I love summer!

Woohoo for being cancer free for 6 months...
Woohoo for being without kids for almost 48 hours...
Woohoo for shopping without my kids... in stores I never shop in... or have access to...
Woohoo for buying something...
Woohoo for coming back to my boys!...
Woohoo for Cameron getting a sense of humor, I asked him to come here and he laid down on the floor and pretended to snore...
Woohoo for the whole family partaking in swim lessons...
Woohoo for coming home to fresh tomatoes, peppers, onions, corn, etc...
Woohoo for having Tyler home...
Woohoo for decorating the house...
Woohoo for the whole "how do dinosours..." series of books.. (SEE HERE)
Woohoo for 25th birthdays...

Woohoo for Kevin's sense of humor... (on the way home for swim lessons)
Dad: So Kevin why did you have to have timeout? did you not listen to you teacher?
Kevin: I was standing up because my tail was hurting
Dad: You were supposed to be sitting on the step, why didn't you sit on the step?
Kevin: My tail was hurting...
Dad: Kevin you don't have a tail...
Kevin: I'm a DINOSAUR Dad! Some dinosaurs have tails, Dad.
Dad: (trying to hide his laughter) Kevin, you need to listen to your teacher and stay on the step when they ask you too...(more laughing)

Boo for freaky plane trips, where I almost pee my pants because I thought the bottom of the plane fell off when the landing gear came out... has no one heard of WD-40? (what do you mean they don't use WD-40 on planes?... it was loud and freaky, and sounded like the landing gear fell off the plane.. OK?)
but that is besides the point!.. I LOVE SUMMER!
'
*Kevin's new phrase of choice "you don't need the calories" stolen from Ice age 3.. always said at the most inopportune times!

More Randomness

• We went to swimming lessons as a family tonight, Tyler and I was with Cameron in the "mommy, daddy and me class" while Kevin went to his big boy class.
  
• Tyler had the great idea of taking Kevin's diapers away at night, so that he would stop being lazy and be potty trained at night too, last night we had to change the sheets, tonight Kevin came out and went big boy potty and was so proud of himself, he went back to bed chanting to himself "I went poopoo in the potty"
• The garden is keeping us busy!
• We finally fixed our bicycles and have been going for family bike rides, Kevin on his "big boy bike" (with training wheels) and Cameron on the back of Tyler's bike
• Kevin went too fast around a corner to fast and did a forward roll of his bike, thank goodness for helmets and knee and elbow pads, Kevin stood up and yelled at his bike, He said "my bike hurt me" then got back on and rode his bike the rest of the way home...we got Cameron his own set of helmet and pads after seeing how they saved Kevin.
  

Garden update...

Things are going great in the garden! We have jalapeños coming out of our ears, ears of corn growing like crazy (hope the earwigs aren't eating them before we can) we cut back the pumpkins so the watermelon and cantaloupe could grow, (good news! we have two baby watermelon-that we can see at least!) I have no idea if we will get any cantaloupe or squash- they seem to only grow when it is above 90 degrees) the zucchini has been a lot of fun, onions, carrots and green beans (*next year we are going back to bush beans, the pole beans aren't doing very well) the tomatoes are so much fun! we have enough for the kids to eat them strait off the vine and then some (hoping to can some later in the season) *I like the little red cherry tomatoes best but Cameron eats the orange ones before they are even ready to eat. the peppers are growing reallly well. I have three jalapeno plants covered in peppers, and orange pepper plant with 6 huge peppers on it (if they will ever turn orange, I have no idea) and three green pepper plants that are coming along quiet nicely! plus a red cherry pepper plant that is doing well, but I have no idea what to do with those- do you? So to be honest the only thing I am missing is cucumbers... I killed them all! I like the layout of the garden this year, it is the best year so far, but I think we are gonna move the garden around next year. Corn on the north end, then vining plants in the middle (again) with all the other stuff at the other end, I think that will help shake things up a bit! this was the first year we actually staked the rows, and by far it musch more organized than years before... ( trying to talk myself into doing it again next year) the fence is a must have! it kept the dogs and kids out pretty good, plus kept (most) of the pumpkins inside the garden. All in all it was a great learning experince.. we have had more bugs in the garden this year than in the years past, but we have had more good bugs then ever too! We had frogs, praying mantis', lady bugs, and grasshoppers, but they all brought with them, earwigs.. darn it! oh and this year was the year of the field mouse, but we do live in the middle of a farm fields.. so what did I expect!?

