Life as I Know It

Pukey and Blind-boy

2012-02-08T10:59:00.000-08:00

New nicknames for CT and DJ. Collins eyes are still dilated and Drew woke up barfing last night...Ry was the only one who made it to school today. 😜

CT Waiting For the Eye Doctor

2012-02-07T13:27:00.000-08:00

Can you do this while you wait?

Cancer Is So Wrong

2012-02-05T20:18:00.001-08:00

My dear friend Kimi found out on Friday that her 15 year old son has an inoperable spinal tumor. Andrew is a great kid. He is friendly, the kind of guy who knows how to make eye contact and conversation with his mom's friends. The kind of kid who plays basketball and baseball and will babysit his four year old sister when his mom desperately needs a girls night at the movies. He seems to have an endless stream of friends and social events but still likes to join his family for an occasional houseboat day or get-together at the house even though he will be the oldest kid present. He is always good to all those younger kids too. Really, he is a nice likable guy at an age when it's easy to not be. So I'm sad for him. He has a lot to go through. He is going to be sick and he's always seemed robust. He will miss baseball season and snowboarding and a lot of school (he's a good student too). But I'm glad there is hope, glad he has good doctors, glad he comes from a GREAT family. And it's been a special thing to see his generation pull together to support him. Dozens of people have changed their Facebook photo to his baseball number (it's the pic I included here) and hundreds have posted encouraging words for him. His team is raising funds to buy gas cards to get him to treatments. People are calling to ask how they can help. His school is planning a spirit day for him. Cancer is so ugly, so horrible. But this kid is great, his family is wonderful, he seems to be bringing out the best in others, and my greatest prayer is that he will beat it.

Wow!

2012-02-01T09:23:00.000-08:00

First quarter went well for Ry! I'm so proud!

First Ski Day 2012

2012-01-31T19:38:00.001-08:00

Collin is skiing this year. It's fun seeing how much everyone improves from the previous season. The kids all look so cute in their ski getups! Hopefully we get more snow!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T08:40:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Vacation

2011-11-21T18:58:00.000-08:00

This is what it's looking like at our house!

Birthday Fun!

2011-10-25T15:43:00.000-07:00

Who can believe she is a teen? Wow, can't believe it myself. What a beautiful girl she is turning out to be. Happy birthday Ry!

The Last Couple of Weeks

2011-10-23T19:20:00.000-07:00

Don't Ask Me Why...

2011-09-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

Angels Vs. Yankees

2011-09-11T16:01:00.000-07:00

Fun! Time to head north...

Date Food at Galaxy Game!

2011-09-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

Yummy!

At a Galaxy Game!

2011-09-09T19:33:00.001-07:00

Oops, Forgot to Post Yesterday!

2011-08-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

First day of school pic!

Great America

2011-08-15T12:31:00.000-07:00

With school about to start we were itching for one last fun weekend. We had not been to Great America since Ry was 2 or 3 years old. Friday afternoon we jumped into the car and drove south. Then Saturday morning we headed for the park! What a fun time. CT & Drew rode their first roller coaster (with me as a reluctant passenger) and Ry was able to ride the big ones for the first time (with her eager dad along). Here they are watching the fire works just before the park closed.

Ha!

2011-08-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

These kids crack me up!

Little Wood Workers

2011-07-26T15:23:00.000-07:00

Drew helped CT make this cute little tool box from a kit he received for his birthday. So cute! Thanks Miss Kim, this was a big hit!

Four!

2011-07-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

I Love My Garden!

2011-07-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

Fun With Food

2011-07-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

> Picked this cute tomato out of the garden yesterday! Think we will name him Cyrano.
>

Good Times!

2011-06-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

Went to a super fun concert and spent time with a couple of my oldest and dearest friends over the weekend. I'm so lucky to have these sweet ladies in my life!

All By Myself!

2011-06-10T09:23:00.001-07:00

CT picked out this whole outfit and put it on without any help! Such a big boy!

A Good Way to End May...

2011-06-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

...At one of my favorite places and with some of my favorite people!

Guessing Game

2011-03-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

I wonder if you can guess who's laundry I'm doing from this picture of the contents of the pockets I emptied??? :)

Resting in the Sun

2011-03-28T13:04:00.000-07:00

Piper and CT are taking a break from tormenting each other. How lovely to have a day of sunshine! We had to spend some time soaking it up!

