One More Thing We've Been Doing

Introducing...Frosty Junior! I wanted to go with something more original like Elvis or Stanley, but the boy wasn't having it. He insisted on Frosty and I added the Junior for a little distinctive touch. I promised we'd build a snowman today, and poor packing snow and blazing sun be darned , a snowman we (mostly I) built! I didn't promise it would be a large, grand snowman, and granted, ours looks more like a snow dwarf, but some quality time outside with my son was the man objective, and we definitely accomplished that. (Notice how thrilled Andrew looks to be holding Frosty Junior's hand-I think maybe he's catching on that some of my picture poses are a little cheesy!) Now let's just hope good old FJ melts before the obnoxious teenagers steal his nose or knock his head off!*
*The aforementioned teenagers have already popped our Santa snow globe and created naughty poses with our lighted lawn reindeer, so excuse me for expecting the worst! Unfortunately, I have no proof that it's these teenagers doing the dirty deeds aside from several sets of snowy footprints leading to their house across the street, so I must insert the discaimer that all suspects are innocent until proven guilty!*

The BUSIEST Time of the Year!

I have been MIA from the blogging world for the past little while because, well..because it's Christmas of course! There are family traditions that must be observed, school service projects to finish, gifts to wrap and deliver, etc. you know, all the same things you've been doing yourself I'm sure. Here's a little glimpse into what we've been up to for the past couple of weeks:

Zoo Lights-You may have heard the radio ads for this one-200 animated displays-over a million lights total! Not very many animals can bear the cold this time of year, but it is fun to walk through and see the lighted displays. The giant tiger and hippopotamus heads are among Bubba's favorites.

Sub for Santa-My 5th grade class combined with a 4th grade class in our school sponsored two needy families in the area for Christmas. I have done this activity with my classes for the last four years and to be quite honest, didn't expect much this year with the state of the economy and all. The kids surprised me to say the least! I had students taking back their own Christmas presents to buy for the children of these families. I don't cry much, but shed a few tears to watch my students touched by the true spirit of giving and the Christmas spirit demonstrated by the students and their parents. It feels good to be able to help give a family a Christmas where it wouldn't have been possible otherwise. I will ALWAYS do this service project.

Marchant Christmas Party-Ah the yearly talent show, nativity scene and gift exchange! Andrew did his fantastic rendition of Rudolph for the second year in a row. Why mess with perfection?The Marchants are good people and I am lucky to be counted among them.

Santa Claus-The boy got right down to business-hopped right on Santa's lap and made sure the old man knew exactly what he was wishing for this year. Then, hopped right back off and went back to playing. No lingering around, no shy smiling and watching Old Saint Nick like so many other little kids do. This is what I want, thank you and goodbye. Just enough time for mom to snap a picture.
Willard Bay Lights (plus cocoa and scones!)-It was our second year to head north and check out the light displays at the Willard Bay campground. A little cheesy, but worth the $9 per car to see the glowing pioneers and handcarts, nativity scene, Cinderella's carriage, Jazz bear, etc. The display is very Utah-centric and fun. Cocoa and scones were a bargain at only $1 each! If you dress for the weather the wagon rides are free!

Tomorrow we head home to Idaho for the holidays. I am excited to see my whole extended family and spend time with my sister and niece.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Happy Birthday Princess Rylee! (a little late)

There were a lot of goings-on over the Thanksgiving Holiday that I have not yet addressed, much to the chagrin of my sister, Hillary. She wants to know how I could possibly neglect blogging about our fantastic Black Friday shopping adventure, where we ended up on the news at 5 am, shopping at Toys R Us. I always knew my amazing shopping abilities would be the source of my eventual fame. My fifteen seconds have come and gone!

Most importantly, the weekend marked the celebration of my darling niece Rylee's fourth birthday. Her actual birthday was on Sunday, but the princess party of the year was Saturday at Hillary's "castle." All the pretty ladies came dressed as their favorite princess, and as for Andrew, the only boy favored with an invitation, he was their knight in shining armor. Hillary bought him this cute little knight costume so he wouldn't feel left out, and more importantly, wouldn't have to some dressed as his favorite princess. Should I be worried that he would have enjoyed dressing as a princess?

