Brynn's Obsession

My little Brynn has a new love and thankfully it is not another food item she cannot resist ripping apart and scattering throughout the house or like her favorite trick of destroying all my Softlips when she digs it out with her finger and then eats it. Yum.

She is showing her girly side and her new passion is for shoes. The minute she wakes up she is in hot pursuit of a pair of shoes. She says "shus, shus" when she's on the hunt or gotten lucky and found a pair to wear. She even goes the extra mile and grabs and pair for Kaitlyn too. What a nice sister!

She loves any shoes really, but she does have a particular fondness for these flip flops. If we are upstairs, she head straight to my closet, opens the door and grabs one shoe and brings it right to me. She then gets on her knees and tries to put it on my foot. It reminds me of the Grand Duke in Disney's Cinderella as he tries the glass slippers on every eligible maiden. I am that maiden to Brynn. She just loves for me to wear these very girly, flowery, pink and blue spotted shoes.

Once she gets out of the tub, all she really cares about it is getting her shoes on. She thinks she's dressed and ready for a day of fun even if she's only sporting a diaper and some Mary Janes.

I love you Brynn and your shoe obsession. Rich did call me Amelia Marcos when we were moving last summer and we were running out of room for storing my shoes. Some of the boxes ended up in the Hamilton's basement, and Kristi can attest to my fondness for shoes.

Brynn, I'm glad to see you are already taking after your mom and so happy I've already found a new shopping buddy for years and years to come! Now we need to covert Kaitlyn!

Not very good mail.

Josh brought in the mail on Saturday. I was thrilled when I saw the package from eBay had finally arrived (replacement perfume after Kaitlyn tossed and shattered my original bottle on the bathroom tile) and as I opened the bubble wrap, my eyes scanned the pile of letters on my lap.

One caught my eye and I had an immediate sinking feeling. It had a official Kentucky stamp on the return address and for one fleeting moment, I hoped it was a reminder about our property taxes that weren't due until November, but I knew even then. I saw the name Fayette Circuit Courts on the title and all hope was erased. I tore open the envelope. My fears were confirmed, I had just been summoned for Jury Duty! Let me preface this my saying I am so grateful to be an American, but really, ME NOW? I think the song by The Byrds sums it up.

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

And this is NOT my time to be on Jury Duty. I am freaking out a bit. I just really, honestly, no doubt, without question cannot do this right now and just HAVE to get out of it. Maybe if I had a husband with a regular schedule and not gone for days at a time, maybe if I had just one family member living in the state of Kentucky to help, maybe if I had actually paid a babysitter in the last 15 months and the kids were comfortable with someone else, maybe if I didn't have 18 month old twins, or 5 kids 7 years old and under or 3 boys that need to be picked up from school at 2:30 PM, then maybe, but right now it's a definite NO.

My jury service would be for over 30 days. From October 28, 2007 to November 30, 2007. I would have to check a web site each morning to determine if I would have to go downtown. (Not very condusive to carpooling and nap time.)

I told Rich he needed to find a doctor to write me note that says this would create undue stress and mental anguish on my children and myself to complete this service. This may sound whimpy but it's true. Brynn hardly even smiles at our own mothers!

I need to write a letter and call the court and tell them my situation. If they make me appear in October, I am bringing the girls along in the double stroller, hey it's just a glimpse into my reality. If that doesn't work, during selection, I'll tell them I believe that anyone who breaks a crime should be punished by death. Maybe that would do the trick.

Anyway, I had to vent because I just really, really, really, really can't do this right now. Oh, and God Bless America!

My Day In Pictures....

A new day.... dark and early, breakfast for all
jackets, lunches and backpacks, check. 7:30 AM chorus begins. Tub Time!
Monday Morning laundry catch up, Time to start a new load! Lunch with the boys.Trey and Max. Kaitlyn and Brynn are fans of the spaghetti! Girl time at the park. Whee! Nap time for girls- bike time for me. Lost- Kaitlyn's Popsicle. Found- melted on carpet.Homework time again...The Dreaded List! Van battery died. I took too long getting loaded up and the boy's video watching did it in! Thank heavens for nice neighbors! Getting a bit of extra help from the kids while putting away the groceries. Oops! At least four survived.
Dinner. When Rich is on call- I don't cook. Good night and sleep tight!

Trey's almost 8!

