Bloggers, We have a Problem!!!

There is something wrong with my computer, again. I guess that is one of the casualties of having 6 kids. I can get on Google Earth and then get on the web from there, but I don't have my favorite's list anymore, which means I am not visiting any blogs, because I don't remember exact addresses, and that's the only way I can do it, is to enter an address. Oh, it's fun...again. Unfortunately, I can still type in eBay and look at shoes, at the dismay of my husband:) Tonight is our ward's Christmas party. The kids and I have been relishing in the Holidays:) Lance has been busy, but happy. He is doing a rotation in ER, which is his residency field. He loves it. He is pretty darn good at it too. It fits him and that's a wonderful thing to know when they are working him like a pack mule on a mountain!!!! We are getting our tree tomorrow.Yes, it is late for us, but considering I am the one left for that part, I am less motivated:) There is no cutting this year, even though we live on 11 acres, we don't have a lot of Pine Trees. I am asking one thing of all friends and family who visit my site. Could you please email me with your address, so that I can send you a Christmas Card? I would really appreciate it! My email address is loriallen10@yahoo.com. I can get to my email, to check it. I am so grateful for friends and family. Just knowing I can carry you around in my back pocket (sorry for the squish and smell) it keeps me comforted. Happy Holidays!

Mellissa's Meme

and only she knows what the heck a Meme is. I guess it's like a tag, but fancier. Whomever reads my Meme is OBLIGATED to do their own, unless they have done one within the last week. If you accept these terms you may read further. If not you may click on the back button to leave this site (don't you dare!).

Things I have done before
1 worked a summer in a fish cannery and gutted fish and sorted more eggs than most people see in a lifetime (in Alaska)
2 danced the hula in my 6Th grade class (Hawaii) "Show me How to do the Hula" for Lief Erickson Day?
3 rode my horse bareback into a lake when I was 16 and we swam around for a while
4 showed reindeer to tourist in Alaska for a summer job. Auggie was the most popular one, he grunted all the time
5 accidentally killed my boys pet rat by feeding it sweet potato, who knew uncooked sweet potato had traces of arsenic?
6 going along with the rat theme I had one named Molly. In college I would sneak her in my pocket of my hoodie and her take to class with me!
7 I feel I should mention something that wasn't pre-marriage or pre-children. When my children were just mere babes I started teaching them to play dead. So then by the age of 1 to 1 1/2 they could die on command and then I would pretend to cry for them. Then I die and they pretend to cry for me. My husband thinks I am demented, probably so, but it's one of my proudest achievements to date.

Things I do now
1 Blog
2 Yell
3 Clean
4 Bite the sides of my mouth
5 Sing too loud
6 Eat too much chocolate
7 Goof off until I get a headache or pee pants

Things I Want to Do
1 Lose some more weight (on a chocolate diet, mind you)
2 Look Hot all the time but still retain a comfy level-going for the hot nurse that lives in her scrubs, maybe?
3 Since this is what I WANT to do, it doesn't have to fit into reality, because I would Like to vacation in the Bahamas, lay on a lawn chair, sipping (virgin) pina coladas, feeling the wind.....moving on...
4 Hire a maid, no, 3 maids!
5 Be one of those Barbie Dolls that when you want long hair you tug at her head and pull out hair. Then cut it when you want it short, then long again? no problem!-give it a pull!
6 Look outside and see mountains
7 See my family again, soon, real soon...

Things That attract me to the Opposite Sex
1 Confidence- not overconfidence
2 Good growin' facial hair ( my hubby rocks)
3 Burly mountain men
4 Guys in action, doing something really awesome like shootin a gun (and actually does a rock-awesome job) hunting, Or fighting crime as a spy- Bond, James Bond...
5 Guys in uniform, need I say more? WOWza, you could take a kinda good lookin chicken-necked guy, throw em in a Navy, Army or what not(anything but A Catholic Priest) uniform and he just became H O T !
6 I would like to think that he could pick me up without grunting!!!!
7 If he is attracted to me. Call me crazy, but that helps! Because if he can't see a hottie tottie when he sees one, then he's an idiot and Lori no likey the idiots.

