the ongoings of my life

There seems to be a lack of machismo around here...

On Sunday, Grayson left for snowboarding camp at Mount Hood, Oregon. How strange it was to pack up his ski clothes, beanies, gloves, etc. when it is 112 degrees here. He's gone for a total of 8 days - he keeps in contact via his new cell phone (ok, so it's supposed to be a "family" phone), and I think he may be a little homesick, but he's still having fun. (I would insert links to the camp, etc, but for some reason that option isn't working for me right now.) I'm so proud of him -- he flew all by himself and went to camp where he didn't know a soul.

Sunday, after Grayson left and Hanifa was at work, Chase and Lindsey decided to carve all of the kids' names in my bed. (Incident #1)

On Monday, Chase left (also by himself), left to go to Seattle to visit my sister and my parents (who are there visiting her). He is also a brave little boy -- flying all by himself with no one to fight with! He's been spoiled for 4 days fishing, crabbing, playing unlimited video games, playing with 3 dogs. He even caught this grotesque 

Sunflower Starfish. Apparently they get huge in the Puget Sound. I have a photo on my email, but it's not letting me save it to my computer for some reason. Anyway, he's currently flying home and I will pick him up at 10:00 tonight.

On Tuesday, Lindsey and I were having a pleasant day together - finishing up some embroidering for some clients and then coloring, etc. She was in my line of sight the whole day - until I had to go to the bathroom. (At which point she decided to climb up on the kitchen counter.) She quickly fell, splitting the bottom of her chin open and requiring a trip to see Daddy in the emergency room. Luckily he was able to "dermabond" it back together, but she was not a happy camper. Even her "Uncle Kevin" (close friend and nurse who works with Daddy) couldn't calm her down. She's absolutely fine now, just can't go in the pool until Sunday. It's the same scar we all have - she will just have one to match!

Wednesday -- good day. Lindsey spent the day with one of her very best friends, Kennedy. She was not my responsibility! Apparently, while at Kennedy's house. The two 5 year olds decided to use Kennedy's binoculars to look for God in the sky. Stephanie, Kennedy's mom, said it was absolutely hilarious. Here they are at Kennedy's birthday party on Monday.

 Wednesday afternoon, Daddy left for a quick trip to Vegas with Ms. Kwan's husband and one of our friends, Chris. I had to take this photo of Chris' truck parked in my driveway. It's obscene. Even he says it looks as if he's compensating. He said he didn't mean to get it so big. (Yeah, right.)

And...finally (monsoons have started and I have to turn my computer off) I have taken a photo of my grass. My sweet green grass. :)

On being giddy...

Have you ever felt like you are on the verge of something fantastic? For years...at least since I last breast fed, I've been in cahoots (sp?) with a phenomenal friend/artist/sister, etc. We finally decided to join forces and conquer the world. Opened checking accounts, inserted "us" time into our outlook calendars...just way too much fun for this virgo who loves filling out forms and making to-do lists. Freak, you say? No, just someone who is way excited that I will be spending some time with my muse. Anyone wanna guess who?

Buy me! Buy me!

If you have ever been to the Biltmore Shopping Center in Phoenix, AZ, then you know parking can sometimes be a beast. On this particular day, I was to meet Hanifa and Lindsey for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. I had to park my big beast of a car in the back of the mall, which meant I had to walk through Macy's on the way. Hmm.. if I hurry I bet I could get a quick glimpse of the shoe department...

Have you ever had one of those moments where a spotlight is shining on an item and you can hear an orchestra in the background playing the most cheerful music? That was what happened to me today. And guess what? THEY HAD MY SIZE!!!! (A miracle considering I wear an 11.)

Taaa-daaa!!!

Aren't they beautiful? They are sparkle-icious! I'm a happy camper.

(The Cheesecake Factory wasn't bad either.)

26 degrees?

Sunday, January 14. 8am. No water is coming out of any of the faucets in my house. I turn off the main water supply. 9:30am. Drive 3 miles south of my house to cheer on my friend Natalee who running the P.F. Chang's Rock and Roll Marathon. 11:00am. Return home. Turn on water. Geysers of water are now shooting off of my roof. Call Dad. 3pm. 12 separate pipe breaks are repaired. Buy pipe insulation and 30 rolls of pipe tape. 11:30pm Hanifa and I finish insulating/taping the pipes...it's 26 degrees outside. We live in freakin' Phoenix!

Monday, January 15. 8am. Faucets are working. (left them running a little bit last night.) Toilets won't flush. 9am. "Mom!" We have geysers on our roof. 9:15am. Found this on the web. Has anyone used it before? Apparently the only place to get it in AZ is in Payson. (1 1/4 hours away). Hanifa won't let me go to Payson today. The weather is supposed to improve soon. Tonight, I'm turning off all of the water to my house and draining the pipes. Lucky me. I chose to live in a Frank Lloyd Wright style house. Little did he know about el nino and the effects it would have on our wacky weather. Make note to self.....ALWAYS enclose your pipes! Guess what's on the horizon for the Jones household?? Can anyone say REMODEL?? On a happier note...I can tell you all about soldering copper pipes and such. Maybe it will be the next big craft craze?

