George!

We have a few flies in our home...just about everyday. My little boy Cedar says there is one that he has named George. Yesterday, I said out loud "those dang flies are all going to die today" and he reminded me to "LEAVE George ALONE".

With all this talk about "George" I started wondering.....

Do you think Flies have families? I know that they were born by someone...but

Do you think that when they get into your car and you drive away...they miss their family or are they just so thrilled with the current road trip?

And when you get to where your going and fly gets out, do they make friends in their current location?

Do you think that when you start swatting flies around your house the others start warning each other that there is a large object coming after them?

I wonder!

My parents came down for a visit last weekend and it was such a good time. We wore them out!

We......

Went back to Kitt Peak

Painted

Ate my mom's yummy Cinnamon Rolls & Fried Bread

My mom Lainie's halloween costume

Grandpa went a ridin' with Lainie

Thanks for coming Mom & Dad...we can't wait till you come back!

Peaches Anonymous

HI, my name is Rennie, I am an Addict!

And this is my drug of choice!

My source (mother) works so hard to provide me with the best quality of my addiction.

Signs of an addict:

*I ran out about a month ago and was having withdrawals.(wink)

*Almost went into depression while eating my last one. (wink x2)

My source (mom) came to the rescue, last weekend, and brought me a bag of dried Peaches and Apricots...to save the day!

More signs

*I only pull them out at night when all the babes are having sweet dreams. I tell you I am protective when it comes to my last bit of Dried Peaches! I have hid my stash and don't like to share with just anyone. I have become a selfish Peach addict.

*I will give my kids some if they happen to catch me with my mouth full....but they don't appreciate it like I do. (wink x 3, they love them too)

I know I have been complaining about the heat of summer, but it saddens me to see this time of the season go...simply because of these little sweet, chewy, scrumptious treats.

Oh my life...to be a slave to the dried Peach!

-Sike-

The weather is back to the high 90's!

It's a royal Stink Bomb!

I have been thinking that I can will the cooler weather with my actions and thoughts. So, I went and bought the boys some new jackets, I got my pants and long sleeve shirts out, made caramel apples, bought pumpkins, opened the windows, turned off the AC and I even did a cool weather dance (see last weather post). But it's been all in vain and insane.

I did see on the news that it is suppose to cool off next week. You know the weather men are ALWAYS right....(wink)

Oh, I will be so ready!

This 98 degree weather is for the birds I tell you...THE BIRDS!

By the way...only13 days till Halloween, 40 till Thanksgiving and 68 till Christmas!

Blondie said "TAGGED"

A) The rules are posted at the beginning.

B) Each person answers questions about their sweethearts.

C) At the end of the post, the person then tags people and posts their names; then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment, letting them know they have been tagged.

What is your husbands name? Lukey boy, Lover, Sweetie, Babe, Sugie, Honey

How long have you guys been married? 11.5 crazy, wonderful, fun, wild years

How long did you date? Well that's an interesting question...We were good friends before his mission...We wrote while on his mission...he returned home 2 years later...We dated for 3.5 months more seriously...were engaged in April and married in June. So we dated only 3.5 months although we knew each other for 2.5 years.

How old is he? He is only as old as he feels...I will feel him tonight and tell you tomorrow.

Who is taller? My tall handsome hunk of burning love is a good 7 inches taller than me.

Who can sing better? I hate to say it..only because I love it when he sings...but it's me, I can sing better.

Who is smarter? Oh he is so smart..I mean look who he married anyway! (smart guy) (:

Who does laundry? We both do...he is good like that.

Who pays the bills? Well he works hard to pay the bills but I push the send button on the computer to pay them every month.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Nobody sleeps on the right side of the bed. He sleeps on the left side and I sleep in the middle with my leg on his side.

Who mows the lawn? Uncle Jackson

Who cooks dinner? I do most the time...but he will surprise me once in a while. He is a good, creative cook, I might add.

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? I AM the first to admit I am wrong and also when he is wrong. Yeah...I know that's real good of me, right!

Who kissed who first? He asked if he could kiss me...so it was him! What a sweetie!

Who wears the pants? We share the pants in our home....I would like to think. But actually when I start thinking about it...it's him! And I will let him...it's hard work.

I tag Mel, Ali, Buggy, Emo, Jen G., Ang and all those out there that want to brag about your love!

