Hello Lover, Where Have You Been?

We got these little gems in the mail much to my excitement. No more baggies, lost lunch boxes, soggy food, etc..... They keep all the food seperated even if the boxes get tossed around in a backpack, oh yeah, and the kids got to decorate them themselves. Lunches will be much more fun at the Markland household, Sometimes I am such a cool mom it hurts,Man you kidletts are lucky :)

Clue Anyone?

Logan has been a sassafrass lately so so we are limiting his time playing outside with friends, So we are having quite a few family game nights lately. Clue is the new family favorite, followed by Hungry Hungry Hippo ( well its Judes favorite )

He is not pictured due to the fact that this was at 830 at night and he was in bed, but if pictures had sounds you would surely be able to hear him destructing his room upstairs while singing

" Theres a Zombie on your Laaaawn"

I don't know where his fascination with Zombies comes from. He is a wonder, he likes to wear skirts, but still loves to attack Zombies,

I constantly wonder,should I be worried?

Snapshots of an Anniversary

Needless to say it was an interesting anniversary

Happy Nine Years

9 Years ago today Don Juan and I got married . marrying my best friend was the best choice I ever made. I never thought on that day in 2002 that i could love Don Juan any more than I did at that instant, but oh how I do. He is my everything and I am so lucky to have him

Weekend Away

We went away Friday as a family of 5. We couldn't go far because schedules would not allow it so we headed down south about 60 miles, plopped our behinds in a hotel, Swam at the pool, went out to eat, did some shopping, watched some animal planet, Let the Kidletts stay up way to late ( can we say 1:00 am ?), and just plain relaxed. It was great, so great in fact I forgot to take pictures because we were soooo busy doing nothing. this is a sad realization because when I went to check on the kidletts around 2:00 AM they were all cuddled up on the same queen bed looking peaceful and happy. I know there is going to be a day when they wont all fit in the same bed, sad sad, sad.

It was a nice getaway even though I did have to pay the price for letting the kids stay up in church today. It was a monstrosity, which just solidifies my belief in reasonable consistant childrens bed times.

I will be better about pictures but in the meantime have fun feasting your eyes upon where we WISH we could have went

Food Wars

Eating a wide variety of foods in our house is a daily battle. You kidletts like only a few things,

1. Cold cereal ( non sugar kinds of course I do have some standards :) )

2. Peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches

3. Cheese pizza

4.Macaroni and cheese

5.apples

6.Bananas

7.Grapes

8.Strawberries

If breakfast lunch or dinner does not include any of these items we have a fight. Not really a fight because you kidletts have no doubt who is boss, but let me tell you we have super whiny annoying faces and grumbling. So for some reason on the first 90 degree day of the year (and a broken Air conditioner to boot) I decide to start a war. I made this delicious Pizza with Yellow, Orange, and Red peppers, Mushrooms, tomatoes, all the good stuff. NO CHEESE PIZZA TONIGHT!

Swam with you Kidletts all afternoon to butter you up for the upcoming crap storm which would be dinner. This was all that was being served like it or leave it.

Well,,,,,,, Then I burnt the stupid pizza. burnt it to a crisp, inedible, burnt away all the veggies all I had left to make a replacement pizza was Cheese.

Well Played Markland Kidletts, Well played........

You got your cheese pizza after all.....

You might have won this battle but I assure you I will win the war!

Summer Nights Are Oh So Sweet

There is nothing better than eating dinner outside on the patio. food Just tastes better out there no?

Don Juan and I are planning a surprise little trip down to St. George this weekend for you kidletts. With Don being gone so much these past few months we are excited to take you guys out to have some fun.

1. find somewhere to stay?........... check!

2. find someone to watch the puppies?...............Check

3. Pack up all the crap we need to bring?............working on it

P.s Thanks To Joe and Rayma for giving us a place to stay, and for taking 1/3 of our dog family

p.p.s Thanks to Julie and Cam for taking the other 2/3s of our dog family

Hanging Out With These Girls Makes For a Very Fun Day

I love my sisters. We have so much fun together even just driving in the car. I swear I almost peed my pants three times on Saturday, all while sitting in the car, all caused by something one of us said. No boys all day, just girls. it was nice.


