The Drop Off

I just returned from dropping Thing 1,2 and 3 off at Camp Grandma’s for a few days. Oh how I love that my in-laws are willing to take my kids for a few days. As I drove home thoughts raced through my mind on how I was going to use the next 72 hours. With each mile my list kept getting longer and longer. I thought of all the projects I could accomplish and the organizing I could do. Oh so here I am blogging….was that on my list? No! But I had to take a moment and list in the next 72 besides my two day packed with clients what am I going to do for me. So here is my list …
1. Get my Hair colored and cut (Tuesday morning)
2. Spend time with Ryan
3. Go to the temple
4. Out to lunch with a friend (who has no idea how much I miss her)
5. Crafting…..I have to do something crafty!
Ok so five things…little things…things I can do to fill up my cup!

Swallowing me up!!!

So here is goes...I will try again! The days are short no time to write but my friends keep telling me "you should post that"! So here I am cleaning my office/throw all room.(I should be putting away the 25 piles I just made) or even returning the 15 phone calls. But not another moment could go by without asking this question.....Why do I have so much stuff? Bins with ribbions, paper, clips, stamps....come on it is just too much. I do not dare to throw it away! I might need it...maybe someday. And then there is all my primary stuff. Paper, posters, blocks and that big fat Turkey! Will someone help me before I go baserck? Now here is a thought I could burn the house down and then start all over...ummmm!

What? I have a blog!

So it has been almost 8 months....come on nothing has happened in 8 months to blog about.

Oh wait,there was that little abduction! You know the one that Crazy Lady Nancy Grace reported on for weeks on her show. What? You don't watch HLN? You mean to tell me you are missing out on Joy Behar's new show too...What a crime!

I was abducted by the FB Aliens. They made me update at least twice a day, play Scrabble till 2am and spend hours looking at pictures of my "friends". One even tried to convince me that starting a farm or becoming part of the Mafia would bring me much happiness. I did resist....with the click of a mouse I blocked a tree from being planted, quizzes upon quizzes to take and the most important...many pillow fights! They started to see that I was not going to fall into their trap and they called reinforcements.
My cell phone had lost it will to live or even charge itself. Ryan,my sweet husband (I think he works for them) bought me a new phone. There I was sitting with my new phone only to find in the small left hand corner of the 3 inch screen a little blue F. Hummmmm.....that F was not for the Forbes application or even the Fashion Police. It was them! They found me on my phone! It started all over again. This time was much worse. Now I checked updates every 33 seconds. Alerts flashed constantly on my phone. Ringers that I did not know I had began to alert me of Status changes, posts to my post, posts to my friends posts and even a FB mail alert. Things became very difficult when Ryan accused me of having an affair. The phone with the FB app had replaced the soft warm spot next to me in our bed. It even at one time had it's own pillow. After I promised to change I still found myself sneaking it in our room and tucking it under the sheet on the side of the bed with the ringers turned off. It was the only way I could know if Sally made it home from the club, Jack had a great date with Kristen or how Chantal hated the speaker at church preach about being a good parent-because she was not. (names have been changed to protect the innocent) It was my life line. I knew it was bad when I started to take it to the bathroom with me. Something had to change and it had to happen quickly.......

25 Random Things....

I keep getting tagged with 16 sweet things or 25 Random things. I finally gave in and came up with a list....

25 Random Things about me.....Corrin Carter Keeler

1. I hate spiders. Little ones, big ones, hairy ones, and even little babies still in the egg sack ones. Sadly I have passed this fear on to my son Carter. I don’t like to kill them either. I am terrified that in my sleep the other 499 siblings will attack me.

2. I have a very talented tongue! Me and Gene Simmons! I can twist it, taco and burrito it, touch my nose, and use it to whistle VERY loud. (which always surprises the person next to me)

3. All three of my children were c-sections but only one was filmed for TV. The birth of Carter was on TLC’s Maternity Ward.

4. My given name is Corrin Carter, just Corrin no middle name. However, on the first day of 1st grade my Dad told the teacher my name was CORKY and they believed him! (it was just a nickname) Some of my cousins still call me Corky.

5. It took me 4 times get my permit, 4 times to get my license and only 8 hours get in my first accident!

6. My hair is about 70% gray. I have to have it colored every 6 weeks.

7. I have dyslexia and had a very difficult time learning to read and I still can't spell. I repeated the 2nd grade because I was so far behind. This was ok because I changed my name back to Corrin so everyone thought I was a new kid. (Corky's sister) Now I love to read and I owe it all to my mother. She made me work just as hard as the other kids. I love her for never giving up on me!