We're back!

So we got back from 5 fun filled days in Utah! We hit Boondocks, Lagoon, the pool, the park, and I got my first pedicure, and we went out on our anniversary date and got to see Harry Potter 6! It was a blast! We got back last night, and this morning I jalked or wogged my first 5k... it was a blast! The timer broke so I have no idea how long it took (I do know it was less than 50 minutes!)But I started strong and I finished strong, there was a few issues in between but all is good, and now I am looking foward to my next one on Sept 5th. I will post pictures later of all of the above! I love family vacations!

Oh, and you should see my garden, I swear it grew 4 times the size it was while we were gone! even the watermelon started growing... Of course the pumpkins are doing their best to overtake everything they can, but it is gonna be a great harvest, I can feel it! Jen sure knows how to make a garden grow! Thanks Jen!

6 years and counting...

So this year a lot happened! When we were just getting ready to move this time last year, little did we know that after that move we had three more moves ahead of us! We didn't know we would go through cancer treatment, or live with both sides of the family. Basically, we had no clue! But I can tell you that our 6th anniversary is going as planned. We went early this morning to get pictures taken, went out to lunch, and then we enjoyed a family nap (yes all of us in the same bed). We seriously love cuddling with our boys! And next Wednesday me and Tyler get to go watch Harry Potter 6! We were supposed to go tonight but I will do anything for a free babysitter, so we are waiting. Anyway, without any more waiting, here are our family pictures!


These are two 20 x 20 pictures that we ordered. (buy one get one free) I love collages~

Here are pictures that are priceless because it shows my boys personalities, they were wrestling and giggling!

Here are two of the better family pictures that we got... even 4 smiles in one of them!


Here is probably one of my favorites and then another collage... love it!

Randomness

Things going on in our house lately:

• Cameron spent his first night away from us, he took his brother to Grandma and Grandpa Powers house for two nights, the 1-3rd
• Cameron made his first ER visit the night of the 1st, which was only over once he received 3 stitches in the middle of his forehead
• I fell apart once the kids drove away (what is a Stay at Home Mom supposed to do without kids?)
• We cleaned our carpets
• We went out to dinner, AND enjoyed it
• We rented a redbox and cuddled on the couch
• I slept in, and made myself go back to sleep when I woke up, just becuase I could.
  
• We spent the 4th of July in Washington on the Pasco side of the river, without Grandpa, he had his own ER visit, he popped out his knee.
• Cameron got his stitches out on the 6th
  
• All three of my boys got hair cuts tonight, there was quite a large pile of hair on the floor when we got done, in three very distinct colors, White blond, dark blond/brown, and black (with a hint of grey:)
• I got my hair trimmed up yesterday, it was beginning to be a mullet, why does that back of your hair grow faster than the top?
• I started walking a few months ago, an hour a night, a few weeks ago I decided to up the fat burning and add some jogging, I found out I love it, one problem, I am not loosing any weight!
• I found a 5k I am going to TRY to jog on the 25th.. excited!
• The garden is growing like crazy except one thing, the watermelon. It won't get any bigger. The rest of everything that seemed to be on hiatus has kicked into high gear since the temperature has risen.
• We are looking forward to the Wardle reunion , my 6 month cancer checkup, and Tyler and my 6th anniversary, oh and my 25th Birthday!
  

A new goal...

I am sooo excited! I am gonna jog a 5k!.. I have less than three weeks, its on the 25th!... Hope I can do it!