The cool is here

This morning I woke up hyper and annoying as ever.

(in the best way possible)

Dancing around like I was at one of the old high school dances, like I was a tap dancer, like I was on some reality TV show, like I was a mad woman, like I was a member of the "new kids on the block", like I was a little anxious for FALL.
Our thermostat read 68 degrees in the house. We have had our windows open all day long and we are still chilly.
I love to have my nose and toes cold and wear a thin jacket!
It's finally come!
YIPPEE!!!!

OH MY GOODNESS

This video made me Laugh so hard...I was crying.

Turn off the music on the left to fully enjoy this skit

****for those who are wondering....it is clean****

Why I do this thing!

I have been asked a few times...

How do you find the time to blog?

I think some feel like it's a waste of time.

Let me tell you a little story.

Back in 2004 we, the Hallows family made a drastic move, from Ensenada Mexico to Hurricane Utah. We made this move in a matter of about 48 hours. I was instructed to pack a car load of stuff and then I could come back for the rest of it in a few days.

(for those that have visited our home.....does this picture make you as homesick as it does me)

So I did just that. I packed my families important documents, passports, Birth Cert., Bank items, Social Security Cards and a few other things. I also packed up clothes for my 2 girls and myself for the next few days..by the way I was 7 months prego with Cedar, at the time. I decided to also packed up my journals (10 years worth) in a beautiful wooden box, made locally, that my sweet husband gave me for our 5th anniversary. Inside this box was also a few pieces of jewelery my husband had given me from our 1st year of marriage as well as our 5th year.
When I left from my home the first time, I left my box in the top of my closet, knowing that I would be back in a few days to retrieve it.
When I returned 3 days later to collect the rest of my belongings..I was informed that I had about 24 hours to pack the rest of the house. I had my Sis-in-law with me, (bless her heart) because I had major siatica nerve thing happening and I remember basically dragging my left leg behind me because it hurt pretty bad. A few days before this whole thing went down I was admitted to the hospital for being dehydrated...so I was a little stressed to say the least.

Well, long story short, (because this is really a long story, and all together another post!)...
when we returned to the house to get our things, there was a car in front of our house with the door bulging with "my things".
I didn't think much of it, because I knew the person and had told her she could come get some things...once we had left for good. I just wasn't expecting her while I was still trying to collect my home.
We knew there would be no way we could get all our things on such a short notice of leaving, so that's why we knew there would be plenty for her and her family to have. Like a brand new bunk bed, queen bed, mirrors, tables and chairs and lots of kitchen items.
About 4 months after our move...we finally were able to unpack our things. I immediately went digging for my wooden box. The box with my 10 years of journals in it. The box that has journals from when I was in college, when I got engaged, got married, 1st year to 5th year of marriage, all our moves we had made, when I had my first child and then my second.

It was no where to be found!

In the move from MX to Utah...it was misplaced or taken or lost or dropped or translated to Heaven. I called everyone I knew that might of touched it....but it was gone! I will say...there have been many tears shed because of this loss.
Imagine the one thing that you like the most(besides your family of course)...like a movie collection or your Computer or Scrapbooks or a collection of your favorite Books or photos or possibly even a load of blankets you have made. And you had worked for a while to get a nice collection of these items...then in a blink they were all gone. I know they are just "things", but it still stinks that they went bye bye.

It's something I like to do...it's my way of escaping, into my brain.
And I have to have something for my kids to read when I am dead and gone.

That is why I find the time to blog/journal!

What you might see. No...what you will see!

We decided to take a little sunday drive and take pictures of our area.Here are a few things we see on a regular basis around our home.
Here is our driver..Little Cedar

Our pet...He lives just outside our back door. I think his brother might of gotten ran over in the front. We don't go 3 days without seeing one of these guys crawling around.

These are so beautiful with their bright orange flowers on top. The kids told me this one is called the "sweaty Cactus". I couldn't figure out why, until they informed me that he was wearing a head band...duh!

Giant ant hills...these things are everywhere and huge.Oh...their red ants and man do their bites sting like something fierce. Espeically on the inside of your knee...extra soft skin there.

It's hard to see this little family of Quail being chased down the river bed by us...but we see them every time we go. They are so cute with their little feather on top of their heads.

And Lastly...this picture doesn't give this thing justice. It's as big as my finger. Their called Mexican Generals...its'a big fat grasshopper.

