Excuses, excuses, excuses.

In our defence.

We became reptile rescuers,

Have survived the swine flu,

Played with fire,

congratulated those that fought fire,

and have excelled at chicken farming.

The price of the party

Yeah, for me yesterday was my birthday and as you all know I like to spend the money, sooo this year Carsten helped spread a little of the wealth around.

After missing a great offer of a birthday lunch with a friend because Carsten came home sick with a upset stomach and head ache. I left him home resting on the couch while Dawson snoozed on the other couch, and ran to "Happy hell" to mail off a package of favorite sister/daughter/grand daughter wonderful just in time for the elk hunt cookies.

Well while I was in town I picked up the other three wonder pets, and some tummy bug supplies and raced the fly boat back to the chicken ranchette.

"I love the whole world and all its craziness boomdeadda boomdeadda...."

Me; Hello,

Carsten; MOM I SWALLOWED A PENNY AND ITS STUCK AHHH AHHH!!!!!

Me; okay sweetie I am at the mail boxes and will be there in a minute, can you breathe alright?

Carsten; AAAAHHHHH,


The mom runs into the house to find very upset wonder pet holding his throat with big blue eyes wider than ever. Breathing fine, talking fine, alright lets go spend that birthday money. Off to the clinic.


Ring, ring

"Hello Williams Health Care Center this is Nancy,"

"Hey Nancy it's Dusty is urgent care busy?"

"No, why,"

"Ahh, Carsten swallowed a penny and is complaining that it is stuck."

"OKAY, we will be ready for him bring him straight back to x-ray, see you soon."




And this is what the x-ray showed.
Lincoln going down head first.

"Hi are you the mom?"

"Umm yeah Dr. Poulstein I am."(my hell do people randomly bring in stray kids?)

"Okay well he needs that out."

"No sh*t,"

"We are sending him to flag."

"Okay,"

"By ambulance."

"Barbara say what?"

"Yeah I don't like the look of that, if it moves the wrong way its headed to the lungs."



Yah, that's an I.V. port and a gurney,



Bears looking a little scared in his new ride,



"Room four" of the emergency department at Flagstaff Medical Center, where we will spend the next four hours.

After three sets of x-rays, two sets of meds in the port, 50 jumping jacks(really) and endless laughter and spare change jokes the decision was made, 88 more cents and we could make a taco bell run and Carsten was heading off to the O.R. for a little penny fishing.



Poor boy awoke, proved he could eat a Popsicle and was released just in time to go home to bed, a little wiser and a little poorer.

Carsten is doing fine today enjoying a day on the couch eating ice cream, Popsicles and yogurt.

Price;
clinic; 25.00
E.R.; 150.00
Taco Bell run; 4.56



Eggs for sale; 2.50 a doz.

Cause its my Birthday

Dear year 35,

Welcome to my life. I hope that you have plans for us because I sure do.

Lets lose 30 pounds, and spend more time on ourselves. Lets not feel guilty about having our nails done. What we have never done this, well maybe we should.

How about we buy a few clothing items not on the clearance sale racks. And maybe buy shoes other than "flip flops".

We'll spend more time on our hair and finally figure out that make-up thing. While we are thinking about it lets remember to take a little bit more time on skin care, and remember lotion and sunscreen every day.

I think we should spend more time focusing on our marriage with thoughts to the future when we have more time without kids. Maybe figure out a career path, and go back to school, that toddler is growing up fast. Ooh how about a little more patience with those curious kids, and remember all those questions have answers.

Hey 35 lets slow down and enjoy ourselves we're not racing anyone.

Oh, and 34 you can go to HELL.

Happy Birthday Harold

Happy Birthday Mike,

Last year I had to come up with 40 facts about you,

This year just a thank you.

Happy Birthday and thanks for loving this crazy chicken farmer with all those kids and pets.

I love you.

Love Betty.

What came first

The chicken,

it took 19 weeks and two days for the egg.

Good Bye Summer, Good Bye

Schools back in session here in the hundred acre woods.

and while we must now get to bed early and wake even earlier,

we are still having fun.

Summer recap,

Popsicles= approximately 20 boxes, and four bags.

pop corn= 14 bowls,

ice cream= about 8 gallons(we are Simper descendants after all)

sunburns=10 at least

baseball games= 14

games won= 12

nights spent in our own beds= 1

nights spent on the trampoline=10

night we never went to sleep=2(mom says it feels like more)

movies watched at the theater= 2

classic movies rediscovered= way to many to count,

tubs of "fart noise"=5

giggles from "farts"= lets not go there,

trips for ice cream cones= 8

drives to see the wildlife=5

times we saw wildlife=1,

what we saw when we got home= elk, deer.

baths and showers missed= way to many

mornings we slept in= none, mom says it is impossible for us to sleep pass 6:30

school shopping trips= 4

pairs of flip-flops the freezer "ate"=3,

pairs of school shoes bought= 6

kids attending school= 4

lunches packed= 5.

days our dad has been gone= 6

nights the cats have slept in the house= 6(do you see a pattern?)

number of eggs gathered= 0

school days left before summer break=179

memories= countless.

The "Olden Days"

Remember sitting on your grandparents couch and watching the old shows with them?

You remember Lawrence Welk and how he would introduce some ancient Big Band and your grandparents would get that look on their faces and their eyes would mist over, and you would roll your eyes.

And after the infomercial was developed they would sit and watch the Time Life music sales and you would laugh because it reminded you that they were so stinking old and that you would never sit on the couch and sway along to the music and think about the good old days.

Ever.

Well we all get old, and all our memories get better.
Just like a fine wine,
or the picture on your drivers license.

And the music we would not have been caught dead listening to, say twenty years ago because you would never have been caught listening to stoner music because you can't be a stoner and wear long sleeved buttoned-up clear to your throat shirts with dry clean only pants and like those heavy metal bands. Right.

Remember that?

Well last night after watching the Antiques Roadshow, Mike pried the remote out of my hands and started channel surfing. He landed somewhere up in the boring cable channels, they were playing an old old 80's rock song.

