Hey Wildcat-by Hollie

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Maren and Chase HSM3

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A Great Saturday!

We had a great day this last Saturday. In the morning, we went to our ward Christmas party where the kids were in the Nutcracker. McKay was the grandpa again and Maren was in three dances; chinese, spanish and snow. They did great and it was cute! Kaitlyn and Hollie helped back stage.

Here we are all getting ready to watch BOLT in our 3-D glasses. You can't really see Chase, but Steve said he looked like Harey Carey in his!

We loved this movie, so much better than WALL-E! We went to the new HUGE theatre in Manteca. Apparently the old theatre is now "ghetto". The sad part is, I remember when that theatre was new!

Happy Thanksgiving etc.

We had a great Thanksgiving week! We went to Utah and were able to visit family and friends and it was so nice.
Having a hard time adjusting back to reality but I will post some pictures soon!

My son, the crossing guard

This is my wonderful 11 year old boy McKay, and this year he is a crossing guard and takes it very, very seriously! He is the "team captain" for his group and therefore, he gets to keep the whistle-big stuff I assure you!

You should see him in action, he keeps the whistle in his mouth and loves to wave the people across and then tell everyone hello as they cross, like they are crossing the street just to see him.

It is too funny and cute!

Much to McKay dismay, he know needs to wear deoderant and stridex pads on his face. I wonder if his hair will start curling soon?

Audrey Hepburn VS. Victoria Beckham

Ok, I am really trying hard not to feel old lately! But, the other day, I was taking Kaitlyn somewhere and she mentioned that she had a long neck. I said, "oh, you are lucky, just like Audrey Hepburn" and she asked, "who's that?" I told her that she was a movie star and a fashion icon. She said, " oh, just like Victoria Beckham, she is a fashion icon"! I wanted to say, mmmmm, I don't think Ms. FAKE BOOBS and everything else should be considered a fashion ICON!" I just said, "mmmm, not quite the same, hon!"

November 21-one more month!

Yes, I know most of you know that in one more month, the movie Twilight premiers. My kids and my Young Women are all excited about that. I am too, BUT I am really excited because in one more month, my PARENTS COME HOME!!!!!!!!
They have been serving as public affairs missionaries in Ghana Africa. I am not sure how long they will be home because I am sure another mission awaits but I am sooooo very excited to see them. I can hardly wait to get a big bear hug from my dad and giggle late into the night with my mom. Maybe we will go bra shopping, we get the biggest giggles in the dressing room when we go bra shopping! In fact, I think I had only gone bra shopping once by myself before my mom left on her mission! How sad is that-do I need to grow up or what? I have gone twice by myself these past two years, I am baby stepping into adult hood!

Miss Maren's picture

Miss Maren heard that Chasie got his picture posted on the blog, so of course, she wanted hers too! I think it turned out sooooo cute!

I don't know if you can tell, but we did set her hair in curlers the night before. We do that occassionally-I don't know how she sleeps in them but she loves it when her hair is curly and wishes that she had curly hair like her sisters (she doesn't say like mine though-mmm......). I tell her not to worry, that her sisters didn't get curly hair until they were older. Kaitlyn's is soooo curly now-who would have thought? Never underestimate the power of puberty-it can curl straight hair!

Chasie's first parent teacher conference!

I went to parent teacher conferences this past week. All the kids are doing really well this year and it was fun to visit with the teachers.

Chasie's kindergarten teacher is great and he loves going to school every day. One of her first comments were, "you can tell that Chasie is the baby of the family. Does he get the other kids to do things for him?" I had to admit that yes, everyone does EVERYTHING for him! She said that when they are working on stuff, usually Chase has other people doing it for him-cutting out things, drawing things etc. She usually just has to go over and ask, "what is going on here?" and Chase will give her a big smile and she reminds him that he needs to do his own work.

What a bunch of enablers we all are!!!!!

Another thing she mentioned is that Chase is a man of little words. I just about fell over in my chair! Do I actually have a QUIET child?????? This has never happened to me before! We will wait to see what she says by the end of the year when he feels more comfortable!

Luau Extravaganza!!!!

