Dear Journal, there's seven of us and.....

Summer is almost over....

2011-07-15T16:15:00.000-07:00

I have been naughty, naughty, naughty! I haven't kept up on the blog and I feel just horrible. This blog is an opportunity for me to de-stress, brag, relax, keep record, compare and reminisce.
Since I don't have a lot of time to post, I will just put up pictures for the next few days and hope that will make up for me being neglectful.

Mary pushing baby David

Sarah and Mary playing in the best toy ever: A BOX

More play in the box

Joe having his way with the box

Dad holding David. Having a great time.

The kids enjoying a corn-on-the-cob breakfast. Best breakfast EVER!

Summer is officially here!

2011-05-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

Today is the start of summer break. The kids had a wonderful school year and, I am happy to announce, that both Sam and Sarah will advance to the next grade. Whew!

A Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-09T13:58:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh! Another Mother's Day! The day turned out to be a good one. Mike made the family breakfast while I rested in bed. The kids didn't help but they didn't hinder, either. Some of the kids made cards or notes for me and presented them to me. Sam made me some flowers out of tissue paper at school. I decided to wear them on my wrist to church. I got lots of compliments! Mary made me a little purse out of paper with a note and a picture of her and Joe (Aunt Melinda helped her make it at preschool). Sarah wrote me a note. It was a good day.
After church we ate a yummy dinner at the Lee's. It was a good ending to a great day.

A song for David

2011-05-06T10:57:00.000-07:00

Here's a song for David that I wrote (not really wrote, just sang from my heart):

Dip in the tub, dip in the tub. Today you're gonna get, get a dip in the tub.
You played in the dirt and you rolled in the mud, you're gonna gonna get, get a dip in the tub.

Well, he didn't scream (that much) while in the sink, a.k.a tub.

Here's the post-bath song:
Dip in the tub, dip in the tub. You just got-a dip, dip, dip in the tub.
You played in the dirt and you rolled in the mud.
Mamma just dipped your butt in the tub!

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T09:08:00.001-07:00

I am looking forward to a wonderful Easter Sabbath with my family! I hope you have one, too!

Easter Egg coloring

2011-04-23T18:38:00.000-07:00

If you read the previous post, you'll see how busy I was yesterday with the kids. In addition to taking them to Golf Land for goofy golfing, eating and minature golf, we spent a good part of the late afternoon coloring eggs.
The kids had a blast dipping and turning and spilling (you know that something was gonna spill when lots of kids are involved). We colored egg shells - I plan on stuffing them with confetti. Sam's friend, Annabelle, was over; she colored eggs with us.

Good Friday was good for the Lee Family

2011-04-22T17:19:00.000-07:00

The kids don't have school today. I am actually very happy about it: don't have to get up and go, no homework to turn in, no lunches to pack and no kids to pick up. I got to sleep in a bit (notes of sarcasm) and I made breakfast after 8! Talk about a slow morning (higher pitches of sarcasm).

With that said, I had plans to take the kids to a resort to hang out pool-side and chill for the day. Instead, due to a massive middle-of-the-night stomach ache and *other stuff*, I changed plans and took them all to Golf Land/Sun Splash for a day full of fun. It's much closer to home, partly inside and, I KNOW where the restrooms are! Anyways, the activities started off with the twins joining other 3-5 year-olds in an Easter egg hunt. There were so many kids there I was worried about loosing one of mine, specifically Joe (come back next week to read about the kid's Spring Sing). I have to say that this place had the event well planned, well contained and well stocked (this is important for moms of little kids)! Even with all the kids there, they were allowed to collect 10 eggs each (not bad).

We had some time in between the younger kids and older kid's hunt so we spent the next hour or so goofy golfing. It was so fun to see the kids hit the golf ball a zillion times with the mini putters and claim it only took a few hits to get the ball in the hole. Ha! I let Sarah, Joe and Mary skip around the course - it's so much easier that way. Sam HAD to golf in order and putt at each hole. It dragged on a bit and the younger kids were getting tired. I took them inside to redeem my food coupons, a slice of pizza and a drink. They ate and enjoyed every bite! When they were done, Sam came in looking for us and he was ready to eat. He was hungry, too. He ate every bite.

Here, Mary is not happy that I am taking photos.

The time finally came for Sam and Sarah to hunt for eggs. They had a good time, as well.

Very tired and a bit sun burned, we came home. But, we didn't stop there. We colored 3 dozen eggs. What a mess we made. Pictures tomorrow.

Happy baby boy

2011-04-18T15:55:00.000-07:00

This little boy is happy, most of the time. He cries when he's hungry, tired, or wants his butt to be cleaned. Other than that, he is the best Lee baby thus far. We sure love him! And, this is his equally happy dad. we sure love him, too!

Thank goodness for big brothers

2011-04-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

I asked Sam to help me out with the baby while I finished up last minute morning to-dos. He was able to quiet David down and keep him entertained for me. Love it.

General Conference weekend

2011-04-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful weekend watching General Conference. Well, it wasn't a calm and quiet as we thought it would be. I don't really remember it being as loud as it was this time around. Oh well, I guess that is the life we have now, with 5 children ages 9 years and under. Even though it was absolute chaos, I wouldn't have it any other way.
I enjoyed each talk, that I could hear, and learned a lot about being thankful, patient, forgiving, happy, mindful, etc. I will have to take time to go back and read or watch, via the computer, each talk in order to really appreciate the words and counsel given.
On Saturday, the twins were invited to a birthday party in between sessions. The party was held at the neighborhood park for a little boy in Joe's primary class. I was worried that they would run off or misbehave but I took that chance and dropped them off. When I came back, the were happy and told me that they a blast!
That evening, Mike headed of to Priesthood session and I took the boys to a baby shower (just where they wanted to go, I'm sure). Even though I had to take kids with me, it was fun. Who doesn't like going to a baby shower?  Other than the great gifts and food, it was neat seeing family that I hadn't seen in some time!
We watched Sunday morning session at home.  During the break, we headed over to Mike's parent's house and ate fajitas and talked about this and that. The kids played and had fun with their cousins. We attempted to watch the afternoon session with the in-laws but it didn't work out that way. We came home and finished out the afternoon session in the comfort of our own home.
The rest of the night was quiet and peaceful.

Oh, and it was really neat to hear one of the speakers, Elder Pratt, mention my great-grandparents, John and Ida Whetten! He talked about how they were faithful at paying their tithing.  That's where I get it from!

Enjoy your week!
Julia

Park day and out to dinner on a Thursday night

2011-03-31T17:44:00.000-07:00

We spent the good part of the middle of the day at the park. I am sad to say that the weather is not as nice as it used to be. Summer is forcing her way into my life and I am not happy about it. The hot weather brings out my worst traits. Why is this so?
A man who watched Mike's trial over the past two weeks wants to take us out to dinner. It's a very nice gesture and we accepted. This man spends his winters in AZ (a snowbird) and summers in Utah. He is a retired defense attorney and enjoys watching criminal trial while here on vacation. Go figure. Anyway, he happened upon Mike's trial and became fascinated with it. He thinks Mike did a bang-up job (of course he did). Sadly, or maybe not sadly, the jury's verdict was: Hung Jury. In a few months, Mike will have to retry the case. I sure hope he is able to win the 2nd time around. Second time is a charm, right?

EDIT: So, I was totally wrong on who this guy was that sat in on Mike's trial that week. He turned out to be a really awesome man. He is an attorney but I am not sure what kind of law he practices or practiced. We ate at Pinnacle Peak Patio with other members of his family. It was a great night of good food and good converstation. The funnest part about dinner: everyone we met that night knew a member of my family or a friend or a co-worker. It was fun making all the connections and associations to other great people.

Monday, Tuesday

2011-03-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

What a weekend!
I spent Friday and Saturday morning with my sister-in-law selling our old/no longer needed goods at a garage sale. We were able to get rid of a good amount of stuff that just cluttered our homes. As far as making some money, we did alright.
Sarah and Mary were invited to separate parties and spent the afternoon having fun celebrating their friend's birthday. For the first time, Mary was invited to an all-girl party and went, sans Joe. I was worried she was going to miss him and act up and be naughty. When I picked her up she was happy to see me and show me her Build-a-Bear dog she made at the mall.
Later that afternoon (5:00pm - is that late afternoon or is it considered evening?). Anyways... Later that afternoon, the entire family went to Costco to eat pizza and do some last minute necessary shopping for Sunday dinner.
We had a quiet Sunday morning, followed by a typical Sunday meeting(meaning the kids were a bit roudy at church) and topped the day off with Sunday dinner with Mike's family. Yum!

Another week is over

2011-03-25T22:18:00.000-07:00

Now that the school week is over, I can rest. Rest from getting up early, making lunches, bathing kids (yeah, I know), driving kids to school, picking them up and making sure homework gets done! I am so excited!
I decided to do a spontaineous (sp) BBQ. I ran to the store and purchased charcoal, hotdogs, buns, chips, and soda. I rushed back to the house and grabbed mustard, apples, catsup, plates, cups, ice, a lighter, napkins, two kites and tongs. Mike helped me pack the van and off we went to the park! It was a wonderful evening. The weather was sooooo nice. Of course I forgot lighter fluid so, while Mike ran to the store to pick that up, I flew a kite. Why is flying a kite so relaxing?
Mike got back quick and soon the dogs were ready to eat. Yum, yum.
I am sad that I didn't get my camera out. The kids played well with other kids at the park and Sam's friend, Annabelle, was with us.
Joe and Sam played with the fire, sort of. These kids have the pyro gene on both sides of their family.
Okay, it's late. I must rush off to bed.

