Happy Birthday Scoobs!

Today would have been Scooby's 26th birthday. Sadly, we held his funeral 4 years ago today, on his 22nd birthday. But, I've decided that being sad is silly, we can mourn on the anniversary of his death, but birthdays are for celebrating life! So, funny stories about Scooby!!!



One day when he was....10 years old?..... my mom got a call (or was it a visit?) from the Mesa Police Department, telling her that Scooby had been caught skateboarding on the roof of the elementary school! (I swear that boy was a regular Bart Simpson!)



When he was in high school he would leave his stereo on when he went to school. Not so bad, but I was working late hours at the airport, and trying to sleep in the mornings. I was constantly yelling at him to turn it off, and he was constanly being a teenage boy, ignoring me, or telling me to do it myself. I warned him to turn it off or else...! Of course he ignored me. So one day after he went to school without turning off the stupid stereo, I went in his room, unplugged it, and carried it to the attic. Later I got a phone call at work, as he demended to know what happened to his prized posession. I told him that I had warned him, and he wasn't getting it back! He said "Fine! Then I'll just take something of yours!" I told him to go right ahead, there's was nothing that mattered to me. All day I wondered what he would take. The only thing I worried about was the little teddy bear that Matt (boyfriend at the time) had given me for Valentine's day. All day I fretted over "Fuzzy", and hoped that he would be okay.When I got home from an early shift at work, I headed for my room, praying that Fuzzy was still there, and was astonished to walk in and find.....my king sized bed was MISSING! (but Fuzzy was fine, thanks for asking.)

We love you Scooby, and all your craziness!! Happy Birthday!

The error of my ways

I realized that all the funny little things that the kids say are the things I used to blog about. That is, until Facebook came along. I had vowed never to join the ranks. I revolted as long as I could, swearing off all forms of non-blogging communication. I shunned Facebook, and I despise the "tweet". But I have succumbed to the taunting of the crowds. Yes, they sucked me in with their pretty lights and shiny objects. Now instead of a blog entry, all the cute, funny, things the kids say have ended up on my Facebook page, leaving my poor little blog neglected.

I feel bad for my blog really. Sometimes I can hear it, faintly in the night, softly calling out my name. And as I scroll down the list of favorites on my computer screen, there it is, staring at me, as I navigate my way to my bookmarked Facebook page. It stares with a dejected little face, trying desperately to gain my affections again. "Don't you love me anymore?" it asks. "Did I do something wrong?" it sadly whispers. I feel guilty really, ashamed of my behavior. My blog has been such a good friend to me, and here I am, hurting it so badly. I didn't try to, it just happened. It was the excitement of something new that led me astray.

My friendship with Facebook started as just that, we were just friends, acquaintances really. Then our bond strengthened, and our time together was more and more. Soon my blog was asking, "Are you going to be long?" I began making excuses to my little blog. "Oh, it's just this one little comment," and, "I promise I'll only post this tiny little thread." And as our love affair grew, so did my lies. "I swear your the only one, I'm just playing a virtual game. It means nothing to me, really." Soon, I was spending all night with Facebook, too tired to blog anymore, and in the early light of day, I would hear my blog say, "I waited for you. You never came."

I suppose it's guilt that's brought me back. Maybe it's knowing how loyal my blog has been, just sitting there, waiting for me to return. And as I write, I can hear it whisper, "thank you," and I smile, knowing that my blog can offer me things that Facebook can't. I suppose Facebook and I will still be friends, but the pretty lights and shiny objects have faded some. Oh sure, every once in a while it will try to entice me again with a new game or a new friend, and sometimes I am swayed. But I will try to remember who stood by me, loyally waiting for me to realize the error of my ways. Oh faithful little blog, how I've missed you.

Remembering Scooby

Today is February 3rd. 4 years ago today my brother Cheston passed away suddenly, at they young age of 21, almost 22. His nickname was Scooby, and everyone who knew him, loved him. We remember him today. Visit the Facebook group, Remembering "Scooby" - Cheston R. Berry, and leave a comment for him.

We love you and miss you Scooby! We can't wait to see you again!

Hey, look! I'm alive!

I guess I've been on an unintentional hiatus! I love Facebook, but it kills the world of blogging! I'm really going to try to update my blog more!

Photo shoot contest!

