I've been planning on taking the kids to the Pumpkin Patch since the first weekend in October, here it is almost the last weekend, and we still haven't gone. I don't think they are as disappointed as I am.Hopefully we will get to go next weekend. This weekend, the baby had a fever and wasn't feeling too good. Then we had unexpected friends of the family come and visit, with a 2 day notice. I'm glad they let us know they were coming, but I still had to rush and clean the house and get things ready for them to come. And I wasn't looking forward to them coming. My husband and I aren't materialistic who try and keep up with the Joneses, but these friends have to have the New everything, or whatever we have isn't good enough. They always do things better or have more than us. Thank God it was only for Saturday, and they left Sunday morning. Anyways, whatever flu bug the baby picked up, she shared with me, and Sunday night, I just felt horrible. This morning I feel better, but still icky. I kept my son home from school, because he said his tummy felt sick too, and I'm not taking any chances. Back to our friends, when we were working with them about 15yrs. ago, we all got along, and we still do, I just feel like if we don't have what they have, we don't fit in. With two diabetics in the family, I try and explain to my oldest daughter, we'd have more in life, but taking care of my husband and son is more important, and they are worth more than anything, or any trip. She's been feeling some pressure from her friends too about not fitting in, and not having the things all her friends have. I've tried to explain to her too, that she may not have things like they do, but she's got what she needs, and a family that loves her. That having what they have wouldn't make her who she is, she makes who she is by being herself, and they'll either accept her, or not, the important thing is that she needn't try and impress them or change who she is to be their friend. She's seeing how her real friends treat her, and that makes me feel good that she can see what I'm talking about, even if that means she doesn't have an IPOD, or those expensive tennis shoes. If I had the money I'd take us all on a trip. Somewhere with a beach, where I could watch the kids chasing the waves, while my husband I can relax. If you had money, what would you do with it?

Design by Lara Payton I just want to thank each and everyone of you for all your wonderful comments. Hope you all enjoy your Monday!

I'm having a hard time deciding on a costume for the baby. I've got Katelyn's and Marissa's costume. Josh knows what he wants to be, but the baby, I can't make up my mind. All my children were pumpkins for their 1st Halloween, but the baby's nickname is Koala, and Tom Arma's Koala costume is so cute. I also think she'd make a cute Ladybug. I also finished Janet Evanovich's Eleven on Top, and I'd like to Pass it on to anyone who would like to read it. First come, first serve.

Friday's Feast #116

Appetizer

What is your favorite beverage? It's a tie between Diet Pepsi and Diet Peach Snapple.

Soup

Name 3 things that are on your computer desk at home or work. Cell phone, digital camera, a cup of coffee.

Salad

On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how honest do you think you are? 9. The only time I'll cover something up is if it will seriously hurt someone's feelings.

Main Course

If you could change the name of one city in the world, what would you rename it and why? This is so cute, when my oldest daughter was 3 or 4 at Thanksgiving dinner, with a Turkey leg stuffed in her little mouth, asked if we lived in Al-Bu-Turkey!!(Albuquerque)

Dessert

What stresses you out? What calms you down?

Bills and my son's Diabetes. I don't sweat the small stuff, but dealing with insurance companies, just drains me! When I get a chance, a nice HOT Bubble bath, a glass of wine, nice soft music, and the soft glow of candles, help renew me emotionally,mentally, and physically!

I'm linking to everyone who leaves me a comment. I'm not using Mr. Linky, because it betters Technorati rankings this way, and I know how Blogger goes down , so you can email me a comment anytime, and I'll still link you here. It takes a little time, but I promise I'll link to everyone.

Other Great Places to dine.

1. Amy

2. Pilot Mom

3.Caylynn

4.Catch

5.Kailani

6.Steven Novak

7.Haleigh Anne

8.Kay

Thursday 13-#23

13 Pumpkin Things I Like

1.) Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte

2.)Halloween Pumpkin spice cookies

3.)Pumpkin Chocolate chip muffins

4.)Pumpkin bread

5.)Pumpkin ice Cream

6.)Pumpkin seeds

7.)My grandmother still makes Spicy Pumpkin butter

7.) I do like a Pumpkin Chiffon Pie.

8.) and a Pumpkin Cheesecake

9.)Thai Pumpkin soup

10 .)Pumpkin Creme Brulee

11.)Pumpkin Spice candle from Yankee Candles

12.)Pumpkin Pecan Pie Bars

13.)It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!

My first TT this week was going to be of these awesome carved pumpkins, but since blogger was being difficult about posting pics, I opted for these delicious recipes. My friend emailed me this as a slide show, but you can view them here at www.pumpkingutter.com!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants Other T13's to visitI'm linking to everyone who leaves me a comment. I'm not using Mr. Linky, because it betters Technorati rankings this way, and I know how Blogger goes down , so you can email me a comment anytime, and I'll still link you here. It takes a little time, but I promise I'll link to everyone.1.Tug2.Uisce3.SlackerMommy4.Kailani5.Just Expressing Myself6.Maggie7.TBirdonaWire8.Amy9.Barbara 10. ChupieandJ'smama11.Haleigh Anne12.Ali13.Laurie14.Socks and Abby15.Patent Princess16.The Mistress of the Dark17.Momish18.My 2 Cents19.scribbit20.Mar21.Gail22.Kelly23.Deb24.Chaotic Mom25.Susan26.DK