Favorite Foods
1 I love all the food groups- chocolate, chocolate with nuts, chocolate with peanut butter, chocolate in a wrapper, chocolate not in a wrapper.
2 Chocolate chip cookies
3 steak
4 steamed veggies
5 Kalbi- Korean Dish, it would actually go before chocolate! I would have it as my last meal if I was going to be executed, and wouldn't even mind the lethal injection after. That's how good it is!
6 Dutch oven anything, after you ride into camp (on the deer hunt), and are exhausted and starving
7 Chili after you have walked back to camp (on the deer hunt) and are exhausted and starving.

Things I say Most Often
1 Oh Poop
2 Holy Crap (notice a theme?)
3 What the Heck?
4 Don't you dare
5 Knock that off
6 You are a dead man
7 Rider... (then repeat 1,2,3,4,5,6)

I tag 7 people that have read this. So if you just read this, just consider yourself tagged, unless you are Mellissa and then you have immunity (and I don't mean against the flu virus, so get your shot).

...Snow is Glistening...

What was I talking about? Winter Wonderland? That was just the opening scene. It has been snowing here since! It is beautiful! So far, it's not a far cry from Cedar City, I think I am just enjoying all the snow covered trees. Maybe I am reminiscing my days in Alaska... I love it when everything is covered. No brown in sight. Maybe except for the highways, right? I have quite enjoyed the view. It probably won't last long, so I took some pics this morning after I took Trapper to the bus stop.


I don't know that Lance likes driving 20 minutes to work everyday in it! Mainly he complains about the other people not knowing how to drive in it and reducing their speed to a steady 15 mph!


I had to add my boys havin' fun in the snow! They were dying to get out there, and they had a BLAST! I guess it's time to pull all the winter garb out! AWWWW!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

We may just be walking to the bus stop, but oh, what a beautiful sight it is! We only got a skiff of snow, but with all the trees here, it changes the scenery dramatically!

The fall and upcoming winter season have been surprisingly mild. I don't think they give Utahan's enough credit for their winters (I can say that, coming from Alaska). They have been warning us about the winters here, but apparently we don't even get our first real snow system until after Christmas time! I am anticipating some fierce snow storms to pound us later. So far, I have been enjoying the weather.

When I took Shylee to early morning seminary, there wasn't any ice on the road, or my windshield. We have had cold nights and some icy windshields, but all in all better than expected. I do love the winter's, and a good snow storm, so I am great either way! I think I will hang my Christmas wreath today.

Too True

Trapper and I were driving (I was steering he was pushing the gas:) into the parking lot of Walmart. He was asking his "Is this true? Is that true?" series of questions. When out pops- "WHEN YOU FALL IN LOVE YOU HAVE TO START PAYING BILLS." I laughed my head off. Then I asked, "Who told you that?" Without a second thought, he said "Dad." It figures... This kid keeps me rolling! Just my one minute happy thought to share.

The Bread & Puddin' of Life

My mother-in-law has raised 6 children and a high-school on her delicious comfort food. My recipe box is made up of recipes from her recipe box! The two recipes my family founders on on a regular basis is her homemade bread and her rice puddin'. It can't be said to be "pudding." Trapper has always had a special place in his belly for "rice puddin'." He would incessantly ask for it and Grandma would deliver!I think as well as it warms his belly, it warms his heart to know that Grandma would take requests with pleasure! I have also tried to keep up with demand. I feel like the best mom in the world when Trapper is almost out of breath with excitement to have his rice puddin' made! Every time I make these recipes, I think of Deb (who I make sound like she is dead, but clearly, she is alive) and how feeding her kids wasn't just a chore...but a love.

Now, am I in the will? All this...I should be. We'll get to that later:) Today as I was making the puddin' I thought how pretty it was and I should make a post about it. As I was posting, my boys were jumping on our new trampoline, my orange couch. My husband teased that it would be played on, more than sat on. Gees, do you have to have a doctorate to be that witty? But he was right, or should I say, his diagnosis was correct? Anywaaaaay, it's a Craigslist special. I love it! But I do have to say I get a superior kick at the entertainment that comes from having it. Right now they are playing a Spiderman/helicopter/gun/pig enactment. So, the orange couch is a multipurpose sitting/playing piece of furniture/playground equipment!

Happy Halloween!

