Update on the days and times of my life

I just want to warn you that this post is EXTREMELY long. Be that as it may, I, for your viewing enjoyment, have included pictures.

This little disclaimer will either save you precious minutes in not having to read the mile long post or it will give you a good update as to why I haven't been posting every day.

First of all, work has been a little more challenging this month than in months past. My SUPER AWESOME boss (and no, she doesn't read my blog. She is really awesome and I want you all to know that.) is in France enjoying a month long vacation there with family. I hope she is having so much fun and hasn't thought about work ONCE while she was there. I sent her 2 emails (one right after the other) and feel so guilty about it. I was glad she didn't reply to them.

Anyway, so she is gone and the rest of us (about 6 gals) are covering those shifts. Last week, Dacia, my prego friend, went to the doctor about the little one growing inside of her. They have been worried about the swelling that Dacia has had. He told her then and there that she was done with work. Ouch! She felt so bad and I'm like, "No big deal! You've got to follow the Doc's orders. You want a healthly baby. We can cover it, no worries!" Then I started calling people to cover shifts and realized that one of the girls was going on a two week vacation starting in about 2 days and Dacia was going to cover some of her shifts. That's not going to happen.

20 minutes after my call from Dacia, Sylvia called and said that her father passed away. She knew it was coming and was relived that it happened. She said that there are worse things than death and her father's last few weeks on this earth was worse than death. So now there are 3 of us covering 7 shifts. I'm a little unnerved, but Treesa (who normally teaches middle school during the year) stepped up to the plate and took a whole slew of shifts. And it turned out that Sylvia didn't need time off this week because her father was cremated and they are having a 'Celebration of Life' ceremony on the weekend. We are back to +half power on the working crew. I can't wait until Monday when Vicky will be back! I have missed her in more ways than one.

Our home life has been busy as well. We decided to get an above ground pool for the backyard. As you know I am married to my very own "safety geek" who insisted on checking to see if we needed a fence or not. Of course we do! So we've been working on the fence. We decided to go with a "horse fence" since it could be more temporary in case my dad and mom didn't want the fence when they came back (and because it was about 1/4 the price which still was about as much as the pool itself). We've been at it for a few weeks now.

While Mike was living it up or should I say working it up in Las Vegas, Tyler and I (along with his friend Jon) put in the t-bars and tried to put up the wire mesh, but that was not going to happen. After Mike got home, the fence on the sides of the house got up. Now we just needed to get the gate between the house and the garage up. This meant digging four 3 foot deep holes to put the posts into. That proved tough. There's not just dirt down there - there are ROCKS. Who decided that dirt should hold rocks as well? I don't know. The worse rock came at the last hole so there was no way that we were going to start over and dig 4 more 3 foot holes. After much time and sweat (and probably tears) Mike got that big piece of rock out. I have decided to share the photos of it with you so that you know what it did to Mike.

Mike has been out in the sun a little too long (or maybe down in a dark hole a little too long) as he is trying to choke the rock. I think he won though because the rock isn't moving!

After all that we did get the gate installed. It is a bit remedial, but Mike and I laugh about our inabilities to build anything. It's good to laugh at your recognized weaknesses you know.

Then came the pool install time. Here is the worker bee now (pic courtesy of Jeremy the second in command when it came to pool install.)

And now - the moment you've all been waiting for. After a month of fence planning and building; after 2 days of sticking pole A into pole B and trickling water coming from only 1 hose to fill the monster - may I present to you THE POOL.

I think it will look a lot funner with people in it and the "volleyball net included" attached to the outside. Really, I do.

But I have no people around to swim in it except for Briggy and he doesn't think I am very fun to get wet with. For some reason, splashing gets my hair wet and I don't like that. It's hard to be 6 and not splash in a pool.

Anyway, the reason why the pool is so empty is because everyone is off on summer adventures. Me with work (THAT'S an adventure - although I wouldn't say a fun one), Mike and Jeremy have gone to climb Mt. St. Helens for a couple of days and then they will come back, get Brigam and head to an observitory where they will be camping out again.

Brigam has adventure Mon - Thurs on a weekly basis as he attends what we like to call READING CAMP. It's actually summer school, but the

re-wording of the title of the activity really makes it much more of an enjoyable reward rather than a, "I thought school was over. Where's my summer?" type of situation. I asked him if the work was harder or easier than his 1st grade work. He said it was so easy. I wonder if his past 1st grade teacher would like to hear that since she's the one that thought he needed summer school. Whatever!

Mykalyn is gone to Camp Wooten with a girlfriend (Madison) and about 100 other boys and girls for a week of fun. This is her first time away from us, I hope she is having lots of fun and making great friends. I do really miss my Miny Me.

