Happy Halloween..Thanks Mom B.

My Mother in-law is a Fabulous Woman. She is an amazing Mother of 6 amazing kids. She is a spiritual giant and a fun Grandma. She is an amazing Gardner and Artist to boot. One of the things I love about her the most is her willingness and ability to keep up with the times and do fun things. This morning when I opened my email this is what I found. Marlee, Ian,my Mom and I all sat laughing our heads off. What a great way to start the week. Thanks Mom B. for being the wonderful person you are. I am so lucky to have such a great Mother in-law. I love you!!!

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I Love this Time of Year...

A Few Items on My Fall "To Do" List

~Decorate for Fall

~Make homemade Applesauce

~Go to the Pumpkin Patch twice

~Finish Marlee & Ians School Scrapbooks

~Can Pears

~Plan dinner for the week each Sunday

~Make a Nature Table

~Order Bowling Reunion Photos

~Find a Good Home for the Hamster

~Put Pictures in empty frames

~Finish putting together Scrap Studio in the Garage

~Finish Quilts

~Bead 6 necklace, bracelet sets

~Fix black bookcases in living room

~Catch up on my Blog

~Organize My Closet

~Finish Family Scrap projects for Christmas

~Make Pumpkin Bread

~Take a walk with the family 3 times a week

~Take a weekend trip to Crater Lake

~Go to a West High Football Game

~Collect Leafs on a Family walk and make tracings with them

~Pick Apples

~Change the background on my blog

~Complete my Jillian Michaels~30 Day Shred

~Have a Garage Sale

~Make Choco Chip Muffins Pumpkin

~Take a weekend trip to Gold Beach

~Make Pizza Dough from Scratch

~Organize Toy Closet

~Organize Art Closet

My life is filled with "good intentions"

Why is it whenever I try to set goals to be a better blogger or keep my house more tidy I feel like I fail? It seems when I think of my life lately it feels like I am full of good intentions but I always fall short. I suppose I shouldn't be so hard on myself but dang, I wish I had more energy at the end of each day to accomplish a ton of things I can't get to while watching 16 kids.

Kids are back in school
Daycare is in full swing which includes me dropping off at 6 schools daily (multiple times a day mind you) I feel like a bus driver!
Laundry is beginning to pile up(although we finally taught the kids to sort their clothes by colors)
Ian is back in Soccer which means every Saturday there is a game
Marlee has started Orchestra and chose to play the Cello
Marlee also started Choir but the jury is still out - she isn't terribly thrilled with Choir
Doug is back in school teaching (I miss him being home with me like he is in the summer)
PTA is keeping me very busy~I do fundraising and I do the yearbook (I love it though)
The Missionaries have been frequenting our house lately for dinner-they are sweet sisters

The list doesn't even seem that overwhelming on paper but trust me-16 kids in my house on a daily basis makes all of it seem overwhelming at times. I love my daycare kiddo's but I wouldn't be honest if I didn't say I look forward to the day when I don't have to do it anymore and I can focus on just being Marlee and Ian's Mom!

Here's to crossing my fingers that I get the first day of school photos posted today! :)

Back to Blogging

It seems as though I have dropped off the face of the planet when it comes to blogging. It has been one fun filled busy summer. I am hoping this weekend to catch up on some cleaning and blogging. I hope you have all had a wonderful summer. Here's to a productive weekend and many blog posts.

Hugs :)
Charmayne

First Day of 2nd & 4th Grade

It is hard to believe how fast the kid's are growing up. It seems like just yesterday when Marlee was helping me paint her a "Big Sister" T-shirt and making a "Lil' Brother" onesie. I was ready to pop. I am so very grateful that my Father in Heaven blessed me with a beautiful, loving, kind and caring, thoughtful sweet girl. If that wasn't enough he then gave me my little man~who's fun, kind, makes me laugh and very loving. I wish I could keep them home with me forever. Since I can't I take lots of pictures. Now I need to make the time to scrapbook them. :)

My Little Man ~ 7 Yrs Old

My Baby Girl ~ 9 Yrs Old
Love how much they still love each other!
Traditional Picture~Their Getting SO BIG
Ian is in B~Pod with Senora Luna
Peace Out~He has his lower lip out not wanting me to go~aww...

