Swimming with Sharks

Our "high quality" plastic pool from last summer was shot (mainly because in the move we lost the cap that holds the water in), and Andrew had starting to notice other kids in the neighborhood frolicking in their way cool pools in their yards. So, we hauled ourselves to Target to find the ultimate backyard water experience. Andrew wasn't into any of the regular round or rectangular models that were available. Kent had even suggested buying one of the larger, more expensive pools this year so the whole family could hang out and swim together. That wasn't going to happen once Andrew saw the shark. For the unbelievable price of only $14.99, we would have our very own plastic, shark-shaped pool. The box made the shark pool look and sound quite impressive. Wow! Over eight feet long! Look at those three, fairly large kids frolicking in the pool and sitting in chest deep water in the picture on the box! So this is going to be a pretty decent sized pool, we think. At least, pretty decent for $14.99 (plus the price of a new pump to blow it up since out old one "disappeared" in the move). But wait, there's more! Not only is the shark pool economical and roomy, but let's not forget the incredible water feature included at no additional charge. That's right, believe it or not, the shark will actually blow water out of the top of its head when you hook it up to the sprinkler. Now how much would you pay? Okay, shark pool it is! Sweet. Can't wait to get this bad boy home and blow it up.

Those advertisers should make lots of money for the amazing job they do. As you can see the shark pool didn't end up being all that I dreamed it might be. It was cute, but tiny! The "over eight feet long" must be from the tippity tip of the shark's nose to the very last centimeter of his tail. It's 1 1/2 feet deep, if we're lucky. Once it was blown up, Kent and I debated deflating it trading it up for something bigger and more fabulous. Andrew would hear none of it. He was already in love with the shark pool and would have none other for his summer fun. We reasoned that the main purpose of the pool is for Andrew's enjoyment, so if he loves it, so be it. He couldn't even stand to wait for the water to warm up after we filled it up and stayed out playing with the shark for at least an hour, emptying all the contents of the pool onto the grass in an old Easter bucket several times, and sliding into the water using his "baby slide." I have paid more than $14.99 to keep my child happy and entertained on occasion, and the shark pool can be used over and over again. Maybe not such a ripoff after all.

Countdown to Mayerfest

I am so excited about my sister and I getting tickets to the John Mayer concert at Usana on July 21st. I've loved John since his geeky Room for Squares days. I probably wouldn't have been so into him if he had revealed himself as such a studmuffin/lady killer from the beginning. I have a soft spot for geeks. However, although he is no longer so geeky, the guy can definitely still sing and I love his music. Can't wait!

Just Not Feelin' the Love

So many people I know just can't get enough gardening. I get jealous hearing them describe the joy of the perfect gardening experience. They love to feel the dirt in their hands, enjoy the smell of the fresh soil, and feel like a brand new mother every time a flower blooms. Communing with nature in their own private sanctuary-what could be better? I can think of about a million things. I want to enjoy it and I am not a lazy person, really I'm not! (Okay, at least not any more than any other average gal-I have my moments), but I'm just not feeling the gardening thing. I insist, out of pure pride alone, that my yard look decent, especially since all my neighbors' landscapers have worked so hard on their yards. You know, keeping' up with the Jones's? But no matter how hard I try to enjoy my time in the dirt, the joy evades me. For example, tonight I weeded and pruned, and dead-headed and raked for over three hours and felt nothing but exhausted, sweaty and slightly bitter that I hadn't spent that three hours doing something fun like scrapbooking. Of course I do love the finished product and enjoy some pride when others notice the result of my labors, but I will still wait anxiously for the day when I am rich and can borrow the neighbors' landscapers for an hour or two. Then I'll be feelin' the love!

Dinosaurs Never Get Old

We took our first of twenty-two summer trips to the Ogden-Eccles Dinosaur Park on Friday. Andrew loves the place, but is completely terrified of the animatronic (moving, roaring and life-like) dinosaurs they have on display upstairs at the museum. Before we set foot through the doors of the museum, he has to have been reassured multiple times that I am not, under any circumstances going to take him upstairs. Poor kid must've had terrible nightmares after the one time he saw the horrific scene which he can recall in great detail:


"Mommy, member upstairs where the mommy stegosaurus is tecting (protecting) her babies from the mean daddy T-Rex?"
"Yes, I remember son, but they are just machines."
"Yeah, they're just shines, but I not like that part mom."
"Okay son."
"Please don't take me upstairs to that part mom."
"Okay, we won't go up there."
"Yeah, cause I not like it."
And on and on...
Anyway, Andrew had been asking to go, (but not upstairs), so we went after daddy got home from work on Friday night, hoping the heat would be a little more bearable that way. It was still pretty hot, but it was fun, and like I always say, looking at plastic models of long dead animals never gets old. After the dinosaur park, we went out to dinner at The Oaks, a place next to the river up Ogden Canyon that doesn't have the greatest food, but the best views ever and lots of ice cream choices for dessert. YUM!