Tyler is in California with a friend and will have another friend join him this Saturday. They will be gone for about two weeks. I hope he is having a lot of fun there and gets to see so much like the beach, Hollywood, Rodeo Drive, the walk of fame, etc. I told him that he has to call me EVERY NIGHT and so far he has not forgotten me.

He was so cute as he told me that he got car sick on the drive down to California. He and Jon were riding down with one of Jon's good friends that was going down there for the summer to work. I asked him if he got sick because he was sitting in the backseat not watching the road. He told me that he got sick when he was just starting to take his turn driving. It's rare that you get car sick as the driver, but Tyler did the rare thing. He had to pull over to a gas station to walk around and then he threw up. He sounded a bit concerned about being sick on the begining of his adventure, but I told him it was probably a mixture between nerves (going to a place he'd never been before, not having a parent plan every move out for him, driving someone's car that he doesn't know, etc) and not getting more than about an hour's sleep the night before. I told him that he would feel much better after a good night's sleep. He asked, "Do you really think so?" Yes. And he did - see mama's DO know best!

The last thing that has been consuming my time beyond belief is the raspberry bushes. Every June-July they come on and they are in full force. I have only gone out there 3 times and I have more than a large ice cream bucket full of them. They are delicious, but time consuming. I basically have two rows to do - each side of them so I have 4 sides. They scratch me a lot AND I know there are bugs and other crawly stuff that live in those bushes. Every time a weed or leaf touches my leg or arm, I have to look quick to make sure it's not a spider or other crawly thing.

I know for a fact that Charlotte lives in the raspberry bushes by the compost pile. I know this not because I have seen her, but because I have seen her intrecute web. There's nothing spelled out in it, but I can read between the lines. It says, "These raspberries are mine. You must stay away." I have NO problem with that. As long as I don't have to see Charlotte, she can have that small grouping of raspberries. Although she does have a few juicy ones that would be ripe for the picking.

The problem with raspberries is that you think that you have picked all the ripe ones and then you move a little branch and there is a whole other crop that you didn't even know was there. As soon as you are through picking that new crop, you let the branch go, stand up to stretch out your back while looking at where you have already picked all the ripe ones now there are MORE ripe ones to be picked. I swear that they ripen within minutes of you being out there. Sometimes I talk to them and tell them that they will just have to wait until tomorrow for the pickin' to begin again. They are patient, but not for too long. Soon the season will be over and I will wish that I picked those and maybe that I had fought Charlotte for her share as well. (I was gonig to take a pic of the raspberries just so you knew that I wasn't exagerating, but both of my cameras are out on loan. One on Mt. St. Helens and one somewhere in California. I hope to see them both again soon.)

In the past, picking raspberries has been a calming time for me. Early in the morning lost among the raspberry bushes means that the kids won't be inturrupting my thinking time because they have a fear of being asked to help out. But that quiet, reflective time has been shattered by the moving in of our new backyard neighbors. Not that they or their children are loud or bothersome in anyway. It's that dumb dog. Bark, bark, bark, bark, BARK! Doesn't he ever have something different to say? He is annoying. He can't even see me, but he barks at me. I think he might be barking at the sprinklers too, but since I don't know him at all, he could be barking at me. I think, "I'm not even on your side of the fence or even by the fence. At least hold off the barking until it looks like I am going to break into your yard." But since he can't read my thoughts, he just keeps barking. What's a girl to do? I guess I'll have to chalk it up to "nature and the great outdoors" and try to enjoy it so I can get through the raspberry season.

Well, there's your update. I sacrificed grocery shopping without child to get this posted, so you know where I prioritize blogging in my life. Brigam gets off the bus from Reading Camp in about 20 minutes. I wonder if I can take a little swim in that time - I won't get my hair wet!

GROUP KICK - questions answered

You know, Jan brought up some good questions about my love of "Group Kick" at the Court Club. I thought I would answer them here and THAT would surely encourage you ALL to join me for a class:

The class times are
Tuesday 9:15 AM and 4:30 PM
Thursday 4:30 PM
Saturday 10:30 AM

What I find so appealing about this class is:

1. The workout time FLIES by!! The music they have in there really gets me "in the groove" and I am surprised when I look down at my watch and already 20 minutes have gone by!

2. The calorie burn is very SIGNIFICANT. Can I just brag about the 550 burned up little calories that I got rid of last Tuesday in the hour?

3. During class I am SO bettering my cardiovascular system. I know that my heart rate is way up there, but I am so busy thinking of the routine (IE what hand punches next, is the next kick a round house or a front kick, etc.) that I completely forget that I am working so hard. You get a little break between songs (usually) and that's when I look down at my watch (which also serves as my heart rate monitor/calorie burned counter) and my heart rate is in the 160's. I don't feel like I am going to die, I am just surprised that it's there. Now if I tried to get that on a treadmill, bike or elliptical machine, I swear my brain would talk me down from that number in about 3 minutes or less.