P.S Don Juan just told me that J.K Rowling is making a big announcement Thursday June 23rd. Can we say Harry Potter Prequel? Heck yeah! Woot Woot!

P.P.S Don Juan just said maybe I should write that I am eating a fudgesicle while typing which he finds ridiculous. I find it ridiculous that he finds it ridiculous. What is ridiculous about eating a fudgesickle while typing? Not eating a fudgesicle while typing, Now that is ridiculous.

To All The Wonderful Fathers Especially My Sweetums

Fathers Day is the best Day. Probably because we are surrounded by the best Fathers of all time. Our day consisted of Church, Watching a little Ben Hur, eating some homemade chicken Parm, followed by an intense game of Pillow Bomb( a nail biting powerful game where the kids run across the room while don Juan and I try to take them down by throwing pillows at them, it is a Markland favorite at this house), stuffing our face with Peanut butter brownies ( I was a cooking machine ), and ending the day with an impromptu drive up the canyon Where Don Juan and I planned and talked away about our upcoming anniversary getaway. It was a wonderful day honoring an amazing Father.

To some special fathers:

My Father in Law- you are a wonderful Father and example to my hubby. From the moment I met you you have accepted and loved me and made me feel one of the family. You happily take phone calls at all hours of the day and night when we have any kind of sickness or injury here and you never complain. You raised four wonderful boys and continue to be a great example to them everyday, your kindness and love towards your family is apparent and we are so lucky to have you

To My Dad- I love you. you have always made me feel like a special beautiful princess. The way you treat mom has always been an example to me as to how I wanted to one day be treated. you worked hard your entire life to raise and support your 8 children, everyday I work hard I know I learned it from you. You are funny ( even when you aren't trying to ) happy, and a great example and we are lucky to have you.

Last but Not least

My sweetums- Sweetie you are the best father I know, really, you are, the fact that you are shaking your head right now as you read this disagreeing with me just proves what a wonderful humble Dad you are. You are the most patient man I have ever met and the love you have for your children radiates from you. I used to say that you are everything I hoped for in a Father for my kidletts but I have to admit that is not true. You were not everything I imagined, simply because you are so much more. I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined such a great partner and father, so thank you for exceeding every one of my childhood expectations. I love you, I love you, I love you

P.S it doesn't hurt that I also think your a Sexy Beast :)

Ahh... Sadly Jude Is Not The True King of England

Dang it, dang it, Dang it,Jude was my last chance.

10 Reasons I Know My Kids Are Going to be Cooler Than I Was

1.Perms

when I was in middle school i was quite awkward. who am I kidding a was VERY awkward. super skinny, and not cute skinny, like malnourished skinny, and i had maybe 2 friends. Not to mention the twins had not made an appearance yet which i thought would be remedied any day, and now at 31 I am just now accepting the fact that i` was never meant to be a full figured woman if you know what I mean. anyway I was a monstrosity and my sweet dad felt so bad for me that he was constantly trying to take me out and buy new clothes or do new things to make me feel better about myself,which leads to my main point of #1. in one of my fathers fits of pity he took me to get a Perm. oh my sweet dad, what were we thinking? Why did I get a spiral perm? Why did I then chop my hair off so it puffed out like a huge Afro? i don't blame my Dad he was just trying to make me feel pretty, and i think it worked, I rocked that perm whether I should have or not.

2.Paula Abdul.

Yes Paula Abdul, oh how I loved you. i used to turn you on so loud, shut the blinds in my room and sing and dance to you in front of my full length mirror. I was very good, He's a cold hearted snake ooooh look into his eyes.oh oh oh he's been telling lies. I told you I was good!

