addicted to technology..

Our home computer has had it's struggles, faults and downright failures; however, last weekend it decided to take it's last breath. We have one last chance resuscitation effort going on as our good friend and computer genius is looking at it. We are trying to salvage the data - you forget how much of your life is on a hard drive! In the days that have followed our return to the dark ages, life has been crazy.

With only one computer in the house you forget how often it gets used. At first the kids are complaining how they can't get on facebook and check their email. I tell them, "this is a good break", and they are too dependant on technology. Then I find myself eating my words as I need to send out emails for church things, help Cass do research for a paper. Ry and Josh need to type papers and fix school registrations. I need to pay bills and do research for a new computer!! I want to check out the weather or confirm plans for our Spring Break trip not to mention I have pictures to unload off my camera and post on the blog!

Suddenly, I am realizing just how darn convenient the black box is. In the meantime, we have purchased a laptop while we figure out what the destiny is for our other one. We haven't had a laptop before, just our family computer which is in the sitting room of our bedroom. I am hoping this will be more convenient for when the kids need to get on the Internet and paranoid mother that I am , require I be present when they do so. Now they can just follow me wherever I go. :)

After the last few days I have found that in addition to being addicted to chocolate I am addicted to the convenience of technology. How on earth did the pioneers do it? No GPS or weather information. What about blogging about life on the trail? How do you entertain children in a covered wagon or research how to cook with wheat? :) We are so blessed!

definition of spring....

“Spring” is the word given

to define the time between March and May.
It’s the season that suffers
from an identity crisis is what I want to convey!

Some days are utterly deceitful,
offering hope to one and all;
then wham! winter returns
without permission, as I recall.

You never know what to expect
from day to day, hour to hour;
One minute it’s yard work
and the next it’s a surprise cold shower!

It’s the time of year when the sunshine
is into playing a game;
like peek-a-boo or hide and seek,
which really drives me insane!

I do have a sense of humor
and enjoy an occasional practical joke.
But really, snow in April?
Come on, a smile isn’t what that will provoke.

I’m ready to dust off my sandals,
give my toes some color and shine;
but to also keep boots and hot chocolate handy,
I’m afraid I must definitely decline!

It’s very confusing for a person
such as myself and others too;
what to make of what is outside the window
and all of the hullabaloo.

So mother nature it is past time
for you to decide your identity.
Please choose daffodils and tulips
and things that bring serenity.

After yesterday when the weather abruptly changed between snow and sunshine every five minutes, I am ready to get off this roller coaster called Spring and settle into something calmer. Since Mother Nature is so indecisive, I thought I'd take it on myself to declare winter over! I realize it is wishful thinking on my part, but I thought if I stated my intentions someone might listen! It doesn't work around here very much, but I'm hoping for better luck with Mother Nature!

in season...

Last night I was cutting up fresh strawberries with Mark and we were eating every other one. I said to him, "I'm so glad strawberries are coming in season, now we can eat lots of them!" Mark replied, "mom, when do cows come in season? I want to eat steak!"

pondering...

Today I've been wondering:

why there are always crumbs in the silverware drawer?

why there is always an empty toilet paper roll on the dispenser and a full one rolling around on the floor?

why teachers assign parent assisted homework projects during Spring Break?

why you only notice you need to dust when company is over?

why broccoli can't taste like chocolate?

why when you make dinner, there is at least one child who takes issue with the menu?

why there are self cleaning ovens, dishwashers and washing machines but not self cleaning children?

So maybe today I've had too much time thinking about things as I've meandered around the house performing various tasks. But at least that means something is working up there in the vast recesses of my mind. What do you wonder about?

girls night out!!

Cassie and I had a spontaneous girls night out tonight. We haven't been out just the two of us for sometime, so when Kelly took the boys out to do things tonight, we took the opportunity to go have some fun. We went out to dinner at the Spaghetti Factory and got to sit in the trolley. Cassie hadn't been there before and she thought that was pretty great. We laughed over pasta and girl talk. After dinner we had fun wandering the mall. I typically am not a mall person, but we had fun window shopping and being silly for a couple hours. We took some fun pictures with my cell phone. She is growing up so fast and we had so much fun. She was so sweet and even though we spent very little money, she made it memorable and we giggled all night long. It was fun to escape the drama that sometimes takes over our lives and enjoy simple things like escalators, lip gloss and sunglasses. Cassie, I love you so much, and it's great to have someone to do girl stuff with! Thanks for making me feel young and silly!

daylight savings...

The only time of year you can get jet lag without ever setting foot in a plane! Who decided this was a good idea? Definitely not parents, that's for sure! :)

kids say the funniest things....

I have always been a terrible journal writer so when my kids said something cute, I never wrote it down and now it's lost out there in the vast space that once housed my memory! I decided when someone said something fun, I would make a quick post so I would remember it tomorrow and hopefully further down the road!

When Mark was asked about what he learned in Primary he remarked, "Noah and the Ark". We were so excited that we had moved past the generic answers of "choose the right, and keeping the commandments" that we typically heard from week to week. We asked him to tell us more about the lesson. He thought for a minute, and then said..."it was about a man named Noah who built an ark!" :) We will keep working.

Tonight at the dinner table we were talking and eating as usual. Ryan was putting gravy on his engineering feat of mashed potatoes and when it didn't hold and gravy erupted over the embankment, he mumbled something to his plate. Cassie said laughing..."my brother talks to gravy! He makes fun of me for talking to stuffed animals! At least stuffed animals have faces!" We all had a good chuckle at that.

FAMILY FUN!!

Recipe for a week of Marks family Fun

Combine together: a great FHE with Grandpa's great lesson, balloons and bubble blowing



Add in a night of lasar tag, skating food and fun



Stir in crazy adults attempting to hit a ball around a room



And Voila! A party filled week with cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents!

My brother Seth, his wonderful wife Anna and their family came in from Arizona this past week and grandma and grandpa planned a full week of fun! We had a great time. I remembered how to blow bubbles in a contest, and although the picture makes me look like I won, I have to be honest...I was terrible! But I should get points for style! I may not be the quickest at creating a bubble, but the bubbles I make are masterpieces!! I love my sweet dad who always gives great lessons, complete with stories and fun visual aids. I love my mom because no one creates buffets of food quite like her. I actually attempted to play in a sporting event and managed to hit a ball or two after squealing like a mouse going through puberty every time a ball came toward me! I am so blessed to be part of a wonderful family. The only thing that would have made this week perfect would have been to have my sisters Cora and Lucy and their families here!! All that means is more fun when they have their turn in town!

the next NBA star.....

Josh just finished playing on a Pleasant Grove Rec basketball team. He did awesome (or in Josh's words...he is a BEAST!!) Their team did very well and placed third overall. It was fun to come and watch and cheer for him. Way to go Josh!!

Loved it...

I rarely recommend books, but after my ridiculous vacuum post, I'd thought I'd let you know that I do other things while I'm trying desperately to get out of house work. Reading is one of them. My sister gave me the book, These is my Words by Nancy Turner, for my birthday and I really loved it. It made me appreciate my life and the fact that I have vacuum cleaners, garbage disposals and just a life free from Indian attacks, snake bites and having children without anesthesia. It's been out there for awhile, but it was new to me, so if you haven't read it yet, maybe you should stay in your sweats for a day and enjoy. (Just keep the vacuum handy if surprise visitors should appear!)