8. I could pass on Chocolate anytime but crusty warm bread…hold me back!

9. I am great at doing laundry….just not the folding and putting away part.

10. My husband diagnosed me with having “Putdown Syndrome”. I put something (not someone) down and move on. I can never find my keys, my purse, or important items. I often have 10 projects going on with little messes everywhere. It drives him crazy! He often follows me around picking up all my messes.

11. I love BR pistachio ice cream, spicy foods, sushi, cinnamon bears and warm crusty bead! (wait…I think I already mentioned that)

12. I live within each of my kids….Carter has my kind heart, Hailey has my feisty spirit, and Charles has my big brown “I didn’t do it” eyes and we found out just recently the ability to cut hair.

13. I have never been a runner….but someday I would like to be.

14. I know little to nothing about music. A little over a year ago they asked me to teach music to the children at church. I still know little to nothing about music but I LOVE faking it. I NEVER want to do anything else.

15. I have a horrible time remembering anything. For years I blamed it on being pregnant. But since I am not having anymore children and my youngest is two I really have no excuse. If it is not written down it most likely will not happen. I have kept a planner for years and would be LOST without it! I have tried all sorts of tricks to help me but I am pretty sure I was wired this way.

16. There is nothing more important to me than my family

17. I was blessed with great parents. My mom is the most righteous, selfless, kind person I know. She is my idol…someday I hope to be half the women and mother she is to me! My Dad taught me the value of hard work, to play hard and to love. He is a great man to whom I was terrified as a teenager but admire and love as an adult.

18. I hate peas. Green small squishy disgusting explosions in your mouth. But I do love raw snap peas! Weird huh?

19. About eight years ago I built a bed. My sister-in-law Jennie and I each made a Picket Fence bed. We made our design and had little help from our husbands. It is now Hailey’s bed. Ever since then I have wanted to have my own workshop, fun expensive tools and the knowledge to know what to do with them. I guess secretly want to be a carpenter.

20. I love garage sales, clearance sales, goodwill and craigslist. I shop with coupons and spend hours cutting them out and planning my grocery trips. I always walk to the back of a store (where the deals are) and work my way to the front. The thrill of a good deal brings me much pleasure.

21. I hate to shop! Did I just say that…what a really meant was I hate to shop with other people. I love to shop ALONE. I can stay as long or as short as I like in one store.

22. My friend Nichole said I had to put this one in…..I lost a car! This guy wanted to buy my car. (well really my Dad’s car) He asked if he could keep it over the weekend. I was young and very stupid. I did not get any ID or other information. Well he kept it…and never returned it. He and the car disappeared. To this day my Dad tells everyone that I lost a car

23. I married my soul mate….he might not be perfect but he is perfect for me. (see #10) He is my missing piece.

24. My favorite flower is a hydrangea.

25. I love taking trash and making a treasure. I love watching my children get excited to see their Dad. I love having someone leave my chair feeling beautiful. I love the smell of rain on hot pavement. I love holding my children in my arms as they fall asleep. I love to hear the sounds of giggles and laughter in the morning. I love laughing so hard I wet my pants. I love having someone hold me when I cry. I love friends that know just when to call and just what to say.

Wrestling with a Walrus!

Funny Thought for today!

Carter and Aunt Patti were watching a documentary on the Arctic Sea. Carter was very excited to see two very large walrus' "wrestling" with one another. "Aunt Patti, look at how funny they are when they are wrestling." Little did this innocent mind know that they were really getting it on!

Hummm..just a thought!

Hailey and I just made some bacon (She LOVES bacon...me not so much) She was a little disappointed that it shrunk so much. I explained by saying it has a ton of fat and when it cooks it shrinks. Then the light bulb went off....Why can't I go to the tanning bed and shrink too? Or do I need something a bit hotter...maybe Mexico?

Hummmm.....just a thought!

The Best Part About Christmas

Last night on the way home from sledding (or should I say ice gliding) I asked the kids to tell me what they thought was the best part of Christmas. All sorts of thoughts entered my mind. However, it was Carter's sweet words that touched my heart. "Mom, the best part of Christmas was when Daddy held you down and I tickled you." Here was this 7 year old who could of listed his toys, cousins, Santa...the list could go on and on. He picked me...the best part of Christmas was making Mommy almost wet her pants!

Getting some ZZZZZZZZ....

It is 3am...I am tired...About 30 minitues ago my little boy whispered in my ear "Mom can you get Dad to stop snoring...he keeps waking me up". With one eye opened and the other still sleeping Carter returned to the "1am I want to sleep in your room" bed on the floor. I nudged Ryan and told him Carter can't sleep because he is snoring. "Yeah right" he says as he rolls over only to start snoring again.

