Let the bead selling begin...

This weekend the "bead selling" adventures began! And...as promised, YOU (my faithful blog devotees) will get MORE bead selling pictures this year!

This was my first time selling at the "races", but I thought I'd give it a try since the Chiefs crowd is getting a little bit tough to sell to. So................we headed out to the Speedway this weekend to hit the NASCAR crowd & we did OK. Saturday went great...but we ran out of beads after 90 minutes, so we just decided to come back on Sunday with MORE beads! Well...Sunday did NOT go so great & it ended with me getting yelled at by security and "kicked out" of the speedway-LOL! Oh...the things I do for the "TEAM". Some day soon I'll laugh about this, but right now I'm too ticked about not being able to do enough fundraising this weekend. Dang it!!!

Oh, well....here are some of the "bead adventure" pictures!


Saturday was beautiful...and the bead selling was pretty simple :-)


This is Jen....at 6:00 A.M. on Sunday morning!


Waiting for the sun to rise on the NASCAR crowd...wake up people and buy some beads!


The vast...untouched canvas....that remained "untouched" when I got booted from the speedway Sunday-he he!


Goodbye NASCAR fans...maybe we will have better luck next year!

Your Three Words...

...mine are He Sees me.

To know and be known is probably one of the greatest desires of the human spirit. However, there are so many times in this life when we feel all alone, or just plain lost. To me, the beauty of what Jesus has done in my life is that He cared enough about little old me to take the time to know me! He really does SEE me when no one else does! There is great comfort in knowing that wherever I am in this life...God cares enough about me to say "Keep going...you are not alone...I still see you...I'm still with you".

So...what are your three words?


*Thanks for this link Jodi! (Hey did you notice it's 11:00 AM...not PM!!!)

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

....according to my husband-LOL!

Even though I'm more of a summertime kind of girl, I do enjoy many things about fall too. However, this past year I've especially enjoyed the fall because it is the start of "Marathon Training Season" for me!!! Yep...in case you didn't know, I'm doing it again! This summer I signed up for the Disney marathon, and I started "officially" training for it about 4 weeks ago.

This weekend was our first "long-ish" run (10 miles) and it was a beautiful day! The weather was just right, and we had lots of pretty scenery on the trails...complete with lots of wildlife! Tricia and I actually saw 4 deer on the trails :-). I always think that's so neat! There really is nothing like an early morning run in the fall...it's gorgeous! So, even though I will miss all the lazy summertime fun, I'm getting really excited about this fall (it's going to be a good one!).

*Now, for a little (OK...it's really not very "little") side note:

As I'm sure you are already aware, I'm doing this marathon with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's "Team In Training". I have really enjoyed my time in TNT, and even though the fundraising can be tough at times, I still love what I'm doing.

SOOOOOOOOOOO, please watch your mailbox in the next week or so...because chances are you will be getting a little "love note" from me asking for your support once again ;-). You can even check out my fundraising web page to see my progress! I have a BIG fundraising goal this year, so I had to break down and beg for help from all my "peeps". So, if you do get one of these letters in the mail...consider yourself one of my "special friends" (doesn't that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside).

I promise to make this year's "running journal" just as exciting as last year-LOL! You will get more "ice bath" pictures, more bead selling pictures, more boot block pictures, more "I can't believe what I am doing to myself" stories...it's going to be a fun training season! See what you have to look forward to :-0 (ohhh...ahhh!). Maybe for my first 10 donors, I'll put together a video montage of what I look like at 4:30 am on Saturday's, or even what I look like after my 22 mile training run...that would be a real "treat" wouldn't it?

Seriously, I really do appreciate everyone's support when I embark on these crazy little adventures! YOU guys are what made my first TNT marathon a huge success, and I DO appreciate all that you do for me! I truly am blessed to have such a fantastic group of friends and family.

OK...enough about the marathon....
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*If I can get myself organized, maybe I'll even find the time to post some great new fall recipes I've been trying out. I'm going to try a new soup tonight (chick pea with roasted red pepper), so if it's really yummy, I'll post the recipe later this week. How about you? What do you like to cook once the weather starts to turn toward fall?