Pinewood Derby...

2011-03-23T21:45:00.000-07:00

Tuesday night was a blast! Why? Pinewood Derby!

This was Sam's second year participating in the derby and second car designed with his Uncle Jake in mind. This year's car theme was "Don't Tread On Me." Mike found a picture of the flag on the internet so, he printed it out in color and cut around the edges and inside the snake's coils. Then, after making the car by cuting off excess wood and sanding it down smooth, he painted it the flag's colors: black and yellow. Oh, Sam did help sand the car.
After the paint was dry, Mike installed the tires and it was ready for the detailing. I simply mod-podged the lettering and symbol on the car and let it dry. By 6:00pm on Tuesday, it was ready for weigh in. The car happen to be lighter than standard weight so a few weights were added to the bottom of the car. By 6:30pm the car was ready to race. Grandma Whetten was right there with us in the first row cheering Sam on. It was so cute to see his siblings cheer him on, especially Sarah! She is his biggest fan.

There were 13 cars racing in a total of 78 (?) heats. Sam was (almost) consistantly in 2nd place the entire night. He didn't win, place or show in the finale, but he didn't care. The night was AWESOME.

Oh - the little kids had a blast, too, because one smart mama (not me) brought a mini race track and cars - just perfect for Hot Wheels!

Spring break is gone....

2011-03-21T23:03:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a week! The kids and I enjoyed spring break, most of the time.
We tried to do a lot so the kids wouldn't feel cheated out of 'fun times'. We were able to squeeze in a park day, visiting with cousins, and random other outings to keep us all busy.
The kids favorite day was Friday. Aside from Sam having to do a fasting blood test, it was all-good. We spent the morning at the park with cousins and a friend of mine who has triplets (this is when I am really glad I only have twins). After the park, we met Mike downtown for lunch. We decided to eat at a yummy sandwich that was both fast (the kids were very hungry) and loud (party of 7, we tend to be loud). We had to walk more than a few blocks to get there so, thank goodness the kids enjoyed walking and looking at all the tall buildings that downtown has to offer.
After lunch we walked Mike back to his office and the kids and I set out for our last adventure de spring break: Smeeks. Smeeks is a little candy shop in Phoenix. It's known for vintage flare and candy. When we got there, I was a bit nervous that the kids would go wild or that something was gonna get broken. Seriously, this candy store is small with candy from wall to wall. I described my first impressions of me with my kids in the store as bulls in a china shop. But, I can proudly say, these were tame bulls in the candy store. The kids did very well picking out their own candies, each child had a $2 limit, and not one thing got broken.
We are all back to our usual routine and I couldn't be happier!
I have some wonderful pictures (taken with my cell phone) that I will post as soon as I figure out how to download them from my phone.

Oh, I fogot that on the way back to Mike's work, we stopped at the Wells Fargo Musuem. We saw vintage and previously used bank boxes, stagecoaches, telegraphs, coins and even replicas of gold bars. It was AWESOME!

Spring break is here, random photos to enjoy

2011-03-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

We are having a blast (notes of sarcasim and stress) this week while the kids are out of school. We spent Monday morning at the park and then ate at Cici's Pizza 'till our bellies were full. We spent the rest of the afternoon at home. I was too tired to do anything else.
On Tuesday, Sam and Sarah had a well-check visit and, well, everything checked out well (so says the doctor). Later that day I took the kids to the dollar movies to see Tangled but we didn't get in. Sadly, the movie was sold-out! We opted for Megamind as an alternative with hopes that we'd like it. The movie was cute and funny but did not hold the attention of Joe and Mary (thank heavens the baby slept through the entire movie). Again, we spent the rest of the afternoon at home. I was too tired to do anything else. Sam, on the otherhand, helped run a lemonade stand with his friend, Annabelle, on the sidewalk in front of her house. Sarah joined in later and I followed with the younger 3 and we enjoyed the late afternoon outside. We came home exhausted and ready for dinner and a quiet wind-down.
It's now Wednesday. What's in store for us today? Who knows? I am up for anything as long as I get some quiet time this afternoon.

The weekend has gone bye, bye. Hoorah!

2011-03-14T21:24:00.000-07:00

It was a long and tough weekend. On Friday, I knew what Saturday was going to be like. At least, I had an idea of how I would feel and behave. I would feel like my entire world crumbled in on top of me, just like it had a year ago on the 12th and I would behave like a stressed-out, distressed, depressed, inconsolable mom and wife. Wanting to prevent this from happening, for the sake of my husband and children, I had a thought (more like a wish) Friday afternoon. I thought that if I held my breath long enough, Saturday would just disappear - not to be seen until next weekend. Although, I knew that the next weekend was going to be (almost) just as hard. What I really wanted to do was to go away for the weekend. Ignore the date, ignore the anniversary, ignore everything that happened last year in March.
Our family has a favorite place in Tucson where we like to go to and relax. I looked up the place, checked dates and almost made reservations. I felt guilty about spending the money, using a tank or two of gas to get there and back, and making my husband, Mike, drive 2 more hours after an already 1 hour commute. Wresting kids, trying to decide what to drive-thru for dinner, and then trying to tame the kid's excitemnent of staying in a hotel (my kids really dig that), had me thinking twice about packing up to leave. While pondering this decision, I remembered that Mike had something very special planned for me on Saturday. He, along with the help of my brother, planned on installing a flag pole in front of our house as a tribute to my brother and as kind act for me. I knew that Mike took a great amount of time thinking about what he could do to show me how much he cares about me and my feelings and to make my day a little brighter. I decided not to make reservations and to stay home and let Mike carry out his kind deed.
While he and my brother fetched supplies, I took the kids to eat lunch with the in-laws. By the time we got back, this greeted me at the door:

Later on that day, under the encouragement of the kids and before the cement was dry/set, Mike installed the remaining posts and the flag. Just look at it wave in all its glory! Ain't she beautiful!

We ended the day with a trip to Jump and Shout and dinner at a Greek eatery. I survived the day, barely.
Sunday was better. A little better. Next weekend? I may wish it gone before it comes.....

Track and Field Day at Franklin

2011-03-11T13:20:00.000-08:00

Sam and Sarah participated in their school's Track and Field Day. It was awesome. They had a great time. Here are some pitures to prove it.
Sadly, my camera's batteries ran out after only a few pictures of Sarah.

It's almost 'that' day

2011-03-10T21:15:00.000-08:00

I won't mention it right now. I'm just going to smile at this picture and think of how fun and amazing Jake was.

Double swing

2011-03-09T20:12:00.000-08:00

Don't you hate it when you ask your kids to come in, wash their hands and sit at the table 'cause it's dinner time and they ignore you? I sure do. It really irks me. So, on my way to yell at the kids for the who-knows-how-manyth time, I spotted the twins doing this and I just had to stop and take a picture. They were having so much fun. I couldn't possibly stop
1. the non-crying play, and 2. the getting along play. I just couldn't.

here is something funny to read....

2011-03-06T19:01:00.000-08:00

My friend, Edna, is funny. I've known Edna for over 20 years and she is a riot to be around. I teased her about her blog and how she should dedicate a post to me. Well, she did. It's more of a tribute, in a round-about funny way. Read it here to find out more about me as a teenager. Boy, was I silly.
I wish I had a picture of her to post on my blog. Instead, I will post a random picture of my kids. Enjoy!

Love this little boy!

2011-03-04T15:09:00.000-08:00

David has been such a blessing to our family! He is the most calm, sweet, mild-manner boy I've had the pleasure of parenting (so far). In fact, he is the most clam, sweet, mild-manner child I've had, period! All the others were balls of energy from the moment of conception! This little one was fiesty in the womb, came out screaming like the dickens, and has been cucumber-cool ever since December 13th. Not one complaint. Nope, not one. Just look at this face. PER-FEC-TION!
And this one, Sarah, is the best little mommy to David! They get along great!

Keeping busy at a slow pace....

2011-03-01T14:21:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or do other people have the same problem as I do? Case in point: I've been buried up to my neck in laundry (clean, thankgoodness) for the last week and a half. Seriously. There are piles of clean laundry here and there, on my bed, on the couch, on the floor, in baskets (already sorted and folded). Everywhere! I've been working on these laundry piles everyday but don't seem to make any progress. Finally, today, I focused on getting the laundry in my room and on my bed PUT AWAY! I ignored my twins, my crying baby. It only took me all but 10 minutes to get it done, uninterrupted. Minus the basket of socks. Yes, only 10 minutes, UNINTERRUPTED! I've figured out that ignoring the kids is the key to getting things done.
Yep, I learn something new everyday.

Another week goes by....