Wordless Wednesday #3

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OK, this week, my kids were good, but they were themselves this week, nothing out of the ordinary! My BIL came to visit us this weekend, which was a complete shock. He told me that when we went to visit my SIL this week, and my neice let me son, and tried to teach my son how to Rollerblade, that she does not share her RollerBlades with anyone. That she must really like my son to share them with him. My son had a blast learning how to skate, and she had fun teaching him.What was so funny, is that my son is a true clutz. He trips on air. My SIL and I were holding our breaths that he wouldn't crash and break something.He just fell forward, then pulled himself back and almost fell over, but he got the hang of it, and got the biggest grin that he didn't FALL! So, a lesson learned, if there is something to be enjoyed, how much more fun it is to share it with someone else. :P Pass the Torch Tuesday Guidelines: Every week, we share simple and stupendous times kids make us proud. Just write about catching a kid being good, link to this specific post (it may ping in comments) or put your link in comments so we can find it, and read everyone’s posts. Or if you’d prefer to share your story in comments, that’s fine as well! Complete guidelines and former PTT links are >HERE< .

OK! I've cleaned up my page a little. Still editing. I was trying to match my new site on my own domain. I have my own domain, but I read something this weekend at Plain Jane Mom's blog that had me a little more than upset, and now changing my mind to stay on Blogger a little while longer. If anyone else had heard of this let me know if you have any more info. There is a site called Bitacle that is scavaging and theiving not only our posts, but our entire blogs. My garden site A SW Oasis is only a couple weeks old and has been collected allready. Bitacle, uses our posts to make money with AdSense. It wouldn't bother me too much about the copying of my posts, because I'm not a very good writer . The fact is the Principle of the matter, It's Piracy!! I spend a good amount of time on my posts and someone comes along and is making money off of them. . She's not alone. There are plenty others. No one asked my permission to copy my blog. The other fact, they are HOT LINKING Photos, which if I moved my site to my own domain my bandwith wouldn't be very much, and I'm not very Techy to figure out how to stop them from stealing it! So I'm looking further into this. Just thought I'd ask to please keep Kailani from the Pink Diary and family , in your prayers and good thoughts, she was in an EarthQuake Hawaii had, and has been without power*Edited:She's got power now*. It's been a long day today for a Monday! Which reminds me how much I H A T E Monday's, especially ones after a long four day weekend! How is yours going??

My husband took this pic of Katelyn our 3yo. one day and thought it would be cute to send it to everyone and ask them if they could find the baby doll?? I don't normally participate in Saturday Scavanger Hunt, but this week's Theme is LOST, and one of TC's pic reminded me of this one, so I thought I'd post it. Josh did really good at bowling today! He's a real natural everyone says, but I know it's because it's just Fun for him and he enjoys doing it! He used my ball which is a couple pounds heavier, but he threw it like a champ.

What did I do these last couple days instead of spending time blogging, you may be asking?? Missed all of you of course. Did you miss me?? Thursday I spent with my neices and my SIL, having lunch and catching up. My neice tried to teach my son how to rollerblade, he's not too gracefull, and both my SIL and me were holding our breaths, that he didn't brake anything. He had a blast. Friday I spent packing my daughter up for the weekend, her girlfriend invited her up to Flagstaff, where her grandparents have a cabin, and it's supposed to snow, so my daughter's really excited. She started packing, T-Shirts and thin cotton PJs, I unpacked her and put in sweats and long sleeved thick cotton shirts. We really don't have too many cold weather clothes, because most of our winter is spent in the 80s. I just love the winters here in AZ. While the kids were riding their bikes, I had a candle lit dinner on my patio, watching my husband work in the garage putting drawers together for his cabinet job. There's got to be a term , other than cabin fever, for us here in AZ not being able to go outside in the Summer because it's too HOT! There is nothing like fresh air and watching the kids play after dinner. My 3yo even got excited because the sprinklers came on, and she was running in them. It's not even Summer weather, but it still felt good. I did want to let you all know how much I missed you all! I'm going to catch up with all of you tomorrow! Have a great night!

If you stop by for WW, or T13, or FF, I decided to take the rest of the week off with the kids. I'll catch up with everyone on SAT. It'll be a nice break, and since the kids are out of school and the temps are in the mid 80's, I can get away from the computer and get outside for some fresh autumn air. I hope everyone enjoys the rest of your week!

Have you caught your kids doing something good this week? Catching my son doing something good this week really made my week. Now this moment I'm talking about if you read my PTT on my son learning Patience, he also has a one track mind when he sets his mind on something, and it's very hard to change his mind.

Being the boy that he is, I bought him a new pair of shoes for school when it started. Now 6 wks. later he needs a new pair of shoes. He plays alot of basketball, and so he definetly wore his old pair out.This past weekend I picked out a pair for him without him being there to choose. There was a black pair and a white pair. I thought he'd like the black pair, but since his last pair was white, I bought the white pair. When I got home, instead of Thanking me for buying him a new pair of shoes ,he got really upset and said he wanted the black pair. My husband told me just take them back tomorrow and exchange them. This is one thing I don't have time for is running back and forth for something that really can be just accepted as it is. I told my son that the next pair of shoes I will be sure and get him a black pair, and that I was not going to take the white pair back. You know what, I thought he'd be all upset and keep the same frame of mind about wanting a black pair of shoes now! I am so happy to report that he looked up at me and said,"That's OK, Mom, I like the white ones, and I'll wait for the black pair next time!" He gave me a hug, we put his shoes on, and he's learning to tie his shoes, and then he bounded out the door to play, without giving me a hard time. Made my day and week!