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Our family has been be held hostage by the snow for a week now! We still have a few more days till we will be able to negotiate a release. The Soldiers have tired to escape many times. This requires 23 layers of clothing, a hat, a scarf, and small army to get all the right fingers in the glove. After spending a 1/2 hour dressing each little brave Soldier, the Captain is tired and ready for a few moments of peace. Out the door they go ready to conquer the snow. The Captain regroups and searches for any caffeinated beverage before she tries to get the house in order, do the laundry and finish the 12 Christmas projects strung around the house. Loud knocks startle the Captain...they are back! The troops have returned cold, wet and in need of a warm beverage. Soon the clothes are peeled off layer by layer, the wet gloves are thrown in all directions as sweet words leave the Soldiers lips. "I hate these boots...it is too cold...I am hungry...Why can't I go to Tess' house?"
The captain uses all restraints to get the Soldiers back in line. Knowing in about 30 min she will have to do it all again.....

The Primary Program I will never forget!

Once again it is that time of year when the first hour of church is devoted to the Primary. Young voices shout for joy to be sitting up on the stand entertaining their families. However, this year for me was different. I was directing this crazy group! (really there was two of us because of the numbers and thank goodness)
For those of you that really know me...stop laughing! I have been attempting to teach senior primary (age 7-12) since late last December. So today was their time to shine...or like me..fake it! Along with the Junior Primary (age 3-7 ) we packed the choir seats and the first 3 rows.
Before church began I collected all the gum and prayed there would be no crazy disaster. I should have know something was going to happen as I sat quietly enjoy the passing of the Sacrament.
Charles was on my lap chowing down a whole bag a fruit snacks in 2.3 seconds. Not coming up for air should have been a warning sign. However, my brain was not focused on Charles. I was worried about forgetting some words or leading the music wrong (wait-I always lead the music wrong) Charles ended up on my mother's lap gulping down a bottle of milk for the remainder of the Sacrament. When the Sacrament was over I gathered my things and approached the music stand to begin this new adventure.
One song down, two songs down and then it hit me. To my right, out of the corner of my eye a steady stream of a white fell to the floor. As a turned my head I could see our old primary president jump quickly to her right almost landing on her daughter. Then behind her was my sweet husband holding my son tight in his arms trying to prevent another spray of puke from attacking poor Melissa. ("What did you eat for Father's Day" is a must read blog entry if you missed it ) Ryan gets it every time! As Ryan attempts to maneuver around my Mother and my 93 year old Grandma (in a wheelchair blocking the isle) he clinches Charles as a loud burp leads to another explosion.
Did you remember I was leading the music? I didn't! What do I do? Help Ryan get out of the chapel, clean the floor, pretend nothing happened or crawl under the bench? Hummmm...the bench was looking pretty good until Melissa said "keep going we will clean this up" Do you know how difficult it is to stand there while your Mother and other sweet church friends are wiping up puke from YOUR son. Hhhhhhh.
As gross as this all sounds I learned this evening as Ryan ran down the hall to the bathroom a friend followed him to see if he needed any help (and this was a guy) Apparently, he cleaned the hall from the chapel to the bathroom without missing a spot. Some sweet lady was making sure he got everything. (thanks Chris)
Flustered and embarrassed I was able to pull it together and finish the program. It might not have been perfect but it was beautiful! When they sang the final song my legs got a little weak, a lump filled my throat and my heart was filled with Joy. "He is always near me....watching over me"
This past weekend I was able to attend Time out for Women. (thanks Mom for the great birthday present) It was about finding Joy in your life. Ten months ago if you told me I would be leading music to a bunch of kids. I would have laughed. The Lord really knows how to challenge me and this was a challenge. The love and joy I have for these children is undescribable. Not a day goes by that I don't think of how blessed I am to have so many tender souls bring me so much Joy!

PS-
Charles is NOT sick. He has ALWAYS had reflex issue. It is better now that we know is allergic to eggs, oats and maybe now fruit snacks!

Facebook!

Yah..just as addicting as Blogging!!! Do you know where your friends are?

OK I know....I am the worst blogger!

Ryan has been on me to start blogging again....in fact he did the Blog about Hailey's room. One paint job I will NEVER do again without my Father! My Math skills suck...I took the same Math class for 3 years in High School and in college it was no better. It took me all day to tape ONE wall. Mapping out squares you think would be easy...or at least basic. And then getting all the squares to line up.....nuts! I would tape it only to find the last row off by a couple of inches...it was crazy! In the end it turned out pretty cute. I was proud of myself. Most people would do 500 things if there kids were at Grandma's for 2 days...not me I only do one!

