Know and Tell Friday

Question 1How often do you get real sick? Luckily (knock on wood) not very often. I have been blessed with great health. I always seem to get a bug here and there but usually can kick it quick. This year, however, I have had some lingering congestive crap that has really affected my running. I do however, seem to get a migraine every couple of month's usually after some huge stress in my life.

Question 2Do you usually send serious or humorous greeting cards? Why? IF I send a card, which is rare, it is usually serious. I do like to give away humorous ones if it's not a serious occasion though.

Question 3
Are you a person who has a whole lot of acquaintances, or just a few very close friends? Neither really. I am a very social person who loves to have a lot of friends and many close friends as well. I prefer to be friends rather than just acquaintances.

Question 4
If you could cure a disease, or heal a sickness, which one would you choose? Well, that's a no brainer! Hands down, Cystic Fibrosis!!! To make a donation to help find a cure go HERE.
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1. What’s something you have an unreasonable fear of?
Cockroaches, snakes, and spiders. Though I don't consider it to be unreasonable!!!


2. What’s something you have an unreasonable fondness for?
Purple and chocolate. Once again, I don't consider it to be unreasonable!!! =)


3. What’s something you have an unreasonable disliking for?
FISH! Anything that swims will not pass through my lips! Okay, this one may be unreasonable!


4. Who’s most likely to bring out the unreasonable in you?
Other people that are unreasonable. My husband can also put me there at times.


5. Who’s the least unreasonable person you know? My son Taylor. Nothing ever gets under his skin. I wish I were more like him.

Know & Tell Friday (Saturday this week!)

1. Do you have fake plants in your house? Yes...if I lived alone ALL of my plants would be fake! Like I said before I have a brown thumb. Dave keeps the ones alive that we do have. I never buy real ones, they are always gifts. Do you like them? Yes, I like my artificial dry and silk ones. They look so real now days. Keeping them dust free is the only thing I don't like about them.

2. What is the oldest piece of furniture you have that is not an antique? My piano. I took piano lessons for 10 years while growing up and when I got married (since I was the only one that played), my parents gave it to me. Describe it. It is a natural oak color and very pretty. It does have two broken pedals though from one day when I was about 13 and bored with practicing...I did a back bend over the bench and somehow I fell off and the bench crashed on the pedals breaking them.

3. Do you have any antiques? Not now, because we got rid of a TV we had since we got married. THAT was an antique!

4. What type of dishes do you use? China, stoneware, Corelle, Tupperware, paper plates? I use Corelle (purple and white) and my Mary Engelbreit plates that I LOVE!!! I also use Snowman plates in the winter and I have an eclectic collection of various purple ones that I use if there aren't a lot of people eating since I only have a few of each.

5. What is your favorite thing in your house? My family!

6. Do you like to use lamps or overhead lighting? I use both but I really like soft lighting that comes from lamps the best unless I need to really see what I am doing.

7. Are you a pristine white wall person or do you love color? I love COLOR!!! I painted my basement walls an eggplant purple. Surprise, surprise! All the walls in our basement have of color. I am going crrraaaaazy because I want to paint our entry way and family room but they are 18 foot ceilings and that little detail has deterred us from getting it done! They are gray because gray was "thee" color when we built the house. I can NOT wait to get those walls painted! I have re-done my boys rooms with lots of color as well and still have one more to go.
Head on over to Kayren's for more great Know and Tell Friday fun!

Friday Memes

Since the Friday's Feast Chef has been out of the kitchen for quite some time (and may be for a while yet), I have decided to start my own version until he/she is able to return. I am calling it

Food 4 Thought Friday

It is generally the same idea, with just a little twist. Feel free to play along for some yummy fun! I will post a new one each Thursday afternoon for those that are on a different time zone. JOIN IN!!!


Food 4 Thought Friday ~ This week's questions

Breakfast
If you could jump into any book … what would it be and why?


Lunch
Tell how you are feeling today in the form of a weather report. (For example, partly cloudy, sunny with a chance for showers etc.)