You can read more Pass The Torch stories here, or if you have a story, you can share it in comments.

Today being Columbus Day, I was looking forward to the kids having the day OFF! Which means, I don't get to sleep-in a little, well I don't really get to sleep-in, the baby is still up, but you know what I mean, I have to get breakfast ready, and run the kids to school. We've got a routine down somewhat down, which cuts down on the chaos a little! Instead they get a half day Weds., Thursday and Friday OFF! Which an extended weekend is more like it! Yesterday, we tried to get our haircut. I know Sunday's are a day of rest and businesses close early. I just thought that meant 6pm. My husband was running around doing things for his business, and by the time he got home it was 4, we got to the salon a quarter to 5, and the lady said,"I'm sorry we're about to close!" Working in restaurants, I understand the feeling of wanting to go home, so I wasn't going to press the closing in 15 min issue, so instead my oldest daughter and I went to the Halloween Costume store and got her, her costume. It's a secret, I'm saving a pic of for Kailani's Halloween Costume Contest. I promise a pic of my daughter's haircut. I'm going to trim it an inch or so and see if we can blend the part where she cut it.

Here's a few shoutouts on a Monday morning that brought a smile to my Face.....

Liz posted pics of The Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. If you haven't been, it is one of the funnest things to go to, and see! I would like to go back and see the Night Flights. Kelly's post about Kid's Responsibilities is up at 5 Minutes for Mom. ChiliHead has posted some great Halloween Decorating Inspirations, to get you in the Halloween Spirit.

Everyone have a great Monday!

Join

My Green Thumb Sunday Post has moved to my new Garden page

A SouthWest Oasis

Thanks for stopping by for a visit. I still haven't completely unpacked or decorated, but I do like my new place over at WordPress. I'm eventually moving completely over there sometime in the beginning of November.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! We're not doing too much this weekend. Josh had bowling this morning, and we visited my husband grandparents for an hour or so. His mom and dad are supposed to come over for dinner tonight. We rented The Sentinel with Michael Douglas, Keifer Sutherland, and Eva Longoria. It was pretty good. And then A Perfect Storm was on later, I liked that one much better. Not sure what we're doing tomorrow. I know I'm getting my haircut, not sure if I can convince my husband to let me cut my daughter's after she cut her own hair. At least she didn't cut herself. My oldest is finishing up her book report that she waited to the last minute to do , that's why I haven't had to much access to the computer. What have you done, or plan on doing this weekend. Next weekend, we're taking the yearly visit to the Pumpkin Patch. I think I'm more excited than the kids are.

Everyone enjoy your weekend!!

#114

Appetizer

Name a song you know by heart.

Just Making Memories of Us by Keith Urban

Soup

What will you absolutely not do in front of another person?

Eat if the other person isn't eating . Salad

How often do you use mouthwash and what kind do you like?

When I was in food service at this resort in CA, I used to carry a travel size mouthwash and a tooth brush, so my teeth would be so fresh and so clean after I ate on my break. Made better tips with a minty smelling mouth. Any kind will do, but I like Listerine (not the Original). Yes, I'm still in the habit of brushing,flossing and using mouthwash after every meal. I had braces for almost 4yrs. I have a pretty smile now, and I intend to keep it.

Main Course

Finish this sentence: I am embarrassed when...

I'm wrong, which happens 50% of the time.

Dessert

What was the last food you craved?

A Quiznos Steak sandwhich. The commercial keeps coming on and making me more hungry!

C'mon you know you want to join in the fun!

Thirteen Random Things #22

1.) Today the children got up at 6am. It's still dark out. They normally get up around 7.

2.)We made pancakes with Cinnamon.

3.) The new kitten loves to play with the babies bottle, and tries to suck on it.

4.) The kitten is actually watching cartoons with the kids right now!

5.)Last night my husband and I watched the Season Premiere of LOST, we liked it.

6.) I've got him hooked on Deal or No Deal!

7.) For the first 6wks. of school, my son kept telling me he didn't like school. He hasn't said anything this week. Which is strange, because he loved K. I think in 1st grade, there is more actual work.

8.) Instead of Spring cleaning, I've been Fall cleaning. I've been cleaning the kids room and closets.

9.) My husband took the day off, so we could go to lunch and do things around the house we don't normally get done until SAT.

10.)The baby is on her knees crawling now! She's mobile, and getting into everything all ready.

11.)She has 6 teeth and not afraid to use them. She loves mashed potatoes and Cheerios.

12.)My 3yo old who is has been afraid of razors and scissors since who know when, decided since her older sister left the scissors out, that she needed to cut her hair.