Are you wondering how I took these pictures? Well, I got over the loss of my other camera, and found a Kodak EasyShare, used, on eBay for 68.99 (includes s&h-for those that need it broke down). I am happy that I am back in action. I think it will do exactly what I need for now. I feel whole again....awwww...My husband use to say that he could put all the pics I have taken, lay them on top of each other, and flip them to have a picture show! Who needs a camcorder!! Moving on... We had a fun Halloween. We did trunk or Treat at the church on the 29th, the elementary school had a parade of costumes for parents and the school, and on Halloween we went to the park and visited Zoe and Elmo and the fire station. About the timestamp date on the pics-I figured out how to take the time stamp off, after the fact, so disregard the dates on the pics!
The other activity we have going strong is cutting and stacking wood. We have went back in time, here in Ohio, where everyone has oil, wood, and electric. We could get gas piped out to us, but out here gas is the same price as electric (3X's as much as Utah!)We have electric and a fireplace. So, to reduce electric costs we are cutting all the dead trees on our property for firewood. Most people buy "slab wood" from the Amish (which is left overs from running it through the planer), or cut themselves. So, my brutishly handsome husband, AKA Jeremiah Johnson, is reliving his logging days and cutting down the trees on our home front. It is so exhilarating to watch him fall a tree! He is awesome! The crazy thing is we are cutting mostly oak trees! They burn like coal (long and slow), it's crazy! There are so many hardwood trees here, which in Utah would be a rarity. I feel like I should be making furniture out of it, not burning it!!!

I thought I would throw in a picture of my hubby and me. I love his facial hair (not mine). I'm so grateful I had some boys get his bright blue eyes:) Sometimes I think we are suited for a Homestead in Alaska! So, instead, I'll take my Homestead (with a bit more technology) in Ohio!

Random Babbling and Venting...

OK, I'm upset, yes, there I said it. I can't find my very expensive camera anywhere. I think I may have left it at my sons football game, and someone stole it. I have checked everywhere. If there's a where, I have checked there. I have, now in total, caught 8 mice since we have lived here. The salamander was cute so he doesn't count as a rodent. That's fine, I could move past that if....if it weren't for the fact that this football season someone stole (someone from the visitor's team) Lance Albern's very expensive, very irreplaceable, very nice, very Nike, football cleats. Which in turn we purchased 29.99 dollar cleats as replacements. I still need to paint the rest of my room, the upstairs hallway, replace outlets...My dear husband and I are coming up with countless ways to save money. I don't drive, virtually a shut-in. Which, I am OK with 'cause we are paying on 11 acres every month that I can play on, or burn down, whichever I feel like at the moment. Which reminds me we have to cut firewood this weekend. So, we will be burning some of the trees. Yep. I think I'll move to Australia... I'm feeling overwhelmed with the Holidays comin', with basketball comin'- shoes, fees, uniforms, driving...I need to put on a sad movie and cry, but that gives me a headache. I need to go for a walk, but that sounds painful... I need to take pictures of the beautiful fall leaves that are ALMOST OFF THE TREES, oh wait, I can't, but someone else probably is, with my camera....I think I'll move to Australia. Oh, wait, doesn't Australia have socialized medicine? So, my husband wouldn't make a dime.....great! I could go on, but I have so much positive that it makes the bad look small. In reality overlooking all this, I am so dearly blessed with a great husband that tells me I am beautiful everyday, and his nickname for me is "gorgeous." My kids are doing wonderful. My daughter and son are the best teenagers alive. They tell me everything in their lives. My daughter told her friends the other day that she can't wait till Fridays because then she can hang out with her family! Hunter is de-stinkering as we speak. He is doing great at school and is coming into his own. Trapper is adorable and anal retentive, which for a 7 year old is quite adorable. He cracks me up every day. He could run this house better than me. Fisher asks questions everyday to "get ready for school" he's got to "get smart." His material is amazing!Last week he asked me if worms change into butterflies. I laughed my head off, and it gets better than that. Rider was giggling on my bed the other night yelling out "I'm gonna kill ya, mom!" as I was tickling him. Makes a mom proud. If you made it to the bottom of this post I commend you!

Summer Adventures...

Shylee juggling the kids floating down a lazy river in Yellowstone. It was feed by a geyser of warm water. It was mid calf. It was perfect!

Yo Ho Yo Ho-Oh the fun we have

My handsome fisherman montana

We went to Martin's Cove (my nephew is named after) we pulled the handcart for about 5-6 miles. Pioneer children sang as they walked? We tried! My older two had an amazing spriritual experience. I could never thank the pioneers enough.

We made Lance Albern some short and stubby legs outta sand! Isn't he handsome?! (Montana)

Our little swimmer. He would just go out into the lake and dip his head in to see what he could see! He walked around like this forever! (Montana)

Dough Boys...

