I need good workout music. I want to download good workout songs....songs that will keep me motivated. Songs that are fun and will keep my speed up on the elliptical. Any suggestions? What do you listen to when you workout/walk/jog/run/clean the house/etc?
I am so blessed to have so many great teachers in my life! My friends and loved ones have recently endured so much....and have done so with such great faith. I have learned so much from the way they have faced their trials. Jon and Stephanie have taught me so much...and today my friend Rochelle taught me again. She has been battling breast cancer for about 9 or 10 months. Today I read that the cancer has spread to her brain. She is once again fighting with such faith! She is determined to beat this. She is so optimistic and upbeat. She is such a great example! So I ask all of you, my teachers, to pray for these friends of mine. Pray for continued peace for Jon and Stephanie and pray for health for Rochelle! Thanks for teaching me, in your own little way!
Neil called for me to come quick...and this is what I found...
The problem: we have a shampoo bottle with a pump
The second problem: it was on the shower floor
The third problem: the adorable little thing can open every door in our house
Luckily she hadn't had her bath. It was so adorable....the first time. The next time, when she had already had her bath and was in her p.j.'s.....wasn't quite as cute! Now all the bathroom doors are locked and the kids have to yell for me when they need to use the bathroom. I just keep thinking...this too shall pass....and then I will be sad when it does!
Clearly not blogging. Yet I need to. I have had such crazy weeks lately (I thought summer was suppose to be slower then when school is in?) So besides playing catch up with my blogging, I am also avoiding. I should be cleaning house (Neil's brother and wife and their 9 kids are coming tonight...then again they have 9 kids....should I bother to clean before they come?) I also am avoiding my sewing room. I have made dresses for many flower girls, my own girls, prom dresses and many many baby blessing gowns. I also have made like a gajillion (is that a word) diaper bags and burp rags. Yet I am currently making one of the most important dresses I have ever made. When my friend Mary Beth had her first baby I made her a blessing gown (although two weeks before she was born we found out she was a he) So both her kids wore it. Now Mary Beth and her husband are going to the temple to be sealed as a family and I am making her little girl Brooke's (yes named for my Brooke) dress. I love the pattern, I love the material (yummy silk) I love to sew...yet I hate sewing this dress. Nothing is going right on it. I get a little angrier every time I start to work on it because something goes wrong. Visually it looks great....just don't turn it inside out and take a look at it. I feel like it looks worse (from the inside) then the very first project I ever made:( I am at the point where I just want it over with....but I also want it to be an amazing dress for an amazing little girl and family. So right now I am avoiding....and will probably secretly sneak in my sewing room in the middle of the night to get the darn thing finished. (Don't worry MaryBeth....the dress will look great and I love doing it, I just want it to go a lot smoother. Oh and don't look at the hem I refuse to pick it out another time) So now all of you can reap the rewards of my avoiding....instead I am power blogging. (Does power blogging work like power aerobics and help with weight loss?)
The McKellebs are back from Law School for a 10 day visit. We are so excited to have them back, at least for a little while. 
The kid's picked up right where they left off. Brooke and Brianna gave one another makeovers....with their eyes closed! Such cute and creative girls. They wouldn't let me post the finished product!
Addie and Cord acted like they were long lost friends. They gave each other loves and enjoyed Popsicles together. Cord kept patting the floor next to him so Addie would sit next to him!
Camden and Mason went straight for the things they like to do together: Bionicles and Video games!
The older kids had a sleepover and had a great time! We will be sad for them to go back to Mass., but we were thrilled to have them here. Welcome home, McKelleb family, welcome home!
Yes Camden is now a 1st grader! I can't believe it. He is getting so grown up! School got out around the 20th of May but our summer has been so busy that I am just now getting the pictures loaded. My camera was about to die, so I got very few pictures to choose from.
The entire kindergarten (all 5 classes or so) put on a great little program. They sang a few songs and there was a slide show.
Camden appeared bored throughout the entire thing. Although he sang, he didn't look very happy about it!
