Java Brio

New Year's Resolutions

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:06:00 +0000

This year my resolutions are to grow my hair out, shrink my waist and move the fat to other areas of my body, write a book, spend less time on Facebook, read the Bible in one year and run a 5K for some charity. In actuality, none of these things will probably happen this year. In fact, a few years ago, I resolved to stop making resolutions since I seemed to give up after 3 weeks and then felt like an incredible failure that I never achieved any of my lofty resolutions for the new year.

Why do we make New Year’s resolutions? According to this site: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-History-of-New-Years-Resolutions&id=245213 The tradition began in 153 B.C with a mythical king of early Rome, Janus. He had two faces: one that looked at past events and one that looked at to the future. Janus represented resolutions in which Romans received forgiveness from their enemies and began their new year exchanging gifts.

There is also a reference that the Babylonians created this tradition 4,000 years ago to the gods’ to get favor. It was considered bad luck if a resolution was broken according to this site:http://www.examiner.com/x-22551-Mesa-Elementary-Years-Parenting-Examiner~y2009m12d29-History-of-New-Years-Resolutions

As a Christian, I would rather live my life by the Word of God. According to the Bible, old things have passed away and all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). I do not have to be bound by guilt or shame. I don’t have to create resolutions that I will break in 3 weeks. Instead I can embrace the truth of God. God says that we are His masterpiece and that He created us anew in Jesus, so we can do the good things He has planned for us long ago (Ephesians 2:10).

So instead of making resolutions, let’s look for the good things that God created us to do. Let this be a year that we do the purposes of God and in doing that we will find fulfillment. We will be able to look back on 2010 knowing we have obeyed God and accomplished His will.

Elleanna's quotes

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:01:00 +0000

Elleanna’s quotes:

2007:

I was really tired and Elleanna said, “All you need is a cigarette to relax.”

My head is too big for this seatbelt.

I said, “You are starting to piss me off.” Elle said, “You piss me off!”

Daddy said, “I can’t make pancakes well.” Elle said, “That’s okay. I will teach you.”

2008

Dad was reading Strong Willed Child by Dobson. Elle says, “Are you reading about how strong I am? (at this time she couldn’t read)

When I was wrapping Dad’s gift, Elle said is that a bomb?

2009:

"Mom, what is that red dot on your forehead? It looks like one of those dots that Indian girls wear." Thank you Elleanna - it's a pimple.

My red head is trying to make lemonade with an egg slicer...what is wrong with this picture?!

It's too hard for me to remember, my brain is too small.

I am wondering how to answer Elleanna's question: how can a dog have puppies when it's not married?

Elleanna's new quote: I don't know what's wrong with my fish. It's always drowning! Dec. 2009 (her betta fish)

I got a lump of coal in my stocking. My sweet Elleanna said I deserved it. I told her that I negotiated with Santa to take it for her so she could have presents...ha!

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:50:00 +0000

Such a sweet smile, but behind that smile is sass and wit! Life is not dull with Elleanna who can give the quickest retort to any comment I make. She never misses a beat and nows if someone got a new outfit or even slightly changed their haircut.

We encourage learning about other cultures in our family. She made a correlation between the pimple on my forehead and Indian girls. She said, "Mom, you look just like an Indian girl with that red mark on your forehead!" Thank you Elleanna for being so observant! And by the way, how did you find the gum that I hid in the top cabinet? GET OUT OF THERE!

Yes, never a dull moment....

How sexy can a car be?!

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 06:11:00 +0000

Today a young 20 year old girl strutted to her car boasting, "Check out my sexy car!" Of course she wasn't talking to me, but her co-workers. Yes, it was a sexy car I must admit. I didn't know that cars could be considered as such, but it was sleek and silver with all the bells and whistles...2010 Mustang GT.

I became very self conscious standing next to my van that screamed, "Soccer Mom"! I am not even a soccer mom. I taxi my kids to dance and music lessons. My van is not sexy. It's not sleek. It does have all the bells and whistles that every mom desires: lots of seat belts for my children and their friends, a DVD player to watch 'Cars' again and again, leather seats and even a seat warmer! It even comes with its own air freshener: dirty diapers. I have searched and searched, but to no avail have I found that diaper. Not to mention the sticky, gooey, carmel from a carmel apple that has adhered to the arm rest.

As the girl proudly touched her lustrous car, I had this immediate desire to slink away and find another car to claim as my own. The truth be told, I quickly got into my van with the sticky handprints on the window and prayed that I wouldn't back out and hit a car as I made my exit. The only satisfaction I had was to think that one day this young, hip girl would be driving a minivan with her four kids and proclaiming, "Check out my sexy van! It has cup holders to hold my Starbucks and even my kids' sippy cups! And it goes 0 to 70 in under 10 minutes! Don't I look good in it? It's my color, don't ya think?"

