The Harris Family

It's been a long, long time....

2009-10-31T21:06:00.000-07:00

I have ignored this blog thingy now long enough! It's time to make a come back! I just really, really love the quickness of Facebook. This blog thingy is way to much work for me and I feel like no one ever reads my blog. However, I just recently have had a few people question me on my blog, and why it hasn't been updated! Wow....people do care and love me! haha! Maybe that's going to far. In celebration of a come back I thought I'd post some pictures from the past! This is me and my sister Shera when we were "younger!"

Yes....I was chunky, okay!

Albertsons - 6/3 Deal

2009-06-03T19:39:00.000-07:00

Transaction #1:
Spend $15 on certain freezer items, get a free Dreyers 1.5 Qt ice cream and a Redbox code for a free movie.

8 Lean Cuisines at $1.88 ec. = $15.04 / 2 coupons $1/2 (-2.00)
Free ice cream
Free movie rental
2 Double coupons (-2.00)

Total: OP $11.04

Transaction #2:
2 Ritz crackers - $1/1 IP (I used a different one, see below)
3 Wheat Thins - (2- 5/17 - buy Ritz crackers get free Wheat thins)/1-$1/1 IP coupon also
Kraft BBQ sauce - IP coupon ($1/1)
2 Saltines - IP coupon ($1/1)
2 California Pizza Flat Melts- 5/17 SS ($.75/1)
2 V8 Fusion - 4/19 SS ($1/1)

4 double coupons (- $4 )(The register guy loves me and let me use 4!)
2 Kraft deals - $3 instant savings (-$6 )

Total: OP $4.24

IP= Internet Printable

The Church and ABC news.

2009-05-13T16:40:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine posted this on her blog and I watched it today. I was very impressed with it. It's a good clip to refer to friends about our temples, and Prop 8.

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6616644

Canby Gator Grinder - Our "Sprint" Triathlon

2009-05-11T12:06:00.000-07:00

This is my girl friend Sara Wilcox, who happened to kick my butt in the event! She's an awesome athlete who has worked really hard training this year. Last year I kicked her butt, however, she had just had a baby a few months prior. So I don't know if that counts! ha ha!

This is Dave and I with our brother-in-law, Troy Bolinger, who also participated this year. Dave had just come in off the finish line....that's why he looks more tired and less happy then me and Troy. We had been in for about an hour before Dave.

Dave is "THE MAN!" He took 2nd place in his age division this year. It is very competitive in this age bracket, so it's a big accomplishment!

These pictures are all out of order, cause I'm not the best blogger out there. I have yet to learn how to download my pictures so that they are uploaded in the right order. However, this is me and Dave...."team blue." haha...we didn't plan that!

Dave crossing the finish line.

Dave coming in off the bike ride.

Not a great picture of me....it's the transition between the swim and the bike.

Me in the pool, before starting the race. Look! I'm smiling and not puking! We had great weather, and lots of fun with our friends. However, I think it's the last year for me! I get too much anxiety before hand....it's just not worth it! I'm glad it's over with!

FHE on Service

2009-03-02T19:15:00.000-08:00

We had a fun FHE tonight on service. We read the parable of the spoon, which in it's shortened form goes something like this:

A man asked an angel to show him what true happiness was. The angel showed him a building with two rooms in it. When the door opened in the first room, people were sitting around a large circled table with a large pot of stew in the middle. They all had long sticks stuck to their arms and at the end or the long stick was a spoon. They were miserable, because no matter how hard they tried to eat the stew, the spoon couldn't reach their mouth and they were starving.

In the second room, the same thing, however, the people were all well fed and very happy. This is because the people had figured out that to eat they had to feed the person across the table from them the stew. They were happy because they had learned to give of themselves and serve others, and in return they too were served.

We decided to give this a try with our chocolate pudding dessert! It was really fun!

Brynn also made "Mr. Secret Service Man," out of a spoon. He will secretly be going around our house causing all kinds of secret service to happen this week. Where he will show up, nobody knows?