4. The workout is fast and it doesn't give me much time to think about whether I look stupid doing it or not. In my mind, I have really channelled Jackie Chan and I am about to put somebody's lights OUT! I look like I am "Kung Fu Fighting." Well, at least in my mind I do. I'm not facing the mirror watching myself so who am I to say that I do not fight just like Jackie Chan?

5. The instructors are great! Of course, some are better than others, but they all know what they are doing and I love them. They shout out encouragement to us all the time. They do a great job and are happy to see you every time you come (even if you're new - hint, hint).

Those are some of the reasons I love this class. I have always felt that I am more of a group workout type of person, but never found a class that went by so quickly. I like quick. This has been my escape for a few weeks now. I look forward to it everytime they teach it (in fact, I go twice on Tuesdays.) I know that you are thinking, "But I am so tired in the afternoons. I could never do a 4:30 class." Wrong, just getting yourself to the club is the hardest part of your workout. When you feel the energy in the club and in the class, it's easy to look forward to your Group Kick class. Come on now - come with me!

If you noticed, I linked you to the TCCC's web site. On there you can get 14 days (at the club to do IT ALL) for $14.00. Not too shabby and that will give you 2 weeks to try out the class. I know that you'd love it! Let me know when I can join you in

KICKIN' SOME!

My New Favorite Way To Sweat

OK, I just realized that I have been keeping a great secret from you all. I have found a new workout that is SO MUCH FUN!! And I love it, LOVE it, LOVE IT!!!

Down at the Tri-City Court Club they have a new group exercise class called:

GROUP KICK

(OK so you've probably guessed that this isn't a pic of me (either girl) because one is immodest and the other has no red in her hair. Besides, my body doesn't look like that in spandex. But I had to get a picture of some girls "kickin' some" in this post.)

I love this class. It is 1 hour of consentrated, fist utilizing, leg kicking, confidence building FUN! How can I say a workout is fun? BECAUSE IT IS! You'd love it! You should try it. I'll have to tell you that the first couple of classes you're kind of getting the kicks and punches down so you feel a bit "out of it", but just do like me and imagine using that ability at a target taking up the air right in front of you. Sometimes I get so "in the zone" that I think, "Wow, I think that routine really would havecaused some damage to that "air person challenger."

Disclaimer (for the legalities of it all): I, Terilyn, have not been reimbursed for my comments on the Group Kick class. I am just a student that loves to KICK SOME and I know you'd love it too!

One last note for those of you who are still wondering if they should give this a try - I burn 500+ calories during an hour workout! Marilyn, are you game?

Come KICK SOME with me!!!

Humor in the Morning

So Brigam comes out this morning dressed like this:

A Ninja

He says to me, "I am going to be afraid in the dark wearing this because I won't even be able to see myself!"

Morning Humor, It's a Good Thing.

What my fridge says about us.....

Amy asked this question and as I pondered it, I had to agree that my fridge is like my purse, I'd be lost without it. Of course, it serves it's main purpose of chillin' the food just the way I like it, but the outside of it commands attention lest we be late or (worse) miss something completely! How mortifying! Sometimes I utilize the outside of my fridge to decide what can be skipped for that day. As you can see our family is kept straight with this nifty desk (or should I say fridge) calendar. Mykie goes a step further and color codes the thing for herself. As you can see, this month she is a busy girl. I love knowing what is going on, but sometimes I get tired just looking at what is coming up.

Then there is the gazillion magnets all over it that catch just about anything anyone wants to put there. If the said "anything" is too thick to be held with one magnet, never fear, just plaster it with 5 or more and it will stay until the end of time.

(I still have my side by side, but it is located around the corner. Yes, in this small for us house, we appearently have room enough for TWO fridges)

On there we have paintings of Brigam's. He usually does flowers for me (because Mike will not take him to the store and buy flowers for him to give to me. Brigam has no problem buying "dead flowers" for his mom, unlike his dad.)

There are schedules just in case I wrote it wrong the first time on the calendar; we can double check if there is a question. There is a birthday poem from Mykie to her dad, last week of school information ( I guess I can take that down) and on the sides there is MORE, MORE, MORE!!!

On the top is a plant that screams for the contents of the watering can (on the left) and good ol' sunscreen in the middle (as Martha would say, "It's a good thing" since Mike just had a bit of skin cancer removed this week from his chest. I think he likes chest scars on his body!) It's important when you have "red haired/fair skinned bodies in the gene pool like we do.

Yes, if the kitchen is the heart of the home, the fridge must be a ventricle of the heart (did that sound doctor-ish or what?)

By the way, can anyone tell me why I cannot put an extra space between my paragraphs even when I put many between them in the creating of a post. It is driving me crazy. Please help the crazy lady!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!

