Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Lucky....

Yesterday while picking up Emily and MJ from school they were sitting in the grass very contently. I patiently waited and enjoyed the scene. A few minutes passed by and the kids hurried to the car. They were so excited. I thought maybe they had found a bug or maybe had lost something small. As they got in the car they were so excited to show me what they had found.. A 4 leaf clover and not just one they had found 4 of them. I don't know about you but I have searched all my life to find a four leaf clover. How lucky they were to find 4. They gave one to a friend and the other is a book to Cherish later on.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

A proud mommy I am

Yesterday was take your child to work day. Of course Emme and MJ we excited that maybe they could go to work with dad but No kiddies allowed without National Security approval, so OK no problem. I assumed that they would be going to school.

We woke up and Emme was quick to get ready for school but MJ insisted that it was take your child to work day and that he was going to stay home and sleep. I didn't think that was a good idea since they already know what I do and are home with me when I work anyways so we have had lots of take your child to work day's.. He said that he was staying home so I bribed him with a little treat. A donut! Ah I couldn't believe that came out of my mouth. I hate sending the kids to school having sugar in the morning. It makes a terrible day for the teacher.

So anyways, off to Albertsons we go.. They quickly get their donuts and eat them while I pick-up a few items such as the usual bread, milk and shampoo. We get throught the check-out and off to school we go. Half way there Emme yells "MOM, We forgot to pay for our donuts!!" I told her we'll pay for them next time we go. MJ prayed, he thought maybe I would be going to jail. Nope, I'm here and picked them up after school was over. Emme asked, "Mom did you go pay for those donuts?" "Not yet", I said. I took a few dollars from my purse and gave them each a dollar and off to Albertsons we go. After paying for their donuts they both said. I feel much better now. I am so lucky to have my kids be concerned over a $.69 donut they ate. Isn't your

So Much to do ~ So little time.

Have you ever wondered how in the world you will accomplish everthing you want to do in life? I do every day, bogging myself down with what I would like to do with my life, after all I am going to be a big $) this year.. Ahhh, Such Joys that come with aging. There is so much that I wanted to do and it feels as though it will never happen; At least I am coming to realize thats what the man downstairs wants me to believe. I have 40 more years of life in me and now with my life halfway over I am going to start living!! I have decided that I am young and many people accomplish great things in their later years. I am starting with the basics. In order to accomplish my goals I must first get in good enough shape to live a long,long time. Long enough to torture my children and hopefully great-grandchildren someday. I have a Great Aunt that when Mark and I first got married she was out hootin' and hollerin' on her snowmobile going mock 10 around the trails. I want to be able to do that. Later that year she broke her leg doing something crazy she was in her early 70's then. So if I whine and complain kick me in the butt and tell me to stop it off.. then give me a hug of course and tell me you love me.

Monday, April 21, 2008

The Tale of Tatterhood

Friday night a group of kids from Angelas Drama class put on a few short skits for the Sons of Norway. If was a fun night for Angela ~ her first drama performance and she was amazing, a natural. She played the queen that wanted children in Tatterhood.

Sypnosis of Tatterhood ~ A folk tale from Norway

A king and queen wanted children, but having none, they raised an orphan girl in their castle. One day, the orphan began to play with a beggar child, and the queen tried to separate them, but the beggar girl said that if the queen knew that her mother knew how the queen could have a child, she would not send her off.

When the mother would not, the beggar girl urged the queen to give her something to drink, and when she was drunk, the mother told her take two buckets of water, wash in them before bed, and throw the water under the bed. In the morning, two flowers would spring, one beautiful, one ugly, and she was to eat the beautiful one. The queen obeys, except that she eats the ugly one as well.

Soon, she gives birth to an ugly and troublesome girl, and then to a beautiful and gentle one. The ugly girl they called Tatterhood because she was always dressed in rags. She rode on a goat and always carried a wooden spoon, and she and her beautiful sister were inseparable.

One Christmas Eve, there was a great clamor, and Tatterhood demanded until she learned that some trolls and witches had come to celebrate Christmas. Tatterhood went out to face them down, but while she was fighting, her sister put her head out to watch, and a witch turned her head into a calf's head.

Tatterhood rebuked them for their carelessness and ordered a ship fitted out, so she might find a way to free her sister. She sailed the witches' land, and there she fought them so hard that they had to free her sister from the spell.

Then Tatterhood sailed to a far off kingdom, where the king was a widower with only one son. The king fell in love with Tatterhood's sister, and Tatterhood refused to permission for them to marry unless she married the king's son. The king talked his son around, and a wedding was set.

On the wedding day, Tatterhood asked her bridegroom why he didn't ask her why she rode a goat, and when he asked her, declared it was a grand horse — and then it was.

She then asked him why he didn't ask her why she carried a wooden spoon, and when he asked her, declared it was a silver wand — and then it was.

She then asked him why he didn't ask her why she wore a tattered hood, and when he asked her, declared it was a golden crown — and then it was.

