The Speeds

CHELSEA RUNS ON ITUNES

2010-03-31T21:57:00.000-07:00

"Chelsea Runs" is now available on iTunes! All proceeds will be donated to the Chelsea's Light Foundation, an organization trying to push forward harsher punishments for child rapists. Please support the cause!

Mike's Interview with CBS 8 in San Diego

2010-03-12T12:35:00.000-08:00

San Clemente father writes song for Chelsea - San Diego, California News Station - KFMB Channel 8 - cbs8.com

Chelsea King Memorial Video

2010-03-11T13:53:00.000-08:00

For those of you who haven't been following the news lately, Chelsea King was a 17 year old girl from San Diego who was raped and killed last week. Her alleged attacker was a convicted sex offender (of a minor) who only served 5 years of the potential 30 year term, and was then released. My husband Paul, has teamed with his father (writer of the song), and other family members and friends to produce this song/video as a memorial for Chelsea King and her family. It is our goal to raise awareness and change child rape laws in order to keep our kids safe! Please view and let us know what you think. You can also visit www.defendchildren.com to educate yourself further on this issue. Thanks for your time and support!

Happy Birthday Bella!

2010-03-07T18:46:00.000-08:00

Prepare yourselves. It was Bella's 4th birthday this week, and we have a lot of pictures to commemorate our little girl growing up. I can't believe she's 4! As you will be able to see, Bella wanted a princess birthday complete with her Cinderella dress (made by the talented Nana Sus), her princess tiara, her sparkly princess shoes, a princess cake, and balloons, and a trip to - where else - Disneyland. Love her!

Princess Bella

If you look closely, you can actually see her tongue lifting the frosting from the cake.

Her sparkle shoes.

The partying was a little much for great-granny Freeman

Yummy!

Princess Jonah

Her favorite gift

Her second-favorite gift

Welcome to Disneyland

Nana having fun with her grand-babies on the carousel

On a horse at Disneyland = Heaven

Like Father like Son

Mom enjoying her ride

Jason being a very good sport

This picture is hilarious because they are making the exact same crooked grin

Preparing to meet the Disney Princesses

Sleeping Beauty - decidedly not asleep, as Bella kept pointing out

Jasmine

Jonah had a bit of a crush - wouldn't really leave her lap

Princess Tiana

The Fam with Nana and Papa Mike

Happy Birthday, Bella from the Happiest Place on Earth!

Brown was Boring ...

2010-03-02T13:18:00.000-08:00

Not to rub it in, but ...

2010-02-19T10:36:00.001-08:00

Happy President's Day

Fast Sunday, or very very slow?

2010-02-07T18:25:00.000-08:00

I used to really enjoy the first Sunday of every month. In the LDS faith, it's a special Sunday where you fast for two meals and then have a meeting where individuals in the congregation can get up and bear testimony of the Savior, Jesus Christ. It can be a very spiritual day.

Recently, however, our testimony meetings have been heading in a different direction.

For example, today, 30 minutes of the meeting were eaten up by people sharing, in detail, their medical conditions. Why? Why do I have to sit there with my three children crawling all over me, in an overheated building, hoping to get some iota of spiritual fulfillment, and instead be left with how to inject yourself with insulin, why the doctors at UCLA are better than those in Santa Barbara, and how "idiot" (direct quote) doctors can't diagnose a paralyzed vocal chord?

Oh, sure. THAT was uplifting.

Happy Trails To You ...

2010-01-29T15:13:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a sad day in our house. We discovered that Bella's favorite place to ride had closed (El Capitan Ranch). Needless to say, she was distraught as she worried about what would become of "her horse", Lola (not actually her's, but the white lie is much cheaper than actually owning a horse). I explained that Lola will still be living with her friends at the ranch, but we would no longer be allowed to visit her. At that point, she told me I needed to give them money. They learn young. I explained that horses cost lots of money, and I didn't have enough to buy Lola. Suddenly, she exclaimed, "I have enough money!" She then ran off to retrieve her piggy bank full of about $2.00 in change.

So cute I could die.

This is why daddys buy their little girls horses.

I got BORED, and it was my BIRTHDAY so ...

2010-01-27T18:05:00.000-08:00

I dyed my hair!

I figured I'd spend the last year of my 20's as a brunette.

Fun.

I RAN A MARATHON!!!!

2010-01-16T19:15:00.000-08:00

No, I didn't. I just felt left out.