We froze, we got "that look" on or faces, our eyes glazed over, and we both started swaying and singing along.

Yup it was a Time Life infomercial.

Our children were on their best behavior and they just sat there with "that look" on their faces, and carefully whispered between themselves.
And gave us the look.
Then they started singing along.
Turns out we had given birth to closet stoners.

We watched the whole infomercial, sang, laughed, and "Oh My Goshed" for the entire half hour.

And then beat it over to the computer and looked up the Time Life website. Just to look you know, we would never buy something like that.
Wow, five easy payment of 29.99. OMG my wistful memories are not that priceless(or maybe I am not that old after all).

I Ordered it off Ebay instead.
Got the entire boxed set for 50.00.
Plus 3.00 shipping and handling, of course,
because I am "hip and trendy" defiantly not an "old rocker".

So let me know if you would like me to burn you a copy.

Saige and Nate are getting a baby, unless we steal him!

Most all of you know that Saige and Nate(my little sister and great bro. in law) have now been happily married for several years and have been patiently waiting for the phone to ring.......

Well come August a precious baby boy will born to them.
I will let them announce his name and all the other great details upon his delivery, but they have graciously agreed to let me announce his pending delivery and wondrous adoption.

Saige and Nate are very excited and a bit apprehensive.
When you carry a child you worry until birth about their health, size and who they will look like.
When you adopt you also add the worry that the birth parent(s) will change their minds.

When you give birth to a child you are required to provide a car seat for the drive home.
When you adopt, you are finger printed, your background is searched, your house and bank account is scrutinized, and every detail of you life is on display for not only the birth parent(s) but their lawyer, your lawyer, the social workers, and the court who ultimately makes the decision if you truly get to keep this child that you have fallen hopelessly in love with.

Getting pregnant and giving birth is relatively easy.
Adopting can take years of struggle and heartbreak.

This little boy is so loved and wanted.


So, since most of us have never gone through this process I thought I would help out by answering a few questions for you. Because as my friends and family I would really hate for you to look stupid.

1, So how much does it cost?
a lot, so unless you want to donate, just remember that all babies are priceless.

2, How can you love a child that you did not give birth to?
Never question God, also I did not give birth to your children but I would still step out in front of a moving bus to save them, love knows no boundaries.

3, How will you discuss adoption with your child?
That is up to the family, but yes this precious child will be of mixed decent so he will always know that he was loved by so many that wanted the best for him.

4, Is this baby off the black market?(really a question that was asked)
No it is all legal. But if you have info on black market adoption please alert the proper authorities.

5, Are you willing to adopt more?
Yes we, okay they really want more.

6, Can we give a baby shower?
Hell yes, do you know how much this is costing, they are also not afraid of hand-me-downs.

7, Can we come and love on this baby when you get him home?
Again hell yes, but remember kiss the toes not the nose.

Saige and Nate know what they are doing and we are all in love with this little miracle, we as a family are humbled by both their dedication to have an eternal family, and the amazing love shown by a wonderful birth mother willing to give the most precious gift a family can receive.

The dog days of summer

Sorry for no new posts,
but,


this about sums it up!


p.s. this is Delaynie our 130 pound lap dog
and today is her seventh birthday. She is usually
much furrier, but now that she is getting older I
had her shaved for the summer, so she could
spend time in the house out of the summer heat.

Wild Arizona(bite this Marty Stouffer)

Mike spends most of his working days at the helibase located on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Mostly whiling away the hours between medivacs and short haul rescues and fighting wild land fires by reading, riding his bike, reloading bullets, and holding down the couch.


Some days though he really goes to work. This is the stuff he truly enjoys.
He gets to mix his love of flying with his love of the outdoors and wildlife.


Papillon contracts their helicopters and pilots(mainly Mike) out to the Arizona Game and Fish.
Recently they were over on the Arizona/Nevada border doing a sheep capture to monitor migration with the new road construction around the dam.


Usually they hang some under paid wildlife biologist(gunner) out of the helicopter with a loaded rifle(modified to shoot game nets instead of bullets). This poor guy sits and waits as Mike flies around the desert while another AZ game and fisher acts as the mugger. When they find the poor animal the gunner shoots,

and then the mugger jumps out of a still flying helicopter. After the helicopter lands the gunner then jumps out and runs to help. Normally they draw blood and put on a tracking collar,

and then the animal is released, at which time the unharmed sheep stands and shakes him/herself off and runs back to the herd with nothing more than a great story and a new expensive necklace to show off later that night while grazing with the fam.

But sometimes things don't go as planned,

and the sheep go a little wild,

especially if say, you had previously survived a mountain lion attack,

then all bets are off. At which point the sheep start showing off their moves.

The moonwalk seems to be a favorite,

and the two step with a little shimmy and a twist

always scores extra points with the judges.

and going all Shawn Johnson really works at putting a little fear into the guys that just pushed your fight or flight button really hard.

and if you really want to make those guys wish they had never left the office,

it is always a good idea if you can look'um in the eyes,

while going all kung fu fighting while issuing the dance off challenge


and then step back and watch the pumpkin boogie,

and the gunner/mugger doe-si-doe,

and after obviously winning the great wildlife dance off,

it is always best just to run off into the sunset,

while they dust themselves off.

Last week

Last week,

we ate doughnuts from J.D.'s espresso,

drove to Flagstaff, watched a movie,

and ate pizza in the car.

Carsten and Ardynns' baseball team played,

and won two games,

we made smores on the stove top,

while we listened to the wind blow.

The kids and I played a 12 inning softball game,

that ended only after the mom hit it out of the park,

and lost the ball in the 100 acre woods.

We bought a new softball,

a bright green one.

Mike stained and painted the porches,

and two chickens and one dog.

Kallison learned to ride a two-wheeler,

and how to put on many band-aids,

she also learned that older sisters make patient

and loving cheerleaders.

the brave ones slept on the trampoline,

with a pile of kitties,

the not so brave slept on the family room floor,

with a smaller pile of kittens.

