The Cannon's Computer Home

Things I didn't think about until now.

2011-01-19T15:40:00.001-07:00

I realized that I am not really prepared for this baby. I just set up the crib but could only find one sheet. So now I need to find more sheets. I will probably just make a few since crib sheets are small and easy enough. Secondly I was at church last sunday and the family in front of me had a baby. She spit up a bit and they went diving into the diaper bag looking for a rag or cloth to clean up her face. They couldn't find any and I could only find a few once I got home. Yeah I am pretty sure I had two dozen or more when I packed them away!

Bigger house + Louder kids = I need a baby monitor. Can I find the one I used to have? No of course not! It sucked anyway though so a new one (or new to me anyway) will be just fine. I have no binkies. I have no bottles. If this child needs to use either of these items I will have to buy new ones. Great yet another expense (potentially)!

All the baby clothes are in the crawl space. In so many bins and boxes as to make me cringe. I managed to find about 10 sleepers of neutral gender and bring them up to wash so I hope that will work out until I can get my Darling Husband to go down there and find me the correct gendered bins full of clothing. At least i don't have to buy anything in that department! yay for 4th kids who will most likely never have the need for new clothes. :) (Like that would ever happen, but we can dream right?)

I'll add more later, I am sure more will come!

Saggin'

2011-01-05T10:18:00.000-07:00

So I'm sitting her playing on my BabyCenter and facebook. Emma is on the computer playing, Rachel right next to her. I notice that she has a plumber butt. I put her in a pull up last night because I was lazy and didn't want to find a diaper that fit her. I thought it was cute and just left it.

Ok so I wanted to see what would happen so after about 10 minutes it gets droopier. Then a few minutes later it is around her knees. She is completely oblivious. Sucking on her fingers watching the computer as Emma plays some blues clues game.

I have to change her now. Once I mentioned it to her she pulled off the pull-up and is now running around nekked!

New Years Eve~~A story of my Kids

2010-12-31T13:47:00.007-07:00

Happy New Years Eve! I went to the store to grab a few things for the informal, I don't think anyone will show up party we are having tonight. I took Emma with me because she is my shopper. She loves to go to the store regardless of what kind of store it is. I also needed milk and some water softener salt so that was my main purpose. I braved the roads after the 6 inches of snow we got last night and it wasn't really all that bad. Some roads were a bit slippery but I was fine and didn't slide off the road at all.

Now John was here with the other two kids. I love having him home for a few extra days. It is nice to have two parents during the day so I can get some things done. John is a great husband who loves to keep the house looking nice, kids happily playing and me from shoveling snow too much.

I got home and sent Emma in the house so I could get the groceries. What did I see when I opened the door? Let me show you!

Yes John, my wonderful husband, has made the coolest indoor fort ever! He cracks me up with his over the top creations sometimes! Like the time he made a hamburger patty out of 1 pound of ground beef. It was as big as the 12 inch plate.

He also read to the kids while in the fort. There is a hand scanning device as well so that you can get into the fort. Clever boys!

After taking the pictures of the fort I asked him where Rachel was. "Is she upstairs sleeping?" I ask. "I guess" was his reply. Ok I should have caught the cluelessness in that reply, but I didn't. After searching every room upstairs including closets and bathrooms and NOT finding my youngest child; I head back downstairs to ask John what really did happen to our 3 year old.

This is where we found her. I guess that Mormon Doctrine is a bit much for a three year old to take in and not fall asleep. Incidentally, this happens to be her favorite book. She will pull this one out all the time and "read" it to me.

Gotta love my kids (all 4 of them)

Halloween was fun

2010-11-02T09:56:00.006-06:00

I enjoyed my time this year for halloween. There was plenty to keep us busy and entertained for the duration of the "season". We went to four costumed activities with the kids and while I suck at taking pictures (I just forget that I need these things!) I did get a few.

Here we have Emma in her first of four Halloween costumes. I really should learn that my darling, precocious, creative and hilarious 5 year old wouldn't be able to settle on one costume for Halloween. She can't even wear less than 3 outfits in a day, despite my constant nagging and frustration.

When I asked the kids what they wanted to be for Halloween I got some great answers. Logan, who was a ninja last year, wanted to be a Ninja! Yay I already had the costume since he doesn't grow all that fast. Rachel, who was a black cat last year, wanted to be a kitty. Another point for mommy! Two costumes down and I still wasn't out any time or expense. Then I get to Emma, the consummate diva, she decided she wanted to be a princess. Ok I can do that! She wanted to be the "Yellow Princess". That for you Disney illiterate would be Belle ala Beauty and the Beast. She wants the costume in the Disney Store that is 70 bucks. Um, I saved a bunch of money on your siblings costumes, but that is a bit extreme, so after telling her no about 7 billion times and her throwing the king of all fits, IN THE STORE, we leave after I tell her that I can find one online for less money.

I didn't. I did however find one at Costco just in time for her birthday that was pretty cute! Yay she is happy, I am happy and costume planning is done. Well if you notice the picture above, she is not a beautiful princess. She is however a wonderful monkey. Yes that's right folks once I got the Halloween decorations out we found the costumes. The monkey one fit her perfectly. Now she wants to be a monkey. Ok no big deal right? Sure i spent money on a Belle dress, but that can be used for dress up and it was her birthday.

She was a monkey for our Trunk or Treat with Tooele Mommies. She was a Princess for the halloween carnival. Oh yeah there are two more activities left. Guess what that means. Yup you guessed it, two more costumes. For the ward dinner/trunk or treat she ended up being a princess again. No not in the Belle costume, not in the snow white dress from the carnival, but a completely new one! She had a cute little dress-up dress that is very princess like. She threw that on, a crown from our dress up box and a lovely purple feather boa.

