On the 4th of July we ate these little babies!

Can you say yum!  I found a new favorite food!  =)

Inspired by Jen @ 3 Little Monkeys

I decided to try making  Turkey burgers again… (after failed attempts in the past!) =)

Not this time baby!  though I did not use Jen’s recipe… her posted recipe helped me overcome my failed attempts and try try again!~ Thanks Jen~

Hubby and I loved them… neighbors asked what was grilling … and my friend Heather enjoyed one with a thumbs up too!  my picky eaters ate them without too much fuss… I will take it!

We also made these .. inspired by Julianne @ From the Beginning

though I added an ingredient… it was her idea!! =)

I will post the secret recipes at the end of my ramblings about our low key boring holiday weekend!  =)

We are really lame parents… and decided to take advantage of the 3 day holiday weekend as a work weekend… since the rest of our month is crazy busy FUN! =) don’t worry the kids were happy despite the lack of plans and fun!~ wouldn’t you if your mom and dad gave you these!?

I think there was a museum and a store involved in their day…???

ha ha~

Our garage was in need of a major overhaul

soon we would not be able to park walk in it

the garage a few hours into “the sort” … Peter Walsh style…

keep, toss, sell, recycle!

mind you bikes, garbage cans, scooters, etc. were already out of the garage at this point.  I should have turned around and taken a pic of that too… *sigh*

so while hubby was cleaning and sorting away outside…

I was cleaning away inside…Remember my bag a day posts… that I failed to keep up with 2 times?  I don’t want to talk about it… just sayin… i didn’t fail this time!  I also sorted through HUGE mountains of KIDS stuff… papers… craft junk… OH MY!…

Oh…  we are getting ready to have a garage sale to sell the kids stuff for them … and donate the rest to a thrift store that supports Children’s hospital!  maybe we will walk away with some funny money for a mini camping vacation down the coast..  =)

here are a few pics of our madness!

um…toys… bye bye toys.

1/2 the kids books… maybe 1/3 ??  Most purchased at Goodwill or Value Village or garage sales… just saying!  we could make some serious money at 50 cents a book… I don’t want to know how much I spent to acquire them~!

the Thomas stuff just needs sorting… not much of this will be parted with! just stored.  it is a sad day when your children stop playing with Thomas.

this area still needs some serious sorting help…

don’t let the bins fool ya!

and so does this area..

good bye hooked on phonics

good bye dvd’s we are ready to part with. =)

Oh look I found more books to part with… my little boy is now beginning to read chapter books… bye bye early readers… sniff…

and this special guy…

is already gone…in last years garage sale!  =)

there is a story behind this monkey lamp…

maybe I will tell it tomorrow…

Do you WANT to hear the Monkey lamp story??  =)

like the box says… DON’T LAUGH … at my monkey lamp! =)

I liked the monkey lamp for many reasons!   ah ha ha ha!

*ahem*

So folks… I NEEDED a work weekend!  b/c the garage sale is THIS weekend… the same weekend I have a very  good friend who loves me dearly and doesn’t mind that I am having a garage sale when she comes to visit me!!  =)  right Corina… you still love me… right?!  I will seek permission to post about my dear friend Corina later in the week !! with pics!  =)

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On the evening of the 4th …We did stop and have our yummy BBQ dinner and then had a couple of friends over (last minute) for drinks and cards.. which ended up being drinks and laughter instead… =)  and we watched a few fireworks in the neighborhood .. before watching a fireworks show on tv… we were spoiling Merlin… not sure how he would do with his first 4th… he was nervous but fine… =)   and then we had a family sleepover in mommy and daddy’s room!  including Merlin!  ha ha!

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Oh.. the good news is… before the garage madness.. hubby mowed the lawn and weeded ALL my flower beds… because he is an AMAZING man!  =)  and guess what… My sweet man found his lost wedding ring!

did I tell you the lost wedding ring story?  3-4 weeks ago.. my man lost his ring… and he was Sooooo upset … he spent HOURS looking for it!  HOURS!  he even rented a metal detector to look for it the next day.  nothing.  he was not a happy camper… which is why I probably did not post about it. His bad wife… oh… that would be me… teased him for renting said metal detector.. telling him it would turn up if it was meant to be… but I knew he loved me without the ring… so cold hearted I am about “stuff”  .. anyway…while weeding MY pathetic flower beds for me… he found it… NO where near where he thought he lost it (in the back near the woods) Needless to say He is Sooooooooo Happy… see that relief!!  =)  Huge blessing!  and I am now in therapy to learn to me more sympathetic to his sentimental heart!

Speaking of my Amazing hubby… (sorry can’t help it… he is amazing!) … he is coaching my little girls soccer team this summer… it was not planned and sad when the old coach  & some players left the team… but it has been a wonderful experience for both him and little girl!  God works in mysterious ways!

Can I brag about praise my little girl for a minute?

Our little girl has been playing soccer for 2 years now… she loves it… and though she started off a very timid player… she has blossomed into a talented little soccer player!! We are very proud of her! She has this fantastic ability to keep her eye on the ball and go where the gaps are …she is good at swooping in and playing the ball!  She quickly developed some fancy footwork that always amazes me… and more recently she has turned into a great sweeper for defense..  AND… apparently has become a fantastic forward…This little girl..

Scored 3 ~ yes 3 Goals for her team last night!!  Way to go Abby!!

the only horrible thing is ~I was NOT there to witness it!!!    UGH!!!

I will NEVER miss a game again!

DANG!  RATS!

We have this little joke… b/c when ever I am not there… she manages to score a goal… but never 3 in one game!  so I told her before she left last night…” you know there is a great chance you will score tonight since I won’t be there”… we giggled, kissed goodbye… and the little firecracker Scored 3 Goals !!!  *sigh*  =)

It is so much fun watching your offspring grow into amazing little people! =)

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are you still here?  would you like me to shut up already and share my recipes?  =)    *ahem*

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Mini Turkey Burgers

1 lb ground turkey breast

1 egg white

1/2 orange pepper

1 scallion onion ( small purple tear drop shaped onion) =)

1 or 2 garlic cloves

1/2 cup fresh Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup finely ground ‘bread crumbs’ with herbs

a dash of Lawry’s season salt

oregano and basil!

put the pepper, onion & cheese & herbs into a mini chopper and whirl it around until they are very finely chopped.  mix that with the egg white, the meat and bread crumbs.  mix until all the egg is blended in well.  for into small mini burgers.. place on a greased plate and freeze for a 1/2 hour?  then give it to your man to BBQ and don’t thing about that part b/c you are terrified of said BBQ and you don’t go there~!  =)   but hand your man BBQ sauce and mini mozzarella cheese slices for the tops.  and prep the watermelon, corn a a cob, pasta salad if you are not lazy, and some BBQ chips.  Viola!  yummy BBQ dinner!  I only topped mine with a tomato … hubby used an onion also.. lettuce would have been lovely… of course we had mini hamburger buns (whole grain~!) Yummy!  seriously my kids ate fairly quickly and said it wasn’t their favorite… but … they ate quickly??  =)  just sayin… quick and not liking don’t usually come hand in hand!