Here I am baking bread. I love to. Then I thought that I had better check my bank account balance, and why not some blogs, etc. The morning ritual. Then Fisher tells me that Rider is getting into the flour. I told him to get out of the flour. Rider sweetly complies and says the dearest little "OK," as sweetly as a conniving two year old could. Then Fisher yells out "HE IS BUILDING A HOUSE FROM THE FLOUR!" I thought, two story? How? It would have to be a ranch style... Low and behold you don't have to have sand or a sandbox for some go o'l playing in the sand, or flour, time! The funniest part of the flour moment was Fisher running back in to see what Rider created with his flour and Fisher yelling out "He built Texas!!" Flour isn't just for making bread...apparently. I guess I was just uninformed of the possibilities...

Homecoming Week!

Last week was Homecoming week. It's all about fun with the parade, dance, high school football game, team spirit,and bon-fire. Shylee went to the dance with her friend, Mackenzie. Just as girls, no dates! She had a blast. Besides having a run-in with the principal (that was me! but he did end up apologizing for it-I caught him at a bad time) everyone had a lot of fun. My kids took hold, by cheering for their team and wearing their colors proudly! Even Rider was excited to be a Wildcat! It was impossible to find Shylee a modest dress. Since it wasn't her "Official" homecoming with a date etc., I figured she didn't need the gown. So, the dress was semi-formal enough, but not quite as formal as the others. She was happy and looked awesome!!! We are going to do some major planning for homecoming and prom to come, to find the perfect and modest gown!!!! Here are some pics of the kids before the game, and Shylee before the dance.

What Are You Sinking About?

Rider loves to take baths in the sink! Loves! Everyday I have to decide whether I feel up to it, because he is going to ask, and man alive, he's cute! Just one of those endearing moments in the day. PS The red on his skin is marker! Another endearing moment:)

Foggy days and Bedrooms

There are a lot of foggy days here. Along with the frogs, toads, mushrooms, chipmunks, squirrels and neighborly hawk, I love them! Fog here is common, but I don't think it will ever grow old, it's beautiful. Almost every morning that I take the kids out to the bus stop (the end of our driveway:)there is an ethereal fog to behold. Here are some other pics of the house that I didn't post last time. The livingroom and Hunter's bedroom. Do you like the color I chose for the livingroom? Hunter chose his. I absolutely love his. I chose the curtains! Thanks for lookin'!

The Homestead

I wanted to show you some re-vamping that has taken place here at the Homestead! We have painted, (almost finished!) changed fixtures, put in appliances (we thought that wasn't optional:). We have worked our tail-ends off (I wish!). Here is the downstairs bathroom (1/2 bath) which underwent a complete overhaul. It has had wallpaper removed, new paint, new fixtures, some beadboard, and has had the scum cleaned off of everything !!!!Besides the light fixture I did the rest by myself! It gives me a sense of pride to know that I have some handy-man skills! We have put appliances in the kitchen. Did an inexpensive update with new knobs, and added a nice fresh coat of paint! It needs some new light fixtures put in. That will happen some day! I tore down wallpaper from 90 percent of the house! That was quite the under-taking, especially with 6 kids running around making messes of their own! I will get some more pics when we shape the place up further! It has been a labor of love. I do enjoy the house. Oh, don't miss my view out my kitchen window! That makes a small kitchen worth it!

Kiersty Tagged Me!

20 Years Ago...
1. I was 15.
2. I was in 10th grade!
3. I was dreaming of becoming a Marine Biologist and praying to
have a wonderful husband and a bunch of kids.

10 Years Ago...
1. I had a 4 year old daughter, 2 1/2 year old son and a newborn!
2. I had just graduated from college (97) and Lance was finishing up his
Engineering Degree. We were in Logan.

5 Years Ago...
1. I was 1 month away from having my 5th kid, Fisher! I had just moved into the 4 bedroom home in Sunset Ridge Village, where I met all these really awesome chics!
2. My husband had just made it into 6 Medical Schools! We were thrilled!
3. I weighed 240 pounds, pregnant, AWWWW!!!!

3 Years Ago...
1. We were living in Las Vegas (hated it)
2. I was pregnant with my 6th babe.
3. Lance was in TOURO University (Medical Univ.)

1 Year ago..
1. I lived with my in-laws in Escalante (loved it)
2. my husband was on a 5 1/2 month stint out-of-state for rotations!!
3. hoping and praying for a good residency!

