Friday, April 12, 2013

The tender tugs of ones' heart strings can be a battle never won.

I've never considered myself as one who can say they have roots. Growing up, my family moved frequently. I am originally from Texas yet had lived in many locations within Texas, a few places in New Jersey, as well as in California. Since then, I have added two other states to that list.  I had the unique opportunity to attend 8 schools before college, four of which were during my high school years. When people asked me where I was from, I had no answer to give. I usually just said, "All over".  I never even thought of what it meant to have roots. It was a foreign idea to me. Eventually, I married into an amazing family that had lived in the same home for over 20 years. Roots galore. I felt left out. I felt alone. I had nowhere to call Home. It wasn't until 12 or so years after I got married that an awakening happened. I was reminded that I did have roots. Deep ones. Immovable ones.

I was able to travel with Zack to San Antonio, Texas for one of his business trips. It had been well over a decade since I had been able to walk on that sweet ground. I enjoyed every second of every minute I had there. I loved spending my time with my sweetheart in my home state. I had failed to realize that once a Texan, always a Texan.  Finally, I could share with someone the preciousness of HOME.

We have been lucky blessed enough to take our whole family to Texas this spring. We were able to visit with extended family - Oh, how I have missed them! The kids had a blast. I know this because of the constant, "Thank you so much for bringing us here!" and the "Why can't we move here?" comments. I think the latter question may have stressed out my dear husband a bit. No pressure, right?

In future posts I will show pictures, tell you where we visited, and share some of our funny moments. But for now, I have just been relishing my time that I was able to spend in God's country. Just thinking of my cherished state brings tears to my eyes and my emotions bubble to the surface. I have enjoyed seeing my kids' new found chip on their shoulder that's in the shape (and size) of the state of Texas. It makes this momma proud to say that they have discovered their Texas Pride. After all, everything is, indeed, bigger and better in Texas.

Many do not understand and even get frustrated with this mindset. To this I say:


It's hard to describe the feeling of "Texas". It is different from anywhere I've ever lived. People walk a little taller, stand a little stronger. They look at each other with a knowing look in their eye. There is a camaraderie of it's citizens, a friendship forged without even meeting one another...

Where does this come from? I think it's from the whispers of heroes past. No other state within the United States has ever had to fight for their freedom. Their sacred Constitution was ripped to shreds and their rights, their lands, and their freedoms were stolen away by a tyrannical dictator. These men banded together, knowing their cause was just and knowing that they may have to make the ultimate sacrifice....

These men gave their all to keep Texas free and Texans remember this. Many battles were fought, many lives were lost - all in the name of freedom. The very ground where they fought is sacred. Today, many in our society do not even understand what the word 'sacred' means anymore. But Texans do.

Texans Remember the Alamo!



Friday, September 28, 2012

Hi, again.

OK...here is my newest confession:

I love dinner plates. The kind you actually eat off of, not the kind that you hang on the wall (no fun there).

I fantasize about them, I yearn for them. I want to fill my cabinets with them. Lots of them. I am not a plate discriminator either. I like them all. Well, unless they are completely boring with no personality to them. An example would be like what I currently have. I have plain white ones and plain black ones. B-o-r-i-n-g. They just don't do it for me and they know it. They just sit there... wasting space... mocking me... laughing at me .

So, it is with much pleasure that I plan their demise. "Their eternal demise".

There are so many out there waiting for me to find them and love them and share them with the family that I love.

I want fancy ones:



Colorful ones:




Floral ones:



Vintage ones:


Textured ones:


and we must not forget my favorite


Crazy ones:


Wish me luck with my addiction and recovery.
And by recovery I mean, recovering them from where they are right now.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Hey! Remember me? I am back and I have a lot to catch up on. I have to remember that my blog is my journal, Facebook is not. So...on to the recap!

We were able to go to Disneyland at the end of April. I get the sinking feeling it will probably be our last time as a full family to go. Zachary will be leaving for his mission in less than 4 years and we (I)still NEED to go visit Texas. So, it is with a heavy heart that I post these last (most likely) pics of us at The Happiest Place on Earth. We picked a great time to go - no crowds!

We have never told our kids about our big trips. We like to keep it a surprise and it keeps the kids from asking if it's time to go yet for weeks before it is.  Here is a sample of their reactions. You'll have to pardon the messy bedroom, the drool, and the partial nudity (ish).