Nutella Treats

crescent rolls from Pillsbury dough boy

nutella

peanutbutter chips

slivered almonds if you wish..

sugar if you wish

Spread nutella on the rolled out crescent rolls…

add chips

add almonds if you like

roll

sprinkle with sugar if you like

bake as directed

Eat slightly warm… your kids, your neighbors and your friends will be AMAZED at your baking skills and really… for $3. and 3 minutes of your time… You have just become AMAZING!  =)

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Now I must go and feed my littles lunch… they are STARVING!  =)

And we Finally have SUN to enjoy here in Washington!  yippie!

God Bless America by Berlin Irving 1918

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.

(apparently America The Beautiful was inspired by this song…)  =)

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I made you a cake to celebrate your 234th Birthday!

OK… ok… it isn’t cake it is the Pioneer Woman’s Blackberry Cobbler =)

only as you can see I did not use blackberries

I used blueberries and raspberries!

I love how it turned out!  =)

and since we are celebrating the freedom of this beautiful country we live in…

I am hosting a Giveaway!!  (finally! … I know.. I am such a tease!)

It worked out Fantastic to procrastinate and host a Sweet Lil Ol’ Giveaway today because in exactly one week… the day I announce the winner…

I will be celebrating the 6 month mark to my blog as well!!

I have been absolutely blessed by this land of blog…

So today … today.. I am giving back to you  all… or um… ONE of y’all!

since really it is YOU who bless me!!  =)

Wanna see what you’ll get if you win?!

Just a few of my Favorite things… (i heart julie andrews)

I don’t know about you but my fingers get really really dry all year round…

UGH…I don’t want to talk about it!!

I am always trying new lotions … hoping one will do the trick…

and make my hands as soft as a baby’s bottom!

I was recently introduced to this yummy lotion!

Look ma, new hands! (I love it… it is doing the trick..bye bye dry!)

Bath and Body Works baby!!

I  love this stuff..  apparently it has paraffin in it…

Brilliant!

I think I will take out stock in it…

and that sweet little hand sanitizer….

yummy…

cleaning your hands in a pinch never smelled so good!  =)

and this Lay it on Thick body cream…

heaven for my dry heels and toes!!  LOVE it!!

It smells like the beach… or um…  sun tan oil …(like I use that.. ha ha ha)

before you know it my old almost 40 year old hands and feet…

smooth as a baby’s bottom!  =)

What is that  little black and white treasure, you ask?

well…

I am a little obsessed with them…

(Santa gave me my first one in Dec.)

These Fabulous little reusable bags tuck away neatly into a little pouch!

Go Green ~ save the earth ~ bring your own bag!

or in this case ~ Go Black and White!

They are especially useful in places like Target, Fred Meyer, Gap, Children’s Place, Macy’s, JC Penny’s..  Top Foods, Safeway… Oh and Pier 1 … of course!!  (where I buy them!)  I love love that they tuck into the little pocket sized thing – folded or not =)  and you can shove it (or 20 in my case)  in your pocket, purse or hook em on your key chain.   and … and… I am weird this way… but I hate it when the pocket thing is attached to the bag… makes folding more complicated!… I like it separate!  yep…  I need therapy!  *ahem*

Anyway… I have 7 or 8 of them… I just keep going back and buying a few more… I am sure the ladies at Pier 1 think I am crazy.  =)

Moving on… a while back I made a Lavender Eye Pillow

and blogged about it here

and a few of you hinted that you would like a chance to win one…

Here is your chance ladies!!

When my baby boy rocked my sleep world I NEEDED one of these to block out the early morning sun at 4 am… and again at 5 or 6 am the scent helped sooth me… so I didn’t need to suck my thumb back then… *cough*cough* now… I can not fall asleep without it!! I heart my eye pillow!  I had to start making them b/c it was breaking the bank to keep buying mommy new ones!  =)

So … this baby is Hand made by yours truly…  =)

and this cute little bookmark

My little girl and I are making them…

it is a great end of the year teachers gift!  Birthday gift.. just because gift… or a giveaway gift!  I love how it lays nicely  in your book with the weight on either end… and adds a little bling to it when not in use!  just sayin… it won’t last forever b/c the ribbon is fragile… but it is cute while it lasts!  mine is currently resting in chapter 7 of the Beth Moore book I never picked back up after my lovely weekend alone… *sigh*  I am hopeless going to pick it back up this weekend… Monday maybe?!

Oh… here … would you like to see the bag out of the pouch?  =) sorry it is blurry… but you get the idea!

love love…

*sigh* gives me warm fuzzies buying new ones!  (it is a sickness)

and here is a closeup of the little hook…

just in case you were wondering…

Alright… I am done…

I need to go water my Lilies anyway…

OH WAIT…

it RAINED last night…

no watering needed!~  *sigh*

Pacific Northwest Weather on the 4th of July = Rain

Here is my proof… wet flower

no worries…

apparently tomorrow our weather is aiming for the 80’s…

gotta love Washington!

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Oh… rules for the giveaway… almost forgot!

1 entry if you leave me a comment telling me

how much you love me *ahem*

telling me a few of YOUR favorite things!!  =)

and

1 extra entry if you blog about my giveaway

and brag about how cool I am

please don’t forget to come back and comment again after you blog about it!

that will help me remember to put your name in the hat twice!

I will announce the winner on July 11th …

the official 6 month mark for my blog!  I can’t believe it!

If you will excuse me… I have a Flag Cobbler to eat!  =)

nothing goes better with your morning afternoon coffee than Flag Cobbler!

Hope you all enjoy your day!

God Bless America!!

America the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

xo

Just Jenn ~

(remember her?  if you do you have been here from the beginning!)

sorry.  I was watching the Brady bunch with my kids this morning!  =)

Everyone has a story.  Here is My story … the one I sort of mention sometimes…

the “one day I will tell you my story “…  that story  … Here it is folks!

There are 2 ways to tell a personal story… be practical … or be emotional.  I am attempting to be practical, maybe a little humor and probably end up emotional  b/c I can not tell my own story without tears.    So get your Kleenex for pity sakes.  =)  and I apologize now for the length… I can NOT reveal 10 years of medical stress in a short post.   Bear with me if you will  or just go straight to the bottom tell me I am a lunatic thinking anyone wants to read all this and come back tomorrow for pie.

First ~ Blogging ~ 6 months into being blessed beyond belief in this land of blog by amazing courageous women who share their stories… 6 months into what I thought would be a fun world to play in… has become a world of friendship, encouragement, inspiration and even the start of some healing for me… unexpected beauty I didn’t even realize I needed! you all Bless My Socks off!  So…6 months into blogging I am going to lay it all out here … I am going to give you the Story behind the Seizing My Day Jenn and hope y’all don’t flee from this girls blog… b/c I love y’all too much!
Over the years… I have tried NOT to let our “issues” define me…. I do smile daily, I laugh daily, I enjoy life daily.… ( I also whine daily, complain daily, have normal mom frustrations daily, etc. etc. ha ha)   I am just a girl ~ a girl who loves God ~ a girl with a wonderful husband and 2 fabulous kids  ~ I am a girl who loves friends and coffee and camping and the beach … The Truth is I am a girl with a story that does define her even though I try to not let it ~ a story that is not over yet.