Sweet and Savory

2011-03-22T16:46:00.001-07:00

This beautiful cookbook contains 250 mouthwatering recipes. Several that I contributed, along with my mother, grandmother, sister, future sister-in-law, mother-in-law, grandmother-in-law and several of my great friends. Of course the rest of the school contributed recipes from their own family recipe books! We are selling the book to raise money to send all the 8th grade students to Washington DC (yes, we are already preparing for Ry to go). The fundraising for this trip is a huge project as I'm sure you could guess! If you or anyone you know are interested in buying one of these delightful books, please, let me know. They do make great gifts (birthdays, wedding showers, Easter, Mothers Day). If you are like me, you are always looking for an interesting gift idea! Please feel free to pass along this info to friends or family that may be interested. Thanks!

Hula Pie

2011-03-12T22:47:00.000-08:00

Before and after pics of the best dessert in Hawaii!

Effects of Tsunami

2011-03-11T14:47:00.001-08:00

This is a reef on Kaanapali beach that is usually covered under several feet of water. It has been exposed every half hour or so today. It is as if the tide is in fast-forward, coming in and out in minutes instead of the six hours it normally takes. We still are being asked not to swim in the ocean due to strong currents. No problem, the pool works for me!

Ry's art

2011-02-22T15:36:00.000-08:00

Ry took a fun art elective last semester at school. She really enjoyed it. Here are some of the students work, in the display case in the school office. Her pic is in the bottom right corner.

Meet Mr. Happy...

2011-02-17T16:10:00.001-08:00

...The new snowman in town!

Beautiful Day!

2011-01-28T07:55:00.001-08:00

Reading Charlotte's Web.

Piper gets a bath.

Molly Made Dinner

2011-01-26T20:53:00.000-08:00

Delicious!

Ski Lift Pics

2011-01-22T17:31:00.001-08:00

Winter Fun

2011-01-19T09:35:00.000-08:00

Mike has been teaching the kids to ski. Here is some video he took.

So Little to Say...

2010-12-07T14:30:00.000-08:00

Wow, that title is so not like me! Lately I have become paranoid about putting too much personal info online. Since I tend toward being a blabbermouth, it can be tough to walk the line between being entertaining and putting those I love (or my identity) in harms way. It's hard to tell stories without detail!

It seems as though the last few months have been a whirlwind of baby showers, weddings, engagements, and sadly, funerals. So, life goes on. I feel as though I am coming out of a fog as the year ends. I'm looking forward to the holidays, cutting down a tree with my family, parties, FOOD, new babies (not mine!), a couple weeks of no school, getting in some skiing!

I have been thinking a lot lately about what is truly important in life and have decided to try to spend more time with my family. Not just the Hubby and kids. Grandparents, parents, siblings (have not quite worked out the sibling thing, you guys are too far away!) and my family-in-law. So far it has been working out well, and it seems like everyone has been enjoying getting together more often.

That's all for now...

Peck O' Peppers

2010-10-26T18:23:00.000-07:00

A whole lot of peppers, even if I'm unsure how many are in a peck! The
last hervest yielded an overflowing bounty of jalapenos, anaheims, and
even a few habeneros. I haven't burned my tongue on them but Mike
tells me they are quite hot! Now it's time to plan the winter garden.

Artists at Work

2010-08-12T10:56:00.001-07:00

A beautiful day, and some beauty being made!

We Grew This!!!

2010-08-10T19:53:00.000-07:00

Garden Goodness

2010-07-27T18:22:00.000-07:00

Busy day making fresh from the garden goodies! Tomato basil soup,
peach salsa, and tomato salsa!

Best Crop Yet!

2010-07-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

All picked today!

Kid Quote of the Day

2010-07-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

"Mom, your iPod sounds like the oldies station"

~Riley

That's a BIG Bite!

2010-07-05T20:40:00.001-07:00

A mystery critter is taking large bites out of our ripe veggies and
tearing the peaches off of our tree. This is very frustrating and kind
of sad! Earlier today I picked some tomatoes and checked all the
plants. Later I went out to check the water and found this previously
pretty tomato with this huge bite in it.

Ten Years...

2010-06-17T08:13:00.000-07:00

...of Passion and Bliss! It is our ten year anniversary today. (Sadly, after ten years and three children this really is the best pic I have of my family all together!) :) WE MADE IT!

Harvest...

2010-06-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

Ok, it's not really a bountiful harvest...

We did pick one whole tomato though! Its very cute and has nothing to
do with the sunflower it is sitting in. The girls are at the Relay for
Life with grandma Wilma so we are putting off tasting our tomato until
tomorrow. The garden is looking really good and as long as there are
no mishaps I am expecting quite a lot of veggies!

The Pic From Yesterday

2010-05-29T17:49:00.000-07:00

Hope this pic works. I'm out of town and posting from my cell...

Two Years in a Row!

2010-05-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

Look at my beautiful and SMART girl!

