Too Sexy For Their Age....

I really like Single Ladies - By Beyonce.. It's a catching tune that just makes you want to jump up and dance..... I have seen many cute videos of babies bouncing to the song.. I have seen You Tube videos of many walks of life enjoying this catchy song.. I have been known to break out into dance listening to Beyonce wanting a ring on her finger... to the complete horror of my girls...

I recently saw this video of young girl dancers... These kids are talented and amazing... But - I'm not sure if I would allow my kid to be this sexy at their young age.. What do you think?

Dancing Queen - That's Me....

Way back when.... I used to love going to the clubs with my friends... Almost every weekend - you could find us dancing to our favorite 80's hit on the dance floors... Those were the days of big hair, bright colored outfits, and big hoop earrings... Those were the days I was a Dancing Queen...... or so my kids call it... The days when mom was young and skinny... ouch...

As a mom of teenagers who are now embarrassed by any public signs of affection... or anything that could be construed as different... I take great pleasure in embarrassing them in a not so public way... I could do the slightest silly thing with no one around but because we are in a "public" place like Target for instance - my eldest goes insane.... It's hilarious... So the other day.....

We were at Target.. (my favorite place to shop) and there was board - that you can play sample music on... and Dancing Queen was one of the songs.... All of a sudden - I broke out into song and danced in the aisle (no one was around) The girls were mortified... they took off down the different aisles just to get away from crazy lunatic mom - who bursts into song at the slightest provocation.... I could hear them giggling so I knew all was okay... When the song and I were done we continued on our merry way... I'm thinking - no one saw me.. and that was fun until.....

One of the managers I knew very well saw me in the checkout... He had this huge grin on his face.... We hugged and kissed and asked how each other was and then he said it... "Thanks for show - you were great!" Unknown to me - I was near a security camera and the entire performance was caught and watched by many... Thank goodness they couldn't hear me... I am sure my face turned about five shades of bright red.... I'm thinking this time.... I was the victim of my own outrageous-ness...

How Do I Explain The Pina Colada Song?

I was driving my girls around the other day and the Pina Colada song came on - for those of you that are were born before 1970 - you probably would remember this song playing on the radio a hundred times a day.... - it was a top hit in 1979. Anyway, my girls are listening to the song and they ask me if I like the song... I was singing the song off key and of course I said yes.... and then my youngest asked me what the song was about... Picture me as a deer caught in the headlight Oh my -



I was tired of my lady
We'd been together too long
Like a worn-out recording
Of a favorite song
So while she lay there sleeping
I read the paper in bed
And in the personal columns
There was this letter I read

"If you like Pina Coladas
And getting caught in the rain
If you're not into yoga
If you have half a brain
If you'd like making love at midnight
In the dunes on the Cape
Then I'm the love that you've looked for
Write to me and escape."

I didn't think about my lady
I know that sounds kind of mean
But me and my old lady
Have fallen into the same old dull routine
So I wrote to the paper
Took out a personal ad
And though I'm nobody's poet
I thought it wasn't half bad

"Yes I like Pina Coladas
And getting caught in the rain
I'm not much into health food
I am into champagne
I've got to meet you by tomorrow noon
And cut through all this red-tape
At a bar called O'Malley's
Where we'll plan our escape."

So I waited with high hopes
And she walked in the place
I knew her smile in an instant
I knew the curve of her face
It was my own lovely lady
And she said, "Oh it's you."
Then we laughed for a moment
And I said, "I never knew."

That you like Pina Coladas
Getting caught in the rain
And the feel of the ocean
And the taste of champagne
If you'd like making love at midnight
In the dunes of the Cape
You're the lady I've looked for
Come with me and escape

Dealing With Conflict

Summer vacation is almost over - yeah.. My favorite holiday of the year is the first day of school....no, I'm kidding but I am looking forward to a little peace and quiet.. The kids are getting on each others nerves and are ready for school to start....

Peace is not the absence of conflict from life, but the ability to cope with it. Author Unknown

I have learned that anytime there is a conflict with the kids - even with my husband, sister, or friend it's best to deal with it head-on.. Deal with it right away helps to open the lines of communication - it helps to get it on the table before it festers into something so big and out of control that it can threaten my sanity and the ones around me... When I am crazy - everyone suffers.... also kidding - or am I?

When the kids start one of their bickering matches - it's time stop what I am doing.. stop them from what they are doing.... I allow each of them to say their side without interruption.. and then we try to resolve it... Sometimes there is no way to resolve it except to say - deal with it... and that's okay too. Life is not always fair.... But with every conflict resolved or not - I require each person to use positive words... no finger pointing... and to ask each other for forgiveness... Many times we will also pray for God's help to give us a forgiving heart and to help with the healing....