Braxton purchased his first hunting licence,

and put in for his first deer hunt,

good luck my little hunter.

Mike took lots of fishies on a tour of the Grand Canyon,

and helped to reestablish a healthy population of endangered chub,

into the Greater Colorado River.

We cried over and buried our last goldfish,

well some of us.

We have sat out under the stars,

while listening to the coyotes howl,

we ate watermelon,

and spit the seeds at each other.

we ate boxes of popcicles,

that dripped down our chins and hands,

and then skipped baths and showers,

just because it was summer.

Canyon wide pandemic (The Mule Flu)

Poor wee Angus was just hanging out while the men worked on the trail. His rope got loose on one side and Angus went for a bite to eat. As luck would have it Angus slipped and fell over the edge and hung himself. Now Angus is mostly dead and on his way out.

When pigs fly Mom always said. But in a pinch a mule will work.

Angus checking the tail gate before he climbs in (safety first).

P.S. MIKE HIJACKED MY BLOG.

A little update

Wow, what a busy week, Thursday I saw my ob/gyn, lovely lady, she sadly confirmed that we had indeed lost another little one(we already new that, but we both cried anyway).

Ultrasounds are no fun when all you get to see is a still heart or this time an empty womb, but at least they were able to confirm that uterus and ovary wise it all looks okay, they were even able to see/find my right ovary that apparently was "lost" at the last ultrasound back in December(which for me was good news cause after all I think I would have noticed that one leaving).

Tuesday I met with a new Dr., a wonderful Dr. of internal medicine(she is also a new chicken farmer) she checked out everything including my nose/eyes/throat, because after all reproductive wise they are super important. She agrees with both myself and the very peppy ob/gyn that it is most likely related to my thyroid or should I say half a thyroid. So she took blood to check its(thyroid) level and also kidney and liver function, hormone levels, and complete blood counts.

Results will be back tomorrow and honestly I am a little nervous, I want it to be so simple, a tiny little pill will help regulate the thyroid and some progesterone cream used until 14 weeks will help maintain a healthy pregnancy. But then there is the guilt that if only I had given a little thought and had it checked every six months like I was supposed to that maybe my babies would not have died and that really does lie heavy on a person.

So tomorrow when the phone rings I will pick it up but only after it has rang a few times and I have had time to breathe.

Playing catch up.

Sorry to those of you that actually come by on purpose, and how lucky you new ones are.
I didn't mean to be gone so long,

But early summer in Northern Arizona is beautiful,
no daylight savings, so we get to enjoy a full day.
Light hot days to play in, and nippy nights to snuggle in.
The super strong winds of spring have died down to gentle breezes,
and evenings are spent barbecuing and playing baseball,
Spying on baby deer, skittish elk calves, and tiny jack rabbits in the backyard.

Rushed mornings due to later more exhausting bedtimes,
and extra laundry from those late night barefoot walks
that result in dirty foot print sheets.
Cookie baking has turned to ice cream making,
and unfortunately laundry folding has been turned to
porch swinging and Popsicles.

So again I am sorry to have left you all,
but maybe you should all just come on by.
We'll save you some ice cream but until then please read on.

Just for Kellie McCarrel

I am sorry, we live in the MIDDLE OF FREAKING NOWHERE.

If you have ever been to the Grand Canyon, once you get off of I-40 you take an extremely boring, long, two lane highway, known to the State of Arizona as highway 64, locally we call it the extremely long death trap,or just 64.



On either side of said highway are row upon row of mailboxes that all European tourists stop to take pictures of , and BUMPY dirt roads, proof that some people love privacy, I can walk out to the car naked, I mean if I wanted to, and have no care for their suspension(on there vehicles that is).

While having few neighbors is on the plus, along with abundant wildlife, fresh air, and for a few, the chance to hunt off your front porch(hi honey). The downsides include no high speed Internet, no plowed streets, being snowed in a lot of the winter, no, no wait that goes on the plus list, but mainly there is NO WATER, every drop of water that we use, must be trucked in.

So three to four times a week I load a couple of the kids and usually a dog and once in awhile a cat and we head to the water plant, for ten dollars I fill the tank with 425 gallons of water, drive it home and then with the help of gravity and six feet of three inch hose empty the water into a 1800 gallon cistern underground which is then pumped into the house. Yes we all bathe everyday(well most of us I mean really what do husbands have against showering on their days off?) do lots of laundry, and run the dishwasher everyday.

The only downside that I have found is during extremely cold weather everything freezes, from the tank lid to the valve on the tank, and then one must use some creativity, or a blow dryer.

So sweety does that answer your question?
and if you havn't seen the Grand Canyon come on down,
I can get a great deal on helicopter flights!

And lightning strikes again

Well its back to the seven of us,
we were cautiously excited for a week.
Turns out you second miscarriage does not hit as hard,
it hurts just as bad,
and you cry just as much,
but in a way it gives relief that now
there is proof of a problem.

So this week I begin testing, blood draws and ultrasounds.
Because it is amazing how much you wanted that baby
when you find out you don't
get to keep it
after all.

Our day at whup a kitty

Mikes parents came to visit us in late April, it was really nice to see them as we don't go to Colorado anymore. Mike had to work that Monday but took Tuesday and Wednesday off.

We let the kids stay home from school and indulged Mikes mom, and went to some Indian ruins.
I hate looking at ruins, its like going to the Parade of Homes a thousand years late.
And hot and dirty.

We went to Walnut Canyon which is a pretty good hike, and has some nice views of the mountains and really old broken homes, I figure they left it for a good reason,


like fallen walls, crappy ventilation, no indoor plumbing, and most likely the fear of your kids falling hundreds of feet every time they went out the front door. But hey that's just me.