Here is one of the two Luau dances that the girls did. I didn't tape the other dance because I had already taped the dance at practice. Wasn't it so thoughtful of me to share both dances with you? Maren is the one that is always in front of the speaker and of course, Kaitlyn is the one a foot taller than everyone else!

This is a picture of Kaitlyn next to the smoking volcano-pretty cool, huh? Maren is by the Drums.

Pictures of the girls with their cousin Genni who performs with them...

Great experiences, the girls did great AND it is great that they won't do it again for another 2 years!!!! Hula starts again in January...I am welcoming the break!

Hoalie's dancing Hula!

This video is from Saturday's hula practice, this is serious stuff since the big time Luau is in less than two weeks, on Oct. 11th! The girls have been practicing twice a week and I think they look good! Can you tell which girls are mine? How about the tallest one in the group in the front row?!?!?!??! Kaitlyn is now taller than me and will audition to move up to the next group in January even though she only has two years of experience, she is just tooo tall to dance with the Keiki (kids)!. When they turn (It is Kaitlyn's voice you hear that tells them to turn in Hawaiian), Maren is in the yellow skirt, by her cousin Genni who is 3 years older but Maren towers over her. I wonder where they get their height????

Anywho, I think Kaitlyn's hands are AMAZING when she dances, she is so graceful! I have another video of her doing a dance for a YW talent show that I will post next.

Flapper Tapper!

Ok, these are the shoes that I strap onto my feet on Monday nights after FHE is done and the younger kids are in bed. Yes, I have started tap lessons!!!!

I take the lessons from my neice Erika and her two sisters-Hayley and Ashley are in the class too. I recruited my friend Jen Ivers to come and there is another girl named Donna who is taking. It is soooo much fun!

WHen I was younger, I took tap, ballet, jazz and gymnastics. I was horrible at gymnastics and ballet (graceful-me? I don't think so!) But I loved jazz and especially tap. So, I was so excited to take this class. I wanted to take the class last year but it was on Tuesday nights when Steve had YM and I was quite put out!

But I have to say it was quite a wake up call to take a tap lesson at 39 compared to when I was 12! Tapping with boobs and other rolls that I have accumalated by giving birth to 5 children make things....new.

I have just begged Erika to choose the costumes for the recital in the spring with care. I DO NOT want to look like a stuffed sausage! I will post the recital number on the blog-that will give you all something to laugh at for the day!!!!

Red, Angry zits!!!!

Ok, I just don't understand this-How can I be getting THE worst zits of my life at almost 40???????!!!!!!?!?!?!?!?!?

They are horrible and how do you cover zits like these??????

How come I am using zit cream AND wrinkle cream?????

My sweet husband suggested that maybe I should see a dermatologist-if he notices them, then they are bad!!!! My cute Chasie asked if they were angel kisses. They don't look remotely like angel kisses even when I put cover up on them. They look like huge, angry zits with dried cover up on them!!!!!

The zits are the only way I can figure out that I must be PMSing, since I don't actually have a period without my uterus but I still have my lovely ovaries that give me PMS.

(I think my family will tell you there are other ways they can tell I am PMSing)

So, if any of you are having a bad day or a bad week-just click on this picture and know that I am battling red, angry zits along with everything else and maybe it will help you feel better. I aim to please!

Hollie's most excellent speech!

This is the speech Hollie gave. I have to tell you, it was the BEST speech given and I am not saying it just because I am her mom. The other people (other than McKay) were acting just stupid. The girls could not talk without saying "like" every other word and they were dressed like skanks and then they would giggle and laugh! (I think I remember my mom challenging me to try to say a whole sentence without saying like in it!) It was so good that her PE teacher called her out of class and told her how great of job she did and that he hoped she won. But she didn't but she did a great job on her speech and we love her so!

The Election!!!!

No, no, no, I am NOT talking about the presidential election (even though I think Governor Pallin ROCKS!!!!) I am talking about Weston Elementary School's election where Hollie ran for Vice President and McKay ran for 6th grade Intermediate Commissioner. Unfortunately, they both lost-but ran a good campaign. Hollie wasn't as into it as in the past, she is so busy but McKay, oh my gosh-soooo into it! He had a committee and a campaign manager who made signs for him etc.