Avory's Dance Team Debut

2009-02-07T21:02:00.000-08:00

Avory's first dance team debut was at a OC girl's basketball game. She was nervous, but did a great job for her first time. She's hard to pick out while they are in their big group, but when they spread out you can see her better. She had one little slip up where she popped up early, but it just helps us to see her better! haha!

Her official competition was today at the High School They had their costumes on and looked great! I didn't get it on my digital camera this time, so next comp. I'll video it again and put it on here. The competitions are really fun to go to! We had lots of fun cheering for her. We embarrassed her as we screamed..."We love you Avory!" She didn't acknowledge us, so we all waved at her. haha! She gave a timid wave back. I love being a mom for these reasons!

My "Good" Addiction

2009-01-27T14:11:00.001-08:00

My sisters tease, but why I ask? I LOVE coupons. It took me awhile to love them. At first I hated them. Now however, I have a fatal attraction to them. Sometimes it's maddening, because I need something, but I don't have a coupon for that item, and so I won't buy it. Then Dave asks, "Did you buy some butter at the store." And I have to reply...."I didn't have a coupon, nor was it on sale."

See, the problem is, that once you know how low you can buy that item, you never want to pay full price again! It's maddening! The below picture is an example. I bought everything on that table for $28.16. I got the Tide (150 oz) for only $3,99!

So, the other problem is, that I am addicted to going and getting the good deals, even when we don't need anything. I chalk this up as "Food Storage," HOWEVER, how many shampoos does a family of 7 need? I think 30 is way more then needed. Today as I look through the paper, I have to control myself as I see that Totino's Pizza Rolls are on sale, and I have a coupon that will make them .35 cents a box. I don't even like those things, yet I'm debating buying them!

In conclusion, I think couponing is AWESOME! I love to see if I can beat my last lowest price with really good items. Notice in the picture above, that there isn't any Hamburger Helper or Rice-a-Roni. Nope, just good, expensive stuff, that I payed practically nothing for!

To wear skinny jeans or not....that is the question!

2009-01-23T10:25:00.001-08:00

These are the skinny jeans that I got on clearance for $6 at Target. I can't decide if I should actually wear them in public or not. Haha! I have the hips of all hips and I've always said that NOBODY looks good in skinny jeans. However, for $6, I thought, maybe I could them off....LOL!

I don't know? What do you think? Longer shirt needed? Or just less hip needed? LOL! (I can't wait to see comments on this one. Be gentle, but truthful!)

Kelton turns 14!

2009-01-23T10:11:00.000-08:00

Poor, poor, Kelton. His mother must not love him as much as all the other children, because she didn't take any pictures of him on his birthday, however, there's a story behind it.

Kelton LOVES his cell phone. However, about 3 months ago he broke too many rules, and had his cell phone permanently taken away. Oh, how this broke the young boy's heart. So Kelton made a deal with the devil (his mother.) He asked if he could get back his long, lost cell phone for his birthday. In return, he would promise not to ask for anything else for his birthday, not even a party. Seeing the wonderful opportunity not to spend any more money right after Christmas, the devil excepted this offer. Thus, there was no friend party to take pictures at.

However, the devil was really an angel in disguise. She let him have the YM deacons come over on Wednesday night and have a good-bye/ birthday party for him, with a cake and snacks even. She also got him a really cool outfit to wear on his birthday, let his cousins spend the night, and took them out for Cold Stone ice cream, along with his Dad taking him to go see a movie the day of his birthday. So, somehow he squeaked through the deal and had a great birthday, despite the deal! However, no pictures were taken and no door was decorated. (That was the first time EVER that I haven't decorated a door. I kinda feel bad!)

Thank goodness for Nana though. She took pictures at the Harris family birthday party for me. So there will someday be record that Kelton DID turn 14! Can you believe I have a 14 year old. Scarier yet, he can go to church dances now!

My honey's 33rd birthday!

