Invictus

This is for all of you who feel beaten down, hurt or misjudged by others or are just plain tired. This was a poem that was a mantra for my Grandmother and now it is mine too. When I feel hurt or misunderstood, which happens a lot, or things that I have confided in people have come back to bite me in the butt (which also happens a lot), I think of this poem. It gives me strength. It helps me to remember that it doesn't matter what other people think. I know the truth. I know the kind of person I am.


Invictus
by William Ernest Henley; 1849-1903

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;

I am the captain of my soul.

Wyatt

I got Wyatt's portraits done today! I LOVE THEM!!! I went to "Dressed in White". It was exactly what I was looking for. I was worried about getting in to kiddie Kandid because I hadn't made an appointment but they were miraculously ahead of schedule!

I was worried about waiting because they had an open appt. for 2 hours later but he was starting to get tired and ornery! Let me know what you think! By the way, these are just the basics. I got them in some really cute borders but I will need to scan them in.

Free Movies.

Lisa was telling me about a blog she read where you list your 5 secret crushes. I am going to do a twist on that and tell you about my subconscious crushes! Crushes I didn't know I had! lol

Last week, for 3 nights in a row, I had dreams about famous men. In the first dream I had, Mikhail Barishnikov was in love with me. He wanted to marry me and Bry was fine with it, so I had two husbands. IT WAS FABULOUS!!!

The very next night, I had a dream about Nickolas Cage. I was in love with him but I didn't feel like he felt the same way. He was more interested in our 4 year old son we had together. It hurt, but what do you expect?

Night number three included George Clooney. He was very much in love with me and was funny and silly and I loved it. He did all sorts of funny things to win my heart. That was a cute dream.

I have always had dreams about famous men but not three nights in a row. I wake up and tell Bry about them and he just laughs! He must think I'm psycho!

I also had a dream once about being in love with Bill Nigh the Science Guy! Ya, I know. Don't say it! Go figure!

I do have a secret crush on many other actors including Hugh Jackman, Jim Caviezel, and a few others who's names don't come to mind.

I have to say. I love to dream. It's like going to the movies for free!!

Random thoughts

I just finished "The other Boleyn Girl". It was fabulous! I loved it and couldn't lay it down! It was also so sad that people can actually live a life of so much selfishness and greed.

I was amazed. I stayed up to the wee hours of the night to finish it. Sooooo glad I live now. So glad we don't have royalty here in America. Well, officially. I think there are people here who think they are royalty!

Wyatt turns 1 tomorrow! I cant believe it! I cant believe I have had him for a year now. We celebrated today since Bry will be working quite a ways away tomorrow. He made a huge mess of his cake and ice cream but it was adorable! I spent way too much money on him too! How could I resist? I just adore him and I'll tell you what, I am getting lax as a parent. I spoil him more than I ever did any of the other kids.

It was a nice, relaxing weekend and I was able to write 2 more chapters of my book this morning. It is so fun to do. I love the way the story just pours out of me. It's almost as if I', not even writing it at all. Good fun.

Get Smart

This movie was absolutely hilarious!! I mean it! I can't even remember when I have laughed so hard that I couldn't breathe. Or laughed so hard that my chest hurt! I don't know how he does it/ Steve Carrell is fabulous. He is fast becoming one of my favorite actors.

He is so funny but not in the stupid "Three Stooges" way. More of an accident prone, mot meaning to way, and the thing that makes it funny is that he knows he's an idiot but doesn't know how to change that! SO funny.

I still sit here in my chair giggling just thinking about it! Anyway, go see it. It will tickle your funny bone and put you in a great mood!

I just watched to "Golden Compass". I really liked it. I don't know what the big to do was about it. I found it no different than any Harry Potter or other fantasy show.

I personally LOVE those fantasy stories. In fact, I'm in the middle of writing one myself.

I know people have said the author is an atheist or something. That doesn't bother me. If he can spin a good yard, that's what matters to me! lol

Anyway, it was a fun way to pass a hot afternoon with the kids. Now I'll go write a little myself.

Good morning and Happy father's day! It was a beautiful morning as I slid out of bed. I kissed Bry and forced myself out the door to walk. Yes, walk. I strapped on the old ipod, turned on the Proclaimers, and off I went.

I am once again starting over. My sacrum, from not having been correctly adjusted for so long ( I hadn't been to see my normal chiropractor in a while) decided to give me some new torture. Now, when it goes out of alignment, it pinches something in the front groin area, like a nerve. So, now I Ache right there where your leg bends forward and if I run, it's even worse.. I got it fixed yesterday and the best thing for it is to walk, so walk, I will! At least I can.

Brad also did something called "cupping" on my low back. It's like acupuncture, or at least it accomplishes close to the same thing and it felt really cool. I am going to have him do it every time he adjusts me.

We made Bry his favorite breakfast, Biscuits and gravy, sausage, and scrambled eggs with onions and cheese in them. It was actually fabulous and very fattening!