Dinner
What activities make you lose track of time?

Midnight Snack
What were you doing one hour ago?



Recipe for this Week (instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?)



PLEASE PLAY !!!! Come on you know you want to!
To play along go here.
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MY ANSWERS

Breakfast
If you could jump into any book … what would it be and why?
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!!! That was easy!!!

Lunch
Tell how you are feeling today in the form of a weather report. (For example, partly cloudy, sunny with a chance for showers etc.)
Very mild, light breeze, with a slight chance of rain.
Dinner
What activities make you lose track of time?Reading, writing, blogging, having fun, shopping, surfing, chatting, sleeping -lol!
Midnight Snack
What were you doing one hour ago?
At a party at our friend's house. They live on the mountain and we had a big bonfire, hot scones, good company, and hot chocolate. Photos later....hopefully!





Recipe for this Week (instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?) Enjoy the moment for things change VERY rapidly in today's world. Appreciate the present!



PLEASE PLAY !!!! Come on you know you want to!
To play along go here.
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1. Follow the day and reach for the sun.
2. My camera is something I always take with me on vacation.
3. To achieve your goals, you must write them down and believe in yourself.
4. I love you all is something I'd like you to know about me.
5. I have a wonderful life!
6. I love root beer floats.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to the temple with our ward and then out to dinner tomorrow my plans include cleaning, laundry, getting caught up around the house, maybe rent a video (any suggestions??)and Sunday, I want to have a great meeting with my Young Women board, go to church, kick back, maybe even get a nap!

Friday Memes

Since the Friday's Feast Chef has been out of the kitchen for quite some time (and may be for a while yet), I have decided to start my own version until he/she is able to return. I am calling it

Food 4 Thought Friday

It is generally the same idea, with just a little twist. Feel free to play along for some yummy fun! I will post a new one each Thursday afternoon for those that are on a different time zone. JOIN IN!!!

Food 4 Thought Friday ~ This week's questions

Breakfast
Would you rather be really hot or really cold?

Lunch
Name three things (modern conveniences) you could not live without?

Dinner
If you were the eighth dwarf, what would your name be?

Midnight Snack

Would you rather live to be 100 and sick, or live to be 50 (dying from a freak accident) and healthy?

Recipe for this Week (instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?)

PLEASE PLAY !!!! Come on you know you want to!

To play along go here.

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MY ANSWERS...

Breakfast
Would you rather be really hot or really cold?
I would so much rather be more hot than cold. I really HATE to be cold! It literally paralyzes me when I am too cold. Once I am really cold it seems to go deep in my bones and I have a difficult time getting warmed up. If I am too hot, I can easily cool down instantly by jumping in a pool or cool shower...or just pouring water over my head! It's no wonder sitting by my firepace is my favorite place to be in the winter!


Lunch
Name three things (modern conveniences) you could not live without?
Well, okay I could probably live without these things if I HAD to, but these are the ones I would surely HATE to have to try and not have!

Toilet ~ nuff' said!

Shower or bath with HOT water!

The last one is a toss up between the Internet and my cell phone.



Dinner
If you were the eighth dwarf, what would your name be?
Purrky ~ derived from the words Purple, Perky, and Purr (I love cats!) Well, that's the best I could do!

Midnight Snack

Would you rather live to be 100 and sick, or live to be 50 (dying from a freak accident) and healthy?
Oh that's tough since I am really not that far off from 50... I can't even imagine dying in a few short years! Yet I don't really want to be sick and 100 either! Being sick AND old is not a good combination! I think if I could choose, I would like to live to be about 80 - if I am reasonably healthy.

Recipe for this Week (instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?)
Life's moments pass faster than we realize. Make the most of each one.


PLEASE PLAY !!!! Come on you know you want to!

To play along go here.


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1. One of the best concerts/plays/movies I ever saw that I really didn't think I'd like was hmm...can't think of one I didn't think I would like. But my favorite plays are the ones in Jackson Hole in the summer. I love all of those!

