Hosting

Warning:

It seems that no matter how many different ways I write my post and upload the pics. I still have not learned how to get the pics. and post in the order that I want.

So the pictures are in opposite order and my post is last.

Have fun reading!

After the concert we took our kids, and my "taxi" kids to our local

Golden arches for their first Mac Donald's in the U.S.

So much fun!

Our two exchange girls, Laura, Sarah, and Josie after the concert.

( both choirs singing together)

This past week the local High School choir hosted a choir from Australia.

We were one of the few families who were lucky enough to have 2 girls stay with us.

(Well not actually us, my house is FULL but my in laws have a spare room with two empty beds)

It was one of the BEST experiences EVER!

The girls were so polite.

Listening to them talk, was just lovely.

Hearing them perform, so amazing.

I was also the "taxi mom" to two other boys.

They were a lot of fun too!

They did teach me many things.

The most important was ......

ALL teens forget!

For a long time I was under the belief that I messed my kids up.

I had some how not taught them the art of bringing your stuff with you.

Then I noticed other moms bringing forgotten items.

It it a national epidemic?

I started to believe that we were doing something wrong.

But...It is not me or our nation.

It is a global problem.

I think it has been diagnosed as adolescents.

The day of the concert 5 of the 6 kids I drove forgot their things.

And guess who remembered all of her stuff?

Josie.

Did you ever think that would happen?

Nope not me either.

If you are ever approached to host anyone please do it.

This experience was wonderful and the girls made new face book friends.

I Loved that no matter how different the cultures were they found common ground, For them it was music. They found common music and filled the car with their singing. Harmonies, and giggles were the radio this week.

Now if you have ever sat in a car with Josie you know she sings.

I also have the pleasure to transport Shasta, who also sings.

So to say that my car gets a little loud sometimes is an understatement.

But with 6 singers in the car I was able to sing along and no one knew,

no one could hear me.

So Much FUN!

Today

Today is the last day that we are open for business.

I know this is what is needed for me my children and my family,

but that dose not make things any easier.

I feel like this is just another thing to add to the ever growing list of my failures.

I have been trying to focus on the process, not the actual ending.

But today I can not do it.

We are closed. The End.

I know this is my choice, and I know we needed it. but it hurts so much.

I can't even begin to cry, I would just break down and I am not sure if I would stop.

I just can't start.

So I need to go do my hair and put on my makeup,

hoping that those small comforts will hold me together today.

Butterfly Boutique will be open today for the last time from 10-5.

If you are in the area please stop by say Hi and pick up some really good deals.

All recycled clothing is $1. So just swing by and get some really good deals!

Gotta go get to work.

I got pics....

I don't know how busy your life's have been but ours have been crazy.

Our family is going though lots of changes.

Some good, and some are just making life different.

This causes lots of stress, and for Brianna to have melt downs.

She had been doing so well with learning to control it recently,

but with many things changing the slightest thing seems to set her off.

This makes life interesting!

With all of the special needs of Nathaniel, and focusing on him,

I sometimes forget that Brianna has a few slight issues too.

I know Nathaniel has an amazing mom, and it is not my place to raise him,

but I have a habit of placing his needs ahead of my kids.

This is all me and my fault.

In the back of my mind I justify it like this...

The girls are older

I will just help for a little while then I will help the girls.

He has to have XYZ

If I don't help, who will?

None of this is good. It is all my doing. Truth be known I love to help.

I just don't always know when It is too much for me or the girls.

So now we are in a place where home is in chaos, routines gone and I have no idea what our day will look in a short while.

This all causes melt downs in our world.

So I am trying to teach Bri my technique on how to avoid being overwhelmed,

I will share it with you.

The other day we actually made it home before dark

and look what we found going up the street to my house?

Just looking at them bounding away makes me feel like they are taking my troubles with them.

I love nature and often feel like the lord has provided us with wonderful tools to take our troubles to him.

For me I feel him when I am breathing in and out with the waves, watching the deer bounce away, feeling the wind on my face while swinging, watching a butterfly fly away....

These all take away my troubles and let me see HIM.

How do you see HIM?

Manners and Rudeness....

I really dislike harping on bad things and try to ignore negativity. Not always an easy thing to do, but I feel the urge to post something not so nice about people and their tendency to be so self absorbed and rude to others.

This past two weeks we have been very busy at the county fair. My children, nieces and nephews like to get involved and participate in various thing around the grounds.

My nephew Nathaniel has a disability which has him in a wheelchair during these long hot days. The fair grounds has handicap accessibility, but to be honest, not always the easiest to use. So we have a favorite bathroom. Getting to the bathroom is a maze, but the stall is very nice. So why do we have to wait for the only stall that we can use when there is many (about 6) open? Because a skinny teen wanted to use that one. I can understand that some tines it is needed to use the handicap stall, but it was not necessary. I know this happened to me and my sister almost every time. So frustrated.

