Bipolar...... As many of you know my Dad has Bipolar. I never knew who my Dad was until he came down with this. We hardly ever seen my Dad growing up he was ALWAYS working. When I turned twenty one is when my Dad wanted to be a part of my life. It was very difficult because I had a family of my own and had no idea how to except the words " I love you" coming from my Dad. I know that he loves all of his kids and wants the best for them. He just does not know how to communicate that. I feel bad for him and hope that he can over come his battle with bipolar.

I realize that when someone is hateful life is dark and that is not the way I want to live. I am not siding with anyone in this situation with my Dad but I do realize that without forgiveness that hatefulness is present and no matter what happens my Dad will ALWAYS be my Dad and my Mom will ALWAYS be my Mom. My Dad is stuck in a body/mind that he does not know how to control and it is horrible to watch his roller coaster life of ups and downs and see how hateful he can be. My Dad would do anything for anybody but with bipolar things are now unsure. I forgive my Dad.

If you do not know about bipolar here are some things below about what our family goes through about every two weeks.

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms
Mania and depression are the opposing phases in bipolar disorder.
This is my dad.....

Mania: A person in the manic phase may feel indestructible, full of energy, and ready for anything. Other times that person may be irritable and ready to argue with anyone who tries to get in the way.

*Less sleep and food than usual are needed.
*The person with mania can stay up all night but may find that not much was accomplished because he or she was easily distracted.
*The person in a manic phase may talk very quickly and jump from subject to subject. They often exhibit pressured speech during mania.
*Self-esteem may be inflated.
*Decisions regarding business and finances are often made hurriedly and without careful consideration; poor choices may be the result.
*These behaviors, which can be quite upsetting, usually prompt a family member to take notice and try to get the person help.
*Most people who are going through the manic phase of bipolar disorder deny that anything is wrong with them and refuse to see a medical professional.

Dirty Diapers?

Let's take a vote.... Who thinks I should throw this back over to the neighbors house? I have no diapers at my house but guess what I have diapers in my back yard ALL THE TIME! This just grosses(is this a word) me out. Not to mention are you people really that lazy? The last (5)diapers have been tossed back over the fence and I am very tempted to knock on the door and tell them to come and get the diaper out of my back yard. Which one should I do????? I really do not want to touch the poopy thing! Would I be a rude neighbor to tell them to come and get it?

Christmas WISH list

Christmas is almost done....... Yeah!!! To bad I didn't get this magazine until yesterday...

If I didn't have a budget this is what I would get Carter. This is cool but not for $119.95.

http://www.hammacher.com/images/FLASH/74335_flashvideo2.html

This would be for Shayla. She wants a dancing stage....Not sure if Santa can fit it in. She tells us that he can because he his magic. We almost forgot that he has magic. I am so glad she remembered. $189.95

This would be for Matt. Every year we say we are going to Wendover and have never made it. oh I take that back we went when Carter was 1 year old (well passed by on the way to a wedding) Let me tell you it was so FUN!!! Matt played the machines the whole time and I walked around for HOURS with a not so happy child. Oh and I almost forgot my car started on FIRE on the way home in the middle of nowhere , glad we had a cooler with water. This would get him up to skill so he doesn't try anything stupid :) $299.95

Then for me!!!!!! I want this $299.95

http://cache.vendaria.com/vpop/VpopV6.html?ct=13&ctname=CT630X556D630X390&fw=630&fh=556&logo=357&fv=9&ap=vnd_irobot_scooba&purl=MAIN_irobot_scooba&iid=kjqIbiUffFikcUkQUVfiFjUdfQMQfMMjFcQg&bg=FFFFFF&nm=BZOpener&curl=&err=0&title=Vendaria%20Media&tp=
The Robotic Floor Washer.This is the Scooba® (invented by the creators of the Roomba®), an autonomous robot that efficiently and simultaneously prepares, washes, and scrubs tile, linoleum, or sealed hardwood floors, without human intervention. Using tap water, vinegar, or a bleach-free solution, Scooba methodically cleans a medium-sized kitchen floor in as little as one hour, navigating independently (the Scooba can clean up to 250' sq. on a full charge of its rechargeable battery). As it passes over flooring, the robot picks up loose dirt and sprays solution, while a rotary scrubber gently cleans. The robot is compact enough to reach under cabinet kick boards and most furniture, and at the touch of a button, it courses through a room, moving around chair legs, ledges, and other roadblocks thanks to patented AWARE™ sensor technology that redirects the robot when it gently encounters an object. Cleans a standard-sized kitchen floor on a single tank, and it can be restricted to clean specific areas using the included Virtual Wall® (additional walls sold below) that creates an infrared beam the Scooba will not cross. Includes 8 oz. of cleaning solution (about four tanks full), built-in rechargeable battery, and AC adapter. 3 1/2" H x 14 3/4" Diam. (12 1/2 lbs.) Only available for delivery in the Continental U.S. and Canada.

