What the Quack?

This duck thinks our pool is her own peronal pond. The first time I spotted ducks in the pool a few years ago I had visions of the story Make Way For Ducklings. How adorable to have our own ducks swimming in our backyard. We watched with adoration until we noticed the mess they left in the pool and on the deck. Now what...

Our pool guy was familiar with this dilemma and suggested we put balls in our pool to scare the ducks away. I guess they think they are people. I suppose this is where the phrase "bird brain" comes from. Well it works. These ducks return each spring and so do these balls. Some of the duck mess.

Bye bye birdy.

I Keep on Fallin

Life on the sidelines.

If you recognize what this is than you may have had an EKG. I have had more than I care to count. Sunday morning I got up at 7:30 and went to the bathroom or as I like to call it the scene of the crime. I began to feel dizzy so I started to get down when I fainted. I didn't have my cell phone and Tom was down stairs and Brynn was asleep. When I came to I was in pain. Specifically, neck and shoulder pain. I had landed on my left shoulder. I laid there for a long time, like 30 minutes. I couldn't get up so I just stayed where I was.

Eventually, Brynn walked in the room and then called Tom. Seeing my predicament, Tom called 911. The paramedics arrived and thus began the comedy of errors. One of the paramedics, we'll call him the rookie decided to step over me and in so doing kicked me in the knee. You know, the knee I shattered 18 months ago. I started to cry and when Tom asked me what was wrong the rookie said, "Uhh, I'm sorry I kicked her knee." He's sorry? No buddy, I'm sorry. Sorry that I got the freakin rookie. Next they placed a cervical collar and put me on the gurney. Rookie slid something under my head to support it but he jammed it into my head and you guessed it, it hurt. They strapped me in and proceeded to take me down the stairs. I began to slide down the board because I wasn't strapped in tight enough and I started to choke and cough and thought I might pass out again. Rookie says, "Sorry you are sliding. I guess we didn't buckle you in tight enough." I continued to choke and cough and gasp for air. So once we get into the ambulance I'm feeling better because I know I will be free of the rookie very soon. They begin to take my vital signs and blood sugar. Rookie is in charge of getting my blood pressure. I have very low blood pressure and it is very hard to get it manually. It is hard to hear. Well he is trying his best and then announces to the other paramedic that my BP is over 300. Yeah, I don't think so buddy. She tells him that due to my condition I have low blood pressure so he needs to get a child's cuff and try again. So he obeys his partner who knows what she is doing and then says, "Umm, I think it is 144?" Yeah, no. She takes over and tells him to drive. My BP was 80 over 44. Well at least he got the 44 right. So because there is no real emergency he drives slowly and carefully to the ER. Longest ride to the hospital I've ever had. I guess rookies get assigned the Sunday morning shift. I hope he doesn't seriously injure any patients.

Once I get to the ER, I get to my room and these two boys are my aids. They look the same age as my sons 20 and 22. So first they hand me the gown and since I'm a frequent flyer at the ER I know the routine but usually they tell you to put on the gown and then they leave. Nope, the helper boys are staying put. Well okay, here we go boys. After giving birth I've lost my dignity. I hope they are not scarred for life. Next comes the EKG. Again, usually this is done very modestly by carefully placing the gown and then putting 157 stickers from ankle to chest. Nope not this time. The gown is moved to my waist and I immediately have jokes flying around my mind. Like, "Hey do I get any beads for this?" or "This is like girls gone wi!d in the ER." I bite my tongue because they are young and I don't want to freak them out. This is hard for me. One of the boys is also a rookie so he is being trained how to do an EKG. Glad I can help.

Blah, blah, blah, blood tests, x-rays ya da ya da. I sprained my ankle and messed up my shoulder. Thankfully nothing is broken. The Dr in the ER knows me, she did a central line on me once, she said, "You need to live in a rubber room." Truer words have never been spoken as I am living my life on the edge of sanity. I am back in a wheelchair until I can walk and my shoulder heals. My ankle feels much better today. I have hope that I can soon put full weight on it.