The Use of Toilets

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 08:50:00 +0000

Toilets are used for one thing and that is either number one or number two. Levi, my 20 month old has found another purpose for the toilet. He uses toilet water to style his hair. I did not connect the dots when I found his clothes and hair wet. I thought he stood on a stool step and used the faucet. I changed him into dry clothes and we went to church. Upon arriving home, my roommate Rhonda showed me Levi's toothbrush she had found on her wet bathroom floor. It only took a moment to connect the dots. What can one do, but laugh and hope the toilet water was clean when he was playing in it!

Elleanna and the Earthworm

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 21:43:00 +0000

Today Elleanna found a pet worm that she put into a plastic container with some grass and some mud. She showed it to her friend Melissa.

Melissa said, "Squeeze the head." I interjected that they might be squeezing the butt so maybe they shouldn't do it. Secretly I didn't want the poor, pathetic worm to be tortured by a four year old and a five year old.

Melissa thoughtfully asked if the worm goes poo-poo.

With confidence, Elleanna said, "I think the worm poops mud."

Tomorrow I think I need to go get a worm farm and so we can learn more about worms.

"I think it is a boy," said Elleanna. "Maybe it's a girl."

"I don't think they have a sex," I said trying to recall facts about worms. Ya, I think we need to get that worm farm.

Date night to self

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:23:00 +0000

Since I home school, I believe in the importance of a date night to my self. So tonight I go to the local coffee shop where I use my 'free coffee birthday coupon'. The coffee shop is packed, but I happen to find a table next to a party of six. To my surprise, they were low talkers and I even wondered if sometimes they were just staring at each other because it was so quiet!

I open my Bible to Galatians. I am using one of Kay Arthur's Bible Studies. I have done many Bible studies, but I think these are the best I have ever done. I am learning so much as I mark my Bible and read and re-read the chapter several times.

Tonight I had to read the verses more than once because 15 fifteen feet away was a 40ish year old man on a "first coffee date" with an attractive 45 year old woman. For 45 minutes he talked non-stop about his 16 and 13 year old daughters and about their ipod and the classical music he downloads into it. He believes once a week they should be exposed to The Who, Asia, and anything else from the 70's. Gee - what a dad! Barely catching his breath, he proceeds to share his life as a sports writer. I try desperately to tune him out wishing for my ipod! The woman has barely said 10 full sentences and when she does, her date appears to have a plastered smile just waiting to talk about himself. After returning from the restroom, he asks the woman if he has freaked her out. I want to shout, "Yes and me too!" She politely says no, but you read in her response that this is the last date with him. He confirms this with, "I have been on many coffee dates like this." And I thought, "Something tells me this will be your last coffee date with her." He then proceeds to tell her, "They all say that I am a nice guy." Oh, that is really going to get you a second date! When she declines coffee with you again, she will make sure to use that line.

As I leave the coffee shop, I look forward to going home to my husband of 14 years. And of course, we reminisce about our first date as I share my evening with him.

My Irish Red Head

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 07:48:00 +0000

Elleanna started kindergarten this year. Being a red head, she gets extra attention. A boy named Michael is smitten with red heads. He has already given her a peck on the cheek and follows her around on the playground! His mom said he can go to Ireland when he growns up and marry a red headed Irish lass! He has no idea what he is in for! Red heads have a mind of their own!

Hostess Snoball!!!

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:15:00 +0000

Give me a Snoball over an Idaho Spud any day! This delicious, fattening cake has a creamy filling center covered with marshmallows and sprinkled with pink coconut. I only eat one every two years because it is way too rich and crazy for me! It is moist which is more than I can say for the Idaho Spud that resembles a potato!

Hostess boasts that 25 million Sno Balls are sold each year. Somehow I believe this could be true...

Idaho Spud Candy - "The candy bar that makes Idaho famous"

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 05:44:00 +0000

As anyone can tell from the looks on my kids faces - they didn't like the candy. I am not sure how it made Idaho famous and I payed $1.00 for it.

Yes, I have regrets.

The candy has made me possessed! I did swallow, but I did not take another bite!

So I had to find out what was in this dried out candy bar

that had stayed on the shelf way too long!

It is a light cocoa flavored marshmallow center drenched with a dark chocolate coating and then sprinkled with coconut.

Marketing says that the "Idaho Spud" is one of the top hundred selling candy bars in the Northwest, and is Idaho Candy Company's best selling bar.

Is this true or just a sales gimmick?

Give me a snowball anyday!

Montana

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 05:29:00 +0000

This town is right outside the entrance to

Yellowstone Park.

I feel like I have entered another place, another era.

I am expecting a rugged cowboy on a horse to come cantering down the road. Maybe even see a horse drawn wagon which will take me back to episodes of 'House on the Prairie.' The sky is beautiful - not a power line in sight.

Mammoth Country - It's not snow - it was 100 degrees!

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 05:21:00 +0000

Bison

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:14:00 +0000

I love this picture that Kenny took of the bison. People slowed down traffic and would even get out of their cars to take pictures of these animals. We stayed in the safety of our car. A few days after our vacation a family was standing only a few feet away from the bison when their son was thrown into the air by a very disgruntled bison. The boy survived, but let that be a warning!