It could have been the constant threat of enemy attack, lousy harvests and constant droughts. Or maybe they just didn't like the neighborhood.
We also went to Waputki, it was like a master planned Anasazi community, nicely spread out so you could see the enemy approach, and large spacious rooms to store your beans and gourds.
Again I think they left because of water issues(there is none) or maybe the lack of marriage prospects.
Unfortunately my children have not learned a second language and therefor entertained themselves and me by butchering the name of for said community and turning it into whup-a-kitty. Some people in the flyboat were not amused.

Grandpa thankfully was a super trooper and treated us to Chinese at our favorite restaurant and the next day helped Mike build a baby chicken house and fence.

Mikes mom however was not thrilled when I offered to take her to town and drive through the local trailer parks to look at the Mexican ruins.

Maybe next year.

sleeping in a red light district or(satan lives in my bathroom)

Growing up I always wanted a St. Bernard, I don't recall why but they just seemed so cool, and they were huge. I never got one, my parents always told me "when you grow up and get married then you can have one". Jokes on them by year number two of marriage I got one, his name was Bubba. We got him through St. Bernard rescue in Phoenix and he was a great dog, he went everywhere with us, he just wasn't to smart. Poor Mike had to teach him to drink out of a stream and that it was okay to eat snow, mostly he just slept, let Braxton sit on him and once even set himself on fire.

After we moved out to the FREAKING MIDDLE OF NOWHERE our animal collection grew, we brought two cats with us to outer darkness and after Bubba passed, brought home a Great Pyrenees puppy we named Delainey, a few more cats came and went, two more joining our permanent ranks, got another dog, a little one this time, and the child count grew by four also.

Well as the child count went up so did the "Please, please, please, can we keep/get its" and the "it/they followed me/us home". Poor Mike sometimes it is just not fair when the kids look on with sad wanting looks while I do all of the groveling.

What a strong man he is/was because he held out for seven years, but finally this year we became CHICKEN FARMERS!!!

Well the kids and I became chicken farmers, Mike just bank rolled us.

It took two days but I finally got them all home safe and sound, 40 chickens and six turkeys, they are so cute, the kids and I fell in love with them, the cats looked on with snackers glee, and poor big dog looked on, sighed and and I swear rolled her eyes.

Really I did not set out to procure that many fowl, but so many people including Mike told me that chickens die, so get a few more than you think necessary. I figured that as a family we would need two dozen, you know eggs for us and some extra to give away to friends.

Turns out I am a super chicken farmer. We still have 38 of the little feathered dingbats.

One it turns out was blind and had to be put down and just this past week we had one get crushed in the huddle heap. We also lost a turkey, I am pretty sure he was a failure to thrive.

As budding fowl farmers I discovered that our feathery little babies must be kept indoors under(bright red glowing) heat lamps for the first 3 to 4 weeks, so as you can see they spent their first three weeks living in Rubbermaid totes in our bathroom. Yeah that's when I discovered to Mikes everlasting glee that chickens and turkeys are dirty, and noisy, and most of all they stink. I spent at least an hour a day trading out their bedding, feeding them, watering them and as I am such a weird person hanging those cute little scented trees off of their heat lamps(peach was our favorite).

Mike on the other hand walked by shaking his head, muttering "I told you so" under his breath, making snide comments about finally being in the "red light district" and still not getting any, and building their "baby coop" and fenced yard for me.

Well, all is well that ends well, so they say, and the kids and I are still in love with our feathery friends, and they now have an amizing coop painted a lovely light yellow. We have six white black crested polish(they look a little like Phillis Diller in a top hat of feathers), 5 feathery legged Cochin's, 6 Rhode island reds, two silver wyandottes, 8 Buff Orpingtons(they are little loveys) and lots and lots of Easter Egg chickens that will lay green and blue eggs, Our five remaining turkeys have all been named after Mikes 5 brothers, and are a lot of fun to play with as they will follow us around the yard and are very friendly.

We have also discovered that we have at least 1 rooster and have suspicions on two more, and yes our little roosters name is Cogburn.

So eggs anyone?

P.S. anyone have an extra St. Bernard?

MY DAY (you may not like it.)

A silly, silly person asked me just what I do all day, so here goes today.