2011-02-27T20:20:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful week here in the Lee home. In a nut shell:
The kids made it to school on-time each day this week, which is a wonderful accomplishment for me. Joe and Mary had fun learning and playing at preschool. I taught Monday thru Friday at various locations and will be busy again next (this) week teaching almost every day. Mike and I spent all day Saturday cleaning out the garage with hopes of parking one of our cars in it. We still have a ton of work to do but made great progress. Will keep you posted as this is one of my main goals for the year. (yeah, it might take a whole year to clean out the garage)

Random photo for you to enjoy!

Back to teaching, another week to survive

2011-02-17T14:13:00.000-08:00

Monday was my first day back to teaching aqua aerobics. I thought I wouldn't be able to handle the activity after having a baby and being sick for the last 2 months. The class started out with welcoming words to and from those who take the class. I was glad to be back and, thank heavens, they were glad to have me back. I gave them a nice workout and picked up David and the twins from the gym daycare. Whew...David slept the entire time and the twins didn't get into trouble at all! This week was off to a great start.
I posted on Valentine's Day (afternoon) so I have to mention that Mike came home with a lovely bouquet of flowers for his sweetheart. How nice!
Now it's Thursday and I am tired from spending a wonderful afternoon at the park.
Random picture to enjoy....Mary all dressed up like Lady Gaga. She did this on her own. Enjoy...

Love is in the air....

2011-02-14T15:32:00.000-08:00

Every Valentine's Day, my dad used to give the girls in our family a heart shaped box of candies. Isn't that nice?
Every year I think about giving the girls (daughters) in my family the same special treatment but every year I forget (or am too tired, lazy or cheap). This year, my mom brought over some yummy Valentine's Day candies for the kids and a box of chocolates for me. Well, they might actually be for Mike and me but she didn't say I had to share. All the, kids except for Sam, were fast asleep when my mom came by last night bearing gifts. He got to have the first Valentine's Day treat, a holiday edition of Fruit by the Foot. Today, the other kids got the same treat...only I took credit for the gift. How horrible is that? My mom did bring multiple treats for the kids so I will make right and give her credit for the other 2/3rds of the bounty.

Here is a picture of me and my honey. This photo was taken back in December, just a week or two before I gave birth to my 5th baby, David.

Kisses all around.....

p.s. that yellow purse is soooo spring 2010. Uh.

It's 2011 Already?

2011-02-09T09:55:00.000-08:00

Time sure does fly when you are busy. I guess being busy is better than not being busy. Thinking about it, these are the things that keep me busy (in no particular order):
1. New baby. Born on December 13, 2010. Name: David Whetten Lee

2. Messy house. Thanks to four kids, one thing is constant: a messy home

3. Making meals. Kids have to eat, right. Do they have to help? Not always. Every time I make Mac 'n Cheese, Joe insists on adding the powdered 'cheese' to the boiling water. He thinks it will make the food taste better. Nope, it's still Mac 'n Cheese.

4. School work. Sadly, I am not on top of the kid's 'daily homework finishing requirement' like I am supposed to be. It's sometimes just too much.
5. Being sick. Sam got sick first, back in October. Then I got sick and then Sam got sick again. Each time it was the flu. Then I got sick again, had a baby and stayed sick with a sinus infection, ear infection and the flu until, well, present day. During that time, Sam got sick, Joe got sick, Sarah got sick and Mary got a little sick. 2 weeks ago, I got the flu AGAIN, Sam got it over the weekend, and now Joe and Mary are home sick with the flu. Mike is toying with getting it. Poor guy.

6. Managing 5 children 9 years-old and under. In general it's crazy. Here, Joe got stung by a bee on his thumb after trying to pick up a smashed can of soda pop. Mind you, he took the liberty of smashing 11 cans of soda on the block wall in the backyard. The spilled sugary pop attracted the bees. He cried when he got stung. I took this picture then helped mend his boo-boo. This is an example of Karma, right? for him, not me.

7. Laundry. Enough said.

8. Husband. Husbands have needs too, right? Enough said.
That's him on the right. Handsome.

9. Cleaning bathrooms. I walked by the bathroom and could smell the fine aroma of urine. Yuck. I clean the bathrooms. Swear!

10. Gees whiz, life in general. What can I say...life is busy, life is great!
This photo was taken at Ft. Riley in Kansas back on September 11, 2010. This is a new memorial dedicated to those who sacrificed their life for our country. We were there to honor my brother, SFC Glen Jacob "Jake" Whetten.

Yeah, it's time for an update....

2010-10-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

I guess it is time for me to start blogging again. It's sad that I don't even visit my own blog because, like my mom commented on the previous post, "it makes me cry." Yeah, that is why this blog has sat in silence for many months. I guess I should get 'back on the horse' and start to live a normal blogger's life (whatever that means).
So, enjoy this random photo and come back later this week, or whenever, for an update on the happenings and crazy antics of the Lee Family!

A slideshow tribute to Jake

2010-04-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

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A friend of mine put this slideshow together as a tribute to Jake. It's beautiful!

SFC Glen Jacob Whetten 19 March 1978 - 12 March 2010

2010-03-15T07:43:00.001-07:00

I am saddened by the loss of my brother, Jake. He served our country well. We are very proud to call him our brother and friend. You can honor his life by visitin his blog and posting a comment.
SFC Glen Jacob Whetten

Looking forward or looking back?

2010-03-07T18:32:00.000-08:00

How is it that on Thursday and Friday I want, so badly, for the weekend to come (sooner) and on Sunday I am begging for the new week to start? I am so silly.

Oh my, I turn my head for one second....

2010-03-05T10:08:00.000-08:00

What a mess, again! This time the twins were very quiet and kept their mischievous behavior under their hat. I never heard a thing! Sarah came and got me later on in the afternoon to reveal what she had discovered: holes and art work created by Joe and Mary. What can I say? 2 words: padded room.

Candy Planes

2010-03-03T17:48:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned before that Sam loves scouts. He looks forward to scouts every Tuesday afternoon. On Tuesday, he came home with a cute candy airplane he made out Lifesavers, candy, gum and beads. Last week he came home with a toothbrush head wrapped with a wire that made 'feet' and a tiny motor hooked to a tiny battery. It was a robot bug. Aren't his scout leaders so creative?

Joe and Mary

2010-03-02T09:54:00.000-08:00

Hello!

Rain + Dirt = MUD!

2010-03-01T13:20:00.000-08:00

It rained yesterday. It rained and it poured and it rained some more. On the bright side: the grass is a bright and beautiful green! On the down side: muddy areas not covered by grass attract the dirt-loving mind of a 3 year-old. In my case, two of them.
This is what happens when I turn my back, to clean the kitchen floor (how dare I think I can get something done?), and take my focus off of Joe and Mary: They dig in the non-grassy (muddy areas) part of the backyard. Rookie mistake, shame on me, I should have known better.
They love to dig in the dirt. This time, not only did they dig in the dirt/mud, they collected said mud into a bucket and 'washed' Joe's fire truck. The truck, their hands and feet and clothes were covered in mud! They also 'swept' the porch with the mud using a play (indoor) mop. UGH! Welcome, Monday!

Sunday is a day of.....

2010-02-28T18:12:00.000-08:00

Certainly and definitely not REST. Sunday is usually an all out battle for control. In the Lee house, it's four kids against two adults.
Round one: Getting the kids ready for church. Usually starts of with, "Is it church day?" Followed by, "I don't want to go to church" or "I don't want a bath/shower!"
Round two: Keeping the kids quiet during church. Anyone who sits within 8 rows of us can hear Joe say, "I don't like this kind of food!" when the bread and water is passed. He also says, "I don't want to be reverent!" You may also be able to hear my loud SIGH and Mike's frustrated and audible GROAN.
Round three: At home, trying to keep things calm so we can pretend the 'day of rest' is observed. The house is always at it's messiest: every toy and book out on the floor. I have a Sunday cleaning ritual (no rest involved).
RESULT: Knock-out. Kids: 1 Parents: 0

Man, that due can play the flute!

2010-02-26T16:47:00.000-08:00

Now: It's late afternoon on Friday, the kids are restless and I am trying to cook dinner and clean the house at the same time. It can be done, although, yelling is (always) involved.
Much Earlier: The day started off like any other day...wake up, dress, eat, take the kids to school, teach aqua, pick up kids, blah, blah, blah. Sorry...I know that sounds a bit ungrateful for the many wonderful things that I have and enjoy on a daily basis. My tude will change as soon as Mike gets home.
Earlier: After Sam got home from school, we spent most of the afternoon picking oranges and the most awesome house ever. They have an entire park in their backyard, not to mention a way cool pool and tons of grass to run around on. I came home with 3bags FULL of the best oranges in the world. Jealous?
Earlier and Now: I have an itch to go out and do something - dinner, a movie, window shop, shop for-real, whatever, but I don't want to leave the house. Sigh. Stretch. Sigh again. I think I will just stay home and hang out with the hubby and kids.
I decided to cook the kids a lazy dinner consisting of corn dogs and bagel bites. They were happy, I felt guilty. I didn't even cut them an apple or offer them any veggies on the side. Oh, ketchup counts, right?
Mike and I will eat chicken, broccoli and salad (same dinner almost every night). Then we will watch a little TV, put the kids to bed at 7, put Sam to bed at 8, then watch TV until we are ready for bed (usually 9 o'clock sharp). Consistent or routine?
Now: listening to M.U.- The best of Jethrol Tull. Love the flute. I wonder if that guy was teased as a young lad. Making my yummy granola.