The back story is that I spent Mother's Day in the ER because of another faint followed by one more the next day. My neuro is adjusting my meds and I am not tolerating the increase. I took myself back down to the original dose but I've been told that this drug takes 6-8 weeks to leave your system. I am sick of Dr's, hospitals, side effects of meds, and chronic illness. So I will lay low for awhile and I am looking into an outfit like this.

I look good in blue.

Shoeless Day

We interrupt this Shoesday to bring you a riddle...
Q. What's black and blue and jacked up all over?












A. That would be me. Story to follow tomorrow.

In other news, the birthday princess got new shoes. I love her sock tan from practice. After spotting her cousin Ashley wearing these beauties, I knew they would make a geat addition to Brynn's shoe wardrobe.

Gorgeous.

Princess Brynn

The little Princess and the Queen Mother

Remember that this was 1993

Once upon a time in a fair and sunny land a little Princess was born. It didn't take her long to charm the kingdom esspecially the King and two little Princes. The Queen had the task of taming the little Princess because the King and the Princes never wanted the Princess to be sad. The Princess had them firmly wrapped around her little finger. She was silly, sassy, strong and smart. When she was good she was very, very good but when she was naughty look out. Sometimes the queen called her Brynnderella and sometimes she called her Brynnella De Ville.

As Princess Brynn grew up the Queen Mother had dreams of her little Princess becoming a dancer but the little Princess had her own dreams of playing sports. Any and all sports. Esspecially any sport with a ball and a stick.

The litte Princess grew up and so did her brothers. Eventually the Princes moved away to find kingdoms of their own and Princess Brynn was left alone in the palace with her parents. Not her idea of a good time but she adjusted to all the attention. She is independant, intellectual and ideal. We asked God for a daughter and He sent us a Princess.

Happy Seventeen Princess

Fashion Friday

Passport Style It was time to renew my passport as we will be heading to the Bahamas this summer.

Of course I obsessed about what to wear.

I mean, I will have this thing for another 10 years and I have had one too many ugly driver's license pictures so this time I wanted to be prepared.

Here is my blurry picture from 10 years ago.

I could not get a clear picture of this picture. There are all these wavy lines on the photo.

Apparently big brother doesn't want it to be posted on my blog but whatever, we are talking fashion here.As you can see I wore a white shirt and navy blazer. I've always liked my passport picture because I went with a classic look.
Here are the new photos. I opted for a white button down to keep it classic so I won't hate it in 10 years. No jewelry for the same reason. Notice how I have the same haircut as 1999. I guess I need to change it up but I always go back to some version of a bob. The back is much shorter now and I do have the red streak working for my trendy look. I just wish they would use a soft focus lens to erase 10 years of wrinkles from my face.
Maybe in 2019 I will wear a turtleneck to cover the impending neck sag.
Now I just need to get a new driver's license picture. That thing is seriously bad. I was wearing a chambray denim jumpsuit that had palazzo pants. Plus I had glasses.
It was before lasik, like 1992 or something. Bad I tell you.
Now if I could just get my driver's license back...

Home Run

It isn't every kid that gets to play t-ball in the shadow of the temple.


Sam is very serious about his game. While the other kids picked flowers and their noses. He was always in ready position. He knows where and when to throw the ball.

Sam has quite an arm and he is focused.


He reminds me of a couple of other little baseball boys.


Evan will be continuing his love of baseball by interning with the Orem Owls, a minor league baseball team. He will act as a facility manager responsible for hiring and managing 60 employees. He is so excited to get paid to watch baseball all summer long.

What a perfect job for my little baseball boy.

Because I can't say no to this face...

Whenever I see Lizzie she has two questions for me, "Do you have lick gloss?"

and "Can I wear your jewelry?" How can I say no?

This time I gave her some lick gloss of her own and some jewelry. Well, after two days of unlimited lick gloss usage this is what happens...
a lick gloss rash.
Sorry Lizzie. I love you and next time I will get hypoallergenic lick gloss.

Her lips are still shimmering.