmm yum with butter.

YEAH, we finished it all except for a sliver that will go in Alex's lunchbox tomorrow. YEAH YEAH! I am only cheerting this accomplishment because I am unfortuntely a pro at avoiding the meals that have leftovers in my fridge until their date with the garbage can. But not this dish!

Finally, after nearly a year of the process and then waiting, these were delievered into the hands of their owner. This entire project has more pages then I have made for my family. Holy cow, it was alot of work, alot of fun, alot of awe, and such a sweet feeling to be walking away with a check FINALLY.

And now I have another project from the same family keeping a chair occupied in my front room.