:-)

A Good Way to Waste Time!

2010-05-21T12:21:00.000-07:00

This is why I love Google! I log on to try and find something and end up playing Pac Man for 25 minutes instead! Check it out...inside the G is tough!

Lettuce

2010-05-03T11:32:00.001-07:00

Growing on my farm...

Also known as my backyard.õš

Backyard Fun

2010-05-03T11:30:00.000-07:00

Rooking for Rizards (Translation: Looking for Lizards)

2010-04-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

Collin & Piper have found a common interest. They spend a lot of time
searching out lizards in the yard. My favorite thing is having Collin
tell me what they are doing...he can't quite say his r's yet!

First Harvest

2010-04-19T12:13:00.001-07:00

Yes, that is correct, I have just harvested SIX strawberries from my
garden! (practically a meal!)

õš

Big, Big Day!

2010-04-08T20:14:00.000-07:00

Today was finally the day! With tons of help I planted my veggie garden. Mom, Dad, Collin, Nini, Madison, Mark and Tanner were the stellar crew of expert farmers that came today. We put in tomatoes, peppers (sweet and hot), cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, onions, watermelon, cantaloupe, snap peas, zucchini, and strawberries. We also have a dwarf peach tree, dwarf lime, and dwarf orange tree. And of course my herbs: cilantro, basil, thyme, oregano, chives, parsley and mint(is mint really an herb?). Sounds like a regular little farm! OK, perhaps I exaggerate! I am so excited to have it all planted.

Mom and Dad by the mini lettuce patch

Nini and Madison work on sweet snap peas
Mark could be a farmer! He worked so hard all day. Here he is planting a row of Walla Walla onions.
Collin helps Mom turn the soil. Tanner was the babysitter, he kept CT out of the way all day!
The four boxes from above.

And then...

As if that was not enough excitement for the day, Mike, Ry and Drew came home with a DOG! Of course it was not a surprise, they left very early this morning and drove a couple of hours to pick her up. Her name is Piper, she is one year old, a beautiful dark brown (almost black). She is a Staffordshire Terrier-Retriever mix. Mike and the girls have been scouring the online shelter listings for a dog and when they found Piper it was LOVE! We had promised the kids a dog when the yard was finished. She is very sweet, a bit energetic but fun!

I think they like each other!

Who Thinks I Can Actually Grow This Stuff?

2010-04-03T13:18:00.001-07:00

I'm going to have fun trying!

Pretty Herbs

2010-03-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

Yummy too!

Very exciting changes!

2010-03-06T18:07:00.000-08:00

Very exciting changes! We are almost done with our yard. The big raised beds are ready to plant with veggies as soon as the frost danger has passed. There always seems to be one more thing to do, but, it has come so far!

Check out this link to my post on the very first day of yard work:
http://melissa-lifeasiknowit.blogspot.com/2009/04/let-yard-work-begin.html

And another post a month later:
http://melissa-lifeasiknowit.blogspot.com/2009/05/backyard-update.html

Funny Video

2010-01-13T13:28:00.000-08:00

Here is a funny video. Collin had been pretending that this little brown truck with a guy driving was Uncle Matt in his work truck. He was making the truck crash then saying things like "Uncle Matt is crying, he needs to go to bed. Uncle Matt needs a pacifier, and a blanky." I was cracking up! Of course I could not get him to do it again when I had the camera on, however he still managed to make me laugh.

Quote of the Day

2010-01-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

"Every now and then, you just need to believe that everything can be
frozen in that one moment where everything is going right."
Lauren Willig

:-)

Sharing Christmas Gifts

2009-12-28T15:57:00.001-08:00

Collin really wants his own iPod touch! Good thing his dad is willing
to share.

Christmas Morning Sunrise!

2009-12-25T07:03:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Cozy Day

2009-12-09T10:26:00.000-08:00

Baby, it's cold outside!

Had to Take a Picture...

2009-12-04T13:33:00.001-08:00

...of my lunch. Mmmm, Spanish rice, black beans, shredded chicken,
cheese, cilantro, olives, and sour cream. Didn't even need the tortilla!

My New Boyfriend

2009-11-25T12:27:00.001-08:00

I'm in love!

Who Are These Kids?

2009-11-21T08:00:00.001-08:00

And why are they at my house?

Missing Tooth

2009-11-16T17:41:00.000-08:00

Drew lost a tooth this morning! Her first!

Frustration...

2009-11-10T21:24:00.000-08:00

Have you ever tried helping a 5Th grader do math you have never even heard of (Insert hysterical laughter)? Looked it up...still makes no sense! Check out 'Casting out nines' on Wikipedia. This is scary stuff!

