Finally! Jim's Journey ...

So here are a few pictures from Jim's adventure ... He's having a great time. I was able to take him back up to Explorations yesterday afternoon - as his truck's transmission had finally died. It's a gorgeous area of Montana ... a beautiful 2 and a half hour drive from Coeur d'Alene. Since he's the 'medic' ... he gets to jump from group to group ... which he enjoys. He's really great with the kids that need a little more attention ... so he gets to spend a majority of his time with the kids that have more challenges. He's doing great and is hoping to do this full-time.

He's gone on the biking excursions for each of the three groups, so he's biked about 250 miles in the past three weeks ... he's dropping weight like it's a bad habit and is letting his beard grow - more pictures to follow ... I'm sure if he doesn't see a bike for a few months after he gets back ... he'll be completely 'okay' with it ... but he did get to go on a float trip and some other fun adventures ...

Hot Mamma!!!!

Woo-hoo! I love it ... it's all in the genes ...

Jim's Celebrity Look-Alikes

Hubba Hubba ... I knew I liked Little "E" ...

My Celebrity Look-Alikes ...

This one is for Renner and Cami! Ha ha ha ... too bad it's not true!

Buellah!!!

Oh my ... what a funny evening. What a good time ... it was so fun to go to dinner with mom, dad and my two sisters ... I haven't laughed that hard for a long time. Oh my ... Beullah!

Rat ... Patootie!

So we took the kids to go see Ratatouille ... it was a pretty cute movie! We sat at the VERY top of the theater ... they weren't the most convenient seats ... but the kids had a blast watching it with their cousins ... it was fun to watch it with them ... it's so fun to see what parts the kids like, and what parts they think are scary or funny. Afterward, on our way out of the theater, there was a promo for the Simpson's movie ... and it had this funny couch ... so we got a picture of all the kids with Kim and Lori - and then one of Koby and then Jakey ... SO cute ... it was such a fun afternoon!

I might be a bit biased, but I happen to think that my nieces and nephews are the cutest ever ... eva! They're such amazing little personalities ... each one has such a different take on it 'all' ... I love to watch them and listen to them ... and can't wait to see them again ... SOON! I hope. I love you all bunches and tons.

I love coming home!!!

What a fun trip ... I love spending time with my family! What a special treat it was to be home this weekend ... I didn't get as many pictures as I thought ... but here are a few ... I took lots of pictures with my heart, that's for sure! Here's one from the trip down ... I left early on Saturday morning ... it was a bit overcast, but beautiful! I took this pic out the window while going about 80 mph ... sorry mom~! Ha ha ha ...

Roses are Red ...

Violets are blue ... I may have lost Jim's photo card ... oh crap, now what t0 do??? Yah, so I put it in my wallet for safekeeping ... and now I can't find it. My only hope is that it may have fallen out and it's somewhere at home. I'll keep looking! He got some really beautiful shots of the area where 'Homebase' is ... there are a couple of really beautiful log cabins ... and he got a picture of the amazingly HUGE white teepees that the kids sleep in ...

He's off on a 6-day white-water trip right now. He's loving it! After he gets back from that, he gets one day to recover, and then he goes out on a 10-day bike trip. He says it's the most beautiful country he's ever seen ...

So for now, here is a photo of the roses he sent me at work before he left ... well, a couple of them at least ... it was two dozen long-stemmed red and white roses ... with some purple accents (of course, right?) ... anyway, it was a fun surprise ... I'm working on his pics, I promise! I can't wait to see all of you this weekend!!! Woo-hoo!

What's Your Favorite Dessert?

Okay ... so along the lines of finding out all kinds of fun things about one another ... I've got a question for ya ... What's your favorite Dessert?

You all know I'm a chocolate freak ... I think we all are ... but that's an almost every day indulgence, so when I REALLY think about it ... Nothing is better than warm apple crisp, with all it's appley-cinnamony gooey goodness ... and it's yummy, crunchy oat and brown sugar topping ... Mmmm ... and some creamy, ice cold vanilla ice cream, with a drizzle of caramel sauce ... that's "it" for me ... The hot and spicy sweet paired with the cold and creamy and slightly crunchy ... comfort food from heaven ... I'm undone. Okay, now it's your turn!

Busy, busy ... busy!