5:50 am, look at alarm clock for the third time, decide to just get up. Pick up almost clean pj's off of the floor and put them on.
6:00 am, head to bathroom, do morning stuff, water the chickens and turkeys living in there and think out loud to self "they are moving outside today."
6:05 am, turn hot water to cold and tell Mike good morning. Run really fast!
6:15 am, smile at children as I iron their school uniforms, try not to cringe to much as Ardynn practices piano, clean up Dawson's spilt milk.
6:30 am, remind kids to finish breakfast and pack the rest of their lunches, start thinking about what to do next week for lunches.
6:45 am, answer phone call from sister- in- law who is looking for the mother- in- law, tell sister- in -law to buck up and save the puppy, harbor doubts that she will but know I will never find out.
7:00 am, give Mike his lunch, kiss him goodbye. Worry about my pilot for the next eleven hours.
7:05 am, hurry and throw the toddler into the shower with me, hoping to use the right shampoo on the right head.
7:20 am, dressed, teeth are brushed and hair has been brushed, think about what to do with it, oh well it could be worse, notice eyebrows REALLY need to be waxed.
7:30 am, check bank balance, decide eyebrows will have to wait until next week, wonder if Mike really minds sleeping with a National Geographic centerfold anyway.
7:40 am, tell in-laws thanks for visiting, remind them that they are welcome any time, drive safe, and have fun with some more Brinkworths this weekend.
7:41 am, load kids in the truck, think about how many loads of water we need to get today, oh shit need gas too.
7:55 am, drop off three kids at school, remind Ardynn and Carsten to walk home from the bus stop, holler at Braxton to have fun at guitar lesson today. Wonder whose baseball team Carsten and Ardynn will be on?
8:00 am, throw in 20.00 of diesel, call Debbie as I need a dose of sanity, hm mm, her three year old is lowering the chichiwawa into the window well. Love sanity.
8:10 am, walk into hardware store and order two bags of wood pellets, pull around back to get them, "will I take the three open ones, so that they don't have to get down a new pallet?" Do I love chocolate? score one for me.
8:30 am, get the first of two loads of water needed for the weekend, see three Elk remind self that living out in the middle of nowhere is not all bad.
8:45 am, drop load of water, dump wood pellets into temporary(yeah right) chicken coop. Toss Kalli and Dawson back into truck, get the second load of water, think about breakfast. Finally catch up to speedy little poodle, wish I had a window well.
9:00 am, decide to throw baby birds out later, turn computer on, check emails, wow I don't even have that body part so why would I want to lengthen it? That snuggli thing looks better all the time though, but decide the people in the commercial all look like they belong to some whacked out religious cult.
9:15 am, check on face book, trying to think why I care. Tell Kallison no we are not having ice cream right now, we have food standards not very high but we have them. Check bank balance again still in the black, man I am good.
9:30 am, start this blog, wondering if I will make anyone mad enough to try to save the puppy.
think about what else I have to do today,
10:00 am, do dishes, mop the kitchen floor.
11:30 am, think about feeding Kallison and Dawson before heading into the school for first grade spelling bee(must admit I don't really care), decide bank balance will support a 5.00 lunch for three.
1:30 pm. Head home, pray for enough time for Dawsons nap, fold laundry that has been hiding in the dryer for two days(try to figure out how to pay for new dryer, new tires and new cleats for baseball).
3:30 pm, Go back into town pick up Braxton, finally remember the coke I put in freezer this morning(must clean up that mess later).
4:00 pm, help with homework, make pizza dough, start the shower runs.
5:54 pm, yell "Daddies home" watch kids do the Daddy dance, it is my favorite, breathe with relief my pilot is home safe.
6:00 pm, feed family dinner, be thankful that in this town we all get dinner.
6:45 pm, do dishes be thankful that family does not mind paper plates six days a week.
7:00 pm, remind kiddos to brush teeth and get uniforms for tomorrow.
7:25 pm, say family prayers, laugh at Carsten who always blesses the food at every prayer, wonder if he is hoping for a midnight snack?
7:30 pm, tuck four cute babies into bed, sneak in two cats. Clean up coke mess, hope husband does not see me licking the now empty can.
8:30 pm, carefully tuck last sleeping baby into my bed half wishing he would start sleeping in his own bed, half kinda hoping he never does.
8:45 pm, Tell baby chickens and turkeys that they are really moving out in the morning, wash face put on same almost clean pj's from this morning. Feed chickens and turkeys.
9:00 pm, start to watch Tuesday nights episode of Deadliest Catch, decide to watch it the next day while folding laundry and go to bed instead.
9:30 pm, let two cats out, tell Mike I have no idea who keeps letting them in.
10:00 pm, look at the alarm clock yet again, wonder to self if being a National Geographic centerfold is all that bad, I hope that puppy is still alive.

Today is Buttons Birthday

HIP HIP HURRAY KALLISON IS FIVE

What a blessing we were given five years ago,

yet another beautiful baby girl.

Kallison Mary Brinkworth

Our sweet little buttons is the most laid back easy going child,

who always manages to keep us smiling and just a little confused.

1; Kalli loves color,(especially pink) and enjoys coming up with very interesting clothing combinations.

2; Buttons is very loyal and brave and would fight to the death for those she loves.

3; our sweet little girl already has the knowledge of what is really important,

and lets all of the "the other stuff" roll right on by.

4; "Insky" was recently informed that she was indeed the first little girl to pull(rip) her own tooth out inside of the Children's Place at the mall.

5; She likes To move it, move it! She loves to dance anyplace, anyway, and anytime.

Congratulations our sweet girl, we love you so much.

Apparently, not the right answer

I went to church yesterday, or should I say I went back to church yesterday, not to imply that I ever left "The Church" just that for the past several months I left church.
I did not go, I did not participate in anyway, no activities nothing.
I did not at anytime feel guilty.
No I did not take up smoking, I thought about taking up drinking(not really :D)and thought about using our tithing money for a fab get-a-way but I didn't, as a family we still said our prayers, sometimes read our scriptures, our lives never changed.

So yesterday we went back.
Not that is was planned, Saturday night I just told all to gather up Church clothes, nobody said a word.
We walked in, shook hands, payed our tithing, took back control of "our bench" partook of the sacrament, prayed, sang, and sent children off to primary.(and may I add we were on time, unlike most of the very faithful)

Then Mike dragged me off to Sunday School, the bain of my existence, the place where every answer to every question is: say your prayers, go to church, read the scriptures. Can I just say"gag me with a spoon."
I usually spend that hour on the couch in the foyer or at Safeway.
Oops I was caught rolling my eyes...
"Sister Brinkworth"
"yes"
"May I pick on you?"
"Bring it on, Bro."
"What is you favorite scripture in the BOM, or favorite thing about the scriptures namely the BOM/D&C?"
"umm besides the fact that they are currently holding down the top of my dresser, with great power"
"sigh, yes Sister Brinkworth"
"the history"
"sorry what did you say?"
"the history, you know the truth behind them. The fact that my ancestors willingly gave up everything for them, their homes, belongings and even their lives."
"So you don't have a favorite scripture"
"Umm not really."
"Do you not read, study the scriptures daily?"
"Nope. You see I have read them, twice actually, once because I had too(in Seminary) and once because I wanted to. I believe them, I know God gave them to us, I know that he chose Joseph Smith to bring forth His church on this earth again, and I know that my family way back when chose and myself today choose to follow His Church on this earth. I believe that The Prophet today speaks the Word of God, and that I do not question that. I know that it is the responsibility of myself and my husband(who is at this point wishing he had brought his scriptures) to raise our children to follow the Prophet and therin the Gospel. So no I do not study the scriptures daily, often, yes, but not daily."

"Oh, Okay, so Brother So and so, do you have a favorite scripture?"

Bet they can't wait for me to come back.

Happy Birthday, Sunshine

Wow, how time flies,

seven years ago after so much blue,

We brought home PINK.