It's a Dirty Job ... and I've Got to Do IT!

2010-01-15T20:53:00.000-08:00

I hate cleaning bathrooms. I've had to do it my whole life (well, I know I was doing it as early as middle school), and I loathe it. It's gross. It's even grosser (is that a word?) when you live with a ten year old boy. While we are on the subject, there is a reason boys are supposed to lift up the seat when they go to the bathroom. Why must they be reminded? The toilet was constructed that way for a specific purpose, and I for one, appreciate it when it is properly used.

On the other hand, I love to vacuum. It makes me so happy to see fresh vacuum tracks in the carpet. Everything seems so much cleaner and orderly with a freshly vacuumed floor. I find peace in that.

Only one resolution ...

2010-01-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

The Highlight of Christmas Break (for my kids) ...

2010-01-09T11:52:00.000-08:00

Christmas A.M.

2010-01-09T11:24:00.001-08:00

Rise and Shine Kiddies

Who's Ready to see what Santa brought?

What did you get?

Merry Christmas!

Hawaii 09

2009-12-07T12:49:00.000-08:00

Some pics from our trip ....

Bella was excited to be at the Old Lahaina Luau.

My sweet little boy.

My sweet big boy and his "sweet" shark tooth necklace.

Jason and Zeke playing in the hot-tub.

Bella showing off her pretty awesome jumper.

Matt, ever the diva, and his beautiful wife (and my favorite sister), Rachel.

Bella in her pjs with her favorite Hawaiian flower.

The house we stayed in.

Brother and sister love.

Uncle Dave hanging out with Bella in the hot-tub.

Jonah and his totally awesome teal tank top (yeah - that's Bella's)

Papa Jon enjoying some shaved ice.

Zeke and Jason also with their shaved ice.

The fam.

My honey.

Mele Kalikimaka

2009-12-01T19:41:00.000-08:00

Thanks, Papa Jon and Nana Sus, for the awesome Christmas present!

Aloha 'Oe

2009-11-16T19:50:00.000-08:00

THIS

The Best Thanksgiving Holiday EVER!

T-4 days!

Animal Activism Gone Awry

2009-11-05T11:32:00.000-08:00

Many of you know that my daughter, Bella, LOVES all animals with a fierce passion. Not just dogs and kittens, but giraffes and zebras, elephants and penguins, birds, fish, whatever; if it breathes and is not human, she adores everything about it. I am convinced that as soon as she finds out meat comes from animals, she will pledge to be a vegetarian.

Now, for my point. This morning at breakfast a nasty fly found it's way to the kitchen table. I think that flies are the most disgusting creatures alive and I hate them from the depths of my soul. They should not exist. So, naturally, I start swatting at the intruder.

All of a sudden Bella screams, "STOP!" I turn to her and ask what's wrong. This is her reply:

"He's just lost and trying to find his family. You need to leave him alone."

Are you kidding me?

Halloween 09

2009-11-02T09:45:00.000-08:00

J the "Crypt Keeper"

The Fam

Bellsy the "Nice" Witch

A few pics from Halloween. Hope you had as much candy as we did. :) Thanks Nana and Papa for taking us over to Balboa Island for trick-or-treating!

Downstairs

2009-10-28T05:05:00.001-07:00

The Office (sans Michael Scott)

Guest Room

Music Studio (Most Important Room in the House for Paul)

Kids Play Room

Back of House and Driveway

Bedrooms

2009-10-28T04:59:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad's Room with the "BabyMakertm"

The little kids room

10-year-old Jason's room

2009-10-28T04:49:00.000-07:00

When you walk up to the house, it looks alot like this...

As you walk in, the formal living room is to your right...

....and to your left is the dining room, which is attached to the kitchen (below)

1819 Santa Barbara Street

2009-10-28T04:19:00.001-07:00

This is our new front door for all the people who have wondered if we have a new home...as you can see, this one is NOT burned down to the ground.

Mama's Lil' Cowgirl

2009-10-26T12:05:00.000-07:00

He likes to wear mom's red shoes, Bella's fingernail polish, and he picked out these boots at Target the other day. Is he trying to tell me something?

Pumpkin Patch Kids

2009-10-20T16:58:00.000-07:00

So, it's been a VERY long time since I've published anything. No excuses. Just haven't done it. Anyway, we went on a preschool field trip to the pumpkin patch last week so I thought I'd put up a couple of the pics. Hopefully, I'll continue to post. Or maybe not. Unless it's Facebook, I have a feeling nobody really cares anyway.

