Picture pages, picture pages lots of fun with.....

Brandon looking slightly bewildered up at the cabin in Chickaloon.
Austin wants to see out the window too!!

Logan and Austin were fed up with Autumn hogging their sandbox, so they buried her. Autumn knows better than to mess with them now.
Austin and his hotdog stick at the cabin in Chickaloon.

Brandon, Dave, Joanna, Logan, Autumn, Kristen and Austin at the cabin.
Sisterly love....Autumn is not too sure about Kristen's kissy lips.

Rewards

My goal was 3 lbs. I lost 4.8 lbs!!! And yes that .8 counts. That puts me at a total of 5.8 lbs lost since I started Weight Watchers! I am pretty pleased with myself and I think I deserve a reward. I was thinking I would leave all the kids (ALL THE KIDS!) with Dave and head out to see the Sex in the City movie. My mom said it was a 10 and she knows!! I am so excited to see it, I totally miss those girls!

Things of importance....at least to me.

The poll is closed and the name is official! Mildred Kamelya is the name of our little girl chameleon. Not sure I am too fond of that name, not sure Logan will even be able to pronounce it, but it won and we will use it. (Stomps foot in childish protest). BTW my choice was fluffy. Hmmmph.

In more important news, my bestest friend is in her 2WW. Right now if you are not a woman you are going, "what the hell does that mean?". That means she will be taking a pregnancy test in 2 weeks. 2 Week Wait. Bobbie has had some infertilitiy issues and has been seeing a doc to make things happen for them. Bobbie and Jeff have been praying for a baby and have gone through some fertility treatments and done the "work" (HARD work, that is. LOL!) to try and conceive a baby and it is all in God's hands now. Please pray for them and a positive outcome. They are awesome people and very deserving of a little puking, pooping bundle of joy!

In other less worthy news, I am heading out for my Weight Watchers meeting here in a few minutes and I think I have done very well this week. I have been eating good and getting a good amount of exercise in, so hopefully I am rewarded at the scale!! Pray for me too! PLEASE!

Why must some people be such bigots? I hate bigots! My mom always told me that "hate" is a strong word, but I think it works in this situation. I very strongly dislike people that think they are better than others based on whatever rational they have in their little pea sized brain. Sometimes its where they come from or what they look like, other times its who they choose to be in love with or make a family with and sometimes it just because they are giant A-HOLES and think they are better than everyone else on this earth. I would very much like to kick their stinky A to the moon and see how they like things there!

K, gotta run. Time for accountability.

Lizard getting named

Last Chance! Vote for a name now... just checked and only 15 hours left to vote!

BAD PARENTS!

So tonight we were leaving the house to head out to Brandon's baseball game. We are driving down our looooong driveway and Logan is yelling something over and over....kinda sounds like, "BUCKLE ME! BUCKLE ME! BUCKLE ME!" None of us could figure out what he was saying and finally I said, "I dunno what he is trying to say!" Then Autumn says, "Is he buckled?" I turned around and NO, HE IS NOT BUCKLED!! Whoever put him in his carseat (was not me, I buckle immediately!) did not buckle him! (I think it was daddy) He was yelling at us to buckle him and none of use could figure it out. Poor kid, trying to be the responsible one and we are all just trying to ignore him cause we can't understand what he wants. (This happens occasionally with a toddler whose enunciation is not the best) Good thing is we didn't even get out of our driveway before we realized what was wrong and I praised him over and over for letting us know he was not buckled! Smart kid!

Side effects of healthier eating....

When you go from eating just a few veggies a day to 5, 6, or 10....your body (at least mine) kinda rebels and makes you almost regret your new healthier diet. Of course my body does the same thing when I eat 10 cookies or cupcakes too. I guess everything in moderation even applies to fruits and veggies if you don't want to become a salad shooter! Otherwise I have been feeling pretty good. Seems like I have more energy which also gives me more motivation to get more exercise. I just make it a point to walk in the direction of people I know, so I can stop at their house to use the bathroom if necessary.

Softball Umpire.....ME?!?

Yup, that's me! I went to my very first game of Autumn's tonight and got to be a field umpire. Holy crap was I scared to death!! The main dude (other umpire, who has millions of games of experience under his belt.....errr sweatpants) asked me if I knew it at all and I said, "well, I played once upon a time, do I just call safes and outs in on the bags?" He then proceeded to give me the whole run down of rules and what I am supposed to do and asking me if I was sure I could do it, cause he didn't want to have to overrule one of my calls. Do you think in his head he was thinking, "oh crap, this woman doesn't know shit and I gotta put up with her on my field!" Yeah, probably. Oh well. I watched 1st and 2nd base....called them like I saw 'em and only had a few minor mishaps. I learned a lot and think I would like to be trained to do it more often. It was fun. I felt powerful out there, like at any time I could call someone out and send them back to their dugout! Ahhhhhh....the feeling of power!

