This is the Place!

On July 24th 1847, Brigham Young led a rag tag group of Pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley. It is well documented that he rose from his fever stricken bed in the back of a wagon and said,

"This is the right place"

Thousands upon Thousands followed and the Salt Lake Valley thrived with the faith, hope and determination of the myriad pioneers that came across the plains and the Atlantic.

Today we celebrate our heritage and I think about my grandparents that made the sacrifice to practice their religion. I'm proud of my pioneer roots.

In Utah and Idaho (where my family comes from)

They have BIG HUGE PARADES, FIREWORKS,THE OSMONDS

IT's a big deal

And that's how the Mormons up north roll.

However, here in the deep south, we celebrate Pioneer Day a little different.

While Brigham Young's words are well documented, a lesser known tradition was born that day.

Apparently the morning of the 24th the Bishopric got up early and made pancakes for everyone and all the women and children had to do was get ready to eat by 8 am.

And that's how we roll.

Thanks for the good food and good times this morning.

Oh and A Huge Thanks to

Grandma and Grandpa Ward

Grandma and Grandpa John

Grandma and Grandpa Bright

For doing all they could do which led to me having it real easy to grow up and beleive in this church- that they literally toiled over.

Happy Pioneer Day.

Toy Story three

Dreamweaver

I realize we are Johnny Come Latelies on this.

But we went today.

I'm still VERY TEARY EYED.

Usually Disney gets me with a dead mom or dog, but this time it was thinking about my precious little guy leaving for college in a brief six years.

Just before it got sad, Joely decides she wants to sit by Alice so David was in the seat with me all snuggled up when I started to bawl- true sobbing you know CHEST HEAVING and all. David was wondering if I was ok and I told him it was sad.

I just kept thinking about all the many firsts I had with the little dude and how once he goes off to college he'll have plenty of firsts but none will have me in it

WAH WAH WAH

He was sweet and held me tight.

Hey what are Alice and Quentin doing sitting next to each other?
Mr. Oil and Ms. Water?

HUH?

Well on Monday they were at each others throats until I made them go into their rooms until they could get along.

I figured they'd still be there.

These two can literally disagree on anything.

For instance They fought over who will win the Final Jam, Alice says it will be Camp Rock and Quentin says Camp Star.

Clearly Quentin knows "aint no way in a manger" a Jonas Brother will lose, so he's just doing it to "offend and insult" (her words) Alice. I'll be honest that one irritated me, I mean come on-

Who doesn't love Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers?

But I digress--Back to Monday

Robert, David, Joely and I left for scouts and told them they still needed to work it out.

They joined together against us and right now we are all enjoying a temporary cease-fire.

Alice called us while we were gone and said,

"You should leave us together alone more often, we played board games"

Most likely they complained about their parents a lot and played a little,

Whatever works.

Cheese Joely.

She didn't like the previews-

"TOO LOUD"

But she enjoyed the show and the popcorn and even Mr. Pibb

(they didn't have the Doctor at the AMC Theater)

Oh yeah, why do I have Barbie and Ken up there?

Because true love wins in the end.

He Lives All Glory to His Name

Tonight I was able to attend, yet another, wonderful inservice meeting. Our leader, President Pomeroy is the Church Education System Director for the Houston Area. Each month he meets with us and gives us ideas, insights and a spiritual boost.

Tonight's lesson was about the Apostle Richard G. Scott and his powerful address about the Atonement of Christ. President Pomeroy provided us each with a a transcript of the talk and asked us to read and ponder the following questions:

1. Reasons why it is important to understand and rely on the teachings and atonement of Jesus Christ.

2. New Insights you receive from Elder Scott's teachings

3. His suggestion for ways we can better understand and appreciate the atonement.

It was wonderful to read and ponder and I was amazed what I learned and reviewed. I encourage you to listen to the talk or read the transcript here

And if you are interested here is what I learned.