13.)She has never had her hair cut. It's down to her 'lil bum, and if you saw NINE last night, her hair almost looks like that. It doesn't look too bad, but you can tell. I'm going to have to cut her hair.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Wordless Wednesday #2

Kelly from Pass the Torch, challanges us to catch kids doing something good.Have I caught any of my kids being good?? My daughter gave me a fine example of something that just made my weekend! Teenagers: I've Found Will Surprise you When you least expect it! I've turned my back and my oldest Marissa,is 12 going on 20 Real Fast! Or is it 13 Going on 30! I sometimes get the I'm annoyed at my Mother Look. She's helping me now with the laundry and dishes. She empties the dishwasher for me. This past weekend my husband and I went on one of our many trips to Home Depot. He asked her to help me with loading the dishwasher. She didn't give him a hard time. She gathers her clothes together and sets them in the wash. I ran to the store and asked her to put some clothes in the wash for me, and if she knew how to start the machine. She gave me THE LOOK! She informed me,"Of Course she knew how to start the wash, and that Did I not think she was smart enough!" With a smile on her face, that she wasn't going to give me a hard time about helping me out, which she loves to do, being as she's growing up so fast. I just let her know how much I appreciated her hard work she allready does at school, and for what she does to help me around the house. She is definetly my Right Hand Daughter!

Holiday Cooking, Blogger Style Overwhelmed with Joy is hosting a holiday recipe exchange..I love cooking during the Holidays. Looking over all the recipes, I'm going to enjoy making so many of them. Our family has a couple recipes we serve up every year! Here are mine.

If you love Pumpkin Pie, you'll love this. It's really smooth and creamy. PUMPKIN CHIFFON PIE
1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 package instant sugar-free vanilla pudding mix
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 cup evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups Cool Whip, thawed
In a large bowl, combine pumpkin puree, pudding mix, pumpkin pie spice and evaporated milk. Mix well. Fold in 1 cup of the Cool Whip. Pour filling into pie shell. Chill for a couple hours, or until set. Top with remaining 1/2 cup Cool Whip.

Category: Dessert

This recipe we make for every occasion, birthdays, holidays, or just because it just sounds good some days! When we do make it, my husband always begs me to save him some. It's one thing that's very addicting.
My MIL's Shrimp Dip
16-oz of thawed shelled,deveined,and cooked shrimp,chopped
1 pkge. cream cheese,room temp, cut up
1cp. shredded cheddar cheese
2cps. salsa
Mix all ingredients together.

Category: Appetizer

I came across this recipe for an Interesting Beverage, I'll have to try this year, From David
, Equal parts of Mtn. Dew and Cranberry Juice.

Please stop by and visit Overwhelmed's blog and check out all the delicious holiday recipes - and add one of your own!

After a very hectic Monday Morning, this is just how I'm feeling right about now!

In writing this post, I wasn't quite sure where to begin. I've been thinking of my blog and how it is a journal of my family and the things that we do , and the places we go, but another reason too is it can be a source for new mothers of children who have Juvenille Diabetes or Type 1 meaning insulin dependence . I don't post very much about it, because it is a very sad subject for me, but I do post every once in awhile, when I feel something's happened, and that someone might benefit from my experience. My son Josh who's six years old has been DX with Juvenille Diabetes since he was 3 1/2. For the first 2 1/2 yrs. he was dependent on 6-8 shots of insulin a day, which is extremly difficult and for all the mothers of Type 1 Diabetics who know what it is like. I pray for a cure from this very destructive and damaging disease, every day. This past year, he's been on the insulin pump, which has been a gift from God.He only needs to have his pump inserted every 2 to 3 days, so about 3 shots a week. An example of a very scary situation, that didn't turn out bad happened to my son this past Tuesday. Understanding the goal of diabetic management is too keep blood sugars between 80-150 for adults, even lower than 150 is good. For my son anywhere from 100-200 is good. With his growing and the constant energy he has, it's very easy for his bloodsugar to drop, so I try and keep it up. At his school, he visits the nurse every 2 hrs. to check and make sure his blood sugars are on target. And at lunch, the nurse counts his carbohydrates and gives him his insulin. On Tuesday, the nurse called me so upset. He had come back from recess, and he was shaking and as white as a ghost. About once a year, his blood sugars have dropped to very low. It happens, but this time it was only 77. She told me he was sweaty, and extremly clammy. She gave him a Capri Sun, and by the time I'd gotten there he was back up to 150. She'd never seen him like that, and it was very scary for her. Imagine how I feel on a daily basis. It's not like this all the time, but a Mother always worries about her children, and Diabetes adds to it. Here are a few statistics from JDRF( Juvenille Diabetics Reasearch Foundation). Diabetes is a chronic and deadly disease affecting every organ system. As many as 3 million Americans MAY HAVE Type 1, which is the most severe form of the disease. Diabetes affects 21 million people in the U.S. and 194 million people around the world. Diabetes is the single most costly chronic disease. It accounts for more than $132 billion in health-care costs in the U.S. EACH YEAR! Diabetes kills one American every 3 minutes. My son's doctor told me the best way to take care of my son is teach him good nutriton and how to eat right! He also wanted my son to be a kid, which means, he can have sugar and cookies, but in moderation, which is really what good eating is all about right. I wanted to thank all of you for your supportive comments and prayers, they mean more to me than you could imagine.

The kids have so much fun playing with Snapdragons. I just love how they snap them open and shut. I can't wait to see these take off in the garden. I also picked up these Bearded Iris named Blue Tide. I couldn't get over the vibrant blue color. Other Spring bulbs I got were some Pink Menton Tulips, some Dutch Master Daffodils, and some Yellow Double Freesias. I placed the Tulips and Daffodils in my fridge for six weeks and then I'll plant them around the middle of November. Everyone enjoy there Sunday!