Recently I have adopted the idea of writing a love letter - I have had my kids write to each other - letting the other one know the special qualities they see in each other... I love reading those letter because the girls really do express themselves so beautifully and they show how great their love really is......

Kelly's Idea for today - Deal with Conflict right away before it turns to a big ugly monster...

The Day My Flowergirl Married

I do have to say that my niece Kristin's wedding was by far the most lavish and beautiful one I have been too... She was lovely and happy.... Watching her and her new husband, Josh - just melted my heart... their friends cracked me up... all loving... all wild... all just fun.

My kids joined the bride and her "big girl" bridesmaids to get ready for the wedding.. The hair, the dresses, and the makeup.. My niece's fairytale wedding became a reality....

The vows, the tears, the laughter, and the joy were all the ingredients of the day.. To watch my sister - the mother of the bride just beam with pride for the child/woman she raised was something to see... my eyes are just welling up right now at the memory.. One very touching moment in the wedding was this: My dad the grandfather passed away last July and his brother my Uncle Kenny flew out from Colorado because he knew my dad would want that.... My niece and sister gave my uncle the recognition that he deserved... being a loving uncle...

The wedding began at The Rufuge Calvary Chapel in Huntington Beach, CA and the reception was at the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach... The decorations were breathtaking and the food... I wanted a doggie bag.... yum. the mango sorbet afterwards with the berries to die for! The tables were decorated with flowers and crystals... The view of the Pacific Ocean - never tiring.... oh and my thirteen year old caught the bouquet to my eleven year old's jealousy... I advised no weddings until after medical school.

My favorite words from the ceremony was this: People say a wedding is 50/50 but that's not true.. It's 100/100... giving your unconditional love to your spouse everyday... every hour.... every moment... that is God's design - to love one another with all our heart, mind, and soul...


1 Corinthians 13:1-13

¹If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love, I gain nothing.

⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. ¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. ¹²Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love

Summer "Chores"

This is the first summer where we are staying home.... No big road trips... No exotic destinations.... just a good ole fashion summer - the kind I had as a kid.... boring.... yep - really boring.. So, I thought if my kids are bored then they will come in my office and bug me.... and then I'd yell and then no one would be happy... so I came up with a plan... do you hear my devious wheels turning??? Let the "Chores" begin...

1. Sand and repaint all of Nikki's bedroom furniture to make it "new" again.
2. Sand and varnish two tiki's in the back the backyard.
3. Garage sale....
4. Clear out closets and drawers
5. Make picture albums - creative style
6. Pull all the weeds around the pool area

In addition to "the chores" which I know they will love... I have told them I want both of them to read two books this summer... good thick ones... I love to read... Nikki has the passion but Kara would rather stare off into space.. or bug her sister... and if they still have time on their hands - I can always visit The Learning Store and get homework for them to do.....

Kelly's Idea # 111 Keep A Journal

Over the years I have written in many journals... Journals as a teenager - when I knew everything... Journals as a young woman - when I knew nothing... and Journals as a mom - where I am learning.. everyday....

I find that I love my journals today.. They can be great revenge for my kids later... just kidding.. I won't be one of those moms that brings out the naked baby pictures of my kid or tell boyfriends about the time my daughter did ..... at least not on the first date... My goodness.
Reading through my previous journal entries over the years it amazes me how much my kids have changed... how much I have changed... how much Dusty has changed... and how much my faith and trust in God has grown.

Psalms 71:17 Oh God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.

There are so many things that you don't want to forget about your children, your life, and anything that can be special on any particular day.. I also use my journal to talk to God... to some it may sound silly - but I can tell you that it has brought me closer to Him....

Fast forward twenty years from now - your child is getting married and you want to say something unique and endearing as a parent about your child's youth..... Don't you think the journal would be great for times like that and think about the legacy you will leave behind.... Your children... your children's children will have an opportunity to remember you and to know you...

An entry from an old journal of mine: January 17, 1983 - Mark has asked me to the prom.... That is so funny it's months away... buying a red dress and he is going to wear a black tux with a red cumber bun. I am going to Millikan's prom and my prom.. wonder if I'll run into Karen?

Over twenty six years later and I remember the joy of being asked to the prom by my first love. A happy memory..

Another old entry: February 22, 1996 - We are going to have a baby girl. The birth mom's name is Cindy she seems very nice and shy. She is going to send pictures of her other 3 children. I was so nervous and after about five minutes it felt right.. I am shaking all over... Finally - I am going to be a mom... The baby is due May 23.