Now comes the actual day. It is cold. It is raining. I have been feeling like crap for the last two days due to pregnancy, dehydration and fatigue. Yeah I tend to stop drinking water when I don't feel well. Stupid really, but this blog post isn't about me. Daddy is taking them Trick or Treating. I try to convince Emma that the monkey costume would be best since it is a very nice and warm costume. Like a little coat. NOPE! Apparently she is a movie star who when seen in public in an outfit will never wear said outfit again. She now wants to be a rock star. Yeah, it is 5pm no one has had dinner but there is a break in the wind and rain so we figure it's now or never. Emma finds herself a very pretty dress, we tie a feather boa around her waist (no it wasn't the same boa from before) and I make up her face in my makeup. Since i hadn't planned on a rock star I have nothing flashy, but somehow we make it work.

She wasn't happy that I was not going to be trick or treating with them, or that Daddy opted to drive them around the neighborhood as opposed to walking in the rain which had started up again. Oh what is that you say? Where is Rachel? Asleep upstairs in the spare room. She had half a grocery sack of candy from the night before so I didn't bother waking her up.

yeah Halloween was fun. So glad it only comes around once a year.

Living on the Moon

2010-10-24T13:14:00.004-06:00

Once upon a time I lived in Happy Valley. It was happy. It was a valley. It was near to all my family and we all got along. Singing songs while holding hands around town was a common occurrence. I'm pretty sure that is where all things good come from, this magical happy valley.

Then I got married and moved to Sin City. If anything bad happened on the news, it was in Sin City. That kid that died from child abuse, it was down the street. The drive by shooting? Yeah that was about 3 miles away. Oh and the house fire that killed someone you ask, why yes I knew the family and my kids played at the park with that someone.

We outgrew our house and needed something bigger. Well being that Sin City is a very expensive place to live and that Happy Valley was a bit too far from work and even more expensive, we decided it was best to move to the Moon. Now don't get all excited, the moon is really a rather nice place to live. I can feel good about my kids playing outside. My 6 year old can walk to his friends house down the street and I don't have to watch to make sure that no one kidnaps him. I can see the stars really well from the Moon. I mean I didn't know there were that many stars! Wow!

We have a Wal-Mart. A SUPER Wal-mart. Well what else would you expect to be here on the moon anyway? A Nordstrom's? I could use a few other options for my shopping pleasure, but it doesn't take that long to get back to Sin City so if I really need something that the "great and terrible" doesn't have I can head back down to earth.

Now I love living here on the Moon. I keep trying to get people to move out here so we have more friends and family near by, but they keep telling me its too far away. That is in fact one of the only reasons living on the Moon is not so great. I can't get anyone to come and visit. Well some do because I am just too awesome to pass up, but most make up excuses or just tell me strait up that we live on the MOON! Duh it would take all day to come and visit!

I get it, really I do. That is one of the reasons I like living on the Moon so much, because it is nice and out of the way. Quiet and calm where I can sit on my porch and watch the stars and the freight trains that pass by everyday. So in the end don't be afraid of taking a trip to the dark side of the Moon. You might just find there are some really nice people living there.

School

2010-10-06T12:12:00.002-06:00

I love school. I want to go back to school and just learn. Really! I yearn for more information on several topics and I would like to be one of those people who know a little bit about everything. You know the annoying guy sitting next to you at the company Christmas, whoops I mean Year End party. Yeah that's who I want to be.

Logan however does not share my enthusiasm for school. Oh sure once he is there is loves the kids, the work, the learning, the RECESS!!! But oh my good heavens is it hard to get that kid to school in the morning! He pitches a fit pretty much each and every morning. One thing that I have found that helps out a bunch, and don't shoot me for this, is that if I wake him up early make his eat and get ready for school, he is allowed to play video/computer games until school starts. If I warn him that he only has 5 min left he usually, and I mean USUALLY, gets into the car without too much fuss if any. There are days that I wish the video game was never invented, for instance last night, but I am glad my 6 year old son has found his niche in this world. Lets just hope he makes me, I mean himself a millionaire some day.

That was too easy

2010-05-09T19:38:00.002-06:00

Rachel loves to play in the water. She will sit, well stand anyway, at the sink for an hour playing in the running water if I let her. She loves it so much that I often put her up at the sink in the kitchen while I am cooking and let her play. It keeps her busy, out from under my feet and I know she isn't going to get hurt. Well tonight I was making fudge and so I had to be at the stove stirring constantly. She was so whiney that I put the stool up by the sink and let her have fun.

Well 15 minutes later she is still playing and I am done with the fudge. I don't exactly like high water bills and with the lawn watering season upon us, well you get the idea. I turn off the water, get her down, leave the room and sit down at my computer to pass the time while the fudge cools.

In comes the raging beast! She is screaming and pitching the biggest fit! I could have cut off a toe and it would have produced less noise from her. I tried ignoring, that made it worse, I told her to stop, she ignored me and continued her unintelligible tirade. I had had enough so I closed the computer, looked her right in the eye and asked if she would like to sit in time out until she calmed down.

"NO!" was the answer I got from her. I offered her more solutions to the "No Water" problem, including TV. All were answered the same way, "NO!" in her high pitched cutesy little voice.

I had had enough, "Rachel do you want to sit in time out or be a good girl and go watch TV?"

Then as calm as can be she says, "Yup!" and walks away to watch Wonder Pets. WHAT!!!! Just 2 minutes ago you were screaming at me that you did not want to watch TV and now it's ok? Good even? I looked at John, sitting on the couch beside me and we both laughed.

"That was too easy," I said, "But I'll take it!" Two year old children are some of the most irrational people on the planet. But don't you just love them!

