Lara's Official Airport Rules

Written while on a 2-hour layover in the Denver International Airport:

1. Cuteness and fashion rules do not matter at airports. Sweats, t-shirts, and sensible shoes are a sign of true intelligence in this environment. High heels=Needs Brain Transplant

2. Calorie counting is illegal when you're in transit. Feel like a candy bar or a Coldstone shake to keep your energy up? Go ahead and indulge.

3. People watching is the must-see entertainment at the airport and staring is totally allowed. Mohawks, purple hair, 2 foot wide sombreros, people dancing, couples fighting, kids dropping their ice cream...you can't buy that kind of entertainment (okay, maybe with 25,000 frequent flier miles or so you can).

4. It's okay to say obnoxious things to people at airports you normally would never say, after all you'll never see them again. You should have seen the strange look I got when I commented on this random girl's three wolf shirt (click here and read the reviews) and made some funny comment on the "magical" powers and realize she's totally serious about it. {Thanks Angela for introducing me to this quality entertainment}

5. Snoring in public, while normally not a very desirable trait, is sought after by mothers everywhere while traveling with kids.

I guess I'm out of time to make more airport rules since they're calling our flight. I was thinking I need a good one about airport food. Can you help me out?

Three Versions of How to Pack

Spencer's version:

• Print off list 9:00pm the night before leaving for Scout Camp at 4:30am.

• Grab Dad's hairbrush, the family tube of toothpaste (without the lid), a pack of gum, and your sister's socks.

• Casually throw items into any random pocket of bag.

• At 10:00pm inform your Mom that you absolutely have to have a bike lock or you'll have to walk the 3/4 mile to the Scout classes instead of biking with all your friends.

• Roll your eyes and loudly sigh when Mom asks if you remembered sunblock and bug spray.

• Go to bed at 11:00pm totally at peace that Mom had to send out a desperate email to locate a bike lock, then a frantic rush to pick it up, and totally oblivious to the fact that you have no underwear, deodorant, or toothbrush in your bag.********************************************************************************

Cami's version:

• Print off list 5 days before Girls' Camp starts.

• Immediately start telling Mom all of the items your wardrobe lacks.

• Go on clothes shopping trip to Unique to fill in those wardrobe gaps.

• Three days before, start packing your clothing into a duffel bag.

• Two days before start doing your own laundry to make sure favorite clothes are through the wash in time. Bringing clothes upstairs--optional. The basement hallway is much easier for clean clothes dumping.

• Call your friend to find out what she's bringing.

• One day before, give Mom a list of the things you're still lacking.

• Set the clothes you're going to wear out the night before.

• Call your friend no fewer than four times the day you're leaving to make sure you're packing "right".

• Finally leave right on time with the entire list checked and double checked and still worry that you've forgotten something. **************************************************************************************

Lara's version:

• Decide on Tuesday that I would like to go to Grandmother's funeral in Star Valley, Wyoming on Saturday.

• Discover that frequent flier miles go twice as far if I leave on a Wednesday rather than any other day.

• Realize that in order to be able to leave the next day that I have a HUGE, long list of things to do.

• Spend the evening grocery shopping, talking to Mom, getting caught up on the blog, leaving a few comments, uploading pictures to computer, and wondering whether I will need to check in a bag or not.

• Finally dye my hair, so I won't have to see all those long lost cousins with gray roots.

• At midnight, drag myself up to get the bag out of the attic and wonder where the night went...

Um, yeah. For the rest of my version, you may as well look at Spencer's.

Day 195--Girls' Camp

Today Cami finally finished her three straight days of packing, got all decked out in her Unique clothes, actually let me braid her hair...
and then I dropped her off for Girls' Camp!
I'm missing her already!

Day 194--Nice Mice

Got this fun idea from Karey's Aunt Pat and decided to give them a try. Ours didn't turn out quite as cute as hers....

but the kids had a fabulous time anyway!

Grandma's Legacy

There was a time not that long ago when my kids were some of the lucky few who actually knew most of their great-grandparents. When Ellie was born there were 6 out of 8 of them still living.

Over the course of the past four years though, each one of mine and Glen's parents has in turn buried a parent.

*First it was Glen's Grandma Loughton who passed away peacefully in July 2005.

*Then in September of 2007 my Grandfather Crain passed away in Oklahoma City.

*In January of 2008 Glen's Grandpa Loughton joined his sweetheart of 60+ years in the eternities.

*Then in March, Glen's Grandmother Frances passed away rejoined with her beloved George who passed away in 1995.

And tonight my dear, sweet Grandma Hepworth at almost 94, is finally reunited with her beloved husband, Fay, who passed away 26 years ago.

I love this picture of my Grandpa and Grandma Hepworth together with my brother and I. Grandpa died just a couple of years later and I don't have too many pictures of them together.

My Grandma Hepworth was one of those amazing people you don't meet very often. She raised 11 outstanding children (including my mother) on a farm in Star Valley, Wyoming. She spent her life busy and engaged and was sharp and witty right up to the end of her life.