2009-01-23T10:05:00.000-08:00

Let me start out by explaining the cupcakes. Dave and I are trying to eat healthier and are training for a sprint triathalon. So Dave didn't want a huge dessert or cake hanging around the house, since we were in the first week of trying to eat better. These are lemon poppy seed cupcakes, only 2 weight watcher points each. LOL!

The muffins each equal 10 years, and the candles the 3 other years. He did get all 3 candles blown out! Happy birthday to my younger man!

Oops! I skipped Christmas Morning!

2009-01-23T09:51:00.001-08:00

6:30 am, after sending them back to bed at 3:30 am. All kids are to jump in our bed Christmas morning so that we can turn on lights and get the camera's ready! I love tradition. My siblings and I did this also as kids!

This is the first few minutes of seeing the presents. Total chaos! It was...even though you can't tell by this picture. They all look so calm! haha.

Brig got a new camcorder, video game and a new robe.

Cade, my 22 year old brother, refused to wake up even though he was sleeping in the middle of the family room where we were opening presents. LOL!

Mom and Garhett were there too. Garhett doesn't like pictures, can you tell.

Kelton and his new clothes. He's SO cool.

Avory and her weirdness. She got this crazy robe and these crazy socks, and LOVEs them.

The dream barbie house.

And last of all...an ugly morning upshot picture of me. Yay! Thanks Brynn.

Happy NEW Year! 2009

2009-01-23T09:42:00.000-08:00

This year, Dave and I decided that we were going to let the kids do something for New Years. Kelton went off to a friend's house, and Avory had a party with her goofy friends. This is (top) Susie Clegg, and Avory, (bottom left to right) Rylie Spencer, McKenna Wadsworth, Bethany Kerr, and Zoe Clegg.

This is the girls attempting to pop their poppers. It's just not that difficult girls!

The New Year's toast, with sparkling apple cider! I love these girls. They're a great bunch of girls. I hope they grow up forever together! BUT....I can't wait to black mail them with these pictures as they get older! LOL!

Christmas Day (Night) 2008

2009-01-23T09:28:00.000-08:00

We attended my in-laws house for Christmas dinner and present opening. This is me and Dave attempting to be is some of the holiday pictures together. Payton was unaware of the picture taking, unfortunately.

This picture represents our typical big family Christmas program. These are the older boys, pretending to sing the songs, looking at the music, but not singing. Nana is running around in the background with her head chopped off, and Parker (little kid in green) is running around distracting everyone. I love it!

These were my favorite presents I got for Christmas! Silly girls.

This is Nana, opening her "practical" present from us. If you ever ask her what she wants for Christmas, it's always something practical. This year it was book ends. Exciting isn't it!

And then you have Dad (papa). He wanted a new fishing rain hat and a book about curing salmon eggs. Diane, I'm putting this picture on here for you! I know you'll appreciate it! LOL!

Happy 10th Birthday Brigham!

2009-01-23T09:19:00.000-08:00

Brig turned 10 this December! I can't believe this is my baby boy! So sad : ( He's growing up!

Brig had 3 parties this year. This one was with his friends at a Laser Tag place. It almost got cancelled because of the snow. He had a blast, litterally! haha!

This was his cake he helped me make for our family party. It's suppose to be the Grinch with a Santa hat on. The fact that I have to tell you what it is doesn't say much for my cake making skills. It looks more like Oscar the Grouch.

This is the Harris family December birthday people. Aunt Karmen, Brig and Little Wil. Nana made them a Christmas tree cake. It was really cute.

Happy birthday Briggy!

Snow storm December 2008

2009-01-22T19:51:00.000-08:00

We were locked in the house for a week! Oregon kinda is retarded when it comes to snow. We have like one snow plow for the whole state, I think. So after a week we got kinda bored. We played Perfection until we truely became perfect at it! Cade (my brother, see here) holds the record.....for now! 26 seconds!

This is my back deck. We typically get around 1 to 2 inches of snow here in Oregon City. This was over a foot!

Brig found a huge icicle. We thought it was very cool!

The kids were in total bliss. No school for a week and then Christmas break!

The snow fort me and Payton built. It was a Dora Snow Princess Castle!