Cannon Look-alike Meter

2010-01-25T08:20:00.001-07:00

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celeb - Collage - Morph

Guess What!!!!

2009-09-08T08:24:00.002-06:00

I am moving!!! Yay for selling our house! We will be moving on the 26th of September. Anyone who whats to come and do some community service, come on by! John and I will be renting a storage shed and then moving a few things a day into it, so come the 26th we will only need to move the big stuff and then the things we are going to keep with us down at Mom and Dad's!

Yes we will be moving into my parents house for a few months while we build a home in Tooele. Now I am sure you are thinking, Why are you moving to the other side of Nowhere? Well we love the small town feel of it and we are excited that we can get a great house for a decent price.

So anyone want to come and pack with me you are welcome to come! I am going to need all the help I can get.

Vacation

2009-06-15T16:14:00.014-06:00

I had my vacation. Granted it was to the hottest place on earth (ie Phoenix Arizona) but it was very nice this last week with temps getting no higher than 95 the entire week. We went down to Barbara's (John's oldest sister) house for two weddings. Brian and Ashlee got married in the Mesa Temple on Wednesday and Michael and Anna got married on Thursday. They were both nice, but just between you and me I like the reception of Mikes better, cause they had a chocolate fountain and a white chocolate fountain and pretzels and some of the tastiest strawberries I have had in a while.

I was able to visit my cousins who live in Gilbert and we had a fun time talking. I can't wait to see them all in a month at the Andersen Family Reunion. We were also able to just relax without having to do much of anything.

Oh and on friday we went to the most wonderful pool! it was in a cousins backyard (no not my cousins, but I would love to be part of that family!) but holy cow that was a pool!!!

It had a wading area for the little kids and then there was the rock water slide, grotto, waterfalls and hot tub. It was so much fun to play in the pool. The deepest part was about 8 feet deep so it was plenty deep for the "boys" do do their Cannon balls. (yes that was a play on words)

Rachel, Emma and Logan all had a blast in the water, something I thought was impossible since emma freaks out when we actually get into the pool. She doesn't like to get the water on her head because of her fear of drowning. Have I mentioned that Emma is destined to be kidnapped or killed? She is fearless! Never concerned about where I am in relation to her (she has wandered the Super Walmart by herself, with joy.) and she has freaked me out on cliffs, ledges, near water, streets, you name it, she has gotten too close, gone too fast or hasn't stopped so many times I am still amazed she is still alive.

Anyway back to the topic, Emma went down the slide with her daddy! She was under water for about 4 seconds and once she and daddy came up, she was a bit frightened, but she was telling me all about how she held her nose when she went under water 5 seconds later! She almost went a second time!

Logan of course had a blast since his cousins were there to help him play. He had Caden and Tricia who are 6 and Atticus who is 8 to help him be the goofy kid he is. They were all over the pool acting like zombies or submarines. They just had a blast is all I can say.

On the way home we caravan'd with Jim and Keri and then stopped at Navajo bridge. It was over the colorado river in arizona. We got out and let the kids wander around for a bit.

As you can see I too enjoyed getting out of the car for a bit too.

I need a break

2009-02-15T22:06:00.002-07:00

I want a vacation. An honest to goodness, leave town for a week with no idea where we are going kind of vacation. No family weddings, no meet an old friend for the day, no time schedules to keep. No jobs to worry about or houses to clean. Yeah I want to lay on a beach, without worrying about kids drowning, and just get sunburned. Ok well not sunburned, but you know what I mean right?

Neil and Amy you are not helping the matter by going out and cruising around the sunnier climes and having a grand ol' time without the kids. I wish that this year is the year that we can take some of our tax return money and do the same thing. John is too responsible and thinks we need to pay off some debts and get a computer instead. :)

I need to get some pictures up here on the blog too. I should attach that camera to my wrist! The kids do such silly things. Ok rambling again. Sorry.

Went to the Rec center

2009-01-30T16:27:00.002-07:00

I really think that I will have to make better use of this membership I get charged for each and every month! The west valley rec center has a "Edutainment Center" that is just a big McDonalds Playland on steroids. It has the MASSIVE maze of pipes, tunnels and bridges, but there is also a supermarket, a race track, video games, legos, a theater complete with hand puppets, police station and a mini bb court.

The kids love this place. I have been there twice this week with "my" kids. I just sit at the door (the only one in or out) and read my little book. Ok so I have to spend much of my time watching star performances and keeping the little ones from having a break down, but geez this is a great place. I don't have to clean anything up, the kids get all worn out so that they can be calm little angels once we get home, and I get a little break from the "I want a . . ." every 3 minutes.

Oh yes we will be going back there very soon.

Self Development

2009-01-25T23:36:00.002-07:00

I think I need to develop parts of my mind that have lain dormant for quite a while. I was recently reminded of how much fun I had writing for pleasure. Before I got all caught up in writing essays and briefs for college, I actually wrote fiction. Oh and poetry! How can I forget poetry. I think that was my first love. I absolutely love the way the words look on the page when I have penned them. To read a creative outpouring of my, or someone else's, soul is a priceless thing.

Whitney has rejoined a writing club we were a part of many years ago. It was how we met acutally, writing our little stories set in a world of fantasy. It got me to thinking that I still have something to say and I can find time to put it down on this virtual paper. I have found time to read emails, to play incessant games on facebook, to watch and play with the kids. Where did the time go that I saved for myself? I stopped reading. I stopped writing. I became this person I am today. I am not ashamed of who I am. I love being the mom, the cook, the wife, but I forgot to be Sherri somewhere along the way. I need to get back to her and find out what she has been doing these last 5 years.

