And The Winner Is...

Please bear with me while I brag about my darling son. We had quite the excitement Friday night at the Dinosaur Park in Ogden. Andrew loves the dinosaur park and we go there often during the summer, but this was our first experience at night. The whole park was decorated for Halloween and they had all kinds of fun things going on. As soon as Bubba decided to stop being scared to death by all the strange sounds and creepy decorations, he had a ball trick-or treating around the park, interacting with the characters they had walking around, drinking hot chocolate, toasting smores over the fire and going on a wagon ride. The best part of the evening came when they announced it was time for the costume contest.

Initially, we weren't going to enter because we had arrived late and didn't want to take time in the contest that we could spend doing other fun things in the park. But, I let my curiosity (and maybe a little competitiveness and possibly just a dab of greed) get the best of me and off we went to the playground where the contest was being held.

So, it is pretty packed at the playground. We're talking at least 60 kids and their accompanying adults all squeezed into the bleachers and surrounding area in front of the playground's sandbox. I look around and think to myself, "There's no way Andrew can compete against little baby witch over there or darling little sheep boy over there." But, I didn't have the heart to tell the kid he couldn't cut it, so we stay and the contest begins. The kids are paraded in front of the parents, with the judges giving kids they think look good a number which is their ticket into the finals. Twenty kids got numbers. I was thrilled when Andrew was given one.(Oh I of little faith!) Cool, I think, at least he's in the top 20. I was happy with that. But it gets better!

So, they take the top 20 (yeah, this contest was pretty high tech and detailed considering it was just a little po dunk thing at the dinosaur park), and bring them up five at a time to be judged. They are looking for originality, cuteness, and audience appeal. Andrew was in the last group and the crowd went crazy for him (not just his shrieking mother in the front row, either). They kept yelling,"The cop! The cop!" So, he ends up in the top four.

The judges (who were from Roberts Crafts-the contest sponsor), came up and starting announcing the winners. Fourth place; a skunk, third place; the aforementioned baby witch, (no Bubba the cop yet), second place; belly dancing sisters, and first prize, THE COP!! The crowd goes wild-I think I might have blacked out for a minute and the next thing I know I am being handed a huge bag with what they said was $125 worth of cool stuff from Roberts. I was beyond thrilled and proud! I think I now have a better understanding of women who compulsively enter their children into beauty contests. Seeing your child win something is quite the adrenalin rush let me tell you! I know that my son is the cutest thing ever, but it is nice to have this knowledge publicly validated once in a while. Since the Roberts goodies were mainly for me, (I did buy the costume after all), his reward for strutting his stuff was a plastic mammoth replica from the park gift shop and he hasn't stopped talking about being "the winner," since Friday night. What a sweet victory!

Andrew looking stunned immediately after winning the contest.

I Love Playing Tag!

Call me crazy, but I do love it when someone tags me. Maybe I didn't get to play tag enough on the playground as a kid and I am compensating for it now, who knows! Thanks to Kristie for

tagging me!

I am: A wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter and teacher. A decent gal. Someone who cares.

I think: Too much. Over analyzing gets me in trouble sometimes.

Everything in life: Happens for a reason.

I want: My son to have a long, happy, fulfilling life.

I have: A wonderful child and a job I love.

I dislike: Extreme heat or cold.

I miss: My best friend Desi, who lives in California.

I fear: Another Great Depression.

I feel: Very blessed. I am grateful for all that I have been given.

I hear: Andrew playing in the tub, singing and talking to himself.

I smell: The lotion I am wearing, Sea Island Cotton from Bath and Body Works.

I crave: The Marie Calendar's chocolate silk pie defrosting on the counter as I type this.

I cry: Whenever I look at old pictures of Andrew as a tiny baby and realize I can never have that time back.

I search: The Internet for whatever I am in need of at the moment.

I wonder: If I will every be good enough for myself.

I regret: Not having a better relationship with my mom.

I wish: I wasn't always so tired.

I love: My family.

I care: About doing the right thing for my family, and my students. About being a good person.

I always: Am a perfectionist.

I am not: The most patient person, but I try.