Now we are just hanging out until church starts. I don't feel like going. I never feel like going anymore. I don't know why. I still have a very strong testimony and all that, I just don't want to go. Weird.

Anyway, Happy Father's day to all you great dads out there!

I just wanted to show you some cute pics I have taken recently. A couple are from out campout last week which was so fun and a couple are of Wyatt at the park. It was so fun!

Do blondes have more fun?

I would have to say yes! I feel absolutely giddy! I have had red hair, light brown, dark brown, reddish brown and every other brown in between but I have never gone blonde. My sisters have all tried it but not me. Didn't think I had the right coloring.

Now, I have changed my mind! I have been wanting to try something fun and different for summer and have been "investigating" blondes. I tried to do it myself. I bought one of those 10 dollar ones but all it did was give me light brown hair. It was really pretty and I was tempted to keep it but I hate wondering "what if?" so I took the plunge. Called my stylist and we went to town! It was great fun! It looks a little darker in this picture than it is but oh well.

Yep, that's me! Call me Marilyn! I love it! I can't quit giggling! So today, I would definitely say......BLONDES HAVE MORE FUN!!

I have been frustrated lately in feeling like my blog is not very interesting. Now, don't take me wrong. I'm not feeling sorry for myself in the fact that I don't get many comments or hits, I'm just stating what I think. The sad part is, I can't think of anything different to do than what I'm doing!

I was on S'mee's page and clicked on a link that will tell you the "intelligence level" or ease of understanding of your blog. Mine was Jr. High level. Ya, a small blow to my ego but what do they know right?

So, there it is. I am writing for 13 year olds. Not that that is a bad thing but that is my level of writing I guess. I could turn these lemons into lemonade by becoming a famous writer like J.K. Rowling but the odds are slim at best. It would be a dream come true but I would actually have to write something for that to happen.

I will keep plugging on as I always do and all kids are welcome here. Blah blah blah.
(smirk)

Our summer schedule

It's so far, so good. I have been really pleased with the way our summer schedule is working out. Here is what we are doing and it is the first year ever I have done it like this.

The kids always get up early and because I'm depressed about my running, I usually sleep in until about 7:30. I tell the kids that they can play the wii until I wake up. If they are noisy, I will wake up earlier. Then the chores begin. We have a job chart and they each have 2 jobs usually.

Then we have homework time. I saw on TV that most kids lose a huge amount of school memory over the summer. I refuse to let mine fall in to that category so I Googled "6th grade math" and other subjects like spelling too for each grade level my 3 oldest are at. I copied a bunch of worksheets at their levels and every other day we do math. The other days we do spelling, penmanship and I am going to add some history and art stuff that is fun too.

With the spelling, Jake has a whole list of words that he has to pick 20 words from, Seth picks 15, Heidi picks 10. They write them 5 times each and Jake has to do it in cursive which he hates and then I give them a test. It is actually a lot of fun. They are enjoying it and so am I. I can see why some parents like to home school. I can see how it could work.

I also had a web page pointed out to me by Tash that is free typing lessons. So they do that too. All in all, takes about a half hour to an hour depending on what we do.

Then they practice the piano. I bought candy kisses that they have to keep on the backs of their hands to promote proper hand position. That is fun! They are terrible about resting their hands and the kisses have really made them aware of it. At the end of the practice, they eat their candy. Heidi and Gabe wanted in on that fun so I have started teaching them the basics so they can have a kiss on each hand too!

It is amazing how well it's working. It starts the day out on a positive note and gets them in to a more cerebral state of mind. It actually makes the day happier with less contention and takes up some time so they don't get bored.

Next week we start swimming lessons so that will mess it up a little but we'll just push everything back an hour I guess. Then the rest of the day is free to do whatever. We are all usually done by 10:30 or 11:00

I'll be honest. I have never been this organized before and it makes me feel like a great mom to be doing it now. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks!

Sex and the City

I have to say, if loving this show is wrong, then I'm on my way to hell in a hand basket.

I never watched it when it was on HBO. I didn't have HBO! I started watching in on TBS at night when I was trying to make myself tired enough to go to sleep. I had had no desire to see it just because of the name itself but I was curious when I saw it was on TBS and knew that that channel had cleaned it up a bit.

So, I watched it and it was pretty good. I started watching it more often as I lay in bed and Bry had gone to sleep and I couldn't. I fell in love with the characters and loved the honesty that they used when talking about relationships. Subjects I had talked about with my friends frequently. The squabbles with husbands and boyfriends that are common to all women. I would laugh and cry through it with them all.

When the movie came out, I had to see it. And it was great. I laughed and cried through the whole thing. I knew Bry wouldn't want to go with me so I took a friend. I won't say who in case she doesn't want anyone to know what a sinner she really is too! lol

I won't say I recommend it to everyone but for those of you Sex and the City fans, it was fabulous! So glad I went! Bry reaped the rewards too.