BTW....Autumn's team lost. They are doing pretty good though considering they are all pretty new players this year. They learn more and more every game.

Memorial Day

Usually this day (weekend) is full of visiting the cemetaries and putting out or planting flowers. It has been several years since I participated in those activities. I miss it. This weekend is also usually full of food and cookouts and camping and eating. This year we had a small little cook-out. We made a fire up at the cabin in Chickaloon, roasted hotdogs and made delicious hot schmose (ala Buzz Lightyear). It was fun just hanging out, letting the kids wander around and then going for a family walk down to where the Indian burial ground is on Grandma Frisby's land. So I suppose that counts for visiting the cemetary, although none were related to me. There was a new inhabitant there though since the last time we visited. A man by the name of Herb Belanger now resides for eternity. He appeared to have a very exciting life and was a heavy equipment operator just like my hubby.
Today we went up to Hatcher's Pass and Dave took some pictures of Carmen, Jonathon and Emma for a wedding project. Carmen and Jonathon are getting married June 21st. It was beautiful up there but still very brown, snowy and chilly.
On the WW front...I am doing very well today. I lost 1 lb the first week and was very surprised because I was having such a hard time with the food part. I finally think I am getting somewhere with it though and know that I HAVE to change certain things in order to achieve my goal. Plus I have some added competition since Sue joined....I can't possibly allow her to lose more weight than me!! Sue - IT'S ON!

A little late....but I did it.

I did get my walk yesterday. I told myself I was NOT going to bed until I went for a walk, so Sue and I walked down to the Glenn at about 9:30 PM last night!! It was windy out most of the day so I was going to just do my exercise tape, but for some reason I don't really enjoy doing that in the house with a bunch of kids at foot. So last night, windy or not, we went for a walk. I came home chilled to the bone, but at least I got some exercise. And because I live in Alaska, it was nice and bright out the whole walk. No worries about monsters (or moose) lurking in the shadows for me. This morning I am headed out to my weight watchers meeting....not looking forward to the dreaded weigh-in. Sue is going to join with me, so at least I will have an accountability partner.

On other news, our chameleon is shedding. I know that is very exciting and all but have you voted for a name yet?? Since she is a growing girl, I gave her some extra crickets this morning.

Also, we are having Austin's official birthday party today at 4pm. I am really hoping the wind cooperates and it stays warm. Look for more pictures later.

Follow through feels good!

I did it. I just got back from my swimming session. Now I need to plan for the days to come and make sure I follow through with them too. They say (I don't know who 'they' are) it takes 3 weeks to create/change a habit. If I can be consistent for 3 weeks, then it should be a lifelong habit right? Hope so. So....accountability is where its at. Tomorrow I am going to hit the pavement again in the morning for an hour. If it happens to be raining or too windy, I will use my 3 mile walk exercise tape. Will be checking in tomorrow!

Exercise!

I am a slacker! I have such a hard time getting motivated to do things for myself. Instead I focus on the house, the kids, the husband, the chameleon (if you haven't voted for a name, go vote now!), the laundry.....the list goes on and on. I went for a LONG walk on Tuesday and again this morning and tonight I am going swimming. I just have to make myself have time for myself in order to feel better about myself. Did that make sense? I have a bike, I have legs/shoes, I have a double stroller that also is a bike trailer, I have exercise tapes, I paid the money to do the Swim & Trim at the pool on Tuesdays and Thursdays....there really is no excuse for me to not be able to get some kind of exercise just about everyday. I need to post a picture of me now and then maybe that would help motivate. I have been very disgusted with how I look when I see myself in a picture. If I share it with the world, maybe I will be encouraged to get going to change it.
Just let me find the most flattering picture first....going to buy spanx now!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Austin is 1

Its official. Austin Tyrel Frisby is one today. We celebrated today by taking the kids to the park and having a small family party at home. The first picture is of Austin at the park chasing bubbles. The second picture is Austin with momma. The third picture is Logan's attempt at decorating. He used the top slab of cake that I had trimmed off. I just had to get a picture of it, it was so cute. He was trying to help. The last picture is my attempt at Austin's first birthday cake. I think it turned out pretty good. I will have more pictures later after Austin digs into it and makes a nice mess.