The snow was fun, but I'm glad it's gone!

A quick catch up!

2008-12-14T14:18:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving was great! Shera and Ben and their boys came to our house for a week. This "lush" is Cannon (Shera's kid). He topped off the evening with a drink! haha!

My dad and his wife came over for dinner also.

I had to have a kid stand next to my beautiful, perfectly done, turkey, so I could appreciate it forever and ever. So Brig got the honor.

Dave cut the turkey, and ate 1/3 or it as he did so.

For a Personal Progress goal, Avory helped plan out the details of Thanksgiving dinner, and set the table. So we had to get a picture!

My pies turned out beautifully too. Avory is making the green bean casserole, an essential part of any good Mormon Thanksgiving dinner. (She looks thrilled!)

The kids took over the camera one day and captured these wonderful pictures of me and Shera! Nice, hah?

My Birthday: I turned 33 years old this year. (Not 6, as the candles portray!) Shera made me this fabulous mint ice cream cake to enjoy.

Halloween Night: Avory went as a girl from the 80's with her best friend Rylee Spencer. It was scary how much she looked like me in the 80's. It was easy to do their hair! It all came back to me....hair spray, tease, hair spray, and more hair spray!

Kelton was to cool to dress up as anything. So he just spiked his hair and put orange coloring in it!

Brynn-ie was a hobo. She reminded me of Pig Pen from Charilie Brown.

Brigham made an excellent mummy! He really got into it.

And Payton was the Little Mermaid. She made the perfect Ariel!

FHE: Pumpkin Carving!

2008-11-06T16:33:00.001-08:00

Here's some fun pumpkin carving pictures. Here's Kelton intensely working on his carving. I was cleaning out a closet, thus the crap in the background. It looks like he's in a closet or something.

Here's Avory going at it.

Brynn and Brig, finished results.
The little girls were so proud!

So here's were it got a little gross. You have to take puke pictures of the guts.

After we were all grossed out about getting the pumpkin guts that close to our mouth, Dave had to go and eat some of it. He's SO weird and gross!

And what FHE isn't complete without the treats, made by Brig! Yummy!

My Girls Get Away

2008-11-06T16:23:00.000-08:00

These are just some fun pictures of me and my 3 best friends, Kati Morris, Crissy Spencer, and Kylee Wilcox. Every year for Crissy's birthday, we get away for a weekend at the beach.

This year the weather was SO beautiful! (Poor Kati got cut out of this picture!) I'm trying to take the picture and still be in it. haha!

Maybe it was a bit windy, that's all.

This picture is of me in my new long hair. I found a clip-in hair piece (Jessica Simpson) that gives me my dream long locks of hair! I'm so excited!

The Great Wolf Lodge

2008-10-14T18:22:00.000-07:00

Our family just got back from a FAB-U-LOUS time at the Great Wolf Lodge up in Centrailia, WA!It was all decked out for Halloween, thus the cemetry in the background. Kelton looks really excited, doesn't he!

Kelton cheezing out in front of the waterslides.

We had so much fun with the kids, swimming, riding on giant snakes (above), water-sliding, and hanging out with our friends!

Here's me and Avory posing for the camera, getting ready to go mess up our make-up and hair.

These are our husbands. They had too much fun going down this tube slide. The more weight the faster they went. Dave isn't in this picture....but he was on that ride plenty of times!

Here's my girls on our last day, taken some more pictures. The waterpark is right behind us in a seperate room.

Anyway, it was way fun!

Camping at Indian Henry

2008-08-24T17:04:00.000-07:00

I love camping with my family. We had such a nice time together. The weather was PERFECT and I can't say enough good things about this camp ground, called Indian Henry, that we love to stay at. It's on the Upper Clackamas River in the Mt. Hood National Forest.

S'mores are a MAJOR tradition when camping, in our family. Avory created the BIG s'more. She ate it all too. I think Brig and Kelton ate 4 or 5 that night. That's the good thing about camping. You're always so hungry, everything tastes really good, and you go burn it off right after eating!