This must be a busy week for everyone - cause I haven't seen many updates ... isn't it crazy that June is almost over??? Thanks for all the birthday wishes ... I appreciate all of you thinking of me ... I had a wonderful day of doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. It was rare and awesome thing.

Okay, so Jimbo is back for a few days this week - to get his EMT status re-certified for another few years ... And he brought home pictures, I just for got the memory card this morning - so I'll post pictures tomorrow. He's having a blast! Each of the kids that are in the summer program has their own unique set of challenges ... but he's excited for what the summer will bring ... hopefully a sense of great self-worth an accomplishment for all of these young men. It's fun to listen to his stories ... sounds like something new every day! He's holding his own and making some great friendships along the way. It's nice to have him home for a few days ... Okay - pics tomorrow, I promise! The flowers are in a hanging basket on the porch ... just thought I'd throw a little color in here ... since I don't have Kenzi to dress up my page with one of her colorful outfits! Ha ha ... I hope you're all doing swell... I love ya bunches and tons.

7 Weird Things About Me ...

Okay Kimmy! Here you go ... I'll try and give you a run for your money ...

1. I rub my feet together at night when I go to sleep. Always have ... must be a calming, soothing thing???

2. I'm an incessant list-maker. I have little piles of blank index cards all over the place in case I need to make a 'list' ... whether it's a grocery list, or a 'to do' list, a phone number ... or whatever ... it has to be on a blank index card, vertically with black, liquid ink.

3. I hate ketchup. I prefer mustard on everything.

4. When I'm driving down the road - mostly the freeway (everyday to and from work), I'll listen music and pretend that I'm conducting the orchestra (if classical), or I'll pretend that I'm playing the drums (if it's rock tunage) ... you should see the looks I get! When it's classical, I use both arms and make huge gestures ... It's a crack-up.

5. I have to have lipstick or lip balm on at all times. I can't stand having bare lips. It makes me feel like my lips will get chapped.

6. I wear my socks inside-out. I like the smooth side against my foot and the uneven, bumpy side out ... and I usually where white tube socks with all of my tall dress boots ... so much more cozy. Oh, and I have a pair of slippers that I keep under my desk at work ... so when I wear all of my obnoxious shoes ... I spend most of the day in cushy-comfort. Who knew?!?!? Tee hee.

7. Jeopardy ... I hardly ever miss. I like to say the answers before the contestants ... and if Jim's home, we usually bet a foot rub on who will get the most answers right ... NERD alert?!?!?

Okay, now you know some (more) ridiculous things about me ... that was pretty liberating ... now it's YOUR turn ...

Meridian Memories ...

... I'm not sure who will remember living in our house on Washington Street in Meridian, but I think Ryan will and Erin might too! I think it was in 1978 & 1979 ... Ryan was 6, I was 4 turning 5 , etc ... I remember mom being pregnant with Eric when we lived there, and I remember watching through the nursery window after he was born ... he was like our living doll.

It was a white house with dark brown trim, and there was a pink rosebush right outside my window ... I think Ryan and I shared a room at that time. Luke and Kelly Sheneman lived across the street and they were our best friends. Dad built an AMAZING log jungle-gym in the backyard of that house ... I remember that it was a couple of levels high and Ryan was the 'king' of the jungle-gym. He and his friends liked to stay up at the top like they were the kings of the mountain. There was a tire swing on it and sand underneath ... it was awesome.

