Last Day of Kindergarten

Here are Luke and Mrs. Drake on the last day of Kindergarten. Wow, we made it. I can't believe how fast this time went by. I've been a little sad that this year has come to an end. First grade seems so very grown up, what with it being all day and Luke getting to eat lunch in the cafeteria...

I hope that we get a teacher as loving and understanding as Mrs. Drake. I'm not going to say next year, as we start back up in 3 weeks. Seems rather a dumb phrase to attach to that short of an amount of time!

Tacky or Not?

Seriously, did I miss the memo saying that wearing black bras under a white shirt was no longer tacky?

Lost Tooth #4

Luke just lost tooth #4!

This was "fresh" - I hope we didn't just gross you out! So, that was 4 teeth lost in Kindergarten (his last day is on Monday, so we just made it!)

Yard Work a.k.a Hard Work

Thanks to Jason's parents, we have a new look to our yard!

Last Tuesday we got curbing put in in the front and backyard. In front, we extended the little flower bed out from under the window to next to the stairs and around to the gate.

In the back we had it start at the bottom steps and had it go all the way around to the gate.

This is where the Hard Work title comes in. My father-in-law, Bryan, got me started on pulling up the backyard sod inside the curbing and then on Wednesday I pulled the rest up. Boy did my hands have blisters! Next day I finished the front yard and got blisters on top of my blisters! My little helpers helped me put everything I pulled out into the "green" bin. One even brought me a glass of cold water to help me keep going. I was really thankful for them.

I was thankful when my in-laws came back over that night to help start getting the dirt into the beds until Jason got home from work. Jason and I couldn't have been more blessed than to have them helping us make our yard look so wonderful. Jason hauled the dirt like a pro. I couldn't even pick the wheelbarrow up!


Here are some photos of Jason and the kids putting the dirt into the wheelbarrow. Note the types of shovels my kids chose to use (and Brooke's poses).

Luke's best comment from the night was "Isn't this fun??? We're shoveling dirt together! This is the best family night ever!!" He even turned down a chance to play the wii with his friend Mitchell to keep helping us.

Today we got rock put into the backyard. It looks so GREAT!!! I was grateful again to Bryan for coming and getting the rock put where it should go and all the other hard work that went into today's project. I just stood around sweating...I mean supervising...

Now we're ready for our Primary Presidency BBQ on Saturday. Well, not totally...I still have to mow and weed the other flower beds (notice how I didn't post photos of the whole front yard? They are awful!)

Shepherd Bobbleheads

Jason created these for us:

Make your own bobblehead: http://www.xmbaseball.com/

Tag Teamed

I've been tagged by Jaqui & Liz with different questions, so I’ll combine.

7 Little Knows Facts:
1) I like watching Sumo wrestling (thanks to National Geographic for that one).
2) I like Shakespeare (especially Kenneth Branagh’s versions)
3) I like cats better than dogs.
4) My favorite flower is the carnation.
5) I listen to “Smooth Jazz” and some Punk.
6) I hate birthdays.
7) I love hardware stores.

3 joys:
1) reading
2) getting ice cream or gelato with my kids
3) seeing without glasses anymore

3 fears:
1) heights
2) going blind or deaf
3) getting old

3 goals:
1) learn cake decorating (get me past the star stage!)
2) learn to digital scrapbook
3) go to Hawaii again

Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment:
1) I’m tired. Why do children want to wake up a grumpy mom?
2) I get to see Dave and Vicki & the kids tonight
3) Gotta get dressed and ready by 11 am so my visiting teachers don’t find me in my robe again this month…

Name 3 things you bought yesterday:
1) Movie tickets (Love Guru – blah)
2) Dinner at La Luna (me encanta la comida allí)
3) Stuff for Root Beer floats

Name 3 drinks you regularly drink:
1) Milk
2) Water
3) Dole Pina Colada juice (when I get it from Mom)

Current Obsessions:
1) Blogging
2) Phineas and Ferb (on Disney Channel)
3) figuring out the scrapbooking software I downloaded

3 people I tag:
1) MarKay
2) Jules
3) Jennilynn

***LATER THAT SAME DAY*****

hehe, I'm such a geek! Jason just brought home new phones for the house and I'm in heaven discovering the cool new features of the phones!

I've programming them to make cool rings when Jason or I call home, certain handsets to ring during certain hours and had Luke record our answering machine message...

I've called Jason 3 times already about what the phones can do. This last time he told me "I bought them because they were Panasonic; I didn't know they did anything special." Well, now he does!