Join

My First Blog Carnival Post to the Family of Life Carnival This week I finally remembered to submit my first post about,"What makes Grandmothers so special." This weeks host are Hsien & Kerri of Play Library. Deadline for submissions is Sunday, October 1st, time TBA. For more info on submitting a post or hosting a future carnival edition, please visit Kailani of The Pink Diary. Here's last week's Carnival of Family Life #20, which was hosted by Be A Good Dad. Stop by and check out all the fantastic family-related posts.

Friday Funny! The 8th Dwarf has been found! My husband took this pic of the baby, and it was just too cute not to share! Look at those dimples and all those teeth!

Everyone have a great weekend!

Appetizer

What is your favorite herb or spice?

Cinnamon in my coffee .

Soup

Name a song you like but haven't heard in a long time.

On the Radio by Donna Summer

Salad

If you were to take just one minute to write down as many things as you can think of that you need (not want) to do, approximately how many things would there be?

For tomorrow, I need to get the bills ready for the first, of course dishes and laundry, my son's insulin pump needs to be changed. Get breakfast and lunches ready, get 3 kids dressed. Run them all to school. Come back, clean and sweep the floors, and clean the bathrooms.Then I run to the nurses at noon for my son at lunch. Come back get the girls down for naps, by then I'm completely exhausted. Some days I do grocery shopping, but I'd get the kids from school, help with homework, get dinner ready. After dinner a trip to the park, give them all baths, read bedtime stories, and then it's goodnight to them. Get ready to do it all again tomorrow!

Main Course

Tell something interesting about one of your family members (nothing scandalous, please, just something unique).

Other than both my husband and son are Type 1 Diabetics, my oldest daughter plays the violin very well.

Dessert

What's the latest you've ever stayed awake?

I worked a back-to-back shift more than once at a resort hotel in CA.I got off around 2am, went out with friends, came home showered and changed to be back to work at 6am, so no sleep, until after my shift around 2 or 3pm.

To participate in Friday's Feast go here.

Since blogger is being difficult today with comments and visiting everyone today, I'm just putting the finishing touches in this Autumn design. There are a few things I need to fix , but I love the colors!

For my Thursday Thirteen this week, #21

13 Famous Proverbs

1.)A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. ~Arab Proverb

2.)A broken hand works, but not a broken heart. ~Persian Proverb

3.)A thorn defends the rose, harming only those who would steal the blossom.~ Chinese proverb

4.)Deal with the faults of others as gently as with your own.~ Chinese Proverb

5.)Fortune is a woman; if you neglect her today do not expect to regain her tomorrow.~ French Proverb

6.)God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. ~Jewish Proverb

7.)He who has once burnt his mouth always blows his soup. ~German Proverb

8.)The light heart lives long.~ Irish Proverb

9.)The road to a friend's house is never long. ~Danish proverb

10.)The world is a rose: smell it and pass it on to your friends.~ Persian Proverb

11.)To be rich is not everything, but it certainly helps. ~Yiddish Proverb

12.)To deny all, is to confess all. ~Spanish Proverb

13.)Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow is but a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to This Day.~ Sanskrit Proverb

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Wordless Wednesday -Where I'd rather be!

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Have you caught your kids doing something good this week? This weekend, I caught glimpses of my son trying so hard to be good, you could see the mischeif in his eyes. He knew it was hard work being good, at least for him. Don't get me wrong, he's a great kid, but he's just learning a behavior that doesn't come easy for him. I've been told I have the Patience of Job, but my son in that respect is quite the opposite. Let's just say he gets it from his Father. Saturday, my husband told him he'd take him bowling. If you tell my son something you better be prepared to keep your word. You better believe it. For the better part of Sunday morning, he couldn't stop asking to go bowling. My MIL had to remind him to be patient. He just nodded OK! It seemed like every half hour he was asking if we were going yet! I reminded him we were visiting family first, and that we would go bowling after. Finally, I just told him the next time he asks he wouldn't get to go, because he wasn't listening. That worked, and we left not too long after that. What caught my attention is the game of bowling? How is this related to being patient! My son loves to just go head first, no holding back, and gives everything he does all he's got. Which isn't a bad thing it can accomplish so much in the right way! With bowling, you have a lane next to you on either sides if you aren't on the end lanes. What my son had to do was before he bowled he had to stop, look both ways, and then continue having his fun knocking all the pins down. You could see him struggling with it. In a way too, he needed to be aware of who was around him and take his turn. Sometimes this comes easy to some people and children. My son's just learning that he needs to slow down be patient and wait his turn. He was so cute, because he knew what to do, and he wasn't frustrated, you could tell he was getting it, but it wasn't as easy as he'd liked it to be. Which means he just has to work at it, and it will come.

