"You will have significant experiences. I hope that you will write them down and keep a record of them, that you will read them from time to time and refresh your memory of those meaningful and significant things. Some may be funny. Some may be significant only to you. Some of them may be sacred and quietly beautiful. Some may build one upon another until they represent a lifetime of special experiences." ~Gordon B. Hinckley

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Just a teensy, eensy, weensy bit excited!

I CAN'T WAIT! Courtney is already in NewJersey, but I will join him tomorrow for a night and then we will head on into Manhattan for our NO CHILDREN get away until MONDAY! Three shows for sure and possibly a fourth one---I cannot even stand it. Way nervous for the solo plane ride over, but hopefully I will get some sleep since Court booked me in first class. Thank you Alecia in advance for watching my kiddies.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Happy Birthday Papa

Today is Bydee-Boy's Birthday. We celebrated last night by doing a temple session together and chowing down at cafe rio! Alas I forgot my camera, but I still wanted to give a shout out for making it to the big 66!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA--WE LOVE YOU!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Going Commando

It's official. Waverly is going commando. No, not like Joey Tribbiani from Friends--she is still in diapers after all. No, she has mastered the commando crawl. That age old maneuver of crawling through the trenches in order to sneak up ever so stealthily on your unsuspecting prey--which in this case is the remote control. It requires an impressive amount of upper body strength, and determination for that matter. Although she does manage to get on her knees and even contemplates crawling in the normal fashion, it is down to the belly she goes for her tried and true mode of transport. She likes to throw a very disconcerting head roll into the mix, just so her 'prey' can't quite figure out when the final strike will actually occur. Courtney (who is in Hawaii right now) did not believe me when I told him she was mobile--so here is the proof Honey!

Monday, September 15, 2008

"GNO" TOP TEN

I am one lucky lady! I am a member of an elite group of ladies who claim they read books in order to get together the first Thursday of every month to laugh, to cry, to argue, to laugh some more, to stay out late, to swap yummy recipes, and yes to even discuss a few books now and then. I don't know how I ever managed the invite into this crazy group of book club beauties, but my mental health--and physical health for that matter--are better for it. After many a late Thursday nights of staying out until 3:00 a.m. or so, we figured it was high time to have an official "Girl's Night Out" Sleepover!

So without further ado ( and in no particular order) here is the "Girl's Night Out" Top Ten!---Yes, Shelby I am stealing this idea from your Bunko post!

#10. Meeting for Pedicures 2 hours before the evening is supposed to begin because the fun cannot start soon enough!
(I have no idea what happened to the middle of this picture!#$%?)

#9. Being able to fit EVERYONE inside the 12 passenger van!

Me, Rachel, Andrea, Jen, Spils, Amy, Christi, Heidi, Kylie --and don't forget about the driver--Joni!


#8. Trying ZTejas for the first time---the mushroom enchiladas were AMAZING!

Notice the Sass-itude just oozing out of Jen in the middle of the table. That is one sexy, single, school counselor!


#7. Managing to secure the entire back row of Chandler Harkins Fashion Square all to ourselves!


#6. Being able to rock out to Mamma Mia the Sing Along Version!

At 31 years of age, we still GOT it going on!

go Eda...it's your birthday....


#5. The two Julie's ---a.k.a Spils and Fisch--Reenacting that "cute" couple from the front row!



#4. Chowing through two Party Platter Pizookie's at BJ's Brewery


umm yeah...that pile is ICE CREAM!

Spils, Jen, Christi, Kylie, Andrea, Me, Amy, Rachel, Joni, and Eda finally joined us!


#3. Taking a ride to the Top of the Residence Inn

...okay, maybe we only made it to the 2nd floor!

#2. Andrea letting us know she was DONE for the night!

and drumroll please....


#1. Finally getting to bed at 5:30 a.m. just to have Rachel's phone go off at 7:oo a.m. playing "All For One " from HSM2!


I am still catching up on my sleep, but holy cow was it worth it! Thanks to Kylie's husband for getting us a great deal on our room, thanks to Eda's husband for volunteering to bail us out of jail if needed, thanks to Joni for chaeffeuring us all night in the van, and an especial thanks to my own husband for not only letting me go, but having the house cleaned AND the laundry done when I got home---Court you are the best! To sum it all up I must quote the words that a wise friend once spoke,.... "What happens at the Residence Inn (and Z Tejas, and Harkins, and BJ's, and THE VAN), stays at the Residence Inn!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

I "totally" need some medicine!

Ahhh, my little Laetner is quite a character. Even as I am typing this I can hear him fighting with Waverly---bear in mind she is 6 months old! She is apparently making too much noise while jumping up and down in her exosaucer and it is hard for him to hear the T.V. "Quiet Way-ber-lee, I can't hear." To which she gets even more excited and starts squawking at him. "Stop talking for me Way-ber-lee!" To which she starts jumping up and down in the exosaucer again. It goes on ALL day like this.
Lately his new favorite adjective is "toh-tah-wee"---otherwise known as totally! That word has been fairly present in Delainee's vocabulary as well, but I think Laetner is really integrating it into any and all situations. I know at four AND a half years old, you would not think he should not be pronouncing it that way, but that is why the "little bus" picks him up everyday to go to amanecer preschool for speech delay.