Weight

I am having a really hard time keeping weight on Carter. When he started school he was 62 lbs. now he is 51 lbs. Any Ideas??? He will not drink instant breakfast, ensure or anything like that. I was at the school yesterday and went into the lunch room. He was the only child at the table without a lunch. I asked him where his lunch was his response was "I was not hungry so I put it in the trash". How do you get a child to eat who isn't hungry and doesn't want to? I swear I am going to be turned in for child abuse this kid is all bones! This is what I found on Carter......

Your BMI is 16.23 which is categorized as "Severely underweight".
A healthy BMI falls between 18.5 and 25. For your height, a corresponding healthy weight would be between 58.14 and 78.55.

Help and Ideas??? I have told this child that we will have to feed him with IV's

4 Years ago this week

I am always grateful this time of year. It never passes my mind that 4 years ago this week we lost everything and moved in with my mom and dad all because of a very crooked person who was suppose to help us. This person then in turn rented out our house (to drug dealers) and pocketed the money. Later after a long battle we sold the home on a short sale.

With all that behind and looking back.....I never thought that I was prideful. When people talk about pride or being prideful I am very humbled. I believe that you don't have to have a lot to be prideful. We lived in a 55 year old house that was falling apart (costing every nickle and dime we had and didn't have) we did not have a lot. I realized then that I did have pride. It was by far the hardest thing to swallow that and admit that I had nothing and the only thing that I did have that even mattered was my family. I believe that everything happens for a reason and realizing that everything can be taken from you (worldly) with a blink of an eye your family can not! I believe that with out losing everything I would never be where I am today. I believe that Shayla had her seizes to teach (not only me) a lesson on the priesthood and the great blessings it can have in our families if we use it.

I would never wish this to happen to anybody but when you are setting all alone and when you finally realize that you have not lost EVERYTHING it was the best feeling. I never want to go back to that emptiness. I took this picture a couple of days after we moved. I can not believe how little my kids were.

I do miss living across the street from grandma and grandpa, the wood burning stove and this tree.

Pizza Field Trip

This is SOME of Shayla's class. Do not ask where Dylan is he never came. Same with Jacob the neighbor boy who taught Shayla to be a dinosaur. By the way where were you Jacob?? Here are some pic's the kids had fun. The employee's needed a attitude adjustment the little dark haired one needed it more. Teacher Nisha is the Red head.

For those of you who had Little Ceasers to night DO NOT scroll down

This was 9:30 in the morning before ANY of the food was out. They left the floors and the walls looking like this. This place is so not clean! I am not a clean freak (I don't think) but it is pretty sad when a 4 year old come up and says Teacher Nisha the walls had food all over them. Teacher Nisha's response....I know honey your mom already pointed that out! Yuck..I do not think I will be getting pizza anytime soon from here. This was the only pic I dared to take all the employee's were behind me.

Oh No what did I do?

Carter got it. His own credit card. He took in his jar of change and put it on a VISA CREDIT CARD!!! Look out Internet.......He had 98.00 in his bank and I only let him put 50.00 on the card. The rest is in his savings account. We had to go to Walgreen's and I was really proud of him. Of course he had to get Pokemon's (I wish this would end) at first he had 5 packs of the 3.99 and one of the 12.99. I told him how much it was and he about died. Then he ended up with one pack of 3.99 and one 12.99.

Carter bought this stuffed animal for Shayla.

And these are the most wicked things. I HATE these. Matt where are you????? I will not open these I am terrified of them!!!! I guess I will pre heat the oven and wait.