1st A little ditty about me… I am a girl who accepted Jesus into her heart at age 20…(cough …19 years ago…cough) whose heart used to seek God in everything she did… I am girl who accepted God’s love for her and God’s plan for her life… she was excited about God all the time… she loved God and surrendered herself to  God.  He lived in her heart and through her life by his  Spirit.  I am a girl who soaked up the word of God and allowed Him to move freely in her (well… ok…  don’t get me wrong I am not perfect… but that is where my heart was on a regular basis)  =)

Then this girl met a boy …the boy and girl feel in love… after a lovely summer romance the girl made arrangements to move closer to the boys  in Canada 4 hours away… the boy and girl knew they were heading towards marriage… then the boy was diagnosed with cancer… yikes… radical surgeries took place to save the boy… the girl moved to the boys country and went through this with the boy… a year later the girl and boy were married.   they were happy.  a year later the girl got pregnant and really sick… while the girl was feeling miserable every day with a baby growing insider her… the girls mom was diagnosed with aggressive cancer… the girls heart broke… the girl got to see her mom a little during this time… not as much as she wanted … the girl had a beautiful baby girl … shortly after the beautiful baby was born the boy’s cancer returned… the girl with a newborn baby had a mom and husband with cancer .  the girl was strong.  the boy was strong.  the girl and boy trusted God.  the boys cancer was surgically removed again.  They cried and laughed their way through it again.

but then the girls mom died when the girls baby was 4 months old.  the girl was very very sad.  the girl loved God and trusted him.  the girl found peace.  the girl was sad but chose to enjoy the memories of her mom and continue surrendering her life to God and his plan.  The girl knew in her heart to give thanks in all circumstances.   In all things by prayer and petition with thanksgiving she gave her heart to God and found peace.  Philippians 2:14 and Ephesians 5:20 and Colossians 2:6-7  were verses the girl clung to!  Please take a few moments to read those if you have a bible!  =)  Those verses reminded me to Trust God in All Circumstances… those verses reminded me to be Thankful in all circumstances… those verses reminded me to keep my eyes and heart on God’s plan for our life.

Another year later the girl got pregnant and sick again.  the girl loved on her growing baby girl while feeling sick and enjoyed life despite the nausea for 9 months.  the girl had a beautiful baby boy.  the girl named her boy Samuel after 8 days of crying and begging for the boys name to be Sammy.  =) shameful girl!  =)  Funny enough … now the girl sees irony in naming her boy Samuel.  =)

6 weeks into the baby boy’s life his eyes started flicking back and forth rapidly.  the girl and boy worried and took him to doctors.  the doctors could not figure out why the baby’s eyes were moving.  the baby boy had Nystagmus (wobbly eyes).  the girl noticed the baby also choked on milk every time he drank from the mommy.  the doctor reassured her regularly that it was nothing.  the other doctors also told her that there could be a brain tumor or someting with the baby boy but the boy would not get an MRI until he was 2 years old.  WHAT?!!  the girl was emotional, worried, angry.  soon the girl realized her baby could not see her from the other side of the room.  the baby could only see her from close up.  soon the girl realized her baby was not meeting milestones either.  He was a cute rolly polly chubby baby who was happy most of the time.  he gave everyone joy.  the baby saw many many doctors and nobody understood why the baby had low muscle tone, woke every 2 hours at night, and had nystagmus (wobbly eyes) and low vision. the baby was puzzling doctors.  the waking every 2 hours was emotionally and physically draining to the boy and girl.  who also had a beautiful happy busy little girl to love and play with.  the girl and boy learned to live around the baby’s mystery “issues” and coped with severe lack of sleep and WAY too much stress.  They laughed, they lived, they tried to be normal and enjoy life.  they tried to surrender to God.  they tried to see him in the midst.  they tried to trust God’s plan. God was revealing himself during this time.  The girl again remembered that in ALL things to give thanks, to praying without ceasing, to trust God, to cling to Him who had a perfect plan for them.  while others talked about healing and told her they were praying for healing… God revealed to the girl that He wanted her to be content with HIS plan…to surrender the baby Sammy to Him.. to love the baby just as he was.  she choose to walk a path in life God choose with the baby as he was.  being thankful for this baby… just as he was.  not wishing for a baby she didn’t get… but enjoying the baby she had.  knowing the baby would show her and the boy a life they would have never otherwise known.  with unexpected blessings along side the steep path they traveled.  she would learn things that she would not have otherwise learned.  the girl trusted reluctantly at this point b/c the girl was weary.  =)  at about 18 months old the baby was still waking at night every 2 hours.  the baby still had low vision and wobbly eyes.  the baby still had low muscle tone and choked on fluids (the girl Finally got doctors to take that seriously at 18 months)  the baby was diagnosed with  aspiration of fluids… fluids were going into the baby’s lungs for 18 months.  lovely.  the girl and boy were barely coping and really weary, stressed, worried and frustrated that there was no label to help them define what they were going through with this beautiful baby.  the baby had seen countless doctors and specialists.

Just when they started to “manage” all the baby’s issues… one day the girl opened a diaper with very very red baby poo.  (sorry ~it was blood)  SCARY.  the girl and boy started on another path of doctors.  the doctors did procedures on the baby, ran many tests and once again could Not figure out what it was.  they found mysterious red patches in baby’s colon that did not fit into current known medical conditions.   Sammy had 5-6 undiagnosed issues for the girl and boy to worry about.  the girl pleaded with the boy to cross borders … and move to her “home” and try to see doctors there.  the girl hoped that going there would be easier to get into doctors.  the girl hoped it would not take 2 years to get the first appointment with a genetics doctor.  the girl hoped to find answers.  by the way the whole 2 years the girl and boy laughed, cried, enjoyed their children and conducted this crazy crazy upside down life with a fairly happy baby and toddler. however peace had slipped away.  Stress and worry consumed the girl.  the girl struggled with no answers.  the girl struggled with other peoples opinions of her life including family, friends and fellow Christians.  the girl constantly felt judged when she was weary, frightened and worried.  the girl had huge fears.  the girl began to build walls.  high beautiful walls. she decorated them to make herself feel better… and she built them to protect her heart and maintain sanity and keep herself from falling apart (even though she was falling apart and many folks around her thought her to be insane and slightly neurotic)  *sigh*  =)

the girl continued to seek God wearily and from a distance.  not wanting to surrender completely.  not wanting to trust completely.  what if….  yes… her mind went “there” often… *sigh*  .. she tried to give this giant burden to her God but she struggled.  wrestled.  she was angry sometimes. she was broken. the girl and boy were coping differently. sometimes it was hard.  but they made it through the hardest of times. laughing and enjoying as much of life as they could around the chaos and uncertainty.