Ardynn Margaret Brinkworth
(Ardie, Sunshine, Maggie-Mae, or Ardichoke)

these past seven years have been great,

you have taught us that one really can scream "like a girl",

but catch lizards, climb trees and hunt bears and squirrels,

just like your Dad and brothers.

So here, without further ado is the great list of Ardynn;

1; Ardynn was born after only 14 hours of labor(making her forever my favorite)

2; Our little sunshine suffered horribly from g.i.r.d. as an infant and clung to mommy like a baby koala, but even with so much pain was dubbed "sunshine" by her daddy and has earned that title so many times in the past seven years.

3; As the current "middle" child she is a very calming influence and a great bridge between the "older" and "younger".

4; Ardynn is a great student and excels in her education endeavors, but also wants to be "Hannah Montana".

5; Ardie has great empathy for others, and is a real champ for the "under dog".

6; Our first princess has great career plans and would like to become a Dr. or a Nurse when she gets older.

7; Ardi finds it hard to walk anywhere and must run to see life; it is almost as if she is afraid to miss any part of it.

So Happy Birthday our wonderful Sunshine

enjoy your wonderful life,

we love you.

p.s. she now prefers purple.

Ode to Spring

Spring is finally here the calender says, and it hasn't snowed at our house for two days, and the wind has slowed so it is time for my attempt at a spring poem(this idea was stollen from my really cute, smart, wonderful eight year old) hmm, hmm

Spring

by Dusty Brinkworth

What wonderful gifts you bring,

dear spring,

newborn calves and chicks hatched from eggs,

thank you, thank you dear wonderful spring,

for now thank God I can shave my legs.

Okay so it needs a little work, but Mike likes it.

Oh the hurt.

Ardynn came home last night and asked a very hard question. "Mom can "Suzie" come to our house to play next week during spring break."

I"ll be honest this little girl was the last one I thought Ardynn would want to play with, she comes from a very troubled home and while not a bad child just kind of rough, really not the kind of friend my little girly girl runs with. So after asking her why "Suzie" and not "Sarah" or "Becky" my little angel replied...

"because mom if she came over next week, she could eat lunch".

I am still crying

Tagging you all

For several months now I have been "tagged", not only here on my blog but now on Face book. Really cannot stand them, for the most part I already know that you are wonderful people(wouldn't stay with you if you weren't) so I promise to participate if you will follow my "tag" I don't want to know how great you are, how perfect you kids, house, husband, life is I want the top 10 crazy, embarrassing, never do that again, of you all. Because how can we all say "oh no, I did that to" if we never know.

So being the tough girl that I am I will start.

#1, Apparently I am a "hand to mouth girl" and after spilling super glue on my hand stuck it in my mouth. It took two hours at the clinic to remove(my hand that is, it took two weeks for the glue to wear off) they still laugh at me.

#2, a few months ago my foot got stuck in a snowbank at the kids school in front of Ardynns entire class, and no I did not just slip my shoe off I struggled to pull my foot out and fell flat on my face. I was wearing flip-flops.

#3, I call Mike "Harold" because I once had an entire conversation over the top of an isle at walmart with a completely different Mike, even told him I loved him, and then got mad at my Mike for not remembering our conversation.

#4, I felt so awful while in labor(46 hours) with Dawson due to my p.u.p.p.s that I could not stand anything to touch me. I "mooned" the entire nursing staff.

#5, I have also pinched the wrong husbands butt, again while at walmart, I like to think that he enjoyed it.

#6, I regularly hide from the Schwann man, Jehovah's Witnesses, and once from my Visiting Teachers.

#7, At my High School graduation while we walked up to receive our blank diplomas I walked smack into the wall. In my defence the walls do jut out occasionally.

#8, A few years ago while in town getting a load of water I put my water card into the wrong slot and "washed" the city truck parked under the south side hose(yes the windows were down and two city employees where of course inside.)

#9, While pregnant with Kallison I sneezed while at the Post Office. I left really fast and wet.

#10,Years ago while stepping out of the shower and not wearing my glasses I stepped on the plug to my blow dryer. Mike was at work and Braxton just a baby so I had to drive myself to the clinic in the truck(a stick shift) while wearing Mikes sweats cause I could get them on over the blow dryer and explain what I had done to all 25 employees over and over again.(did you know that they cannot put stitches in the bottom of your foot).

And you thought not wearing a slip was bad!!!

The mother of all inventions

So Carsten came home yesterday with the homework assignment of thinking up an invention and writing a story about it.
After a few suggestions he decided on a helper robot.
One that would help with his homework and chores.
It would also throw perfect pitches and run after foul balls.
The perfect helper for an eight year old boy.

It got me thinking: My perfect invention handy little child size dispensers to hold the shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion and tooth paste.
It would dispense pre measured amounts to each child, on a timer of course.

AND ONLY AFTER THEY HAVE PASSED A RETINAL SCAN!!!!!!!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY or(STRANGE THINGS IN OUR YARD)

Okay it has been proven.

I can not be silent.

My poodle is a Salma Hayak wannabe!

Took- Took is Two

Dear Dawson

Two years ago today you were forced into this world struggling to live.

Boy how things have changed. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

The baby boy that had little chance and wasn't supposed to hear now seldom slows down and chatters like crazy.

Dots loves to chase after his older brothers and sisters, beg for treats, and play with his kikis, fruff fruffs, his trucks, balls, and baby doll Owen.

Dawson has proven to be a very organized toddler and loves to have everything his way, really everything. Even his fits are cool and collected usually only lasting seconds.

Tookers is also very polite with his please, please mommies and tank you fery musch.

Dawson has never met a stranger and loves to give out hugs and kisses, and strangley loves to rub your cheeks with the palm of his hand.

For our littlest man life is not the destination, but just how much you can make your sisters scream on the ride.

How we love you.

Cause, baby we got traffic

And I don't mean the Elk, coyotes, bobcats, javalina, and the mountain lion rumored to be back in the neighborhood.
I mean really doesn't every neighborhood have those.