1. Reasons why it is important to understand and rely on the teachings and atonement of Jesus Christ.

1. "He opened the path wehereby each of Heavenly Father's children born to earth would have the opportunity to rise from death to live again"
2. While speaking of the Resurrection Elder Scott said, " What a glorious moment that morning was for all who understood the significance."
3. "we realize that what He has willingly done with immense suffering and sacrifice will affect us not only in this life But throughout all eternity"
4. "Jesus Christ Lives, He is our Redeemer. He is a glorious, resurrected being. He has the capacity to communicate love that is so powerful, so overwhelming as to surpass the capacity of the human tongue to express adequately."

New Insights I received from this particular Teaching of The Apostle Richard G. Scott

1. "How our Father in Heaven must have rejoiced that sacred day when His totally obedient, completely worthy Son shattered the chains of death." I guess I had never considered the rejoicing that took place..This has always been to me part of the plan, so I thought about it as kind of a business as usual thing instead of something the Father rejoiced in. I got chills when I imagined the happiness in the heavens as a result of the Saviors Sacrifice.
2. while speaking of your own personal witness of the Atonement Elder Scott said,"They must be more than principles you memorize. They must be woven into the very fiber of your being as a powerful bulwark against the rising tide of abomination that infects our world" I had to ask what a bulwark was, it is the part of the ship that keeps the water out. The powerful imagery that comes from the phrase "infects our world" really shook me. What an wonderful promise though that our personal knowledge (which leads to action) of our Savior and his sacrifice will keep out the evils of our day.
3. While referring to Second Nephi chapter 2 verses 6 and 7 Elder Scott said, "That scripture indicates that for the proud and haughty, it is as though there never were an Atonement made" Proud and Haughty? whooooaaaa- that includes me a million times over. What a scary statement, that is is if the Atonement never occur ed.
4. "When we break a law there is nothing left over from prior obedience to satisfy the demands of justice for that broken law" Again, whoa! How many times have thought or even said out loud---"well I did this and this and this, so I'm going to slide on that" or though, "I've served enough, now I can rest on my laurels"
   I guess I've always known those thoughts were inconsistent with my knowledge of Heavenly Father's plan (specifically read the address of King Benjamin regarding our debt to the Lord) but to hear an apostle declare it really gave me a "rude awakening"
5. "None of us can ever adequately appreciate the mortality the full beneficial consequences of the Atonement" I was glad to read this. There is so much I get frustrated with and I need to remember that I won't be able to understand everything during this mortal state. In the next life when the all of mankind is revealed and our memories are open, I'll better understand the complexities of today. For now to quote the Young Woman Anthem, "I walk by Faith".
6. Another wonderful Apostolic promise given "As parents, prepare your children for the challenges they will encounter. Teach them truth, encourage them to live it, and they will all right no matter how severely the world is shaken" They will be all right, I can't think of anything more that I wish for my little family than that they will be all right.
7. "In Time we will be released from all other assignments we receive but not from that of father and mother" WOW!!! Again, not really a new concept, because Families can be Forever, but I never thought so much that all the other assignments will come and go. It makes the admonition "NO other success can compensate for Failure in the home" all the more meaningful.

Elder Scott's suggestions for ways we can better understand and appreciate the atonement.

1. "Strive to Understand more about it"
2. "I believe that it is instructive to try to imagine what the Atonement required of both the Father and willing Son"
3. "I energetically encourage you to establish a personal study plan "
4. "Profound Personal Pondering of the scriptures accompanied by searching, heartfelt prayer"
5. "Consistent Temple attendance"
6. "the best way to make a permanent change for good is to make Jesus Christ your model and His teachings your guide for life"
7. "repent of improper choices and to conquer the negative effects of a life contrary to His teachings."
8. "Qualify by obedience"

I am so grateful for tonight's lesson and for the time and effort President Pomeroy puts into each inservice meeting. Tonight made me want to be diligent in studying the words of the living prophets and pondering their message. I know they speak the will of the Lord.

Bueller, Ferris Anyone, Anyone?

The boys and I stayed up late on Thursday Night watching a couple of classic

80's movies on Turner Classic movies.

We watched the end of Sixteen Candles and all of Ferris Bueller (until the very end part where Cameron goes a little nuts and the car goes flying out of the amazing glass garage in a forest in Chicago-- I thought that might get a bit intense plus the whole Charlie Sheen/Ferris' Sister thing I deemed inappropriate for nearly 11 and 12 year olds)

But I digress.