Hailey's Bedroom

Corrin wanted to add some color to Hailey's bedroom while surprising me with the project she started to undertake. So with Hailey at Grandma Kris', Corrin and Kim started in on the project. Here is the beginning of the process.

After several hours and a lot of glasses of water, Corrin came to a point in which she really likes her artistic abilities. Here is the finished product. Hailey loves it as well.

What did you serve Dad on Father's Day?

On the way to church this morning I realized I was sticking to my seat...hum with a little twisting and turning I found the chewed up sour patch kid attached to my bum. I freaked out...you would too if you realized in about 15 min 500 eyes were going to be focused on your sticky, gooey bum. The primary children were singing today and I would be leading. I am positive the main focus would the 200 children on the stand however this was a disaster to me. (not Ryan) upon arriving at church Ryan, the kids and all Ryan's stuff piled out of the car. While I tried to figure out how I was going to make it to the bathroom with no one stopping me or saying...."holy cow what did you seat on". I parked the car with plans to run to the nearest restroom with a whole box of wipes. About 5 min later the scrubbing and swearing had ceased. It was going to be OK. Thank goodness dark brown does not show red sour patch kids very well. Ryan was right it would be OK. As I walked with confidence to the chapel I thought that I sure needed to apologize to him for freaking out. But Ryan was not in the chapel. Someone was in our row!!! OH no...I am not apologizing now. Where was he? I entered the lobby to find our children running everywhere....well all of them except Charles....he was on the floor tucked in the coat area just in a diaper....What! Ryan was hovering over him as he was kicking and screaming. No sooner then "What happened" left my lips. Ryan turned around and I had NO more questions. He was COVERED in pancakes, strawberries, bacon, syrup, OJ and a little root beer Popsicle. All the fixing's of a Father Day breakfast! Apparently it started in the chapel and Ryan raced out to the lobby! Now my little sticky bum was nothing compared to this priceless return of Father's Day Breakfast!

Calvin Klein's

Last week I bought Carter some new underwear. Marshall's had a great deal on Calvin Klein's boxer briefs so a picked up a few for Carter. Carter usually just wear the normal boys underwear so I thought he might not like these one to much. I was quite surprised when he said how much he liked them because they were just like Dad's. Hailey expressed that she to wanted underwear like that. I explained that they do not make it for girls. She quickly responded "yes they do mom you have some". Ha Ha!

The next day Carter spent the night at a friends house. I was emptying his backpack and noticed that his extra pair of underwear was missing. Carter explained that his friend really liked them and so he gave him a pair. Because now they can both have underwear like their dad's! Kid's are to cute!

Laundry thing

Well it worked for a day...the fold as you go. I tried folding the load before the water had a chance to fill up on the next load. (a suggestion from Afton) it worked! Until Carter needed me, the baby woke up from his nap, and Hailey was freaking out because Sharpay the barbie was missing. I am trying it again today....thank you for all your suggestion!

Dirty socks, pants and oh ya the entire bedding off Hailey's bed. Sweet Carter and precious Hailey slept in the same bed last night and they BOTH wet the bed! Sometime today I will load that BIG black bag full of pee soaked bedding and head to the Laundromat. How appropriate that Hailey choose to read Knuffle Bunny last night before bed.
(if you don't have this book....get it we love it)

By the way I HATE LAUNDRY. There are few things I Hate in life.....spiders, stepping on a slug with no socks on, grumpy people and laundry.
I am great at gathering, washing and even drying but the act of fold and put away....I am horrible. Right now there is a small "Laundry bomb" that exploded in my room.
For those of you that know my clean freak husband...this drives him CRAZY.
I am staring new today!!!! I will try the fold as you go....and put away too.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

Spring Break Snow?

"Mom it is snowing"....This morning after getting Charles dressed I came downstairs to find Carter in a t-shirt and flip-flops playing in the snow (slush) outside. "Mom I need gloves" I was thinking you need boots, a hat and maybe a coat too! For some strange reason I thought it was spring. The winter clothes are packed!!! I guess I will be getting those out of the closet today....quickly we got dressed and went to Grandma's and Pappa's to watch Grannie...the snow has started to melt but the kids still had a fun wet time making slush pies!

Easter Bunny

Easter!!!! The weather on Saturday was beautiful. Kim, Jared and Everett came down from Vancouver and joined us along with Grandma Julie at the Oak Hills Easter Egg Hunt

Sunday we attended Church with Grandma Julie to hear her talk on forgiveness. We all could use a little bit of forgiveness in our life. She did a fabulous job and I am so lucky to have such a wise Mom!

The two boys had a blast! Charles and Everett are 12 days apart and it is a blast watching the two of them grow up so fast! Thank you Aunt Kim for moving back to Portland! (and you too Jared)