Excuse me while I go cry now......*sniff, sniff*

Softball and Baseball Pics

More Softball Game Pictures

More Baseball Game Pictures

Here's a few from yesterday's games. Autumn's team lost, but it was their first game of the season against a team with a pretty tough reputation. The girls did an excellent job and stuck with it to the end even though they were down by several runs. The umpires left alot to be desired. Some didn't look like they were even into Jr High yet. I was shooting from near first base, and could hear the umpire nearest me trying to get the email address or a phone number for the other teams right fielder while the ball was in play. Yeah... he was paying alot of attention to the game. Anyways... the other team played a little better and definately deserved the win... just was a bit annoying having umpires telling batters (on both teams) they were out... then ooops... no that was strike 2... come on back... oh wait... maybe that was strike three. Yeah... let's call it strike 3. Also the game was originally scheduled for 6:00.... but when we got there, they had it listed as 8:00. So we sat around and waited for 2 hours. The game didn't get over till 10:30..... just before sunset.

Brandon's game went good though... and I'm really proud of him for how well he's doing. As soon as I heard from Joanna about him taking out the pitcher, I told Autumn. Her team was just getting ready to start warming up for their game.... but she went and told her team and they all started hooting and hollaring..... Brandon should be proud..... another team 30 miles away was cheering him on!

Brandon's Baseball Game

Tonight Brandon played another minors team. He was at the top of the line up for batting and took out the other teams pitcher on his second time at bat. Then when he was on 1st he knocked the runner over when he was running for the ball. AND THEN he just about hit the other coach in the head with a ball!!! I told him that he could NOT eliminate the other team to win! He was pretty proud of himself though....he said, "Mom! Did you see I hit the pitcher?" Me: "yeah". Brandon: "YEAH, he had to go home!!" Followed by a few little chuckles. He is one of the oldest on his team and one of the best players too. He really enjoys playing, I think he would prefer to be on a team with players more in his league though. I will post some pics of him at bat a little later.

Autumn is also playing tonight and we will have an update on her game when Dave gets home.

Been threatening to hook this thing up to the motorcycle since I came home from Nome. Was told I could not do that. Today I did. No.... I didn't even start the motorcycle, but the kids had fun trailering around behind it while I pushed it around the yard a little and coasted down a little itty bitty hill. Just as I parked it and was leaning it over on the kick stand, it disconnected itself. I'll have to look into what it'll take to make it slightly more secure before we hit the moto-cross tracks around here. Might be able to start a new family sport. ;)

Some ramblings....

So we need need NEED everyone to vote in our poll (check out right hand side of blog) so that we can name our chameleon. Right now we call it - it, she, chameleon, lizard, he, Llama, etc. Whatever comes to mind and I am getting a little concerned about its self-esteem. I don't want her to get a complex or worse....think she is a Llama.

Also I wanted to explain my blog title. If you are a mom, you probably don't need an explanation. If you are a dad, you may not need one either. As a mom of 5 kids, I say that phrase quite frequently. It's usually preceded by an innocent little "Why?". (Or not so innocent in some cases.) I have come to hate the why word....I once threatened Brandon that I would ground him if he ever said it again. Now Logan has that word at the top of his vocabulary list and uses it WAY more often than necessary. So "Because I said so!" is my standard comeback phrase, especially if I am hurried with something at that moment. If I have a few seconds, its usually followed by, "And I am the mom and the adult and when you become an adult and start supporting yourself, then you get to decide!" So there ya go.

Today Dave had Autumn and Brandon out on the trampoline taking pics of them mid-air. He got some good shots. He also got some shots of Kristen and her friend Sam who went out to ask dad a question and regretted it after he starting taking pics of them in their pj's and bedhead. And just because I am the mom and I get to decide I will share them with you and hopefully sufficiently embarrass the girls. Anyone know how to get a link on myspace to my blog???!

ITS A GIRL!

I finally figured out that I believe the chameleon is indeed a girl. She has no "spurs" on her back feet, which males do have. As soon as I have a list of names compiled, I will post a poll for all to vote for her new name. The original owners (6 grade class of kids) called her Bobbert. Not fitting for a pretty little princess, is it?

The party is postponed

Austin has not been feeling well the last couple days and woke up again early this morning vomiting again with a fever. So we will cancel his party and reschedule for next weekend. If he is feeling good on Tuesday I will probably let him have cake!! And presents!!

The Ginormous Lizard

Not as big as it looks... a couple pictures of Joanna holding it to put things in perspective.

How disgusting!