He was so bored that quite a few times I found him yawning!
The graduate receives his diploma! Great job Cam. You have learned to read, do much harder math then ever before and attended your first year of computers and P.E. I know you will love 1st grade.
Saying goodbye to Mrs. Cornwall. She collects frogs and has thousands of them in her classroom. Cam is still growing his hair out and loves that it is not a buzz cut!I don't have any delusions that I am in fashion. I know I am not that cool when it comes to my clothes and hair....but I also know that I am not anywhere close to looking like the polygamists that live around here. Today while at the airport picking up my nephew I was able to people watch....something I haven't don't for a long time. I thought I would share with you some of the things I learned.
1. At some point every female should stop wearing short skirts...the kind that barely cover your bum.....my preference would be before you reach the age of 45!
2. Unless you are a size 2/4 you should not wear stretch pants...especially if you are pairing it with a crop top and really really really chunky black shoes.
3. I don't think that the shirt that you buy for your 7 year old while you are in Vegas should read "What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas". For some reason it doesn't strike me as age appropriate. (then again we know I am not a "fashion" guru)
4. Cowboy hats do not go with everything...especially with jogging suits.
5. I know pajamas are comfortable...but some places they shouldn't be worn....like in public!
6. You know those really cute chunky necklaces, the ones with the beads that are the size of like ping pong balls, I would try limiting how many you wear at one time....you don't have to wear your entire collection with one outfit.
and last but not least, and perhaps the most important...
7. I don't care how small your chest is....there comes a point when every woman needs to wear a bra in public....I know that 65 is well past that age, especially if you are wearing a white tank top.
Now if I have gotten any of these rules wrong please let me know...I am not here to judge, just to improve my own fashion sense and those around me!
I learned today that a dear friend I grew up with is going through a terrible trial in life. Yesterday his little one year old had an accident in the family hot tub. She has been in the hospital since and the latest word is they will be taking her off the respirator today. I ask that you join me in praying for the family as they endure the loss of a child, something that I am sure we all fear more then anything. I also pray that we will use this as a reminder to hug our kids a little longer, give out kisses a little more often and get upset with them a lot less! I hope and pray Jonathan and Stephanie will find some comfort during this terrible ordeal!
I just want to say Happy Father's Day to all the great dad's out there....especially the two in my life! I have a great dad! He is so very kind. He is thoughtful, spiritual and a great teacher. When he retired from his career at the telephone company he went on to teach Spanish at my old high school! Whenever he visits he does all the cooking...and he even makes meals and freezes them so I can feed my kids after he leaves. What a great dad! I love you!
Neil is the love of my life and an amazing dad. Neil has always been so great to get up in the night with our babies. He is so good at teaching the kids things like baseball. He has coached some of the kids teams as they have played different sports. He is a great example to the kids also. He always does his best to fulfill his church calling, is so kind to me and always makes sure we go on dates and to the temple together. He also supports me in my time consuming callings and activities. Neil is a great dad and we love him. So Happy Father's Day. Hope you have as great a dad as we do!
Well we survived another week of summer! I was so excited for summer. I thought we would relax and have fun! Well we have had fun....but it has been anything but relaxing. Here is our week in review.
Sunday: After church I did something to my back and was not able to bend over.
Monday: 9 am: Camden goes to Science camp, I pick up the teachers twins to watch for 3 hours (they are super great 3 year olds. They play so well together and are very easy to tend)
10 am: Brooke goes to math workshop (she is going 4 days a week for most of the summer for an hour a day)
11 am: pick up Brooke
12 noon: take twins back, get Camden.
12:30 : go to a friends to swim with all the kids. (it is such a process for us to all get ready to swim (the soaking in the pool helped my back feel a little better, until I got out and had to bend over again!)