Some other random memories of Meridian ...
• We'd play in the little blow-up pool, and dad would get in there with us - fully clothed! and spit water high up into the air ...
• Mom would make quilts in the living room ... I remember laying underneath the quilt being tied and listening to mom and her friends/grandma Jo chat and giggle.
• One day when mom and dad were out of sight ... Ryan and I took a pair of scissors to the top of mom's dining room table. That was a sad day. Ugg. If I could take it back, I would! Sorry mom!
• When Eric was born, Grandma Jo came to stay with us while mom and dad were at the hospital ... I remember Gma took us to the A&W and we all got ice cream cones ... and proceeded to spill them all over the back of grandma's red suburban. Hell hath no fury like Gma Jo when she's mad. Yikes.
• Mom's turquoise bathrobe.
• When Kimmy was a new baby and she started having heat convulsions at church one Sunday ... I remember mom kneeling over her and yelling for help ... I'd been playing with Kimmy earlier, and thought that it was something that I had done to her. It was the most horrible feeling in the world. I was so scared! She was okay a little later ... whew!
• One day, as we were getting ready for a car trip - probably to Eastern Idaho, dad had the care meticulously packed and we were all getting settled for the LONG drive ahead ... and I remember sitting in the middle of the back seat ... and I had to barf. So I did. Mom and dad whipped me out of the car, took me into the house and as mom sat next to me ... dad walked over to the hall closet and punched a hole in it. I thought I was next. Yikes! Now I realize how frustrating that must've been ... oh my. A five hour drive in the hot sun ... not fun.
• Speaking of the sun ... I'm sorry Erin. Ryan and I always figured out which side of the car the sun would be on ... and we always made Erin sit there ... her little nose would bead up with sweat ... and she'd suffer in silence. It makes me cry to think about it now. Renny, please forgive me!
• When mom would have to go to work (at night she was a transcriptionist at a law firm), all of us kids would swarm the door and beg her not to leave. Poor dad.
• I remember my fifth birthday cake ... it was a two-layer cake with chocolate frosting ... and it had a hard candy pink and yellow butterfly in the middle of it ...
• Five kids ... in six & a half years ... I don't know how mom and dad did it ... but I'm sure glad they did.

Our Family's History ...

Okay ... so I was checking out Eric's family history blog yesterday and I was taken aback by the number of years he's gone back in time and found some of our long-forgotten ancestors. I wouldn't even know where to start, but our cute little brother has found a passion in discovering the untold stories of our long-lost great grandmothers and fathers. It got me to thinking ... who will tell our stories? What stories will be told of us? As I look back over my life ... I find quite a few moments that are better left 'behind' us ... namely the shootout at Nelly's restaurant back on one of our first family visits to Jackson Hole, Wyoming ... ha ha ha ... enough said.

Since I'm waxing nostalgic as of late ... I thought I'd share some fun memories about each of my brothers and sisters ... and some of the places that we've lived while growing up. So, stay tuned and beware. Tee hee ... I'm only teasing. I'll try to keep them short and to-the-point, but will try and post a couple every week!

So ...

... no pics with this story - I really need to get on the ball! As I look through all of your blogs - with the amazing pictures of your beautiful children ... I realize that anything I might possibly post will pale in comparison ... What to do? Well, today I feel like complaining! Ha ha ha! I'll go ahead and take the corner on that market ... I had to go to the dentist this morning, and like the television show "Cheers" - everybody (at Dr. Reamer's office) knows my name. When I call the receptionist, she knows who I am without having to say my name, "Oh hi Carrie!"... Isn't that great?!?! This morning I had to get a tooth, that recently had a root canal, prepared for a crown. They ground down the tooth and took all kinds of impressions ... no big deal. I've gotten to the point that the shots and drilling don't even bother me. In fact, on my last visit to the endodontist, I almost fell asleep DURING a root canal. It was awesome. I just thought of my 'happy place' and let them do their thing. But after all the drilling and sanding this morning - the hygienist had to put two little rubberbands around the base of my tooth and push them down below the gumline so that when my permanent crown is ready, the gums will have room for the new tooth. Criminitly! It hurts so bad! It's the most annoying pressure ever! I just want to pop the bands off ... ugg ... I'm sure that those of you who've had a crown know what I'm talking about ... there is just something so odd about knowing where the pain is coming from ... knowing you could do something to fix it ... and doing nothing. Ha ha ha ... Good grief. Now, there are so many more important things to think about ... and in the 'big picture' - to complain about something so inane is ridiculous. I know this. But this is MY blog (ha!) and instead of having a pity party for myself about not yet adding to the Smith-Nottingham clan ... I'm choosing to scratch a superficial 'itch' ... and maybe it's the pain pill ... or maybe it's the pressure build-up in my tooth - backing up to my brain ... either way, thank you for indulging me. I guess it's kinda like the little bands around my tooth ... Unexpectedly, it's the minor, everyday things that make you appreciate all of the big, happy AND sometimes painful moments in life. I'm grateful that The Lord knows what each of us needs ... in His time, and not ours. Please know how very much I love all of you ... and all my (almost) eleven nieces and nephews! I wish we lived closer so that I could see their beautiful smiles and hear them laugh more often. Love each other ... appreciate one another and hug each other for me, will ya?