2. Zucchini Bread Semi Homemade (it is so easy and so yummy! RECIPE is at the end of post) is a recipe I recently made (or meal I recently ordered) that was delicious! (thanks Heather!)

3. It's time for Halloween and saying good bye to nice weather! Our local forecast predicts SNOW this weekend!!! Argh!

4. Sarah Palin is quite refreshing.

5. If I never hear the word (starts with a P and rhymes with hiss) again, it'll be too soon.

6. To one side of the curving road was a boy and on the other was a ghoul!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finishing writing my talk, attending Bryce's football game and freezing my buns off!!! tomorrow my plans include attending (and speaking at) our churches youth yearly planning meeting (at 7 a.m.), attending an American Mothers Mini Conference, cleaning, and then maybe chillin'... I hope! and Sunday, I want to go to my meetings (Bishop Youth Committee) and our three hour block of church, and hopefully sneak in a nap somehow!

To play along go here!

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Here's a REAL recipe for the week!

Zucchini Bread Semi-Homemade
1 Spice Cake Mix (Duncan Hines is best)
½ C. Water
¼ C. Veg. Oil
3 Eggs
1 ½ C. Zucchini
¼ C. Brown Sugar (to taste and for extra calories) ☺

Mix well. Spray pans w/ cooking spray SUPER WELL!
Bake 30-40 minutes at 350 or until toothpick comes out clean.
Yields 2 medium sized bread pans. Enjoy!!!!

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1. Do you play any musical instruments? If so, which one(s)? If not, is there one you always wanted to know how to play? I took piano lessons for 10 years, so I guess you could say I play it.☺ I used to play the clarinet in Jr. High, though I wanted to play the flute. I really want to learn how to play the harp someday soon!

2. Do you sing well? Do you sing along in the car? Do you use head motions? Sing well? Hah! I get by, but that's about it. I love to sing in the car if I am alone and no I don't use head motions at least that I am aware of!

3. Who was your teen music crush? I LOVED Bobby Sherman and Shaun Cassidy!

4. What is your favorite type of music? I really like all kinds of music with the exception of hard rock, rap, and "hard" opera...lol. I listen to soft rock the most, but have a new appreciation for country.

5. Who are your three favorite musical artists? Josh Groban, Donny Osmond (yes it's true!- I didn't even like him as a teen, but love his voice now!), do I dare say Barry Manilow??? Celine Deon and Faith Hill are also favs.

6. Does your church play traditional or praise songs, or a combination? Mostly hymns.

7. What is your favorite hymn? Lead Kindly Light, Be Still My Soul, I Believe In Christ.

8. What is your favorite praise song? I Know That My Redeemer Lives and I Stand All Amazed

9. What is the strangest musician's name whose music you like? EMINEM --well at least I think his name is the strangest, even though I don't really like his music. Anyone that is going to take on such a high class name as M&M should be really REALLY good! ☺

Friday Memes

Since the Friday's Feast Chef has been out of the kitchen for quite some time (and may be for a while yet), I have decided to start my own version until he/she is able to return. I am calling it

Food 4 Thought Friday

It is generally the same idea, with just a little twist. Feel free to play along for some yummy fun! I will post a new one each Thursday afternoon for those that are on a different time zone. JOIN IN!!!

Food 4 Thought Friday ~ This week's questions

Breakfast
What actor/actress would be most believeable to play you in a movie?



Lunch
If you were stranded on a lonely beach, what are the five things that you would want to survive?

Dinner
What terms of endearment does your significant other call you? What do you call them?


Midnight Snack
If you could be a fly on the wall, where would you go and why?


Recipe for this Week
(instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?)


PLEASE PLAY !!!! Come on you know you want to!To play along go here.





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My Answers♥


Breakfast
What actor/actress would be most believeable to play you in a movie?
I have no idea and so I asked Dave. He said Meg Ryan or Sandy Duncan....what? Who is that? Oh yeah...she's probably about 70 by now! lol I decided to ASK YOU....so who do YOU think my internet blogbuds?