My 4:00pm break

2010-02-24T15:00:00.000-08:00

I know this sounds totally lame and uneducated and everything in the realm of, well, lazy, but, I have to admit that I look forward to 4:00pm every weekday. It's the one thing that I do to keep sane. A world outside of my 'now' world, a time I take for myself, a little time away from the kids. This is what I do: I go and hide in my room and watch Inside Edition. Totally trash TV but I love it.
The kids are yelling, their homework isn't finished, the house is a mess and there is lots of work to be done. It can wait. It's starting.....

Three Cheers for Grandma!

2010-02-22T16:17:00.000-08:00

I came home last week to find four coloring books and four boxes of crayons on my counter. They were put there by my mom, while I was out, for my kids to enjoy. And enjoy they did! It was quiet in my house for, like, 20 minutes. It was so nice. Thanks, MOM!

Oh - I did apologize to my mom for the horrid smell she had to endure when she entered my house. I told her that I cleaned out my fridge and threw the rotten 'left overs' away but hadn't washed out the containers. WHEEEEWEEE! It was smelly; and that is being kind. I told her I hope the smell didn't bother her. She said she didn't even notice. Aren't moms sweet?!

What's that behind us?

2010-02-20T14:36:00.000-08:00

It's the Declaration of Independence! Yes, it is...look again. An official copy is currently on tour, visiting a few select U.S. cities, and Phoenix is one of them. With only one hour and 15 minutes remaining (at the time of this posting), I will tell you that it is a one-day-only showing, today, Saturday, February 20th. Go, run, now...1700 W. Washington, Phoenix. Anyway....
We took the whole gang and spent 2 hours in line, waiting and waiting and waiting. And waiting and waiting and waiting. It was worth it.

No more song embedded in a slideshow!

2010-02-12T16:02:00.000-08:00

Can you say YEAH! I dreaded logging onto my own blog because I didn't want to hear that silly song that was embedded into one of my slideshows! I finally figured out how to delete it. And delete it, I did!
I am so much happier now. I might even post more often.
In celebrate of this lovely event, Mike is going to take me out tonight for a nice dinner, some dancing and a movie. Not really. We will attend our ward's adult Valentine's Day Formal dinner and dance and then skip out early to meet some friends at a movie. I am really excited. I know it sounds cheesy, that Valentine's Day movie looks really cute. I will post later to let you know if it's a thumbs-up (puts me in the mood) or a thumbs-down (sorry honey, not tonight).
Here are some more pics of the kids. Sam at his first Blue and Gold banquet and Sarah with her new hair cut.

it's hard to get on the computer and post. I can surf in much less time.

2010-02-08T19:33:00.000-08:00

It's true. I've been on the computer enough times this past month that I should have updated this blog. Instead, I did what was easy and fast: I checked my email, a few other blogs, FB and then logged off. Lazy, I know.
So here it is in a nutshell....
I turned 35 years-old (uh), Sam got his Bobcat at his first Blue and Gold Banquet, Sarah learned to roller blade. Those are just the highlights. The low lights are: I turned 35 years-old and the twins are still not potty trained. I feel like the twins will learn to potty train at the same time I grow into diapers from old age. (Let's hope that doesn't happen)
All-in-all January was a good month. Although, we had a few rainy days (seemed like record-braking) that kept us indoors and caused the kids to go wild from cabin fever. We also spent a long weekend up in St Johns and joined Mike's family in celebrating his grandma's 90th birthday.

Time flies when you're having fun

2010-01-21T22:42:00.001-08:00

It's already the middle to-the-end (?) of January 2010 and I have nothing to show for it. Oh, wait, my Christmas tree is down and packed away. Other than that, the house and kids are exactly the same as they were in 2009: loud and messy.

I should buy stock in wrapping paper!

2009-12-24T21:19:00.000-08:00

Well, it's done. All the gifts are wrapped and under the tree. The presents from Santa are open and displayed nicely bearing the lucky child's name.
I was worried at the beginning. Barely into the first quarter of the wrapping game, I ran out of tape. I didn't know what I was going to do. Then, to make things more tense, the Barbie convertible Corvette required 4 (yes, 4) 'C' batteries and a 9-volt! Come on, seriously! But, I managed to pull it off: I grabbed packing tape and used my husband's fingers to hold asymmetrical strips of the stuff. Searching, I found a 9-volt and 3 'C' batteries in my battery box and one my son's drawer. Whew!
Problem solved.
I also had a nifty idea to wrap presents for each child in distinct paper. They each got to choose a pattern of paper they liked. Joe wanted snowmen, Sarah wanted rainbow, Sam got a Santa motif and Mary wanted Strawberry Shortcake. Sounds easy, right? Just wrap and each child knows which presents are his/hers! No tags! Yep, you guessed it. I managed to screw that up. I gave my mom the wrong wrapping paper and Joe and Sam's papers/presents are mixed up. It wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't already wrapped some of the presents in the original set-up. Thank goodness for my mom who wrote the correct name on each of the mixed-up wrapped gifts.
Overall, the night went well. With the help of my mom and husband (who barely complained while putting together the 2 3-wheeled scooters for the twins), we managed to finish up by 10:00pm!
Merry Christmas to all! Now get some sleep!

Christmas is almost here!

2009-12-21T19:48:00.000-08:00

Wow! It's been awhile since I've posted. Probably thought I'd fallen off the face of the Earth? Not quite. The poop is...I've been busy working towards having that 'perfect Christmas" we all dream of. You know the one. The Christmas where, for starters, the weather is perfect so the kids can enjoy all the presents they got OUTSIDE so you can clean up the wrapping paper bomb that exploded on your living room floor. The Christmas, or pre-Christmas, when all gifts were planned out and perfectly shopped for and purchased at the LOWEST PRICE. The Christmas morning where the kids want to sleep in (taking suggestions on how to achieve this one). The Christmas where...well, I realize there is really no way for that prefectly planned out Christmas morning to happen. Still, I can dream. Right?
Mike needs the computer ASAP so I will have to continue this post later.

we all had a wonderful time at Sam's baptism.

2009-11-30T12:27:00.000-08:00

Saturday was such a special day for all of us, especially Sam. It was his baptism day! He woke up with a big smile and a great attitude...he knew he was making a good decision and choosing the right thing to do. Mike and I were so happy for him and his younger brother and sisters were excited about his decision to get baptized. Sam was surrounded by his friends and loving family. It was certainly a special day for us all.
After the baptism we had a luncheon at our house. Plenty of good food and company was had.

and we made it through Thanksgiving dinner without braking anything!

2009-11-26T20:13:00.000-08:00

We had the pleasure of going to my aunt's house for Thanksgiving dinner. For the first time in my life the adults out numbered the kids at the annual feast. It wasn't any quieter, though, there were 6 kids and 4 of them are mine. Anyway, the food was fabulous! I cannot describe how yummy everything was...the turkey, the ham, the potatoes, the stuffing, the green bean casserole! OH, and Mike's pies. Oh, oh, oh, Mike's homemade yummy, yummy pies. Every bite was worth every calorie! We all ate until our bellies and pants could hold no more.

The weather was perfect for outdoor play so we took advantage of it and sent the kids to 'work off' their big meal. They happily played with bubbles (until Joe spilled them all) and I taught them how to play ninja destruction (awesome game).

Other than that, I've been trying to update my house with a new bathroom while planning my black Friday shopping and Sam's baptism. Yeah, I know, bad idea. I am already in over my head! Our hallway bathroom is still not put together; the vanity, sink and facet are in my front room still in their boxes. And where is the old toilet, sink and vanity? It was sitting on the front porch but now it's in the back of Mike's truck waiting to go to 'bathroom heaven'.

I have to mention how grateful I am for all the wonderful things that I have and enjoy on a daily basis. Things such as (in no particular order) freedom, modern medicine, conveniences of technology, religion, the list can go on forever. I am especially thankful for my wonderful husband and for my four happy and healthy children! Oh, and all my family (lest no one be offended)

today was a busy, busy day

2009-11-24T17:48:00.000-08:00

I had a bright idea: Ask the neighbor if her husband would be willing to tile my bathroom floor for $100 (small bathroom). I already have the supplies, all I needed was for someone to do the labor. I double checked with Mike to make sure it was okay (price and all) and, thank goodness 'cause I already committed, it was a go! Mike did insist that we put in a new vanity. That meant that I had to run to a store and pick one out and bring it home TODAY.
Well, that didn't happen. Vanities are major bucks, jimminey. I was able to find one that was reasonably priced. I purchased it and a sink topper (counter top). I will pick it up in the morning and hopefully the grout will be dry by then. (Neighbor guy will be back in the AM to grout.) The tile is down and it looks great. He did it all (take out old floor, rip out sink and base, pull up toilet) in less than 2 1/2 hours!
A new bathroom floor and vanity! Exciting! Bonus: I already have a new fixture for the sink. All of this will be done just in time for Sam's baptism on Saturday (we are having peeps over for lunch afterwards). I can't wait to share the pictures will y'all.
Until tomorrow.....