So I went to high school with a guy named Trevor Dayley, who is an amazing photographer! He's hosting a contest for a free photo shoot! Check him out at http://www.trevordayleyblog.com/!

Pedi anyone?

Does anyone want to:
A) go get pedicures, or
B) watch my kids for me so I can go get a pedicure?
C'mon, it'd be a great birthday present!

Giveaway!!!!

I chose that title so you'd read this. Technically is really is a giveaway. Let's start by saying that I am not a cat person. My mom is allergic, and I guess I just had bad experiences with cats as a kid. It's no secret to my husband that I dislike the feline variety. He knows I hate cats. I suppose little kittens are cute, but the problem is, they grow up to be cats! Scratching, shedding, pooping, peeing, clawing, smelly cats! (gee, I'm not bitter...) So WHY, pray tell, did my husband go searching Craigslist for a cat?!?! He said he saw an ad. In order to see an ad for a cat on Craigslist, you have to be looking for an ad for a cat on Craigslist. It's not something you just stumble upon. So imaging my surprise when he come homes from work on Sunday morning holding a little black & white kitten!

He claimed it was just so the kids could learn how to handle a pet. Right. He is a cat person. I think he just thought I'd fall in love with it once I got used to it. He was wrong.

He said it was litter box trained, but we don't have a litter box. So it went on a kitchen towel that Denver had left on the floor after cleaning up a spill. I suppose it's good with kids, although it (I say "it" because I don't know if it's a boy or girl, and I refuse to look. Matt thinks it's a he.) has not been de-clawed. I told him thank you so much for bringing this thing home, and getting the kids all psyched about it, and making me the bad guy because it can not stay. So we told them that we're just babysitting the cat. I suppose we're it's foster family until we can find a good home for it.

So...who wants a free kitty? First one to claim it (him?) wins!

Ouchy...pain

I know I've been gone awhile. I think I'm back. I think...not sure...I'll try. Anyway.
My tooth broke a couple weeks ago while eating nachos at Friday's! Turns out the silver filling I had, had cracked my tooth a while ago, and I never knew! It finally gave way and broke! After 3 dentists, I found one I like. Well, the tooth was not salvageable, and needed to come out. I opted to get an implant rather that a bridge. The bridge would unnecessarily damage surrounding teeth, and need to be replaced every 10-15 years. An implant will last the rest of my life, and not damage other teeth. We just need to be able to afford it. I went to have the tooth pulled, and just be a toothless hobo for awhile until we could afford the implant. Apparently, the tooth had been deteriorating or a while, and had eaten away at the bone underneath it. So, in order to prevent the surrounding teeth from caving in, because of the lack of bone structure to support them, I needed to get a bone graft! (Ya, that's just how I wanted to spend Matt's bonus.) They mix up freeze dried human bone, with some other stuff, and pack it in there. Gross. Beyond gross. While they were doing it, it smelled like turkey bone. You know, after you eat the turkey, and have the carcass left over? Ya, it smelled like that. Nasty. So now I have stitches and nasty bone ooze for a while. It still hurts too much to eat solid foods. So I'm living on oatmeal and mashed potatoes. The plus side? I should loose 20 pounds in no time!

It should be healed enough for the implant in 3 months. Maybe less. Then it has to heal again before I can get the crown that fits over the titanium screw that will go in my jaw. (That's the implant part, it replaces the root of the tooth.) Until then, I'll just be a toothless redneck!

Good things

Just a reminder that I have to turn in the Entertainment Book orders tomorrow. If you want one, let me know asap. Remember, totally no pressure!
On a side note, my friend Becky is starting a non-profit organization! It's called Lanee's Legacy. You should totally check it out! She makes bereavement boxes for moms who's new babies have passed, and they have to leave the hospital without their baby. She donates the boxes to the hospitals to give the mothers. They are having a pancake breakfast with a raffle and a silent auction to help raise money for the boxes. The breakfast is October 10th, tickets are $5 or 6 for $25. Details on her site. Come support the cause!

Entertainment Book

Okay, let me preface this by saying that I vow NOT to be one of those moms that bombard their friends and family with each and every one of their child's fundraisers. You will not have to avoid my phone calls because you are afraid that I will want you to buy something! You will not be asked to subscribe to magazines, buy wrapping paper, cookies, cookie dough, newspapers, etc.. Personally, I find it all to be a rip off, and I would much rather make a donation to my child's classroom. (No, I won't ask you for donations either ;) However, I may do an occasional post regarding school fundraisers or functions that I believe to actually not be a total scam, and are worthy of my time.