At first, McKay wanted his signs to say, "a vote for McKay is a vote for freedom!" I asked him, "freedom for what?" So these are some of his signs that his friends made. Unfortunately, they didn't know how to spell our last name!

He was running against a girl who is in the other 6th grade class. It became girl vs. boy, Mr. Rodrigue class against Mrs. Mora-it was intense. They polled everyone at each recess!

They voted last Friday but they didn't get the results until Tuesday because of labor day weekend. Steve called the school to see if the kids won and we were so sad to hear that they didn't. I said to Steve, "well, there is only one thing to do for them" and he said, "get ice cream after school?" I said, "YOu better believe it!" How does he read my mind????

Allergy Tests-Do I really want to know what I am allergic to?

Ok, most of you know I have suffered from allergies all of my life. You get my sister s together and they end up talking about the horrors of having to sleep in the same room with me with my snoring and my hairy legs-but that is another post!
So, I finally got my allergies tested. Out of 30 pin pricks in my back, I am allergic to 13 things. I am NOT allergic to dust, dust mites or mold-which is good. But I am severely allergic to Olive trees! Who knew???? Also Walnut trees, Sycamore, Mulberry, Chinese Elm, Birch, Alder, English Plaintain (What is that?), Kochia, Pigweed, and Grasses-aren't you glad you know that now?
I also got my blood drawn for food allergies. I am mildly allegic to milk, melons and moderately allergic to PEANUTS!!! He wants me to get an epi pen!!!!!! I had no clue! When the doctor was talking to me about it, all I could think of was, "does this mean I can't eat peanut M&M's?" So, glad I didn't actually ask himm that. He wants me to stay away from all of those foods.

I broke the news to my kids while I was eating an ice cream cone full of Reese's peanut butter cup Ice Cream! We had a good laugh over that!!!!

Steve's challenge about my hair!

Ok, when Steve saw my posting about growing my hair out he said, "I don't know if you can do it. I don't think you have the patience to grow your hair out because you are always changing it." I must have given him a look because he said, "I just think it will take awhile to get it that long and I don't think you will, I challenge you."
I said, "O BROTHER, you know I have had it that long you just know I can't say no to a challenge and you like my hair long!" (Men and their long hair fantasy-whatever!)
SO, the challenge is ON! I still have to get it "done" which means I have to color the gray every 6 weeks and thin the heck out of it so it doesn't turn into a bush! Poor Steve will still have to pay to have my hair "cut" even though it will be growing long!

Time to change my hair!

Ok, my friend Alison said that when my daughter, Kaitlyn put a picture of Victoria Beckham on her website and told everyone that was how she wanted to get her hair cut, she said it was sooooo-ME! SO, I thought it mind as well be and here is a picture of how I want to grow out my hair, like Meg Ryan's which means, I will just let it grow and let it curl!

Now, this is not the first time, I wanted it to be like Meg's. How many of you remember her adorable hair cut in "You've got Mail"? That cute little whispy layered cut?

I loved that cut and tried that cut and I ended up looking more like Kramer from Seinfeld than Meg Ryan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hopefully, I will have better luck this time! I am off to bed!

Did you know I knit-kind of?

This is what I am attempting to knit right now. I haven't knitted anything since 8th grade when I had the chicken pox and tried to knit some leg warmers. I never finished of course, my younger sister Stephanie did...of course!

Kaitlyn was reading some books about girls who knitted and she wanted to start. My Auntie Carol taught her last summer. She checked out three books at the library and this book comes from the "Yarn Girls" who have a yarn shop in New York and all the stars that knit go there-ok, I can only think of one, Julia Roberts.

But I thought this poncho was totally cute and I am using gray wool (Kaitlyn said I have too much black and purple would make me look like the blueberry girl from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!) It is really easy, even though I have had to tear it out at least 15 times! I was almost done with my first two balls of yarn (you have to double it up) and I saw towards the beginning where I knitted where I should have pearled or vice a versa. So I tore it out and I am almost back to where I was. ( I will need to use 8 balls of yarn) The problem is that I would rather do this while I watch the Olympics than say fold laundry, do the dishes etc. So, I am a little behind.

If it turns out, you will all get ponchos forever! If it doesn't, Maren gets one!!!!