Pictures from the Fire

2009-06-22T11:07:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a month since the fire, but this is the first chance I've gotten to download some of the pictures to give you all an idea of what our house looked like in the aftermath. Don't be too depressed, though. We are doing great and we love our new house. I will post pictures of our new house soon.

KSL News Story

2009-05-25T22:48:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are interested (and haven't already seen it) click on this link to see the story that KSL channel 5 in Utah did on our home burning down in the wildfire. It will give you an idea of what everything looks like now. I will try to post my own pictures when I get a chance. Thank you for all the love and support. We wouldn't be doing very well without all of you! http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=6493268

Our Home

2009-05-09T13:46:00.001-07:00

We have just learned that our house did not make it through the fire. We cannot get to it yet, but we have been informed that there is nothing left. I will post as I have more information. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I am sure there will be miracles that come out of this tragedy.

Update

2009-05-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

The fire spread like crazy last night. Over 30,000 people have been evacuate with another 20,000 in warning areas. Our bishop saved his home last night with the help of about 7 or 8 other brave souls from the ward and the firefighters. My last post was about our home being safe, and we are just hoping and praying that is still the case today after last night's outbreak. The fire in only 10% contained and they predict another night like last night, so keep on praying. This is the most horrific thing I have ever seen.

SAVED!!!

2009-05-07T16:02:00.001-07:00

Against all odds, and through major prayers and faith and serious dilligence by our firefighters, our house was saved! Paul snuck back up (which was not smart - but whatever) to our house about an hour ago to find a sea of black. Everything is gone around our house - trees, neighbors homes, fields, everything. The only thing standing is our house and a neighbor to the right and one to the left. The fire came down our driveway, up to our rose garden, into the backyard, and right up to our front porch, but the house is still standing!!! Paul said our home looks like an island. Thank you, thank you, thank you to every amazing firefighter who camped out at our house and hosed it down (with our garden hoses, apparently). Thank you for the prayers and fasting of protection. Thank you for the clothes, and the house to stay in, and the bedding, and everything else our friends have provided for us.

We still don't know when we will be able to get back into our house, and we will definitely have some major cleanup, but at least that's better than starting over from scratch.

Jesusita Fire

2009-05-06T21:34:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update. We have been evacuated for yet another fire. As of right now, the fire is burning to the west, east, and north of our home and heading southeast. It has burned homes on the top of our road, but I do not believe it has come down far enough to reach our home. We will let you know as we have more information. Pray for us as we had to evacuate quickly and leave basically everything behind.

The Interview

2009-04-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

So we are currently searching for a new landscape foreman since we had to fire our last one for stealing from the company. On the way home tonight, Paul was telling me about the people he interviewed today. The conversation went something like this:

Paul and Deb discussing boring interview stuff ... blah blah blah.

Paul: Oh, and the guy is currently working as a bus driver. Pretty weird, right?

Jason (from the backseat): Is he fat?

Paul: He's pretty big.

Jason: Is he bald, but with a little hair?

Paul: Yeah.

Jason: Is he Mexican?

Paul: Yeah.

Jason: Does he have two tattoos?

Paul: Uh ... I didn't really notice.

Jason: But he's fat, and Mexican, and bald with a little hair, and the hair he has is, like, black, and he drives a bus?

Paul: Yeah.

Jason: That's my school bus driver!

What are the odds?

A Decade

2009-04-20T10:51:00.001-07:00

So, I was recently informed that my 10 year high school reunion was coming up in May. I would say that makes me feel old, except I'm married to someone 6 years my senior and all our friends are, on average, 5-10 years older than me anyway, so I guess it had to come eventually. Apparently, the planning committee for our reunion even has a blog www.altahigh1999.blogspot.com.

Anyway, my question is this: Who (of my high school class of 99 friends) is planning on attending this reunion? I'm thinking about coming to Utah for it, but only if I know there will be some old friends there to connect with. Anyone, anyone? Bueller?

Stirring Up Wishes

2009-04-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, the Make A Wish Foundation has a special place in our family's heart. After Jon Paul was diagnosed with Leukemia for the second time when he was 11, he was able to have a wish fulfilled by the Make A Wish Foundation. Currently, Make A Wish is involved in a competition to have a wish sponsored by Betty Crocker. The chapter with the most votes will win and the Utah chapter is neck and neck with Wisconsin. So, they need your help (even if you don't live in Utah)! Click onto this website:www.StirringUpWishes.com and vote for the Utah chapter of Make A Wish. You can vote once every day, and they really really need the extra push to get in the lead. Please take a minute to do this ... they are an AMAZING foundation that bless so many lives. Thank you!