That being said, since I know that several of you use these books anyway, I wanted to give you the opportunity to purchase an Entertainment Book though Amberlyn's school. Proceeds go toward purchasing classroom supplies for Harmon Elementary School, (Amberlyn's school). (Of course there is the party for the top selling class, and the rewards for certain levels, but I couldn't care less about that.) So now a little about the Book:
*Includes coupons for tons of area attractions, including movies, golf, hotels, dining, museums, car, travel, grocery, and much more!
*Supports local economy
*Now with a membership card to fully take advantage of savings.
*Online coupons also available
*Includes $20 savings at Safeway (for Phoenix)
*Helps Amberlyn's school!

The Entertainment Book is available in a wide range of cities, (I have included ones where some of you live, or might visit) click to see the sample for that city:
Phoenix, AZ $30 - Tucson, AZ $35 - Utah $25 - D.C., Maryland $35 - Greater Seattle/Eastside, WA $25 - Vancouver, Canada, $51 - Denver, CO $35 - Witchita, KS $25 - Boise, ID $35
If you'd like to see other available cities, go to www.Entertainment.com

Checks and orders are due September 4th. If you would like to order, just leave a comment and let me know which city you would like an Entertainment Book for, and then you will either have to mail a check to my home address (make checks payable to Harmon Elementary PTSO), OR, I can pay for it myself, then send you an invoice through PayPal. (You do not have to have a PayPal account to do this!) Shipping is FREE! (I will hand deliver to those in the Phoenix area.) Or, I think you can order online. Just enter 939694 for the account number, her teacher is Ms. Lin, a.m. Kindergarten, room 324. (Let me know if you order online, so I can make sure her class gets the credit. But I think it will be easier if I just turn in the order myself.) I have to turn them in by the 4th, so let me know ASAP! I promise I will not hound you about this. I may post a reminder on the 2nd or 3rd of September. Please don't feel obligated. I understand that times are tough for some, or this just may not be of interest to you.

Entertainment Books are great to keep in the car, for those last minute, "Hey let's go here!" times, and make great reading material for long trips. Sometimes we plan our outings according to what coupons we have! Let me know if it interests you!

Kindergarten!! (the realization)

Well Amberlyn L-O-V-E-S her Kindergarten class! When I picked her up on the first day, she told me all about it! They colored a picture, sat in a circle on an alphabet rug & sang songs, watched "The Hungry Hungry Caterpillar", ate her snack I had packed her, and played on the playground. "Mom! We had recess! Recess is when you get to go out and play on the playground!" she informed me. She was also very impressed with the "chalkboard on the tv". Having not been in a classroom in hum-diddly-hum-drum years, I had no idea what she was talking about. An overhead projector perhaps? I asked my teacher friends/relatives, and found out it's a new-fangled thing called a Smartboard, an interactive computerized whiteboard thingie. What will they come up with next? Anyway, she had a blast, and couldn't wait to go back!
Amberlyn is getting so big, and it snuck up on me. And my life has changed dramatically in the last few days, with her being in school! It suddenly occured to me, on Sunday night, that I was going to have to take her to school every day! I was prepared for Monday, but then I realized I would have to take her on Tuesday as well! And, wait a minute... Wednesday too! And Thursday and Friday, and every school day from now on! No more 2 days a week like preschool! I was going to help my sister-in-law move to Tucson next week, but it hit me that Amberlyn had to be in school, and I couldn't just leave whenever I wanted to anymore. No more week long trips, or going to visit my mom in Show Low on a whim.
And, get this, I have to get my hiney out of bed everyday at 6:45! Those of you that know me, know that I am NOT a morning person. At all. I haven't had an obligation to get up that early on a regular basis since I was in school! I do have to admit however, that I thrive on routine, and I think this will be a good change for me. I enjoy helping Amberlyn choose her clothes everynight, and getting her backpack ready, and packing her snack each day, and getting her out the door and to her classroom. I makes me feel like a "real mom". Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I wasn't a real mom before, but the days of playing all day are gone, and have been replaced with a little more responsibility than had occured to me. They say your life changes when you have kids. It does. It changes again when they go to school!
I just wasn't prepared.

1st Day of Kindergarten!