While I was enjoying catching up on reading everyone's post at Kailani's Carnival of Family Life, hosted by Be A Good Dad, this week, one post by Bonnie, really hit home. Before my son was diagonosed Type 1 Diabetic, some of you may know that my husband is also a Type 1, who in the 70's lived with a different type of treatment and diet than my son can enjoy now, because of the Technology available today. If it wasn't for my husband, and the knowledge of how to treat diabetes is so much better, I think things could be a whole lot worse. My concearn after reading Bonnie's post is Halloween time, and all the Chocolate and candy that come with it. I'll admit as a kid growing up, my brother and I would eat all the candy we could, on the verge of getting sick to our stomachs. I agree with her, I literally am so scared of what will happen this year. Last year was a nightmare. My son wasn't on the insulin pump, and so, it was a battle, to hide the candy, to keep him from sneaking it. Only limiting him one or two pieces of chocolate, how hard that was, with me knowing one more piece could send his normal blood sugar of under 200, skyrocketing to 500. Another reason, without the pump, if he couldn't wait until lunchtime, considering it an extra snack, meant an extra shot, which is not my option of choice, but that's the option I could give him, UNTIL I read Bonnie's post. Please stop by and read her wonderful post and in all honesty, even if my son was never a Type 1 Diabetic offering non-candy Treats for Halloween would be a wonderful option this year. Also, It's Pass The Torch Tuesday, stop by and visit Kelly, (she's moved) and read all the wonderful posts there about Catching Kids doing something Good.

Writing Collaboration at Crazy Hip Blog Mamas The ladies at Crazy Hip Blog Mamas are holding a writing collaboration (episode eight)! To participate, write a post on "The Best Part of Fall is....".Then email Crazy Hip Blog Mamas the link to your actual post(not the main blog page) to be included in the post on the CHBM site! All participating members will have a link to their entry. Questions? Go here for more information on the writing collaboration at Crazy Hip Blog Mamas. Not a member? Join Crazy Hip Blog Mamas today!

The Best Part of Fall is.....

Growing up in Southeren California, there wasn't much of a change to Fall. September was still HOT, and I knew it was Fall only because of Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Going to New England is one of my dream vacations. Not just to see the leaves change color, but for all the historical sites, and not to mention I'd love to go skiing in Vermont!

Back to the best part of Fall, I have a few memories that make Fall a really special time.

I'd mentioned before,that Halloween was great. My favorite Halloween memory, if I can find the picture, was of the year my brother and I took a picture with our dad all dressed up. Me as Strawberry Shortcake, my brother as Count Dracula, and my Dad as the Incredible Hulk.My dad had a fun night, scaring kids,and then making them laugh.

Once we moved to Albuquerque, this was the first time I'd seen leaves change color and it was gorgeous. Another thing happened, while I was sipping my coffee early in the morning, I witnessed one of the most amazing sights I'd ever seen.Hundreds of Hot Air Balloons were floating on air right past my apartment out in front of me. It was the first time I'd seen the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, we went a couple of years later, and I'd still like to go back and watch the night flights.

Here in AZ, there is a place that reminds me of Fall.

Oak Creek Canyon, in Sedona. The canyon is filled with Oak Trees and if you catch it just right, it's blazing with Red colors of Fall.

My all time Favorite thing to do for Fall is to take the kids to the Pumpkin Patch.

We've been to Schnepf Farm here in Queen Creek,AZ, and Youngs Farm in Dewey,AZ. I love to help the kids search for that perfect pumpkin.

Drinking hot chocolate, because Dewey's almost a mile high, and it gets pretty chilly. I almost feel like an impatient kid waiting until October, so I can run through a corn maze and eat apple fritters, while drinking hot chocolate and looking through a sea of orange to find a pumpkin.

Those are some of my favorite memories.

What are some of yours?

What started out to be a boring weekend of endless chores and cleaning, actually turned out pretty fun. One of my husband's aunts from CA who was coming out for a surprise visit, I wasn't quite sure if she'd make it or not, did in fact come out. She popped in my door around 3pm Sat afternoon with my husband's grandmother. I should name them Grandma Carol, and Aunt Renee. They invite me and my husband out for dinner, but my husband said just for me to go. We headed for Outback SteakHouse, home of the Bloomin' Onion. Yumm....! It really was a treat, because I've known Renee half my life, and have only been out to dinner with her sister my MIL, and her other older sister Kathy. I love it, because there are 6 sisters in all. A couple of them, includind Renee are considered black sheeps of the family, but I get along with her,Kathy and my MIL the best. Sat Night was movie night, so we didn't even have to rent movies this week, 50 First Dates, and POTC 1, was on TV ,and Sunday night we watched Forrest Gump. All movies we could watch over and over again, without getting Burned Out on. Sunday, I took the kids over to Grandma Carol's to visit Renee and Great-Grandpa Bill. He always gives the kids chocolate,ice cream or Oreo's when they come to visit. My MIL was there which was a surprise visit too, because she lives about an hour away and with the prices of gas hasn't come down to visit very often. It's kind of sad in a way, because our family is so close, and because of gas prices, how hard it makes it on some people. After visiting, Josh and Katelyn had their hearts set on bowling, so we went, and I signed Josh up for Fall League which started a couple weeks ago, but they still had room for one more. He's a natural. I know this may sound funny, but with bumpers, he still bowled a 110 with 2 Strikes and a spare. He has a passion for it. After he gets a strike he gets so excited he smiles from ear to ear. My 'lil girl on the other hand bowled one time, and said the ball was too heavy. That's OK, she's my little cheerleader/drama queen, I think she'd rather be in some type of Dance class. That's our weekend wrap up! How was your weekend?

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This week, while visiting my husband's grandmother, I snapped a shot of her Mandevilla.I just love it. Of course all the good blooms were at the very top! It's easily over 6 feet high. She's only had it a year, and it must like the heat, because it made it through the Summer.