We Can't Be Good At Everything

I can build a BBQ grill. I can install computer parts. I can install computer software. I can use jumper cables. I've layed tile and done grout. I can paint walls and put up a border. I'm not too shabby at fixing toys. But I CAN'T get the hang of photo editing software!!!!

I've seen your digital scrapbooking (Kelli, Allison, Heidi, MarKay), and I long to do it. I don't have proper software. I have the MS Picture It! that came on my computer and I have putzed my way through designing a couple of funeral programs, but I don't know how to do cool scrapbook layouts and blog titles (yeah, I did mine, but it looks crappy).

I got a free trial of FotoFusion's Scrapbook Essentials software yesterday and I've played with it a little, but it wasn't as easy as the demo video lead me to believe. Shoot! I guess if I sit and read the help and watch all the videos I might get it figured out. My trial period might be over by then... Photoshop Elements might just have their back up by then and I'll try it out too. I don't give up easily...there has to be an idiot-friendly software out there!

Another of my laments is that my photo taking skills aren't what my mind dreams they should be. I have read the manual for the camera I have and yet I can't get it to take a decent photo indoors. I just don't have the patience to be a photographer I guess. I'll just have to continue to enjoy other people's talents and feel envious.

I suppose I should listen to myself. As I tell my son, "We can't be good at everything. So just be happy to be good at something." I'm pretty good at getting by.

Anyone, Anyone...???

So, Jason has just suggested that I invite some of my girlfriends to attend a 3 hour Football Camp for women at BYU. It's July 31st (that's a Thursday) from 6-9 p.m. The cost is $25.

I think they will try to convert, or at least educate us in Football. So, any takers? We could stop by Smart Cookie and giggle and talk about the players afterwards...

Let me know, 'cause I think this fills up fast...

here's the info from the email Jason got:

FOURTH ANNUAL WOMEN'S FOOTBALL CLINIC SCHEDULED
PROVO, Utah (June 16, 2007) -- The BYU Football office today announced plans for the fourth annual BYU Women's Football Clinic. Women (ages 14 and up) are invited to attend the event, which will be held on Thursday, July 31 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. (MT) at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

In addition to receiving an official certificate of completion, participants in the BYU Women's Football Clinic will receive the following:

- Chalk talk with BYU coaches
- Uniform and equipment demonstration
- BYU Player panel
- Rules seminar with Mountain West Conference game official
- Field skill instruction

Participants will also receive a t-shirt and football information packet. Registration is only $25 per person and $20 for each additional family member. Participants should dress casual, and tennis shoes are recommended.

Women who are interested in participating should complete the registration form, which is available in PDF format at www.byucougars.com, and return it to the BYU Football Office. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Amy Holker at (801) 422-1141. Since space is limited, participants are requested to register early.

-BYU-

About Our Dad - Happy Father's Day!

1. What is something Dad always says to you? (L) "Go to your room" (B) “Hello Piddies!” (his nickname for her)

2. What makes Dad happy? (L) Being nice. (B) When I wear my pink Jazz jersey.

3. What makes Dad sad? (L) Nothing. (B) When I don’t wear my jersey.

4. How does Dad make you laugh? (L) He doesn’t make me laugh. (B) Tickling me.

5. What was Dad like as a child? (L) He had a go-kart. (B) He liked red licorice.
6. How old is your Dad? (L) 40 (he's 32) (B) Forty ninety thousand.

7. How tall is your Dad? (L) short (B) 50 feet tall

8. What is his favorite thing to do? (L) Playing the wii. (B) Go to the baseball game and eating licorice all the time.

9. What does your Dad do when you're not around? (L) DUH! I don’t know - cause I’m not watching! (B) Calls us.

10. If your Dad becomes famous, what will it be for? (L) Being rich and having a lot of money. (B) Dribbling and swirling the basketball on his finger - EVERYTHING!

11. What is your Dad really good at? (L) Catch. (B) Hugging me.

12. What is your Dad not very good at? (L) Winning. (B) Remembering.

13. What does your Dad do for his job? (L) Works at the radio station. (B) Working at the radio station & making people do the right things for their station stuff.