Title change

2009-11-23T17:55:00.000-08:00

I decided to change the title of my blog. Since I don't keep a daily journal (or a weekly or monthly one for that matter), I thought it would be a good idea to 'double dip' and expand the purpose of my blog. I will call it a journalog. Or a blogurnal. Something that combines a blog and journal together. I am open to ideas.
In case you were worried, the format of my blog won't change. I will still write about the daily happenings and goings-on of the Lee family, just more frequently (I hope). OH, and maybe the writings will be (might be) a bit more personal. You know, for the children. I hope you don't mind. I figure that my memoirs (used loosely) would be read after I expire by all who wish to expand their knowledge of the daily dealings of a housewife. So, why not pass the time by reading them now?

Scouts!

2009-11-17T16:38:00.000-08:00

Sam is officially a Cub Scout. Doesn't he look dashing in his Scout uniform?
His first Scout meeting was last week, they went to the Wildlife Zoo in Phoenix. He came home showing me the Scout sign and talking endlessly about the 1/2-day trip.
We went to the scout shop yesterday and purchased his uniform and the basic materials a Cub Scout requires. By the time we got home, Sam had already read half of the Scout Handbook. Talk about excitement!
Sam will attend his first Pack Meeting tomorrow. I heard those meetings are really cool - the boys who've earned badges and arrows and other things (?) are recognized and congratulated. It won't be long until Sam is one of those boys.

Messy House

2009-11-12T10:49:00.000-08:00

I just swept my floors. Oh. My. Gosh. You should see the pile of 'stuff' that was on my floor. Dirt, sand, food, bendaroos, hay, sticks from corn dogs , grass, paper, wipes, gum, candy, chocolate, water bottle lids, popcorn, cards, wrappers, old fruit, a chicken nugget, the list could go on and on.
Since yesterday was a no-school day, I feel like today is Monday. It feels like a Monday and I definitely have Monday-house. Anyone want to come and do my laundry and dishes? I need a nap.

Sam turns 8!

2009-11-06T17:56:00.000-08:00

Happy 8th Birthday, Sam!
New clothes, Wii games, a remote controlled helicopter...this 8 year-old has it made! In addition to all the wonderful presents, he has his health (the best gift of all, I think).

post party note: The party went so well - the kids had a blast running the obstacle course. Some of the kids wanted to do it again and again and again. I had no idea that 7 and 8 year-olds can be so competative.
Sam got some really cool gifts and already played some of them into extinction. I can't tell what his favorite gift was but I am sure that the fact that he gets to stay up 'til 8 o'clock, now that he is 8, is in the top 5 gifts of all time.

Halloween

2009-11-01T18:25:00.001-08:00

We had a great Halloween. The kids ate at Chik-fil-a for free (kids in costume, talk about a bonus), we visited grandparents, went to a friend's for a 'weeny roast, visited Aunt Linda and Jean and Blaine, and trick-or-treated until the cows came home. Talk about a ton of candy....sheesh. The night was full of fun and adventure. I wish I had pictures to post: Sarah was a beautiful mermaid, Mary was a cute little princess, Joe was a energetic spider man and Sam was a Ghostbuster (proton generator pack that glowed in the dark and everything)! Whew!

A new week

2009-10-25T19:44:00.000-07:00

I am excited that a new week is starting. I am also excited that this new week ends with lots and lots of candy.

It's a park kind-of day!

2009-10-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

How perfect is the Arizona fall weather? Pretty darn perfect, if you ask me. The mornings are crisp and fresh, the midday is ever so calm, afternoons are cool and evenings are relaxing. Yep. Nice. Ahh.
Since the weather is do dang perfect, I am taking the younger 3 to the park today and who knows when I'll come back. Last week, we were there for more than 3 hours, enjoying every minute of it. We only came home because it was just about dinner time and we had eaten all of our lunch leftovers.

First Family Camping Trip

2009-10-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

We managed to survive our first family camping trip. We didn't plan this trip, we happily (maybe not Mike) participated in the Souther Estates Ward Family Camping Trip - and it was sooooo fun. It was only one night and there were bathrooms with running water and flushing toilets but we did sleep in a tent on the hard hard ground. Oh, and it was a bit chilly at night.
We had a great time visiting with ward members, playing games, hiking, eating, putting more wood on the fire, roasting marshmallows, singing songs and enjoying the cooler weather. I wish I had pictures to show you. They would have been neat to look at. They probably would have made you wish that you were there with us. Unfortunately, both of my cameras are broken and I didn't even consider taking pictures with my cell phone. Sorry. Maybe next time. And, yes, there will be a next time.

Happy Birthday Sarah!

2009-10-07T19:15:00.000-07:00

Sarah is officially a 6 year-old. She woke up to find presents wrapped and tagged bearing her name. She politely asked if she could open them. I was still in bed, it wasn't even 6:00am. She opened her presents with her siblings looking on...she got just what she wanted. A new outfit to wear to school, some decorations for her room and something else (I can't remember at the moment).
She wanted other things, too. Lucky her, she got them later on in the afternoon from her friends who came to her party bearing gifts galore. It was a mixed party - boys and girls her age from school and church. Oh, and cousins. What a great bunch of kids, all were well behaved and polite.
Her party started off with coloring Halloween pictures (while the pizza cooked). After they ate pizza it was time to decorate cupcakes. Each kid did a fabulous job frosting their cupcake and decorating it with colored sugar, sugar shapes and other confection decorations. YUM! You know what I'm talking about! Sarah got the biggest cupcake to decorate, of course. Then, we all moved over to the patio where we watched Sarah open her bounty. Oh boy, what a bounty. Finally, the party ended with a bang and a pow and a whack - a pinata. (How do I put one of those ~ things over the 'n'?) Anyways...all the kids got a hit, some kids got two hits. Xave, my 15 year-old nephew, put more muscle in his swing than any of us could and knocked the pinata right off of the rope. It hit the ground and lost its bottom. In the end, the kids got enough candy to last them 'til Halloween. What a great day for me and everyone who got to celebrate Sarah's special day with her.

Cell Phone Photos

2009-09-19T10:48:00.000-07:00

I have some very cute photos on my cell phone but I am unable to get them into a program that accepts 'this' type of image. I am unable to copy them or send them to my desktop. Any suggestions?

edit: so after many, many (limited in size) emails from here to there, I got some photos to a safe place where I can share them with you!

El Conquistador, Tucson, AZ

2009-09-18T14:12:00.000-07:00

Ah, one last hurrah for summer! We followed Mike to Tucson for some needed R & R. We didn't get any R & R but we had a good time. The weather was great, can't complain about that. The pool was kid-friendly, can't complain about that. The kids had a great time, can't complain about that. Now don't get me wrong....it wasn't all peachy and perfect. The nights were long. The kids did not want to sleep in their beds or in their sleeping bags. Instead, they wanted to jump from bed to bed and climb the tables and jump off of the hotel furniture. If we weren't on the
3rd floor I probably would have let them. Their landings sounded bigger than a loud thud and I was almost positive that we were going to be asked to leave.
These pictures were taken the first day we swam. Enjoy. We sure did.

It's already the middle of September!

2009-09-17T16:52:00.000-07:00

What the heck...where has the time gone?
I am still working on being motivated to get somethings done.
The twin club I am in is having their huge bi-annual garage sale next weekend and so I am taking full advantage of selling off stuff that I don't need and don't use. I'll admit, easier said than done. I am a Whetten at heart and we Whettens like to keep stuff around, just in case.
On a lighter note, we just got back from a mini vacation and I will post about it soon. On, and my new camera broke. The same way my old camera broke. Darn
In the meantime, vote in my poll.

Motivation

2009-08-31T09:19:00.000-07:00

I am in serious need of some motivation to.....do everything that needs to get done.
I could easily make a list of all the chores around the house and in the yard that I should work on daily and weekly. But I won't. It would take too long and, frankly, you would be bored. So, I am asking you to post a comment with a suggestion on something that I could (should) work on. Let's see what you come up with and let's see what I can get done. Together, yes we can! Ha ha! (notice, that in my statement, I am not implying that you come and do it for me or that I am suggesting that anyone do my work for me when I am capable of doing it myself)
Hope to hear from you soon!

Summer Wrap-up

2009-08-21T15:48:00.000-07:00

Summer break has come and gone! School started on the 12th and it seems like we are finally on a schedule that we can all follow.
Here's the skinny on our summer break: No schedule = a whole lot of nothin' to do. I'm not complaining...I thought it was the best summer in the history of 'summer with the kids' summer (huh?). Anyway, we spent just about every weekday at the pool, hanging out and soaking up the good 'ole late-afternoon sun (no sunscreen required). The kids had a blast playing in the water, jumping off the diving boards and going down the slides. I followed the twins around the pool (shallow end) and occasionally took them to the deep end where they could kick their legs freely while hanging on the edge. Sam and Sarah also took swimming lessons to improve their rank in swimming survival; I'm still not sure how well they'd manage, sometimes their freestyle and breaststroke looks a lot like they ARE having a stroke. We filled in the spare hours with basketball camp, trips to the zoo, a bounce house and afternoon movies. Any other spare-spare hours (or hours where I couldn't take it anymore) were spent with friends or cousins or our fifth child, TV.
We squeezed in a quasi family vacay in St Johns and spent a few days with the in-laws. They kids had a blast playing with cousins and watching a parade.
I will update with another slide show soon. So many pictures, so little time.