Funny, I have been Mom for almost 5 years now. Seems like only yesterday I was holding my precious little boy for the first time. Amazed at how perfect he was and stunned that I could love him so much. Logan was just the start of the wonder that is motherhood. He was not long alone before we brought him a sister, and then another. I love my family. I love being called MOM.

I think I will have to write more. I'll keep you posted.

facebook

2009-01-25T22:41:00.002-07:00

I am spending a lot of time on facebook these days. I just guess it is because it is so much fun to play the games and stuff. I was reminded of the fact that I really need to keep blogging. I guess it is correct. I mean after all, how will my family and friends who don't facebook know what I am doing? :)

A Mothers Christmas Poem

2008-11-30T13:27:00.000-07:00

The Night before Christmas for Moms

It was the night before Christmas,when all thru the abode
Only one creature was stirring,and she was cleaning the commode.
The children were finally sleeping,all snug in their bedsWhile
visions of Nintendo Wii and Barbie flipped through their heads.
The dad was snoring in front of the TV,With a half-constructed
bicycle on his knee.
So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatterWhich made her
sigh"Now what's the matter?"

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her handShe descended the
stairs,and saw the old man.
He was covered with ashes and soot,which fell with a shrug.
"Oh great" muttered the mom"Now I have to clean the rug."

"Ho-ho-ho!" cried Santa"I'm glad you're awake."
"Your gift was especially difficult to make."
"Thanks,Santa,

but all I want is some time alone."
"Exactly!" he chuckled"I've made you a clone."

"A clone?" she asked"What good is that?
Run along,Santa,I've no time for chit-chat."
The mother's twin. Same hair,same eyes,Same double chin.

"She'll cook,she'll dust" She'll mop every mess.
You'll relax,take it easy,Watch The Young & the
Restless." "Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream come true!
"I'll shop. I'll read.I'll sleep a whole night through! "

From the room above,the youngest began to fret.
"Mommy?! I scared... And I am wet."
The clone replied"I'm coming,sweetheart."
"Hey" the mom smiled"She knows her part."

The clone changed the small one,and hummed a tune,as she bundled the
child,in a blanket cocoon.
"You the best mommy ever. " I really love you."
The clone smiled and sighed"I love you,too."

The mom frowned and said"SorrySantano deal. "
That's my child's love,she's trying to steal."
Smiling wisely Santa said"To me it is clear"
Only one loving mother,is needed here."

The mom kissed her child,and tucked her into bed.
"Thank youSantafor clearing my head.
I sometimes forget,it won't be very longWhen they'll be too old,for
my cradle-song."

The clock on the mantle began to chime.
Santa whispered to the clone"It works every time."
With the clone by his side Santa said"Goodnight. Merry
Christmas,Mom,You'll be all right."

-Author Unknown

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

2008-10-20T09:16:00.001-06:00

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Oh my what a dress!!! I so would love to win this. How cute would Emma be wearing this dress!!

Craft Boutique

2008-09-29T16:50:00.003-06:00

I am putting together a small boutique for neighbors and friends. It will be at my house on Saturday October 11th from 10am to 1pm. Please come if you are in the area and look over my stuff!!

Also I am going to be a part of the Girls Day Out boutique. For more information on that please check out their blog at http://www.girlsdayoutboutique.blogspot.com/. It will be November 8th from 9am to 5pm.

I will be debuting several new ideas for boys at these shows too so bring your transformer loving little guys for some great items!

New items in my store

2008-09-13T10:48:00.003-06:00

I have been trying to come up with some fun ways to expand my stores offerings and I have come up with these. My kids loved the fifty cent wands I got from West Fest this year, but they were trashed in a matter of days. These have been tested by my wonderful army of 3 and 4 year olds for the last week and they are still going strong.

Let me know what you think! You can purchase on from my congo at www.hyenacart.com/mainstreet on Monday the 15th!

Picture tag

2008-09-05T17:40:00.005-06:00

Ok so Amy tagged me for this picture tag. I guess that means I better find them batteries for the camera.

Take the pictures right now, no cleaning, sweeping or pushing aside things before you take the picture. No cheating!

Kitchen Sink! With all that crud at the bottom of the sink I promise I didn't cheat!

Pantry. Yeah I have a messy one. I have been meaning to clean it.

Yet another pantry pic so you can see the fruit loops at the top!

My wonderful Fridge!!! Yeah it is stocked with just about everything. I have just finished cleaning out the leftovers too.

My favorite room and also Caspers favorite room.

BATHROOM! It is scary but mostly clean

MY KIDS RIGHT NOW. Emma has given up her afternoon nap, but she usually falls asleep at 5:30 or 6pm right now. I just cant get her to nap during the day!

Rachel just woke up from her afternoon nap.

ME. Good greif, I need makeup!

My CLOSET. Yeah I want doors on this thing!

Laundry room. Ok so I use it as a storage space! So sue me!

My FAVORITE SHOES. I love these things. I wish I had a pair of brown and black ones too.

Ok there you go. Promise I didn't cheat!!!

Back to School

2008-08-30T19:48:00.002-06:00

Ok so I am not going back to school, but I am going back to daycare. I was going to watch a friend of Logan's this year until his older siblings got home from school, but I figured why not add another one so there was a friend for emma too. Well I did and now I have 4 additional kids! It is wonderful. Oddly enough I really am enjoying it. I have never been so tired at the end of the day, but it is very easy going kind of day. The kids are all getting along really well together, knock on wood, and that gives me a few minutes a day to get my house picked up or cleaned a little bit.

Yes I am keeping the house fairly clean. I can't say that it is spotless at all times, or ever really, but you can see the carpet in all the rooms, the bottom of both kitchen sink basins, and the counter tops. I even manage to mop the floor once a week!