More adventures in couponing

So I have enjoyed the couponing thing, although I don't get the paper, I do the printables you can find on the Internet. My favorite so far were the .75 off gallon of milk, 1.00 off 2lb cheese, and 1.00 yogurt. ( you can print them off twice, so I stocked up!) Although I cleaned my carpet yesterday and was happy for the 1.00 off scotch gaurd coupon. This couponing thing really is helping me save my three month supply and making us more aware of prices. FUN! Anybody else had good luck with couponing?

Homegrown goodness

Enough said..


Oh, and here is Cameron who decided he would finish off my bowl of salad (and then complain until he had seconds) What other one year old do you know will eat Lettuce, radishes and carrots! (and then go back to his pizza!)

Happy Fathers Day

To the Dad, who is all by himself this weekend, who undoubtedly would have liked to keep Mom to himself but loved us anyway ;) To the Dad who always knows what to say, even when we don't want to hear it. Who has become a pro at bailing me and Ken out even when we don't ask or thank him enough. The the man who taught me that it is possible to LIKE one kid over the other just not ok to LOVE one kid over the other. (See Ken, he likes me more!) To the Dad who unselfishly lets me bring the Grandkids around even though he knows they will break the silence of emptynestedness, Thanks for all you do DAD! Love you!

To the husband that gives me everything I want and more, who gladly takes over when my sanity is ready to go. The the husband who takes responsibility even though one doesn't look just like him (just kiddin- check out their eyes). To the man who gave up his dream job, to be a "Daddy". To the the man who doesn't mind getting up with the kids on Saturday morning or changing wet pants, or dirty diapers. To the husband who is just fun to watch, and gives up his weekend to camp with his kids.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY. WE LOVE YOU!

Camping trip!

So we just got back from a great camping trip.. the kids were great! We first hit Willard bBay with Tyler's brother (Mark) and fam for sea-dooin fun! lunch on the beach, sun, sun and more sun. It was so much fun! Then off to the KOA to set up the tent, start dinner (hotdogs over the fire) followed by smores, dutchoven apple crisp and then headed of to bed! Great company, being outdoors (the kids loved it) and lots of fun! we got up the next moring had scrambled eggs with ham and packed up to visit the "campers" at the hotel (she's 8 months pregnant- give the woman a break! :) Then we headed home and only then did we run into rain.. it was really fast but really fun! Someday I will get the pictures off the camera. Our 4 man tent is a little tight with 2 boys who would rather sleep on top of you then next to you, plus I like to camp with a blow up mattress which takes up lots of room...lol. but we had perfect weather, and I only got one mesquito bite! My kind of camping (with a shower, flushing toilet, and blow up mattress, I never realized how girly I am) Now let the Loads of lundry begin!

Adventures is couponing... & 72 hour packs.

So we are under a flash flood watch starting tomorrow morning and going through Monday. So the first thing I did was go get my 72 hours kits... small problem.. most of our food had expired, last month I went through and changed out the boys clothes so they would fit but I didn't touch the food. So we headed to Twin to find some dehydrated food packets, We hit Winco, which is the cheapest price I have found so far for Mountain House packets. Still expensive but light weight and filling. Plus I found a fold flat stove, light weight that we can boil our water for our packets. We tried to find a poncho for Kevin, he outgrew his old one so it became Camerons, no one had them, stilll looking.

While I was stocking up on the kit stuff I also found some good deals and used my first coupons (our ward is teaching people how to use coupons to supplement our food storage) So I got $2.00 off a bottle of A-1 steak sauce that was origianlly $2.49, plus I got a $.55 coupon off my next bottle of A-1. Plus I bought one got one free of Easy Mac.. (wonderful stuff, but I refuse to pay full price).

Also on the good news front, we are going camping next week! We are so excited to take the boys out, use our tent, sleep on the ground, All that jazz, one slight problem, we realized we only have three sleeping bags, so now we are on the lookout for a 4th, I think the best deal we could find was a 30* for $30 bucks at Costco, but we are on the lookout.. Sure seems like we have been shopping a lot lately (a lot for us atleast) but it's all good.