Trey's birthday is nearly here and this year it is a big one. Trey will turn 8 years old on September 26, 2007. He will be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, September 29, 2007. He is so excited and after two Family Home Evening lessons on baptism, I think he understands what it going to happen and why it's so important.

Trey met with our Bishop today for his pre-baptismal interview. He was nervous but excited and gained new insights from him. He also received his very own set of scriptures as a gift from our Bishop. Very generous! Thank you!

After church we sat down for a dinner of pot roast, mashed potatoes, peas and bread sticks. It was like eating a meal in Utah with our families. As we clicked the girls into their chairs, Rich looked at me and asked, "Have we EVER sat down to eat like this all together?" Come on! I do know how to cook, even if it's only once in awhile. The answer to that is YES, but I decided a photo would be solid evidence that it really did happen, just in case Rich ever forgets!

The Great American Past Time

There is something about spending a warm summer evening sprawled out on a blanket in front of a dirt field watching your sons play ball that makes you think of days long past. There is a fulfillment and joy and peace being outside with the sunlight in your eyes, the dust rising behind the runners and the sound of the crack of the bat that makes you cherish that particular moment in your life.

And it never hurts when that dirt field overlooks a gorgeous horse farm.

I Heart Baseball and Kentucky.

Happy Birthday Luke!

The boys were invited to one of their best friend's birthday party on Saturday. The best part- it was a surprise party. I told them about it on Friday night knowing we would not see Luke the next day and possibly spoil it for him. The boys were so excited to go to Gattitown and hid under the table while they waited. When Luke arrived, they jumped out from under the table and sang Happy Birthday to him. They feasted on pizza, drinks and cupcakes, and then were let loose in the game room. Matt won a 3 headed dragon stuffed animal on his first try on the water shooter game. Notice how it's strapped in with him on the carousel!

Here Josh and Matt battle it out for yet another prize.
I think they took home more toys than the birthday boy. They earned a whopping 8 stuffed animals. That might be a record!

The highlight of the night was when Matt tried the "hook" type game. You have to maneuver the hook above the prize and then it drops down, grabs for it and you NEVER win. I told Matt ten times that no on ever wins at those things, but it didn't matter. There were amazing Disney Pirate of the Caribbean skulls and he was determined to win one. I was moving the joystick and he pressed drop before I told him to, and miracle of miracles, he actually won a skull! Way to go Matt. It was the coolest prize of the night!

Thanks Badger's for an amazing night and lots of love to Rich who stayed home with Brynn and Kaitlyn so we could play for a bit. And once again Happy Birthday Luke!

Go Generals!

Saturday the boys had their first soccer game. They are playing on a YMCA 6/7 year old team named the Generals. Their coach is a lady in our ward and was Josh and Matt's coach last year. It's always comforting for them to know a few people on the team and what a great experience for them to be all together. I love that we only have to chase Brynn and Kaitlyn around during one practice. Last year they were on the same night, but one was at 5 PM and one at 7 PM and the field was even further away. We would leave the house at 4:30 PM and get home around 8:30 PM. It was the night I dreaded most each week. This season was a big jump for Josh and Matt to now have set positions and a goalie, but they are learning more about the game and having fun. They would all love to play forward all the time, but that really wouldn't be fair. The roster lists twelve players, and six can play at a time. This allows each child to play on quarter offense and quarter defense and sit for a half.

Each of the boys took a turn being goalie which was great since my little brother Rhett plays goalie for the Spanish Fork High School soccer team. Rhett is currently playing club soccer and will play for SFHS this spring. Trey and Josh were happy to try out this new position, but Matt wasn't so sure, then they gave him some gloves. He immediately had a change of heart and loved stopping the ball. After the game he ran over to me on the sidelines to show off the gloves that were still on his hands. He instructed me to find out from the coach where she bought the awesome gloves. Once I saw Rawlings on the wrist I knew I was in luck. We had an exact pair of baseball batting gloves at home.

The boys played well. Trey has speed, but was a bit winded after a few minutes of running around. The coach told Trey he needed to practice sprints at home. This was music to my ears. It gives me one more reason to turn off the PS2. Trey's response to the coach was that his dad calls him a 'couch potato.' I would have said he was addicted to TV. This is why it is so good for him to get out and run around. Josh took some great shots and played hard. He even stopped two balls while playing goalie. Matt was a great defender and got some hard kicks that moved the ball away from our goal. He was an awesome goalie too.The game ended in a tie 1-1 and the boys can't wait until their next match.