A Good Family Night

2009-04-05T20:31:00.000-07:00

Busy

2009-03-24T19:59:00.001-07:00

So, I haven't posted anything for a really long time because we've been busy. Some big stuff and lots of little stuff that eat away the day. There have, however, been some more blog-worthy experiences that I should share:

1. Trip up North. - Sometimes I get antsy and need to flee life for a couple of days. That's what we did a few weeks ago, and our journey took us up north to the Monterey Peninsula. We stayed in a cute little Inn in Carmel and visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Spanish Bay (where we were married), and of course Carmel-By-the-Sea. The kids had a blast and it was a nice quick trip.

2. Aloha Paul - Paul went to Hawaii for a quick getaway with his brothers and to attend Pat and Carrie's Hawaii wedding reception "Cake & Skate" (as in everyone comes and eats cake and skates on the half-pipe. Yep, that's Laie folks). He also gouged out a chunk of his leg while he was there and got some seriously slutty staples put in his leg from a Kahuku doctor (and I use "doctor" very loosely).

3. Bella's Birthday Part I - We celebrated Bella's 3rd birthday for about a week. The first part happened on her actual birthday,

and that was cupcakes (decorated like Wall*E), presents, and balloons with our little family.

4. Bella's Birthday Part II - The second portion of Bella's birthday was her actual party which was held at the local train museum (because she's obsessed with trains) where we ate pizza, a homemade Thomas cake, opened presents (lots of trains), and rode on the mini birthday train. We had lots of family and friends there so it was a lot of fun.

5. We also got a guinea pig named "Napoleon", took our rabbit, "Nutmeg", to the "farm", had a new ceiling and lighting put into our kitchen, dining room, and hallway, remodeled the master bathroom, and the kids bathroom, and switched up the furniture in all the kids rooms too. I'll post pictures later.

See ... busy.

Food for Thought

2009-03-05T15:21:00.000-08:00

After the response to my last post, and numerous conversations with friends and family regarding recipe requests, I have decided to start a recipe blog. Check it out at www.speedcooking.blogspot.com. Happy cooking!

Easy, Fast, Yummy

2009-02-28T08:25:00.000-08:00

Many of you know, I love to cook. I could literally spend hours preparing a tasty meal. Unfortunately, I don't usually have hours when I'm preparing dinner for a famished husband and three ravenous little ones so my creations aren't always an epicurean dream. In light of my quest for quick and delicious meals, my mom gave me this recipe for chicken pot pie. I know ... chicken pot pie? Very housewife circa 1959. Don't let that stop you, though. There's a reason it became a staple in the American household. Easy, fast, yummy. To those of you out there interested in a little help with your menu planning this week, try this out. Even the most novice of chefs will find this the easiest meal you've ever made. Bon Appetit!

Ingredients:
2 Pillsbury pie crusts (2 come in a box, found in the refrigerated section -- not the freezer)
1 whole pre-roasted chicken (found in the deli of any grocer)
2 cups of frozen veggies (peas, corn, carrots, green beans, etc.)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Unroll one pie crust and mold into the base of a pie tin. Shred the chicken into a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients and stir together. Pour chicken mixture into the pie shell. Unroll remaining pie shell and place on top, pinching the sides together to seal the crust. Place foil around the edges of the pie crust and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 30 more minutes or until the pie is cooked all the way through. Enjoy!

The difference between boys and girls ...

2009-02-26T08:56:00.000-08:00

Boys are destructive. I know that is no huge revelation, but after having a perfectly meticulous and anally clean little girl, the whole I-want-to-break-everything-because-I-am-a-boy thing caught me off guard. It is barely 9:00 am and already Jonah has broken the following:

A glass lid to a cooking pot

A drinking glass

A bowl from Anthropologie

At this rate, I will have no more dishes by the end of the day.

Obedience

2009-02-15T21:38:00.000-08:00

Does anyone else out there with young children feel like they haven't actually heard a church message since they first started having kids despite attending every meeting every Sunday faithfully?

I went to church with only Jason a couple of Sundays ago (the others were sick), and it was like I was attending an entirely different church. I actually walked away thinking, "Oh yeah, that light and uplifting feeling is how I used to feel every Sunday when leaving church. That feeling is the reason most people go to church." It was nice.