We heart Disneyland!! Oh, and when I say Disneyland, I really mean both DL and California Adventure. It takes too much verbal and too much thinking effort to differentiate between the two. So, it's a package deal for me. Seriously, if you time it right, Disneyland is amazing!!!


We stayed at a hotel directly acrooss the street from the park and it was really nice. The room was a tad warm, but would always cool down by bedtime. It also had three double beds, a pull out sofa bed, a kitchen table, and two flat screen TVs. We fit in one room!! We were on the 4th floor and the kids loved to tease me with the rickety balcony. NOT FUNNY! After about the 17th, "Look mom, no hands" type of joke, I started to get mad. My feet would sweat and I would get grabbing-ly angry. The hotel also had the typical free breakfast and there was a large King Kong movie poster in the eating room. Scotty just couldn't face it while he was eating because the gorilla's nose grossed him out too much. It was very odd, but funny.

Another thing we learned is that if a lady puts napkins on a table it then becomes reserved. Even weirder was that two of our sons were already sitting at said table.  She was pretty miffed that we sat at 'her' table. We refused to be pushed around and be intimidated - we're nice like that. She and her husband shot us crusty looks the rest of the time. Crazy.


Emily & Scotty taking a stroll with Jessie. They helped her call out Disneyland's pet turkey.



Tiana was the best princess Emily has met so far. Belle was a close second. Jasmine was decent, Mulan doesn't even count as a princess, and Ariel was a snotty girl who was bored with her job. Tiana had the role down pat and was perfect!



Mickey Mouse at his house - the much shorter line, unlike the guy mouse at the front of the park.



Emily loved the Teacups. I did better than I thought I would, but both Big Zack and Mikey decided it was in everyone's best interest if they didn't barf all over the other guests of the park. I think Zack even struggled with filming us.



BEST RIDE EVER!!!!  Thirteen story drops and lots of other story drops. Don't know of any other way of putting it. Also amazing was the entire ambiance of the whole theme/ride. It was a fancy, old Hollywood style hotel, with cobwebs and dust with unbelievably creepy looking constumes for the hotel bell boys and concierge servicemen. AWESOME!



SECOND BEST RIDE EVER!!!  We really had fun on this super fast and exciting roller coaster called California Screamin'. It's the smoothest coaster I have ever been on. It has speakers by your head so you have fun music the whole ride through and it includes a break neck speed start and stop (the tooth chipper), a loop, and many large hills. So fun. Scotty's goal was to scream the loudest to make sure that it deserved it's name.



Apparently, four days was the perfect amount of time. Plenty of time to ride all of your favorite rides, time to discover new ones, as well as having time to just goof around. What is with the chin holding?



Four days also allows time to plan funny poses for the cameras.




My very least favorite - look at Scotty's hands.  Ahhh!!



My favorite of me....ever seen the movie, The Mummy?


Now, everyone. This was not a staged one. Front row. This was our first time on The Tower of Terror. I didn't handle it too well. I lost control of my breathing/screaming rhythm which caused me to laugh and cry hysterically at the same time for about 3 to 4 minutes after the ride. I kind of made a fool out of myself. I created a scene. The 2nd time, I did much better. Though, about 2 minutes after I got off the ride, I again started to laugh uncontrollably for a period of time. Adrenalin can do crazy things. I still laugh whenever I see this pic of me.     COULD. NOT. STOP. SCREAMING.


So happy we went!!


Thursday, January 5, 2012

A New Me

I love the start of a new year. I love fresh beginnings, re-do's, and start overs. Isn't that what this life is about? Anyway, one of my New Year's resolutions is to be a more positive person. It's kind of sad that this is on my list because I actually used to be a very positive thinker.

So far this year, I'm not doing too well and it's only the 5th day.

See? Even that! Think positively, Amber!

Start over: So far, I can do better!! It's been a tad difficult with the stresses that come with life, the weather that is as dull as can be, and I'm doing this mean, nasty Biggest Loser thing. I could go on and on. But, I won't. I am now a positive person.

From now on, I will try my dangdest to see the good in every situation. I will try to do the happy dance instead of wallow or fume. If you'd like to know what the happy dance is, I'll show you sometime (it's no big deal). I learned it from this amazing woman who lives in my ward.

I will take the council of our dear prophets and find joy in the journey, happiness in service, gratitude for everything, and peace through my Savior, Jesus Christ and by snarfing chocolate.

I found this today and love it...it helps me to remember to be grateful for everything.



Wish me luck!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

M.I.A.