Brynn, Brig and Dave posing for pictures while hiking.

The kids found this fort already made down by the river.

Dave's eyes are dreamy.....as you can tell by the expression on my face....haha! (Love my camping face! :b)

Brig and Avory are my daring kids. They jumped off this rock into freezing water a few times. Notice in the background that the older boys behind them never jump! hahah! Kelton chose not to jump this day, but wants me to let everyone know that he did the next day.....LOL!

"Go Avory!"

Payton loved finding pretty rocks in the water. All of them were to special to leave there too. (Oye!)

A picture of my "Gang."

Me doing some cooking around the camp fire.

Dave is pretending to watch the coals in the barbaque next to him. He had a good book with him on this trip, the last of a triology. He never put the stupid thing down. Me and the kids harassed him the whole time about never doing anything with us, because he was reading. He gave me the "evil eye" as I took the picture. LOL! Isn't he scary?

Next time we go, we hope some of our friends or family can come with us! (Hunting pictures to follow this blog next week! )

PS- Happy 30th birthday Diane....you're getting so old!

My baby turns 4 years old!

2008-08-17T14:33:00.000-07:00

My little Payton is growing up! She was so excited about her birhday! She thinks 4 is so big! I told her 4 year olds don't suck on their fingers, trying to get her to stop that habbit. (So far it hasn't worked.) I'd have to say that I'm a little happy my kids are growing up! I love the freedom that comes from all my kids being potty trained, talking, not having to take snacks, strollers, and diapers with us everywhere, and kids going to school during the day! Such a happy time in my life. Hehe!

Payton had this cool princess cake, and as my sister Maren said...."Yes, Payton, dreams really do come true!" She loved the cake!

Present time! (I could of fixed her hair before pictures, I guess.)

Oh good she loved it! Happy day!

I survived Girl's Camp 2008!

2008-08-05T13:56:00.001-07:00

These are my Beavercreek girls! We had a good time this year. Lots of fun and very little drama! Always a good thing. Megan and I voted ourselves the HOTTEST camp leaders up at Camp Melacoma. We played make-up and hair one day while the girls were in certification. It was fun!

I tried archery. Look at that form! Too bad I couldn't hit the target!

Here is Avory's hair and McKenna Fox's hair before our skit. It had nothing to do with the skit. They just thought it was fun! Cool aye?

Bishop's Day: We had a hula hoop contest. I didn't do to bad! I still got it!
So we did have a little drama....oh no! A SNAKE! Scary! Taking a picture of her crying made her laugh though! haha!
Only one minor injury.....what?....it's okay......it's just a little flesh wound! haha! (It's not real. It was for 1st aid certification.)

So glad I'm done with camp. Now I can focus on the rest of my summer!

Brynn turns 7!

2008-07-15T08:06:00.001-07:00

My cutie-patootie Brynnie turned 7 this month! Funny story: As we were shopping for her birthday supplies, people would ask her if it was her birthday we were shopping for. She would reply "yes" and then they would ask her if she was turning 5. She would get all sad and say "no, 7" and then the people would try not to act surprised and say, "wow, you're going to be so big!" She's such a runt! :( She wanted to have a beach birthday party. This was the cake she designed.
We just barely had got this pool up the night before! The only bad thing, was that the water was freezing cold from just filling it up. The girls didn't last long in it.

Brynn and her friends! Aren't they cute?

The Trek

2008-07-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

Our stake recently reenacted a Pioneer Trek. The kids dressed in authentic pioneer clothes and reenacted several real events that happened along the way. It was a huge testimony builder for Kelton and Avory to attend. They both came home saying that it was the hardest, yet best thing they've ever done.
Avory and two of her best friends, Emmalyn and Susie.
Kelton and his possy of friends.
(I didn't know how to turn this picture? But isn't it cute of Kelton?)
Kelton and Avory before leaving on the trek.