These days, all I am feeling by the end of church (which, by the way, goes from 10:20 to 1:20 and ends with Sacrament Meeting -- are you serious?) is, "Oh my gosh, get me out of here before I kill one of my children!!!" See, now that can't be the feeling God intended for me to have by attending church.

I sure hope God is giving out points for sheer obedience because that's about all I'm capable of at this point.

To My Valentine....

2009-02-13T16:45:00.000-08:00

... I love you so much I'd even kiss you with garlic breath. Looking forward to an eternity together.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Sweet enough to eat ...

2009-02-11T20:43:00.000-08:00

Bella got out of the bath tonight and exclaimed,

"Mama! I'm all sprinkle-y!"

She meant wrinkle-y.

Sisters, Sisters ....

2009-02-03T19:28:00.000-08:00

Bella kept trying to wake Jonah from his nap today, which I found incredibly irritating as it is the only time of the day that I can get anything done. At one point, I got distracted and she made it into his room, flipped the light on, and climbed into his crib to wake him up.

Realizing what had happened, I went into the room in a huff, ready to scold Bella for waking her brother. With my hands on my hips, I exclaimed, "Bella! Why did you wake the babes?"

Her reply, "He is my best sister."

The only thing left to do at that point was laugh.

The Happiest Place on Earth

2009-01-31T21:21:00.000-08:00

This week, Paul's brother, John, and his family came to visit. Since I'm not above taking my kids out of school in the middle of the week for a spontaneous trip to Disneyland, that's just what we did. In my opinion, the only way Disneyland is the happiest place on earth is when there are no lines to wait in -- like on a Wednesday in the middle of January.

Carrie & Pat Owsley

2009-01-31T19:08:00.000-08:00

Paul's sister, Carrie, was married to Patrick Owsley on January 24, 2009. Here are some photos of the big day. Congratulations!

Excuses, Excuses

2009-01-15T11:49:00.001-08:00

Bella has started this new thing where when I ask her to do something that she doesn't want to do she will respond by saying, "I can't. I'm really really sick."

As in: "Bella, please eat your bagel."
"I can't. I'm really really sick."

"Bella, it's time to go potty."
"I can't. I'm really really sick."

"Bella, stop pushing Jonah."
"I can't. I'm really really sick."

Right.

Ahhh democracy ....

2009-01-08T22:41:00.000-08:00

Jason told me the other day that Barak Obama had better fix things fast or people won't want him as president anymore.

He then told me that when he "grows up and gets rich" he will become president. He informed me that he knows he will win because everyone at his school will vote for him (even the teachers - except for the old ones because they will be dead by then).

His first order of business is to put two laws into place.

1) No poor people

2) Everyone has to get along

Socialism or Law of Consecration? You decide.

Oh yeah ... Vote Jason Speed for President 2048. He may need a few extra votes.

The First Day ...

2009-01-05T19:56:00.000-08:00

This is how day number 1 of 2009 was spent for the Paul & Deb Speed Clan (brace yourself for a few pictures) ...

First up, breakfast with one of my oldest and best friends Jacque and her husband Mike. We met up with them in Carlsbad where they were vacationing for the holiday.

Next on the list, seal watching in La Jolla (to Bella's disappointment, there were no giraffes, and zebras, and hippopotumuses - or hippopotomi?).

The kids were good enough to pose for Dad's new camera ....

... then it was off to the park ...

... for New Year's Day tree climbing ....

... and more posing for Dad ...

... and some posing for Jason too.

After La Jolla we continued our trek south to visit the Hotel Del Coronado (shout out to Some Like It Hot) ...

... where the children played in the sand (and ate some of it too) ...

... and Mom and Dad rung in the New Year properly.

Out with the old ...

2009-01-05T13:49:00.000-08:00

... and in with the new!

Happy New Year!

Christmas Sunday

2008-12-22T18:46:00.000-08:00

I love any excuse to buy my kids new clothes and dress them up. Here are some shots on our way to church last Sunday...

Momma and her babies.

Couldn't you just squeeze those little cheekies forever?

The only way we got her to smile was to tell her to say "Thomas the Train!"

Handsome.

Beautiful.

All Aboard!

2008-12-22T17:46:00.000-08:00

This weekend, Paul and I took Bella and Jonah to the Candy Cane Train with our friends Billy, Lori and their baby Will. Bella was in train heaven.

