I Think I've Watched Too Many Shirley Temple Movies!

I was looking through some old pictures of my girls and came across these . . . Too Cute!

But, I have to ask myself: what have I turned my Daughters into?

(You gotta love the sailor outfits!)

When I was a little girl people always told me I looked like Shirley Temple. And I loved Shirley Temple movies. My most favorite is The Little Princess (and she doesn't even sing and dance in that one!) Well, I passed on my curly hair and chubby cheeks to my daughters, and when they were little, people told them they looked like Shirley Temple as well. And we've watched many of her movies together.

I remember once we were at an airport and the girls were around 3 or 4 and an elderly woman came up and taped Erica on the shoulder and said "Do you girls know who Shirley Temple is? You look just like her!" And Erica turned around with her poutty lips sticking out, and in her best Shirley Temple voice said "OH, My Goodness!" The woman laughed and said "I see you've been told that before!"

My Absentee Spring Break

Last week my kids were on Spring Break. I got to take them to the Arizona Aloha Festival, but since my Manager at my new job is gone on her honeymoon, I had to work everyday but Sunday. So John took the week off work to hang out with the kids.

They had a great time. . . They went to an Oakland A's Spring Training game, and got to see Kyle at work (or at play, who can tell which) They spent a day at John's parents house in Casa Grande (a small town half way between Phoenix and Tuscon)

Some friends had the girls over to spend the night one night, and another friend took the girls swimming. Yes it is that warm in Arizona in March! So while the girls were gone and Kyle was working, John & Zach got to see an action movie they'd been wanting to see.

And they went to an Air show at Luke Air Force Base. They got to see the Thunderbird's perform. John loves planes and flying. He has had a flying lesson, and several friends over the years who have had their own planes and have taken him up flying. He's even taken off, flew, and landed a Cessna airplane. Me, I just get airsick! :(

Overall they had a great week. They even spent a day cleaning the house for me! How about that?! Even though I had to miss out on the fun, I thought I'd share some of their pic's with you.

Of course Zach had to "represent" wearing his Detroit Tigers hat to the game!
John rooting for the home team!

Kyle in the dugout watching the game.
(That better be sunflower seeds he's holding!)

At the Air Show!

The Next American Idol

Do you vote?

I've watched every season of American Idol. Some years I've been able to pick the winner, some years I'm off. We have Kelly Clarkson's C.D. and Kerry Underwood (my girls really like her) and for Christmas I got David Cook's C.D. I was very happy he won last year over David Archuleta. Don't hate me. My girls were not happy with the results.

The year it came down to Clay Akin And Ruben Studdard, my son Kyle and I had a little friendly wager, you see I wanted Clay, and he wanted Ruben. So our bet was that the "loser" had to get refills on the "winner's" drinks at fast food restaurants for a whole month. Well, Ruben won, and Kyle really milked it (or should I say he Dr. Peppered it) for all it was worth! Though I must say, we've heard a lot more out of Clay since then, than we have from Ruben. (I'm just saying)

But my all time favorite contestant from any season, who if they had had the Judges Save rule then, I'm sure they would have used it, and this person would have gone on to win it all, it is . . . . Chris Daughtry! His C.D. is great, and is in my car at all times!

But then, you know me, I love a sexy bald guy that rocks!

Speaking of my Husband, this year on Idol there are two contestants who, like John, lead Worship in their Churches. They are Kris Allen and Danny Gokey. And that is who I vote for! And I hope Danny goes on to win the whole thing! He deserves it! (Hmmm, I wonder what he looks like bald?! Just kidding.)

Lung Cancer (It's Not Just For Smokers Any More!)

They found a spot on my mom's lung. They've Biopsied it, and it is cancer. She is having surgery this Friday (March 20th) Please pray for her. I would greatly appreciate it. She'll be in the hospital for about a week following the surgery. She is understandably very worried about it. She has never been a smoker and it just doesn't seem fair does it.

My son, keep you father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life, (Proverbs 6:20-23)

My 100th Post!

Yes, it's true. 100 posts, can you believe it?! I am so honored that you've stuck around to read what I've had to say. . . sometimes I have a lot to say about nothing and sometimes I have absolutely nothing to say about a lot of things!

I started this Blog to share with family and friends what is going on in our lives. I never dreamed I would meet new people and make so many new friends through the Blog. It's also a way for me to journal, and keep my thoughts on life, love and raising kids for my kids to read in the future.

I call my Blog "Laughing Through Parenting" because I laugh a lot, and since none of us were given a how to book when we became parents, we just have to make our own way through! The dictionary says; Laugh verb, to make a sound showing something is funny, to express happiness. Parenting noun, adjective The rearing of children, Of or concerned with rearing of children.

Thank you so much for Laughing with me through 100 posts!
And here's to many more!

"If I could say just one thing to parents, it would be simply that a child needs someone who believes in him no matter what he does."

(Alice Keliher)

"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them."
(Lady Bird Johnson)

Living Aloha

This weekend was the annual Arizona Aloha Festival. It is the largest Hula Festival outside of Hawaii in the world, and it's right in the middle of the dessert. Go figure. Actually there is a lot of Polynesian culture here. I love all things Hawaiian!