3. Real women Do it Dry Baby

Yep I was the oldest girl so I had no big sisters to teach me and me madre was a tomboy so I shaved for the first time in my bedroom with dry legs. Yeah it was not good, it was not good at all

4.Martha Washington

Dress ups were my thing when I was a kid and not princess dress ups or fairy dress ups. My mom made me this blue Martha Washington dress with a matching hat. you read correctly, Martha Washington,I wore that sucker all the time, to the grocery store, out to play, when I was just chillin in my room, I am talking everyday. (I grew up in Virgina where all that history was all over the place I mean we lived 20 minutes from George Washingtons birthplace. Does that make it a little less pathetic? Yeah..... I didn't think so. It is never a good sign when your kid Dresses up like a founding fathers wife and plays pretend, I had nerd written all over me) I remember having a pink one also and if i remember correctly that dress was for when i was feeling crazy and wanted to dress up like Thomas Jeffersons wife. Mom if you still have that picture of me wearing my Martha dress outside in front of our big tree i would like a copy Don Juan doesn't believe me. Oh I will prove him wrong.

5.Made up Names

My Best Friend and I would make up names for the boys we liked so no one would know who we were talking about. Bartholomew Sillow and Natterbug Peirre anyone? yeah you will never no if this was you .

6. Cheerleading-

Yeah did it my first three years of high school then realized I hated it and quit. It was probably my desperate attempt to be cool and have friends, but I quickly learned going to parties and hanging out where you were the uncoolest person there is never fun. It is much better to go to lame parties where everyone thinks you are awesome, which is why I joined the drama department :)

7. The Wave anyone?

6th grade I had Acne on my forehead. "Your Forehead?" you might ask, yes my forehead and that is because I sprayed so much dang hairspray on my hair to keep those bangs up in a wave formation that my forehead had no chance, no chance at all.

8.Rock and Roll

in 7th grade I had these dangly guitar earrings, one said rock and one said roll. Uhh yeah I am serious.

9. Phantom of the Opera

Remember what I said about Paula Abdul? Yeah I did it to Phantom of the Opera also. Christine Daae had nothing on me

10. Oh Sandy Baby

I played Sandy in Grease in high school and I was HORRIBLE. not just kind of horrible, HORRIBLE. Imagine the worst thing you have ever seen in your entire life and multiply that by 1 billion and that wouldn't even touch how bad I was. There is nothing more awkward than seeing a gangly 17 year old who cant act wearing a black spandex outfit trying to be sexy. it was not my best hour, although if I looked like that now I would be wearing that spandex outfit EVERYWHERE, Don wouldn't be able to get it off me, I didn't appreciate what I had dang it.

So there you have it, i have now documented for all to see how nerdy i really was, so kidletts one day when you aren't feeling cool maybe you will take a look at this and think

" at least I am cooler than my mom"

Your Welcome

Hong Kong

Don Juan is in Hong Kong kidletts, that is why we have had to skype for the past week and a half. while he was frolicking in Hong Kong this is the only picture he took. Shameful. maybe next time he should try a little bit harder right guys?

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Simmer Down Ron Paul.

What does this picture have to do with Ron Paul? Absolutely nothing, I am watching the republican debate 1 day late, and although i was going to write a post about the beach and my desire to be there and how dang cute Logan is, however, all I can say is :

Whoa Whoa Whoa simmer Down Ron Paul, simmer down.

I kind of hate to say it but I missed good old Sarah ( Palin), but Pawlenty refusing to claim Obamneycare was almost as good.....

Almost.

Calling all Moms Past and Present........

The dreaded Room Cleaning issue....... I cant keep my kidletts rooms clean. I of course make them clean it everyday before they can play with their kidlett friends outside but they are never quite clean enough. They keep so much junk. it all accumulates and sits there and heaven forbid I try to throw that scrap of paper away that has been hiding under their bed for two weeks and it is the end of the world.... so to my main point, how clean should I make them keep it? Super duper clean? my standard of clean? Dons standard of clean? ( which I would like to add is significantly less clean than mine) I just don't know. I don't want them to be slobs but I also don't want them to be neat control freaks..... so back to the main question,
how clean is clean enough?