Now my beautiful baby girl is my soon to be thirteen year old delivered two weeks late.... and has been my love.... my heart... and will be forever..

One last entry: February 19, 1998 - just came home from a major forty eight hour life changing journey. Our new daughter Kara was born last night at 5:45 PM just two hours after our plane landed. Dusty helped deliver her - the doctor did not make it. She's so tiny only 5lb 4 oz..... she was exactly 23 hours old when we boarded the plane home today.... she squeaks like a mouse and so very beautiful Lois and Darrel have Nikki tonight - I wonder what she'll think of her new sister?

Now my tiny and beautiful girl is still tiny and beautiful and very strong.. she is 11 years old and is the best cuddlier in the world... I have two huge loves... two girls that own my heart.. and will forever....

Mentos and Coke

Last week was Open House at my kids' schools.. Kara my 5th grader had to perform a scientific experiment.. something that will "wow" the masses..

She decided to find out what would happen if she put in a packet of Mentos into regular and diet coke... She heard that the bottles may fizz.... What happened even shocked and wowed me...

The first bottle of regular coke - she was only able to get three Mentos in before a fountain about four feet high came bubbling out of the coke bottle..

The second bottle was diet coke - again she was only able to get in about two Mentos - this time the fountain went over eight feet... silly camera only got it as it was coming down... I need to learn how to work my video camera I received for my birthday back in NOVEMBER!!!

By the look on her face - you can tell she was shocked too.... this was a lot of fun. Her project was "A" worthy and I think she did a great job.

I heard from a couple of my husband's guy friends Ron and Tim that if you put dry ice into a few ounces of water in a two liter bottle a boom that is so loud that it'll knock our socks off will happen... you know there's these neighbors that really bother us late at night......hmmmm and Ron and Tim - if the police come... I'm going to say you guys made me do it....!

Kellly's Idea #17 Laugh Till It Hurts

Laugh Till Your Stomach Hurts

One of God's biggest blessings he has given us is the ability to laugh.. As babies we laughed out loud to the most fun things.... a silly face... a fun rattle.... a puppy licking our faces... As babies we found the joy in the little things in life... As adults - many of us have lost that joy...

Today I was sharing a story with my kids about the time I accidentally peed on my friend because I was laughing so hard... Sounds kinda gross but when you're thirteen not so much - didn't get her wet or anything... I jumped up in time... but nevertheless - it was the best kind of laugh.. Even today, this friend is still a very good friend and sometimes we reminisce about the good old days... by saying "Remember that time you peed on me?" Then we laugh ourselves silly again..

I remember my family - (sisters, mom, and dad) we were trying to take a group picture.. We were all joking about not blinking for the camera or making sure our eyes don't squint too much and all of sudden we just start laughing - the kind of laugh you can't stop and next you know everything else is funny too... those are awesome laughs..

But my all time favorite kind of laughing is the ones I share with my kids... Admittedly, I am a pretty silly with my kids and I believe they love the fact I can laugh at myself and laugh at them... My teenager likes to pretend she's embarrassed and the next thing I know she is giving her own... and that is funny..... I really enjoying the teenager smirks...most of the time.......
We have our little inside jokes and it is a great thing.. and I know we will remember them forever. And when I am gone to my home in the sky - my kids will remember fondly the jokes we shared when they were kids and adults... (I plan on hanging around for a long while)

So today and everyday, I encourage you to have that big fat laugh... The kind that makes me you almost pee your pants.....and if you do pee that's okay just change....

Kelly's Idea #221

I was at the beach the other day and was amazed on how much litter is out there.... Wondering why people can't put their cups and food wrappers in the trashcans... they are cans everywhere!!!
Sunday - will be family day at the beach.... Taking my kids and a few of their friends... taking a bunch of green trash bags.... and we are going to pick up trash... and for fun rinse off in the Pacific Ocean... and come home and take a shower....
The crying Indian gets me every time.....

Playing In The Pool and it's Cold Outside!

Okay, my kids have officially become nuts.. The sun is out and it's 10:00 AM and it's beautiful outside but it's 65 degrees it feels warmer but it definitely isn't 80 degrees and the pool is 72 degrees I just checked. So here I sit with my sweatpants, fuzzy slipper, and sweatshirt and wishing for a warm day and then I hear SPLASH and a Hugh laugh... My kids think it's summer and I caught them in action....What a great idea...to pretend it's hot outside and we need to cool off....