Andrew was so fully into his knight character, that at one point he laid down his sword and proclaimed, "I have lost my knight skills!" He loved being the hero and the party was a great success. Hillary had planned all sorts of cute activities around the princess theme, including pin the kiss on the frog and a castle shaped pinata. That night, Rylee chose Garcia's for her birthday dinner because she wanted to wear the birthday sombrero and be serenaded with Happy Birthday, Mexican style. She was all about it until the staff actually came out and laid the sombrero on her-then she got a little freaked out.
Little Princess Rylee was definitely in her element as the center of attention. I love my niece to death and can't imagine our family without her. She is a very smart, precocious and fun-loving little girl, with a huge heart and love of snuggling. Happy Birthday Rylee, Aunt Tole loves you!

Desi's Tag

I decided to take on Desi's open invitation to all readers of her blog to participate in a tag, firstly because I like tags, and secondly because I can't think of anything else worth blogging about today. So, here it is, the Six Things Tag, modified from Desi's modified version.

Six TV Shows I Watch: (This was a stretch to come up with 6, believe it or not!)
1-Lost (can't wait til January!)

2-Desperate Housewives

3-Grey's Anatomy

4-Top Chef

5-48 Hours (Investigates, Mystery, etc.)

6-Intervention (I know, Intervention??!)

Six Favorite Restaurants:

1-Tepanyaki

2-Texas Roadhouse

3-PF Changs

4-Garcia's

5-Macaroni Grill

6-Red Robin

Six Things That Happened Yesterday: (slow news day in my life)

1-We started our Sub for Santa project in my class at school-the kids seem really into it this year so it will be great!

2-I took back a pair of pants at Kohl's and found a pair of skinny jeans for Ari

3-I cooked fried rice for dinner

4-I went shopping at Wal-Mart for Davis District's Sub for Santa program. I got to buy $100 worth of gifts for a little three year old boy-I am an old pro at little boys so that was no sweat!

5-I went to Petsmart to buy a black light (see #6)

6-Bobby peed on the back of the couch (I don't know what I am going to do about this problem, but I am nearing the end of my rope with my diabetic, bladder-infected cat! I CANNOT STAND a stinky house and can think of nothing more repulsive than cat pee surprises!)

Six Things I Look Forward To:

1-The play I am going to see at Pioneer Theater Company on Saturday night

2-Wrapping Christmas presents

3-Delivering our Sub for Santa gifts to needy families

4-Christmas! Andrew's face on Christmas morning..

5-Winter break-two weeks=NO WORK! (I love my job but we all need a break, right?)

6-Seeing Wicked in April

Six Things On My Wish List:

1-Lose weight (lots of weight)

2-Read books (lots of books)

3-Be independently wealthy (not likely)

4-Travel all over the world

5-More time to spend with my family

6-See my best friend Desi more often

I tag Hillary, Kristie, Mary Jane and Judy. Let's hear what you ladies have to say!

Christmas Cuteness

Well, I did it folks! Sunday night I finally managed to finish getting all my Christmas knick-knacks and what-nots out of their boxes and hang them oh so festively around the house. I just love a Christmas-y house! I am not even going to think about taking anything down until at least the end of the first week in January-it wouldn't be worth all the trouble, unpacking, rearranging etc. if they weren't up for at least a month-don't you agree?

This is my first year EVER to have an artificial tree and I must admit-I LOVE IT! No needles everywhere, no cats eating the tree, no dry brittle, branches, no watering, and the best part of all is the beauty was PRE-LIT, so no fighting with DH over how the lights should go! I always swore I'd never have one-I always said a real tree is tradition, it's nature, you can't have Christmas without the smell of a fresh tree! Let's just say I changed my mind-HOORAY for fake trees!
(PS-The evergreen plug-in from Bath and Body is so convincing, I forget it's not real!)

Emma's Cool Book Tag

I accepted Emma's book tag challenge, and since I was sitting at home in the office/ironing room where we don't keep books, I searched around a little and found a book my friend MJ had given to me on my last birthday on a shelf above the computer. It is called, Better Than You Think You Are by Ardeth Kapp, and MJ so kindly gave it to me because she knows I have serious inadequacy issues and is always trying to get me to like myself. Thanks MJ! Keep trying! Anyway, I generally don't read "churchy" books (sorry but they tend to strike me as a bit cheesy), but this one had something really great on p.56, sentences 5-7:

"We came with enough, and if we do our very best the Lord will make up the difference. With his help, we will measure up; we will be enough to fulfill our foreordained missions as sons and daughter of God. We each do have a mission, a reason for being."

Well said, Ardeth. And not even a little bit cheesy. I think I just added another book to my "must read" list!

Now everyone go to Emma's blog, follow the insturctions and play-it's fun!

Declarations

1) It is December 6th and my tree is up but not yet decorated and half my darling decorations sit rotting in their boxes. Utterly shameful! If only the days were a few hours longer!