Go Generals!

My little author....

While busy completing my weekend ritual of cleaning out the backpacks, I was pleasantly surprised. I discovered this wonderful little project Trey made this week.

A Better Me! By: Trey Jackson
Look after my brothers and sisters.

Do my homework.

Be nice to my brothers.

The title made my heart melt a little, thinking that he was contemplating being a better person at the ripe old age of seven. I hope it was not inspired by his mother and her constant barrage of directions, instructions, lists and jobs. He was already in bed, so I didn't get the full details, but I was so impressed with his illustrations and loved the various facial expressions he drew. It had a certain David Shannon "No David!" feel to me with the before and after drawings. I love that he is conscious of being kind to his family and that he loves his siblings.

Beautiful book Trey, it made me smile! I love you and am truly blessed to call you mine!

Spelling Bee

I have a serious dilemma every Monday afternoon, do open Trey's backpack the minute he gets home or should I give myself a few extra precious minutes of blissful ignorance? You see, once set my eyes upon the list I am fully aware of the minutes ticking away until Friday is upon us. Yes, I'm referring to Trey's dreaded spelling list. Every Monday I get to see what new and torturous words Trey's teacher dreamt up and expects the kids to spell. This would be fine and dandy if they were in middle school, but I must remind you that Trey is only seven. Not seventh grade, but seven years old.

The list this week did not disappoint. To be honest it nearly made me pass out. I had a hard time spelling the words. I quizzed my parents and they both slowly spelled out a few, surprised at the difficulty.

It was going to be a tough week. How could it be easy trying to spell:
Turquoise
Persuade
Urchin
Surgeon
Perspire
Swerve
Quirk
Thought
Curtsy
Affirm
and five other words, plus five random word wall words.

Trey was up for the challenge, but was I? I have so many things demanding attention- the girls, the sports, the girls, the laundry, the girls, making dinner (scratch that one), microwaving dinner- it's hard to find time to help Trey get all the words down. I am really dreading the day when Josh and Matt have spelling lists too. I can barely get their sheet of homework and reading done each night after Trey's hour long work fest.

Monday night Trey has to take a pretest and then write every misspelled word five times. Trey's hand was cramping and tears were flowing by the time he scratched out his SIXTY words.

Trey was a trooper all week and thankfully wasn't cursed with his mother's inability to spell. He worked and worked and I quizzed and quizzed and by last night, I felt like he had done his best, had studied hard and while getting 100% was possible, I would be proud of him no matter what he got.

At pick up he said he felt good about the test and then asked if you spell laugh L,A,U,G,H. I told him that was correct. He gave me a big smile and looked relieved. What a cute kid! We treated him to a trip to Blockbuster tonight to rent a possible birthday present game. He deserved it.

I should enjoy the weekend because I only have 63 more hours until next week's words kill my joy! I just hope I don't spot 'lieutenant' on the sheet!

Favorite Breads!

This time of year also is wonderful for making bread. While I love all types of bread, I have never had much luck with anything that calls for yeast. If I can manage to ruin Rhodes Rolls, then I obviously have a serious problem. Thank heavens for Pillsbury's bread sticks! Pop the can, roll out and presto, a hot delicious side for dinner.

I usually stick to fruit type breads and have much better luck with them. Here are my all time favorite two.

Coconut Pecan Bread

4 eggs
2 c sugar
1 c oil
2 tsp coconut extract

Mix and add:

3 c flour
1/2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder

Mix and add:

1 c buttermilk
1 c pecans
1 c coconut

Bake at 325 for 1 hour 2 min. Cover with glaze.

1 c sugar
1/4 c water
1 Tb butter
1 tsp coconut extract

Bring glaze to a boil and cool slightly. Brush over hot bread. Makes 2 loaves.


Pumpkin Bread

4 eggs
2 c sugar
2 c pumpkin
1 c oil

Mix and add:

2 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp soda
1 Tb cinnamon

Bake 350 for 40 min. Makes 2 loaves or 1 9x13 pan.

Optional Frosting for 9x13 pan:

1 lb powder sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cube margarine
8 oz cream cheese

Happy baking!

Favorite Soups!