3 pm: go to friends house for a massage (worked wonders on my back and made me functional again)
6:30 pm: Brooke had a baseball game
Tuesday: Brooke had math in the morning then we went to the ward young mommies swimming time. We will go every Tuesday morning to swim at a neighborhood pool
5:30 Camden and Easton have T-ball practice
Wednesday: almost a repeat of Monday
9 am: Camden to science camp
10 am: Brooke to math
11 am: pick up Brooke
11:15 am: friend Val calls and her gradma-in-law is not doing well. All the family members are gathering in the hospital to say their goodbyes. I take her cutie boy Stockton for a few hours while she goes to the hospital.
12: pick up Camden from camp....we then make a quick run to the grocery store while Brooke tends the other kids
5:30 pm:Camden and Easton have a t ball game (Easton got a great line drive on his first pitch from the coach and Camden made 4 outs!)
6:30 pm: Brooke has a baseball game. Brooke got a really nice hit and was part of a double play!
Thursday: 10 am: Brooke to math
1 pm: I went to practice singing a few songs that I have to memorize. We have a fantastic pianist in the ward and she was gracious enough to help me!
3:45 Camden and Brooke to play practice (Camden is going to join Brooke in the production of little rascals. Brooke is playing Ms. Crabtree and Camden is Porky!)
Neil was suppose to go to scout camp today, but the boys go snowed out (not far from here, and it is June. That is crazy! While they had snow on Thursday our temps were fantastic (Friday was 93) So Neil stayed home, since he already had the time off, and worked on the basement!
Friday: Neil was home again today!
9 am: Camden went to his last day of science camp (he absolutely loved it!)
while Cam was gone Neil tiled the back splash in the kids bathroom. He also put up the light fixtures. Now all we need is the trim and the mirrors!
10 am: Brooke and Easton went to the movies (every Friday at the Sunset theatres there will be a $2 movie. This week it was Mr. Magorium (sp) Wonder Emporium. Next week is water horse! They went with a friend since I was watching the twins. I purchased the full summer of movies...so the tickets were $1 each instead of $2! So we will be going there each Friday at 10. They also do it on Saturdays at 10!
12 noon: picked up Cam. He couldn't stop talking about the "Snap Circuit" set he played with. He loved working with electricity and this is a very kid friendly set! Check it out if you have a boy that either likes working with kinex's or with Lego's! They are priced pretty good too!
4:30 pm: the kids all went to stay the night at a friends house.
7 pm: Neil and I went with friends (and Addison) to see Indiana Jones. I almost hate to admit, this is the first one I have ever seen. Addison did great. She loved eating the popcorn and feeding it to everyone. She did climb into our friend Phil's lap and burrowed in when it got a little scary for her. She was so quiet and still through most of the movie! Afterwards we went to dinner!
So there was our busy week....next week will be so much lighter! Thank goodness. Today we are going to home depot kids club (first Saturday of the month they do a free kids craft, like build a tool box or flower pot holder or butterfly house. The kids love it. They also got an apron the first time and each project they do they get a pin to put on their apron that says what project they have done! Lowe's does it the 2nd and 4th Saturdays! Hope you have a great weekend!
So the past two weeks have been super crazy....I will post pictures later. Camden lost both his front teeth (one while the boys were wrestling, but I must say he could twist it completely around so it was ready) The kids all have played 2 or 3 baseball games, Easton graduated from preschool, Camden graduated from kindergarten, my parents came for a visit, Brooke was in her play and Addison got stitches. My first kid with stitches (proof miracles still happen) Saturday night I was at the store with Brooke and Neil called. I guess the boys were fighting with their swords and got mad at eachother....Neil took one sword and threw it across the room (many hours of fighting boys make a dad lose his patience) admittedly not a good choice on his part. unfortunately Addison was where the sword landed. 5 stitches later we all learned very good lessons! I had to stay home from the deaf branch so that Addison didn't have to go to nursery with lots of big boys and new stitches. We did make it to sacrament meeting and then came home for a nap. So all in all this is where i have been. We just finished our first week of summer vacation. The boys took a cooking class, Brooke and Camden had play practice, two nights of t-ball, a birthday party for a friend, and many more busy plans. Today we are taking it easy and had cooking class and then the kids have been doing slip and slide all afternoon. We are dreading the real heat....the 80's are perfect!