Independence Day and Lots of Fun

2009-07-06T14:09:00.000-07:00

We had a great time celebrating our Nation's Independence on the 4th of July! We took the kids to our ward's flag raising ceremony and continental breakfast. They ate donuts, drank juice and played in the water. Continuing the fun, we took the kids to the movies to see UP (which is sooooo cute). Done with fun and after lunch, we rested our pretty little heads before heading out to watch an amazing fireworks show. I just love the 4th of July.
On Sunday, we had a yummy dinner with family and visited with relatives visiting from Mexico. The food was great, the company was even better - what a night. On the way home I noticed a sign with a temperature display. It read '102 degrees'! It was 9:00pm! Wow! Is there anywhere else it can be 102 degrees at 9 o'clock at night? Oh...and it felt nice outside! Summer. Summer.

Uncle Jake and Megan and Ari

2009-06-27T22:35:00.000-07:00

The kids are worn out from two full weeks of unlawful amounts of playtime with Uncle Jake (on military leave for those of you who don't know that already) and Megan (his girly-friend). Pokes, pinches and tickles were handed out free of charge by Uncle Jake. Laughter and smiles were given in return, well, most of the time (Sam swears he doesn't want Uncle Jake to poke him anymore 'cause it hurts!); but everyone goes back for more.
During Jake's visit we managed to get in a family picture with everyone present (yeah!), an 'everyone who's related come' BBQ, friend reunions, movie nights and swimming. My favorites were the late night movies (Transformers and The Hangover). My kids loved the swimming (more pokes and tickles from Jake) and the times they got to play with Ari (Jake's daughter from Hawaii).
It might be another year and a half before we see Jake and Megan again. Hopefully, if things work out, we'll get to see Ari before then.
This I know: Sam, Sarah, Joe and Mary's happy-times memory bank is full, thanks to Jake and Megan and Ari.

Basketball Camp

2009-06-24T08:36:00.001-07:00

Sam and Sarah have been busy this summer. As I type this, they are enjoying their last two days of basketball camp. I signed them up for a one hour instructional/fun activity in a sport that I wasn't quite sure they would enjoy. They both proved me wrong - they love it. And, they are learning mad basketball skills! Watch out (insert popular basketball star's name), Sam and Sarah are here!

Joe and Mary like to goof-off on the bleachers while we wait for the big kids. I let them because they look so cute. Yes, it usually ends with one or both of them getting hurt.

Walmart funnies

2009-06-10T20:26:00.000-07:00

I tried to make a quick trip to the local Walmart Supercenter this morning with the twins while the older two were at basketball camp. I only needed to pick up 2 items, underwear and some picante Ramen noodles, both for Sam. I ran in and immediately got distracted with fabulous clearance items. Knowing this might (will /would) happen, I left my wallet in the van and stuffed a $20 in my pocket (that's how I budget).
I picked up a shirt for myself at a whopping $4 and headed over to the boys department. I found some undies for Sam and, while chasing the twins out of the center of the every clothing rack, shuffled off to grab some Ramen noodles. I grabbed an entire case of noodles and encouraged the twins to step up their pace. They were rushing like a heard of turtles and I feared I wouldn't make it back to pick up the other kids on time.
I headed towards the checkout and that's when I realized that there is no such thing as a quick trip to Walmart. The checkout lines are always painfully long - I needed to get out of there FAST! Holding the case of noodles, I looked desperately at every lit-up checkout number. Each one was 2-3 customers deep. Then something caught my eye - a checkout counter without a line (not even one customer)! I looked at the lit number over the cash register to verify it's location, made eye contact with the cashier (male) and mouthed, "Yes, it's open." I turned around and asked the twins to hurry, hurry, hurry. When I turned back, the light over the cash register was off and the cashier was nowhere in sight! Where did he go? I looked left, I looked right. Surely, if he closed the register, I would be able to see him walking away. No bother, I was in a hurry and needed to move fast. I mouthed, "Darn, closed!" (My mouthings were really loud enough to hear by all within a 15' radius.)
Anyway...after I said that out loud, the cashier popped his head up from behind the counter and flipped on his light and said, "Ha, just kidding!"
I laughed so hard and so did he. He said the look on my face was so funny that he wished he had a camera to send it into one of those home-video shows. I told him that he made me think I was crazy and imagined the open/no-customers-in-line register. We laughed and laughed and laughed. He said that right before he turned the light off and ducked down he asked the Lord for forgiveness. I told him his little joke was wrong but funny!
It's nice to know that good humor (on both sides) is still alive and well.

Joe!

2009-06-09T08:06:00.000-07:00

I snapped these pics of Joe this morning. While looking in storage for Jake's TMNT quilt from boyhood, I heard Joe saying, "I making dinner, mommy." How cute.
Summer is going great, so far. We are having fun with basketball camp, lunches and swimming. Whew! I thought I was going to get a break once school let out....nope, life is just as busy during the summer.

Family Vacation 2009

2009-05-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

Last weekend marked the first time in history (since kids were brought into the family) that the Lee family took a vacation. Yeah, we've visited family out of town and took short 'work' trips with Mike but, according to Mike, those trips don't count as real family vacations. Whatever, as long as we are together as a family, it's a family vacation. So, this is what we did: On Sunday we drove north to Flagstaff and spent the night at a hotel. The plan was to walk the lava flows and experience nature and the beauty of the landscape. Instead, I ended up in the emergency room with a major earache from the change in altitude. I spent the first 3 house of our (first) family vacation in the ER. I asked to be released to my family with a pain pill, some antibiotics and (safe) steroids. All is well now.
The next day we toured Lowell Observatory and had a blast learning about the sun and stars. The scenery was beautiful - Flagstaff looks a lot prettier from atop a mountain. After a quick stop at a store to get lunch supplies, we drove over to Meteor Crater and toured the museum and crater and everything around it (that wasn't off limits). Note to all who have little kids: visit Meteor Crater with caution, preferably with harnesses on small and unpredictable children. Joe almost took at 50ft plus dive off the edge. On a lighter note, the weather was super: a bit of sunshine, a bit of rain. Skipping to the very end: the kids had a super duper time and me and Mike survived. I am willing to give more details about our trip on a personal level (trying to keep this post short).
We are glad to be home and can't wait for the next Lee Family Vacation Trip! I am dying to visit the old copper mine in Bisbee, AZ.

A convention, lunch, flowers and a yummy dinner

2009-05-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

Today is our anniversary, 14 years down and eternity to go!
As the Lee family spokesperson, I have to say that I am pleased with the past 14 years of marriage and am looking wide-eyed toward the next 14 (or 20 or 30). We've worked hard on getting along (very important), entertaining each other, encouraging each other, supporting each other, making up for each other's (rare) shortcomings and many more couple-like attributes since the day we got married. I will admit that it hasn't always been easy, duh, who said it would be? But, hum, I must say that our marriage has always been fun, interesting, entertaining and lovely.
Moving on...
Thanks to my mom and niece (must-have babysitters), we were able to celebrate our anniversary with a trip to beautiful downtown Phoenix for the annual NRA convention (neat) and dinner on Saturday. Then, today, Mike and I went to lunch (kid-free), it was so nice. We wrapped the day up with a yummy dinner and a guest (my mom). What a great day! Oh! and Mike got me a bouquet of the most beautiful flowers!! I will post a pic soon (and yes, they are in a pitcher - see below if ???).

Bouquet in a pitcher

2009-05-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

Mike gave me this beautiful arrangement of flowers for Mother's Day. Isn't it gorgeous? It's in a pitcher because, well, I don't have a vase. I used to. I used to have a couple of vases. For some reason, children and vases don't agree with each other. Some how the children always win and the vase(s) ends up with a broken heart (and head and bottom).

It's May, already!

2009-05-08T17:13:00.000-07:00

Gee, time is flying by so fast! I can't believe it's May already - wasn't Easter just last week? It must have been because I'm finding jelly beans under the furniture and pieces of plastic eggs everywhere (including in my van)! Either that or, I haven't cleaned out my van or under my couch since Easter.

Sam saw me sewing some cute little hair clips for an upcoming boutique and asked if I could teach him how to sew. Heck, yeah! Let's get this boy mending his OWN clothes! He brought me a shirt with a 2" tear on the side. Just in case you're wondering, he wears this shirt to bed and I do not send him to school with holes in his clothes (pants and undies excluded). I gave him a needle and thread and showed him the basics of sewing (or is it stitching?). It's not merit badge worthy but he did a fair job for a first-timer.

Canning beans and wheat and rice, do dah, do dah!