The extra money is great to help with the few bills that we were falling behind on and some in the coffers for some sod this fall! Yay!!! I will have grass that can be walked on in bare feet. What a concept! It is just the back little bit, but I really needed to have some grass in there with all the kids I have during the day.

Oh and congrats to Heather and Jared~ You know why.

My bathroom sucks

2008-08-10T22:04:00.003-06:00

~steps up onto soap box~

Ok so all day today the Nekked Princess has been playing in the sink upstairs in the bathroom. She soaked the floor, herself and I have found a trail of water leading from the bathroom, down the hall and ending in a large puddle in her bedroom. I think to myself, Ok I will just turn off the water. I have told her repeatedly today and countless other days that I do not want her playing in the sink. It has never sunk in I guess. At 3 years old though I don't really expect her to be the queen of obedience.

I unlock the cabinet below the sink (yes it is kept locked, with my brood can you blame me?) Twist the handle to the cold and hot water shut offs and then turn the handles on the faucett. Of course water is still coming out, albeit with less pressure. I get a bit of rusty water from the 1966 iron pipes and I turn the shut offs the other direction. Still nothing is completely shut off! I figure my idea was a bad one seeing as we have the stupidest house on the planet. Nothing works as it should. I turn the knobs back to their starting point, which was about half on/half off, and I still have very little water pressure!!!! Are you kidding me? I can not get the water to come back to the previous water pressure no matter which direction I twist those nasty little knobs.

So now I have a bathroom that my darling daughter will not be able to play in the water in, but neither can we wash our hands! Ok so we do have a second sink in that bathroom, but I am just so pissed off! Why was this house put together by a sub-sub-contractor who didn't know what they were doing? GRRRRRRR! I want to move! Can anyone lend me $100,000 interest free?

~steps down from soap box~

Who taught her this?

2008-08-01T11:06:00.004-06:00

Emma has been running around all day basiclly nekked. She prefers it that way and really I don't mind since we are not going anywhere and it helps her go on the potty. I went down to use the bathroom myself and this is what I saw! I had to keep myself from busting up laughing. I mean really who taught her this? I guess it was her daddy!

Isn't it the man who spends more time in the throne room than anyone just being "alone"? Anyway here you go. Don't worry they are tame!

Going to pick Apricots

2008-07-31T08:49:00.001-06:00

Anyone want to come up and help me can them? I will let you take a few home with you!!!

Yay for free fruit!!!

I'll post pictures later.

Old Age

2008-07-22T10:49:00.003-06:00

How do you know when you have gotten too old? Well I will tell you, it ain't the wrinkles, it starts way before they do. I was having a nice little chat with my darling husband on sunday as we drove to my parents house for the family dinner. We were discussing all kinds of things and he asks when I went to UVSC. It was a part of my life that had great meaning for me so it took about 3 or 4 minutes to figure out when exactly that was! I had to start at graduation from High School and work my way up to UVSC.

Thing is, I have totally forgotten a year of my life. Now, I have never taken any mood altering drugs, well apart from those few days after the c-sections, but 1996 has completely disapeared from my memory. I didn't think memory loss was an issue until at least my 4th decade, so why at 32 can I not remember an entire year of my life? I vagely remember working at the Sears call center making technition repair appointments, but I am pretty sure I didn't work there a full year.

Lets just go over what I do remember shall we?

May 1994 I graduated from High School.

Summer 1994 I believe (again with the foggy memory) I then worked at either Fred Meyer or the Storehouse Market

Aug-Oct 1995 Snow College (I am aware that this is not a full semester, but I was not ready to go to college. I "dropped out")

January 1995 Nanny in Connecticut. By the way the three year old that I took care of is now old enough to drive a car and his sister is probably in her second(or third) year at college! She is older than the kids I am currently working with!

November 1995 Grandpa Lofthouse dies and my life hits the fan so to speak. I leave the nanny job in early/mid december.

The elusive 1996

January 1997-August 1997 Utah State University in Logan. This is the year I learned I snore, thanks to a wonderfully tolerant roommate. She threw pencils at me in the middle of the night so I would turn over and stop snoring!

Aug-Nov 1997 Walmart Portrait studio. I loved this job and had a bunch of fun saving up money for the mission.

Nov10 1997-Jan/Feb 1998 Mission in England. It wasn't long lived, but it was a great experience that helped me in more ways than one.

1998 Bought Moira the red Civic and started working at Clarke American in Salt Lake City.

August 1999 Started going to UVSC and at some point I moved to BYU houseing in Provo

October 2000 I started working at Sento in American Fork

Not sure what month but in 2001 I moved in with Whitney in the Haunted Apartment down in Provo. She deserted me not too long after that to get MARRIED! Of all the nerve! (Feb 2002)

Early 2002 I graduated from UVSC with an associates degree in Early Childhood education.

April 2002 quit sento to work as a nanny in Springville. That didn't work out as they wanted a live in and I didn't so I became unemployed and homeless. No wait, that's a lie! I just became unemployed. I got several temp jobs to make my living. I also worked at a daycare center in orem this summer.

June 28th 2002 started talking to Mr. Shambie from LDS Singles.com
July 5th 2002 He asked me out. We went out to dinner (on the 6th) at the Macaroni Grill and then saw a movie, possibly men in black 2.

It was also in July that I started going to school at Mountain west college for my paralegal degree. Became unemployed again, but still working at temp jobs.

July 28th Mr. Shambie, ie: John Cannon, asked me if I wouldn't mind to much going to look for wedding rings with him. And yes that is more or less how he put it.

July 29th John leaves for his Cannon Family Reunion. I am unable to tell anyone I am now engaged. For a whole week!

September 2002 I start working at Marriott. I worked there longer than any other job to date.

November 16th 2002, John and I get married. I have one day off due to bronchitis so we have our honeymoon in Salt Lake.