So after the girl and boy moved to the USA.  the girl had to work to immigrate her family. the boy stayed home with the 2 and 4 year olds.  =)  only for 6 months.  the boy embraced cooking, cleaning, playing, baking… super daddy!  the Lord opened doors and showed himself to them ~ sometimes in beautiful and profound ways.  he revealed things to the boy and girl. but the girl kept her heart close to herself… she was very protective and scared of the baby boys future.   the girl worked and found new doctors for the boy.  the girl took the boy to many many doctors.  with NO new answers.  it was a long, hard, rocky, uphill road.  the girl and boy found a church (big church that the girl used to go to a long time ago) the girl and boy tried to fit in and meet new friends but it was hard with so much baggage and being weary and all. but they tried. they went to womens groups and vbs and bible studies. people were overwhelmed with their story. people did not embrace them. they struggled.  but they lived life.  laughing, crying, building memories, seizing their precious days, visiting countless doctors, dealing with unknown medical stress, scared b/c the bleeding was getting worse.  the other issues seemed like nothing now.  all the while they did not find a church family where the whole family found fellowship to encourage them and support them. (sad)

anyway after a year or two of testing in the USA …the baby was a little boy now… the red patches in his colon got bigger… and 6 months later the bleeding got worse..doctors ran more tests… there were veins… varicose veins (bulging veins) that should not be  in the little boys large intestine (colon)  and they were beginning to creep into the small intestines.  the little boy went through another long series of tests looking for reasons (blockage) in his veins.  nothing.  the doctors were puzzled.  the genetics doctors could not figure it out.  the gastrointestinal doctors could not figure it out.  the neurologists couldn’t figure it out.  the ophthalmologist was only concerned with the  eyes.  the peds doctor was fascinated but did not know what to do.  the gastrointestinal doctors “thought” he “might” have weak blood vessels in his GI track (throat down to the bowels)  the girl slowly figured out foods that triggered bleeding.  the girl slowly “managed” the baby boys condition by trial and error and the internet… Praise God for the internet!   the girl is a darn good researcher now . =)  the baby boy was now 4 years old now.  He was cute, smiley, happy, smart, funny, enjoyable… despite all he went through.

here he is with a camera capsule inside his little body and that machine is the recorder. it was a hard day but he got to meet the Mariners and more importantly the Moose!

friends told us he even made tv (the news) but we never saw it… =)

actually he had this camera thing done twice… I think the top one was when he was nearly 5… the Moose one was when he was 3 1/2…???  blurry days!

And his sister was an amazing sweet adorable smart little girl who enjoyed life in the midst of all the chaos and uncertainty around her.  =)

children’s hospitals have playgrounds =)  little blessings. happy girl.

CRAZY times.

by the way.  the waking every 2 hours lasted for 3-4 years.  when we  moved to the USA the doctors found acid reflux… (so simple)  UGH!!  the baby boy slept “better” once the girl took away foods that triggered acid reflux (the reflux meds increased the little boys bleeding… of course!) so we managed it by diet without meds.

oh and at about age 5 we discovered little boys body temp drops “too quickly” … when he … accidentally take a tumble in the ocean… or goes swimming in a cool pool… or when he gets the flu.

The beach is free therapy… peaceful … blissful… where all your worries drift away.. unless your little boy takes a tumble in the ocean…  and his body temp drops … and takes Forever to return to normal.. scary forever!  =)

I am exhausted calling us all the girl and boy and baby and baby’s sister…  =)

are you still here?? =)

I promise as long as I live I will NEVER have another post THIS long.

fast forward to now. today. today we don’t struggle much with bleeding.  it is not gone.  we changed his diet and it is managed… we think.  ??  the blood vessels are likely still there… 3 years later…  today we don’t deal with many medical hiccups.  we don’t want to put him through the test to see where they are anymore… *sigh* today we enjoy life around his low vision and low muscle tone (which we actually think is relaxed tissue connecting his joints… not actually muscles)  today we conduct life pretty close to everyone else around us.  except Sammy does physical things a little different.  he schools a little different.  he sees a little different. and the mommy hides worry.  =)

Sammy is a witty, funny, smart, delightful little boy.  He always has been.  he loves all things little boy.  lego, nerf, pirates, construction, forts, building… and on his softer side animals!  =)  I am blessed beyond belief with children who are happy, delightful, enjoyable, obedient, kind, funny, sweet, smart… I could go on and on.  whiny, selfish, irritating ~ did I say that out loud.  Abby has lived a very crazy life around her brother and all his issues.  She  has excelled in school, gymnastics, soccer, piano.. she has developed good friends, hobbies, a love for animals, reading and writing.  She has developed a few issues of her own too (anxiety) =) partly related to all the “stuff” she has witnessed.  My mom was prone to anxiety, I struggled with it as a kid and adult! and now my little girl struggles with it some.  genetics. =) anyway….

Back to when Sammy was 5 when the bleeding was the worst.  That is the year they discovered the blood vessels covering his entire colon.  that is the year I LOST it they told us they had not ONE case to compare him to.  doctors sent out Sammy’s story to a world wide web for “mystery cases” and only found one teenager with a very mild case of blood vessels… but he did not have all the other issues Sammy has.  We researched a billion  genetic disorders… a few of which he “might” have a unique combination of … we even spoke with and emailed genetics doctors on the East Coast.  Sometimes the genetic disorders found us… but by the time he was 5 our options were exhausted.  we were exhausted. It was hard putting him through all the testing.  SOOOOOO  ……..Though I had a hard time “surrendering” the search b/c I wanted to know exactly HOW to treat Sammy’s medical issues so that he had the best quality of care.  I wanted to know I was protecting him as much as I possibly could.  I didn’t want to give up and regret it later!  But I knew a couple years ago I HAD exhausted the search and God clearly was not going to reveal WHAT Sammy has.  not now anyway.  I have read enough, researched enough, asked the Hard questions and in my mind I face reality.  Reality is ~ IF Sammy does in fact have weak blood vessels ~ one day something might  burst ~ if they are weak and fragile they will be nearly impossible to repair.  One day we may (probably will) face tragedy. that is my reality.  that is what I fear.  that is why I struggle with fear.  that is what drives me to protect my heart.  a heart that was already weary and exhausted.  that is what drives a wedge between me surrendering my little boy to God 100%.  that is what keeps my walls high.  it is way easier to live surface level with most of the people around me.  not that I want to live sobbing all the time.. =)  I don’t want to live waiting for bad things to happen either.  and I don’t.  I am just saying it is really hard to free your heart and mind from said possible (likely) events. I know so many families live with medical conditions… some I know personally … and some I have learned their stories through friends and now even blogs!  some peoples stories seem way worse than ours..  I imagine I feel like the mom of a family who struggles with cystic fibrosis.. where they know one day their child’s lungs could loose the battle.  one day I know my sons blood vessels may loose the battle.   I know I am not alone.  I know God loves me and my family.  God has blessed me with beautiful experiences in the midst.  God has provided for our family.  God has done beautiful things in us, around us and through us.

don’t mind the crazy extended family member in the back!  =)

We have lived back in my home town for 4-5 years.  Building memories.   Enjoying life.  The last couple years have been A LOT less medically challenging ~  HUGE blessing.  We have made good friends.  but we have really struggled finding a church family.  that is another story.  I have learned it is hard to fit a happy but weary family with vision, medical and anxiety issue into a church fellowship.  I have learned it is hard to be in a house of worship without feeling emotional.  I have learned it is hard to “get to know” people.  I have realized if I don’t suck it up and keep my “baggage” closed… people run the other way.  (sad but true)  I have learned that my son with low vision has a hard time staying in kids church or sunday school alone without help.  (I have been to sunday school in the last year but not grown up church)  I have learned my shy daughter with mild anxiety has a hard time going to sunday school too.  I have learned that I don’t get to go to church while trying to find a church body.  I have learned it is exhausting looking for a church with children with special needs.  I have learned I have guarded my heart too much.  I have learned I keep God at a distance now.  I have learned that I need therapy.  =)