2009-04-27T16:17:00.000-07:00

Mess in the kitchen = annoyingly common

Kids wanting to help = common and somewhat annoying

Being prepared with food storage = PRICELESS

I have to admit...I'm feeling a bit accomplished. I borrowed the stake can sealer, purchased beans, wheat flour and rice in bulk, bought cans, lids and boxes from the cannery and went at it (canning, that is). I helped a friend can her food and she stayed and helped me can some of mine. I had to make an extra trip to the store for more beans and rice; this gave the kids an opportunity to help me can. It was also a perfect opportunity to talk to them about the importance of food storage, being prepared, etc. So, today, I added 26 cans of food to my growing year supply. Yeah! My next task: more water storage. (I still have 25 lbs of white rice and 25 lbs of pinto beans to can - I ran out of cans and lids. I haven't mastered the art of counting cans per pounds of food or reading the recommended contents from the cannery's chart. Duh and darn).
For more info on family food storage, click here: http://www.providentliving.org

Diarrhea of the camera

2009-04-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

I have a new camera! I am so excited about this that I have developed diarrhea of the camera. Symptoms include, but are not limited to: excess picture taking, children crying due to 'hold still' demands, husband getting impatient over wife's constant picture taking. I believe the symptoms are virtually harmless and, well, they're a small price to pay for documenting my kid's cuteness and youth. Germaphobes need not worry, this type of diarrhea is not contagious.
Enjoy this slide show of my family's Easter egg hunt, hanging out around the house and Sarah and the twins jumping onto and bouncing off the couch. Life is great!

Glad it was just the window

2009-04-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

Here we go again. This time I am much calmer and thankful things weren't as bad as they could have been. I will explain: Our day was all planned out with errands, parties and such. Mike was headed out to the gym early this morning when he discovered that the back window of our mini van was totally smashed out/in. He came in and told me to get dressed because I will want to come outside. It was raining and cold and I didn't want to go outside but he kept insisting. It's then when I saw the damage. It appeared as though some idiot smashed the window (with a huge rock that is now in our driveway) and ran off. I thought of the last time our van was broken into and my purse was stolen, followed by the van being stolen 3 months later. Uhhh. Sigh. Expletive. Censored.
Mike asked me to check and see if anything was missing. I looked in the back window/hole and saw broken glass everywhere. I also saw my double stroller, the Easter treats I bought the kids and the two new light fixtures for our house in the back of the van. I checked the front and got out the 'valuables' I left in the van. Thank goodness nothing was stolen! I called the police and made a report (not that anything will ever come of it) and called the insurance company to make a claim. There is a crack in the moulding that can be replaced and the frame is bent (but I don't care about that) - I just want the window fixed.
I told Mike that we can only laugh about this: the window's smashed and it's raining (pouring) inside the van. What are the chances that would happen, seriously? Mike put a tarp over the hole while we cleaned out the van (not fun). Mike then taped the hole with black garbage bags for a more secure fit. Ghetto.
As I write this, Sam and Mike are off to get the window replaced (no mobile units will service glass because it's still raining outside). Did I mention that I am extreemly grateful there is a shop open today with the right size glass in stock!? I'm with the twins at home and my kind sister-in-law picked up Sarah for a cousin's birthday party. Even though it is raining, things could have been worse.

Conference good, kids not

2009-04-04T21:09:00.000-07:00

Mike and I enjoyed watching conference today. The kids did not. They are excited that they don't have to go to church tomorrow...they don't realize that tomorrow is another day of conference. Life's good.

April Fool's Day Joke a Nice Try

2009-04-01T19:06:00.000-07:00

This year's April Fool's day joke was a nod to an experience our family had back in December of 2006. It was a beautiful December Sunday morning and, as usual, we were rushing to get to church on time. The kids were bathed, Mike s s and s, and I even washed and blew my hair dry for church for the first time since the twins were born. The babies were buckled up in their infant seats (3 days before their 1st birthday) all cute and smelling great. Mike's job was to open the van doors, encourage the older kids into their seats and start the car. My job was to load the babies. With twins in hand (biceps burning) I headed for the door. Did I mention that we were actually going to be on-time for church that day (8:00am)!
Mike came back inside the house and asked, "Where did you put the van?"
I said, "What do you mean?"
He said, "You know, like, did you park it on the side of the house?" (we live on a corner)
I said, "No, why?"
He said, "'Cause it's not in the driveway."
I put the babies down and walked outside to see for myself. The driveway was bare. Yup, it was gone. The kids could feel the tension in our voices. The twins started to fuss and Sam and Sarah started to act like chickens with their heads cut off. Running around all weird and stuff - they were visibly upset.
Mike took the older kids to church and dropped them off with a good friend. I made a series of phone calls that I thought I would never have to make. Mike's parents provided us with a spare car until our insurance paid us for our loss (33 days later). Luckily, our claim paid out more than we paid for the van new off the lot (it was almost 2 years old). We bought another new minivan and have enjoyed this one more than the last.
So, today I hid our van around the corner and waited for Mike to come home from work. He came in the door and asked where the van was. I was busy dealing with Sarah and her eye, Sam yelled that it was stolen while I was at the gym. Mike kept asking me where the van was but I was being bombarded by toddler requests and just couldn't pull off a good reply that would cause him to really be concerned.
I walked in the kitchen and told him that I couldn't hear what he was asking. He said that he figured it out about the second time he asked about the van. He said it was then that he realized it was April Fool's day. Darn.
Maybe I will get him next year.

Great weather, please stay!

2009-03-26T12:51:00.000-07:00

The weather has been great these last few days. Nice and cool and slightly windy. The air is crisp and clean smelling. Ahh, spring is here. I have to admit that I was a bit nervous last week when it got a tad warm (in the 80's). I know that the 80's isn't 'that' hot but, for me, as the temperature rises so does my temper. Ha ha. Can I blame my mood on the weather? Anyway, it really is only a short time until those 100 degree days come and stay through October. Uhh. I should just enjoy the moment.

Well, it's 4 days into the school week and we are still having a rough time getting over spring break and back into a routine. Maybe next week will be better. I'll keep you posted.

Took a quick trip, now home safe.

2009-03-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

I decided to take advantage of spring break and take the kids on a quick trip to see their grandparents in St. Johns. We left Monday morning, just me and the kids, and drove through Payson, stopped at my friend's house in Heber for a short visit, then continued on to our destination. We arrived in the late afternoon and immediately took advantage of the perfect weather - we played outside until dinner and then played some more until it got dark. Joe and Sam took right to putting with grandpa's spare golf clubs and balls in the backyard. Sarah played with her favorite cousin, Abby, on the swing set then inside, downstairs and back outside again. Mary spent a good deal of her time in the big swing in the backyard. I got to relax and visit. Except for the lack of sleep (Joe and Mary's fault), I had a great time and so did the kids. We came home on Wednesday and were happy to see Mike and sleep in our own beds. Two more days left of spring break and I am already worn out.

Spring Break Officially Started...

2009-03-13T14:37:00.000-07:00

I just picked up Sam from the bus stop. There is a huge smile on my face! It's officially spring break! I am so excited. I am so excited because I don't have to get the kids ready for school for an entire week. I don't have to worry about homework, spelling tests or packing homemade lunches. I don't have to fight kids about baths, dirty nails or clean underwear either (yes, break means break!). So what will I do, you ask? Well, we might visit family or friends out of town or hang out and have fun. Whatever we do we'll take it easy and enjoy the nice weather and each other's company.

We're still alive -

2009-03-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

We are still alive - just very busy. We are all excited about Spring Break coming up (one more week). The weather has been great - outdoor play abounds! Tempers have been mild - grateful. The kids have also been behaving well. Ha ha.

Another week gone by

2009-02-27T18:16:00.001-08:00

I can't believe it's already Friday. This week has flown by. Not to say that it was an easy one; there were some challenging moments (not unexpected for a mom with 4 young children). For starters, I didn't have to teach at all this week! The gym's pool was closed for painting. This enabled me to play racquetball every day without interruption (very happy). Sam had a week of early release due parent/teacher conferences (love early release). Again I showed up for conference on the wrong day (very embarrassing). Oh well. His teacher happily squeezed me in. Sarah has shown great progress in her reading this week (very happy). Joe and Mary continue to talk up a storm - it's so fun to watch them grow. There's more but I'm tired. Still hoping to get a new camera so I can post pictures.

All Hail Friday!

2009-02-20T12:41:00.000-08:00

It's a glorious Friday. The winter weather in Arizona is so great that it makes up for the hellish summer heat. I'm almost used to it, again.
So this week has been, well, tough. It all started last week when Sam got sick. High temp and tired, he spent the 3-day weekend on the couch. Sam passed it on to Sarah. Her high temp and tired symptoms created a monster who was grouchy and mean. I managed to stay cool and finally sent her to school today. Joe was the third victim. He's the saddest looking one of all - tired, sad and watery eyes, red cheeks and fever. Mary got it today. Her cheeks are red and her fever is up there. She is handling it well. So who will get it next? Me or Mike?
I didn't mean for this post to be a gloomy one, just a record of the week. I am excited for the weekend, as you probably already know. No plans.

A chilly week finally comes to an end, maybe.

2009-02-13T11:45:00.000-08:00

It has been so cold this week. One morning there was ice on the windshield of our van. Sam thought it was really neat and tried to scratch some off and eat it. Tasty! The kids don't mind that it's cold - still wanting to play outside or go to the park - so yesterday I took Sarah and one of her classmates to the park to eat pizza and play. They had a blast! Joe and Mary had a grand time chasing after the bigger kids and swinging in the baby swings. I signed Sam and Sarah up for Aikido classes. They've made it through the first two weeks and seem to really enjoy it (will report more later). HI-Yahhh!
This post is somewhat lame, I know, but I promise to do better next time. Happy Valentine's Day!

Rain Drops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens...