Lagoon

Me and the kids ditched church yesterday and went to Lagoon. We go to Lagoon every year during Fright Mares. It is not very crowded and not hot. Here are some of the pic's.

Aunt Brittney found a new Friend

Shayla and Brittney on the Lady Bug. She told Britt that it is really high and going to be fun.

My Mom and Shayla on the music express. This one was her funnest ride.

Eating Slushy's while waited for the older (taller) kids on the Spider.

Britt and Shayla on the Dinosaur drop (I am not sure if this is the name Shayla told me it was).

Shayla has no fear this year. Britt said it was pretty high up.

Puff.....Chandler and Carter. Brynlee and Shayla and Melissa and Reigahn.

Carter bumping my mom on the bumper cars.

The Sky ride. My mom, Shayla and Gage.

Brooke and Gage on the music express. Gage noticed I was taking his pic.

Brooke and Gage while the music express is running. Kind of blurry but funny!

This was Carter's Favorite ride besides the big swings. This ride the whales and Dolphins on the side shoot water at you and you have to avoid them by moving the fish up and down. The trick to this is you have no idea when they are going to shoot the water. I have to agree with Carter this ride was really fun!

Carter waiting for the Whale to shoot the water.

Shayla on the boats. They finally repainted them!

Reigahn and Brynlee on the boats.

Chandler and Carter were so funny. These two never see each other. They only time is usually holiday's and they are late to every one so not really even then. It was good to see him and even better to see him interact with his cousins.

Reigahn and Shayla

Carter and Chandler

Shayla and Reigahn

It was a very long day yesterday. The kids had a blast. I am pretty sure we will be back next year. I am glad the weather finally became good again. I though we were going to miss lagoon this year because the weather turned so crappy so quick. The weather was warm enough that the kids could still get wet and not be cold. Except Lauren who went on rattle snake rapids 6-7 times and was soaked from head to toe! Duh..

Service

Yesterday My grandparents got a load of wood (they use the furnace as little as possible to avoid a high gas bill) me and my mom went over to unload it. It was nice this time. Brad (their son) cut it all and had it stacked onto a pallet all we had to do was unload it. My grandpa is 77 and refuses to let anyone do anything for them but is grateful when you put up the fight and do it anyway.
There are times when serving others is horrible (like when they can do it them self but are just to lazy to and you have other things you need to be doing but drop everything to help them). Then there are times like above that I do not mind doing. I wouldn't mind doing it for anybody that actually needs the help, even if I shouldn't be.
By the way this lazy part has nothing to do with family. It is meant for venting about my neighbors who just had a baby on Thurs. and were out in their hot tub all night last nigh with a bunch of friends and had better not ask for meals to be brought in! If she is feeling good enough to party all night then they can cook their own food. I am not judging....I am not judging....I am not judging....I am not judging....I am not judging....

One more post...Presidents

As many of you know Carter loves history and Presidents are part of history . He just came running in to tell me that I can vote for the president. Here is the conversation.

"Mom, did you know that you can vote for President?"

"I can?"

"Yep"

"I am not voting"
"Why"

"Because I do not like any of them"

"But it is for President"

"I know"

"Mom, you should vote for the old one because a old President can not make crime. He makes the rules and could you see a old president stealing? That would be so funny"

I love the way that kids can just look at the simple things of life and not have to worry about the whole big picture. What it would be like to be a kid again!!

Pumpkins

Now that I am off my soap box.....

Yesterday we went to the Sun River (because it is free) and took some Pic's we walked through the little maze thing they had. They were all afraid of it becasue Colten (the 10 year old) thought there was a person standing in it. I wish I would have taken a pic of what it was. It was a little witch that was hanging in a corner.. They all ran out screaming. Here are the pic's.

Colten, Mckenzie, Carter, Chase, Shayla and the naked baby

Primary

I now know why I never find a sub for my Primary Class. I have just been on the phone for 2 hours looking for someone to teach. I have heard everything from.....