Firehole Hot Spring

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:56:00 +0000

I must say Yellowstone is an amazing place on earth. It is beautiful and raw and dangerous. Not a place to take unruly children. One wrong move and there could be death. So to say I had a relaxing vacation would not be true. I was constantly watching my children and warning them of the dangers.

Highschool Musical Auditions?

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:52:00 +0000

Strike a pose!

Firehole River

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:42:00 +0000

Samantha took this picture. I love it! It looks like a picture I would take.

I just love the curve of the river and the contrast of green and brown grass. God's creation is beautiful!

Grand Prismatic Spring

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:08:00 +0000

The yellow, orange, and brown colors are caused by heat loving microorganisms. These microbes contain colorful pigments that allow them to make energy from sunlight and thrive in hot springs.

The intense blue color is because sunlight is scattered by

fine particles suspended in the water.

Magma from an active volcano heats water that rises to the surface through fissures in the rocks. The water is constantly 160F causing the spring to steam.

We need some ivory soap!

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:56:00 +0000

I left Levi with daddy for 2o minutes and came back to a dirty little boy! So that evening I gave the kids all showers which was a nightmare! First, we had to pay to take showers and then I was holding Levi in one arm while trying to help Elleanna wash her hair. Elleanna won't rinse the soap out of her hair and starts screaming there is soap in her eyes. I put Levi down to help Elleanna only to have Levi almost slip in the shower stall and then touch hair in the drain.

Nasty!

Old Faithful

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:39:00 +0000

Old Faithful is just that...faithful.

It goes off every 90 minutes like clockwork.

Campfire hot dogs and Elleanna...

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:11:00 +0000

Keep your eye on Elleanna. She is having such a grand time cooking her hot dog.

Elleanna is still cooking her hot dog with just a little attitude.

Wow! Elleanna give a look! The smoke is in her eyes and her hot dog is still not done!

Looking for waterfalls!

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:36:00 +0000

At the beginning of our family hike, it was an adventure!

As we walk through a beautiful meadow scattered with purple and yellow wildflowers our mission is to find the Upper and Lower Falls. We do not have a map, but Kenny believes it is this way. Every corner must get us closer to the waterfalls. I wonder where all the people are?

We have yet to find a waterfall, but we have discovered a horrible smell! The earth is amazing! This muddy water is boiling up from the earth. I would burn my finger if I dared put my finger in it!

No waterfall yet!

Samantha is taking a break!

The whining has begun, but can you blame her after 2 miles of walking!

Someone on the trail felt sorry for us and gave us a map. We are so far away from the waterfalls! We have been on a nature walk no where near the waterfalls!!

Another trail, another meadow....

Finally after another 1 1/2 miles we have arrived at the Lower Falls. The kids are too tired to even walk to the Upper Falls. We will have to save that for another day....

Yellowstone Fire

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 01:38:00 +0000

We were going to vacation at Big Sur this year, but canceled when all the California fires were happening. We choose Yellowstone instead. When we got there smoke filled the air. These are not just pictures of pretty clouds. This is smoke from fire! I cannot believe this! We have set up camp 8 miles away from a fire that is 5% controlled and has burned over 4,000 acres. Every morning we woke up to a smoke filled valley.

Day Three of Vacation

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:56:00 +0000

As my daughter takes this picture of a sulphur cauldron and bison (upper right corner), I am people watching. In the middle of a narrow dirt path, a little toddler standing next to her mom pulls down her pants and pees on the ground. I guess I wouldn't have thought anything of it if it had happened off the beaten path. Several minutes later a group of tourists walked over the pee soaked ground. As we leave the sight, I notice this same toddler and her parents. Since they were already unconventional in my mind, I decided to watch to see what else they might do. I wasn't disappointed. In California, there are strict laws about everything. I don't know what other states do, but this family was from Utah. So maybe the "buckle up" laws are different. I was shocked when I watched the mom sit in the front passenger seat with her daughter on her lap and no seatbelt. Seatbelts are no promise for tomorrow, but I like to believe they may spare my children if the unavoidable might happen.

Baby Gap model

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:54:00 +0000

At the start of the week, Levi appeared as the next Baby Gap model. The next day daddy had spilled him in the stroller causing Levi to have a big, fat, spilt lip the rest of the week. Levi never seemed to be as clean as this picture. He was covered in dirt constantly and had eczema all over his body. He had an allergic reaction to the dirt, meadow, trees, or food. All I know is he cleared up once we got back home!

Day Three of Vacation

stephw@rockofroseville.com (Stephanie) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 08:15:00 +0000

Samantha found a teeter - totter. She had fun after she got over falling!

Elleanna is sunning herself in the early morning sun. Every morning her favorite thing was to run across to the bathroom and warm her hands under the air blower that dries hands.