Thursday, August 21, 2008

We're Still Here

We have always been here but, alas, the computers haven't. I must be the only person in the galaxy who ignored the "renew your subscription now" messages from my computer security. The infection was terrible! We were without for about three weeks and we went through major withdrawal. Thankfully we're up and running because with a college student and two high school juniors we really needed to be able to access the Internet.

Allison and Emily are back in school as juniors. Gasp and cool at the same time. I don't remember enough physics, I never took calculus, I don't speak Spanish but I do feel qualified to help them with music, history and English. Michael is knee deep in upper biology and other stuff I can't remember right now. They are all adjusting to their new schedules. With the Democratic Nat'l. convention here next week Michael won't have classes for a week. His campus is across the street from the convention center, the Pepsi Center, and across a large parking lot from Mile High. Too much for the city to handle with 24,000+ students trying to get in there too.

Christopher is happy and bossy. He's not really but he has to remind me often of things I told him I'd send or take care of. He sounds terrific in his e-mails and letters. I love his little quirk of writing with a Bic 4 ink color pen. When he addresses different members of the family he changes ink color. Kind of weird like his Mom. He tells us he had a terrific 20th birthday and was well taken care of. We had fun looking for things to send in his package that were in 8's or could be construed as multiples or factors of 8 (he being born on 8-8-88 and having his 8-8-08). Miss him!

Well I have to go curl "the old woman's" hair (it is an endearment, really, ask me sometime). Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of blogging.

Friday, July 25, 2008

This defines me!

Allison gave me the best laugh ever! She was reading jokes from a magazine and said, "Hey, Mom, this is you!" The joke? "I have CDO; it's like OCD but with the letters in alphabetical order like they're supposed to be." Your daughter understanding you? Priceless.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Post ye diligently

We think our lives are mundane but I believe life is made of our perceived little nothings. Every day we rise and ponder the lists of 'needs to be done' or 'what I really want to do.' If you have children sometimes it's about what they want to be done. The I'm-trying-not-to-push-you-too-hard-Mom-but... I see in their eyes today is the task of hemming the edge of the shower curtain. Excepting this last step they would be cleansing with ease and efficiency in their basement bathroom, being rid of the arduous task of carrying their clean clothing to the upstairs showers. I'm going to oblige them as soon as I'm finished here.

On a personal note I'm getting a lot of organizing done which is a very relaxing thing for me. I love to clean closets, drawers and cupboards! I'm selfishly reappointing my own work space in the basement, it having been in disarray since last summer when I had to repair the drywall, plumbing and flooring. I guess you can tell how often I've done any sewing, scrapbook page making or anything else creative in that space lately. It's cathartic and allows me to be in close proximity to the video gaming or occasional gentleman-caller-over-watching-a-movie-with-me action.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to be more patient and creative while I'm trying to grow my hair out for the first time in oh so many years? %(

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Emily's Been Tagged!

Why? Well, I guess that's my mom for ya!

Joys:

1. Of course, my family because they'll play board games and card games with me!

2. I love my group of friends, especially at school because we'll do the musical together and they always are able to keep me entertained!

3. Video games are the best because they keep me entertained when no one else wants to play with me.

Fears:

1. I hate being in the dark when I'm in a big open area! I just feel like there's someone behind me!

2. I also are very nervous around strangers like when we're at the store and mom asks us to go and get something for her. I'm really protective of my sister and I don't trust anybody! Yeah, I'm the best sister in the world!!

3. I also, like my mom, get scared for my family! I don't want anyone to get hurt or killed.

Goals:

1. Of courseI'd like to graduate from high school first with the highest GPA possible! I'm not trying to brag but I currently have a GPA of about 3.9!!

2. After that I'd love to go to BYU Provo and then of course graduate from there.

3. I just wish that I'll be lucky to find a guy that will marry me and then start a family!

Obssesions/Collections:

1. RPG's!! For those of you who don't know that means Roll Playing Games. Yes, video games! I love them.

2. I also like to find sheet music on the internet and then learn to play that song on my keyboard in my room! I have currently learned how to play The Office Theme Song!

3. I have also tried to get as much technology in my room as possible! I have a PS1 in there as well as a Sega Genesis and a DVD/VCR player and of course a TV! And as you saw above I also have a keyboard! It's pretty tricked out yo! I don't really speak like that, sorry!

Random/Surprising Facts:

1. My mommy says that I have freakishly good hand-eye coordination.

2. I'm also (back to video games!) really good at Guitar Hero without trying! Now when I play competitively (did I spell that right?) with my siblings I have to play left handed to make it fair! In case you didn't know, I'm right handed!

3. I can't turn left!! :( (Question: What movie is that from?)

Monday, July 21, 2008

... I've been Tagged!