14. What is your Dad's favorite food? (L) Mashed Potatoes. (B) Ham sandwiches from Blimpies.

15. What makes you proud of your Dad? (L) I don’t know. (B) When he shares licorice.

16. If your Dad were a cartoon character, who would he be? (L) the Flash. (B) the Hulk

17. What do you and your Dad do together? (L) Get dessert. (B) Get slurpees at 7-11

18. How are you and your Dad the same? (L) We’re both boys. (B) We both like cinnamon rolls with frosting on them.

19. How are you and your Dad different? (L) I’m short and he’s tall. (B) He’s a boy and I’m a girl.

20. How do you know your Dad loves you? (L) I don’t know (B) He hugs me.

Seven Years

Anniversary gifts for year seven are:
Traditional: Copper / Wool
Modern: Copper / Wool / Brass
Alternate Modern: Desk Sets

Kid Tag

The kids got tagged and I thought it would be fun to see how they answered. Here we go:

1. What is something mom always says to you? (L) "Go to your room" (B) "I love you"

2. What makes mom happy? (L) Doing chores (B) when I hug her and kiss her at night

3. What makes mom sad? (L) I don’t know (B) when I hit her.

4. How does mom make you laugh? (L) Tickle me (B) Tickling me.

5. What was mom like as a child? (L) I don’t know. (B) I don’t know.

6. How old is your mom? (L) 32 (I’m older than that) (B) fourteen ninety three hundred

7. How tall is your mom? (L) Tall (B) fourteen hundred three thousand

8. What is her favorite thing to do? (L) Go shopping (B) eat

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? (L) I don’t know (B) be scared

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? (L) Money (B) having Grandma teach her to have pretty hair.

11. What is your mom really good at? (L) Taking care of kids (B) hugging me

12. What is your mom not very good at? (L) Doing everything (B) remembering

13. What does your mom do for her job? (L) I don’t know. (B) Make Dad supper

14. What is your mom's favorite food? (L) Macaroni & cheese (B) grilled cheese sandwiches & egg rolls

15. What makes you proud of your mom? (L) I don’t know. (B) She gives me food all the time.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? (L) Penelope Pitstop (B) Ariel

17. What do you and your mom do together? (L) Rock (B) go to the mall

18. How are you and your mom the same? (L) I don’t know. (B) Having blonde hair together

19. How are you and your mom different? (L) I don’t know. (B) Wearing dresses that are different to church

20. How do you know your mom loves you? (L) I don’t know (B) by hugging me and loving me

Luke & Brooke tag Abby & Sam, Kaitlyn, Braden, RaguMuffins, PlanetFreeman, M&Ms, Sheilds, Allreds, Thelins, and anyone who wants to answer questions about their mom (or dad).

Techno Talk Answers

1. avatar – [C] virtual representation of a gamer.
2. flame – [B] be abusive in a chat room.
3. bluesnarfing - [C] using Bluetooth to steal info from a wireless device.
4. top up – [A] buy more time for a phone.
5. clamshell – [A] phone that flips open.
6. ROFL – [C] rolling on floor laughing.
7. faceplate – [B] cell phone cover.
8. phish – [B] con out of private info.
9. phreak – [B] tamper with phone systems.
10. viral – [A] fast-spreading on the Web.
11. chatterbot – [B] simulation of a person talking.
12. digerati – [C] people versed in computer technology.
13. wonky – [A] not working right.

Vocabulary Ratings 5-7 still use a rotary phone 8-10 nerd 11-13 Bill Gates

Techno Talk Quiz

This Word Power quiz (pg. 187 of your July 2008 Reader’s Digest) is all about modern-day telecom terms. Let's see how well you do. I missed 2.

1. avatar n. – A: flight-simulation program. B: online dating club. C: virtual representation of a gamer.

2. flame v. – A: make prank phone calls. B: be abusive in a chat room. C: lose one’s connection.

3. bluesnarfing n. - A: despairing over a dead cell phone. B: cursing on a cell in public. C: using Bluetooth to steal info from a wireless device.

4. top up v. – A: buy more time for a phone. B: end a chat abruptly. C: be the first to post a message at a site.

5. clamshell n. – A: phone that flips open. B: private space for talking. C: silent lurker in a chat room.

6. ROFL interj. – A: reply of four letters. B: running out for lunch. C: rolling on floor laughing.

7. faceplate n. – A: large cell phone. B: cell phone cover. C: state of being glued to a computer.

8. phish v. – A: use a private line. B: con out of private info. C: send musical messages.

9. phreak v. – A: lose one’s temper. B: tamper with phone systems. C: chat online in a secret language.

10. viral adj. – A: fast-spreading on the Web. B: transmitted by cell phone. C: moving hacker to hacker.

11. chatterbot n. – A: taped conversation. B: simulation of a person talking. C: constant yakker.

12. digerati n. – A: signals transmitted by a modem. B: letters represented as numbers. C: people versed in computer technology.

13. wonky adj. – A: not working right. B: highly technical. C: addicted to text messaging.

Send me your answers and I'll let you know your score.

Random Thought

How come nobody ever posts something like this??

Weight Update:
Up 3 lbs. - Yesssssss!!!!

Just wondering...