They loved Farmer Ted and his "clean close shaves."

I had to explain head gear. (orthodontists, anyone, anyone- do they still do head gear?)

I pointed out John Cusack, and told them how when I met their sweet Dad that I thought he looked like John Cusack.

They collectively rolled their eyes and said, "ya we remember"
(I guess they've heard all my stories)

They also recognized his voice, but couldn't place it. I'm guessing it's from IGOR, which I didn't' see, but found out he was the lead voice.

I enjoyed staying up late and sharing these flicks with them. I loved that They BOTH Cracked up during the parade scene, when the garage employees took off in the Ferrari. I loved that they thought Ferris was a genius to rig his room with the mannequin and the synthesiser. David acted like he was taking notes when Ferris was explaining how to fake a good sick day. During 16 candles they giggled during the wedding scene, they enjoyed long dong duck and realized that they played the silly "Chinese sounding" music whenever they said his name. I'll admit to being proud that all day yesterday Quentin kept repeating this scene when mr. Rooney is at the arcade and he asks the guy behind the counter about the Cubs gain

Mr. Rooney "what's the score"

Guy behind the counter"nothing- nothing"

Mr. Rooney "whose winning?"

Guy Behind the Counter "The Bulls"

But I was a bit nervous, because there were parts that I had overlooked that can get inappropriate, but I (hope) that it went over their heads and they were so busy laughing at the girl who thought she had to cut her hair off instead of just open the door, to realize she was beyond drunk.
In the movie she says something like, "Help me out I'm your prom queen"

To which David responded, "what has that got to do with anything?"

I laughed.

While watching and repeating these movies from memory I was transported back in time to my senior year--back to the Salad Days of my youth-- and I'm dating myself here, for those of you who I thought I was in my early 30's-

It was August 1997.

That's when my old friend Danielle made her triumphant reentry into Colorado Springs.

She returned tanned, rested and ready for senior year.

We had so much fun, their were sooo many "best" times that I can't really order them

but the most memorable was our love for these hilarious movies.

While getting ready for school, instead of listening to the radio, we both (at our separate houses)

had the movies in the VCR.

There was a time we could have acted out every scene, and she probably still can, and if we were together I know I could still do it.

She Had the secretary from Ferris Bueller, spot on, with her imitation.

Other movies we quoted

1. Breakfast Club (demented and sad but social)

2. Pretty in Pink (he's nursing some serious emotions)

3. Top Gun (I feel the need, the need for speed)

4. Some kind of wonderful, (your bleep is too precious for vinyl)

5.Grease (this is senior year and we are gonna rule the school)

6. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (just eating some pizza and learning about Cuba)

7. Princess Bride (my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die)

8. Dirty Dancing (Nobody puts Baby in the corner)

I'm sure I'm missing a slew of the movies we loved.

I miss my high school friends. I didn't end up near any of the people I loved back then. Although, I love connecting with them on facebook and through e-mail, but sometimes I get really JEALOUS that they and their families are having fun with other people and not knowing me or my family.

It's much easier now to keep in touch with the miracle of the Internet and cell phones.

When I moved away from Danielle, Tiffany and Jo (the three besties who I actually consistently kept in touch with) we had to correspond with letters and stamps and we had to pay outrageous phone bills to keep in touch--but we did and I'm so grateful for that. But a day doesn't go by that I don't miss them and wish we were, maybe not back at Doherty High School, but close enough to meet at the park or go catch a chick flick, scrapbook, or be in a book club together-- and have over for birthday parties, holidays, etc.

I am blessed with wonderful friends wherever I've lived, but you know those besties you have in your senior year, well words can't explain them.

For sure the actions of high school, don't define you, (thank heavens)

but your friends do help to define who you'll be and I'm glad I had the great ones I had and that they are still just a click or phone call away.

Two Thumbs Down

Joely is giving up the thumb

And it's hard.

So last night she kept asking ever so sweetly,

"Are you sure I can't use my thumb?"

and I kept telling her no, but to use her blankie for comfort.

She finally wrapped the blue blanket around her head and went to sleep.

This morning she cried for her thumb and kept looking at it.