Before the ride, the kiddies did a little tree climbing. Will was surprised to find himself up in a tree (seeing as how he's only about 2 feet tall).
Bella and Jonah enjoyed their bird's eye view as well.
Having that many trains around was like a dream come true for Bella.
Jonah thought it was pretty awesome too.

Naughty or Nice?

2008-12-17T14:56:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas from the Speed Kiddies (and Santa)

A Child's Prayer

2008-12-02T17:10:00.000-08:00

Last night, during family prayers, Bella said the following:

"Please bless that we can have a good Wall*E."

I think God probably had a little laugh about that.

Some things I am thankful for ...

2008-11-26T21:15:00.000-08:00

1. Paul - Because he is the love of my life and I get to be with him for eternity.
2. My Kiddies (that's children, not kittens) - Because if anyone can give Paul a run for his money on having my heart, it's the three little stinks that I raise - Jason, Bella, and Jonah.
3. God - Because He gave me 1 and 2.
4. My Savior - Because He got me through the tough times so I could enjoy 1 & 2.
5. Family - Because when everything else goes to crap, my family still has my back.
6. Food - Because life is too short to not enjoy really amazing, Zagat rating of 30, melt in your mouth, to die for kind of food.
7. Shoes - Because no matter how ugly I feel elsewhere on my body, my size 5.5 feet will always look sassy in a pair of killer heels.
8. Friends - Because with true friends, time and distance know no bounds.
9. 5-Star Hotels - Because they exist.
10. My Home - Because it always feels good here.

What can you get for $250?

2008-11-21T15:46:00.000-08:00

These gorgeous shoes ...

A night out for sushi ...

A fancy hairdo ...

About 3 tanks of gas ...
And this ... my new piano!!! Yay for Craig's List. I found this baby on there last week and now it is living in my home!!! Thanks to all our strong workers who helped move this for me. You're the best. :)

WE'RE HOME ....

2008-11-16T23:06:00.001-08:00

... and our house is still standing. YAY!

More news ...

2008-11-15T16:27:00.000-08:00

The fire is now 40% contained. Over 200 homes have been destroyed or damaged. Thankfully, our home has survived and we just received word that the evacuation order for our neighborhood has been lifted. Assuming nothing changes, we will return to SB tomorrow afternoon.

Tea Fire Update

2008-11-14T07:39:00.000-08:00

So many of you have probably heard by now that Santa Barbara is in a state of emergency due to the Tea Fire which broke out last night right before 6 pm. We first saw the fire at 6:30 last night as we were leaving dinner in Montecito. We could tell it was close to our home so we rushed home, packed our stuff, and headed to Paul's parents' home in O.C. We left just in time because our home lost power and then went under mandatory evacuation sometime during the middle of the night. We are now just waiting and watching and praying our house will be safe. The fire has grown to over 2500 acres and has burned over 100 homes. We have several ward members/friends who live right where it started, and I hope they didn't lose their homes last night. I will keep posting here as I have more info.

I'm having a love affair ...

2008-11-09T18:56:00.000-08:00

... with the seasonal pumpkin bread and muffin mix from Trader Joes. Throw a cup of your favorite chocolate chips in there (I prefer Ghiradelli's dark chocolate chips) and you have an Autumnal treat to die for. I made some last night and I've already eaten half the loaf ... BY MYSELF!

Goodnight, Moonie

2008-11-07T20:33:00.000-08:00

This afternoon, Bella saw the moon in the sunny blue sky and said to the moon, "Why are you awake moonie? You need to go back to bed."

She makes my day.

Halloween

2008-11-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

Here are some shots of our Utah Halloween.

I was a little old lady ...

... and Paul was my yard gnome.

Rachel and Matt raided my parents dress ups and came out looking

like this ... SCARY!

Bella was a cheerleader ...

... and Jonah was a BYU football player.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pics of J in his "Blade Slayer" costume because he was running around with the neighborhood kids all day and all night long. Needless to say, he came back with enough candy to last the rest of the year.

Cornbelly's Corn Maze Contributes to a Cacophony of Cousin Chaos and Fun

2008-11-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

We went to Utah last week to visit my parents for Halloween. One of the things we did while we were there was visit the Cornbelly's Corn Maze at Thanksgiving Point. Here are some pic of the more memorable moments ...

... kicking back on the giant rocking chair ...

... all the grandkids in their truest forms ...

...Bella in her preferred transportation - a princess carriage ...