Tagged by Sis

Five Friends Tag-FIVE
10 Years Ago I.....
1. lived in South Carolina
2. was 23
3. had the worst hair cut in my entire life.
4. married for 1.5 year
5. was 20 lbs lighter

Things on today's "to do" list...
1. play a board game with the girls
2. think of something to make for dinner
3. go for a walk
4. clean my disgusting kitchen
5. jump on the tramp with the kids.

5 snacks I enjoy...
1. swedish fish
2. red hots
3. sour patch watermelons
4. fruit smoothies
5. caramel popcorn

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire...
1. find a nice home in Springdale Utah and hibernate.
2. Travel around the US
3. Travel to Africa & Europe
4. I'm a millionaire, I'm going to Disneyland
5. find a nice home in Ensenada MX and Partay

5 places I have lived...
1. South Carolina
2. Ensenada Mexico
3. Amargosa Valley, NV
4. Blue Ridge, GA
5. Arivaca AZ

5 jobs that I've had...
1. Banker
2. front desk at Pediatrians
3. custodian during summer months
4. gas attendant
5. Parent COordinator for boarding school

Each player answers the question themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.Let the person that tagged you know when you've answered the questions on your blog.
I tag: You & You & You & YOu & finally You!

a bunch of jibber jabber from my head

I wanted to write a few things down that have been clouding my brain the past few weeks. this post will most likely be very unorganized and possibly make no sense to anyone by myself, but I want to write some thoughts.

Lately I have been on the edge with my emotions. I have felt like at any time I could just break down and bawl my eyes out. So many times over the past little while, I will see something or hear something and then developed the "lump" in the throat, only to choke it back down again. I am not sure if it's this time of the year that makes me melancholy, wishing for cooler weather and not seeing the season change.
Or that time of the month that makes me hormonal and weird.
Or that time of the day when I am the most exhausted from the days activities.
I am not sure what it is, but it has been a "thing" that has been welling up inside me.
By the way, I know it sounds like pregnancy...but It's NOT!

I understand that I am so blessed with my life.
I have 4 beautiful, caring, amazing children that see me as MOM and the teacher everyday. They love me and I see that in their eyes.
I understand that I have a wonderful husband that sees me as the wife and best friend. I see the things he does around the house to lighten my load and I am grateful for him being so observant. The other day I had a visitor come to the house and was blown away by the fact that Luke was changing the laundry then folding it. I mentioned to her that, 30 minutes earlier, he had brought me breakfast in bed. I know what I have and I am so grateful for him.

So, this "thing" isn't my family. This "thing" could very well be slight exhaustion mixed with sleep deprivation.

I have relized something about myself over the past year that is disturbing.
I LOVE sleep and have no problem getting to sleep(that's not the disturbing part)....it's the going to bed part that is hard for me. Especially since we have moved here.
I tend to stay up late and read or computerize or stare off into space, or just breath. I sometimes find myself catching up on show I had recorded from the previous few days.
It's the not going to bed that is a serious part of this "thing".

Here comes the unorganized part of this post...it's just thoughts coming out..beware!

We are currently homeschooling. Well, let me rephrase that...I am teaching my children at home but am using a virtual academy as my curriculum.
I was told the other day by a homeschool mother that I was technically not "homeschooling". She even used the whole two finger quotation action on both hands, while saying it. For some reason she had a problem with people that use virtual academy's and say they home school.
I know that we won't be doing this "home schooling" thing for longer than a year...so I wasn't interested in buying an expensive curriculum online. I chose this academy that is a chartered public school for people that want their children to stay home and/or can't get to a physical school. This school is free and they send you all you need...and more. This program works great for us at this time.
This place we live, is beautiful and full of adventure for older kids...my two boys are just a little to young to be wandering around the mesquite trees among the poisonous spiders, tarantulas, cougars, horses running wild, dogs and open watering holes the size of a swimming pool.
So we spend a lot of time in and around our home. The town is more like a village although we have a little library we go to on Wednesadys for storytime. We also have a little merantile we got to right after the library for sweets and a community center with a park we try to go to every week.
Since I do have the kids home all day...I don't get a lot of breathing time to myself and them breathing time from ME. Even locking myself in the bathroom for a quick timeout..they find a way to unlock the door and then it seems to turn into a pow wow at the pot.