The chameleon eats live crickets! Did I know this before I went on my bidding rampage? I don't recall anyone mentioning the diet of a chameleon. I think I was probably thinking lettuce, grapes, apples and oranges. Of course the depth of my thinking has already been established...I did bid and buy the dumb thing in the first place.

So we went out to the PetZoo today to acquire said crickets. When you walk in they have a popcorn machine where you can help yourself to free popcorn. Yum...I will have some of that! And then you walk back to where the crickets and rodents are and they expect you to be able to continue eating your popcorn. I couldn't even look at them much less carry them out in the same hands that I was consuming popcorn with. Yuck. The other thing is you have to "prep" these crickets with some vitamins. You give them a spray of calcium and a couple dashes of the vitamin powder. Its like seasoning, I suppose, for the chameleon.

While at the pet store I had a thought. Skip the crickets, buy the ball python and feed the chameleon to the python. Dave would not agree to my plan though.

Thanks

Thanks for inviting me to post! Ummmmm.... not much to say so I'll post a couple of pictures.

Austin is going to be 1

My littlest boy is turning 1 soon. His birthday is May 20th. We are having a birthday party for him tomorrow - Sunday, May 18th at 4:00 pm. Hoping the weather cooperates so that we can be outside and BBQ with the family we have invited.

Austin is the little boss. He thinks he is big enough to take toys from Logan. When Logan doesn't yield to his screeching, he just tackles him and puts forth his best effort at retrieving whatever it is he wants. Of course Logan is 2, so what Logan has, sees, knows of, used to have, or wants he thinks is his. He fiercly defends his toddler property laws. Austin is also quite the nose maker....he will squeal, screech, yell or whatever until you understand what he wants and he gets it. He runs around the house growling....I am sure to alert the other carnivorous creatures that reside nearby of his presence. He can be so intimidating. He is so fun to have, I cannot imagine life without my little "pudge butt".

Weight Watchers

I went to the doctor yesterday. I got my depo shot (who wants to place bets on if it works for me??) and for some reason I was thinking maybe the doctor would have some miracle cure for my fluffiness that I hadn't heard of yet. I am really wanting to lose some this "stuff" I am carrying around. Dumb doctor didn't say much of anything I didn't already know though. She recommended Weight Watchers and I silently wondered if she is getting a kick-back from them. She even knew the days they meet in Palmer!! So I broke down and took her advice, afterall I did WW online in the past and did well with it. Why fight it any longer....obviously what I have been doing (nothing) hasn't been working for me and I need some sort of kick in the rear (flabby rear, that is) to get me going and keep me motivated. So I am now telling the world....well the part of the world that actually reads this, that I am doing weight watchers and the more support the better! Believe it or not (and i am hoping you say, "OMG, no way, you couldn't weigh that much, you look so much lighter!") I currently weigh 250 lbs on the nose! Or on the hips, butt, belly, etc. My first goal is 225 lbs. And as long as my depo shot works, I won't have to worry about gaining any more "baby" weight! At least for a little while anyway.

Our newest family member

We just picked up our chameleon today. I won him (paid $160 bucks!!) at an auction at the local christian school. I don't know why I even bid on him. I guess I thought the kids would just love to have a new pet....but I am the parent and I don't like pets!! I can't hardly stand the blind, deaf dog we currently have. What the hell was I thinking when I starting bidding on a dumb little chameleon??! And I bid it UP TO 160 DOLLARS!! They must have spiked those delicious desserts they were serving with some kind of "spend-all-your-money-and-be-happy-about-it" drug. My mother-in-law must have got the same dose, cause she bought a pool table. OH well, I am sure he/she (I dunno what it is...how would one find out on a chameleon?) will grow on me eventually. He is kinda cute when he moves his beady little eyes in different directions. He/she can look forward and backwards at the same time.

Everybody else is doing it!

No, I am not talking about sex! (Will talk about that later...when I am no longer a blogger virgin.) I am talking about blogging! A million gazillion people that I know are blogging and seem to love it and others seem to love reading it. I wonder if my blog will get many readers.

I have actually been thinking about starting a blog for a long time. Lea, Summer, Kristy, Bobbie and a million others have inspired me to just do it! My reasons for doing a blog are to keep my family and friends in MN and Texas and California and Ohio and Arizona and Pennsylvania and New Jersey and New York and Illinois and Idaho and Kansas and....every other state in touch and to allow them to see what we are up too.

So here it is....a work in progress. I hope to add pictures of the kids and a few of Dave and I. And I hope ya'll find it interesting enough to check back often to make it worth my time and effort. Remember I have FIVE (5) kids, so my time and effort are precious to me. K, off to find some interesting pics of things/people/kids. Be back later.