I would actually appreciate any and all comments here I really am wondering what other people think, and how you handle this situation in your house.

P.S even if you comment to tell me that your kids rooms are always clean and it is not an issue at all I will still consider you my friend,,,,, maybe..... Yes you will still be my friend but I cant promise I wont lock myself in the bathroom and cry about how much better of a mom you are. So if you want that on your head so be it :)

Happy Tuesday

The Kennedys, Wow, It Couldnt Have Been Worse....

I enjoy history, probably more than the average Bear, So sitting at home watching a lame civil war documentary ( Yeah last week was Civil War week on the History Channel ,it blew my mind ) on a Friday night is not unheard of in the Markland Household. So I was quite excited to watch a little miniseries I DVRed a while ago called the Kennedy's. Maybe you have heard of it? Maybe you have Heard of the Kennedy's? ( No I did not name Kennedy after the Kennedy's and while we are on the subject I did not name Jude after Jude Law) Anyway I was quite excited to watch this little gem, until I actually started watching it.

It was bad

It was Sad

I hadn't heard so many bad accents since my days of being a theater major in college

It was quite disappointing, I was no longer wondering why the History channel didn't want to air the train wreck,it was obvious.I was saddened because I used to have a little talent crush on Greg Kinnear, ever since " As good as it Gets " I have loved him( this was also a habit of mine in my dating years, always loving guys who were " unavailable " or " batting for the other team " if you know what I mean, if your unsure of what I mean Watch " As Good as it Gets" and take a guess why Greg Kinnears character wouldn't have fallen in love with me)

Anyway, back to the Kennedy's, I had to cross Greg Kinnear of my Talent crush list because of the lameness of this show. So sad. Such a waste.

I don't think it could have been worse.........

well maybe it could have......

I could have been watching the Bachelorette

Snapshots of Our Weekend, and Me Being a Very Bad Mother

Don't let the Pictures fool you, I was a horrible nasty mom this weekend. I was just plain grouchy on Sunday and you kidletts got the bad end of it. I had bad allergies, Jude was up a lot on Saturday night, I am not appreciating this whole single mom thing, two weeks is too much for me. I know some people do it all the time and I officially now think they are Saints. I mean it Official Saints.

All you single mommas out there you are my idol. I cant even comprehend what you go through day after day, Hats off to you and your awesomeness.

I am sad I was so impatient with you Kidletts today. I know it isn't your fault

SO one day when you are older and you hate me and think I never say I am wrong and that I am the worst mom in the world because I wont let you go to the party everyone is going to, just remember this day. Remember I said I was sorry, Remember I said that I was grouchy and it was all my fault, and remember I said I love you.

Sacrament Meeting in Bacolod City, Philippines

I attended Sacrament Meeting in Bacolod City, Philippines this morning and I wanted to share my experience with you. Though I attended church here five years earlier, it felt much different this time. Perhaps, I was more spiritually prepared to learn what e Lord wanted me to learn this go around.

First, the parking lot was on top of the basketball court. I knew things were going to be surprising, but I hadn't realized that I was taking something as trivial as our parking lot for granted. The family I drove with was one of the three families in the ward that owned a car. Unlike my ward back home, parking was not going to be an issue.

As we entered the building the entire Bishopric and local missionaries welcomed everyone in. It was so welcoming. So endearing.

The building was small, maybe half the size of our chapel with ceiling fans dotting the ceiling; I could hear the fans' soft hum throughout the rest meeting. Th tile floor was polished and reflective. The chapel was lined with nine rows of seven plastic chairs each. I suppose I'll never have room to complain when I don't get one of the soft relief society chairs ever again.

As scorching as the sun was outside, inside the air wad surprisingly chilly; the baray of fans kept the air moving. It was almost as if we were attending church outside; the chapel was so bright and so open.

I was amazed at the Spirit. All but one priesthood holder was wearing a white shirt. Walking in, I met Bishop Bassa. He was a short man (maybe 5'3") and grinned constantly.