Backpacking

2008-07-12T14:43:00.000-07:00

Dave and I, and some of our closest friends, decided we needed an adventure. We decided on backpacking. We headed out to Eastern Oregon to the Umatilla Wilderness. (All the cool places we wanted to go were still under a lot of snow.) This picture is us just getting ready to start on the trip. I know my pack looks bigger then Daves. It's not really. I just couldn't fit my sleeping bag into my pack.
This is some of us taking a break. It was really hot and we had ticks jumping on us. Yes, my crazy friend Kati took her 3 month along. She couldn't handle us going without her.
Here's Dave and I on the second day. We were climbing to the ridge of these mountain ranges. It was a beautiful view. All the spring wildflowers were out too. You have to see it in person to really get how beautiful it was.
This picture is intitled "My Oregon Granola Picture." I would fit into SE Portland really well wearing this outfit.
On the last day of our 5 day adventure, we came to a great watering hole. We swam all day. This is me teasing Dave's farmer tan. Isn't he cute despite the ugly tan lines?

Anyway...we had a blast. Thanks to Mom and Dad Harris for watching our crew so we could get out! It's been awhile!

Avory turns 12!

2008-07-12T14:34:00.001-07:00

This is a catch up blog entry. I have been going like crazy! But I didn't want to miss telling everyone that my oldest daughter has turned 12, which is a rather big birthday! Isn't she cute! We went to the Mac cosmedic store and had make overs. She now gets to wear make-up. She is good about not wearing to much most days.
We rented out the roller rink for her birthday. She had about 13 friends come to her party. We had a blast! (I'm surprised that most kids these days don't know how to roller skate! Let's just say they were schooled by this "old lady!") This is a picture of Avory's best friend Rylie Spencer and of Miss Kylee Bolinger!

Avory as graduated from 6th grade and entered into YWs! I must be getting old to have children this old!

Passing Out

2008-06-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

I gave blood last night at 4:30 and then went to the temple to do a sealing assignments at 7 pm. As I was kneeling at the alter, I had to stop the sealer before I passed out! It was really embarrassing! I was sweating profusely and had to put my head between my legs so I didn't drop to the floor. Fun, fun. Moral of the story: Don't give blood and then got to a sealing assignment. Besides, everyone thinks I'm pregnant now! ha ha!

Cami

Jazzercise - Maybe not a great idea!

2008-06-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

So I went to Jazzercise on Monday. I know what you're thinking..."I haven't heard of that since the 1980's." I also know that you're all picturing women in leg warmers, with leotards and leggings on and traditional Fera Faucet feathered hair dancing around to Flash Dance. Close, but more updated. There were women of all ages, doing all kinds of aerobic routines, of which they all seemed to know all the steps already. I had dragged my friend Jessica along with me for the experience. We cracked up as we attempted to do the routines and ended up going the wrong way half the time and doing jumping hip thrusts with all the experienced Jassercise ladies. (Yes, jumping hip thrusts!) At one point an old lady out lasted us in the inner thigh work out! It was so funny, however, we totally enjoyed ourselves. We're even thinking of signing up!

And THEN there was this morning.....I had a sore back and neck yesterday from Jazzercising it up. I think I did some of the moves wrong as I concentrated mostly on going the right way, so I think I pulled something. Well today it caught up with me. It was so tight when I woke up that I couldn't even more. I had to call Dave to help me get out of bed. When he pulled me up I found myself screaming in pain. I have NEVER hurt so bad. I hurt so bad, I made Dave stay home from work! Good to report though, I'm recovering now, after a day at the chiropractors office and a lot of pain relievers. I'd have to say I'm rethinking my Jazzercising capabilities now.... maybe it's not a good idea.

And on to another thing....I went to fill up my van today (actually Dave did, since I couldn't turn my head) and you wouldn't believe my gas bill! Well maybe you would! My van last year cost $40 at the most to fill....today it was $73.13! I about exploded! HOLY CRAP! I might actually have to cut back on my driving!