2) I just finished "brucing" my entire kitchen floor with my handy dandy Bruce-O-Matic (check it out if you have no idea what I'm talking about it's fantastic! I can't live without the BRUCE). My back hurts but my sparkly, pretty floor is well worth my discomfort.


3) I am experiencing agonizing buyer's remorse over the extravagant amount of pictures and picture cards I purchased at Kiddie Kandids today. (see #4) Please don't ask how much, it's too painful to say.


4) My son is the cutest thing this side of the Mississippi! (This year's Christmas card photo below as proof!) Come on, admit it!
5) Giving my cat two shots for diabetes and two doses of liquid antibiotic a day is a little exhausting, not to mention my hurt feelings since the cat now starts running every time he sees me coming. Poor Bobby!

6) I am thisclose (attention: DESI) to being done with my Christmas shopping. Obviously the shopping comes before the decorating in my book. A little backwards, but it works for me. Unfortunately, despite the icky state of the economy I have spent WAY too much money, yet again. I had resolve to be so frugal this year! I have no idea where I went wrong...

7) There are ten school days remaining before my glorious two week vacation. I want to get a lot of little projects done around the house but will probably just lie around eating bon-bons and reading all the books on my "must-read" list. Do you have any I should add?

8) I need to start some more Christmas traditions with/for my son. What do you all do on Christmas Eve/Day that I can copy? A few we have are that we always wrap up Christmas books and unwrap and read them on all the nights in December, we make cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve, open Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve. Please share what you do-I would love to hear!

9) I liked Twilight, the movie. Maybe I'm silly but I even saw it three times. Yeah, the special effects were a little cheesy, but the LOVE STORY was intact and that's the most important part. So sue me.

10) I can't get enough of the Christmas music on the radio this year. They can't play, "Last Christmas," by Wham too many times for me. The video is classic and brings back so many 80's memories, like George Michael with big feathery hair pretending to like girls. Indulge yourself-you know you want to!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZhoF9Isf0o

Age Old Question

Is it wrong to use the upcoming visit of a right jolly old elf to illicit good behavior from one's child? The last week or two, all I have to do is start humming, "Here Comes Santa Claus," and whatever whining, fit-throwing, potential tantrum that might be in the works ceases immediately. My son sometimes even apologizes and promises to be good! "Will Santa still bring me my Hummer?" Andrew will ask worriedly, after realizing that his behavior might have Saint Nick considering moving his name to the "naughty" list. Now, generally speaking, Andrew is a very good boy, and tends to mind most of the time. But still, I can't resist using the powers of Santa to exercise a little mind control. Cruel, I know, but it works every time! Besides, my parents did it and I turned out okay...right?

This and That

This post doesn't have any kind of theme, just a bunch of random stuff I want to put out there. Enjoy my arbitrary thoughts:

1. Bubbaism of the MONTH. The comedy around here has been a little sparse lately (every comic genius needs a breather, the Bubba is no exception). Anyway, today was Colonial Day at school and so I dressed like a early American colonist, bonnet and all. I came upstairs tonight and heard this," Hey mom, how do I look in your BANDANNA?" and saw this:

My son in a pilgrim bonnet and apron-could I be more proud?! No, I do not encourage cross-dressing in my home, the boy just happened to find my discarded costume on the floor (yes I am a messy pig!), and wanted to try it on for size. He looks much better in the getup than I did and if you want a picture of me wearing the "bandanna," aka bonnet, just picture my face in the above scene-that's as close as it's going to get.

2. Can't seem to get enough of these lately. Don't know why. It's not like I've never eaten them before and they are all of a sudden new, different and fantastic. Yes, they are pleasing to the palate, but why all of the sudden would I rather eat them than do much else? Did anyone else notice that the snack size weren't in any of the mixed chocolate bags of candy for Halloween this year? All Bubba brought home in his stash were the plains! What is up with that? A coincidence? I think not. Some kind of conspiracy to drive us mad and make us run to the store to buy a pounder? I think the FBI should get onto this. No I am not being paranoid. Don't underestimate the power of a peanut M & M.

3. Twilight. The movie. Opens tomorrow. I'm going. I hope they don't ruin the book. I think I might snack on some peanut M & M s during the show. I think that would be an appropriate time to indulge, don't you? That's all I have to say about that.