Marlee is in the M~Pod (modular bld's) with Senora Perez
Marlee at her desk~no good buddies in her class this year

"CHARMAYNE-OLOGY"

***********FOODOLOGY***************
What is your salad dressing of choice? Buttermilk Ranch
What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? Anything Seafood
What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of? Cheerios
What are your pizza toppings of choice? Mushrooms and extra Cheese
What do you like to put on your toast? Butter
***********TECHNOLOGY***************
How many televisions are in your house? 3 (I like to go to sleep listening to the TV)
What color is your cell phone? Red
***************BIOLOGY******************
Are you right-handed or left-handed? Right
Have you ever had anything removed from your body? Tonsils, wisdom teeth, extra teeth, cysts, septum shaved, and two children (Marlee literally was pulled from me with forceps-she's still so stubborn too).
What was the last heavy item you lifted? Backseat to the van.
Have you ever been knocked unconscious? Yes, car accident and falling to the ground from the high bar while doing a cherry drop. (broke my ankle during that fall too)
************BULLCRAPOLOGY**************
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? Yes
If you could change your name, what would you change it to? I wouldn't-I love that my name is unique.
Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?* Never-I can't even handle pepper.
************DUMBOLOGY******************
How many pairs of flip flops do you own? 15 (I don't go thru shoes at all-I have some that are ancient but still look great)
Last time you had a run-in with the cops? Warning on my way back from UT when Marlee was three, so 2003. My Mom was arguing with the cop and I told her to shutup so I wouldn't get a ticket. I never do that and so we were silent for the next 3 hours until we both apologized to each other.
Last person you talked to? Marlee
Last person you hugged? Doug
**************FAVORITOLOGY****************
Season? Summer - I love the warmth
Holiday? Christmas
Day of the week? Friday-last day of work and a weekend to spend together as a family.
Month? July - Usually that's vacation month since Doug is a teacher
***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************
Missing someone? My real Dad
Mood? a little tired but gearing up to go to the gym when Doug get's back from his massage
What are you listening to? Daycare kiddo's playing a video game with Ian
Watching? The leafs - there is a breeze outside
Worrying about? Sharing time this Sunday and our current house we are living in
***************RANDOMOLOGY*****************
First place you went this morning? Into the bathroom
What's the last movie you saw? Sunday night Doug and I watched "Taken" with Leeam Neison
Do you smile often? Yes-even with a lot of stresses, life is good! :)
Sleeping Alone Tonight? No~Doug and I both don't sleep well if one of us isn't here
***************OTHER-OLOGY*****************
Do you always answer your phone? I used to but not so much anymore-it always rings when I busy doing something.
Its four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it? Don't know because my phone is always in the car.
If you could change your eye color what would it be? I like my blue eyes.
What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? Only fresh lemon to my Diet coke
Do you own a digital camera? Yes-love my Canon Rebel XSi but would love the new T1i
Do you have a pet fish? No~ 2 hamsters, 1 cat and 2 turtles is enough
Favorite Christmas song(s)?Silent night and Rockin around the Christmas Tree
What's on your wish list for your birthday? A trip somewhere-I'm dreaming though!!!
Can you do push ups? Not very many.
Can you do a chin up? Ha-ya right!
Does the future make you more nervous or excited? Excited-Life is a Journey and with all it's ups and downs I am grateful for my life.
Do you have any saved texts? From Doug and the kids
Ever been in a car wreck? Yes, 5 and only 1 was my fault
Do you have an accent? Not that I'm aware of.
What is the last song to make you cry? Listening to the Jr. Primary sing "Love is spoken here".
Plans tonight? Take Marlee to Girl Scouts then walk the River Bridge and get my Photography class homework done.
Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? too many times!
Name 3 things you bought yesterday. Nothing, Nothing and Nothing
Have you ever been given roses? Yes, my Hubby used to buy them for me all the time but then I told him to stop because even though I love them they die. I'd rather have something more tangible.
Current worry? Flying to Australia-I don't fly well
Current hate right now? That I'm so overweight
Met someone who changed your life? Yes, the love of my life-Doug!
How will you bring in the New Year? With my family.
What song represents you? "Your simply the best" lol-just kidding
Name three people who might complete this? Kristina, Leah, Amber
Would you go back in time if you were given the chance? Maybe-but probably not
Do you have any tattoos/piercings? Ears
Will you be in a relationship 4 months from now? Certainly hope so-we've been married for over 12 years.
Would you be a pirate? No, to dirty-I have to shower everyday!!!