The rest is pretty much vivid in my memory to include having Logan, buying a house, having emma, loosing my job, being a full time mom, a few more family reunions and finally but of course not least Rachel and the new job.

So if anyone is out there reading this, please tell me what exactly I did in 1996! This is, my friends, how I know I am loosing my precious memory. It might have something to do with the fact that my life was pretty much wake up, work, eat, and sleep in 1996 so I might not be missing much, but that is really odd that I can't remember that year of my life!

I guess I could make something up, like working for the secret service or maybe that was the year I had brain surgery and no one is telling me about it! Oh well, I guess it is better to forget the nothingness of one year than forget about my family and children. Let us hope I don't have a relapse and forget 2006. ;)

Pics of the kids

2008-07-06T13:01:00.006-06:00

John my manly man!

Svelt me! Whoot 195 lbs and counting down.

Logan now drives us to the store. Emma knows how to rope you in!

Rachel likes funny faces and bows too!

West Fest was fun and LONG!!

2008-07-06T12:48:00.007-06:00

Here is the set up of the booth/tent

Here are some product displays

It really was fun and I am not sure if I will do this next year, but I really liked the exposure I got from it, and I think next year I will take a bit different approach to the products. We will see.

Winding down

2008-07-06T10:23:00.004-06:00

Ok so things have been lets just say crazy for the last two weeks for us here at the Cannon home. I was getting ready for the WestFest and running around like a chicken with the head cut off. I spent much of the last weekend in June at the park in West Valley and did pretty good for the heat and time I spent working on it. I have tons of bows and stuff still available if anyone wants a discounted bow, just let me know.

The Cannon Family Reunion was the 30th-3rd and it was so much fun to see all those crazy cannons. I truely won the lottery with this family. I could have married into a family that hates each other and is annoying but lucky me I get the Cannons. The craziest, most friendly, and most fun to be around family. Ok I really Love my Andersen clan, don't get me wrong, but really? I love these Cannons.

Ok then once we are back and settling into a restful 4th of July we get the news that my nephew's wife had her long awaited baby at 2:45 am! Esther has been welcomed into the Cannon clan with open arms and we can't wait to see her. She shares her birthday with the only Cannon RedHead, Atticus. He turned 7 this year and we had a nice time celebrating his birthday with cupcakes, hot dogs and fireworks.

Oh yes how could I forget that we are hosting one of Johns nephews for a few weeks. Nathan has been a great help to us in watching the kids and playing with Logan. Nathan is autistic and it has been intersting and fun getting to know him better. I start work on the 7th at Discover card and he will help me out with the overlap in time between when I leave for work and john gets home.

On Satuday the 5th we spent time with the Andersen clan and celebrated my Neice's decision to get baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Way to go Madisen! We love you and your decision. It was lovely seeing all my brothers and sisters and catching up. Amy looks great concidering she is 8 months pregnant! The family got all "You can't have another one so soon" when I mentioned that I needed to get some supplemental insurance and I have finally gotten to the point that it all just rolls off my back. I feel horrible for those in my aquaintance that have a difficult time getting pregnant and I have understanding for those who are not at peace with having children close together, but each person has a different way to deal with the "multiply and replenish" advice given to us. I am ok with that.

Ok more later

Major Decisions

2008-06-25T08:10:00.002-06:00

John and I have made a huge decision recently. Due to the rising cost of everything and well lets be honest folks, some not very smart decisions on our part, I will be returning to work. It kills me that I need to go back to work, but it will be good for the long run. We plan on paying down/off all of our debt with the additional salary so that I will be able to come back home full time after a year.

So I had an interview with Discover Card Services yesterday, I got there at 2pm and didn't leave that blasted building until 5:45pm! I got the job, I didn't really ever question it, but still 4 hours? I should have been paid for that! My wonderful friend watched the kids for me and now I get to find a babysitter for the kids every day for a few hours so I can go to training starting July 7th. Oh I am going to miss my babies! Anyone have a few thousand dollars laying around I could have?

Long Time No See?

2008-06-17T16:45:00.002-06:00

Ok so I was informed that I don't blog enough. Ok I agree! Let me just tell you that I spent two hours of my life at the Drivers Licence Division of the DMV on Monday. It was a blast. After waiting in the "get a number" line for 20 minutes, I spent the next hour in the very comfortable chairs, they have lazyboys now. Didn't you know that? Anyway after freezing to death under the celing fan and air conditioner duct, I checked to make sure my number wasn't going to come up any time soon. It wasn't. I went out to my car and grabbed a notebook and a pen from my purse. I began to write a little prose about monsters, children and potty training. One day I will have to post that to the blog. It is pretty funny.

Oh yes, I just got my booth assignment of booths at westfest this year. It will be at the West Valley Rec Center the last weekend in June if you are going to be out and about, come by and say Hi. I will be tucked into the northwest corner of the booths this year.

I am also clearing out all the toys we own. I can't stand the way our family room looks after a long day of "toss the toy" that seems to be the favorite game. Emma stands at the toy boxes, yes there are boxes of toys, and tosses the toys across the room looking for her favorites. They don't understand that they need to clean up after themselves. I guess that is really my fault, because I have never instilled in them the joy of picking up. I have always done it. I take all the blame, but I just can't do it anymore. With three kids and laundry for the three kids and one husband it is a long day and I don't have the energy to clean up at night. Hey everyone, I am ready for the next kid! I have completely given up hope of ever getting on top of this housecleaning thing so why not just add one more excuse for it to be messy all the time?

Oh here is the kicker! I have to get a job. It kills me that I need one, but with the price of gas, groceries and everything else going up, we just don't have the money anymore to make it without a second income. I do get to work part time and at night once John is at home, but still I really enjoyed being a stay at home mom. If only my business would pick up and start making me some money!!!!! Anyone want to buy a bow? An embellished Tee? How about a chalk mat?