OK… 3265 words into my story I need to stop here.  Now I fear hitting publish.   tomorrow my post will be something crafty, something light hearted, something funny, silly, normal, something about my everyday life or an everyday lesson, event or baking… I LOVE baking.  =)  THAT is my every day life.  THIS post is just my Story.  the roots behind this girl who writes Seizing My Day.  I am generally pretty happy.  I have skeletons in my closet.  I have a history of more trials than some will ever face. whatever.  =) I have never taken my eyes off of my Lord.  I have never lost faith.  though I have seriously doubted.  and looked away some.    =)  I have struggled but I have also found joy in my journey.  I have laughed as much as I have cried. Sometimes doctors and nurses probably thought “do they know how serious this is?”  “what is wrong with them… laughing in a hospital like a couple of hyenas.”  =)   God has comforted my stubborn being even when I was not willing to let him hug me.  I have a long way to go baby… but I have come a long way too.  =)  I would love to write out all the verses God has given me over the years… but that would add about 2000 more words to this post! =)  I am just going to list them… and if you feel led to go and read them.. I am sure you can fit them into the context of my story!!  =)

James 1:2, I Peter 1:6-9, Romans 5:2-5, Romans 8:  ,Colossians 4:2, Romans 12:12,  I Thessalonians 5:16, II Thessalonians 3:5, I Timothy 4:4, Romans 15:13,  I Corinthians 16:13-14, II Corinthians 4:8,9 & 16, Philippians 3:12,  Colossians 3:12-17

to name a few   =)  they are all focused on being Thankful in ALL circumstances.  learning from my circumstances. letting God work in the midst of my circumstances. trusting.  choosing to allow the Peace of God to rule in my heart.

I have protected my heart from the peace that comes with trusting.  I am working my way back to what I know, applying what I have learned and REALLY trusting.  REALLY surrendering. REALLY allowing God to Live IN and Through me again.   Some of you all have unknowingly nudged me to open my eyes and see some of the ways I had built walls and protected myself.  I have allowed myself to fall into a place of security without God in the center.  I am seeing that because of blogging =)  and here I thought “I” was handling my life just fine.   =)  oops.  well except for the fact that I knew I need to surrender Sammy to God 100% … how on earth am I going to do that?    =)

enough said for today.

Please do not feel like you should say something to encourage me… =)  not that I will reject it!!  ha ha!  My story is a lot to absorb!  =)   It actually DOES feel FREE to just lay it out here… those life events that have defined me and even held me back a bit.  I didn’t want to slam the blog world with my woes… they really arent’ woes… My hope is maybe just maybe God will use my story in your hearts as he has used some of yours in my heart.  =)

Bless you all for coming and reading to the end!

and I am sorry if you are out of Kleenex!  =)

PS

A mom in my daughters school DID loose a small child unexpectedly last week. It makes me weep when I think of her broken heart.  She is facing something I merely fear.  She needs your prayers today.  =)  She needs my prayers.  My heart is with her this week.  Life is so precious.  Seize your day with your loved ones and make the best of your circumstances.  =)

OH..  and Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian friends!  4149 words. yikes.

equals 2920 days of LIFE!  =)

My sweet little boy had his 8th birthday this month!

Celebrating Sammy’s Life is precious to me…

but before I get all mushy…

Let me show you all the fun we had celebrating Sammy!

I love involving them in the planning…

we always have loads of fun creating games, mystery and crafts!

Ah… memories!

Sammy’s theme this year was Nerf games

They were not all Nerf brand…

but most were… and the others were nerf like!  =)

We Love NERF!

To add a little mystery each game had a little blue envelope

with homemade scrabble letters to unscramble

to reveal what game we were going to play

The boys really enjoyed this part

except I told Sammy not to help b/c he knew the games…

oops… that made this part boring for the birthday boy!!  ha ha!

the first game involved danger in my kitchen

the boys had fun and nothing in my kitchen broke!  whew!

(please don’t notice I STILL have not finished my painting from April!)

The boys had trouble unscrambling this one

because they left one letter in the envelope

and the um… r … is upside down boys!!

So just add an F

can you guess the next game?

This picture looks like the Frisbee is flying at him…

The goal was to get the Frisbee into the targets 3 times to earn the prize

the targets were hula hoops and giant Frisbees on the ground

it was harder than it seemed

but they enjoyed the challenge!

of course they were proud of themselves

some concentrated really hard to reach their goals…

while others …

couldn’t help but add a little silly to the games!

oops… the ball needs to go through the hoop

not over the hoop!  =)

3 times to earn the prize

but if you hit the holder of the hoops

you have to kiss her!!

YES … I really did tell them that was a rule!

Ah ha ha ha!  the mom has to have fun too!

AND … they never hit the girl with the ball… =)

and the girl was horrified I said it out loud…

even though we had joked about it earlier that day!

ah memories!

At this point we stopped to eat dinner, open presents

we let each boy sit with the Birthday Boy while he opened their presents

and then I print these pictures and we use them for the Thank you cards!!

YES daddy you can have a turn too!

*cough*cough*

guess I better get to those Thank you’s soon!!

and then it was time to EAT the Rainbow cake!

I mean blow out the candles … =)

then eat the cake!

which btw.. was too fruity tasting for me…

fun but fruity

however ALL the kids LOVED it!  yay!!

then we went back outside to earn a chance to hit the pinata!!

Daddy was a very good sport about this game!

each boy had to use the water swords to fight the big guy!

and if they managed to swack him on the rump and leave a wet mark

they earned the right to swing at the pinata!  =)

This was SO much fun to watch!!

We even had Abby earn this one…

just because it was SO MUCH FUN!

I would show you all the pictures of each boy…

but I fear you’ll never come back!!  ha ha!

Needless to say …

they all managed to get the big guys rump wet!

maybe he let them…

maybe he didn’t?!

anywho…

PINATA time!!

this is my little man taking the first of a THOUSAND swings!

why do pinatas NOT break very easy!

even with this form…

LOOK at his perfect form!!

he is going to be in the major leagues one day

and I am going to have this picture when he is famous!

again… the kids faces cracked me up

and I took a hundred pictures!

look at his face!!

So funny!

and hers!!

Priceless!

and then there was the holder of the pinata 200 hits later!

don’t let that skinny guy fool ya…

he’s got muscles!!  =)

Way to endure Honey!!

SuperStar Daddy!!

The last game didnt’ start until the parents arrived … oops!

Which was the one Sammy was most excited about…

which the mommy failed to take pictures of…

DART TAG!

They had a quick unorganized game of dart tag and loved it!

What a great day it turned out to be!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Warning ~ here is where the MUSHY part starts ~

I have sort of shared that Sammy is a very special boy…

Every year when we celebrate his birthday I am Extremely grateful we were blessed with another year of life with my little boy.   Grateful that his medical issues have not gotten any worse “yet”.   Sometimes I am grateful to have made it through the year with medical scares.   Other years I am grateful to make it through the year without any medical scares.   I am always Grateful for a year filled with Fun Family Memories despite our circumstances.  I am Grateful for another year to Thank the Lord that Sammy remained healthy and thrived!  I live allowing worry to consume my heart.