Lunch
If you were stranded ALONE on a deserted beach, what are the five things that you would want to survive?
Let's see....CHOCOLATE (I'd rather die without it!), food & fresh water (I WILL die without that!), something to read, some kind of pet- even if it's a rock (Wilson.....), and toothbrush and toothpaste!

Dinner
What terms of endearment does your significant other call you? What do you call them?
Dave calls me Jo for obvious reasons but also because his parents have always called each other Jo because it means sweetheart. It does. Look it up in the dictionary if you don't believe me! He also calls me "love" a lot too. I mostly call him things I cannot write on here.....just kidding! I mostly call him hon.

Midnight Snack
If you could be a fly on the wall, where would you go and why?
There are too many to pick one! I guess it would be wherever my boys are. I don't get a lot of info out of them (some are better than others) and so I would like to just plant myself next to them all day.

Recipe for this Week
(instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?)
"Life is to be enjoyed - not just endured." (Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley)

PLEASE PLAY !!!! Come on you know you want to!To play along go here.

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1. October is Halloween - my favorite holiday!!!! And the month I always say I am going to finish with Christmas early and never have yet!

2. Big Spiders scare me!

3. Leaves are falling all around, it's Fall! duh

4. My favorite horror movie is I don't do horror, but my favorite scary movie is The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, and What Lies Beneath, and Rear Window and Jaws, and The Birds, and...okay I'll stop!

5. Watching home videos when the boys were little = good memories.

6. It was a dark and stormy night so I curled up with a good book and some hot cocoa.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Bryce's football game (but it's earlier today so maybe we can do something after!), tomorrow my plans include my long run, watching General Conference, and cleaning, no football!...Dave is taking all the boys hunting,and Sunday, I want to watch General Conference with my family and eat our traditional German Pancakes between sessions! Yum!

To play go here.

Friday Memes

Since the Friday's Feast Chef has been out of the kitchen for quite some time (and may be for a while yet), I have decided to start my own version until he/she is able to return. I am calling it

Food 4 Thought Friday

It is generally the same idea, with just a little twist. Feel free to play along for some yummy fun! I will post a new one each Thursday afternoon for those that are on a different time zone. JOIN IN!!!

Food 4 Thought Friday ~ This week's questions

Breakfast Who was your role model growing up?
Lunch
Who would you turn to first if you were in desperate need of help?

Dinner
Are you generally organized or messy?

Midnight Snack
What do you do when you can't sleep at night?
Recipe for this Week (instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?)

PLEASE PLAY !!!! Come on you know you want to!

To play along go here.
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MY ANSWERS:

Breakfast
Who was your role model growing up?
My cousin Shelley. She was nine years older than me and I idolized her. I wanted to be just like her! She was amazing. She passed away this past April from MS. She suffered so much in her last 20 years, but hung onto life with all she had. She continued to be a ray of sunshine to all who knew her until her last day. Love and miss you Shell!

Lunch
Who would you turn to first if you were in desperate need of help?
That is easy. It would be my Heavenly Father. He is the only one that I can always trust to help me through anything.

Dinner
Are you generally organized or messy?
I am generally organizied and can't stand messes. Lately though, I have noticed a change in my tolerance for disorder.

Midnight Snack
What do you do when you can't sleep at night?
I will usually get up and write in my journal. That seems to help me sort out whatever it is that is causing my insomnia. If that doesn't work and Dave isn't home, I will turn on the TV until I fall asleep. If he is home, I will get on the computer.

Recipe for this Week (instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?)
Never give up. Tomorrow is another day!