"I am teaching something else third hour"

"I need to finish my Halloween costumes"

"My husband does not think it is a good idea"

"Try Tippetts" (more then once I got this response, watch out)

"I have never taught that lesson before"

and of course the good old I have caller ID and I know you are from the ward I am not answering the phone. Not to mention the Presidency are all not home and I have not sub list and it is Fall break for the kids from school. I love the fact that I finally found a nice family even though they have callings third hour were willing to teach the class second hour!! THANK YOU!! This is the third time in 14 months that I have HAD to find a sub and I do not understand why it is so hard. The lessons are simple enough that someone who was not active at all was called to primary to teach and has learned a lot and loves it and also able to teach it. You learn a lot more from the kids and it is amazing what the children (who have been taught) know about the church and the strength of their testimonies! I LOVE PRIMARY!

Yard Work

Yesterday was a busy day! We took down all the plants in the back yard. Now I know why My mom use to make us do yard work as kids. It goes a lot faster but sometimes ends up messier. Here are some pic's of the kids helping. Shayla found her some gloves so she could help.

After this the neighbor returned some things they borrowed so I just told them to put them in the garage and then my car would not fit. Well I ended up cleaning out the half my car goes in and the realize that I had not even started dinner. I ran in and cut up some chicken and put some Yoshida sauce on it and finished the garage. The kids were being great this whole time not fighting nothing.

The kids LOVE this for dinner because I put the chicken on the skewers and they call it shrek food. Well when I got in from cleaning the garage I found them in Carter's room with a Whole bag of M&M's (the large bag not single pack) gone I should have known that something was up! I made them eat this dinner then straight to bed they were not happy. I think they learned a lesson because both of them already new that they do not have snacks before dinner not to mention the whole entire bag!

Wal-Mart

Can I tell you how much I HATE Wal-mart (Shayla reminded me that HATE is a bad word). Sorry everybody!

It takes you 20 min to find a parking spot and walk into the store. Their prices are not the greatest and you go for a couple of things and end up with more then you went for. Not to mention the 30-45 min check out time because they only open 5 check stands. The store is also the worst in customer service. I went in the summer time to get a pool for my mom and asked for help to load it (those of you who know me know that I DO NOT ask for help) after I had already tried it on my own and could not lift it. I waited in the isle for 25 min before I just got feed up with it and did it myself pinning my heels under the self and with a hernia. I vowed never to return.

I went to Wal-Mart today to pick up black pants and a black top for Shayla to go under her witch costume.....Needless to say I never found any and I am not patient enough for Wal-mart and all the slow people that do not move there carts out of the middle of the isle. Sorry Michele, I know this is your favorite store and you go there daily !! Maybe it will be better when 5 cities are not in the same store. We will see...

Bunko

Friday was Bunko. Of course I had to take my kids with me because it starts at 7:00 and Matt is never home until 7:30 or later when I need to be somewhere ( not planned it just always happens that way) Carter ended up at Marcy's for a sleep over with Chase. Thanks Marcy.

I took these pic's because Matt thinks that Bunko is code word for stripper. He says that he is not the only person that thinks that. My view on it is if I was leaving for a evening to get away why on earth would I waste my time with a man not to mention a half or almost naked one??? It doesn't help that when Matt called Michele's (his sister's)cell my mother yells in the back ground "take it off!!" so of course everyone starts in on it and then It makes him really wonder what goes on at Bunko. :) If he really only new that we talked about vasectomies and that I was really disappointed that there was no internal involved or stitches, come on what kind of surgery is that.

My mom :) Vanessa, Tara and Bev's head (I think)

The Prizes. (Sadie,Michele, Nicole and Emilie's head)

I want one of these. They are cute!

Shayla's Post

I did not post the prev. post. Shayla was suppose to be laying down. Well I guess she had a different idea. She figured out how to post on my blog!!! Does anyone know how to block the Internet????? Carter orders over $100.00 in Pokemon cards (thank goodness he had no idea my credit card was by the computer) and now Shayla blogging! This is the reason she was having a nap. On the way home from Teacher Nisha's we sometimes stop at the park to swing. Today she wanted to stay longer and I didn't so this is what she did to herself on the way home.

I missed the huge hickey she also gave her self. She has done this many other times and My mother-in-law thought that I grabbed her and pinched her. Nope she does it when she is mad because she know she gets a rise out of me!

Shayla took this pic all by herself.