At our house I start making:

-Pumpkin Pancakes
-Apple Crumb Pie
-My Famous "Burn Your Lips Off" Chili (With cheddar corn bread)
-Creamy Corn Chowder
-Roasted Rosemary Chicken with Vegetables
-Black Bean Soup with Cilantro
(to name a few)

Apple Orchard Fun!

Last Friday Channy and I got to go on his class field trip to the apple orchard. This is one of my favorite field trips with my kids. We had a great time, and Chandler talked about "the apple tree" all weekend! Just thought I'd share some pictures...

On the Bus....

Chandler LOVED feeding the chickens.

He tried really, really hard to catch one...but didn't have any luck-LOL!

We got to watch a cider demonstration (which Chandler actually paid attention to for a little bit-hehe!).

Then, it was off to pick our apples!

Shine it up....

...and EAT!

Of course, you can't go to a farm without going on a hayride :-)

*Chandler LOVED this tree! We passed it a few times and he kept saying "LOOK, MOM... A MAN TREE!".

We bought a "peck" of apples (that's a lot...at least to me it's a lot!), so we had to do something with all those apples :-)

For those of you who wanted cake pictures...

I've had a few people ask me to post pictures of my cakes...so here you go! Most of my cake pictures are not saved to my computer (and I don't have a scanner), so these are just a few of the cakes I've done this summer.

So, there you have it...a collection of "Amber White" cakes-LOL!















And, we can't forget about some old favorites....

Please Excuse the Craziness!

The last few weeks have been down right nutty! My baby started school, my husband got "concussed", I signed up for another marathon, not to mention signing up for loads of PTA stuff at my child's school. My calendar is so marked up it looks like my two year old went to town with a ink pen on it!

So...today I had to have a little freak-out moment during my 60 minutes on the elliptical. I thought..."what have I done to myself"? Really...What. Have. I. Done? (It's amazing how clearly you can think when 3/4 of the lighting at your gym is "down for repairs" while you workout & all the TVs mounted to the workout equipment are also "down".) As I pondered what I've gotten myself into, I began to wonder what it was I would change (if I could). And you know what? I don't think I would change a thing about my life right now. I really do LOVE everything I'm doing (but, I still reserve the right to complain about it from time to time)!

Sure, I can't believe I just signed up for another marathon...but I LOVE what I'm doing & who I'm doing it with, so I wouldn't wish that away for a moment. I also love being involved at my kids school. I WANT to be up there all the time & if that means my bathrooms don't get cleaned this afternoon, and the sheets spend an extra day (or week) on the beds...then so be it!

I know my life is crazy right now, but somehow, in the midst of all this chaos I've found some peace. I don't know how, but I just have. My house is probably dirtier than it's ever been, my laundry is once again up to the ceiling, and my shower needs a good scrubbin', but I'm OK with all that. I know that by the end of the week I'll find a way to get all the important stuff done...and the rest can wait!

So....if you are planning on stopping by, I'd suggest you call before you come! At least give me a chance to tidy up the living room :-)

On a more practical note:
I actually found a way to easily plan 5 tasty meals & I'm totally excited to cook dinner all week ! Thanks to the Rachael Ray website my family will be dining on...

-Turkey Sweet-Potato Shepherd's Pie

-Harvest Creamy Corn "Choup"

-Chicken with Apple Gravy, Rice Pilaf and Green Beans

-Tilapia Clubs

-Not Tuna Casserole

How about that? Gotta love the 30-minute meal planner!

This is hard....

My little girl is having a rough week at school & I want to make it "all better" more than anything in the whole world...but I can't! McKenna loves being at home, and I can tell being gone all day is starting to take a toll on her. Today she forgot her lunch, and when I got back up to the school to bring it to her today she was already eating a school lunch. I came up to her lunch table to talk to her for a few minutes & when she saw me she gave me a hug and then started crying!! It was a soft, sad little cry, and it broke my heart. All she said was "I miss you SOOOOO much mommy". I know that's all it is....but it just broke my heart to see her so sad.

Otherwise, she is doing really well adjusting to school. She has already made several new friends, and her teacher already has GLOWING remarks about her. I know this is just part of the "growing pains" that come with the first year of school, but that doesn't make it any easier :-(

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* In other news.....
As many of you may already know, Jonathan was in a car accident yesterday while he was on a business trip to Nebraska. He was in another employee's car that got hit on the passenger side, right where he was sitting. Unfortunately, he and his co-workers spent most of their time in Nebraska in the ER! He has a pretty bad concussion, but he will be OK. Thankfully, one of the girls he works with felt well enough to drive home last night, so he is home now.