TAG-I'm It!

My very best, most loyal, kind and understanding (sorry I haven't called for so long) friend Desi, has blog tagged me. I believe this means I am supposed to answer these really cool questions like she did on her blog. So here I go:

Four (I had to put five) random things I like about my husband:
1. I like how loving and patient he is with Andrew.
2. I like that he works hard every day to provide for his family.
3. He doesn't expect unreasonable things from me-he is a pretty easy going guy.
4. He is very understanding and supportive about my career. He helps out wherever needed, ie. moving classrooms, correcting papers, bringing me lunch, watching Andrew when I stay late and he RARELY complains.
5. He is fun-loving and will do spontaneous things at the last minute.

Four jobs I have had:
1. My first job was slinging burgers at Arctic Circle.
2. I worked at Sears in the hardware department for five years.
3. Various telemarketing and phone jobs throughout college.
4. Schoolteacher for the last 12 years and still loving it! (thank goodness)

Four movies I have watched more than once: (this is saying a lot about a movie because I don't really like watching them twice!)
1. Pride and Prejudice (the Colin Firth version)
2. Where the Heart Is
3. Cars
4. 27 Dresses

Four places I have lived:
1. Idaho Falls, Idaho
2. Rexburg, Idaho
3. Provo, Utah
4. Syracuse, Utah

Four TV shows I watch:
1. LOST (I am a little lost watching it lately, but I persevere)
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Top Chef
4. Intervention

Four places I have been:
1. Niagara Falls (New York/Canada)
2. Dallas, Texas
3. Washington D.C.
4. Oregon Coast

Four people who e-mail me regularly: (I am TERRIBLE at e-mailing back, so most people have given up)
1. My mother (mostly forwards-does that count?)
2. My sister
3. Desi
4. Joni

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Chips and salsa at Garcia's
2. Bumbleberry frozen custard at Nielsen's
3. Shrimp Portofino at Macaroni Grill
4. Double Pan Fried Noodles at PF Chang's

Four places I would like to visit:
1. New York City (specifically Broadway, Statue of Liberty and other touristy places)
2. Europe (all of it please-I love the history)
3. Egypt
4. The Grand Canyon (never been-can you believe it?)

Four things I am looking forward to in the coming year:
1. Watching Andrew grow and develop into the little personality he is.
2. Another year of a job that I love that brings something new every day.
3. Spending time with family and friends whenever possible.
4. Breaking Dawn coming out in August (I know, lame and shallow)

Four People I tag: (OH DEAR! As a new blogger, I only know of two people who will for sure read this to be tagged)
1. Hillary (my sister)
2. Mary Jane (my interior designer and life consultant)
3. Kind soul who happens upon my blog
4. Ditto #3

Local Boy Nearly Freezes to Death in 90 Degree Heat!

Picture taken of toddler just before freezing incident.

In a terribly frightening incident in suburban Utah today, a four year old child came close to experiencing full-body hypothermia and instant death after running through his brand new Mickey Mouse sprinkler in his very own backyard. The terrified child, who was eventually rescued by his inattentive mother, was frolicking merrily through the water with a friend, wearing nothing but skimpy bathing trunks, when he suddenly realized he might be about to freeze to death. The boy immediately alerted his mother through a complex series of whining sounds emitting from his mouth, that he was indeed, about to die from the cold. The mother, obviously not accurately interpreting the boy's signals, advised him to lay on his towel in the sun. Of course, realizing the seriousness of his predicament, the boy refused and ran onto the nearby deck where his careless mother was lounging, to once again, emit the whining sounds and warn his mother of the eminent freezing. As if the child had not suffered enough, the unwise mother guided her son to a sunny area on the deck where she hypothesized he might warm up and improve his condition. Unfortunately, this action resulted in what the boy described as third degree burns on the bottom of his feet from which he may never recover. Luckily, a family friend, Kathryn Coombs, age 18 months, came upon this frightening scene, correctly interpreting the boy's shrill signals and escorted the crying child into the shady area of the deck near his negligent mother. Emergency personnel on the scene today issued a stern warning to all parents of toddlers to be acutely aware of the dangers of hypothermia and possible freezing death caused by unsupervised sprinkler running.