Fire!

2009-11-06T11:48:00.000-08:00

Came home to smoke billowing from my house...lucky for us it is CDF
doing some brush burning behind the house and we still have a place to
live.

Drew and Mike's Pumpkin

2009-10-31T19:35:00.000-07:00

Spooky!!!

2009-10-31T17:43:00.001-07:00

Scooby Dooby Doo...

2009-10-31T17:29:00.000-07:00

Where are you?

Off to See the Wizard

2009-10-31T17:18:00.001-07:00

Ruby slippers and Toto too!

Jinkies

2009-10-31T17:15:00.001-07:00

Solve the mystery: who is this Velma?

Lots of Changes

2009-10-26T11:50:00.001-07:00

Here is an update on the neighborhood going in next to our house. They
have four houses in different stages of construction. Paved road and
sidewalks are in, and they are starting on landscaping.

Mmmmm...

2009-10-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

This slumber party makes me happy I don't have six daughters! :)

Let The Party Begin

2009-10-23T14:43:00.001-07:00

She made the sign herself. Too cute!

Collin Colors

2009-10-20T15:24:00.000-07:00

This is how Collin entertains himself during Drew's dance class. What
a sweet boy!

Project #2 of the Weekend

2009-10-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

A cool new rack in the garage to hang bikes and other sporting
equipment. We are going to hang another for tools but we ran out of
steam for today. Progress!

Yipee!

2009-10-17T14:30:00.001-07:00

We have sod!

Wild Party!

2009-10-04T16:12:00.001-07:00

Sunday Night

2009-09-20T20:53:00.001-07:00

Sure tastes good!

So Pretty!

2009-09-18T14:37:00.001-07:00

What? For me? Oh, how lovely! Thank you.

Quote of the Day

2009-09-16T20:16:00.000-07:00

"“I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge- myth is more potent than history- dreams are more powerful than facts- hope always triumphs over experience- laughter is the cure for grief- love is stronger than death.”

~ Robert Fulghum"

The Girls

2009-09-12T17:42:00.001-07:00

I'm blogging from my cell...not a spare computer in sight.

Where you been?

2009-09-08T18:42:00.000-07:00

Growing Up (Me, Not the Kids)

2009-08-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

When you are the one who is traveling far and wide it is often difficult to feel sad for those whom you have left behind. When you are the one left at home, with a big hole in your daily life, it seems to go on forever. I have of course experienced before missing someone who is gone on a trip. I have to tell you though, there is no other kind of missing that equals the way you miss your first born child on their first extended stay away from home. My oldest, Riley, went away for four days and three nights to her first overnight camp. I had no idea how strange and sad it would be without her here. Its not that we did anything different while she was gone. To me it felt more like I was just missing something, like she (or I) was lost. She, of course, had a great time. She came home exhausted today, covered in red dust, glowing, and full of fun stories. Will she go to camp again? She can't wait! I hope that knowing how it will be at home without her will make it easier next time.

Fun Film

2009-08-04T18:36:00.000-07:00

Just watched this cute short film and thought I would share the link. I really enjoyed it!

http://anewscafe.com/2009/08/04/cart-the-film/

Construction Zone

2009-07-30T20:06:00.001-07:00

If you have been to our house, you know that we live at the end of the street. A dead end until recently. There was some beautiful wooded land right next to us. We would often see rabbits, squirrels, lots of birds, one time the girls and I saw a coyote and once my mom spotted a Mountain Lion! We would also watch a beautiful Hawk that flew over the wild area near the house. Alas, all of that wildness has been mowed down. In a very short couple of weeks, heavy machinery and many man hours have flattened the trees and are leveling the land. Although it makes me really sad, it is fascinating to watch. It amazes me to leave for work in the morning to one view and come home to a reshaped landscape. The earth movers, bulldozers, graders, and other various machinery are Collin's new favorite thing. He will sit on the patio or look out his window for as long as we will let him. They are putting in something like 96 new houses (why, in this economy, with this housing market is a mystery to me) and a 13 acre park. Some new little friends are unfortunately taking up residence at our house. A couple of Ground Squirrels are trying to dig their way through the foundation and we have had the dis-pleasure of seeing some mice sneaking around. I am hoping they don't come in! Here are some pictures. The first one is Collin sitting on his window sill and Ry standing by him. I took this one on one of the first days they worked. The others are from today.

Ugly But...Oh, So Good

2009-07-30T19:45:00.001-07:00

Mmmmm, Triple Chocolate Brownies with Peanut Butter Frosting and pink
sprinkles (sprinkles courtesy of Drew). Looks like a big blobby mess.
Tastes fantastic! Yummy!