Memorial Weekend Camping Trip

2008-05-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

You must eat smores every night when camping! It's an unbreakable rule! Brig tends to eat about 4-5 everynight. He has perfected his smore making techniques. He goes for the burnt mallow! Brynn is also a smore lover!
Avory as you can tell by the picture is entering the lovely "teenager stage" of life. She is always so happy to be with her family! And she loves when I take pictures of her! (Sarcasm all over those sentences!)
These last two pictures are of how beautiful the camp ground was. It's called Indian Henry up in the Mt. Hood Forest! It is one of the best camp sites ever! Highly recommend it!
As for our trip all together, it was rather wet. Let's just say that I was very grateful to have a camper that weekend! However, it was just a glorified tent on wheels, due to the fact that we didn't charge our battery fully and ran out of propane! We'll have to prepare a little better next time! The whole camping trip was a bit last minute. All in all, it was good for the kids! HAHA!

Camping sure makes you appreciate a good hot shower when you get home!

This is for Andrea

2008-05-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

Here's a lovely picture of Kelton from yesterday. My friend Andrea was over and thought Kelton looked hysterical. Skinny, underware showing, and rain boots on. She was laughing so hard that she made me take a picture of him. So here's to you Andrea!

Mother's Day beach trip

2008-05-20T09:33:00.000-07:00

For Mother's Day we headed down to Lincoln City, OR for a night. We had lots of fun and took these fun pictures. Brigham seems to have lost his head while we were there. But don't worry, we got it re-attached! We always said that Brigham was the kind of kid that could easily loose his head if it wasn't attached! Ooopps!

Brig also seems to have lost a little weight! Haha!

Avory was here, however, she had already gone back inside when these pictures were taken.

May 11, 2008

The roller coaster I call Payton!

2008-05-19T08:10:00.000-07:00

Payton has just inherited Brynn's old bike. We put the training wheels back on it and let her give it a try. She was so proud and so happy, but as some of you know Payton, it doesn't take long for her to get upset and throw one of her lovely 3 -year- old tantrums. She charged into the house mad, announcing that she couldn't turn the "stupid pony bike!"

She then proceded to pout on the coach and yell, "I hate that stupid pony bike! I'm never riding it again!"

She wasn't excited about me following her around taking pictures of her throwing a fit either. This is her hiding from me! LOL!

Once I got her calmed down and offered to help teach her how to turn the "stupid pony bike" she was all smiles again! "I guess I don't hate my pony bike mom," she said. "I thought you said it was stupid," I said. "Only when it doesn't do what I say," she replied!

And thus the ups and downs of Payton Harris! I love her!

The Triathlon!

2008-05-14T10:11:00.000-07:00

The triathlon was SO great! We had such a blast cheering each other on. This is a picture of all our friends and some family that participated in it! We all did great and we all survived! Yeah for us!

This is when Dave came across the finish line. His head band makes his ears stick out, hahah! But isn't he cute! I was so proud of him! He finished hard! His over all time was 1 hour 17 minutes. He finished 27th out of the whole race! Yeah Dave!

This is us with our ribbons. Dave got 3rd in his division. That's men 30-35 on the road bike. I finished 4th in womens, 30-40 year old group on Mt. Bikes. I have a 5th place ribbon, but when I looked up online, they had changed my placement. I really finished 4th. Yeah for me! I even swam an extra lap due to a mistake by the judges. That really threw a wrench in my mental game right at the beginning! But it only made me more determined to kick some butt!
Over all, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I'd do it again next year! It was really fun to train and work together with Dave for a common goal.

Triathlon Butterflies!

2008-05-07T14:35:00.000-07:00

So the count down to running my triathlon is down to 3 days. Let me just tell you that every time I think about it I want to get sick and my bowels become very loose! What....to much information you say? I know, but it's the truth. I don't know why I'm so scared. Maybe it's because I know how much it is all going to hurt, and how my brain will constantly tell me to stop doing this to myself. It's also because my friend Sara Wilcox is starting at the same time as me, and I CAN NOT let her kill me! I know it's all suppose to be just about doing my personal best, but I can't help being a little competitive with the people I know. I don't have to win all my friends or anything, I just don't want to come in the last. I know someone has to, and I have a good chance of being that person, but I will admit that that would disappoint me. So think of me often on Saturday, and of how much pain I will be in from 9 am to 10:30-ish. Hopefully I won't drown.