I've been abandoned...

by the two older men in my family. They are currently living it up in New York City for Grayson's 9th birthday. They did Chinatown, ice skating in Rockefeller Plaza, Element Skate Shop in Times Square, out to Queens to see the family and tonight to Fort Lee, New Jersey to see one of our best friends, his wife and brand new daughter. I'm a little jealous, I know the food they are eating is phenomenal and I love New York City, but can I complain? No! I'M GOING TO PARIS IN 22 DAYS!!!

My most wonderful friend has totally hooked me up with a neoprene case for my camera, we bought matching these for our trip and will indeed rock the town when we meet up with her and her. The 22 days are going to fly by...I just hope that we can cram as much of the city into our short visit as we can.

So, while the men were away, you could pretty much call me NEGLECTO-MOM!!! Chase and Lindsey are home from school this week and have been stuck with me in my urge to get as much stuff done as possible while daddy is away. So....

in the evenings, after the kids are fed and bathed, I stick them in front of the Disney channel and start sewing away. I have 6 friends who have recently or will soon be giving birth. I haven't done any quilt-making in a few years, so it was fun to get out all of the stuff again. The three quilts pictured here are all for little girls, and it's funny how after I finish them, the personality of their parents seeps through. Hmm...if any of those friends read my blog, I wonder if they will guess which one is for them? I will admit, I'm a cheater. I have a wonderful women who lives only blocks from me machine quilt them for me, but other than that -- I've pieced and bound the finished project. Now, only 3 more to go! (And...please...friends, try not to get pregnant all together again! It's so much work!) :)

So, if I'm quilting in the evenings, what am I doing all day? Besides neglecting my children...I've been trying to get Grayson's room painted and re-decorated for his return. His favorite color is green, so I decided, "what the heck?" and went all out. 2 of his walls are now this color and then he has two block walls that are still off white. The local skate shop, Sidewalk Surfer, was kind enough to give me a few banners and posters they just had sitting in the back. I also found a skateboard rack on Ebay for him to store his boards. Now, if only he will appreciate it. Probably not, but at least it looks cool. (At least according to Chase!)

As I was painting Chase began complaining about his room, so then I went down to Home Depot and bought enough to do his room as well. Mr. Chase has been having a problem with keeping pen on paper recently and has decided the world is his palette (at least my walls, doors and windows), so I painted a nice size magnetic chalkboard on his wall for him to practice his writing and early graffiti techniques. Now his room is a nice shade of blue (his request) with a red frame around the black chalkboard. Lindsey has started to complain about her "light purple" room and wants it dark...to that I respond....you're crazy little woman!! As soon as I have the rooms put back together I will attempt to photograph them. In the meantime, happy new year...and yay for 2007! I know it's going to be a stellar year!

Almost a moment to myself...

but not really. I'm avoiding my kids so I can finally post. Grayson is home sick today - I think he caught the virus I was so lucky to have the last couple of days. Boy - how I love GI problems!

I feel remiss in my blogging duties - it looks as if it's been quite a while since my last post - so to bring you up to date:

February 18 - Honor Ball for the Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation. It's our once a year excuse to get dressed up - wear tuxes and gowns and have a fabulous night away at The Phoenician. Although we live less than 2 miles away, we always stay the night and make a weekend out of it. I'm pictured at left with Shelby and Natalee - notice my purse - I made it to match my dress. I had to be creative somehow!

After the ball, we went to the jacuzzi - and then brunch the following day - my stomach has been stretched to the limit - brunch two weekends in a row is almost too much to handle.

February 21- Brooke & Conner's 4th birthday party at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. Notice the birthday cakes - both of them were made by their dad, Mark - who by trade is a hand surgeon, but moonlights as a cake decorator :). The kids had a blast playing games, riding the carousel and train, and eating pizza and cake. It's hard to believe how quickly all of our kids are growing up! It seems like only yesterday that they were born and now they are all so independent! It makes me very scared for their teen years!

February 24 - Las Vegas, again, for Johnny's 30th birthday party! Here Johnny and Hanifa are pictured in a suite at the Mirage - we dined at a great restaurant - The Stack - and then went to Jet for dancing. Most importantly, the next day, while Hanifa opted for sunrays poolside, I headed over to the Fashion Show Mall and did a little shopping. It's so much better to shop when Hanifa knows about it and I don't have to feel guilty about any of my purchases! I was happy to find a few things at BCBG and loaded up on some girly soaps and lotions at Bath & Body Works!

March 4 - New York City for Ed's 30th birthday. Wow, what a trip! First off, leaving 80 degree weather to head to NYC was a bit frightening - but after bundling up - all was good. We had one great meal after another, only separated by the occasional nap and stroll through the city streets. We had dinner with one of our oldest friends (was in our wedding) and found out he and his wife are expecting their first child! (Makes me happy to be on this end of the reproduction cycle - but happy for them!), went to a show, then more shopping and eating. It was quick trip - but I couldn't imagine having not been there - Ed (at the far right of the photo to the left) and his wife, Kelly, have become such great friends over the last couple of years. We are truly blessed to have them in our lives! Speaking of people we are blessed to have in our lives:

A certain friend of mine who shall remain nameless, but is known by many, has recently viewed a home within WALKING distance to mine. If you have any special powers that would help making this home become an actuality, wiggle your nose, sprinkle some fairy dust. Whatever it takes. Let me remind you - WALKING, and if not walking - at least stumbling distance. (I'm clicking my heels, once, twice, three times...)