To play go here.
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1. HALLOWEEN!, cool crisp evenings, hot chocolate, the beautiful color of fall foilage, garden squash, and caramel apples are some of the things I'm most looking forward to in October.
2. Sometimes I wish I was magic!
3. I held a snake and that's why there is a saying, "never say never"!
4. When I'm down, I try and focus on the power of gratitude to lift me back up.
5. Watching football games is where you'll find me most often.
6. A rainy day is good for baking something yummy, curling up in a blanket with a good book, and staring outside the window watching the rain.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to nothing yet ~ no football game tonight (it's a bye), we might go see a movie (Eagle Eye), tomorrow my plans include breakfast at the church and then attending Especially For Youth with the Young Women, watching McKay's last football game, and attending the General Relief Society meeting, and Sunday, I want to chill after church!


To play go here


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1. What dog do you most resemble?
Well that depends on the day and the time...

2. What is your favorite zoo animal?
The polar bear, hands down! They are so entertaining to watch! At the San Diego Zoo many years ago, we just stayed and watched them for so long because they act like little kids playing in the pool. I am also very entertained by the monkeys.

3. What zoo animal reminds you most of yourself?
What kind of a question is that? Hmm... I would say the Giant Panda. They like to eat and to play and aren't so good at climbing trees, like me. Plus they have those dark circles around their eyes like me when I stay up and play too much!

4. Do you have any pets? If so, how many, what kind, and what are their names? If not, would you like one?
Unfortunately I have none! NONE! Not a single one! (crocodile tears falling...) I LOVE all animals and I NEED a pet! I keep telling Dave that my babies are all older now and I don't have anyone to take care of that needs me, so I need a dog or a cat! But I still haven't convinced him. I hope one just shows up on my doorstep someday.

5. Have you ever ridden a horse?
Of course I've ridden a horse. How sad if I hadn't ridden one yet at this age! I've ridden several over the years. One of my first times was on a date as a teenager. I used to be a little afraid of them and that date didn't help any. My horse just took off so fast and I couldn't get him to slow down! Haven't been real fond of riding them since. Plus I tend to get real saddle sore! We took the boys on a long horse ride years ago up and around Sherwood Hills. I walked like Frankenstein for several days after!
6. Have you ever milked a cow?
Yes! It was on a field trip when I was teaching preschool many years ago! Not something I would like to do for a living!
7. Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
Who says they don't!

Know and Tell Friday

Know and Tell Friday ~~~ SPORTS EDITION

Posting a little late, but it is still Friday!

1. Do you live for the start of college football? Professional football? Does anyone in your house? Do you know anyone who does?
Ummm....YES! I live in a house with ALL males so what else would you expect? The countdown to the NFL season has been going on for months now! I personally do not "live" for it, (not even close!) but I do really enjoy watching all my boys play football. The very first season of little league football, I cringed when they played because it sounded so rough when they would hit! But I have gotten over that and now really love to watch the games. I miss it when the season is over. I still have a lot to learn about all the rules and names of stuff, but I am getting better. I have three playing right now, so I SHOULD be learning fast. Kind of a bummer for my youngest because he just broke his hand in practice this week and now is out of the games until it heals, which may be the rest of the season.

2. Did you go to college? If so, what was your mascot? Was/Is that your favorite team? If not, what was/is your favorite college team?
I attended Weber State University and Dixie College. WSU mascot was a Wildcat and Dixie's was a Rebel. My favorite team is whatever team my boys are playing on! WSU colors are PURPLE (which had nothing to do with why I went there!) and so are my boys teams! Yea Purple Power!

3. Have you ever embarrassed yourself at a sporting event? Have you seen someone else embarrass themselves at a sporting event?
I have seen some drunken people at the Jazz games and at a few football games. The fans can get pretty out of control at my son's hockey games at times too.

My own embarrassing moment would probably be when I was the majorette at WSU and also twirling on the rifle team. During a football halftime performance I did a routine with the rifle team and then it was time for my majorette number. I had my majorette costume on underneath my rifle uniform but due to time constraints I had to remove my rifle uniform (it was a white blouse with a vest and a longer skirt) right there on the edge of the field in front of the audience. I tried to be very indiscreet and quick as possible, but I was getting all kinds of whistles and cat calls etc. I was so embarrassed! Maybe I should of just hammed it up!