Even with the dozens and dozens of grandchildren she had (and now great-grandchildren) somehow she always made me feel so individually loved. She would always send me home from a visit with her with some special hand-made treasure she had created just for me and made me feel like I was somehow her favorite grandchild. Of course if you asked any of my siblings or cousins they would claim that they were her favorite. Even four years ago at her ninetieth birthday she was still sharing her handiwork with us.

How grateful I am that my own kids have known her and loved her...

and for the legacy of love, kindness, hard work, thriftiness, creativity, faithfulness, and dedication she's given to me and all who've known her.

We'll miss you Grandma.

Day 193--End of an Era

In the last few days Cami has met with the Bishop, YW presidency, and now today our Primary President so she could pass off Cami's Faith in God award, bear her testimony, and say good-bye.

And I officially have 2 kids in the youth program now!

Shopping Woes...

There once was a day when I thought shopping for kids' clothes was fun and challenging. I'd hit end-of-season clearance racks and buy entire wardrobes for my kids for the next year at 80% off. They looked good and I saved money, what isn't there to love about that?

Somewhere around kindergarten age though, my kids started getting a little pickier. Spencer would only wear athletic pants and t-shirts, Cami would only wear skirts and blouses, Emma couldn't wear light colors since she stained everything she wore, Adam will only wear jeans and t-shirts, and even Ellie would love it if I let her wear tutus and princess dresses everywhere.

So my shopping has gradually gotten a little more challenging and a little less fun over the years as the kids have gotten older. I could still choose their outfits, but within much stricter child directed parameters. Sometimes I even had to buy things not on clearance *gasp* because there wouldn't be enough of their type of clothing on the clearance racks to make a whole wardrobe.

Then Cami grew even older and now is pickier about her clothes than she is about eating beans. Not only can she never find anything she likes, but now we have the whole modesty issue where most clothes in her size are too short, too low cut, or sleeveless. Truly she has become the bane of my shopping existence and every time she tells me she needs something new (because she won't stop growing either), I cringe in horror. I now detest shopping for kids' clothes even more than I've always detested shopping for my own clothes.

So Cami is just heading off to her first year of Girls' Camp this coming week {Yikes! I can't be old enough to have TWO kids in the youth program.} and she informs me that there are several items on her packing list that she did not own!

After cringing and realizing that I can't make her wear the same three outfits (the only summer clothes she owns) for her five days at Girls' Camp, that I start preparing myself for hours of torture at Target, Kohls, and the mall.

Then in a moment of inspiration I get this great idea... UNIQUE.

What is Unique you ask? It's an awesome thrift store near our home that puts places like DI and Goodwill to shame. It's clean, organized, and HUGE!

I figured she'd probably still have a hard time finding things she likes, but at the end I'd have spent only a fraction of the money so at least when she outgrows it next month (or decides she doesn't like it) that our bank account isn't quite so drained.

So how did it go?

Exhibit A:
Cute shirt ($2.49) + matching modest shorts ($3.49) + brand new Lands' End water shoes ($2.49) = Whole New Outfit ($8.47)



Exhibit B:
Adorable short sleeved cardigan ($3.49) + white t-shirt ($1.49) + matching khaki capris ($2.49) = whole outfit $7.47



Fun Hello Kitty t-shirt ($2.49) + matching capris ($3.49) = $5.98


Three whole outfits (completely modest, great condition, and 100% Cami approved) for a grand total of $21.92.

Eat your heart out Kohls!

And it's not even Fast Sunday...

Usually cooking in the winter is so much more fun for me than in the summertime. I love savory soups and freshly baked breads that just don't seem to lend themselves as well to hot weather cooking.

Sometime last year though I did something drastic that's changed my whole outlook on summer food!

I took lessons from Glen and totally took over the big manly appliance out on our deck and suddenly we went from eating hot dogs and sloppy joes every other day to....


things like Grilled Chipotle Chicken Fajitas...


and Roasted Salsa with Fresh Mint and Cilantro with charred vegetables...


and one of my favorites-- Grilled Honey-Lime Chicken Sandwiches.

Then in an effort to get even more excited about my summer cooking I did something even more drastic, I planted my very first herb garden!

(There are absolutely NO weeds in my garden...HAH!)

Right now all it has is fresh mint, cilantro, and basil, but we are in LOVE with this new-found jolt of flavor into our cooking. Now we've got...

Bruschetta Pizza with fresh basil...


and Spaghetti with Fresh Tomatoes (and basil)...


and even this Thai-Style Black Bean Salad (with fresh cilantro) added to our summer menu!


Of course we're still in love with our old classic summer food, like ....
watermelon (and every other fresh fruit)...

and yummy treats made with fresh fruit like this watermelon smoothie...


and the kids' very favorite of all....POPSICLES!!!!!

Rumble, grumble, rumble....

Now excuse me while I go find something to eat...

Day 192--Happy Birthday 7-11!

Who are we to pass up a good birthday celebration? When we found out that 7-11 stores were giving away free slurpees today to help celebrate their birthday (on 7/11 of course), we just had to go join in the fun!