4. The weekend is coming! HALLELUJAH! This has been such a frantic and exhausting week, (last week too with parent-teacher conferences), I can't wait to sleep in! (Maybe until 8 or 9 if DH is feeling generous). Definitely not going to be sleeping in next weekend-I'm one of those freaks in line at Toys R Us at 4 a.m. I know, get a life, but my mom and sister and I go every year and we are convinced it's fun so I'm doing it!

5. Now, I'm going to go relax, put my aching feet up and watch Grey's Anatomy. Lose myself and all my worries watching a bunch of dysfunctional TV characters. It doesn't get any better than that!

My New Favorite Book

So thanks everyone for all the great blogging ideas-nice to feel so loved. That's okay, I don't need any help after all, I just finished my NEW FAVORITE BOOK! Here it is:

Such a captivating read! I started reading it to my class and ended up finishing it on my own because I can't read all day at school and I had to know what happened. (Don't tell the kids I cheated and read ahead-they are really into it too!) It's about a Mongolian girl named Dashti who becomes the ladies maid to a girl who has been banished to a tower for seven years. She helps the time go by faster and keeps from going crazy by writing thoughts down in her journal. That's how I feel about this whole blogging thing sometimes-it helps keep me from going crazy! Who knew how cathartic the writing process could be? Anyway, I don;t want to give away too much, because anyone who hasn't read it has to run right out and get it, but it has adventure, suspense, romance, war, and lots of fascinating cultural references just for fun. I give it FIVE stars! Has anyone else read it?

Blogger's Block

I am experiencing a serious case of blogger's block! I love to blog, I want to blog, but for the life of me I can't think of anything that I really want to write about. I want to get Andrew's adoption story down at some point, but that is a HUGE complicated story and I am too lazy right now. I need to stop being lazy, however, before all the important details are lost to me. I am so desperate for a topic that I am asking you, my reader out there to give me an idea and I will write about it. Anything at all. Thank you, in advance, faithful reader, I wait patiently for you to inspire me!

Happy Birthday Bilbo Baggins!

This here post is a shout out to my one and only sibling, Hillary who turns the BIG 3-OH today! Here are the top ten reasons I love my sister:

10. She’s my only sister-do I have a choice? (JUST PLAYIN’!)

9. She is a good cook-capers anyone?
8. We have a lot in common-cats, music, books, shopping, kids, movies, (except the horror-sorry Bill)
7. She doesn’t hold grudges (see above nickname- get it -Hillary=Bilbo, and reference childhood Dumbo incident). I can be grumpy and she still calls back.
6. She thinks I’m funny and laughs at almost all my lame jokes. I’ve got her snowed pretty good.
5. She is always open to trying new things (scrapbooking, blogging, snowmobiling, John Mayer, Wicked, etc.)
4. She is humble. (she doesn’t realize how amazing and smart she really is!)
3. She is a great listener. I can call her and vent about anything. She’s always there.
2. She is fiercely loyal. I know she always has my back. That’s a nice feeling.
1. She loves me unconditionally. Even though I am not the best sister in the world, she loves me anyway and I knever doubt she'll always be there for me.

Happy Birthday Hill! You don't look a day over 29 babe! I wish we lived closer so I could really torture you today! Seriously though, I'm so glad to have you for my sister, you are the BEST!

LOVE YOU!

Halloween Fun!

Halloween Haiku

This is one of the only poetry forms I know by heart and since Halloween was so fun this year, I had to dedicate some prose to the occasion. Here are my five best and most thought provoking pieces-go ahead and pick your favorite. Just to warn you, they are unusually good and it will be hard to choose. They kinda sum up my night-so you have to read them in order to get the full effect. I thought Haiku was more fun than another boring narrative. You get to read between the lines!

#1

At Last, Halloween!

Dress up in your scariest,

Knock and beg for food.

#2

Dark, Halloween night,

Pirates and cops haunt the street,

Run while you still can!

#3

Let's go trick-or-treat,

This bag is much too heavy,

I need more candy!

#4

Can we keep going?

It's my turn to ring the bell!

Scream and stomp my foot.

#5

Finally we're done,

Tired children eat some treats,

Then bounce off the walls!

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.

Bubba-ism of the Week

Tonight, we went to Andrew's friend's birthday party at the new Chuck E. Cheese in Layton (it was a MADHOUSE to say the least). Anyway, when we got home past eight, Andrew was quite emotional, as he often is when he has played hard, worn himself out, and eaten next to nothing (eating pizza is worse than eating dirt to my child). So, he was teary-eyed and cried over lots of little things, ie. not wanting to take a bath, being hungry, not wanting to go to kindergarten without me (who knows where that one came from, he was delirious, but I reassured him that he won't be five for some time now so not to worry). So we finally wipe away the tears and get around to the teeth brushing when he says:

"Mom, I am just sad today."