Our Hero: Kathryn L. Coombs

Notice Visible Signs of Hypothermia in Both Boys

So Darwin!

For those of you who are familiar with me and my quirky personality, you know I change the display on my front entry table every month or so according to the season and/or holiday. So here is my latest creation, the Patriotic Bonanza! I am pretty pleased with it, feel free to tell me how cute it is. Thanks MJ for helping me with the finishing touches-you are so good-just don't ever start charging me for your expert consultations!

p.s. The gentleman pictured on the wall hanging to the left is Uncle Sam, NOT Santa Claus! :)

Q & A with APM

Being that a certain adorable four year old an I have been spending every waking hour together as of late (which is usually quite delightful, by the way), I conducted a little impromptu interview session a la Barbara Walters the other day while he was scarfing down a hot dog for lunch. I wonder if said lunch influenced said four year old's answer to question #3. (The power of suggestion!) The questions were coming off the top of my head, and I jotted the answers down on the back of an envelope. Most of his answers were no surprise, but a few of them I wouldn't have guessed. Gosh! You think you know a person...

1. Q: What is your favorite color?
A: Red
Mom's Comment: He has always been partial to pink. I am actually glad he is branching out!

2. Q: What is your favorite book?
A: Anything with trucks
Mom's Comment: The kid eats, sleeps and breathes dump trucks, excavators, bull dozers, forklifts, graders, front loaders, cement trucks, fire trucks, ambulances, garbage trucks, cranes, tow trucks, etc. (I can't believe I actually know what all these machines are!) One of his favorites lately is a new book called, Smash Crash. You can just imagine!

3. Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Hot dogs
Mom's Comment: How nutritious!

4. Q: What is your favorite animal?
A: Buffalo Mom's Comment: Hmmm...perhaps influenced by a recent trip including train ride past bison at zoo? Also not very original-aren't all four year olds obsessed with buffalo?

5. Q: What is your favorite thing to do?
A: Ride my four-wheeler
Mom's Comment: Would ride it all day every day if allowed to do so. Love spending hours watching him zoom around the neighborhood. Not exactly a self-supervising toy. Thank you Santa!

6. Q: What is your favorite restaurant?
A: Tepanyaki
Mom's Comment: He especially loves when they throw shrimp at his face-can't get enough!

7. Q: What is your favorite movie? A: Monsters Inc.
Mom's Comment: Often quotes the lines, "I'm watching, ALWAYS watching!"

8. Q: What is your favorite song?
A: Old McDonald
Mom's Comment: I would've guessed B-I-N-G-O. Not much of a farm kid except the tractors. Ponies scare him.

9. Q: What is your favorite vehicle?
A: Ambulance
Mom's Comment: Got that one.

10. Q: What is your favorite dessert?
A: Carrot cake
Mom's Comment: Just like me and Poppa Jack

11. Q: What is your favorite TV show?
A: Fireman Sam
Mom's Comment: All mom's of little boys should know about Fireman Sam. Also available on demand on Sprout. Andrew loves to show me how to stop-drop-and roll and is good about reminding us to change the batteries in our smoke alarms.

12. Q: What is your favorite drink?
A: Chocolate milk
Mom's Comment: As long as you've had your V-8 Fusion for the day, knock yourself out. (How ingenious to hide a full serving of veggies in a delicious fruity drink!)

Fastest Surgery in the West

Sorry about the low quality pic-I took it with my phone

Andrew has always had ear issues and had tubes put in when he was 19 months old in October of 2005. Poor little guy has had more infections than I can count and has been subjected to torturous ear drops many times. About a week ago, after dinner one night, he started complaining that his ear was hurting. It was his left ear, which was the one still containing a tube-the tube in the right ear had fallen out over a year ago. Of course I took him to our friendly neighborhood ENT the next day. I am sure the good doctor thinks I have Munchhausen's Syndrome since I am always rushing Andrew in, but of course I am worried about his health, in particular protecting his hearing.

So it turned out I wasn't being paranoid and Andrew not only had an ear infection, but the doctor believed there was a polyp in Andrew's ear drum as well. The polyp had supposedly formed from scar tissue as a result of the many infections. The doctor recommended that Andrew have surgery ASAP to remove the left ear tube and the polyp. He would also possibly have to have a maringoplasty or fat graft to fill in the hole that would be left from the surgery.