Today was Amberlyn's 1st day of kindergarten!! We've been on a family vacation for nearly 2 weeks (more on that later) and got home Saturday night. On Sunday, Amberlyn and I got her school things ready. We put her new folder together, labeled all her personal things, (I love my label maker!) got her backpack ready, packed her snack, and layed out her school clothes.
After dinner, she took a bath, got ready for bed, daddy gave her a special blessing, and she got all tucked in.
This morning, I got her up, made her some oatmeal while she got dressed, fixed her hail with bows I made after she went to bed, and off to school we went!

*Her first day of Kindergarten!*

It's too hot to walk all the way to school, but I didn't want to just drop her off either, so we parked on the side of the school (away from all the craziness), put Denver in the stroller, and walked to her new classroom. We met the teacher, (we were on vacation for the orientation) got the class info, and found her desk!

*Sitting at her desk in her classroom!**Of course I had to take pictures of her class!*

And her new teacher, Ms. Lin, was kind enough to pose for a picture! (I wasn't the only mom doing it, so I thought it was okay.)

*Amberlyn & Ms. Lin*

Denver and I left the classroom and headed to our car. We saw a neighbor dropping off her daughter in Amberlyn's class, and walked with her for a moment, and it was all I could do not to cry! (Yes, I'm a big baby. I get it from my mother!) I loaded Denver into the car and called Matt to tell him that we got Amberlyn off to school okay. We stopped for gas and a Dr. Pepper, and I had to text all my family to tell them how grown up my little girl is! My mom texted me back, and told me that on my first day of kindergarten, I came home and told her all about the little potties, and the tiny squares of toilet paper! I can wait to her what Amberlyn has to say about her first day! She gets out in an hour, so I'm sure I'll write again today!

Daddy's Day

Unfortunately, Matt had to work on Father's Day, so we celebrated a day early. He came home from work about 10:30 am. We made him banana muffins and he opened his presents. The kids gave him their cards they had made. We went out to lunch and to Target. Denver and I went home for nap time, and Amberlyn and Daddy drove to Tempe to pick up a game. When they got home, we made a special dinner, and ended with Daddy's favorite cake! It was a great day!

The next day for church, Daddy was at work and Denver was sick, but I really wanted to go see the traditional Primary singing time. I wanted to go watch Amberlyn sing with the Primary for Father's Day. Matt called and asked me to record it for him, so he could enjoy it later. I told him my camera was already in my purse! So I dragged my sick child to sacrament meeting. The men got up to sing "Ye Elders Of Israel", and they did a great job, but the Primary didn't get to get up and sing to their dads:( I took Denver home to bed after sacrament was over, and left Amberlyn to go to Primary and found her a ride home. I can't say I wasn't disappointed, but at least we had a good celebration the day before.

My favorite part of Mother's Day & Father's Day is watching the kids sing, it's the highlight of my day! I hope this was just a one time omission!

Yayaya, I'm still here...

Yes, I'm still here! I didn't forget about you! It has just been a VERY crazy-coo-coo-nuts couple of weeks. It's all over now, and I feel like I can finally breathe! We had company, 3 days worth of wedding, family pictures, decorating for the reception, 2 birthday parties in Tucson, company stayed for another week (but we love them, so it was fun!), dance recital, and girls camp. Whew! I'm freaking exhuasted! I will post pictures and details soon, I just wanted you to know that I didn't fall off the face of the earth. I will be back soon:)

Blessings Anyone?

Last month we had a wonderful stake enrichment. In one of the classes, the teacher was saying that we needed to let people help us more. When you help, or preform service, you receive blessings, and we all need to STOP BEING A BLESSING HOG! Let people have the opportunity to receive blessings by serving you! So...anyone wanna earn some blessings?

I know... I'm shameless.

My sister in law is getting married next week, and we are going to her endowment session on Thursday the 21st. I am in need of service in the form of babysitting. We have to leave for the temple at 8:15-8:30 am, and will be back around....12:00 - 12:30? Here's the catch. Amberlyn has dancing lessons from 11:00 - 11:45. Her dance class is on the corner of Ironwood & Combs in the Fry's plaza. So if you need to get some shopping done while she dances....!

I know I have crazy energetic children, so if you don't want both of them, I completely understand, and I don't mind splitting them up. Normally I wouldn't worry about dance, but Amberlyn has a recital in 2 weeks, and needs the practice. So....any takers for my shameless query?