(I learned he was just put in as Bishop last week due to the previos bishop stealing funds and creating a violent revolt against the Stake Presidency in sacrament meeting.)

Bishop Bassa was so proud of his ward. He loves the work. Truly loves it. Learning this was his second time being Bishop, you couldn't tell. He had the energy and enthusiasm of a rookie. Even with all of the challenges he was up against (no auxiliary presidencies, no teachers, animosity amongst families, etc.) he was still excited to start sacrament meeting. What an example he is for me. He took me around and introduced me to his family, the Stake presidency, and other members of the ward. It was so Spiritual to see someone so in love with the Lord's work.

Our first speaker was a youth speaker who was leaving on his mission the next week. He wore a traditional barone (a Filipino dress shirt with no tie) and had black hair cut very short. He looked like a missionary. His smile was infectious. Though he spoke illango, I knew his testimony was true. At one point in his talk he broke down in tears and I could feel the Spirit. I know he is going to be a strong missionary. I wish our youth could see this and feel how eager as he was to serve a full-time mission.

The Bishop spoke next--in English (which helped a ton). He spoke about the atonement and how he knows the Savior's power is real. All of the answers and concerns we have in our lives can be found in the scriptures. He spoke of Enos and how we can all relate to his struggle. We need to forgive. Forgiveness. It is a very difficult commandment to follow. The Lord will give us strength to follow this commandment.

President Comby (2nd Counselor in the Stake Presidency) spoke about Forgiveness and not being offended. He challenged everyone to read every talk from conference over the next six months. He said that forgiveness and showing one cannot be easily offended is a sign of spiritual maturity. We cannot be offended and we must forgive others or our religion is useless. The vicious tongue is the most dangerous weapon that men possess. Rather than using one finger to point at others, why mot use all five fingers to reach out and serve them.

Last, President Candari (the Stake President) spoke. Again his topic was forgiveness (clearly relating to the earlier incidents in the ward). He challenged every member to read "The miracle of forgiveness" every year. He said to follow your church leaders. Trust them. Trust the priesthood. Submit ourselves to priesthood authority and guidance of Lord. There is opposition in all things. Life is not without challenge. When we stop infecting ourselves by being offended we can submit and follow the Lord. We must forgive and we must forget. Without priesthood authority we would get lost. We will lose everything if we do not forgive and forget. Temple blessings, family blessings, even our own peace of mind is lost if we do not forgive. Whether your priesthood leader is wrong or righty, the commandment is to sustain. Those who try our patience, and require us to submit to the Lord, in the end become our best friends because without them we would not be as good as we could be. Trials will either be what breaks us or what builds us.

We closed by singing a rigorous and acapela version of "count your blessings." Clearly,that is wonderful advice for all of us to follow.

Most of all, I was amazed at how unifying the Gospel is. On the other side of the world, in a ward littered with issues much more sizable than our own, the message is still the same: love one another, follow the Lord, repent. Bishop Bassa is not discouraged though he faces incredible challenges. His passion for the work and testimony that the Lord's work cannot be frustrated is clear with every handshake and smile he freely gives. It was such an enormous testimony builder for me to see living proof that we are all Children of God and that loving thy neibor as thyself can produce miracles. I am more thankful today to have my family and live where I live. I am more thankful today to partake of the blessings of Heavenly Father. Last, I am more thankful today to know this church is true.

Don

Skype With Don Juan

Hello There Sweetums. How we have just realized we could skype each other is beyond me. I love that we can see each others reactions when we chat, and tell stories only we find funny. I do not however appreciate the camera on my computer always making me look so bad. I wish it had a button that would make it so you would see me all glammed up when in all reality I am sitting here in my Jammas with my sleeping mask still on my head. Microsoft, skype or whoever, call me we can work something out, this idea is golden. This has made this horrifically long trip a little less lonely... a LITTLE less lonely so don't get any crazy traveling ideas. How wonderful is it that you got to see Kennedy's tooth come out, in the background while we were chatting? You must be so proud!