It's going to be a rough two weeks for her, but she can do it.

I do hate hearing her cry for something that she loves,

I'm sure this is one of the life lessons that will make her stronger,

If it doesn't just kill her.

Fireworks

This is about the light the sky kind of fireworks

and not a description of my ongoing love affair with Robert.

After all it's a family friendly blog-

Here is what we did on the 4th in Baytown.

We hang at the Former MHMR (mental health and mental retardation) building

now the Harris Cty Health clinic parking lot.

We are not about the crowds,

We don't roll that way.

I rarely can get a good picture of the actual fireworks, but this wasn't too bad.

How could they have more fun?

I know it's hard to imagine anymore fun than seeing Eclipse, going to a parade and shopping at Hobby Lobby, but noooo our fourth o july fun did not end there.

Saturday we headed out to Uncle Rex's to check out the new pool and have some lunch.

As always, there was plenty of food, hamburgers, hot dogs, chili, chips, sodas, you name it and it was there! YUMMY

Her Royal Higness Alice, kept mentioning how cold she was, until Uncle Rex turned on the Hot Tub, and then she was able to relax and not be cold. This little cutie with her is Uncle Bo and Aunt Tessie's niece. They came out too, it was a lot of fun.

The pool, it now has a deck around it- Gosh they move quick!

And farm fresh eggs. David and Quentin gathered these at Uncle Rex's chicken coop.
He has 10 adult chickens and 12 babies- but no roosters.

David declared, "It reeks in there"

Apparently it smelled like Chicken Poop in the Coop.

We Missed Aunt June- hopefully she'll be back from Corpus Soon.

And More fun...

After the parade the kids thought they were on their way home.

HA HA HA HA

When I told them we were headed to Hobby Lobby,

nobody complained, because they thought it was a joke.

And the joke was on them

Because we went to

HOBBY LOBBY.

According to David, "it's the least happiest place on earth"

When we pulled into the parking lot, the boys were still in denial.

Only Joely was singing the "Hobby Lobby Song"

which sounds somewhat like Spongebob's C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E S-O-N-G Song.

I needed the exact right color of red to go with some baby shower invites, due the next day.

Alas they were out, so I made do with some other papers, but I had to take their picture.

To which Quentin said, "Really mom? I am in my uniform."

To which David replied, "Don't fight it, you know it's for her blog."

To their relief, I really did just go in for paper and not to browse the merchandise.

And to make it up to them, we had Chick Filet for lunch.

Chick Filet (or Chickolaid as Joely says it) is the best way to show your gratitude for children behaving in a place like Hobby Lobby.

More fourth fun to come, right now I'm being called back to battle Mario Karts.

Fourth of July Weekend Fun!

The weekend started on Friday Night. After Houston was soaked to the rim with the outer bands of the Hurricane, the rain left and we had great weather for the weekend.

Friday night I went to a late showing of Eclipse with Holly and her fam. It was wonderful, I liked it sooo much. If you you don't remember, I HATED the New Moon movie. But Eclipse was wonderful, It had everything I needed, shirtless werewolves, awesome vamp fights and I now have another convert in the "Bella needs to be shot, not made into a vampire" group. She irritated Holly too! LOL

So that was Friday Night!

Great time, and I can't wait to get the video and watch it again and again and then one more time.

So what says 4th of July better than a Crosby Parade?

(if you look close you can see Quentin- I couldn't get this mom to move, and she's with the Sherrif's department so I didn't want to remove her by force)

This year the parade fell on July 3rd, which was pretty good scheduling, if you ask me.

And we really don't feel right about attending a parade without the Loves.

And thanks David for joining us. He did eventually come out to help pick up candy, after just "one more level, then I can save it."

More activities to come- but I'll publish this for now.

Rainy Summer Days

Our new obsession is GLEE

Through the miracle of Netflix the girls and I have watched the first 10 episodes.

We laugh and I sometimes cry.

But mostly we are singing the songs and Dancing.
Alice is awesome at interpretive dancing.

Watching videos is a great way to waste a way a RAINY

RAINY week in SE Texas.

My tan is diminishing...

Joely has been taking some extra naps.

Not pictured is Quentin, I didn't want to risk waking him with the flash

But yesterday he slept until three pm.