Mama Mia-Friday's Hot Date!!!

Steve and I decided to go on a "real" date on Friday which our kids call-"mom and dad's Hot Date". We went and picked up Hollie from cheer practice first and she announced to her squad, "oh, my mom and dad are out on their hot date!". Her friends asked, "what do they do on their hot dates?" to which Hollie said, "oh, go to Winco or Save Mart or Kaiser to pick up medicine"

So, as you can see it has been a while since we have gone out and I wanted to go see a movie. We thought about seeing the Dark Knight-not that we are big Batman fans but to see something and then I mentioned that Steve needed to see Mamma Mia so I could share it with him (I saw it the week before at my roommate reunion) He just rolled his eyes and groaned.

But when he printed out the tickets and handed it to me, they were for Mamma Mia! Steve said, "How could I refuse when you said you wanted to share it with me?" then he muttered that it started a 1/2 hour before any other movie.

As we were walking to our seats, Steve mentioned to me that he doesn't even really like ABBA songs! I just started laughing and said that it would be a LONG movie for him! As it started and the girl starts singing, he whispered to me, "this is love, remember this is love!" I leaned over and said, "this is payback for Dumb and Dumber!!!!" Over all, a great HOT DATE!!!!!

First Day of School!

Don't my kids look excited to start school?!?!?! It's a good thing I wasn't in the picture because I would have been crying! You might notice that Hollie isn't in the picture, she already left for band and missed it!

Chasie's kindergarten teacher is named, Mrs. Kirschenman. Chasie likes her but was put on the "naughty chair" the first day because they made a fish and he played with it! Heaven forbid you play with something in kindergarten anymore!!!!!

Swim Awards!!!!

We weren't planning to go to the end of the year BBQ/swim awards banquet, we were going to go to Santa Cruz for the day but Maren really wanted to go.
I am so glad that we went! Maren won two 3rd place medals at the championships and she also won the trophy for "most points won" in her age group.
McKay won "most improved" for his age group and he was thrilled and so were we.
What a way to end the season!

Out of Town!!!

I will have great things to post and pictures to share in a week or two. I just came back from running the Ragnar Race in Washington State-it was breath-takingly beautiful and I will NEVER run the Utah Ragnar again!!!! I did 18 miles this time around and looking forward to running it again next year. Just get a little better each year, that's my goal!

I am off to girls' camp this week and I am excited about that. I am missing my children and honey but glad to be able to go.

Chasie has smooth moves!

This is Mallory, the girl Chasie fell in love with at preschool. I don't know how much they talked though. Usually, they would play "cats" or sometimes "dogs". Sometimes they would play house and Chase was the dad and Abby was the mom and Mallory was the cat-what is this with cats??!?!??!?!

Anywhoo, at Chasie's preschool graduation, he wanted to take a picture with Mallory and so he went and talked to her, I think she talked back-not sure though and so they were standing side by side and I said,"smile" and Chasie inched closer and put his arm around her-smooth!

Must have gotten it from his father!

I better keep my eye on him.

THE CAT CAME BACK!!!!!

Yep, two days later, the cat came back-dang it! I have no idea where she went and she is probably freakin pregnant again!

Psycho Cat Missing!

I am not kidding, our psycho cat has gone missing! I am not kidding, I saw it yesterday morning when Kaitlyn and I left for Erika's pilates class and we haven't seen it since! Of course, I was the last one to see her. I promise, I didn't do anything but Kaitlyn keeps asking me, "Mom, are you sure you didn't have anything to do with this?"
McKay goes out and looks around, calling "Kitty" at the top of his lungs almost every hour. His eyes are all red and swollen from crying this morning. He keeps saying, "I lost another kitty!" I don't know where she could have gone.
Meanwhile, the kids talk about which kittens to keep right in front of him that sets him off.
Oh, the drama!

Grateful for Maren's perspective!

So, this past Wednesday was my last running class. We were to run the mile for the last time and the goal was to beat our time. It was soooo hot on Wednesday, over 110 and the air quality was horrible due to the fires.

Anywhoo, I picked up Maren from her friend Maci's house (the girl beside her in the picture) and I told Maren that I was going to drop her off at the house and then head to my running class.