I copied this idea from Sally because it really is the perfect time for making soups, though I tend to make them even in the heat of summer. I made a big pot of boiling hot clam chowder a few weeks ago and plopped it down in front of Rich. He was sweating just from looking at it. Sometimes you have to break the code and rules of food and make soup even when the temperature in the kitchen is 95, but there are no excuses today because it dropped down to a balmy 74, making it certainly "fall" enough for soup. These are my favorite two.

Cauliflower Cheese Soup

1 med head cauliflower, cut in small pieces and cooked til tender and drain.

In a pan melt 1/4 c. margarine (I use Blue Bonnet Light) and 2/3 cup onion. Cook until tender. blend in 1/2 c. flour and cook two minutes, then add 2 cans chicken broth. Cook, stirring constantly until it boils and thickens. Add 2 cups half and half (I use the fat free and you can not tell), 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce and 3/4 tsp salt. Add cooked cauliflower and 1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese. Great served in bread bowls.

Mom's Boston Clam Chowder

3 can clams (save juice)

1 bottle clam juice (sold right next to the clams)

1 c. onion finely diced

1 c celery finely diced

2 c potatoes diced

3/4 c margarine (I use light)

3/4 c flour

1 1/2 tsp salt

2 c half and half (I use fat free)
1 c milk

1 Tb red wine vinegar

pepper to taste

Pour all clam juice over vegetable in a saucepan and add water to barely cover. Simmer over med heat for 20 minutes (or until veg are tender). In another pan melt butter and add flour. Stir constantly. Add half and half and milk. Cook until thick. Add undrained vegetables and clams and red wine vinegar and salt. Heat. Add pepper to taste.

Enjoy!

Hotel de Jackson

This past week I seriously wonder if I am living in a hotel. Or maybe that should read, it seems like I'm working at a hotel. After years of having kids, you would think by now I should be used the constant pick up required to keep the house decent, but it seems to have spun out of control these past few days. How can five little kids make such big messes in just seconds?

I am used to the constant need of clean clothes, hunting for missing shoes, searching for lost backpacks and endless pots that need a good scrubbing, but recently it has gotten completely out of hand! I have slept in clean sheet the past four nights, not by my own choosing. The kids love to sneak in and watch TV or movies in our room and have managed to get them dirty more often than not. The girls also have spilled milk and diapers have leaked when they have climbed on in the early morning. I am constantly finding wet used towels shoved into closets and behind doors causing me to run an extra load of wash that day. I have gotten out the Hoover carpet cleaner three times this week and I won't even begin to say how many times the dishwasher has been emptied by yours truly or garbage runs I have made to the garage.

Yes, I LOVE staying in a hotel and look forward to the day when we can on trips frequently and find a real maid making my bed instead of me. But for now, I'll keep slaving away because like I said previously, this is MY hotel and I'm the #1 cleaner upper. Lucky me. Lucky me.

Tuesday Tell All- School Days

Today's topic is tell about your favorite class or teacher from any period of your life. Once again, I pondered this questions the past two days. I found myself recalling classes and books, tests and projects that filled my days as a student. I have reflected on so many wonderful educators that have influenced me, opened my eyes and mind to new subjects and made my years in school so memorable and happy.

Eugene P. Bertin said, "Teaching is leaving a vestige of one self in the development of another. And surely the student is a bank where you can deposit your most precious treasures."

I know I have been the recipient of so many wondrous and valuable treasures of knowledge throughout my life. They have come from my parents, my family, my husband, my children and from many, many committed and dedicated teachers.

Two people who have deeply taught me the value education are my parents. They taught me that school was my first priority. It came before getting a job, social activities, cheer leading and all the other things that filled my time. I also knew that no matter what grade I got, if I had studied and really prepared, and had done all I could, then my best was good enough.

I never got lower than an A- through high school. I then started spring semester at BYU before I graduated from Spanish Fork high. I took an upper level family science class and the teacher was a bit kooky. When I went into the testing center to take my first exam, I got the shock of my life. When it spit out my score at the end it read C-. I just about died. I rushed over to my Dad's office in tears and told him that maybe I just wasn't cut out for BYU. My Dad put his arms around me, pulled me close and told me that it was OK and that I could handle BYU. I had done my best and it was good enough. What kind and gentle words. I had to suffer through the weekend, but my fears were erased on Monday when the professor announced the test curve which changed my C- to a B+. I ended up with an A- in the class, but I never forgot that my dad believed in me and that I was more important than any grade.