Just another day

2008-04-22T11:34:00.004-06:00

It is just another day right? Thought I would add a bit to my blog about how the day has been. Saturday I was able to get a little sewing done, so excited! I finished up an outfit I was making (http://hyenacart.com/prod_details.php?id=95996&vid=2001) and then on Sunday I was able to get a few more things finished and listed on my website (http://www.embellishedbaby.com/) John was a great help on sunday. He was able to keep the kids entertained enough that I got three shirts appliqued and several bows finished.

I am busy getting my stock up for the craft fair season. I am planning on doing the craft fair at West Fest(http://www.westfest.org/) this year and I am thinking I might do some other small ones around town. I am going to be busy busy making stuff for this event and so I have my babysitter coming over after school to take the kids to the park a few times so that I have some time to get bows and tutu's made.

Back to the Potty!

2008-04-10T08:49:00.003-06:00

Ok we are going to give this another try. I am sick of diapers and I am sick of Emma's rashes because she has sensitive skin and we are lazy! I know it is horrible, but I can't drop everything and change her diaper the second she poop's. Yesterday went pretty good. Just one or two accidents. We went to the store and bought her a Dora potty seat that sits on the regular toilet and that makes her happy. She still wants a princess one, but we couldn't find one.

We have no thoughts on potty training Rachel(but wouldn't it be nice if she could!).

I've been tagged!

2008-04-02T12:36:00.004-06:00

I have been tagged by Amy. Not sure if I like this virtual game! Too much information!!

Rules are this, if you are tagged you take these questions and post them on your own blog with your own unique answers. Have fun getting to know your friends!

ABOUT ME
10 years ago:

Ok that was 1998 right? Well I believe I was in New Jersey being a nanny right about now. I just realized not too long ago that the children that I was a nanny for are now 21 and 16, 13 and 12, and then 20 and 16. Wow if that didn't make me feel old!

5 Things on my To-Do List:

1. Laundry or my husband will go to work in dirty clothes
2. Kill the dog for eating Logans lunch(again!)
3. Go upstairs and get Rachel from her nap. (she is screaming right now)
4. Head over to the bank
5. Make some hair clips and a shirt for my store.

5 Snacks I enjoy:

1. Chocolate
2. Chocolate covered pretzels
3. Chocolate covered peanuts
4. Chocolate covered cookies
and last but not least
5. Trail Mix (with chocolate of course)

5 foods that I love:

1. Chicken CordonBlu
2. Indian Food
3. Lasagna
4. Anything I didn't have to fix
5. A nice MLT, Where the Muttin is nice and lean and the tomatoes and nice and juicy

What would I do if I were suddenly a Billionaire?

First and formost I would feint. After I recovered from the shock I would have a blast fixing up my current house. I just can't stand it and would love to do all those "Do it yourself" kinds of things. I would then sell said house. Whether or not I made a profit.

I would then buy a nice 4000 sqft house in utah(don't want to be too ostentatious), an equally sized home in some other state of the union, one in europe somewhere and then of course we would have a house in Hondo.

Hire a nanny and staff to keep the house clean and then travel all over the place.

Set up a college fund for everyone of my family who wanted one(neices and nephews mostly) and then I would open a gas station. Every 9 days I would reduce the price of gas to 50 cents a gallon for 5 hours( the hours would be random so no one could anticipate it).

Places that I have lived:
1. Provo, UT
2. American Fork, UT
3. Ephriam, Ut
4. American Fork again
5. Stamford, CT
6. American fork again
7. Logan, UT
American fork again
8. York, England
American Fork
9. Provo, UT
10. Kinnelon, NJ
11. Millburn, NJ
american fork
12. Provo, UT
13. Orem, UT
14. Salt Lake City, UT
15. West Valley City, UT

Favorite Quote:

"Do or do not, there is no try." ~Yoda

By the way, I did stop and get Rachel so don't worry about that!

YOU HAVE BEEN TAGGED:

Kati and Nancy and Heather

Easter was Great!

2008-03-26T10:10:00.004-06:00

We loved Easter this year. Church was on the early schedule for us so I talked to the Easter bunny and we agreed he would hold off on our house until after we were at church. Well we got the kids off to church and once we got home, he had been at the house! Logan had the biggest eyes when he saw what was left out for him! A huge basket full of candy and Marvel walkie-talkies.

Emma was super excited for the Mermaid Dora doll she got and has had endless hours of fun opening and then making me close all those little plastic eggs.

We went down to my brothers house for Easter dinner this year, and it was a huge success as always. Of course we now need to buy a playstation 2 and Spyro the Dragon game. Logan was talking about it all the way home! He has it in his head that Uncle Brian will trade us the PS2 for our Wii(if only for a week). I haven't mentioned it to Brian, but if Brooke is reading this, you now know.

Easter Egg hunt this year was so much fun. Emma and Logan both shot out of the door and b-lined it to the eggs. They had their baskets full in seconds! Emma was all about finding the eggs and well truth be told, Logan was off and I didn't see him untill his basket was full. He was so proud of his eggs!

Personal Triumph

2008-03-25T14:54:00.003-06:00

I am now under 200 lbs! I haven't been that "light" since high school or shortly there after!

Yay for me.

Love my kids

2008-03-18T13:48:00.002-06:00

So I have said that Emma is a hoot to have around. Well, right now she is in a pampered chef box singing the ABC's and playing with toys she has deposited in the box. I think she loves playing by herself because she has the best friend anywhere . . . herself!