Maren asked me, "Mom, are you a good runner?"

I said, "no, Maren, I'm not"

Maren, "well Mom, maybe running just isn't your talent. You need to find something that you are good at! What are you good at Mom?"

"I don't know Maren, what do you think I am good at?"

silence for a moment and then she answered, "I think you are good at being a mom!"

My heart about burst and I thought, I could totally screw up this run tonight and I would be just fine because my daughter thinks I am good at being a mom!

But, I cut off another 12 seconds-I think I cut off almost 3 minutes from the very first mile we did on the first day of class-I'll take it!

What to do with a psycho cat?

Ok, many of you know that we have a pyscho cat who just had kittens (well 6 weeks ago). This is the cat that we all prayed would live after Chasie almost "tickled" it to death with foam coming out of her mouth etc.
This is also the cat who attacked Steve a couple weeks ago and he had to get a tetnus shot and put on antibiotics, was on crutches for a few days because he got "cat scratch fever" ! Who knew it was true-I always thought it was just a song!
SOOOOO, she has mellowed out a bit and we are trying to give away the kittens. Well, I am trying to give them away and the kids all cry.
Tonight, Maren went out to the garage and picked up a kitten (we have been doing it for 4 weeks now) and psycho cat attacked her. Scratches up and down her legs etc. SO, Steve and I say, "bye, bye psycho cat" and then McKay cries because, "I love her so much, it is the longest cat I have ever had!" Have I mentioned we haven't even had the cat for a year? The sad thing is, it is TRUE-it is the longest time he has ever had a cat. Not the best luck with cats-me running over one by accident and the other one we left with the neighbors to watch when we went on vacation, never to be heard of again. (pscyho kid across the street probably got to the poor cat!)

So, what is a parent to do? I am trying to comfort McKay and Kaitlyn is telling him to ditch psycho cat and keep one of the kittens-the one who is a boy so it won't turn INTO a psycho cat! My word, does EVERY female in our house have to suffer from PMS?
Steve is looking at McKay kind of funny and all I have to do is say "goat boy" and he feels a little more compassion towards McKay because Steve cried for DAYS and still hasn't gotten over when they had to put down his pet goat, Eleanor-which is a post for another day!

McKay and I made a deal, we would get rid of the kittens, get psycho fixed and if she still attacks people, she is out of here.
Of course, he is going on his first over night camping trip tomorrow, maybe psycho cat will magically "disappear" while he is gone! That happened to my grandma's cat when I stayed with her one summer and she peed all over my stuff-constantly! I accidently left the front door open and the cat got out and my family doesn't believe it was an accident-but it was!
Maybe I am the one who is unlucky with cats, or the gets are unlucky around me-by accident of course!

Why do I judge?????

Have you ever judged someone and then found out what is going on with their life and feel like such a scumbag after that happens????
I did that this last week at swimming lessons. There is a mother there who is made up to a T and she has a 3 year old that still has a binkie with a princess crown on it. Her older son is in the same class with Chase. He goes to the private Christian school here which caused me to judge her even more. She arrived the first day late and kind of breezed in mouthing her apologies etc. Her son's name sounds like one of those fancy made up names like Brogan or something.

Well, two days ago she struck up a conversation with me as her daughter was looking into my purse. It turns out that her son was diagnosed with Luekemia when he was 3 and she was 9 months pregnant with her daughter. The first year of that baby's life was spent at the Ronald McDonald house at Stanford as their son fought for his life. He just finished kindergarten and is considered in remission but every month they need to drive to Standford to run tests to see if he is "clear". That is why she was late the first day of class. If he remains cancer free for 10 years than he has beaten cancer. But now they have to watch to see what the radiation, chemo and steriods have affected him.

So, as she was wiping of the daughter's binkie who is now 3, she said, "I know she is too old for this, but I am just trying to survive, it is just easier." I felt like a heal and needed to eat a big helping of humble pie!

McKay as his hero, Ben Franklin

This is my son McKay who ate up American History this year. I think he read his whole history book and I am NOT kidding! He earned the Great American Award and was so excited because the medal is "as big as an Olympic Gold Medal!"