Hearing all this that day made me sick to my stomach. I am constantly doubting my capabilities as a mother and I immediately blamed myself for this problem. I should've had the tube removed sooner...I should've brought him in to the doctor sooner or more...maybe if I didn't work I would have noticed something sooner...he'll probably go deaf and it's all my fault...on and on. I took myself on a very creative guilt trip. Fortunately, the doctor was able to reassure me that what was happening with the tube and polyp in Andrew's ear was pretty common and the chance of Andrew sustaining any hearing loss was less than 10%. He also said that he never removes a tube unless it has been 3 years since they were put in or unless problems occur. So I jumped off the guilt train and set up the surgery for the next Monday.

We arrived at the hospital at 8:15, did all the paper work, changed Andrew into his charming hospital smock and booties, waited around endlessly, signed a bunch of papers, met the anesthesiologist and then they were rolling my baby away. I don't care how many times it happens to any mother. That moment when a stranger takes your child away and rolls them into a room where you can't be and they are going to cut into your child-IT IS TRAUMATIC! For me, not for Andrew. He had his pooh bear blankie and was cool as a cucumber. I was very proud of my boy.

Kent and I walked down to the cafeteria to get a drink and had no sooner sat back down in the waiting room than the doctor was back and it was over. The procedure had gone perfectly, and to the doctor's surprise and our great relief, there hadn't been a polyp there at all, thus no need for a fat graft. (Thanks to the miraculous power of the priesthood blessing Andrew receive from my dad the night before if you ask me). They brought us back to see Andrew in the recovery room where he was happily watching cartoons and sucking on a popcicle. We left the hospital around 10:30, no worse for the wear and minus one irritating ear tube.

Bubba-isms

My little guy says some of the most mind-blowingly cute things ever, and I hereby pledge to record them all (except for the ones I have already forgotten), on this very blog. Some of the most recent:

1) "That is so darlin', (pronounced DAR-WIN) mom! Isn't it darlin'?" CONTEXT: Spoken as we are shopping at Target or somewhere as he picks up some item of clothing or toy that he thinks is cute.

2) "Mom, your dress looks real fancy!" CONTEXT: As I am walking out the door to teach at a conference-he hasn't seen me in a dress in awhile at this point and is obviously shocked.

3) "Wamitz." CONTEXT: Shouted in great excitement when seeing an ambulance. This term is actually starting to fade away. His terminology for ambulance is starting to sound more and more like the actual word. It makes me sad. MY BABY!

4) "Cacko Bayoe." CONTEXT: The resturant Cracker Barrel. We don't go here very often, but it is his ultimate favorite because being the spoiled only child, he is often able to talk us into buying him a toy at the country store gift shop.

5) "I Fy." CONTEXT: A game we often play, "I Spy."

6) "Juzzy." CONTEXT: Jersey, as in his beloved Utah Jazz jersey.

7) "Warm it up, hot AND hot." CONTEXT: Andrew does not appreciate the refreshingness of cold milk. Thus not just one hot, but two for extra emphasis.

8) "Whad you said?" CONTEXT: Could you please repeat that?



MORE BUBBA-ISMS COMING SOON...

Making Memories

My sister and her family came for a visit last weekend and we spent the three days doing our best to make some fun family memories with her daughter Rylee and Andrew. Rylee is only about 9 months younger than Andrew so they play together quite well and often refer to the other as their, "best friend." It is so cute.

We were supposed to hit up Wheeler Farm on Friday, but unfortunately it was cold and rainy, so we went to see the movie, Kung Fu Panda instead. The show darling and hilarious-I laughed out loud through the whole thing, and the kids liked it too, which is a bonus. Definitely go see it if you get the chance-SKIDOOSH!

Saturday we headed to Hogle Zoo. It was a beautiful day and the zoo was packed! The kids got their faces painted. Rylee got a dragonfly and Andrew chose a snake. At first he requested pink but we talked him into a purple one with red stripes. The kid just loves pink and purple-whatever works! We carefully avoided the terrifying fake elephant-Andrew is a little obsessed with and horrified by a huge wooden elephant they have there that sprays water on you. Every time we go to the zoo, he makes sure we AREN'T going anywhere near THE BEAST!