Collin Turns Two

2009-07-21T21:08:00.001-07:00

Fabulous poster made by Ry.

Sweet birthday boy! (This is my favorite pic of the day. Thanks, Molly for capturing it!)
Elmo hat!

Amazing Elmo cake! Thanks Anita and Anna, it was so great!

Grandma helping open the presents.
This video captures my favorite moment of the day. Collin really seemed to have no idea the singing was for him. He got so into it, he kept going even when we were all finished. I love that he seemed to realize and even get a little embarrassed, so CUTE!

Thanks to all who made the day so special. We are so lucky to be surrounded by many loving friends and family, I feel blessed every day! When I see such a great group together, enjoying each other (and lots of food) it really makes me happy. I hope to share many more days like yesterday with you all!

Birthday Boy!

2009-07-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

Enjoying his first birthday treat!

Dance Star

2009-07-15T19:26:00.001-07:00

Ballet and tap class made Drew and I hungry for ice cream! Coffee
lovers for me. Sweet cream with Twix candy for the dancer. I think it
has cooled down to 99 degrees...maybe!

Peachy

2009-07-15T17:07:00.000-07:00

Our very first fruit off of our cute little peach tree! Still warm,
smells yummy!

The Power of the Blog

2009-07-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

When I wrote my last blog post I admit I was feeling a bit 'blah'. I don't get down too often but have been a bit down and grumpy too. The lovely thing is, after I vented it all out on my blog I felt so much better! So, thanks for reading.

Wooooow, Wowie, Wowow

2009-07-13T19:26:00.000-07:00

So not much blog posting going on these days. There has been lots going on...guess I just have not been in the mood. I have not really been feeling in the mood for much for the last month or so. Closing m is taking a bit of a toll on me. I am really glad that we are closing, it is definitely time. I guess the issue is having to deal with the looks of pity from well meaning customers everyday. I am really trying to let people know it is NOT THE ECONOMY! This really is a personal decision to make my family and home life my priority. I am not dealing very well with the pity and the near tears act people are putting on. I am very flattered and grateful that people have enjoyed my store enough to care that we are closing. Pity sucks though! Don't feel sorry for me, I am doing exactly what I want to do! { Tirade over. }

:) The going out of business sale is going really well, we have been busy, busy, busy! I am hoping we can close up before school starts!

As far as summer activities go, the kids are busy and enjoying themselves. Drew finished her swimming lessons, and is really enjoying dance. Riley had a great time last week at her horse riding camp, she continues swimming four days a week. Collin is having his swim lessons now, they are toddler and parent so we get in with him for the lessons, fun stuff!

We have not been getting much done on the yard. Mike has been working a lot and we have had stuff planned on the weekends, not a lot of time left over. We hired someone to do a bit of the hard digging that needs to be done, so perhaps soon we will be able to put in the sod. We may hire a guy that installs irrigation to put in the drip system we need for our plants to live. It will be a pretty large job, a little overwhelming for us! Mike and a friend were able to build a box to cover the sump pump that was ugly and unsafe. They did a really good job. It looks really nice!

GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE

2009-07-07T11:13:00.000-07:00

The time has come, we are beginning the process of liquidating our stock at m. Starting NOW, all merchandise is at least 30% off (excluding Chamilia and candles). We do have some areas that are more than 30% off. Thank you all for your support through this time of transition! I would really appreciate you sharing this news with family and friends.

One Second of Peace

2009-07-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

And that was the only one I got!

Hair Day! (Part 2)

2009-06-25T11:34:00.001-07:00

The after pic!

Hair Day!

2009-06-25T09:34:00.000-07:00

This is the before...tune in later for the after!

Distraction

2009-06-24T12:07:00.000-07:00

As most of my good buddies know, I am an avid reader. I can usually devour two or three books a week. Lately I have been having the worst time finding a good book! It could just be me...I have a lot on my mind and have been quite easily distracted (things are changing at m and it's weird). So, what I am wondering is, do any of my dear blog friends have a suggestion for me? I have a couple of books going right now that are not doing it for me. One seems too serious and the other too shallow. In general I don't enjoy the trashy romance genre, although it is OK on occasion. I appreciate any tips!

Hanging Out at Swim

2009-06-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

Ry is getting quite a workout. Drew, CT and me are reading all the
books we brought.

Park Time

2009-06-13T20:35:00.001-07:00

I don't even know who was playing, but we went to the park for the Mosquito Serenade. We took a classic picnic and enjoyed the night despite the rain that fell later in the evening.

We had so many fun times this week. A concert in the park, family dinners, a day at the lake, stilt walking, riding on segways, just a few of the adventures we shared over the past few days!