Nope I am talking about my live feed traffic, its pretty cool.
I've been watching it for a few months and have decided people google the most hilarious things.

Such as last month some one in England went searching for "Mrs. Brinkworths cats."
Seriously do they want one?
A few people have searched for me Dusty B., one search was for Mike Brinkworth Grand Canyon.
I have "Binky's" number if they need it.
It seems as if there is another "Carsten Morgan" back east.
Sounds like he is a good guy.
"Brooke Simper Saige Chet" even got a hit yesterday.
What they forgot about me? I am going to need therapy.
Those foreigners across the pond have a great interest in "Marrying an old man."
Sorry girls he is all mine.
Even googling my mother-in-law will throw you to my blog.
So now some of Valeries' crazy people can find me.
I must say the largest group of people directed to my happy little place google about the need to wear a slip.
I have groupies, or alot of women get dressed really fast on Sunday mornings.

Most traffic though is friends and family, and I assume friends and family of theirs, a bit reminiscent of M.C.I.'s old marketing take.
So please drop us a line it would be nice to hear from you, or even invite us to come and visit your little "bloggy world" and get to know you a little bit better.


I must say though I am glad nobody so far has found me after googling "Crazy lady with kids and pets" because then I would really have a following.

My Pearls

When I read a book I always read the last chapter first, yes I need to know the ending.
I need to know if when I finish the rest of the book if I will miss it. You see for me most books I read become friends, some to laugh with, some to identify with and some to cry and morn with.

Recently with great struggle I finished a book, just a paperback that I had picked up somewhere, at the moment I can't even recall the title.
Honestly it was a book I finished only because it was cold and I had nothing better to do.
You know the one, bad marriage ends, the main characters mother passes away, the fight with the ex over who gets the kids.
The one that always ends with, a perfect new love who was there waiting all along, a relationship rediscovered with an estranged sister and of course shared custody of the well adjusted kids.
And her house is perfectly decorated and clean.
Oh we are all so happy.

One thing still stood out though, as "Claires" mother is dying(after a long valiant battle with cancer of course) she mentions her "pearls" and those belonging to Claires grandmother. Thinking perhaps that the cancer has invaded her mothers brain "Claire" gently points out that there was never money for any frivolous extras.
Her mothers calm reply "Then my daughter you have not discovered your pearls yet. Find them."

Well, I went searching and I found mine, quit quickly really.
Strands and strands of them.
I discovered them draped protectively around my shoulders wrapped around my neck and upper body like luminous armour.
Some I found were perfect; matched in size and color, almost gaudy in their showy look at me largess.
Many though while just as perfect were much smaller, the memories of their making silent shadows revisited with quiet joy and tender smiles.
They hang perfectly spaced strung on gorgeous silk threads, placed with such detail that all who see them look on with jealousy and longing.
They are the pearl of firsts. First loves, first joys, and first heartbreak, the forever I do, and the eternal we will.
Some glow with a brilliant white light, some a softer glow. Lovingly a handful shine with gentle pastel shades of pink and blue their memories made of soft breath and first scent, tiny hands held and cheeks caressed.

I also discovered pearls that will never be shown, they are the misshaped ones, blessedly tiny and few. I can hide them in the back safely tucked in under my hair.
These are the pearls of wrong choices, misdirection.
The pearls of pain and sorrow.
Some are so small that thankfully only I know that they are there, the ones that were spat out quickly, as their memory still leaves a bitter taste. Others hang there lopsided with no real color, sharing memory but adding no life of their own.
They hang on frayed threads knotted tightly and with great spaces so as to keep them from contaminating the others with their darkness.

My pearls I discovered are still forming, they are tiny but still there, they sigh with great delight as I in awe rub them softly between my fingers. The promise with which they wink at me sends shivers of anticipation down my body as I can only wait impatiently to see what they will look like. Their size, their color.

I found in my search that not only had I discovered "my pearls" but in doing so I had found myself. I like myself and am even proud of myself. I find great satisfaction in being the wife of Mike, the mother of our many small children. The ones who will help shape the future.

For I am the collector of pearls.

Thoughts

Where have we all gone to?

January and February have got to be the most boring months for us.
No Birthdays or parties, Christmas has come and gone, the newness worn off all the goodies and school and work is the same old same old.
Baseball and Soccer are still months away, the trampoline and swing set are buried under a foot of new snow this morning.
Unfortunately this time of year even my beads hold no interest and I just walk by and look at them and wonder if I will ever get back to them.
The teachers at school report the kids are all getting antsy and acting out(not mine as they are perfect) and teachers tempers are getting shorter.
Mike and the crew are spending most of their time fighting over who gets to drive the bobcat, and playing "Sniper Elite" on the x-box. And even the tourists move a little slower.
The wind though this morning has slowed and the snow let up so maybe just maybe we will venture out this afternoon to enjoy out fifth snow day this year.
Thank goodness the have invoked the "Act of God" clause and the kids will not have to attend school well into June.

So please excuse our absence or lack of excitement in our lives, but March will bring back the Birthday rush, spring break, free range with cute baby calves, and maybe just maybe some happier baby news too.


p.s. this Saturday Braxton will be competing in the Coconino County Spelling Bee and is getting a little nervous so please keep him in your thoughts.

why

Okay a few nice people, I am sure, have questioned me as to why there are not more pictures of my kids on my blog, well

1. funny its my blog, not theirs(my kids that is) so I can do anything I want.


2. I am not a paranoid person, but once a picture is posted it can be seen by anyone in the world with Internet access and that kind of scares me. The thought of my precious children's photos being looked at or even used by the wrong people makes me sick.

So that all folks; we take plenty of pictures of our critters and I will mail you some the old fashioned way if you would like or email or even over the phone( I have an adorable one of Dawson on my phone right now, but it looks like he has no clothes on) but I will not post tons of pictures of my little ones that may put them in harms way.

Cause after all, we just want whats best for our kids.

And the answer is...............

Several nights ago Mike came home and asked if I wanted a vacation.

Aah........... what, where, when, and most importantly HOW?