4. What is your favorite spectator sport (the one you love to watch live)? Probably basketball...go Jazz! My all time fave to watch is ice-skating.

5. Do you have a sports hero? If so, what makes them special?
I think my hero right now would be my son Bryce. He loves football and is really good at it because he is so fast and plays smart. He played little league for two years but didn't even try out in high school because he thought he would be too small. He is tall just real thin. This year a friend on the team talked him into trying it this summer because they had some players quit. The team had already been practicing for months, but he did anyway as a senior. That took courage in itself. But since he is a senior and a first year player and started really late, he mostly gets to play JV and doesn't get much Varsity time. He has put in so many hours of practice (sometimes 8 hours a day in the summer) and then weight training on top of that. He has stuck it out even though I know there have been times he would prefer to quit when all the time and effort doesn't seem worth it, but he has kept with it. He has done so well and I have been so proud of him. He has regrets he didn't play sooner so he would have more seniority, but he won't let that get him down. I am just so proud of him and his attitude. It was all worth it I hope when he scored a touchdown at this week's JV game. He's a great kid!
We were able to meet Steve Young and get some photos and a couple of football's signed by him a few years ago. That was pretty cool for my boys (and me!) He was very nice and friendly.

6. What's the most memorable sporting event you have ever watched on television? Watched live? I was able to attend the 2002 Olympics when they were here. I went to a hockey game and my boys also got to go to one too. That was amazing! One of the greatest football games I watched was when I was in high school and our team was behind by a ton and we miraculously came back and won it in the last minute of the game. Most of the spectators had already left thinking it was a lost cause. It truly was a miracle game.

7. If you have kids or grandkids, do they play sports?
Holy cow, yes! I birthed my own basketball team!!! Between them all they have played football, soccer, baseball, hockey, basketball, golf, tennis, and whatever else I have forgot! Going and watching them play is one of my favorite things to do.



To join in on the fun go HERE

Back to School!

My how the summer flew this year. But I seem to find myself saying that every year. I guess when you are having fun, time does pass faster.


This year I have four boys in four different schools. Skyler, my oldest is attending the University (darn, no back to school photos of him!), Bryce is a senior at the high school, Taylor is a freshman at the middle school, and McKay is a big 6th grader at the intermediate school.

Here are some shots of the first day of school last week:

McKay ready to tackle a new school.

Taylor just ready to tackle. He is anxious to get the day over with so he can go to football practice.

Bryce the big senior this year.
I shot this as he was leaving...his last first day of school.


McKay and Taylor ready to cruise.

In keeping with tradition, we had our annual Back to School dinner last week. I have been doing this for at least 10 years or more. The night of the first day of school I prepare a cafeteria style meal complete with a typical cafeteria style menu.




First I make a tablecloth out of the large paper that comes on rolls. I find it at our UPS store. I buy about three yards of black. Then I place it on the table and use chalk to write on it, so it resembles a chalk board. I write all kinds of math problems, science formulas, anything that will impress my boys. Hee-hee. They are always blown away that I know things like e=mc2 (squared). I always put some heavy duty (at least to me) algebra and geometry problems on it now. When they were little, I just put the basic 2+2=4 and the abc's etc.




I found some real cafeteria trays years ago and so we get them out each year. I pull up my hair (I've always said I was going to get a hair net to wear, but still haven't done that!) Then I always put on an apron (something I rarely ever wear) and occasionaly I will wear rubber gloves.

I make lunch tickets for the boys and they have to give them to me before they get their food or it's no dinner.