Kami, thank you so much!? Now I have to actually think :* I'm supposed to post my three greatest Joys, Fears, Goals, Current obsessions/collections and surprising random facts. Here goes:

Joys. Maybe they will sound like everyone else's.
1. My testimony. No matter what has ever happened to me I've never been alone. I know my Father in Heaven and my Savior know me, love me and are always there for me.
2. My family. I don't know what I would do without my loving husband, my lovely and challenging children and my awesome parents and siblings. For better or worse they've made me what I am today.
3. My world. All inclusive; my home, my garden in progress, my callings(?), my friends, music,...

Fears.
1. Things that may go bump in the dark. I cannot be the last person to leave a room at night with the darkness behind me. I cannot kneel by my bed because something may grab me or sneak up behind me and get my feet. My sweet, older brothers were good at what they did.
2. MICE!!! From the time I was small I saw snakes, lizards, spiders and all the creepy crawlies of Arizona. We moved to a farm in Idaho and it only took one event; putting my shoe on to find a living rodent already there and pulling it out with my bare hands. We had a mouse in our home a few years ago and if I heard it I would be on the couch afraid to put my feet on the floor unless I was on the phone with someone, usually Steve, Mom and Dad or Marianne. My family, Mom included, takes great delight in teasing me about this even to the point of army crawling up behind me and lightly tickling my foot.
3. Something happening to my family. I've had recurring nightmares of a disaster befalling us and me being the only survivor.

Goals.
1. To continue substituting this year and that leading to a full time position.
2. Doing a good job raising my family.
3. Losing weight... sadly a necessity for far too long. Now, today, I noticed I've lost 8 pounds since the end of camp. As soon as I noted that Michael assured me that the scale isn't reliable and it often weighs him too light. Thanks, son.

Current obsessions or collections.
1. A clean house, always, although it's hard to achieve. I'm hoping to restore my "Pine Sol" house status someday.
2. Certain television shows: Project Runway, Top Chef, The Office, and 24.
3. Strange and varied collections include office supplies, clocks, nativity sets, movies and classic books. I'm stopping here.

Random Surprising Facts.
1. The femur is the largest bone in the body, averaging 1.36" in thickness.
2. A man who is termed polyorchid has three testicles... oh, ABOUT me. Anyone who has played Trivial Pursuit with me knows I've a freakish knowledge of things and I don't know where the knowledge has come from
1. I'm kind of obsessive compulsive about weird things like lining up my M&M's in rainbow order in a graph and eating them to equal numbers, having to have all cupboards and drawers fully closed and having three tiers of spices on a riser in my kitchen in ascending order, alphabetically of course, from primary, secondary and tertiary order of use. I also alphabetize lots of things. It's my order in a world of chaos.
2. My pinkie fingers, at the last knuckle, bend back towards my other fingers at almost a 45 degree angle. I inherited this recessive gene from my Father's Mom.
3. I have a really good memory. It serves me well, like in the games mentioned above, but it really annoys my family. They say I never forget anything but then I'm told I remember things incorrectly, especially if it makes them wrong. Helen is alternately really proud and really annoyed with this.

Another big thanks to Kami for making this possible. I'm tagging Allison, Emily, Rachel, Brittany and Annie. Alli and Em, use our blog... Rache and Britt, use your Mom's. Annie, I'll be watching yours! Let's see if they've got what it takes!

Patiently waiting to read the rest of the TaG lines, Gena

The Birthday Boys

Happy birthday, Dean and Richard! Sixty and Fifty eight? Not in my eyes. The pictures above are on the wall in my house and they remind me of my youth... monsters, scary faces outside the bedroom window, scooby rah... you know, the happy times.

Lots of Love from your youngest sister, who will always remain younger, Klinky

Dean and Renda Visit Arvada

Dean and Renda's visit was a whirlwind tour. There was a lot of laughing, Farkle, Phase 10, Boggle and visiting. Mom made sure there was an abundance of peanuts, cashews and Hershey's miniatures. Emily, who was the designated driver of the shopping trip, made sure I had peanut M&M's, Reese's Pieces and was instrumental in finding the Hershey's miniatures. Helen really wanted them... "they are Dean's favorite." She also heard him mention cookies so there were about six dozen chocolate chip cookies all over my kitchen. To those who aren't aware of this pay attention... Helen takes suggestions very seriously!

Arthur and Renda,I LOVED having you here! And big brother, Charlie really misses playing with you.

Love to all!!! Gena

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Elder Christopher Faria

Currently serving in the New Hampshire Manchester Mission, I realized that Chris was not represented on our family's blog. I've posted what I hope are a good representation of his time in Maine and New Hampshire. You'll notice the smiles and smirks on his face? Classic Chris!