My Dad just LOVES to learn. Growing up he would tell us about all the amazing classes he took at BYU. From handball, to bowling , to the engineering calculus class he took because his original calculus class was too EASY, he has always amazed me with his love for knowledge. Now he buys college lectures on various subjects (usually history) on CD and listens to them in his car. We discussed the history of the Tudors just last night. He has a memory like a steel trap. Once it's in there, it never escapes. I can ask him questions about a class he took in college or a book he read years ago, and he still knows the answer. I pray my children are blessed with that same gift.

My mom taught me to appreciate the value of an education. She knew that getting a degree would open the world's door for me and my brothers. She was always by my side, helping me, encouraging me and fixing my punctuation. She was my ultimate English advisor and nearly wrote my first paper at BYU when I was floundering with the elements of writing. She loves to read and always has a book she is flying through. So many times when I walk upstairs I can find her on her bed reading. She also has taught me to never question my ability to learn something new. She has taught herself to tile showers, replace light fixtures, repair broken cabinets and believe in never saying 'can't'.

Thanks Mom and Dad for your example and for sharing so much of your precious knowledge with me.

And, so to the question. Which class do I favor best of all?

By now, everyone should know I have a very hard, almost impossible time narrowing things down to one measly choice. So I picked my top four. I'll try to keep my reasons brief, near short story length. Here goes.... (and in no particular order)

#1. Hula. I took this class my freshman year at BYU-Hawaii. I loved the music, the soft movements and telling a story through the dance. It gave me deep love for the Hawaiian people and their culture.

#2. Children's Literature. I took this class while I was in the elementary education program at BYU. I was teaching in the elementary school everyday and was overwhelmed by the lesson plans, observations and tests I was required to complete. This class allowed me to make time to read beautiful stories and further develop my love for children's books.

#3. Astronomy. I took this class at BYU-Hawaii. I was so excited for this class since my own dad took it when he was at BYU. I have always had a love for the night sky because of my father. He owns a wonderful telescope and I've seen so many planets, comets and stars throughout my life. When I moved away and was living on a far away island, the night sky brought me peace and comfort. I loved learning about it more in depth. Highlight: That spring (1996) the comet Hyutake graced the night sky. A friend and I traveled to a place on the beach to find a proper viewing spot with no light from cars, homes, or street lights. It was a glorious sight. The comet was far brighter than any other star or planet I had ever seen and its tail stretched across 2/3 of the sky. It was a magical thing and the only piece missing was sharing that moment with my dad.

#4. Humanities 101. This class was like living in a fantasy world. I still have the textbook and look through it. I studied great works of art, music throughout the ages, building styles, ancient artifacts and I found I had a passion for it. If I had not already chosen to pursue elementary education, I would have changed my major. There were so many aspects and I really, really loved them all. I appreciated the world more and all is kinds of people. I hope to one day take my children in person to visit the places and discover the wonders I found through humanities.

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." ~Henry Brooks Adams

A Tank and a Tribute

I think it is interesting that when I give directions on how to get to our house that I can simply say that I live by the tank. Yes, a tank. Not some silly little miniature toy thing. A real life, once used tank that is just over one block from our home. When we first came out looking at houses, the tank was Matt's favorite thing about Lexington. It's how I would remind him which home we bought.

The tank has been the destination for more than one walk in the year we have lived in Lexington. It is a 2003 US Army M60A3 tank. The boys love to climb on it and explore it from top to bottom. They love to see the periscope up top, see the space where the gunner could see through, and touch the large metal wheels. Though the hatches have been welded shut, you still can get a feel for what it would be like for a solider to ride in. You can imagine how noisy it must be when the tracks move along the road with their metal grips, how slow the turret would move from side to side and what a dangerous machine this truly could be.

With all that said, having a tank close by is a perfect fit for our neighborhood. It is situated on the edge of Veterans Park. This enormous park has miles of open grass fields, walking trails, a river, a baseball complex (three fields below, a softball field above) and the boys' school is on the southern end. It is appropriately named Veterans Park Elementary. I didn't even realize the size or beauty of this park when we purchased our home. It is one more thing that I will greatly miss when we leave this wonderful city in a few years.

We drive past the tank everyday and I still love to look at it when I pass it. They have a light shining on it at night and the American Flag proudly waving just to its side. Also flying in front are five flags, each representing our nations various armed forces. There is one for the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Navy.