Katrina at Callapidders Days has come up with a great idea for this fall. She's created the Fall Into Reading Challenge. She's asking us to come up with a list of books we'll read between September 23rd and December 21st. OK! I love to read.So, while I'm waiting in the car to pick my kids up from school,I'll pick up a book and read as well. I'd also like to read one book to each of the young ones, have my 6yr old help me read them, and have my oldest daughter choose one, so both of us can take turns reading outloud to each other.

HERE'S MY LIST

1.) Eleven on Top (A Stephanie Plum Novel) .If I like this one I might start at #1!

My Goal is to finish this in 6 wks, and

2.) The Christmas Angel ,

the last 6 wks. It doesn't come out until Oct. 6, so I'm pre-ordering it. It reminded me of , Gift

I love Thomas Kinkade's pictures, and I was looking for a good Holiday Book.

3.) Death on the Nile: Hercule Poirot Series .My oldest daughter loves everything that has to do with Egypt. I read this several times, a very long time ago. This book, I thought she'd enjoy a quick read with me, and she even requested I not SPOIL it for her.

4.) Stuart Little , If the kids like this one, I'll add

Charlotte's Web .

The Twelve Dancing Princesses ,for my 3yo daughter, and

Jack and the Beanstalk . I can't resist a good Fairy Tale, can you!

So come and join us! You might even find some new books to pick up and never put down!

*I just love Eleven on Top, Had me laughing from the beginning. I don't think I'll be able to put this one down!*

It's Emmy Time! Blog Emmy's! Mysterious Lady is hosting her FIRST quarterly Blog Emmy Awards! So stop by her site and vote! You have until Sunday 9pm.

Feast One Hundred & Twelve

Appetizer

Measured in minutes or hours, how much exercise have you had in the last week?

If chasing my children around the house, making bottles, taking care of a house, and driving the kids to all their activities not to mention I'm a cheerleader for them,

I'd say easily more than 6 hrs.

Soup

If you had to change your blog title to something else, what would it be?

I've always liked how Another Day In Paradise sounds!

Salad

Name one television show you watched when you were 9-12 years old.

Hard to pick only one. My all time Favorite Show would have to be Gilligan's Island.

Main Course

If someone gave you $50 to spend with the one condition that it had to be educational, what would you purchase?

Books for the children. You can never have too many!

Dessert

Do you tend to prefer dark colors, neutral shades, or lighter/pastel hues?

I look really good in Black or Navy blue, and another favorite color a Dk. rose or Mauve color.

More Great Places to Dine!

1.) Higher

2.)WideImagination

3.)Caylynn

4.)Wendy

5.)TC

6.)Ghost

7.)Grey

8.)PaperBack Writer

9.)Logtar

10.)Connie and Rob

11.)Deb

12.)Paxil Princess

13.)Kailani

14.) An Abundance of Blessings

For my Thursday Thirteen this week, #20

13 My Favorite Soft Rock Songs

1.) Air Supply-All Out Of Love 2.) Rick Springfield-Jessie's Girl

3.)REO Speedwagon-Keep On Loving You

4.) Robbie Dupree-Steal Away

5.) Jackson Browne-Somebody's Baby

6.)Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes-Up Where We Belong

7.)The Police-Every Breath You Take

8.)Lionel Richie & Diana Ross-Endless Love

9.) Foreigner-I Want to Know What Love Is

10.)Foreigner-Waiting For A Girl Like You

11.)Air Supply: Even The Nights Are Better

12.)Chicago-If you Leave Me Now

13.) Phil Collins-Take A Look At Me Now

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Southeren Girl

2.) Chelle Y

3.)Cozy Reader-Jane

4.) Pass the Torch

5.)JAM

6.)Kailani

7.)Patchwork Anahata

8.)My 2 Cents

9.)Nat

10.)Blue Moon

11.) Brony

12.) TC

13.) Frances

14.) Momma K

15.)Lily

16.)Mar

17.)Amy

18.)Carmen

19.)Barbra

20.)Caylynn

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants After thinking about using Mr. Linky or not, I've decided that I will use Mr. Linky as a quick way to Visit Everyone. I've experienced difficulties in the past about leaving comments, If you leave a comment or if you email me in case of a difficulty, I will LINK you on my own. Be nice, if you LINK and RUN, I will delete your link from MR. LINKY!I'd love to hear from y'all, so feel free to email me your comments too! Everyone Have a Happy Thursday!!

Friend's Day Weds. #16

Here are 5 things I found today that brought a smile to my face, or that I would enjoy doing!

1.)I'm a true chocoholic, and these Chocolate Crumb Bars look really delish.

2.)I really liked these garden pics that Pamela from The Dust Can Wait posted.

3.)I found this post very interesting by Erica from Little Mummy.

4.)I'm wondering if my son will try This,

by Natalie from A little bit of this, and A little bit of that!

5.These pics from Guppyman are gorgeous.

After reading Kelly's post at Pass the Torch, really made me think. I've also been participating in Tricia's Green Thumb Sunday. You see my mother had a gorgeous garden, and I have pretty much a black thumb. Thinking back, it would have been cool for her to share her passion for growing things, but I think now, it was a type of therapy for her, where for me it just would mean another responsibility, to have to take care of. My kids on the other hand are getting curious at the new things I'm doing. Growing vegetables, and tending to my plants. My little one,actually enjoys helping me water them. My son helps me plant the seeds, and is so excited when he gets home from school to see his new baby plants grow. And my oldest likes helping me in setting the plants out in the garden.So in a sense what I thought would be more responsibility for me is actually a great way to pass on my passion and dream in sharing it with my kids, and having them help. Is there something that you enjoying doing with your children?