I feel very selfish and non-motherly for the above comment.
And then guilt adds to this "thing".

I know that this is my calling as a mother, and I am so Happy to be one. I would NOT trade anything for the opportunity I have to be home and teach my own.
I know that this all sounds like poor excuses and slightly ridiculous.
I am NOT saying that I don't enjoy having my children home with me all day. I actually love it very much. Especially when we are all on the same page and just playing together. But when it's school time for the girlie's and the two boys are wanting my attention. It makes that time of the day difficult for all.

The other part of this deal could have something to do with slight exhaustion...which is directly related to NO SLEEP!

Hello, rennie, get a grip...go to bed!

complaining is next...

I haven't felt "well" for about 2 months. I got food poisoning about 2 months ago and haven't really recovered. With my body trying to rid the toxins and then to top it off...no shut eye...my body is on strike right now.

The past few days I have felt like my mind is joining the ranks with a "anti-Rennie" sign in hand, right along them is my Spiritual Wellness.
I tell ya, it's been coming to a head and I suppose it was bound to happen.

My sweet little husband has noticed my exhaustion and my frustration with "Myself". He has been a Lovey and has taken the boys out with him, here and there when he can. The other day he took all four children on a ride around the ranch so I could prepare dinner. While he was gone I popped a CD in the player to take a listen. It was one that my SIL sent me for my b-day. It is a CD by Clyde Bawden, called Hymns to Him. This is the same musician that did the music for the "Reflections of Christ" project found in the Mesa LDS Temple Visitor Center earlier this year.

As I listened to this one track it struck a memory I had stored in the back of my brain. It was this experience I had on May 17th, 2008. This day happened to be the day my Birdie girl was baptized and afterwards we took my parents to the Visitor Center to see the display of these amazing photos. I was very excited for my parents to see this and so we entered the room.
The room was dark with lights placed strategically on different photos. Some brighter than others and some smaller than others. I remember walking in the room and hearing someone speaking Spanish kind of loud on the other side of one of the walls. A thought came to my mind, "I hope my parents aren't distracted from these photos and the Spirit, by that loud voice." By the way, they weren't at all distracted.
Once we looked at the first 5 or so photos we turned the corner to see a man sitting on a small bench in the middle of the room...all by himself. The pieces started coming together, for me, once that man came into view. He was sitting there sobbing and praying to Heavenly Father for forgiveness, in Spanish. He didn't care that we were there...he was there and he was begging. This took my breath away. I thought to myself how cool it was that he knews he could come here to the Temple grounds and feel the Lords Spirit so strong. Could there be a better place to pray? We kind of tipped toes around him, not to disturb. But we all found ourselves crying right along with him.

While listening to this song the other day I thought to myself that I haven't used that lifeline, PRAYER, in that way for a long time. I say my prayers at bedtime, we say our prayers at the table and we say our family prayers. I go to church and feel the spirit through talks I feel the Spirit during song. It's just Me as an individual have been shutting out feelings that I need. I have been treading water rather than swimming forward.

You know the whole progression thing!

Why do I forget the most important things in life when it comes to getting answers? I sometimes think I need to, first, collect my thoughts and try to figure it out myself and then I will turn to Him.
But, I have come to be reminded that, that is precisely the time to turn to HIM....from the beginning. The beginning of the day, the beginning a problem, the beginning of whatever.
I have been so mad at myself because I had forgotten to let HIM in.
What is my deal?
I know the truth and I love having the truth in my life.
So..I am learning (that is good).
I told you...unorganized and making not much sense.....but it's all from my brain, what can I say?
Somehow when I write things down or talk about it out loud...it all seems so different.
So easy!

What a funny kid!

My little Creams is only 2 years old...but he understands humor. It's amazing to watch him and see him pull these things out of his hat knowing good and well it will make us all crack up. This boy can make his big brother bust a gut in a matter of seconds. This picture is just one of his funny moments.

I was making something in the kitchen as he walked in, grabbed this bowl, dropped it on his head, grabbed the banana and started saying

"hello? Hello? Hello?"

I know it looks staged...but honestly it is NOT!

He is just one funny, crazy guy!

These following pictures are some of his faces that he pulls on a whim. I will say

"Creams, let's see your sick face"

"Cream, your happy face"

"What about your surprised face?"

I'm telling you...he is the life of the party!