She then asked him why he didn't ask her why she was so ugly, and when he asked her, declared she was more beautiful than her sister — and then she was.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Tagged:

I was tagged so here goes:

Ten years ago...
Ten years ago I had just had Mark Jr. and had just moved into our new Molalla home.
5 things on list to do today...
1. Take the kids to school
2. Work
3. Pick the kids up from school
4. Get tortured by my personal trainer
5. Find time to sew on my quilt.
What would you do if you had a million dollars...
Right now I would pay off student loans, payoff my house and give the rest to my parents.
3 bad habits i have...
1. EATING ~ I have this love hate relationship with food!!
2. Procrastination is mine too.
3. Not spending enough "happy" time with the kids.
4 places I have lived...
1. Portland, Oregon
2. Molalla, Oregon
3. Rochester, Minnesota
4. Richland, Washington
4 jobs i have had...
1. My first job was at Taco Time @ 16
2. Cleaning Stalls
3. Liteco (work with my dad so no complaints there)
4. Being a Mom ~ the hardest job ever!!!
5 things people don't know about me...
1. I love to hike
2. I want to be a Jazzersice instructor.
3. I can design cloths and make with no pattern.
4. I love math
5. I am sensitive
Whats your hubby's name...
Mark Lloyd Barkley
How long have you been married...
20 3/4 Years almost 21
How long did you date...
I don't remember it was soo long ago.. but it was the end of my freshman year in High school 1983
Purposed March of 1987
Married July 11th 1987
Who eats more...
Thats a tie....
Who said I love you first...
I probably did.. I was such a leach.
Who is taller...
Mark is much taller
Who sings better...
I do.. For sure. Mark can sing good if he would just let it out and not hold it in.
Who is smarter...
Mark is smarter.. but I am smarterestedly smart
Who's temper is worse...
I think my temper is worse... especially at TOM time :)
Who does laundry...
Mark is really good at keeping the laundry going
Who does the dishes...
Mark is good with dictating who does dishes, but I am good at getting them done.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed...
I sleep on the right side of the bed but we both sleep in the middle...Ahh cutte!
Who drives when your together...
I used to but now he does. He doesn't like my car...
Who is more stubborn...
We are both stubborn.. but I think Mark wins by a few hairs on that one.
Who is the first to admit they're wrong...
I am usually the first because I probably cause most of the problems.. What? Who me?
Who's parents you see more often...
I think we see my parents more.
Who purposed...
Mark purposed in a funny sort of way. He says, "What would you say if I asked you to marry me?" I of course being silly said, "no" . He says, " No, really what would you say if I asked you to marry me?" Of course I would say "yes". and so on....
Who has more friends...
Mark has more friends for sure. He is a likeable guy. People love to keep in contact with him..
Who has more siblings...
Mark has more 1 sister and 2 brothers.
Who wears the pants in the family...
Mark wears the pants in the family, for sure and I don't mind one bit.

This tag is past on to Brydgette, Angela and Stephanie.....
TAG YOUR IT!!!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Happy Uppie Pants

After a longs days work and the kids at school we needed a little R & R time. So we finally got a family gym membership. I thought it might help all of us to relieve some not so needed stress and tension around the house ~ Well it did just that. Somehow the kids started wearing uppie pants. I have no idea where they would have gotten this idea from.... Dana, any ideas???...lol.. I am hoping that today when we go to the gym that they burn more energy and come home pooped and want to go right to bed, at least thats my plan. I really think they were excited to swim, play DDR, rock climb and play basketball last night that it was was too much fun to calm down just yet. Me on the other hand am quite sore today and went right to bed. I have hired a personal trainer, her name is Katie and so far she has been great. She really worked my buttocks off yesterday. I can wait to go again this week. I really do love to work-out. My problem is my motivation ~ thats where Katie comes in. She is helping me getting me started again working on those core muscles. YEAH!! I'm a feeling the core today. Next comes Yoga, I love Yoga!! Maybe Mark will go with me. Its quite to workout. So here's to Uppie pants and the smiles on those uppie pant kid's. They are all so silly. Gotta love those silly Barkley kids.. I have no idea where they get all this sillynessedly attitude from....

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Memories


I was cleaning off my desk this morning and came across an unmarked disc so before throwing away I thougth I'd check it out. A good thing I did because all these great pictures from Aunt Kims camera were on there. This is from one of our first fishing trips with Aaron and Kim at Siltcoos lake. We have had some great times there and the kids really love and miss Siltcoos lake. Last year wasn't a great year at Siltcoos but I am hoping that this will be a great year to go for a week or so.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Counting my blessings

This last week has been really hard for me. We now face the fact that we may lose our home that we have worked so hard for. Our Builder NS Construction Group has not been cooperating with the bank or us; which completely stops our home from being finished. In the mist of this mess we have come to realize that blessings come in many different ways. Sometimes we lose site on the blessings that we have and focus in on the "things" that don't matter. So we will see if the house works out but if it does not that’s a blessing too.
This last weekend was conference weekend and I was so looking forward to going out of town to see family but I really needed to be home. We watched all four-conference sessions and I was humbled. My perspectives have been so far off that I am embarrassed to the fact that I have not been counting my blessings, which are many. I have a husband who loves me, a family that is close and loves to be silly. There are so many people in the world that have no homes, food on their plates and have lost their family. I am so blessed to have what most people do not and I thank the Lord everyday for that.
So I challenge you to count your blessings. It’s easy to look toward the “things” that we think will make us happy, but while doing so we focus so much on getting these "things" that we lose site of the Big Eternal Picture of what life is truly about.