Kitchen Inspiration

I have found it! my inspiration for my kitchen. Don juan is in the Philippines and Hong Kong for two weeks so I have been wanting to re-do my kitchen.

There has been just one little problem..

I couldn't figure out for the life of me what I wanted to do.

Then I just happened to visit one of my favorite websites

Everything Fab and saw this post on Gingham.

I love it and I am doing it

Well, my own version of it

Don has already been gone almost a week so I better get my butt in gear

click here to see the entire post at Everything Fab

Seriously do yourself a favor and just take a tiny look its beautiful

Learning to Let Go........ Just a Little Bit

I am sitting here looking at my pile of laundry I am supposed to be folding and straining my ears to hear my children playing outside..... In the front yard with the neighborhood kids....... not enclosed by a fence....... without me out there watching every move..........needless to say I am kind of freaking, but I know I need to relax. They are 7 and 5 ( almost 8 and 6) as long as other kids are out and they are not alone they should be able to be out front right? Right? oooh I hope right, and I hope this gets easier the more I let them do it.

On second thought maybe I should bribe them into the fenced backyard with a Popsicle.........
But then I would have to fold my laundry because I couldn't blame not getting it done on being worried about the kidletts out front........

Popsicles it is!

End of the School Year Markland Bash! And the Introduction of Markland Money

The School year is done so we had an end of the school year party for the Kidletts. Just our family nothing big, I made their favorite food ( mac and cheese ) I didn't make them eat anything healthy for the entire meal,and they all got a new book for them to enjoy over the summer.

Don Juan and I spoke to each kidlett letting them know how proud we were of all the hard work they did this past year,

Logan- Getting Straight A' s and reading like a champ

Kennedy- Starting to read and writing her full name correctly

Jude- Uhhh well, he is kind of potty trained. but he has started listening so much better so we highlighted that. ( got to look for the good right? )

And then we introduced our new incentive program for the kidletts

Sticker charts don't work ( plus I hate them )

Chore charts are left ignored

So....... New idea

Drum roll please......................

MARKLAND MONEY!

Don and I at all times have Markland Money with us. The kidletts get money for things like being nice to their sibling, keeping their room clean, doing their chores, helping around the house without being asked etc..... they use this money to do fun stuff, going to the movies, getting ice cream or whatever else they want to do. At the register when the clerk rings us up they pay me and then I in turn pay the clerk. Not only does it teach them to help around the house but it is amazing seeing them debate whether they want to do something based on how much money they have and whether it is worth them giving up their hard earned dough!

There are a few rules

1. They can never, never , never ask for Markland Money

2. They don't get it every time they do something good or their room is clean etc.... they never know when I will give it out so they are constantly on the ball hoping I am feeling generous

3. They lose it they lost it. No replacement money. they need to be responsible for it.

4. No Bragging about how much money they have. We need humble kidletts here.

5. If I find their money lying around It is gone. I pick it up and it goes back into the Markland Money bank.

It has been working out fantastically! the kids have been so helpful and their rooms have been clean and there has been no complaints when I ask them to do something. Don juan and I have been sure to keep some in our wallets because as we are out with he kids we have had opportunities to give them a tad for good behavior, and by not giving them the Markland money every time it is not breaking the bank, we can control how much money we want out there to possibly be "spent"

We started this to give them a fun way to be rewarded for good behavior and it amazingly has turned into a wonderful money management lesson. It is really teaching them the value of money which was an unexpected bonus!

P.S If you are thinking I had a lame set up for the party I would like to mention a few things

1. I am not a domestic Goddess, cute table settings and nifty name pates are not my forte

2. This was supposed to be outside but we got an unexpected wind and thunderstorm about 5 minuted before the shin dig started

3. I am not creative when it comes to making beautiful things,I enjoy looking at them but I fall seriously short when trying to create them.

Diaries of a Superhero

Spending his days Saving one insect at a time.

Really?

You are awesome Jude, I love you have a huge personality trapped in a tiny little body

I mean how many guys could rock a hot pink cape with such confidence?