If you think of me this week...pray for me. We were planning on doing some fun stuff with the kids this weekend & I really hope Jon feels up to it by then. Crap like this always happens to us when we try to plan fun things & I'm really sick of it.....

Back to school!

I can't believe it...but my BABY started Kindergarten this week! Oh- I cry just typing this!! I really didn't think I would feel like this, but I think I'm just trying to come to terms with how fast McKenna's "babyhood" flew by. Maybe I also feel a bit little guilty because she didn't get to be my baby for long. She had two siblings before she had a chance to blink-LOL! I guess I feel like she has had to do a lot of things on the "fast track" because she is the oldest. Poor baby!

However, she could care less that I'm an emotional wreck this week, because she is LOVING Kindergarten!


All ready to go!

What a confident little kindergartner :-)

McKenna and Carter. These two have been friends from birth!

McKenna already loves her teacher.

One last shot...... LOL!

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Mr. "Chan-The-Man" also had his first day of school today. He really likes school & has asked to go back all summer (my kids sure didn't get that gene from their mother-lol!). He was SO sad yesterday when McKenna got to go to school and he didn't. But, this morning was a different story. He was up and dressed by 7:30 a.m and ready to go! As soon as we pulled up to the school he said "LET'S GO McKENNA"! It was too cute :-)

Do you think they are just a little excited?

What a happy guy!


Chan and daddy!

My "Mookey Girl" turned 2!

Around here, Maya is more often referred to as "Mook", "Mookey", "Mookity", or the ever popular "Mookey Mama"! Why? I have no idea! It's just one of those silly names that stuck I guess. At any rate, the "Mookey Mama" celebrated the big "2" with a little bash at a local kid play place on Saturday. We had a great time & the kids got plenty of exercise that day!

The "theme" (if you can call it that) for her party was of course...SHOES! The girl is OBSESSED with shoes (I keep forgetting to do a post about her love affair with shoes...that one will be coming soon). Any shoes! Her shoes, my shoes...everyone's shoes are fair game to her. :-) So, it was only fitting that we throw her a "shoe party". Complete with a shoe cake, shoe napkins, shoe paper plates and even little tiny flip-flop candles for her birthday cake. It was a hoot!


The birthday girl having fun!

Wheeee!!!!!!!!!

Coming out of the big bounce house.


Maya and cousin Owen playing a game. Don't they look so cute together?


Me and my birthday girly!



The shoe cake...just right for my little princess :-)
















THE FIRST TWO YEARS...

8/11/05

8/11/06


8/11/07

It's 1:00 a.m....

...and I had too much coffee after dinner tonight!

I'm also losing sleep because I'm consumed with guilt over my recent summertime addiction. I thought I should confess it to you all, so that I can be accountable to you from now on-LOL! I need you all to keep me on the straight and narrow from here on out...OK? Alright, here goes...

My name is Amber...and I'm addicted to S'mores.


Seriously...I've had way to many to count in recent days, and the S'more supplies just never seem to run out over here. It would help if the kids liked them, but they don't (little freaks!). I'm starting to wonder if these three actually came from my womb....who doesn't like S'mores? (Don't answer that if you are one of the few weirdos that doesn't love them. I'll be forced to disown you!). So, if anyone wants to indulge with me, please, come on over! I swear that once this bag of marshmallows is gone...I'm DONE! Really....I can give it up at any moment....I just can stand the thought of throwing the rest of the supplies in the garbage. I'm in complete control over here...I promise.....

Do you think there is a 12 step program for people like me?

Fire Alarms and Four Year Olds.

This has been one of the toughest weeks of my entire summer so far. I'm not sure if it's the heat, the absolute boredom my kids are experiencing, or just a funky shift in the universe. Something has happened to my kids this week that has made them go absolutely nutty! I'm SO not kidding!

The following story may prove it...

This past Tuesday my friend Karen invited me to join her and her friend Julie for some fun at the pool. They take their kids together all the time & I kept hearing these stories of how much fun they had together, so I thought I'd give it a shot! I had been avoiding the pool this whole summer because it is still one of those things that just always seems to be more work than it's really worth. It breaks my heart that every other mother on the face of the universe enjoys "pool days" with their kids, but I really don't . It's anything but relaxing, and it's usually not much fun when it's all said and done. However...I thought I'd give it a try and hope for the best!