"Well, why do you think that is, Andrew?"

"I had a bad day."

"You did? Didn't you have fun at the party? What was so bad about today?"

"No, not a bad day, I am just sad."

"Why honey?"

"That's just how I am mom."

Pretty deep for a four year old! I guess I just have to do my best to keep him well fed and rested and keep those toddler blues at bay.

It's All About the Costume-Are You Ready?

Okay, maybe I'm a little excited about Halloween. I know it is still over a month away, but I will admit I have already ordered Andrew's costume-are you surprised I'm not sewing it since I have become so domestic with my canning adventure and all? I will also reveal that this is the latest in the season I have ever ordered a costume for Andrew-I usually have the dang thing and have tried it on him repeatedly by now. I was feeling very anxious and "behind" as I finally placed the order the other day. I could care less about the candy, the parties, the jack-o-lanterns-for me the thrill of the Halloween season is seeing if my child could possible be any cuter than the year before. (Okay I care a little about the candy). It is getting tough to beat. Last year he was a bat, preceded when he was two by a skunk and of course the famous baby alien for his first Halloween. Now that he is picking his own costumes, or at least giving me input on what he wants to be, it is hard to focus on only cuteness or fabulosity when I have to attend to his wants and needs for a costume. All year he has been INSISTING that he wanted to be an "army man" this year. Until the other night, when I'm about to hit order on the army man costume at brandsonsale.com, and he is suddenly inspired that he should be this instead:

Are you feeling it? I think he will be just darling as a keeper of the peace-I just hope he doesn't become drunk with power and try to beat me with his billy club if he catches me eating his candy.

I CAN! (sorta)

(Darling pic stolen shamelessly from Judith's
blog-Thanks Judith!)
I have never been much for domesticity. I would much rather run around doing fun things or even work than spend my days alphabetizing the soup cans in my pantry or meticulously scrubbing the baseboards. Now this is not to say that I live in a pigsty (ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that my house is fairly clean), or that I think that women who are domestic are lame. Not so! I truly admire those who can make their grandma's salsa from memory or create delicious pie crusts from scratch (that one's for you MJ)-that is just not how I roll, but more power to those women who do.

Anyhoo, when we bought the house we live in currently, we inherited two massive peach trees. Oh goody, I thought-we'll have yummy peaches to eat in the summer. Little did I know. These two monstrous freaks of nature have produced I'll wager to say THOUSANDS of peaches in the last two weeks. Everyone I've talked to lately seems to think a yard overflowing with fruit was the greatest thing since winning the lottery. However, I have been less than enthusiastic because I'm-(gasp) a NON-CANNER! Being a non-canner in Utah is almost as scandalous as being a Democrat. But I digress...

I was all for putting a sign in the year saying,"Free Peaches, you pick!" What a charitable thing I would be doing for the less fortunate! But the CANNERS weren't having it. Everyone and their canning cousin wanted to help me turn those little balls of juicy sweetness into a year's supply of cobblers and whatever else for my family. So I gave in-as long as I didn't have to be involved in picking the hairy little devils (man that fuzz is ITCHY!), I would participate in the canning effort.
So Saturday afternoon, Kimmie (my SIL), and Joan (MIL), came with the goods. Jars, rings, sugar galore, spcial little knives that would cut the fruit but not your fingers, and the double boilers. It was a family affair, a cooperative effort on the part of everyone there from Kent and Richard picking peaches and supervising the boilers out on the deck, to little 'ol me peeling and quartering peaches til my hands and fingernails turned brown (disgusting, but it's amazing what a little bleach under the nails can do). Seven long hours later, we gazed admiringly at our 61 (yes, SIXTY ONE!) quarts of peaches. It was a lot of work, but a very "fruitful" experience that I think I would do again-in about 5 years when all these jars are gone. It was even maybe just a little fun and I am quite proud of that shy little domestic goddess within me who came out for the canning-fest.

Now I just have to figure out what to do with the rest of the peaches out there on those trees-My pantry runneth over!

Bubba-ism of the Day

The horrific words I swore as a child I'd never say: "Because I'm your mother!" came quite naturally to my lips today when Andrew, after being asked to take his shoes off and put them in the closet, pick up his dropped mac and cheese off the floor, and take his bowl to the sink asked this:

"Why I hafta do evything what you say?" (sic)

Thank goodness four year olds tend to accept their parents responses as valid so that was the end of that...for now.