Even though we hit some rocky times this weekend, we enjoyed ourselves. Lunch with my MOM was nice. We ate at Olive Garden. Love the breadsticks. I was hoping for to order their Spinach Alfredo pasta, but because of the Spinach scare, they weren't serving it! The highlight of lunch of course was dessert. We shared a Raspberry Cheesecake with a chocolate crust! I love my mom to death, and I don't write to much about her, because I don't understand a couple things about her. For instance she didn't visit with us before or after lunch on the Saturday, she just came over to have lunch and left. She wasn't busy, she does this all the time. She's a wonderful grandmother, and yet it seems like she doesn't want to be around us. Some of it has to do with and I"m just assuming, which is one of my faults, but because I don't share her idea of going to church 4x a week, I feel she treats me differently, if I did go as much as her, she'd spend more time with us! This is just how I feel. After my mom left, my oldest and I went shopping for my niece's birthday present, which my SIL said she wanted a CowGirl hat. So we went and found a plain pink one, which while I took my son to his friend's birthday party, my daughter decorated it with rhinestones. She's always been very creative. Onto the adventure of finding my son's friends birthday party. It was at a PeterPiperPizza, and I just assumed (again, one of my faults) it was at the closest one to their school. From the beginning I should have called my husband to find the correct address of the one it was, but sometimes I just feel I can do it on my own, kind of like my husband and drive around for a couple hours before he listens to me and pulls over while I ask for directions. My son was on the verge of tears after an hour or so later we made it to the right one, and then he had a blast. He shared a piece of cake with me, and it's nice to spend some one-on-one quality time with him. Sunday morning I started getting this horrible headache. I think it had to do with, not knowing how my husband's kids would be. After getting all the kids ready, we made it to my SIL's right on time, his kids got there a few minutes after we did. My husband's family is one that loves to give hugs, I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but I also understand that there are families that this just isn't their thing. I personally like it just because I like to keep a ceartiain closeness to the ones I love. My husband's grandmother is one who went through a very bad childhood, and has been through a lot in her life. Understanding, that she can be a little cranky sometimes, I believe she's earned some respect in that she is a very thoughtful and giving person. My husband's son who just turned 18, in my opinion was very disrespectfull to her, and I thought I caught a glimpse of my husband who understood his son's meaning as being also disrespectfull. Both me and my husband were taught to be respectfull to our elders, teenagers or not. That was the only rocky part of the birthday party, the rest of the day was GREAT!! The kids had waterballoon fights, and my son and 3yo love my husband's kids, so they really liked spending time with them. Since my husband's son isn't going to college or working, and my husband is starting his woodworking business offered him to come and help him, which I thought was great! My neice loved her present, and all day the kids all got along. The most hilarious part of the day was watching my son try and do the Hula with a HULA-HOOP! And then my BIL trying to explain why girls are better than boys when it comes to doing a HULA! Thank God for that, because my son wouldn't make a very good Hula dancer! LOL!!

Everyone have a Great Monday!!

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I was so thrilled this morning when I walked out to the patio to enjoy my cup of coffee, when I looked at my Portulaca. It was aburst of colors. Besides the salmon color when I first bought it, there was a canary yellow, and a bright pink, but by the time I got around to taking a pic of it, the pink had faded. There were also blooms of white and a very pale yellow.

With fall coming, for the next week temps are coming under one hundred, so I actually could enjoy a little bit of gardening.

This wasn't one of my best pics, and I'm sorry it's a little blurred, but these little beauties brought a warm smile to my face.

Everyone have a great Sunday!

Imagine my surprise when I saw ERROR 500 message this morning!! My blog went MIA, which sucked. I thought it was gone. I'd backed up my posts on Wordpress. So just so everyone knows I don't plan on going anywhere just right now! This weekend is pretty hectic. I don't know what it is, but it seems like half my family is born in September. My Mother calls them New Years Babies....My mother's bithday was yesterday, so I'm taking her to lunch tomorrow. Then my son has a friend's birthday to go to, and Then on Sunday is my neice's 6th Birthday. My husband's kids will be there too, so I'll be sure and post a report on Monday how everything goes! My dad's was the 4th, my husband's grandmother and 2 of his aunts are all in the same week. Then it starts Oct 31-there are like 4 more.... What are your plans? Anything exciting this weekend! I'll take a nice quiet weekend, which I know this is not going to be one of those weekends! Everyone have a great one, and Take care!

Appetizer

What was the very last song you listened to?

-Because of you by Kelly Clarkson.

Soup

What is one company/store/corporation you would recommend that people stay away from?

- Circuit City absolutely the worst customer service, I have ever seen or have had to deal with.

Salad

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy having your picture made?

- 5 depends if I am in a picture taking mood, or If I am having a bad hair day!

Main Course

Besides a bookmark, what is something you haveve used to keep your place in a book?

A love letter from my husband.

Dessert

Name a food that you like that most people don’t.

- I do not know why but my whole family does not like Italian food, so I would say my favorite Italian dish Manicotti!

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