I remember: A lot of fun times I have had in my life.

I believe: Everything happens for a reason.

I sing: In the kitchen to my IPOD while I'm cooking dinner.

I don't always: Take the best care of myself.

I argue: About things that I feel passionate about.

I write: Whenever I get the chance on my blog.

I win: Every game of Trivial Pursuit I play.

I lose: My temper too often.

I listen: To a very eclectic range of music from Broadway musicals to country.

I don't understand: People who have children and then don't take care of them.

I can usually be found: At home, in my classroom or in between the two.

I need to: Take time to enjoy the little things in life while I still can!

I forget: Very quickly, so I scrapbook and blog.

I am happy: Most of the time.

I tag: Desi, Hillary and Mary Jane.

THAT WAS FUN!

Witches!

MJ and I braved Gardner Village on Friday with the kids. When I say braved, that's really what I mean because there were five children, the oldest being 4 and the youngest 6 month-ish. I jokingly referred to her as my sister wife when I realized with all the kids we looked a little like polygamist wives. Of course we had Andrew, MJ's three little munchkins and her cute little nephew Blaise came along for the fun too. I was the one who invited him, thinking, what's one more kid? Little did I know...
Anyway, I hadn't been to Gardner Village for a few years and I remember them always having the cutest Halloween displays and these amazing life-sized witches everywhere. So I talked MJ into going, any kind of field trip for her is an ordeal with three children under 4, but she relented when I told her how cute the witches were and I sealed the deal when I told her it was FREE!
So we get there and right away I knew something wasn't quite right because the parking lot was overflowing and there was absolutely nowhere to park. "It wasn't ever this busy when I came before!" I told a slightly concerned MJ. Then we realized the poor timing of our adventure coincided with the annual UEA convention, and that we weren't the only teachers out and about that afternoon. Thus: The Crowds! So, after having driven all that way, we dragged all the kids in and side-stepped our way through all the people to see the witches. They were as darling as I remembered and they even had a scavenger hunt you could do as you made your way through the village to make sure you didn't miss any. Unfortunately, it was hard getting around (I can't imagine why) and I couldn't relax and enjoy the day much because I was constantly worried about losing a child. (One of the few benefits of having only one I suppose!) "Blaise, where are you?" Carter, come hold my hand, please." Andrew, don't climb that!" Kathryn, back in the stroller, sweetie." And so it went.

Before we left, we sat on the grass and had some carmel apples. The boys got bored and started a game of throwing leaves which was fine and actually fun once they understood not to throw them in little Kathryn's face. Despite the day's obstacles (crowds, lots of children, and rumors of polygamy), we had a fun time and it really was the most beautiful fall day. Next year, I will go again for my photo ops, just not on UEA weekend!

Wart Faced Boy Gettin' Down

Just more proof that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in this family. I happened upon this scene in my kitchen this morning and couldn't resist the temptation to capture my "wart-faced" (Andrew's name for the mask he's wearing) son's moves for posterity. I'm probably the only one who finds this at all amusing but it makes me giggle every time I see it. Excuse the cackling in the background-that would be me. Also, I can't figure out how to turn the dang video around so you'll have to kink your neck to watch it. Enjoy!

Not Very Surprising...

8 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Poor (Failure) Take the test!

Thank goodness it's not the 1930's! Unfortunately I probably wouldn't rate very well as a modern wife either! And yes, that is a EIGHT out of a possible 100 points. How perfectly shameful! I better just lay low and hope no one (especially DH) finds out that I'm an inferior wife!

Raindrops Keep Fallin...

What's that song about rainy days and Mondays? It has rained all day today. So much for my plan to "winterize" the yard and gardens. This day has definitely got me down. I need to get out of the doldrums and get something done. I did manage to clean Andrew's room and go through some of his old clothes. Which makes me cry. My boy is getting so big. I guess I just cannot be consoled today, I am determined to be sad. At least someone around here made the most of the rain...
Without the rain, I wouldn't have happy little boy playing in the rain with a Bob the Builder umbrella and caterpillar rain boots pictures. There! I looked on the bright side for a minute. Now I have to go and resume feeling sorry for myself.