It is time… Time for me to share with you all His Story… our story!  I am usually an open book… but I didn’t want Our medical history to define me… even though it really does define me …  =)

Our story is one of the many reasons I choose to Seize My Day …one BLESSED day at a time!  Attempting to Thank the Lord daily, Surrender my life (our lives) daily to God’s beautiful plan ~ even during difficult circumstances… God can and does do amazing things in and through us… even in the midst of those times.  So I try to  Seize every beautiful moment we are blessed with!  Because I am an emotional soul it is not always easy… I hold  fear in my heart & mind … even though I smile on the outside all the time … and take life one beautiful or one gray day at a time… trying to enjoy more than I complain =)    it is a daily battle … to surrender a fearful mommy heart to God and TRUST in Him… in His perfect plan!

So today I am committing to tackling my fears, sharing my story boldly, and allowing God to move FREELY in my heart … Living with JOY and PEACE… with God despite my circumstances!   So Why the need to share ~ because Sammy’s story (our story) is a huge part of who I am ~ and if I keep “hiding” it ~ then I am not really surrendering it!  I am not really FREE when I have things like fear hidden in my heart!  =)   The 4th of July is all about Freedom ~ I realize that Freedom is different than the freedom I am talking about ~ but work with me here in my crazy over analytical mind, k?!!  So tomorrow or the next day ~ instead of doing my GIVEAWAY *cough*  (and since it requires me to use my sewing machine and I have NOT managed to succeed and I am procrastinating ~ forgive me for being a tease?)  ~ so instead of doing my just because the Sun is Shining Giveaway on July 1st ~ I am going to spill my story first and then ~ then I will Celebrate feeling more FREE with my giveaway on July 4th!!   I know y’all probably have plans for the long weekend ~ not to worry I will run the giveaway for a week!  =)

Warning ~ my story is emotional ~ life has been hard ~ but full of  fun, love, joy, hope and some peace too ~ however ~ fear and worry are WEEDS ~ and can take over that garden of love, joy, hope and peace with out you even knowing it!   Just warning you… bring tissue tomorrow ~ ok!

I am off to feed kids, walk the dog and then I hope to catch up a bit more with y’all… I am afraid Summer  (though not very sunny yet)  has in fact provided the opposite blogging experience that I expected… LAZYness … not more time!!  ha ha!  I love lazy mornings and summer fun … which has of course affected my blogging some!!  ha ha!  I am assuming y’all are in the same boat ~ and we will wave at each other as we happen to pass each other on our way to the ice cream truck!  =)

Seriously, last summer this time

Washington did NOT look like this!

I took this photo one day last week …

but it might as well have been today *sigh*

Hello!  it   IS summer

is it not?  =)

Today looks a bit gray …

Maybe Not quite that gray… but certainly not that blue either!~

I suppose I can be thankful for gray weather…

it will help me stay inside and clean …

I mean seriously…

how does he do that

ALL. THE. TIME!!

sneaky devil!

what?  did I do something wrong?

how many rolls of toilet paper rolls will we loose before the kids

shut. the. bathroom. DOOR!  =)

I am OK….  it is ok… really…

I wouldn’t vacuum nearly as much as I should

if I didn’t have Merlin!

So I guess it is a blessing that he makes my house messy

encourages me to clean my house more =)

and Bless His Heart ~ he tries really hard to keep us trendy

you see we are not fashion sense folks around here

Without Merlin

we would probably still be wearing clothes from the 80’s

I mean we would NEVER replace our “old” shoes if he didn’t nudge us a bit!

Yep ~ my 1 year old puppy is still stealing and chewing ~ almost daily

One day ~ this too shall pass ~ right?!

right????

please say yes!

*cough*cough*

So other than keeping up with that dog this weekend

You all know I burned my hand ~ after my garage sale fun

(as posted yesterday)

Thank you for all the comment love

about my pathetic story!  =)

I only needed 2 painkillers ~ offering 12 plus hours of pain relief ~

after the night it felt fine ~yippie!

and the blisters are healing nicely ~

and I will not be frying bacon again anytime soon!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So ~  I started this post at 8 am today… it is now 11:17 PM …

it has been one of  those days

just as I started my post … a child woke

and then another

and then my sister called while I was in the middle of STRESSING out

trying to plan a wee camping vacation around doggy sitter drama

after a few long phone calls

my sister comes to the rescue ~ Bless you KK!! =)

and just as I thought I could get back to my post

a neighbor with a wee disneyland ticket crisis called

something to do with her already in CA  and the tickets being here =)

leading to an unexpected errand to UPS overnight delivery  for said neighbor

then home for a quick snack before rushing off to soccer

where my hubby is  the new coach ~ Go hubby! (and hubby’s assistant coach!)

where little girl SCORED a goal ~ helping her team win the game!

Way to play hard tonight little soccer superstar girl!!!

against the team where hubby’s supervisor was the other teams coach…

oops =)

I hope he still approves the vacation time we requested!!  ha ha!

anyway …

I am rambling…

this is NOT my most exciting post…

don’t worry…

The Sun will come out “tomorrow” …

bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow…

There’ll be sun!!

*ahem*

Tomorrow I have something exciting to share in my post!

along with some more fun geocaching adventures…

For now I need to do some serious catching up on y’all!

and start booking those KOA campgrounds!

My pride

or my hand

that my friends is a bacon grease burn

can you say OUCH!

5 hours later

gallons of cold running water

thousands of frozen peas

fabulous Pain killers

(the kind you  get when you have root canals…lucky me I had 2 recently)

I am currently under the influence of said drugs

but my “pain” is bearable now…

I just have one thing to say about all this …

don’t talk on the phone and fry bacon in a stainless steal pan on med/high simultaneously

just Don’t!!!

in the future I will be “frying” my bacon in this

it is much safer!!

*cough*cough*

This morning before I hurt my pride hand

I went on my first garage sale adventure of the summer!!

Would you like to see what I found?

books!  I love  books!

I can not attend garage sales

without bringing home books!  =)

$15 for this little cutie!

a little wood glue

a fresh coat of white paint

Hello baby!

and my favorite find…

she is missing a lock and key

but I had to have her

for the low low price of $5.

I want to paint it ~ white ~ =)

but my kids love it as is…

Here is where you I need you  =)   ~ would you paint it?  what color?

and What would you DO with it??   =)

I found a snake for Merlin too…

25 cents for a few hours of entertainment!

I also came home with a few littlest pet shops..

at 50 cents a piece they will also provide hours of entertainment!  =)

I heart garage sales!

Now if you will excuse me…

my fabulous pain killers have worn off

I need to go put the pea pack back on the fire my hand …

my pride hurts less than my hand I think…  =)

this post was mostly typed with my left hand…

one finger at a time….

*sigh*

who is this dog?

he IS cute

and very familiar

that tail…

I know that tail…

and that face…

Yep

that is definitely MY dog!

sporting his new Big Boy Summer Look…

Didn’t these ladies do a GREAT job!!  =)

Don’t worry  Merlin…

You will thank me later…

the sun is shining in the PNW

you will be much cooler

in the summer heat

and it will grow back…

Merlin turned 1 last week  ~

the day before Sammy’s birthday!