A vacation, my mind started spinning, HAI is coming up next month and its in sunny California this year, and while it would be helicopter stuff it would be free travel and room.

Nope.

A visit to family in Utah, Idaho or Colorado?

Nope again.

Scoping out a new job somewhere north of here.

Strike three.

Turns out its hunting.

Hunting, in New Mexico,(you know the other state that is included in my list of places that are really still a part of Old Mexico).

Hunting for Barbary Sheep high in the mountains.

Hmmm kind of sounds interesting.

Not.

Does that include a weekend in one of my favorite cities(Santa Fe)?

Well no, I'll need to get back to work that next Monday and besides if I get one we'll need to get it to the taxidermist quick.

Will we be taking the kids cause after all hotel rooms and eating out can get pricey.

Of course and don't worry we will be camping out.
Oh yeah and I invited Stu to come also.

Really and will I be doing all the cooking, cleaning up and entertaining of the kids?

Uh yeah.

So when is this hunt?

Early February to the middle of March.

So it's still going to be pretty cold and wet.

Well yeah.

So I would need to pack every ones snow clothes and boots and a lot of extra gloves and socks. And I would need to go shopping for me some new boots, a new coat and maybe some new bibs.

Sure, what ever you need to keep warm and dry, babe.

Wow really, so how much is this going to cost us?

Don't worry I am paying for it all with my per diam money. besides it would just be gas and grocery money.

So let me get this right hunting for up to two weeks in a State that I hate all but one city in. Camping in the wind/rain/snow with five kids and a man I have never met before with me doing all the cooking, cleaning and entertaining. But you will pay for it all.

Yep, cause I really love you and want to spend family time with you all.
And it will be a great experience for the boys.


HELL NO.... but I'll miss you.

Two Years Ago

Two years ago today was a Thursday,

Two years ago today Mike had left for work and the boys were at school,

Two years ago today I stood at the sink doing breakfast dishes while the girls watched cartoons and thought about calling Grandma Madden to wish her a Happy Birthday,

Two years ago today the phone rang and I answered it laughing,

Two years ago today I stopped laughing, as I learned that the next months of my life would be a living hell,

Two years ago today Mike was rear ended into oncoming traffic; a totaled car, a shattered leg, a family plunged into fear,





Two years ago today a friend kept the girls, I beat the ambulance to the hospital, I called my Grandmother but I know I never wished her a Happy Birthday,


Two years ago today I saw the x-rays and met a surgeon that in whose hands we would soon place our future,

Two years ago today another wonderful friend came into our home finished my dishes, folded our laundry, brought dinner and loved our children while I could not,

Two years ago today Mike underwent the first surgery to stabilize a shattered leg,





Two years ago today I wearily left the hospital and arrived home to a clean house, sleeping kids and a much needed hug,

Two years ago this week Brooke braved a wicked snow storm and "adopted" our children for the next week, so that they would be safe and loved,

Two years ago this week a kind Bishop shoveled our walks in his suit,

Two years ago this week we suffered from below freezing temperatures, many had frozen pipes we never did,

Two years ago this week many of those that Mike worked with called, visited, and brought dinner to us in the hospital,

Two years ago this week Mike underwent his second surgery to rebuild his leg with donor bone and marrow,

Two years ago this week a doctor came to me with these words "Mrs. Brinkworth your husband aspirated after surgery, while his heart never stopped he did stop breathing, we got him back."

Two years ago this week a haunted looking pregnant wife was led into the I.C.U. to see her husband,

Two years ago this week I spent the night sleeping on the tile floor of the I.C.U.,

Two years ago this week I was gently awoken and put to bed by a kind nurse who had arranged for my to sleep next to my husband in the glass box of the I.C.U.,

Two years ago this week I wrote a letter to a family that had enough love to donate their loved one to others, I wept for the first time,

Two years ago this week my children came home, oh how I had missed them,

Two years ago this month Mike was able to come home after 17 days in the hospital,





Two years ago this month a company covered a pay check because it was the "right thing to do." and then made sure we never went without,

Two years ago this month other pilots donated sick time and vacation time to keep that paycheck coming,

Two years ago this month a husband and wife stood together and became more than a couple, we became friends again,

Two years ago this month we were blessed.

Happy Anniversary or (How Freaking long is Eternity)

Ba ba da bumm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike and I have reached eleven(11) years of wedded stress.

You ask how we have done it?

lots and lots of ear plugs and chocolate I tell you.

Eleven years of love, laughter, fights, and babies,

what a ride.

We have been through 2 moves, 5 cars, 4 dogs, 6 goldfish, and 14 cats.

We have shared in the birth of five beautiful children and the grief of one lost.

His need to work in a dangerous environment,

and my need to worry over that.

We have shared in the same goals, of creating an eternal family, being debt free, and being a little more self sufficient.

We have survived illness, injury, sleepless nights, and financial woes,

pregnant cats, barking dogs, flower eating cows, and bugling elk.

Mike puts up with my great buys(we didn't need it but I got it cheap), and crazy hobbies, has helped trim and bag forty pounds of chicken breasts with only a little eye rolling, and camping in the rain, without saying I told you so.

I have suffered through hunting in the snow, the fear of his surgeries and the anxiety of doctor talks.

And living in Arizona.

I am thankful for Mikes dedication to family and work.

His willingness to sacrifice a perfect shot to let his children experience greatness.

He is thankful for my willingness to stay at home and do nothing, err.. I mean raise our children.

And cook mouth watering waist thickening meals.

But really while we have had good and bad I wouldn't trade it for anything,

well almost anything.....

And he still says he loves me.

Honey I'm home

The week before Christmas Mike left on another I'll be home tomorrow, love you Honey trips. That was Sunday, he came home Friday and this is what he saw. Three days of snow days and three feet of snow.
Thankfully he spent most of the week hanging out with Cooper(and the rest of the family).
I got raging winds, sub zero temperatures, 45 minutes of putting snow clothes on only to be told that "oops mom I forgot to put on socks".