... Uncle Jon Paul working the fields ...

... Jonah just being cute ...

... Jason riding the cow train ...

... father and son bonding ....

... Matt and Rachel and the cow bonding ...

... Papa Jon, Bella, Mom, and Jonah sliding together ...

... Papa Jon and Bella doing a little climbing ...

... Jonah taking a ride on Uncle Jon Paul (because that's what uncles are for) ...

... and Jonah all bundled up for his first cold Halloween experience.

Adventures in Pumpkin Land

2008-10-24T21:46:00.000-07:00

Today, Bella and I met some friends for a play-date at the Lane Farms Pumpkin Patch.

Lori brought her 4 week old baby, William. He loved it (well, maybe not really)

We rode on the tractor hayride with our new friends, Cari, Grace and Ben Owen. They just moved here from Arizona and I LOVE them!

Bella took a ride in the wagon ...

... rearranged some of the pumpkins ...

...got lost amongst the pumpkins ...

... showed mom a beautiful pose on the pumpkins...

... tried to climb into the animal pens ...

... and had a really great time despite the fact that it was 90+ degrees today. Mmmm ... don't you just love that crisp fall weather?

The most thoughtful gift EVER

2008-10-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

So, anyone who knows Paul, knows he is a clothesmonger and is fiercely loyal to brands that he loves (James Perse, Paul Smith, Dunhill, etc. anyone??). Well, he loves the brand EVER (you've probably seen the logo pasted on him somewhere), and they just so happen to have a store in Montecito. Apparently, he frequents the store so much and is such a fixture there, that they sent him a shirt and a get well note for his knee surgery. Talk about charisma! They are such nice people and do have GREAT clothes that are super comfortable...check it out when you can: www.ever-us.com or 1145 Coast Village Road in town.

Katie Speed tagged me...

2008-10-19T21:50:00.000-07:00

...so here are my six "unspectacular, quirky" characteristics:

1. I count down from 20 when I am doing tasks or waiting for things (in my head)...Yes, I am a tad OCD.

2. I rub my fingers together while I am eating...like brushing off crumbs even when they are not there.

3. I eat 3 freshly baked chocolate chip cookies every night before going to bed--my nightcap, thanks to the Herleans.

4. I love the corners on brownies, but I hate crust on bread.

5. I would marry Paul all over again just to plan another wedding.

6. I have mastered the craft of loading a dishwasher in the most effective way.

Now I tag: Emily Erickson, Lindsay Lundquist, Jen Ross, Kristy Herlean, Jenni Speed, & Sarah Palin:)

Book Club

2008-10-18T20:31:00.000-07:00

Time for kids to get in bed...where are they??? That's right, having an impromptu book club in Jason's bed. Pretty cute.

My husband, the invalid ...

2008-10-18T16:28:00.000-07:00

Paul had knee surgery on Tuesday. It turns out that he crushed his meniscus and tore his MCL while skillfully jumping off of a customer's retaining wall while holding a 100 lb. tree. You may ask yourself, "Doesn't he have employees to do these things?" The answer is yes, but at least this way our worker's comp insurance isn't going up.

He's recovering nicely (a lot of pain, but that's to be expected). He's upgraded from using a walker to a pimp cane now so that's always fun. The best part of the whole deal is that he has been issued a temporary handicap placard. He says he likes to wear it around his neck so that people will know he's too incompetent to make any important decisions on his own.

See, there's always a silver lining.

A soap box moment ...

2008-10-11T15:45:00.000-07:00

I know most of you have heard of the Proposition 8 battle going on in California, but I would be remissed if I didn't speak my mind on the subject.

If Proposition 8 doesn't pass, my children will be REQUIRED to learn about same-sex marriage as early as kindergarten. They will HAVE to know that a daddy and a daddy are as normal as a mommy and a daddy. That is not okay with me!!!!

Since when is it okay for schools to teach my children moral values? Since when is it okay for schools to teach my children that something that I see as a blatant sin is okay? Since when is it okay for me to have to keep my mouth shut if I even dare utter a negative comment against homosexual lifestyle, but the school that MY taxes pay for will tell my kids that their religious beliefs are unlawful and illegal?!

It will be a cold day in hell when I stand for that. Satan is disguising his plan to destroy families in a pretty little package called "tolerance" tied with a nice bow of "equality". That's crap. There is a bomb in that package and it's being sent to MY KIDS!!!