He was assigned to play Ben Franklin in the "Walk Through the Revolution" production. He was hoping he would get Ben Franklin because Ben didn't own any slaves and McKay was very concerned about that.

McKay memorized the part except for the last part-he added that. We love McKay! Enjoy!

5 Things I never thought I would say but things change once your a MOTHER!

5. A berry patch is where berries grow like strawberries NOT where they bury people who die.

4. A cat walk is where people walk over busy streets NOT where cats walk.

3. You put what, where?

2. Yes, I know these pills and the container look like a face compact, but they are really mom's birth control pills and what did your teacher say when you showed them for show and tell?

1. New family rule, all members must where underwear at all times, especially to school!

My brother Craig and my running coach

This is my cute brother Craig with his wife Amy and their daughter Elizabeth taken a few weeks ago when we went to the Giants vs. A's game-very fun and the garlic fries are to die for!

Anywhoo, I am taking a long distance running class with a friend to help get us prepared for the Ragnar Relay in a few weeks in Washington State. Why, you might ask am I doing it ? I ask myself that everytime I go to class-it is a killer and I am the oldest and slowest one in the class! My teacher is THE head coach of MJC-Demetrius Snaer and the lucky man gets to watch me huff and puff up and down the stairs and around the track. A girl in the class described him as a "cute Wesley Snipes" all I know is that he is very cool and laid back and is a great teacher.
This past week we got it out of him that he grew up in Manteca and went to East Union High School. I mentioned that my husband graduated from East Union. He asked what year and I said, "Oh, I am going to date myself, it was a long time ago." He then said, "no, tell me, what year?" I looked around and said, rather sheepishly, "1987" and this kid next to me gasped and said, "1987, I was BORN in 1987!!!" We all laughed and I said, "stop it, stop it right now!"

Then I remembered that my brother Craig graduated from East Union (I was on my mission and we had just moved there from Sunnyside, so I forget that they went to school in Manteca). I said, "I had a brother who graduated from EU, but you probably don't know him, his name is Bingham, Craig Bingham"
My teacher lit up and said, "I KNOW CRAIG BINGHAM, I GRADUATED WITH CRAIG BINGHAM!" He then went on about how great my brother was and what a great athlete he was in track and football etc. Everyone mentioned what a small world it was and he then turned and looked at me and said, "so, you are Craig Bingham's sister huh?" I said proudly, "yes, yes I AM!" Do you think I can play the nepotism card and get out of doing the 125 sit ups?

Kaitlyn's 8th grade Graduation picture!!!!!

Here it is-Kaitlyn's 8th grade graduation picture! Doesn't she look beautiful!!!!??? Other kids at school told her that she should have worn the dress WITHOUT the shirt under it-can you believe it???!!!!???!!! I mean she is only 14 for pete's sake!

You might be wondering, what is 8th grade graduation? I am still trying to figure out why we should be celebrating 8th grade when that is the very, very least we expect her to graduate from! So, we didn't get the limo, or pay to get her nails done but she did get a new dress and a new camera-just to celebrate her and how wonderful she is! She's on her way!

Jonas Brothers and Camp Rock

So, how many of you held a Camp Rock party at your house this past Friday night? We did-we had about a dozen girls over and they were all singing and wringing their hands over what would happen to Mitchie? Would she and Shane get together or would the lies she told over the summer to fit in keep them apart? Heavy stuff!

This is when the kids met the Jonas brothers at Disneyland last spring break. This is about a month before they hit it big. Kaitlyn was already in love with them and noticed them first. They were so nice to the kids and signed autographs and asked the kids if they wanted to get their pictures taken with them etc. We saw them again when Disneyland was closing and they waved at the girls-they were totally twitterpatted!

Cute Chasie

Isn't this the cutest picture of Chasie?!?! We got this clown nose from story time at the library. That was Chasie and I's weekly date-story time and then McDonald's. I won't have anyone home to do that with this next year! Having your baby start school stinks!!!!! Right now he is counting out "5,6,7,8" and Maren starts singing some song from High School Musical. Then he is critiquing her. He just called for "action!" I better make sure they have eaten breakfast and get them ready for swim team.

Hollie's win in the 50 freestyle

Our spring family picture