When he woke up he declared,

"I'm hungry and my head hurts."

Just showing you her healthy lunch.

Turkey Sandwhich with mustard cheese and lettuce and

instead of chips, tomatoes, carrots and green peppers to munch on.

Love my little VEGAN

My friend posted this link about ten reasons why having a toddler is like being at a frat party.

And my favorite entry was #9- there is always a girl in the corner crying her eyes out.

Robert was appalled I took this picture, he shook his head and said,
"her timeout is not for your enjoyment"

Joely is getting a little cabin fever and she's been throwing things at Alice like

HARD WOOD BLOCKS, Alice's PET ROCK, Barbies, really anything that can be an effective weapon, even her blankie can cause pain.

So we started the nose in the corner because ANY other punishment ends in her laughing at us.

So this is how you find David, playing Xbox live and chatting while he kills Zombies in Left for Dead 2. He can't wait to get "Naughty Bear"
Which is a sweet little video game about a Teddy Bear that doesn't get invited to the party and goes on a killing rampage.

Cute- thank you deranged game developer.

David has fun though, he explains that he understand that violence isn't the answer, that the bloodshed isnt' real and when real people get shot/maimed/etc. they can't pick up a backback with a red cross on it and get healed instantly.

He's grounded in reality.

For now we wait for the storms to pass before we can see the light of day again and we are REALLY looking forward to Robert being home for three days in a row!

GOOD TIMES

So What's up with David?

Proof that he loves me.

His grandma had been wondering so here is what he's been doing..

1. Playing Xbox 360 Live (he's got the gold membership- sweetmamak is the gamer name)


2. Sleeping Late due to staying up all night playing against Travis on Xbox live



3. Working on his personal hygeine (I went Swimming, why do I need to shower?)


4. Running. ( He had run one 5k and one 1K and is in training for his next one)
   



5. Finishing up his Tenderfoot Requirements- Just the pesky knots are left





6. Swimming
   
   One month of summer down and he's had a blast. He and Quentin spent a week at South Padre Island with Rob's parents. He's stayed with Travis and has some friends stay here. He's been swimming at least 5 times a week and he goes running and is working on his Fitness Merit Badge. He's up to 100 situps and 20 pushups. He finally was able to do one pull up, he's been working on that since April. Last night he got proficient in his knot tying, so at our next troop meeting he'll get one final test and should be able to have his board of review for his Tenderfoot. He completed his Weather MErit Badge, and next week after his Dental Exam he'll have his Dentistry merit badge and he's pretty close to getting his fingerprinting one. But like he says, just one month and 24 days of freedom left. He plans on making it all count.

The Stuff of Nightmares

Robert, Precious Robert, says, "It wouldn't hurt you to fill in the hole that YOUR dog dug up"

so I thought, "Sure I'd rather fill it in than have Truffles chew through the water pipe"

But while I was shoveling, I had the uncanny feeling that I was being watched.

And being watched, I was.

By 8 beady eyes.

So Robert, You are wrong, It could really hurt me to fill in the hole.

The thing moved along it's web, all the while looking at me, wanting to capture me in its delicate web.

I did notice that there were several mosquitos squirreled away for its breakfast.

I shall call it Charlotte and it will save us from swarms of pests.

That is until Hurricane Alex makes landfall anyway.

All-Star Dad

The votes have been tallied and Robert has been honored with a place on the

Dad's All-Star Team.

He won by a landslide, and now he has the T-Shirt to prove it.

Quentin handcrafted this gift, an iron on of

"My old business partner Bob Marley"

That "quote" is from an episode of Foster's home for Imaginary Friends

Which was quite frankly, one of the best cartoons ever made.

Curse you Cartoon Network for taking it off the air.

We all love the music of Bob Marley- thanks to the indoctrination by dear old Dad.

My favorite is "Don't worry about a thing"

And he's not just awesome with our kids, this is Robert helping Mya put the animals back in the right spot. Mya has spent enough time with me to know that I normally ignore children's request for help with toys. She went immediately to Robert, who gladly stopped what he was doing to help her.