Why my kids don't like baths

2008-03-15T20:47:00.005-06:00

Ok so I just figured out why Logan doesn't like getting his hair washed. It is the method in which we wash his hair.

Do you think that washing them in the washing machine is wrong? Well it doesn't help that I also use the industrial hair dryer to get them dry either! :)

Did you notice Rachel in the dryer?

Emma is Cute

2008-03-11T21:39:00.000-06:00

Hooray for Mommy! Ok I just love this picture really. I have to put down some of the fun things I catch Emma doing when she thinks I am now watching. Not too long ago, I was on my bed nursing/dozing and Emma came in and saw that I was "sleeping" and so she very quietly started to play and sing. She made it all the way through "Twinkle Twinkle" and started up "ABC's". Well half way through that one, she reverted back to Twinkle Twinkle and then back to ABC's and finished with a big "What you ARRRRREE"

I can't really blame her, those songs are identical melodies, and we sing them pretty much every day. She is also my go-to girl when I need a prayer said. She always wants to say prayer at bedtime, dinner, really anytime a prayer is called for. When I ask her how we start the prayer, however, she says in her little pixie voice, "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam!" Well, Not exactly Emma, but that is the first song that we sing at bedtime, since the kids get to sing with me on the first song. Now usually it is Me or John that guide the prayer for Emma, but one night I think it was saturday night, I started out helping Emma but Logan decided that it was his turn to help and he guided her the rest of the way. He made sure to bless the Missionaries that they can be "Thanksed" and Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Scott and then the big finish, "have a good night sleep" which when Logan says the prayer by himself, is always the last thing he says.

I have to say, having kids is the greatest thing ever! When I was a child I thought having a million dollars would be the greatest thing, and really I woudn't turn it down if it was offered, but don't ever take away my kids! The give me a barrel full of laughs every day! See as I was writting, Logan tried to ride the dog! Now Casper is not a very large dog, and he really hates being ridden so Logan got dumped on his fanny. Laughs all the time! So now I end this particular blog in the same manner I began it but with one difference.

Hooray for Kids!

You Can Make This!

2008-02-20T06:56:00.003-07:00

One of my favorite sites is having a contest to win a date night. I love this site and want to buy so many of their patterns, but I have to pace myself. I haven't even used all the ones I have yet! I am currently lusting over the bags and a few of the dresses. Oh and I want those cupcake bags!

Anyway, they are You Can Make This so go check them out.

New Dog

2008-02-20T06:33:00.003-07:00

Well we finally did it. We got a dog. We decided to rescue a dog who needed a home instead of getting a puppy that I would have to train. I can't tell you how much of a good thing this is!

I love that I don't have to train him and he is such a good dog. His name is Casper and he is a Lab mix. He is a medium sized dog, white/light tan color and has a curly tail. Casper likes Moe, a feeling which is not currently reciprocated. Moe is doing pretty good concidering though. He really didn't like Scooby, but Scooby was a bit more energetic so that might have added to the poor cats dislike. We love the gate, but found out this morning that we don't need it closed all the time! I didn't close the gate last night when I came back from a friends house, so when John let him out this morning, I was a bit concerned, but before I could get downstairs he was back in the house!

Only had him one day and he is happy with the place I think. He is microchipped so I just need to get it scanned and changed over to our info, which when adopting a stray is free! Yay. He came with a bed, blanket, a few toys and a retractable leash. I will post pictures once I figure out where my cable went that connects my phone to the computer.

Potty Training

2008-01-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

It's not going so well. I forgot that my DD has issues with her poops! They are not always predictable and formed. Ok so that is really gross to post on a web site, but it's the truth! GRRRRRR I really don't want her to be in diapers anymore, and really neither does she. I bought tons of underwear for her to wear, and she loves them. She loves her Dora mermaid unders!

Oh good greif! Wahhhh

Hodini . . . I mean Emma

2008-01-15T07:20:00.000-07:00

Ok so Emma is going to drive me nuts! As anyone knows who knows me, she is a beast to keep dressed. That girl loves to run around without clothes on. Well this week she has a new trick, taking off her diaper. Every time I turn around she is diaperless, and since this is Emma we are talking about, that means completely naked! I mean it is January! It is going to be 18 degrees as a High tomorrow!

So we are potty training now. I don't know how I will accomplish this, but I can't not do it! This week I have 8 children in my house. Ok so that is only for two house tuesday and thursday for preschool but still! We shall see what happens! Wish me luck!

Worked out!

2008-01-07T10:08:00.000-07:00

Ok I walked on the treadmill today. I got up around 8am which for me was sleeping in. Emma or Rachel is usually up and ready to go by 7 or 7:30 every morning. I get the baby and start to nurse her. I usually watch Fox 13 news in the morning and today was no different. Not much on the news but murder and Tae Kwan Do. The two big kids got up and were downstairs by 8:30 so that means Dora the Explorer. I don't care to watch this show myself, but the kids love it!

I had 30 minutes before the little boy I babysit was going to be here, so I put Rach under the arch 'o toys and started up the treadmill. I am impresseed with myself, I walked for 25 minutes, at 2-3 incline and 3-4mph for most of it. Go me! I have started to concentrate on my wellbeing, both physical and spritual, this year. I am getting flabby in all the ways a person can get flabby!

Ok, Rach is not going down for her nap so I need to cut it short. Back soon!

My kids

2008-01-07T00:04:00.001-07:00

So I thought I would post a picture of my kids. These might be outdated, but they are still super cute!

New Blog

2008-01-06T00:29:00.000-07:00

Ok so this is the first blog I have ever made, and I am not sure why anyone would want to know what is going on in my life. But Oh well, we shall see if anyone even comes by to check this out.

Don't forget to check out my website at www.embellishedbaby.com for some fun things to dress up your child or your inner child.

Sherri