So far This year...
1. My husband has become a doctor and got into a great residency
2. We bought our first home
3. We have moved to West Farmington, Ohio

Yesterday I...
1. Mopped the kitchen floor
2. My hubby and I sat on our bed and played with our babe, Rider
3. Watched "Wipeout" and laughed our heads off

Today I...
1. Had a raging headache...oh well...
2. Took a lovely nap after I got all the kids off to school:)
3. Talked to my honey on the phone and cried like a baby about missing family, friends and Utah.

In the Next Year...
1. Finish moving in!
2. Enjoy living here in Ohio with my hubby and children
3. Lose the rest of the baby (toddler) weight 30 more to go!

I know mine isn't too exciting. Thanks for tagging me! I feel like one of the "cool kids!" I am tagging Linda, (if she ever reads this) Mellissa, Jessi, and Melanie (Lane's Mel). My life has been a whirlwind. I am so grateful for everyone that reads this, that means you are family and friends! Hopefully not some computer weirdo looking to stalk someone (I'm not that exciting of a person).

Move Over Tom Brady (NFL MVP 2007)

Here's my boy-Lance Albern givin' it his all at the first Jr. High Football game of the year. He is #80! They didn't win, but the team is learning to work with each other. They are a good team and Lance is learning a lot. He is new at this sport. We didn't live in an area recently with the opportunity to play, so he is a rookie! But he is already getting the hang of it. He's not a QB! He is a tight end and something else. I am still learning too! I'll sound like an expert at the end of the season! Go Wildcats!

ABC's and 123's & GO Wildcats!!

The kids went back to school August 25th. They have been adjusting well. They school is small which I prefer. They are all at the same location and the older kids just go to different buildings on site. It's a really old school. It's over 100 years old, I think. I think it's swell, but apparently I stand alone, because they are building another school and it will open in 2 years. The kids bus stop is the end of our driveway! What could be better! Trapper (2nd grade) gets snack (which we prepare for him) and "morning milk." That is to ensure that the kids are getting some type of breakfast. Lance Albern (7th Grade) has his first official football game tonight!! Go Wildcats! For any HighSchool Musical Fan out there, my kids love the fact that we are the same as the movie! Shylee (9th grade) is going to Homecoming this month. She is going with her friends and not a date, nevertheless, she is stoked beyond reason! Shylee is a trooper. She gets up every morning at 4:30 for early morning seminary. I wonder if she won't start setting the alarm a few minutes later here pretty soon?! Seminary starts at 5:50! I had to do the same in Alaska. She's earning her stripes! I will be posting some pics of Lance's game later. I'm excited for him, but also would like for his body not to fall to pieces!! They have the team where their jersey's on game day, so that's the pic at breakfast. Fisher (4yrs) doesn't go to school yet. We are having "AT HOME PRESCHOOL." As many times as you say it, it still doesn't sound as exciting as the real thing! PS, They have all day kindergarten here! Fisher is sooo excited to attend that next year!! Hunter is in 5th grade. he is doing his homework even before he gets home! What could be better! Lance started residency. He is rotating his first year. He is doing pediatrics right now.

Backyard and Path to Pond and Nakie Boy!

Here are a couple I had of my back yard and the path leading to the pond. I will get some of the pond. It's beautiful here, but I can see some things that I will have to learn to love. The water in our area is gross. We can't have a well, too much clay, so we drink from our pond! After a good chunk of change the water still comes out a lovely light orange color. It's safe but we aren't low on iron, if ya know what I mean!! The ground here is always soggy!! I just think that is crazy!!! There are constant mud puddles that never go away! Not too bad at our place, but other members in the ward live in the "high water area" and half their yard is covered in mud!! It's odd! The amount of bugs here should win some kind of prize. We had some fruit fly invasion! We have hornets the size of small children and we had to give blood transfusions to Fisher because of all the mosquitos (haha)! We do have adorable squirrels everywhere the size of a grandma's lapdog, and cute little chipmunks. We caught 2 baby mice the other day. Their mamas make regular visits into my pantry! There are wild turtles here, that's cute. Our neighbor has about 25-30 peacocks. That makes for an interesting nightly serenade, but welcomed, it's not bad. There are a lot of differents here, not bads, just differents. Oh how I miss family, friends and good o'l Utah. But I will take my trees, my green, and wild (literally) friends and enjoy the enjoyable differents of Ohio. Love you~