Where do dust bunnies come from?

2008-05-01T13:37:00.001-07:00

So I was cleaning my room today. Why is it that the last place I clean is my room? I don't know about anyone else, but as a mom, my room is the last place that I ever clean. It is the eternal dumping ground of the homeless items of my household. There are piles for DI, piles of papers that I'm not sure if I need to keep, old watch bands that I might use again, a screw that I found on the ground that I know as soon as I throw it away I'll find out what it goes to, a baby gift I've been meaning to get to my friend, a bra that I need to return to Walmart, books I intend to read some day, and many other miscellaneous things! Tell me others are like me!

Then there's the dust and spiderwebs! You could of written your name on my dresser, the dust was so thick! Gross...I know! But really; am I suppose to have time to clean this unseen area of the house? I should. I live in it. It should be my sanctuary. In some ways it is....My sanctuary from cleaning! However, Avory called me out on this fact the other day. She said, "Mom you make me clean my window seals, dressers and dust my room every Saturday, and look at your room! Why do

I have to do it if you don't!" Hum, I thought. Thus, today I cleaned my room. And thus the deep thought..."Where do dust bunnies come from?" I won't even tell you how many of those lived in my room!

Bra Shopping! Oh what fun!

2008-04-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

Payton and I went bra shopping today. Let me rephrase that... I went bra shopping, Payton unfortunately had to come with me. It is really depressing to bra shop when you have to shop for a new bra with a cup size less then an A. Yes...I'm a negative A. Let me just say now how much I hate bra shopping! Needless to say, I brought at least 20 bras into the dressing room so that I didn't have to keep doing the walk of shame across the department store with my pathetic little bras in tow. Payton was patient as I tried on the vast amount of bras, until the last five or so. Finally, in a very load voice, she said...."Mom, are you done trying on all your BOOBS yet?" And thus concluded the the day of bra shopping. (Still haven't found a bra!)

Payton's Cereal Names

2008-04-23T08:27:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the names of cereals that have been renamed by Payton:

Fla-fla Flakes, or some may know them as Frosted Flakes.

Crap'in Crunch, more commonly known as Captin Crunch, and my favorite name of all!

And last but not least, Cocoa Christies, or Cocoa Crispies. However, when you have an aunt named Christy, crispies can easily be confused!

Top 10 reasons mothers have bad days:

2008-04-22T14:52:00.000-07:00

10. Trying to find time for themselves, mothers will stay up much to late, zoning in front of TV.
9. While looking in the mirror they find yet more zits that should of disappeared 15 years ago.
8. After waking up early to get children and themselves ready for an appointment and out the door on time, a child spills red fruit punch all down the front of their outfit as they are walking out the door.
7. Just as they clean a room in the house and move on to a different room, their children follow, destroying the room behind them.
6. If you mop it, they will spill.
5. Exercise does little good when you eat all your children's leftovers.
4. Husbands that come home and ask, "What's for dinner?"
3. Not being able to tells someone what you've done all day, but knowing that you haven't sat down all day either!
2. Hearing the word, "MOM!" yelled over 1,000 times a day; sometimes repeated over and over at one time.
1. Knowing that your husband is going to come home horny! (You know it's been awhile!)

So everyone is doing it...why not me!

2008-04-21T19:40:00.000-07:00

Diane (my sister-in-law) made our family start blogging about a year ago. However, we (the Harris family) proved to be very bad at it. Now all my friends have a blog spot, and can do nothing else but talk about it and compare funny stories from everyone's blogs. I was feeling left out, therefore, my new blog page! (Yes Diane...everyone is doing it! Peer pressure!) I can't believe I've gone and done it! You can all thank Andrea Turner! Now not only do you have to listen to my whine in person, you can also read about it too! Yeah! Stay posted...

Cami