Courtney has been traveling A LOT lately. Most weeks we don't see him from Monday thru Wednesday or Thursday or so. This next month will be particularly insane. From now thru Oct 10 he will be home a total of 6 days! We miss him tremendously--me moreso than the others of course. The kids seem to do fine with it. We talk alot about him being gone and looking at the calendar to figure out when he comes back. I would honestly say that I don't think it really even phases Laetner that Daddy is gone aside from the fact that when Court is out of town he takes his laptop with him. When the laptop is in town Laetner would play games on it 24/7 if I let him. (I think Daddy does let him!!!) Anyways, last night I had just put the kids to bed. I am walking down the hallway and I hear Laetner sniffling in his room. You never know with him--the fan could be on, the blinds could be open, he is very particular with how things SHOULD be in his room (as I am sure all of our kiddies are) So I go into his room and see him sitting on the edge of his bed, and he seems to be legitimately crying---not the fake "I'm trying to extend my bedtime" cry.

This is how the conversation ensues....
ME: "What's the matter Laetner?"
Laetner:--sobbing
Me: (after waiting a moment) "What's the matter Laetner?"
Laetner: "I miss my daddy!"
Me: (slightly surprised by his response)"Me too, but he won't be coming home tonight" (I am figuring he wants to wait up for daddy to come home)
Laetner: (more insistent) "I want my daddy"
Me: "I know buddy, he'll be home Thursday night."
Laetner: I want my daddy, I totally sick.
Me: Oh...kay
Laetner: (continuing) "I totally sick, I totally need medicine!"
Me: "Ahhh...." (lightbulb going on)

You see, my little drug junkie of a son LOVES children motrin. He is always coming up with reasons why he needs the stuff. Thank goodness there is such a thing as child-proof caps, otherwise I am sure he would have ODed by now. Well I really was not up for a fight, so I am embarassed to admit that for no good reason I let him have some. Not a full dose, but enough to let us both have a good night's sleep!

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Fischbeck Family Reunion Labor Day Weekend

We had our annual Fischbeck Family Reunion over Labor Day Weekend (Aug 29-Sept 1). It was an action packed weekend consisting of Talent Show, Survivor Eliminator (paint pellet style), Timed obstacle courses, Fear Factor, and games of WereWolves that will forever go down in history as the most controversial and heated moments in the entire 11 years of my wedded bliss to Courtney. Top it off with, "Lily's Daddy is Stabbing Delainee's Daddy in the Back!" and you know this was a weekend that will never be forgotten.



We decided to take the kids out of school early on Friday so that we could get to Pinedale with enough time for them to play. Everybody else (Court's 7 siblings and their families---we missed you Mark and Tiff) finally rolled in about 9:00 p.m. Check out the great shots of the kids on the tramp...





Saturday morning began with Survivor Eliminator-Everybody had their name on a paper plate and we took turns shooting our paint pellet guns. 3 hits and your name was out. We even let the kids shoot the guns. It was alot of fun. Believe me there was alot of trash talking going on, but in the end Court's 10 year old niece Rachel beat us all!!



Obstacle courses were put on my aunt Jill and Aunt Alecia. I hope I can post the video. At least in the adult division I did manage to beat Big Dave--my father in law. Check out Delainee and Laetner as they turn in their unbeatable times!



Then came time for Fear Factor. With event names like "Call a Flower", "Cream Pie Surprise", "Egg-celent", "Muddy Worms", Dirty Diaper Surprise" and "Cracker Confetti" it was definitely a crazy time. Laetner participated in Muddy Worms, where he had to eat a cup full of crumbled up oreos with gummy worms intermixed. Slow and steady was his motto and he took 2nd place to his cousin Reece. Cousin Jakey did not fare as well. After trying to down the whole cup in one swallow, we all watched in horror as his face became green and then he ralphed it all up! Here is Laetner proving that he ate his whole cup!


Delainee competed in Cream Pie Surprise. Using no hands she had to eat through a plate full of cream to find the hidden marshmallows inside. You can see the cream on her chin.

Court participated in Call a Flower where he had to eat a bunch of raw cauliflower as fast as he could and then blow up a balloon big enough to be able to sit on it and pop it. I participated in egg-celent where I had to toss up a raw egg and catch it without it breaking. I was the first one out of this event! It would not be a trip to the cabin without lots of rides on the quads and the rhino. THANK YOU Aunt Marissa for taking all the kiddies on rides all weekend long.


Sunday morning we all headed to church in Pinedale. It was pouring rain outside. One of the grandkids commented that we shouldn't be going to church if it is raining! Sunday afternoon we had a talent show and bow howdie, are we a talented bunch. Waverly showed us her ability to roll on the floor--at least she attempted to. Delainee showed off her amazing ability to do cartwheels, and Laetner somersaulted, shot spiderwebs at everybody, smashed down like the hulk and smiled like the joker on batman. (Have I mentioned EVER that he is really into anything super hero???) Sunday evening is the day that I played my last game of Werewolves with the Fischbeck family---or any game for that matter. I must hang up my game playing hat, as my husband has officially informed me that I am too PASSIONATE a game player. It was fun while it lasted!

Monday morning began with a creepy drive to the Pinedale Cemetery where Grandma and Grandpa Fischbeck showed the grandkids their gravesite. One of the grandkids was very confused and wanted to know why grandpa and grandma were dying today. Court and I are still contemplating putting the kids in therapy.

On the drive home we took the Globe route and stopped at a little Mexican Food Joint called Guayos. The food was yummy, but the chips and salsa were the best I ever had. I think we need to make this a tradition. Waverly loved it so much she even tried to lick the plate!

Here is the Fam in front of our new favorite restaurant.

Finally after the long action packed weekend we finally made it home. It was fun, but there is no place I would rather be than in my own bed!

Waverly Agrees!