Laundry Lessons

You know what really frustrates me as a mother...washing clean laundry.. Laundry from last week's batch that my kid threw on the floor and instead of putting away... threw it in with the dirty clothes... My husband noticed eleven pair of pants belonging to my daughter..mind you, I wash laundry every weekend... So Dusty asked Kara, my youngest..."Kara, did you wear eleven pairs of pants this week?" Of course, she didn't. This has become a habit for my chore disabled kid... Yelling doesn't work.. Threatening her with early bedtime, no snacks, or anything for that matter just does not work... so Today, Kara is doing the laundry...ALL OF THE LAUNDRY...all eight loads of the laundry.. She is loading the washing machine and the dryer and folding and putting away EVERYONE'S laundry..and she is not having fun....
I told her no TV and no Radio until it's done.... there's a fun kid event tonight at church..if she's not done...you guessed it she cannot go.. So far she has gone to the bathroom seven times... can't stop laughing on this one. I've caught her laying on the couch twice...but she's getting it done.
I am hoping this is a lesson learned for her..to put away her clothes in the right spot not in the laundry basket....

My Kids Said They Were Bored...

This afternoon my kids came to me saying they were bored. So I gave them a project...can you hear my devious voice in your head??? I got a bunch of dirty and gross pennies, a bottle of ketchup, some paper towels, 2 toothbrushes and told them to clean those pennies...
The kids had a great time...getting ketchup everywhere... all over their hands, clothes, hair, face, and oh just everywhere....and the pennies got clean...
This is a science project my youngest Kara did in kindergarten...many years ago.(5 to be exact)..
So my kids got to be kids today...cleaning money and they got to keep the other change in the jar.. So far the count is up to over twenty dollars...We're going to put in our "Let's Do Something Fun" account..

Beware Internet Trespassing

When my oldest daughter turned 10, we bought her a computer and gave her Internet access. I thought we were so clever when I put AOL parental controls giving her access to sites geared towards 13 year old and younger..... With parental controls, I get a daily report of her surfing activity..and I thought okay no need to go and look over her shoulder occasionally she is doing great!
I noticed that my daughter was on the net a lot but I was not getting reports and I started to wonder.. During dinner one night I asked her where she went when she was searching the net.. She said she went to Webkins, Barbie.com, and You tube... You Tube????!! How are you getting on You Tube? That's a blocked site...Oh it's easy she said..I just go through Windows Explorer and I can go anywhere! I had no idea she could do that...I asked her how did you know you could do that..."Oh, my computer teacher showed me."
I sat down with my computer genius and went over the rules for the computer...
1. You Can Not Go On You Tube
2. You Can Not Use Windows Explorer - only use AOL
3. If there's a site you want to go on...ask me
A week or so later, I walked by my #1 daughter's room and heard music..her and my youngest were laughing their heads off.. I walked in and there before my eyes was You Tube!!! Both the girls turned around with the deer in the head light look...BUSTED. That day I took away the Internet... I tried to give it back a couple of times but I think the temptation of restricted sites was just too much for my loved ones to handle.
Today, when one of the kids need the Internet they can just go into my office which is right next to the family room which is right next to the bathroom...Which means they are not alone... I have been told many times by my preteen that I am overprotective. She has mentioned that her friends have My Space accounts and they go into chat rooms. "Who do they talk in the chat rooms?"I asked.. Oh they talk to friends and boys... I love the fact my daughter is still so open with me...because the next thing she tells me is that her friend met a boy in one of the chat rooms and that they were "hooking up" at the mall on Sunday... At first, I thought it was the adolescent imagination of a wishful twelve year old because what parent let's their twelve year old girl go to the mall alone?? Not mine that's for sure.. To be safe, I called the girl's mom and told her, chances are it's a story to impress the girls but I just wanted to be safe... The mom told me that she had plans to drop off her daughter at the mall on Sunday because she had to go into the office for a couple of hours.. I did not pass judgment even though I really wanted to say. "What are you thinking?" To be safe the mother told me that she'll have her daughter go with her friend..another twelve year old...Sure enough that Sunday a boy who was eighteen was there to "hookup" with the friend...at least that's what we heard through the grapevine.. Fact or Fiction? I don't know but I wouldn't take the chance..
The following notice came in my mailbox today:
California Cracks Down On Cyberbullies
It's a problem that is growing. Over 40 percent of all teenagers with Internet access have been bullied on-line in the past year, and only ten percent told a parent. And girls are much more likely to be the victims than boys, according to the National Crime Prevention Council. A new law will allow schools to suspend or, in some cases, even expel those found guilty of cyberbulling...
Unfortunately, the Internet brings the outside world right into our homes..into our kids rooms... I will continue to guard against that... We need to keep our kids safe.