Sunday was the grand finale of the weekend-LAGOON! We waited until Sunday so it wouldn't be as busy and we could use a coupon I had from Teacher Appreciation Week that got us all in for $10 off. Not too shabby. Andrew and Rylee had both been talking about, "Goon," for weeks, and of course Andrew had compiled his list of rides he DID NOT want to go on, namely Haunted Houses of any kind, rollercoasters, and the log ride. I guess last year's trip left him traumatized after Dracula's Castle. Poor kid. Turns out, he was all about the haunted houses but had a complete and total MELTDOWN when Hillary took him on the Dino-Drop, which he had gone on last year-no problemo. KIDS!

Anyway, we ended up having a great time and were the last people to go on our favorite ride, The Rattlesnake Rapids before it closed. We had saved that one for last because you have absolutely no chance of staying dry and we wanted to get soaked and go straight home. Well, we waited a little too long and ended up getting there 10 minutes prior to the time they were supposed to close it. We thought, no problem, but when we got there they were sending people away and closing the dang thing early. Oh no they didn't! Apparently, some lame kids had jumped off the raft into the water just before we got there, so they had to drain the water, make sure no one was dead, stuff like that. I had a small objection to that because the kids were going to go ballistic if we didn't get to go on our favorite ride. (Okay they really didn't care much and were drop-dead tired at this point, but it was the principle of the thing!) So, I very kindly explained the predicament to the three Russian ride attendants and the 18 year old supervisor. The boss-kid, kindly agreed to refill the "trough," as they called it, and let us go on the ride. Good customer service is alive and well at one amusement park in Farmington, Utah. So we went ahead and rode it (not life-alteringly fun this time, but again, the principle), and I made sure to give boss-kid a nice commendation at the guest services desk before we left.A good time was had by all, and it was great to have my sister and her family here. I don't get to see them as much as I would like and feel like I have to reacquaint myself with darling Rylee every time I see her. Hopefully this blogging thing will help us stay caught up a little better.

Ferdinand

Andrew is just finishing up his first experience with soccer. Thursday is his last soccer class where his pee-wee group will be having a scrimage with another pee-wee group. To put it mildly, Andrew is not very enthusiastic about soccer class. This was a great surprise to us, because up until he actually got on the field and was told to kick the ball, he has been all about soccer.

"Look mom, those kids are playing soccer!"

"Hey mom, I want to play soccer when I get bigger."

Well, no son of mine will go with any wish unfulfilled, so thus came pee-wee soccer. Teacher Sarah, Andrew's soccer coach is very patient, but no mater how she asks, cajoles, demands, or begs, Andrew is not going to play soccer.

What he will do is pull up his shirt to show all the parent spectators the, "alien," in his belly, sit down in the middle of the field and make grass mountains out of piles of picked grass, cry and beg to go home, stand and watch the other kids run around, complain that he is hungry and/or cold, and any number of other activities completely unrelated to learning how to play soccer. He isn't about to let anybody tell him when to run and how to kick the ball!

Such a character! He reminds me of that old cartoon/book about the bull, Ferdinand, who is supposed to be fierce and terrifying, but really just wants to sit in the field and smell the flowers all day. Sometimes kids don't do what you expect them to do, and we parents have to remember to go with the flow. Everyone is different and everyone has their own talents and abilities. I have to remind myself as this as I resist the impulse to run out on the field and make Andrew kick the dang ball! As a mom, I think my job is just to give Andrew as many opportunities as I can to try the things he is interested in. Some he may like and excel at, others may not go so well (re: soccer). He is one in a million, and whether he never wants to play soccer again, or is ready to give it another shot next year, I am proud of my son! After all, how many moms can say their son has a bonafide ALIEN in their belly?

Why I'm Here...

I have decided that life simply goes by too fast. I am sure I must be the first and only person to come to this realization, so I am kindly sharing it with whoever may chance to read these profound ramblings. My little baby boy Andrew, born 13 weeks early, weighing only 2.7 pounds is now four going on college-bound and it is killing me!

That is why I have decided to give this blogging thing a shot. Not only do I think it is a good way to keep in touch with family and friends who live out of state, but, to put it mildly, my memory sucks. I have already forgotten too many of the things about Andrew that I swore I never would. It has to stop. I refuse to let one more day of his life go by without every cute little thing being carefully documented by yours truly. It is worth my time and energy-I will do it! I simply cannot scrapbook fast enough and I type MUCH faster than I write. Thanks to Desi for helping me come to this conclusion.