How big was each slurpee?

7.11 ounces of course!

Day 191--Status Quo

After Spencer set up our tent in our {mostly} empty basement and my twin nieces Lauren and McKenzie spent the night, my kids pretty much thought it was the best night EVER!
Notice the containers filled with our basement goods still cluttering up our living room. Still waiting for our bid. Ugh!

Day 190--Cool Cousin Spencer

Day 189--Chickerella

Cluck Naked Cuckoo for Books

I have a weakness for books that cannot be denied. I love reading them, I love collecting them, I love shopping for them, and I love reading them to my kids.

Over the course of fourteen years of motherhood I've amassed quite a collection of children's books that is threatening to take over every ounce of shelf space in our house. Every time I do a purging spell to get rid of things in our house, I can't bring myself to try too hard with my books. Occasionally I'll come across an old book that's falling apart or a board book that the kids have totally outgrown, but to me, the books are like old friends that bring back memories whenever I see them and I can't spare a single one of them.

Like, how can I ever forget how Adam learned to read by sounding out, "Are You My Mother?" to me over and over again?

Or how Cami used to giggle and sing along every time we read, "What is Your Language?"

Or how Ellie stamps her feet and laughs hysterically when the monkeys won't return the peddler's caps in, "Caps For Sale"?

Or how Emma had memorized most of the, "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" after we read it three times a day for weeks on end?

Or how Spencer went on daily 'bear hunts' after my sister read him "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" 47 times a day!

And well, then there's Anne of Green Gables who will always be my kindred spirit.

Although I'm quite careful about what books we choose to buy and keep in our home, I'm much more liberal when we go to the library. I preview the older kids' books to make sure they're appropriate, but I give free reign to the little ones in their book choices figuring that anyone who makes picture books gears them for young children.

Mostly picture books are great, but every now and then they bring home a book that reminds me a little less of a friend and more like a crazy old lady that lives in the run-down house with the yard full of pink plastic flamingoes.

Take this book Ellie just chose:

"Chickerella" by Mary Jane & Herm Auch--Ellie chose it because of the chicken in a princess dress on the cover and when I tell you that it's a creative adaptation of the Cinderella story, just know that when I say creative, I don't mean that as a compliment.

At first I was fairly amused by the gawdy costumes and goofy story line with liberal doses of words like, "eggs-celent" and "eggs-citing" and "coop-life", but when Chickerella shoots out a glass egg right into the prince's face at the stroke of midnight, then ran "cluck naked" all the way home I knew this book was one I wouldn't soon forget.

Read this page and just try to keep a straight face:

Not only have I never made it through without going into complete hysterics whenever I get to this page, but I have single-handedly ensured that it's my kids' favorite book ever. They beg me to read it to them just to hear me laugh at it then they take turns reading it to each other laughing maniacally at all the same parts I do.

Can't you just picture a middle aged lady and her husband sitting in their living room surrounded by their 46 chickens and 12 cats just dreaming up ways to make their pets famous?

***********************************************************************************

So what are your favorite children's books? Are your kids' favorites different from your favorites? Which ones do they like? Are there children's books you HATE reading? I can't stand reading the Cat in the Hat. It's just too long and too nonsensical for me.

Just Chillin'

One might think that summertime with five kids at home would be a stressful time for me.  On the contrary though, I love how laid back and carefree the days are.  We can sleep in if we feel like it,  the kids re-develop their friendships with each other, we can hang out at the pool, and most of all I especially love not rushing around all the time taking kids here, there, and everywhere.  

No school activities.  No sports.  No music lessons.  I'm  reveling in our newfound freedom!  

  We stay up too late, play with friends, hang out at the pool, eat popsicles twice a day, go on field trips, play at the park, sleep in our day clothes, put together puzzles, play games, and occasionally do a few chores and I love it all!     

Although the kids are pretty good at entertaining themselves I still am  always on the look-out for fun, new activities for the kids to try. Sometimes we go out for a day on the town or maybe try a new craft or try a game we haven't played in a while.  It's always an adventure trying to find something that all the kids enjoy.  Yesterday though I hit the jackpot!   

I found an activity that all the kids got excited about (even Spencer--and that's saying something)!  

Wanna try it too? 

Take  a few simple ingredients...

First combine 1 cup half and half, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a quart size ziploc bag and seal.  

In  a gallon size bag add 4-6 cups of ice and 1/2 cup of rock salt. 

Place the smaller bag inside the bag of ice and...

jump, dance, toss, wiggle, shake, and knead those bags for five minutes (that's really all the time it took).

VOILA!  Thick, creamy, luscious homemade ice cream just like that.   Even my 38-year-old grown up kid was loving it.  

Speaking of cool summer treats, check out how shaggy we let Adam's hair get....

and how cool and summery he finally looks now with a new do and a bowl of fresh homemade ice cream!  

PS  I'll refrain from going into any detail about the special little "present" we found underneath all those shaggy locks.  Let's just say we had to smother it with peanut butter and use the tweezers to take care of it and we sure as heck were NOT making peanut butter truffles.