I still need to write a post about his party

just in case y’all want to  host a Nerf party

and need some ideas!  =)

Maybe now that Merlin is ONE

He will stop chewing everything in sight!!

and act like a big boy dog

with his big boy dog hair cut!!  😉

isn’t it funny how when his fur is long

he looks mostly black

but when his fur is short

he looks mostly white!!

odd.

Seriously ~ why am I always the last one to  learn about cool things?

just call me the Pokey Little Puppy ~ ok ~

alrightygoodthen =)

Do you all know what Geocaching is??   =)

See I knew it.

I AM the last one again!!

I felt the same way when I discovered blogging last winter!

Alrightygoodthen

moving on

to give credit where credit is due folks

Tammy ~ From Tammy’s Two Cents ~

we are good friends you see ~

so I am hoping she doesn’t mind

I just STOLE this picture off her blog!!  =)

Tammy ~ is introducing me to All kinds of Crazy Fun

Fun that I had NO IDEA existed!

Tammy you are Wonderful ~ see ~ don’t ever doubt it!!  =)

How did I live my life without you!??

OK ~ to the point here folks is this ~

Tammy not only introduced me to blogging

but she introduced me to Geocaching!!

She told me about all the fun her family was having with it …

so I asked the blond question…(since I am blond I can say that)

“what IS geocaching” ??

and she didn’t even laugh at me!  you are swell Tammy!

So for Father’s Day ~  we went and bought a Geocaching GPS …

One that  Tammy told me about!!

apparently ~ I would jump off a bridge if she told me too!!

Hubby was not expecting it…

I took a leap of faith buying it because  he LOVES playing with his kids…

Really he is an AMAZING daddy ~ AMAZING!

I am BLESSED beyond measure!!  *swoon swoon*

anyway … he was surprised and maybe a little skeptical …

But he embraced it … and he jumped right in !

Tammy =)  told us about a Geocache within walking distance to our house

SO … naturally we did that one first!

that dog even got to come  for this one =)

Daddy showed Abby how to follow the GPS

and we were off!

how sweet is that!  =)

*sigh*

it didn’t take us long to find it…

the clues were right up our alley!!   literally ~ ha ha

*ahem*  =)

WAIT  ~ how rude of me ~

maybe you all don’t know about Geocaching…

maybe I am not alone!  =)

Geocaching is a fun hiking adventure game ~a treasure seeking game

After you buy a hand held GPS

you go onto the geocaching website

www.geocaching.com

On the website you find locations to go and hunt for goecaches

here they explain it better than I do…

“Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.”

Geocaching is SO much fun!!

and my kids who don’t like to hike~ (the  little whiners!)

they don’t even really like to go walking on trails

***giving Sammy a bit of credit here … with his low vision … and low muscle tone… tall grass, branches and bushes  hit him in the face A Lot!!  and he trips on roots more than the average bear  =(   but he endured it… and tackled his fear…

HE  even ENJOYed it!!

They both really really liked it!!

We are officially addicted!  =)

and then

the little boy learned to use this high techy device ~

he had to hold it a little close to his face

but he could read it ~ blessing!!

We successfully found a 2nd treasure  =)

and then a 3rd !!

Oh ~ right ~ you can’t “take” the geocache

you open it up

and sign the log book

with your clever geocaching name

This one was the RedCap goblin  =)

the “clue” (story)  was a bit disturbing

so we didn’t exactly share it with the kids completely!

You CAN exchange treasures within the cache

of equal value… McDonalds toy for McDonalds toy…

we were not totally prepared but we dug through the JUNK drawer

and since one of our planned Geocaches was a goblin theme

and we happen to have these cute little ghosts from Halloween

we exchanged a ghost for this plastic craft heart

Our friends from Tammy’s Two Cents actually found this one too

they told us later that they left behind a match box car

this one had about 10 “treasures” to exchange with… =)

I think the kids liked it since …

they begged…

“please Please can we do one more??  Please Daddy?!!”

Our Geomate Jr Geocaching GPS  tells you where the next 20 are…

so we found the nearest one

and ventured out without looking it up on the geocache website

we blindly followed the GPS

into the deep dark forest

and found ourselves on a path of BONES

what on earth have we gotten ourselves into??

seriously a SEA of Bones… YIKES!

it was a little disturbing

creepy

weird

the hip bone is connected to the thigh bone

the thigh bone is connected to the knee bone

the knee bone is connected to the shin bone ??

*shudder*

In all Fairness ~ I was creeped out by this one ~

but the cache was fine

and I am not sure the bones were connected to the cache??

We still need to go to the web and read the story (clue)

(remember we did this one by coordinates ONLY)

The cache did have a creep looking Fast food chain toy

(hello? McDonalds, Burger King?  I am not impressed)

We had 2 of the CUTE not scary ghosts …

so we exchanged a ghost for fake gold coins…

given the creepyness of the bones we felt it was appropriate!

oh ~ You need to put the cache back in the same spot you found it!!

so the clues work for the next geocaching explorer!  =)

We high tailed it out of creepy bone land…

but we were not discouraged…

Geocaching is SO Much FUN!!  =)

We were wet by the end of the 4th cache…

soggy feet and all

we went home with smiles on our faces!!

I really should have dressed a little nicer

and put on makeup …to explore in the deep dark forest

since I was bound to end up in ONE picture!  =)

keepin it real folks

There I am in all my glory

*cough*

on a lazy wet Sunday afternoon!

ok ok maybe not lazy!

My official Opinion about Geocaching is:

This Exciting Treasure Seeking Crazy Fun

is  NOT for the Birds folks!!

just leave them to worm collecting!!

(photo taken in my back yard last night..hello birdie!)

If you have never gone Geocaching ~ I highly recommend it!!

We are 41, 39, 9 and 8 ~ and we LOVE it!!  =)

We bought the GeoMateJr. hand held Goecaching GPS

From Target!!

it is super doooper easy to use !

Right now Target and REI carry it!  =)

Just in case you are inspired by my post

and want to run out and buy one…

because maybe I taught you something exciting…

indirectly through Tammy!!  =)

How did I ever live without Tammy, Bloggging and Geocaching??  =)

We are going to base the rest our summer around Geocaching ~

we love it that much!

Oh ~ I mean we are going to incorporate it into the rest of our summer fun!

Cannon Beach

Eastern Washington

The peninsula

and …

We are hoping to visit the Red Wood Forest this summer ~  =)

Tent Camping and all!

So this will be the perfect addition to our Northern California adventure!

Our log book signature is the Treasure Seekers ~

original I know…

we have brilliant kids =)

OK ~

I have to ask ~

I need to know ~

How Many of You already know about Geocaching???

How many of you HAVE geocached before??!!

I am going back under my rock now!    =)

It all started with an

Orange

A Lemon

and A Lime

Zest, Zest, Zest

Love LOVE this little Zesting tool

I acquired mine at Haggen Top Food and Drugs

After zesting these babys

I squeezed the life right out of them

alright maybe not …

I have carpel tunnel or something like that

so my squeeze is not what it used to be

stupid carpel tunnel??!!