I try and make the meal as cafeteria-ish as possible. Our typical menu consists of:

• Meatloaf (which is the best part of the meal because I do make a mean meatloaf)
• Lumpy mashed potatoes and gravy
• Canned peas (yes canned! - ooooh such yummy little morsels that we all love! Bleh!)
• Fruit Cocktail (also canned...mmm!)
• Rolls (my school's rolls were pretty good and so these are allowed to be yummy too)
• Chocolate cake made with zucchini (at least I use zucchini - MY school added sauerkraut to our cake....TRUE STORY!)
• Cartons of milk (choice of regular or chocolate)
  
  Basically I try and make it as unappetizing as possible. Ya know, like the real school lunch. I have some great shots over the years of my boys pulling all kinds of faces at the non-palatable peas and mysterious tidbits in the cake.
  Oh, I just LOVE doing this each year! I have such a great time watching them turn up their noses and be all picky. If nothing else, it makes them appreciate my real cooking much more that's for sure!

Here is the tablecloth

Me getting ready to "dish" it up...hee-hee!

The delectable meal...mmm...mmm....MMMMM!


Bryce already looking sick (actually he really was this year - but not from this food ---not yet anyway!)

No thanks, I don't want any peas please.

Sorry boys, you have to take everything!

I think the lunch lady is having waaaaaay too much fun!

"Oh no, not those too!"

Looks like even the 'principal' supports school lunch.

Bon appetit!

Can I go out to recess now???

Smiles? Finally!!!
I downloaded some photos from a few of our past Back to School dinners.

Here's Taylor....looking very hungry!

Don't you love the faces on these boys! (They are trying to figure out what is in the cake)
"Can I bring "home lunch" next year???"

This was taken when Skyler was on his mission. Bet he wasn't eating any better out there!

McKay handing over his lunch ticket.

"Do I have to Mom?"

Trying not to think about it.

Tyson. I love this picture!!! It pretty much says it all!

"I am going to shove all this inside my milk carton when the lunch lady isn't looking!"

"At least the chocolate milk is edible."

Click to enlarge this one.....

The lunch lady caught some peas flying across the room this year.

This is one of my all time favorite photos of Tyson.

Click to enlarge ...

"We ate it and lived to tell about it!!!"

I am playing this today instead of Friday because it went so well with my post.

1. How far in advance do you start getting ready for back-to-school (whether for your own kids, or for yourself when you were in school)? I start as soon as I see things on sale. Sometimes I buy things on clearance even a year before.

2. Do you have any picky eaters who need special considerations for lunches? Not currently, but Tyson was as picky as they come. What does a typical bagged lunch look like in your house? My boys usually have hot lunch, but when they need to take a sack lunch it consists of a sandwich, chips, some kind of treat (cupcake or cookies), a Gogurt, a drink, and even though they don't usually eat it, I always throw in some mini carrots or some kind of fruit. It just makes me feel like a better mom. lol

3. What school supply items do you skimp on and what are you willing to shell out the big bucks for? Generally I shell out the most $$$ on shoes.

4. Do you get your kids up, or do they get up on their own? Any snooze-hitters that have trouble waking up? How about the opposite, any kids that are up at the crack of dawn? Taylor is so responsible and always wakes himself up. In fact I tell him to wake up his bros now since I am sometimes at the gym when they need to get up. Most of the others could sleep through a hurricane.

5. Any cafeteria horror stories? Is school food as bad as they say? When I was in high school, I always got a salad for lunch. They were these really yummy chef salads complete with the whole works...including worms! YES worms! I saw a little tiny white worm crawling on the lettuce in my bowl and that was the last time I EVER ate in the cafeteria that I remember. After that several of my friends also found one too. 7-11 became our new stop for lunch for a very nutritious Barqs Orange pop and a hotdog. The worm probably had more nutritionally value than that!

6. How important is it to you to make sure your kids have the latest styles and trendiest accessories? Depends on how expensive it is. If it is something they really want, but out of my price range, then they have to pay half.

7. Remember the movie Kindergarten Cop? If Arnold Schwarzenegger was your child's new kindergarten teacher, how would you feel? Well in this day and age...I would be very curious what a man of his stature was doing working with little kids. I taught at a preschool once with a male teacher and he ended up getting fired for things he shouldn't be doing. I am not saying all men are that way....of course not, but it still makes me a little suspicious.