Nathaniel likes to watch. He will just sit in his chair and watch the show, auction, pigs, or really almost anything that caught his attention. We know that walkways were put so people can walk safely from point a to point b. So we park Nathaniel out of the path in a safe place. So it really upsets me, well really pisses me off, that the general public feels the right to stop in front of the handicap and stand their to watch. There are bleachers that you are able to walk up and sit down, so why can't they? Because it is easier to be so self absorbed that they do not pay attention to where the are, so they do not know that they are blocking a person from enjoying the activity. Yesterday it got so bad that we had to wheel him into a pen to keep the public from blocking him so he could watch his sister and cousin show the pigs. All it would need is for people to know where they are and who or what is around them for this to be prevented. But it seem that is too much to ask.

Last night was the last day of the fair, and Dominick (another nephew) qualified to a championship round of mutton bustin (like bull riding but on sheep) This is a really cool group of people, and we had been their for many of the show and got kinda known. (Audrey and Caitlyn two other nieces conned the lamb so they were very memorable). So Josie thought she would ask if she could sing the national anthem live. Every show they would play a recording and she thought it would be cool if she could do it. No harm in asking, right? Well she did ask and was given a go ahead. This would be her first time singing the national anthem solo for a crowd. We were so exited. But some of my family became to tired, and had to go home, couldn't blame them for I wanted to go home, but even thou my video camera broke earlier in the day I still had my digital camera which takes video so I could still record it for those who couldn't see them. Or I thought I could. Josie was singing, I was filling up with pride, for her and our country when the "gentleman" next to me proceeded to take out his camera lean in front of me to get a better view. It was so hard to hold my tong! I didn't want it recorded what I wanted to say, so I just tried to shove him out of the way. No luck, song ends and I proceed to tell him thank you for giving me the perfect view of him and his camera, he was all... no problem it hasn't started yet, he would move some. That was his answer, I let him know that it did start and I was recording my daughters first time singing the national anthem solo in public. He told me it didn't matter I didn't miss the real show. UGGGGG!!! I wanted to scream. I knew I was wrong for shoving, well to be honest basically hitting him(he didn't even move) but he had no clue how his self-centeredness affects others.

I know that we all get caught up in the moment, and sometimes forget ourselves, but for it to have happened so constantly It makes me believe that it was not just a momentarily slip, but a constant place of rudeness. I feel bad for thinking it but their were far more rudeness going on than politeness. This disturbs me! In the past few weeks both of my children have been verbally assaulted by adults. Not adults seeing them doing wrong and trying to correct it, but yelled at and called names for things that were not their doing and out of their control. That an innocent child goes try to hug a relative that had not been seen in the last year only to be kicked away like a ball is wrong. I know that parents teach their children, but it is the persons choice to on what to use as he or she grows up. I do not know if any of these people were taught manners, but I do know that by this stage in their life the did have the choice to learn some and they chose to learn rudeness. This really hurts and upsets me!
I know that their is alot of polite well mannered people out there, but after the last two weeks I have just had my fill of rudeness!

RUMMAGE SALE!!!!!!!!!

Hey everyone. Tomorrow we are having a rummage sale at butterfly boutique. And there are going to be some really cool items that we have worked hard on.... Like we will have a 4 piece chair set that are completely refinished. they have leather backs and made of wood. So it would be great if you all came out and supported us... Thanks.
Dancing away Josie

SOO Frustrated!!!

Now I know that I don't post very often, but I spent a lot of time last week editing all the pictures that had been riding around on my memory card.
Boy some of them were old!
I had many cute post forming in my mind.
One of them was about what I learned by editing the pic. it was something that had been right in front of me but I didn't see until I saw the pic.
But FRED (the computer) decided it was hot out and time for a vacation. It needs a new fan, but until we get it a new one it is holding all of my pictures hostage! So no more end of the school year pic. Josie and Brianna's birthdays and 4th of July. Not to mention many others! I know they are all in there. Once we get a new fan install it and boot it up I will be able to post pictures, but until then the COMPUTER has my pictures!
So my question too all of you... How do you store your digital pictures?

In only 1 hour...

Goodness Life has been so busy that I started this post but forgot a few things. So here I am to try to finish it up.

It was Josie's 8th grade party. I only had a little bit of time (one hour) to do the mommy thing.

I get distracted easily... I know shocker. So I normally can juggle multiply jobs at once better than hunkering down and focusing on one thing.

One hour befor the party was to start I pull up to a frantic Josie worried that she would be just done up normal or really late. Oh child of mine with little faith. She doubted the training that I have recived due to her dancing to turn her into the Princess she wanted.

So in one hour....

Set her hair

French manicure, and glittered pedicure

Special make up

and take out the hair set and style it.

Whoo, that was alot but very possible.

The hot curlers were already hot,

she had already showered and cut/filed her nails

and the dress had been hung up in the bathroom durring the shower so no pressing!

Dear child of mine do not fear for mommy is here.