A few years ago John and I were at a Worship conference in California and I saw what they called Hula praise. Where they incorporated Hula dancing into their worship. It was absolutely the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. In high school I took all kinds of dance and just loved it, and I've missed it. And when I saw the Hula I just knew my girls would love it too. So a couple weeks after that conference we went back to California for a Disney vacation and decided to stay an extra day so we could go back to visit that church with the family. And I was right, my girls fell in love with Hula too.

So when we got home to Arizona I got on line and found a place for my girls and I to take Hula lessons. It was so much fun. We loved it. We took lessons for over 3 years. (And how many Pastor's wives can put "professional Hula dancer" on their resumes?! I'm sure I'm one of the only ones!) But life just got to busy and the classes and costumes got too expensive. So we have been taken the last year or so off. But, we stay in touch with our Hula group, and go to the big festival to see them perform. It's so much fun. And some day I will make it to Hawaii and I'll already know how to Hula when I get their!

Kyle, Olivia, Erica & Lexi enjoying Hawaiian shaved ice at this year's festival! Yum!

One of the things I love about Hula is that Hawaiian women come in all shapes and sizes, and they are all extremely beautiful! I didn't have to worry about my daughters getting the wrong kinds of messages about body image and having to look a certain way. I love all types of dance, including ballet, but like their mother, my daughters will probably not be stick thin. ; ) I also didn't mind my girls learning about the Hawaiian culture, we all need to learn about other cultures. The only real issue we had was if a song we were learning a dance to was in any way used as worship to a Hawaiian god, we would sit that one out. And our group understood that.

So, if you ever get a chance to see some Hula, I highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed. Here are a few pictures of my girls and I dancing in the Hula festival two years ago. . . and always remember to live Aloha!

Job Love

I know, I know, I haven't been Blogging! And you know how much I love Blogging, so you also must know than that I must have a good reason. Right? And if you think my Blog has been neglected, you should see my house and my laundry pile! Ugh!

Well it started with a cold (or so I thought) I don't get sick very often, so I just kept saying "oh, it's just a cold, it will get better" but, I realized I was saying that for over 3 weeks. Some cold. So, I finally went to the Doctor who sent me straight from his office for a chest x-ray thinking that I had Pneumonia. Luckily it wasn't pneumonia, but some other type of respiratory infection. So, he started me on some powerful antibiotics. I'm still couching some, but am definitely getting better.

Plus in the middle of dealing with not feeling well at all, I started my new job. It's been a whirlwind! I'm really loving the job! My second day of work I already had my own key to the shop and was left there alone running the store. Wow! My manager who hired me told me when she did that she had me in mind for becoming her assistant manager. That's cool with me! But after I've been working there for just 5 day's, she left to get married and go on her honeymoon. Can you believe the audacity of some people?! ; ) And left me in charge! She's either really trusting or really stupid. I'll let you know how it turns out! There are three other part time girls working there who luckily know what they're doing. Of course I am the oldest one in the whole store! So, pray you can still teach an old dog new tricks!

I really like the store and the clothes, and the people. And I'm learning the job. Last night I closed for the first time alone and of course nothing could go right, the printer stopped printing receipts, it was a mess. But thankfully I finally got it all working with some IT help. so, hopefully from here on out it's smooth sailing. I'm working pretty much everyday but Sunday this week and next week with my manager gone. After that things should slow back down to where I can be a wife, mom, friend and blogger once again! Yeah!

And Kyle is loving his job with the Oakland A's too. He came home the other day with a bat Matt Holliday broke. He was very excited about that. And he showed me a man in Sports Illustrated who he said "I talk to him everyday!" It was Jason Giambi. Every teenage boys dream job I guess! He's having fun.

So, thank you all so much for your prayers for our new jobs. In this economy and job market it truly is a gift from God to find a good job, and one that you actually love! And if God can do it for us, He can, and will, do it for you!

Give Me An "A"!

The Oakland A's that is!

Kyle just got a new job working for the Oakland A's while they are here in Arizona for spring training. He works in the clubhouse, and does laundry for the team. (I'm so glad now that I had taught him how to do laundry!) He cleans mud out of their cleats, and anything else they need. And at all their home games he gets to sit in the dugout with the team! He's gotten shirts, shorts, hats, etc. to wear, and he makes really good money, and what a great experience for a sport loving teenager!

He's still working at his other job at the mall too. He works at the ball park Monday - Friday and works Saturday's at the mall. They had been giving him a lot more shifts and they told him it's due to his performance, even though he's been there the shortest amount of time. That makes us happy. I always say as he's going to work "Do a good job", and "work hard" I guess it's paying off!

When One Door Closes . . . Another One Opens!

Last Friday was my last day of working in the Church office. I have been dreading the whole job search thing. (Not that I don't love interviews where I get to talk about myself, it's kind of like blogging I guess!) But now-a-days it's all on line applications, you don't even get to meet a real person. And besides working at the Church and Christmas in the portrait studio, I've been totally out of the job market for about 18 years, since that's the age of my oldest child. Scary and overwhelming to say the least.

But on Thursday my neighbor and friend gave me a phone number of someone she knew who was looking to hire someone for a new clothing store. She had told her friend about me and I called her on Friday, she asked if I could come in on Monday to meet her. I did, and I was offered the job and started today! How cool is God to work this all out for me, so I didn't have to do any of the leg work! All my worrying for nothing. God always has a plan.

It's a really cute store, in the same mall Kyle works at. I can tell already that I'm really going to like it. You can check it out at www.shadeclothing.com