It has been way too long since I've dropped by. I guess I was just in a funk or something just as depressing/boring. Plus, I was a little addicted to watching the TV show of Alias on DVD. All 5 seasons, in less than two weeks' time, but that's normal, right?

Today, I am going to share a little secret. OK, maybe not a secret at all to most, but...

I LOVE PINTEREST!!

I feel alive!!! I am looking forward to enjoying and living life again. It's been a long time coming.

Don't worry, I'm still me. I still think that Armageddon and the Apocalypse are coming and that we're all gonna die, but now I can wait for them with crafts, fun, and inspiration!


Another great thing about this website is how cheaply I can do it all! Now, I just need more space to put everything I want to make.


So, Zack...are you going out of town anytime soon? Ha, ha! No worries-ish!

P.S. Anyone can post stuff to this website...visitor be forewarned. Every once in a while, something not nice is posted.

Friday, August 19, 2011

I'm off in dreamland...again

This is my dream: Laketown

Someday, I would love to have a home in Laketown...or at least some place like unto it.

Gorgeous summers and hermit-like winters. It's super secluded which equals AWESOME!

It's just about as anti-social as one can get.     What is my problem??

Even if it meant a smaller home. As in only 3 bedrooms (as long as the boys' room was huge).

I'd like a few horses as I am now a professional horse rider.

See?



SEE?!



Really, I just want the land and the solitude.

So badly, it almost hurts.

But, until that elusive day comes, I'll just traumatize my dear husband with reconstruction of our backyard to fit in as much garden as possible. The poor guy. I know that his blood pressure stats just went through the roof while reading this post. Too bad he's not going out of town anytime soon so he can miss the whole mess. Ha! Ha!

Sorry, babe.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Fruitland Visit 2011

Zack's parents generously invite us to use their cabin and we like to generously accept said offer. So, this summer's vacation was spent there. We like to relax, go swimming, go hiking, ride the ATVs, drive 40 minutes just to drag Main Street in the thriving metropolis of Duchesne (not even one traffic light in town), and do a few other things here & there. We also celebrated Scotty's 7th birthday while we were there and enjoyed a thunderstorm or two. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show...


Zacky was the 1st off the high dive - ever the 1st child syndrome :)



Not to be out performed, Mikey tried the diving board for the 1st time ever and immediately went to the high dive. Mamma's so proud!



Tommy's 1st time without a life jacket - baby's all growd up, now!



Scotty's 1st time ever off a diving board - so brave!



Emily only likes the shallow end.



The family pic - can you tell who hates going swimming?



Rippling muscles!



Tommy & Scotty with the car Tommy gave to him for his birthday.



Zack and I on our ATV ride up to the reservoir. I love to just get away with my sweetheart!



Awesome sunsets!



Back at home catching Emily playing space aliens with Mikey & Tommy. Weirdo.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

The new do & Cher

Emily got her hair cut today. She was so excited. She refers to it as, "I get to take a hair a cut!"

Anyway, we think she looks great. She lost about 4 1/2 inches! Her hair was getting so long that she was starting to remind me of Cher (a much more modest & cute one)! Sadly, our lighting is so dim that it makes her a tad unhealthy looking, but whatever.

The Before:






After:





Speaking of Cher - this totally cracks me up!!!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Crocodile Dundee Jr.

A few weeks ago, Mikey's grandfather bought him a small knife to use on his camp outs. He does, after all, have his Tote-N-Chip card. Which apparently means to Mikey, that he is fully entrusted with knives and all that goes with them, regardless of his less than stellar judgement and self-discipline.


Anyway, after he returned from his camp out, Mikey asked, "Can I get a machete?"

Zack, very tongue in cheek said, "Gee, I don't know Mikey, let's go ask your mom."

When he asked me, I hemmed and hahhed for a few seconds, and then said, "No way, Jose."

So then, Mikey asked, "Then can I get some throwing knives?"


Is this kid serious? Why is this the only thing I can picture at the moment?


Saturday, July 2, 2011

Freedom Festival 2011

Balloon Fest!!!

We woke up this morning around 5:40 am to get to Provo by 6:30 am. Apparently, when they say they'll start the balloons at 6:30, they really mean 6:00. They were almost all full and ready to go by the time we got there. Bummer. I guess next year, we'll have to wake up at 5:00 am - UGH.

Anyway, the weather was still cool and the crowds were friendly. We ran into Zack's older brother Matt and his family as well as a few other fun people.



Emily is not a fan of loud noises or fire - Winning!










This was about as high as Darth was able to go. I guess he forgot to use the Force. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!!!