Summer school started this week and lets be honest it has been nice to have Tyler go to work everyday (or the ARTECH confrence) and come home at a relativly early time. The boys have noticed him gone a lot more and Cameron is currently a daddy's boy so it has been a little tuff on him. (Kevin is too independant to care who is watching him)

Other than that you can find me in my garden staring at the plants (no joke) I am so excited to see stuff growing, and hope to see it growing a lot more soon. (maybe if the weather would start cooperating)

Funny stuff and a cool website

THE FAMILY PREPAREDNESS SONG
Tune: Did You Think to Pray? Click to listen to Hymn #140

Ere you spent your family’s paycheck,
Did you think to save?
Just a little for the storage,
Just a little for the porridge
When the Times are grave,
Oh, how storage helps the faithful
When the Prophet’s words we heed,
So, if you would not be Fearful,
Plan what you will need.

When your neighbor tried to teach you
How to can and sew,
Did you feel in-ti-mi-da-ted
And your plans pro-cras-tin-a-ted?
Now you’re feeling low!
Oh, how empty are the cupboards,
Oh, how ragged are your clothes.
How you’ll wish that you had listened
When the “good life” goes.

Wheat and beans and salt and honey
May not sound so hot.
But if you are going hungry,
If your tummy’s cold and grumbly,
They can hit the spot.
Store some diapers for the kiddies,
Everything to see you through;
Cloth and patterns, thread and needles.
Store some long Johns, too.

If this topic’s repetitious
And you’re dull and bored,
When you’ve naught but empty dishes
And you’ve used up all your wishes,
You’ll wish you had stored…
Food that’s tasty and nutritious,
Cloths and bedding, tools and seeds,
Skills that guard your family’s future
Gather what you’ll need.
–Anonymous

I thought that song was funny, and true. I got it off this website which has sooo much info on preparedness stuff.. check it out!

http://pgward.org/ep/

growing...I think

So I have only killed two plants this year... two of my four cucumber plants, they rest of them all seem to be hanging on. I have added a few more plants, people have been nice enough to give me, I added two more jalapeño plants, and a dill plant (I am gonna try my hand at herbs this year). The corn is coming up nicely, Very exciting! My radishes are now huge and getting hot so I am glad that I planted a second crop in the house. I am getting my cherry tomatoes and second generation of green beans ready to planted outside, plus my second generation of green pepper plants, lets see if I can keep these ones alive! I am very excited... I am learning a little something new everyday it seems like... I can't wait for the plants to get big and start harvesting! woohoo! So my dreams for someday, having a water system in place, and getting grow boxes going, for one third of my garden I would love to try to do square foot gardening.. It think it would be a lot more efficient but as for the other parts (melons and pumpkins and corn) I am not so sure... well have to see!

So what do you do during a wind storm?

I know what I do... I run around my garden covering up my plants (at least the ones that can be covered up! The wind (according to the weather.com) is blowing 35 mpg with gusts up to 45... Which can take plants from living healthy to leafless stocks in no time flat (plus dry them out pretty good) So it was a good thing that I hadn't thrown away all my butter dishes/sour cream dishes/ and my milk jug hot caps.. I hope all the plants make it. There were a few plants that I couldn't cover (to tall or on a trelis) all my bean plants and three of my tomatoes.. good luck guys! So now you know what I do.. what do you do during a wind storm? lol


(oh, we planted all of the plants (minus the cherry tomatoes and peppers that aren't quiet big enough for the garden yet) in the garden yesterday.. it is amazing how adding all of our plants made our garden perk up! (and cleaned up the guest room) The corn still has come up yet but that is all we are waiting for...:)

Fruits (or Vegetables ) of my labor!

Thats right I am crunching down on my first garden harvested goodies right now!.. Radishes.. yum! I have onions and carrots growing quiet well I might add, My green bean plants have green beans on them (and they are still happily residing in their cups) My pumpkins have bright orange buds on them! Oooo I can't wait until Saturday when we get plant them in the actual garden! (I sure hope they make it through the transplaning process) I can't wait! MMMM.. back to my radishs!