Brooke was in the children's production of "Grease, Jr." which was a clean version of Grease with a good moral message. Brooke did a fantastic job as the head Rydell student. She had the very first line in the play!
Our bishop's daughter, Caroline, was crazy Mrs. McGee (the principle/secretary that plays the xylophone before she gives the announcements!
Here is Brooke with the other Rydell students (Sandy in yellow) and Eugene the school nerd!
Beauty school drop out fairy! Had tutu and wings on. Had a great time singing to her friend Callie (as frenchie).
Brooke did a great job and is becoming less shy with each production. She just looked like she was having a great time in this production (last one she looked a little nervous)! We can't wait for the next show, Little Rascals, in which Camden will join her!
We had a great time at Easton's birthday party. We moved the party from 1 p.m. to 10 a.m. since the temp. was suppose to reach 103! We were so glad we moved it. The kids played on the waterslide, ate popsicles and then Easton opened his presents! Here is Easton's friend Stockton on the waterslide!
Our friend and Neighbor Auri!
The girls at the party found a potato bug. Addison was quite as excited as Asia and her mom Katie!
Opening presents! Clockwise Left to right:Eliza, Justice, Stockton, Camden, Bronson, Zach, Colton and Olivia! Eliza, Justice, Easton and Olivia were in the same preschool class this year and they are in the same primary class with Bronson.
We had a great time at Disneyland. Brooke's friends have a year pass, so they know the in's and out's of Disney and how to make the best use of your time there. They also know the best places to eat...so most of the food was fantastic. We spent two days in Disneyland and the last day we went to American Girl Doll place (pictures to come) for shopping and lunch with the dolls. We had a wonderful time. It was great to get away with just the girls. One highlight of our trip....on the same coaster ride with us was Lisa Rinna (sp) from Dancing with the Stars and her husband Harry Hamblim (sp). She was there with her family. It really mad me think though. The cost of fame. Here she is with her family and strangers are constantly asking her for her picture and autograph. She was very gracious, but I couldn't help feel sad for her kids. Here are her parents being mom and dad, yet everyone wants a piece of their time. I think it is one thing to get their autograph when they are promoting themselves and their work, but if they are being mom/dad then it is hands off. We didn't ask for pictures because I thought it was wrong to take the time from their kids. Anyways, just made me think. We had a super time at disney and came home exhausted. 
Breanna on the bumper cars in Bug's life land.
Brooke getting ready to bumper car!
Breanna bumping Brooke!
Brooke and Breanna on the merry-go-round next to Screamin!
Brooke and Breanna with Mickey! Gotta love that mouse!
Of course we had to take a short stop to toon town. We only went on two rides in toon town, yet enjoyed them both. The girls are definately more interested in the big rides (we did space mountain twice and screamin)
Brooke had a great time with her friend Brianna and her sister Lexie.
Took a stop in Minnie's house.
Again taking a break in Minnie's house.
This is the view into Eastons room..On the wall to the left of the window will be the vinyl saying "don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game" also we will be hanging red curtains.
View from his closet!
On of the pictures on his wall...have two from the 1940's of kids playing baseball!
Ok...so keep in mind I still haven't had a chance to have Neil show me how to rotate this picture....so this is the view as you come into Camdens room...It is a picture of three vintage tractors...behind this will is his closet.
Again imagine turned...these are the cutouts in his wall for his tractor collection and the fry pan? Neils Grandpa made a clock with it and the picture on it is an old tractor! You can also see part of his shelves in his closet...we haven't gotten closet doors, trim, carpet or blinds/curtains/drapes! It's an ongoing process
View from his door...Camden has a tiny room...it was suppose to be my sewing room...but Easton wanted his room downstairs with the big kids....so Camden chose the small Cowboy room over the big baseball room...and I got a big sewing room upstairs!
View of his bed and dresser!