“moving on” …

One orange, one lemon and one lime…

Then I pulled out the berries

and I “smooshed” them

Blueberries, Blackberries and Raspberries

1/2 cup each

and then I forced them through a sifter

to remove all the seeds

Sammy can’t eat seeds

evil evil evil seeds

An Hour later

give or take a few minutes

I had a Rainbow of magic potions

What on earth did I do all that for?

The Best  Birthday Cake Ever

according to Sammy!  =)

Have you guessed yet?

I made the Rainbow Cake

The one that is ALL OVER BLOG LAND!!  =)

Batter up folks…

this part was easy!!

2 white cake mixes

mix with all the eggs, vanilla and oil

but only 1 cup of  the water

instead of  the 2 1/2 cups it calls for

can you say fruit puree?!!  =)

I told ya

Magic Potions!!!

moving on…

Put 1 cup of batter in 6 bowls

Add 1/4 cup fruit puree for each color ~ one bowl at a time

of course don’t forget to use the gel food coloring for each layer

if the craft store actually has it in stock

I am NOT bitter that I had to use liquid color I am NOT

really!  =)

red = Rasberry

purple = blackberry

blue = blueberry

yellow = lemon

green = lime

orange = hello?!  =)

I pureed the zest on the citrus fruits after zesting and  squeezing…

Place one color of batter in 8 inch rounds ~ greased & floured!

and Bake @ 350 for about 20 minutes

When you touch them

they will spring back like rainbow sponges

while they cool

Make your icing

I have seen this cake with cream cheese icing, lemon meringue butter cream, regular butter cream or in my case… orange flavored butter cream frosting!!  =)

I will seek permission to share my friend Susan’s butter cream recipe!!  =)

Thanks Sooz!!  =)

After whipping up all that white frosting…

and I started layering the colored cakes one at a time

I felt like I was on an episode of a Strawberry Shortcake Cartoon

with frosting clouds and rainbow colored trampolines!!

( my head really does go there… to those imagination places!!)

For the record I have never layered a cake beyond 2 layers!!  =)

I refrigerated the cakes overnight b/c I made them so late the night before..

which ended up in my favor I think!!

I used my boring run of the mill cheap cheese knife

really

how cheesy is that?

but it worked GREAT!  no crumbs ended up in the frosting!!

and I even cut one layer …

the yellow cake layer was out of control!!  =)

After the 6 layers are frosted

and you place M&M’s around the borders…

before you know it

“BANG”

your done!

and You have One HAPPY Birthday Boy!!!

He was SO excited to surprise his friends!!

and you will be proud of yourself for not screwing up

a 6 layer cake just hours before the madness begins!!  =)

Here is a sneak peek at all the fun we had planned for games..

The Nerf party and THE cake was a smashing success!!

a bit too sweet and fruity for this chick…but….

Most of the kids loved it…

and a few of the neighbors loved it…

I think it tasted like Really Super Dooper Sweet Fruit Loops!!  =)

Credits:    =)

The most recent blog post that reminded me to make this fabulous cake

was my friend Jen at 3 Little Monkeys

I am so glad you made this recently Jen!!

Thank you for the reminder!!!  =)

My curiosity was brewing…

I had seen the Rainbow Cake a few times before in blog land

so I went a googling to see if I could figure out where it came from…

who thinks of cool stuff like this??  =)

I found this young gal on The Martha Stewart Show…

making the Rainbow Cake ….on TV…

from ScRATCH I might add!!

So… I surfed around to find her blog… Whisk Kid

Anywho…. I am GUESSING…

Since Martha invited the Whisk Kid to make the Rainbow Cake on her show

that maybe… just maybe

Kaitlin the Whisk Kid is where this fun recipe originated from??  Kaitlin??  =)

Kaitlin did not use the fruit flavors on the Martha Stewart Show

nor did she use a cake mix out of a box

But Kaitlin you have inspired many many amateur bakers to bake bold!!  =)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The last 2 weeks have been insanely busy!!

End of year sports, school projects, girl scouts, field trips, a limping dog, a birthday boy and a birthday dog … ha ha… no …no dog party!… Fathers day and  vacation planning… whew… how do we do this job and not fall off our rockers??!!

I couldn’t be more thrilled that in 2 hours Summer officially starts for us!! =)

I had high hopes that I would do a fun Summer Giveaway today…

(being the first “official” day of summer and all)

but my insane life recently just couldn’t fit that in!!

SO…My upcoming post list includes a Fun Summer Giveaway!!

SO… Y’all come back now ya hear!!

Woot Woot ~ Summer time ~ Summer Time !!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello Beach ~ I love you ~ Jenn !!   =)

I know I said I was taking a blogging break all week…

This is simply an “intermission” …   =)

(honestly)

it gives me stress

thinking about all the things I will want to post by Saturday

so really this is just a stress release

and boy howdy do I need a stress release

and since I can’t afford a Hot Stone Massage…

(bummer)

so

Photos of Eggstraordinary adventures await

Little Girl designed this Egg Store Den Airy Saver

and filled it with these supplies

she placed an egg inside

and then

she chucked it out a 2nd floor window in our house

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

oh the anticipation…

Did the egg crack?

can I help you with that pokey little puppy?

=)

is it broken?

I can’t tell…

daddy?

the suspense is killing me…

oh no … not the lip!

humpty dumpty can NOT be put back together again

with a few changes to the cabin

his Brother Billie Bob Joe  (egg #2)

will fly like an eagle

and soar like a bird

from the same window

did Billie Bob  survive?

now usually Sammy is pretty smart

for his age of 7 years and 364 days  =)

but Sammy… I am gettin worried…

I hope it is not a direct result of you smashing your head at FULL speed

into the edge of the car door yesterday

(be still my heart… don’t ask!)

just know he barely got bruised

and we were SURE it was going to be the worst ER visit we have ever had!

*sigh*   the worries of having a child with low vision

he whacks his head more than the average bear!!  *sigh*

I think he left behind a dent in the car door!

*ahem*  anyhow!!

do you see the stress in her brow ?

she gets that from daddy…

Sadly, it was followed by another pout…

no worries

Take 3

its only 9:10 pm…

we’ve got all night to try this egg saving fun

(not)

I feel like I have done this before…

it looks good

did sister Sally crack?

well

is she ok?

Sister Sally Survived !!!

a 2 story drop in a box full of marshmallows!!

hooray!!

now Go. To. BED!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day at school

Little girl eagerly awaits

for her Egg Store Den Airy Saver

to be launched from this bad boy

into the lower soccer field

at lightening speed

uh oh

speed

we did not factor in speed

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

There she blows

um…

That didn’t happen last night

Marshmallow goo

is a pretty good indication

that

speed is an important factor to consider

and Sister Sally did not survive !

higher speed = greater force … which =

broken egg ~ it is hard to see (sorry) the Sun was bright!!

The good news is…

Abby did get points for clever name and cute design!!  =)

and there is always next year!

4th and 5th graders get to participate!!

Great Job Little Girl ~

I am  sorry sister Sally didn’t survive the catapult !!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

speaking of eggs

I need to get crackin some eggs myself…

I have a rainbow birthday cake to bake!! =)

I have seen this cake baked by a few of you…

if y’all can do it…

so can I!!  =)

Thanks for the inspiration!!

wish me luck!