We decided to meet at 1:00, but because I'm a "smart" mom I had my troops dressed in their swimming gear at 10:45. We were packed and ready to go by 11:00 a.m! We had a few stops to make on our way to the pool, but I was confident we would actually be early this time (for those of you that know me that is a rare thing). One of the stops we had to make was at McKenna and Chandler's school. Tuesday was "residency checks" day. So, we headed to the school with our two proofs of residence for a quick "in-and-out" stop...or so I thought.

When the kids saw me pull up to the school they immediately started crying, like I had just pulled some cruel trick on them. "Yeah, thanks mom, tell us we are going swimming...then take us to SCHOOL!" "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO", they screamed! After I told them we were just running in for a QUICK errand, they calmed down and reluctantly followed me to the school office. They were anything but patient because they had "fun" on the brain, and school was just NOT where they wanted to be. After waiting in line for a few minutes I arrived at the front of the line where the school secretary handed me ALL of McKenna's enrollment paperwork to fill out...A-G-A-I-N. I told her I already filled out all the paperwork BACK IN MAY, to which she replied "I know...you will have to fill it out again"! What? Are you kidding me?

So, I headed down the hall to a long line of tables and chairs, with three wound up children, to fill out the same damn paperwork that I had already filled out once before (you know, when I hired a babysitter to watch all my kids so I could fill out said papers). Wonderful!

Some twenty minutes later I was done filling out the papers, but I was dangerously close to a mental break down! I actually threatened the kids with going straight home for naps if they did One. More. Thing! I was already spent, and I still had the whole day ahead of me. With one final threat, I parked them on a bench right outside the office and told them to "WAIT HERE and DON'T MOVE"! With that, I headed into the office to turn in my papers. While I was waiting in line inside the office the FIRE ALARM went off...which sent everyone, but the secretary, into a panic (apparently the wise old secretary knew something I didn't). Before I knew it people were scurrying around and the school maintenance man was frantic to find out what was going on. About this time my four year old son started crying and ran into the office. I hugged him and told him everything was fine and sent him back to the bench to wait. His tears seemed to dry up quickly with that reassurance, which seemed a bit odd to me...hmmmmm. My turn came, and amid the blaring sirens, the secretary gave me McKenna's classroom assignment, and then told me I needed to go over to the OTHER office (across town) to do the same thing for Chandler (because he is in early childhood & they have their own office)! I was thinking, "Um, sure, I'll do that right after I rip out all my toenails with a pair of pliers...because that would seriously be easier for me to voluntarily do at this point". Needless to say, I didn't go to the Early Childhood office next.

Nope! I did however, exit the school just as I saw the school maintenance man discover that the fire alarm lever right above my son's head was the one that had been pulled. You know, the one that sent the entire building into mass hysteria, and had the entire fire department on the way! Yep, that's my Channy! Never a dull moment I tell ya...never a dull moment! But, to be fair, he DID NOT leave the bench where I told him to sit. Next time I'll choose the bench next to the ficus tree ;-).

The drama didn't end there, but I'll not bore you with anymore details. Suffice it to say that I had a rough afternoon. When it was all said and done, I ended up at Karen's house at 1:15, and I think we made it to the pool by 1:45. So, you could say that I was running "on-schedule" that day. At this point in my life I'm about as "on-time" and "dependable" as Southwest Airlines, and Amtrak!

Oh, and the pool....the kids LOVED it!

We'll be going back really soon!

16.8 fluid oz..........

...of Suave Kids "Orange Mango Tango" Shampoo sure does create quite a bubble bath!


*Please note: In the first three pictures there is NO WATER in the tub!

After Mr. Chandler decided to add a little extra "bubbly" (the entire brand new bottle of shampoo) to the bath water, I had to drain the tub to try and start over.


Although, trying to get rid of 16.8 oz of shampoo bubbles isn't as easy as it sounds!


But, the kids sure did have a good time!

It was kinda hard to be too mad about this incident when I couldn't stop laughing :-).

*Before I was married, I had a hundred theories about raising children and no children. Now, I have three children and no theories.
- John Wilmot