While I have loved having our tank close by, today it is a much more symbolic reminder of this great country we have the privilege of living in. For six years ago today, on September 11, 2001 so many people lost their lives in those horrific terrorist attacks. Over three thousand people taken too soon and their families were left shattered and forever changed.

That day will live in my memory forever. It changed the way I felt about America, about soldiers fighting for our freedom and was a reminder of how precious each day of life is. I was in Utah with the boys while Rich was far away in Kentucky. It was so hard to be separated. During those first days, I was so moved and touched to see how it softened us as a nation. Within hours some one in my parents ward had put up American flags in every yard. There were signs in gas stations saying God Bless America. People seemed to be kinder, more helpful and softer. It made us all appreciate what we have been blessed with.

So today I pay my respect to those lives lost, especially those of the firefighters and police men, who ran in when everyone else was running out. They are true heroes. And to those who fought back on Flight 91 and saved so many other people's lives by giving their own. There were so many acts of heroism, to the ground zero workers, to the Pentagon rescue workers, and to all the men and women who gave help to others that day. While it was a dark time for our country, the light and goodness of men and women shone forth, showing the world what being an American really means.

I also salute our soldiers, the men and women who have left their families behind, who risk untold dangers each day to fight for freedom. Thank you.

May the Lord bless you and help you come home safely and soon. May we all be grateful to be an American.

Therapy

My friend's little sister's blog site header reads: T-minus freak out- you know you are. We all have those moments in our lives and it has gotten quite insane around here these past few weeks with school, homework, the boys playing two sports and Rich preparing for his big test. It got me thinking about the variety of things I do to keep myself from going crazy. Sometimes I wonder if they are working, but who doesn't go nuts once in awhile? So here is my list.

15 WAYS TO STAY HAPPY, HEALTHY, YOUNG AT HEART AND HOPEFULLY A LITTLE BIT SANE.

1. Go for a walk. Get out of the house and look around at this beautiful world we have. Enjoy the fall air, notice the leaves, listen for the birds, see the butterflies, smell the flowers and feel how good it is to get out and just go. It's a great pick me up anytime.

2. Get take out for dinner. It will eliminate cooking clean up and the kids will eat what is served. And really, who can beat Little Caesars large pizza for $5.00? One cheese, one peperoni and we are good to go.

3. Do some yard work. Pull weeds, edge, mow the lawn, get a bit dirty and see how you can transform the earth into a thing of beauty. Enjoy the fresh air, the smell of cut grass and flowers around the yard. I'd rather word in the yard than clean inside any day. Trimming bushes and raking leaves gives me a satisfaction that cleaning a toilet just can't match.

4. Bake up a batch of cookies. Three rules. 1. If kids are present make them help. Have them crack eggs, add ingredients, they love all the little spoons and measuring cups. 2. Eat the cookie dough. 3. Make enough to share. Who doesn't enjoy a little treat from a neighbor or friend?

5. Read a good book. Escape from your own life for a moment and when you get interrupted be glad there is not an on/off button that will most certainly be pushed in your absence and you will utterly lose your place in the story.

6. Call a family member and catch up. You could call your grandparents and ask them questions about their lives. You will be amazed at what you can learn.

7. Ask a child to tell you all their favorite things. From color, to TV show, to toys, they love that someone older wants to know all about them.

8. Go to a sporting event. From little league baseball, YMCA soccer, to high school football, or (someday) flying to NYC to watch the US Open, watching it all is fun. It may not always be relaxing, but you'll enjoy every minute.

9. Go to a park with your kids and play! Climb on the playground, go down the slide, bring along bubbles and run through them. You'll feel young no matter how old you are.

10. Eat an ice cream cone. This is such a simple pleasure, but bring wipes. In these hot temperatures things tend to get sticky fast!

11. Run through the sprinklers. It can count for your shower for the day too!

12. Write a letter or email to an old friend. Reacquaint yourself with someone who once was an important part of your life.

13. Invite people over for dinner. While the cleaning of the house might be a tad stressful, make a new recipe or a favorite dessert and make some new memories with people close to you.

14. Clean out your closet. Be honest with yourself and get rid of anything you haven't worn in a year. It made be cute, but if you haven't worn it, the odds are you won't, ever. Give it away before it's so out of date that no will want it.

15. Turn up the song in the car and sing along. The kids will laugh and sing along too.

May we all have days of joy, laughter and a little less headache!