So, to all you virtual listeners who can make an impact, vote YES on Prop 8. Protect MY family. Protect MY kids. PROTECT JASON, BELLA, AND JONAH AND EVERY OTHER CHILD HERE IN CALIFORNIA AS WELL AS THOSE SPIRITS WHO HAVE NOT COME YET.

Also, visit this website http://www.protectmarriage.com/.

Birthday Boy

2008-10-06T14:50:00.000-07:00

Jason had his 9th birthday this weekend ...

We started out with his first flag football game on Saturday morning. The good news is Jason's team, the fearsome "Dragons", won 24-6. The bad news is...

... it all happened in the rain (the first rain we've had since March).

After the game, we came home for a little General Conference followed by a spooky flaming-eyed ghost cake ...

... lots of balloons and presents ...

... and most importantly, a new nano i-pod just for the birthday boy. Pair all that with a visit from Nana, Papa Mike, Aunt Bethany, and Jason's mom Gina, and I think it was a pretty good birthday.

Unfortunately, we've lost him to the i-pod forever. ;)

Happy Birthday, Jason. We love you!!!

You know it's time to call Jenny Craig when ...

2008-10-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

.... someone asks you if you're pregnant. Kinda like yesterday when a woman from scouts asked me if I was pregnant again. So I put on about 5 lbs since Jonah stopped nursing; I'm still 45 lbs less than when I delivered him a year ago.

I'm thinking about getting my Medela pump out of storage just to burn a few extra calories. Let's be honest, I've never been one for that old diet and exercise routine anyway.

A $65 Piece of Advice

2008-09-29T11:33:00.001-07:00

For all you moms out there who have crazy toddlers running around throwing random items down your toilet, here's an insider tip on how to remove said item without having to pay a plumber. Shop-Vac. Apparently, you can shop-vac the blockage out of your toilet (assuming you have access to a shop-vac) as long as it hasn't gone past the bend in your pipes, thus avoiding the $65 fee (or however much it is for you) to hire a rooter man.

How do I know this, you ask? Because for the second time since having toddlers roam my home, I have had to call out a plumber to unclog our toilet (which he did with a shop-vac). The first time around, it was a dinosaur (the jury's still out on whether it was Bella or Jason who sent T-Rex for a swim). This time, the culprit was Jonah and his toilet-clogging item of choice was a pencil.

Gotta love surprises in your toilet.

Star Artist

2008-09-28T21:46:00.000-07:00

Every year the Natural History Museum of Santa Barbara puts on an "Art Walk" showcasing all the local artist as a fundraiser. The museum sets aside a certain section of the show for children's art. Apparently, it's a pretty big deal.

Of course, when Jason came home from school last year and mentioned that his art teacher was going to put his art in a little show, we assumed this was for everyone at his school. That was in May, and we hadn't heard anything again until he brought home a V.I.P. pass to the Art Walk. So off we went to the Natural History Museum with our special pass in hand fully expecting an extensive display of art from the art classes at Roosevelt Elementary School.

Um ... we were wrong.

It turns out that each school in the city only gets to submit 10 pieces of art to represent their school at the Art Walk. Kind of AWESOME that Jason was picked. There was his still life, all mounted and labeled, amongst the other "Star Artists" showing at the museum.

Like I said before, it was a pretty big deal.

Mommy Wow! I'm a Big Kid Now.

2008-09-23T14:40:00.000-07:00

JONAH HAS TURNED 1!!!! Don't you worry, we celebrated his big day in style -- nana's house, Thomas the Train balloons, presents, and snickerdoodle pie.

The highlight, however, had to be the adoption of his new pet manatee "Philip".

Jonah was so excited to be turning one that he even decided to start walking last week.

Needless to say, I'm sure he'll remember it forever. Happy Birthday, Babes.

And thus it begins ...

2008-09-17T21:34:00.000-07:00

So here we are. We have crossed over to the dark side entering the deep abyss known as "blogging". Heaven knows (and some of you too) that I resisted the gravitational pull of the bloggers. Yet they were always there, forwarding me their happy little lives all so concisely and sweetly put together in one little happy blog. While I tried my best to resist (because let's be honest, who really cares about witty quips of my kid's every little poop - or big poop if it's Bella we're talking about), my husband was not strong enough. Last night, at 10:15 pm, he officially entered our family into the voyeuristic blogging world. So, I say again, here we are. Read, laugh, cry, or don't. I don't really care.

Although ... I'm sure I eventually will.