By the way, these awesome toys came courtesy of Robert's Great Uncle Gene- It's kind of hard to envision how awesome they are by this picture, but the animals and dinosaurs are amazing, they are heavy duty and they have this neat ledge that has places for every animal/dinosaur. Uncle Gene and his sister Grandma Dorothy find the most amazing toys.

This is at Michael's Making the All Star Dad shirt.

The Michael's lady wasn't real interested in children doing their own craft.

In fact she only let the kids do their hand print, but even that was done by her standards.

As you can see her perfectly manicured hands were pressing down on Alice's hands.

Joely allowed the lady to help her too, but reluctantly. What the lady did not know is that Joely can do ANYTHING by HERSELF.

This is her bored, because after we washed the paint off, we came back and the lady had done the rest of the painting, when I asked if the girls could at LEAST paint their names on, she agreed to allow Alice to do it, but "not the other one, because you have to be at least six"

This is Alice, although she normally likes to do her own art, she let the Michael's lady have her own way. She had met us there because she was staying with Emily.
I'm glad we got to do it, but I really think that Baytown Michael's should not put the anal retentive lady on Kids Craft Detail.

So now let me tell you about Mr. Wonderful.

He's such a great dad. Originally he wanted a new grill, but the forces of evil conspired against me when I went to purchase it. So he said, "well go on Saturday and find the perfect one"

Well on Saturday we "donated" $285.00 to the Crosby Youth Football League so Quentin could play football and Alice could be a cheerleader.
Robert decided the grill could wait until maybe Labor Day Sales.

I'm excited about football again.
Quentin (and I as a crazed football mom) had such a great time last season.

I know this year will be even more fun--

Who knows maybe I'll get political and try and get on the football board!

I digress-

Robert, this is about Robert.

He works hard and never complains about his commute or job.

(and I know the commute is HORRIBLE- for those of you in the know, we live on the east side of Houston and he works on the west side at 290 near Hollister)

He's always willing to stop and play with the kids.

He's very patient with me and keeps me calm.

He makes us laugh.

Each of the kids feels they are his favorite.

He spoils the girls rotten. (we pity their future husbands, but for now they have the confidence they'll need to make it through the tough times)

He will play Xbox with the boys and LOVES a basketball game too (real and outside)

He Agreed to be the Scout troop treasurer and even let me buy him a shirt.

He is my BFF!

Ace is the Place

We moved here almost four years ago.

And one of the first shops Robert went to was Ace Hardware.
We dont' remember what it was he needed (keys copied, somethign for the lawn mower?)

Anyhoo for some reason the service was bad.

So we decided to boycott.
Well this week we needed some air filters and a drain auger and I just didn't

feel like Driving 15 miles to Baytown or 13 miles to Atascocita,(to the Lowes) so I stopped into

Ace Hardware.
Much to my suprise they were awesome and friendly and gave us a great deal on the air filters

(buy a box of 12 but only pay for 10)

So now that we can't remember why we were boycotting them, I'm now a fan.

Definatly had the "friendly hardware man"

Today the girls and I had lunch with Arcalee and then swam for about 3 hours at the pool with Kristen Nelson and Kaitlyn.

It was a fun fun day.
We first met Kristen and Kaitlyn 4 years ago at "cheer kingdom" the girls were just 3 and 4 and Alice didn't cheer the whole year, but I would ALWAYS run into Kristen in and around Crosby.

Then this spring I was at a Girl Scout Leader Meeting and there she was again and we camped with them at Lake Livginston and I'm glad to get to know her for real.

The girls had a blast and so did I.

Also since Kristen is "from crosby" she knows everyone or at least their brother and so its fun to learn about everyone she went to high school with and she also was one of my mother in law's students, "back in the day"

With the exception of the Ace hardware picture, I forgot to take any other photos- silly me.

Again I can't wait to see the boys tomorrow.
They called and had been on a pirate cruise, Life is good for the Mullens Boys.