Garden tips for next year...

So I will totally forget this next spring so I am writing this down so I don't forget it.

• One row (in the green house) is fine for Lima Beans(2), Green Beans(4), Lettuce(way to many), Watermelon(5), Pumpkin(6), Cucumber(4), Cantaloupe(5) and Peppers(4), it was a little much for tomatoes (gave a way a bunch). (the number you have living right now)
  

• March 30th was great for Watermelon, pumpkin, cucumbers,cantaloupe, peppers and tomatoes, it was a little early for the beans (they grow fast and are need trellis, before it is time to plant outside) Try April 15th for beans.

• The cold vegetables did great outside (onions, carrots, radishes ) when planted sometime the beginning of April (try wide rows next year) (the lettuce grew but who knows if it will bolt now that the weather is warming up- maybe better in the house?)

• Start collecting butter dishes, sour cream dishes, and the like in January, the 16 oz cups did well, but the plants you put into bigger dishes did much better... and can stay longer
  

• The milk jugs you kept for heat caps can also be used for containers for bigger plants.

• We put them out on the front porch starting may 13th and plan on planting them on the 23rd(weather permitting). -they have stayed outside over night a few times and done fine!
  

• We are planting the corn outside tonight (try starting corn inside next year- last year it didn't work)

• The branches you cut off of the tree when pruning in the spring work great to help stabilize the beans and tomatoes!

• Buy (2) 40 lb bags of walmart potting soil next year... for all the transplanting.
  

3 months

Yep. I flew out of Boise Sunday afternoon, by myself, no car seat, no strollers, no children to loose. I have to say flying is much less stressful without children (still not my favorite way to travel, but much better!) had a small layover in Portland and then flew on to San Jose, the flights weren't bad, just loud small planes. Got into San Jose and got to hang out with some family (and family of family) got to stay up late reading my book, didn't have to change any diapers or feed any body but myself (very weird... and on mothers day!) Then I made my way to Stanford Cancer Center (the smell still bugs me) I went to the blood draw (I was fasting, made it hard to get a vein) so I was stuck twice, then I went the CT scan, ok.. probably the weirdest test I have ever had (and that is saying something) they injected this iodine based stuff into the IV and it gave you a hot flash and then made you feel like you peed your pants (not a good feeling when you are laying on a table and you can't move.. oh and don't swallow!) they had to do it twice, one to get a picture of my chest the next one was of my neck, then I could finally eat! I was able to go visit some of the nurses who gave me my Chemo (the one's that REALLY take care of you) Then I meet with Dr. Hoppe my radiologist and they couldn't find any "lumps or bumps" and they read the scan it came back clear! So at this point I only need scans once a year, but I still go back every three months, nest time is a chest x-ray(no big deal) and then I will probably meet with Dr Advani (my oncologist)... Then I flew back! So, here is to another clean three months!

Happy Mothers Day!

To MY MOM who held my hand through, tests, blood draws, chemo, radiation, frustrations, tears, moving, recuperating, nauseousness, weight gain, weight loss, boredom, and smiles! (and that was just this year!) Thanks for all that you have done, Mom! You are one heck of an example to me! (now we can hope and pray that my kids turn out half as good as your did)

And so it begins...

So you all told me to read the book, so I did, borrowed it from a friend and lets just say I called her less than 24 hours later to see if she had the next book (I think it is cruel and unusual punishment to put the first chapter of the next book at the end of the old book.. just rude!) after a couple more phone calls I found the second book and I finished it this morning. I usually don't read much any more, specifically for this reason, I tend to shut out the world until I am sufficiently satisfied I know what is going to happen in the book, this is bad for my children who still need assistance in everything that they do. Have to stop reading long enough to feed and change children (gasp!) is the pits, so I usually stick with books I know by heart (harry potter) so that we all can be happy. I can't remember the last time I started a new book, and now I remember why. I actually haven't gone over to get book number three so that I can do my dishes and spend time with my kids... I seriously am the best mom in the world!...lol (or the worst, depending on how you look at it!)