2009-02-08T19:12:00.000-08:00

The day started off chilly and gray thanks to last night's rain. I was sitting comfortably on the couch with Mary enjoying her company. Sam, Sarah and Joe were busy doing this and that, Mike eating an apple. I heard a noise that I couldn't quite figure out. Mike said it was an airplane. The noise sounded closer to my house than an airplane should be and the roar faded differently than a passing liner. Then my eye caught a short burst of lightening. I looked out the window and saw sideways falling rain, strange. I heard another noise. This time I knew what it was...it was thunder with a vengeance! I shouted in my this-is-a-once-in-a-year-event voice, "Kids, Look outside!" The kids ran to the back door and their eyes quadrupled in size. It was a HAILSTORM! I opened the back door so the kids could go outside and experience, for the first time in their lives, (pea-sized) HAIL! The trampoline was covered with tiny white ice balls. The grass in the backyard looked as if snow had fallen. Sam and Sarah ran inside, grabbed their coats and took off into the yard to try and catch some of the ice. More thunder caused Mary and Joe to shiver with fright - seriously terrified. Mike and I each grabbed one of the twins and I attempted to sing the famous song from The Sound Of Music. I remembered the beginning and the chorus. Good enough. The storm was short lived. The excitement lingered. I managed to get a picture of the backyard and trampoline with my cell phone (will update later). The ice melted after a few minutes. A meterology lesson followed. Curious kids.

Hello Friday!

2009-02-06T15:39:00.000-08:00

What a great day! I am so looking forward to this weekend. Hopefully I can resist the pleasures of relaxing all day tomorrow and get some much needed housework (maintenance) done. I'll have Mike by my side helping me manage kids and completing tasks (said loosely). We'll probably take the kids out to lunch at a restaurant place they can play wildly at and have fun. Then we'll come home and finish up as much work as we can before we all sit down on the couch and relax in front of our favorite appliance: the TV.

Wednesday Morning at the Park

2009-02-04T13:03:00.000-08:00

Winter weather in Arizona is gold. I spent a few hours at the park this morning and loved every minute of it. The sun was shinning, the sky was clear and the wind was blowing ever so slightly. Joe and Mary had a great time playing in the sand and swinging in the baby swings while Sarah jumped from slide to swing to sand with new and familiar friends; I soaked up the fresh air and sunrays like a spounge. AH, what a morning!

Blessed Friday

2009-01-30T15:51:00.000-08:00

I see a distinct pattern here: Friday praises. I am, once again, glad it's Friday. It has been another busy week. How busy was it, you ask? Well, I taught Aqua four days in a row, managed to get some racquetball in (including hitting myself in the head with the racket giving myself a very serious headache), a last minute doctor appointment for Joe's ear infection, meals to friends for fun, a movie night with my mom, an endowment session and earlier today a sealing (marriage) (thanks to sis and mom for watching the babies), catch up with a friend and a reception tonight. Those are the highlights of my week. I survived it all and had a great time doing it. Next week...Bring it on!

Camera 911

2009-01-26T19:31:00.000-08:00

It's official. My camera is broken. Mike took it apart on Saturday and couldn't find the problem. The lens is extended and it won't turn off or on. For now, pictures posted will come from my cell phone (boo, boo). Wish me luck.

It's Finally Friday, It's Raining Outside and I'm now 34

2009-01-23T14:39:00.000-08:00

I am so excited it's Friday. This week was tough. I survived another week which included a late night trip to urgent care with Mary (she's recovered), I taught Aqua 4 days in a row - more fun that is allowed in most countries, and today I am one year older that anyone who is 33 ( I can do simple math).

Why Does Wednesday Feel Like Monday?

2009-01-21T12:57:00.000-08:00

This week is really dragging. Even though my schedule is full, I can't seem to get ahead of anything and everything is backing up. If I can just make it through Thursday I'll be fine. The kids are well, somewhat, and Mike is still plugging along at his job. We are all thankful that he brings home the bacon so I can fry it up in a pan. O.k. now I'm just rambling. Until Friday.....

Go Cardinals!

2009-01-18T16:44:00.000-08:00

I'm officially a fan. Yeah, I'm a bit late...but never too busy to cheer on the home team.

Thursday Check List

2009-01-15T15:18:00.000-08:00

It's Thursday!...Almost as good as Friday because the weekend is 'that' much closer.
On Thursdays I have to: scour my house to find any trash that can fit in the barrel, mow the lawn and dump clippings in the garbage, roll out the barrel for pickup, finalize my weekend plans (funny, huh?), check to make sure there aren't any commitments for Friday night (Mike likes to stay home), think of something to make for dinner tonight that will taste just as great as tomorrow's dinner (I love leftovers) and, make any last minute guilty pleasure shopping stops. This is, really, just a snapshot of my to-do list. I'm not complaining, I love doing it all - the clean work, the dirty work, the smelly work. Getting it all done on Thursdays is what makes Fridays more enjoyable.

Using your imagination, picture this...

2009-01-12T07:56:00.000-08:00

Scene set up: Joe running really really fast with a big smile on his face.
Mom: Hey Joe!
Joe: Run fast!
Mom: Running really fast? Run really fast again!
Joe turns around (out of sight) then runs back to me with a big smile on his face and says, "run fast!"
Mom (I), realize that Joe isn't really running fast, he's more, like, gliding on top of thousands of crushed puffed cheese balls. The bottom of his shoes are covered in orange dust. I get up and follow him to his starting place - the kitchen. It snowed orange flakes, they are everywhere.
Mom: What is going on?
Mary: Joe-Joe did it.
Mom: Joe, what did you do?
Joe: Cheese ball, run fast.
End Scene

There are crushed puffed cheese balls everywhere in the kitchen, living room and down the hall. I swept, I vacuumed, I cried. Joe smiled and when on with his day. It's only 9:02 in the morning. Side note: I did try to take a picture but could not get my camera to work.

Pictures Pictures

2009-01-10T08:15:00.000-08:00

Joe dropped my camera, Sam played with it. It's broken. I was able to download the pictures on it - thank goodness - so I can post a few recent photos of the kids. If I can't fix it, I'll have to get another one (darn). Here, Sarah made a gingerbread house, Sam's watching cousin Nathan play, Joe's sneaking candy and Mary is wondering what to do next.

Happy New Year! - update

2009-01-05T18:52:00.001-08:00

It's that time of year again...Resolution time. This year, I think, I will resolve to resolve all my past resolutions! How's that for a new year goal? Now only if I could remember what my prior resolutions were.
Have a safe and happy 2009!
update - photos of our stake's Family New Year's Eve party. This night was so fun. The kids had a great time. Joe was the dancing man, Sarah danced and tired out, Sam was almost too cool to do anything, Mary stayed close to homebase.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T12:00:00.000-08:00

What a great day! It has been a blast so far and we still have lots more to do! Like make gingerbread houses, visit grandma and grandpa Lee and play with the toys Santa brought! An elf dropped off p.j.s for the kids while we were at aunt Linda's house last night. Sam tried to chase the elf down but the elf jumped the fence just before Sam compromised his identity! Today, Sam swore that he heard Santa at about 4 o'clock this morning - it's what woke him up! He was so excited that Christmas was finally here that he could hardly contain himself! I let him take a peek at the tree and presents before anyone else woke up. Later I realized that it was probably torture to him since he had to wait another 2 hours before we opened the presents. I let him wake up Sarah and she asked him if Santa had come. Sam said yes. The fun began.

I Accidentally Wrapped the Remote...not really.

2008-12-22T23:05:00.000-08:00

I've wrapped so many presents tonight that I had to distance myself from the phone and the remote so I wouldn't accidentally wrap them during my last minute rush to get ready for Christmas. Sheesh! Even with feelings of 'I am so not ready'; I do have to say that I am having a great time wrapping presents for the kids and marking them 'from Santa'! This year's Christmas is going to be great!

Good Friends Last Forever....

2008-12-17T11:37:00.001-08:00

I'm usually not very personal on my blog but this requires mentioning -
My good and dear friend, Marianne Merrill, passed away peacefully Monday evening in her home. She fought a courageous battle with an unforgiving disease but in the end received the greatest reward - a welcome Home from passed loved ones. Marianne was not only a good friend, she was a mentor. She taught me how to laugh at the unpleasant and sometimes discouraging events which often occurred (and still do!) while raising my 4 little ones. She taught me, by example, how to seek for the good things and be grateful for every little thing. She was dedicated to service - I being the recipient of many of her 'errands of angles'. In her last weeks, Marianne was inspired to ask me to do her a favor. In reality the favor was for me and I am thankful she gave me such a gift. Marianne loved her family especially her husband, Walter, whom she honored and supported their entire marriage. Although I am sad that my friend is gone, I am confident that she is happier back Home.

On the 12th Day of Christmas...

2008-12-12T21:31:00.000-08:00

Can you believe there are only 12 days left (to shop, plan, wrap, prepare, budget, gather, organize, etc.) until Christmas? I am so not ready!

Who's Watching Who at the Zoo?

2008-12-11T16:54:00.000-08:00

Monday I took the twins, Sarah and her friend from school to the zoo. We had an afternoon filled with train rides, fun, food, animal gazing and playground playing. It was so much fun! Enjoy the slide show - can you tell which one is the caged animal? (if you guessed me, Julia, you are correct!)