Oh and I cooked a pork tenderloin tonight.
It was yummy and easy and well healthy too! (I seasoned it with Tony's and cooked it for 30 minutes ina 475 oven- a variation of a Rachel Ray recipe)

I also made this Giant Green Salad

I got the recipe from my friend Rebecca Jones Food Blog (you can find her on "keeping up with the Jones" ont he side of this blog- I digress)

I was real excited to make the salad, because it's her recipe that's printed in a Taste of Home issue, she's a food editor. But like most things I don't read the directions all the way through.
When I was cutting up the lettuces I thought, man this sure calls for a lot, then I read the directions for the dressing and I thought Holy COW- that's a lot of oil- and then I read the bottom- Serves 85!!! 85 Ay Caramba, and then I considered the title, "GIANT" green salad- so then I giggled and cut the recipe down to about 1/5- It made me think of the cookbook Adrienne, Heather, Jenny, Breezy and I put together one night for our old Memorial Park Ward, there was a recipe in it called Manwacos that served 106 --we giggled so much that night.

Anyhoo Alice and I loved the salad sooo much that we'll make it again and at my next Church Dinner we will make the whole recipe and serve 85 of our closest friends!

Have a great night.

More of Camp Alice and Joely

See how cute they can be?
We had Emily with us and then we picked up Anoi, Keegan and Mya to come see the
"Jack and the Beanstalk" play at the community center.

By just getting there 20 minutes early the kids got to sit on the front row- woo hoo. They were as good as GOLD during the performance. When we checked in the volunteer asked if I was a day care center. That just made me laugh, because the answer is no, but I did bring 6 kids with me.

This is Joely's favorite part, the refreshments.

For the craft they let the kids plant a bean sprout. Very cute. Another fun thing is it's run by the senior volunteers, and they always say how cute my kids are and that makes me want to go back. You always see some strange people, and I can't help but eavesdrop-- so naturally I have a good time too- LOL

Afterwards we went to the Pool and had fun, however we went a little late and around four o clock it was inundated with teens, scantilly clad, and a lot of parents so we have to get there early enough to leave by three, the kids don't like a crowd---where do they get that from?

Today will be fun too, Lunch with Miss Arcalee-FINALLY I dont' even remember the last time we got together.

And tomorrow the boys have their triumphant re-entry into Crosby.
They've been missed.

More Summer Fun, starring Joely and Alice and featuring Emily

With the boys away, we thought it would be the perfect time for

a girls sleepover. This is Emily Skanks one of Alice's BFF's from Girl Scouts and Church.

She's super funny and the girls are very much alike.

In fact they even look quite a bit a like.

Mostly they are silly.
The boys have friends over a lot (of course not as much as they would like) but A LOT.

The difference is they are busy killing each other on Halo or Left for Dead 2, where as the girls

Did nails, played littlest pet shop, pretty ponies, barbies and their sweet Nintendo DS games. We also watched "Princess Diaries, Royal Engagement" and the girls laughed at me while I cried during the wedding scent.

Robert and I pulled out the futon couch so they could sleep unencumbered by the TV.

The boys sleep wherever they pass out, usually holding a controller in one hand.

It was a fun evening and today proves to be fun too, A play at the community center and swimming before we take Emily home tonight.

It also promises to be filled with Giggles and Silliness and quite possibly new nail polish, we'll see.

This is at Emily's house, (before the sleepover)they have the cool backyard pool, the way the picture is taken, Alice looks like a giant, but her and Emily are about the same height.

Emily has a cute little brother named Earl Jr. who is the same as little Joely, they had fun yesterday.

On the banks of the crystal clear San Jacinto River Beach.

If you are a dedicated follower, this lovely beach has been blogged about many times,

If this is your first time here, this is one of the amenities we get in our neighborhood for our

$40 a months homeowners fees.

I love the silly beach.

It's in the neighborhood, so if we get down there and I forget the cooler, it's not like anyone is going to die of starvation, we just have to cut the visit short.

Also if I feel like going to the beach but don't' want to invest a whole day, well then here we are.

LOVE IT!!!

Alice is a natural for the camera- I love this swimsuit. So many of the suits this year were hoochie mamaish, and this one is nice and modest and Alice loves it.


Again, crystal Clear.

So maybe it's not the spring fed Guadalupe, but it's in my own backyard and it is a great way to beat the heat on Mondays when the pool is closed.

And like David says, "BEST OF ALL, no lifeguards yelling, Adult Swim"