Dads - what would we do without them? I would never want to find out!!!!

Happy Dad's Day to 3 of my favorite men in the whole wide world!

Raymond Anderson - My dad! Always supportive and complimentary of my actions. He loves me, my hubby and my children. He is outgoing and social (like his mom). He loves the great outdoors and is super in the garden and the garage. I know he loves our Heavenly Father. He loves people and tries to help them all he can. I think that we had over 25 foster children in our home growing up. He is currently away from us as he serves Him in Mongolia with my mom. I love you!

Michael A. Nelson - My second dad! My hubby's dad that I claim as my own. He is funny and loving and makes me feel intelligent when I talk to him. I know that he loves our Heavenly Father as well. He served many years as a bishop and has also taken in some Heavenly Father's children that were not his to live with him along the way. That is quite a feat since he already had 9 children of his own (well, 10 because I am treated like one of his own). I love you!

Mike Nelson - My very own hubby! He is a great supporter of all that I do. He is full of compliments for my little actions. He works very hard to support his family. He gets up so early to go to work. 4:00 am is too early for the day to start for most of us, but that's when he's up getting ready for his day! He is super smart. Whenever he works, he does A+ work. He loves his kids and teaches them how to do things. He's patient through this teaching - which is amazing to me sometimes, but as T.S. Eliot said, "Those who trust us educate us." He loves to be active and play at all kinds of sports (racquetball, softball, wake boarding and many more when he wasn't 40+ years old, but that age thing doesn't stop him!) He is the most creative game creator I have ever met. He's just awesome and he's all ours! I love him!

Father's are the best. I am so glad I have 3 great dad's in my life and the life of my kids. We are so lucky!

Happy Father's Day!

Party plans, party plans - I do love the party plans

Brigam's birthday is coming up. I am kind of bummed for him that his birthday is in the summer. He didn't get to celebrate it at all in school this year. Kind of lame, but true. All his friends are in his school class (or Pasco - JOSH HARKER) so it is hard to invite when you don't know the parents of his most beloved friends. So instead of getting phone numbers and calling parents I don't know for addresses, I decided to get my act together and get Brigam's invites out before school ended.

Yes, I know this looks VERY organized of me having them done and handed out 30+ days before the event, but rest assured, that is the only thing that is done. This party theme is going to take some time in my thinking chair. Brigam is WAY into his toolbox right now and wants to have a "tool party". Yeah, that's going to be fun. 10 kids with tools (or weapons, you can really view it either way.) Any screw or nail better tighten themselves up now before I let the kids loose with the tools to do the job themselves! Needless to say, on the day of the party - I MUST BE UBER ORGANIZED!

Anyhow, I just wanted to post photos of his invite because it made me happy to finally see something in my head actually look like the finished project.

Can you tell it's a toolbox?

Happy Anniversary to my most favorite man in the world!

*19 years of 4 children, 7 times moving, many jobs, years in school, emergency room visits, hobby buying, workout equipment purchasing, house buying, house selling, vehicle purchases, weekly grocery bills, getting out of debt, etc - astronomical

*19 years with your best friend - PRICELESS

I celebrate this day with my best friend as he is a few states away from me in Las Vegas attending a safety conference. No really, he is. OK, he's playing golf and racquetball with brother Nate as well. Hopefully he will come back in one piece. Time with Nate is sometimes a scary proposition for Mike's health. I wish I could have gone with him, but my work needed me here to help with others being gone.

Back to the mushy stuff: As for being his wife, I am more grateful to him than I can truly express here or even verbally. He is my rock. I trust him with my life and my heart. I know that the Lord truly loves me when I think of the man I have been given to share the rest of my life with.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

Pass on the Clown Make-up, Please!

OK, does anyone remember looking like this a decade or so ago?

I remember the first time I took to wearing make-up (without my mom's permission, caked on in 2 seconds in the middle school girl's bathroom.) I thought blue eye-shadow was "all that and a bag of make-up". I looked GOOD! At least I had the self confidence about the BOLD blue and racing stripe cheeks then. A few years later I laugh (I think we all looked the same back then so we're ALL laughing, right?)

Now my baby girl is turning 12 (in October - I am trying to get a jump on this thing) and I have told her that she can't wear make-up until she turned twelve. With that CEMENTED date in her future, she's content to not try make-up before then. I told her we would have a make-up/hair doo party. Here's the deal - I really don't know how to teach/apply make-up to 12 year old girls!

Does anybody know anyone that could help me with this? Would a Mary-Kay person do this? Would they come to my house and teach and demonstrate on the girls? How much would this cost? I'd love for the girls to have a take home bag of some cosmetics/hair stuff. Anyone know anyone? I need names and contact numbers. HELP ME PLEEEEEESE!

I know this isn't until October, but I am trying to avoid someone looking like this: