Christopher, Christopher, Christopher...

While I'm burning what feels like 100's of 1000's of CD's of the Primary Program songs for 2008 for Christmas gifts for our primary kids (only 50 but somehow feels like much, much more), I thought I'd give everyone a "bit of Christopher."

He's starting a tap dance class with a couple of friends and is very excited about his "tappy" shoes. His teacher told him boys make the best tap dancers and all the famous tap dancers are boys. So on the way over to class today he says, "I bet if I keep taking tap lessons I'll be the best tap dancer in my school. I bet I'll become famous. And if I'm famous it will be easy to get lots of girlfriends. And I bet they'll be HOT!"

He's 6.

And if all the Hot Girls aren't excited about the tap dancing, they will be about this:

Tonight at bedtime:
"Mom, today at school my friend dared me to pick up my poo and squish it in my hand. I did it... but I washed my hands really, really good!"

Goodbye, Dan Fogelberg

One of my favorite singers, Dan Fogelberg, died today. Jenny and I listened to "Leader of the Band" album endlessly in high school. I'll never forget sitting in the car overlooking Bear Lake, rewinding "Same Old Lang Syne" over and over so we could memorize all the words. (Remember how important it was to have the words of the song memorized in high school!!)

Still love to listen to the album on road trips. Love to sing along at the top of my lungs while the rest of the car has their headphones on watching a movie. But Dan indulges me the walk down memory lane as long as I don't hit "repeat" too many times.

The lights are up!!

At 7:00 this morning the bells jingled on the front door as it opened. Nicholas sat up in bed (my bed) from a dead sleep and blurted, "Is Santa here?!" Not quite, but almost as good... Dan had gotten up early, early and hung the Christmas lights! Yea! He also got the ones across the fence that I'd hung working. So we're officially ready for Christmas and Rachel and Aunt Marge and holiday cheer.

I just asked Christopher if he could turn the chicken off. How often do you get to say that. (The singing chicken from the limbo game -- sooooo annoying... yet so addicting. Anyone else with this toy?)

Christmas Decorating

Life is getting pretty complicated when not only do you have to decorate your home for Christmas, but also your blog. I've spent the better part of the last 7 days and long into the nights trying to figure out all sorts of complicated html and reviewing several websites for do-it-yourself templates and had zero success.

I'm pretty computer savvy -- was actually the website manager for our preschool website many moons ago and in what seems like a previous life taught software classes, wrote guides for the elusive NeXT computer software and solved all problems computer-related at the ad agency in Dallas where I worked. So I know my way around a computer -- at least I did 13 years ago. Times have changed and while I don't know what I'm doing, I'm not afraid of trying to figure it out. But I also know when to throw in the towel. Called Sheree first thing this morning... "How'd you do it?!! How do I get a personal header?!!" Well she walked me through the two-step process that's very obvious on the Customize page and has nothing to do with changing html.

So I'm officially blog decorated for Christmas. (By the way we don't even have lights up on our house!! The last two Saturdays we've had huge snowstorms so Dan couldn't put them up then and he's been traveling during the week. We did hire a guy after Thanksgiving but he never showed up. In addition they were sold out of 18 foot Christmas trees at the lot so we don't have our entry tree either! We are really Grinches this year and we don't even mean to be!!) But at least my blog is decorated.

I also got sucked into downloading old Christmas videos from our camcorder. That too was a software fiasco (even on the Mac) but several late nights later and a software update and I'm hooked up and ready to go. Thus the video of Christmas 2001. And since I'm the mom, once I get started watching the past, I can't stop!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2001

I'm Back!

So I'm home from my awesome trip, caught up on laundry, Primary, Christmas, school and home stuff so that now I get to take time to blog! That and I had an early Christmas present... Today is early day (kids come home from school at 1:15 and I dread it because I really like my quiet time while Nick is napping -- even though I do love my kids tons!!). Marty's friend called early this morning to ask if he could go over after school -- YEA! Yes he can!! And Christopher starts yelling in the background, "Ask if I can come too and play with Will!" And instead of being a good mom and teaching him that it's rude to invite yourself over, I was in the kitchen crossing my fingers and hoping...hoping, "Please let Will's mom say 'Yes.' Please let her say 'Yes.'" YEEEESSSSS!!!!!

So it's 3:00, I've done all that I need to do and now I'm checking in to say hello and report on our most awesome Thanksgiving vacation on the Disney cruise!!! (And also noting some new blogspot post features that I need to check out. Hmmm.)

Sooooo... The Friday before Thanksgiving our family flew to Orlando to finally go on our cruise that we'd been planning with friends for about a year! We stayed at a wonderful hotel across from downtown Disney and started out by immediately watching several episodes of Hannah Montana. Because we don't have cable at home. And mom and dad had a door that could be shut in between rooms.

After everyone was well assured that 24 hours of Disney channel would be available after we got back from dinner we jaywalked across 10 lanes of road (although not much traffic) and hit Downtown Disney for dinner. We'd been to Rainforest cafe so didn't have to wait in the 20 minute line to get your name on the 1 hour wait list for dinner. Whew. No wait at the Seafood restaurant but the moment I ushered all the kids in I could tell by their panicked, bulging eyes that they could smell the same strange fish stench I could and we rushed out for fresh air. Instead went to a very overpriced Italian restaurant. Lots of crayons and butcher paper so everyone was happy. Topped off the evening with dessert at Ghiradelli's and paid the 50 cents so Nick and Chris could ride a little train after and came back and watched more Disney channel. Again, lots and lots of happiness.

The next morning we were off to Port Canaveral. The most exciting part of the one hour drive was spotting alligators along the side of the road! We also received much political advice from our van driver who wasn't a big fan of Rudy Giuliani.


I think even the seasoned Disneyland-goers have to agree that Disneyland is a magical place and upon arriving at the port and seeing the great mouse ears festooned on the nautical-red ship stack towering high above everything else in sight, we were in awe knowing we got to "live in Disneyland" for a week!

Part 2

Wow! Just used the staple gun for the first time hanging Christmas lights along our fence. It was very fun -- usually a tool that I don't really want to be bothered with -- too much potential to fire a staple into my face when my brain doesn't register that I shouldn't pull the trigger when staring at the staples. But I used it safely and successfully hung a row of lights. Too bad I didn't check first to see if we actually had power in the electrical boxes. We don't.

I'm in the mood to get back to blogging about the cruise. Courtney and friends are cooking in the kitchen. My computer is in the kitchen. Quiet time is over and for the first time am seeing the benefits to having a laptop so I could remove myself to somewhere else.


As we cleared Disney security, we met up with two other families who we've been friends with forever. We've been talking about taking a family vacation forever but have new babies between us for so long that it's been difficult. Finally, however, we did it!


When you check in you receive a boarding number. While you wait you take pictures with Mickey, register children for kids clubs and buy lanyards so said children can wear their room key cards (which also have charging privileges so they can purchase smoothies, arcade games, candy, souvenirs, etc. Wise to limit charging privileges or give kids big lecture so they don't go crazy. (Actually I have to say ours did pretty good about asking permission after said lecture.)



Our numbers were called and we got to enter the ship and take our arrival photo! As us moms rushed off to make adults-only dinner reservations and spa appointments the dads and kids went to get lunch up on deck.

Funny spa story... we tried to get massages for all three of us girls at the same time. They didn't have three separate appointments but could fit us in with one individual appointment and another "couples" massage. So my first couples massage was with Tiffany. I loved checking in at my appointment and having the receptionist say she couldn't find my reservation. "Oh...check under Tiffany." She tried to look unaffected as she found the appointment and looked up at me..."Here it is... a couple's massage?"

We changed to robes and then I noticed that the toilets were out of order. The masseurs had to stand guard while we used the men's bathroom. I guess given that we signed up for a couples massage and used the mens rooms and Disney is a family ship, they believed we were unpredictable so they left the lights on during the massage and covered our eyes with dry tissue paper. After all was said and done they asked us to get dressed then sit on the edges of the bed and wait for them to return. Tiffany and I looked at each other -- never having been interviewed after a massage. They returned and essentially got after Tiffany for having so many knots in her back. I didn't get a lecture. Next time I'll skip the massage.

I've Been Tagged!

I was tagged by my sister, Michelle, which I'm really excited about because obviously, as evidenced by the fact that I have a blog, I like talking about myself. So, after much thought, I'm ready to reveal 5 Little-Known Things About Myself.

I'll title the first story: Wearing Makeup
It wasn't until I was a senior in high school that I actually started wearing makeup. And by wearing makeup I mean mascara. Perhaps I attempted blush for a winter dance, but that's it. Actually, I take that back. In high school I also wore eyeliner on my bottom eyelid. And in case you weren't in high school in the 80's, we actually put the eyeliner on the RIM of our bottom eyelid. Purple or blue, I believe.

So mascara pretty much got me through high school and college and at some point I added eyeshadow. Sure I'd gone to the Bobbi Brown shows and bought a ton of stuff, but never became committed. Then two years ago I went to the Bobbi Brown counter (I like it--why change?) to try for a new color of lipstick and met the makeup helper (clinician?) who changed my life! She tried to sell me blush and foundation like they all do and I politely declined. I'm always touching my face. And isn't blush from the 80's? She looked at me with a sad look of pity. "Do you ever look in the mirror and think you look tired?" Who me?! Mother of four with a six-month-old baby (at the time) and packing around 30 extra pounds? "Tired and old!" I admitted. She gave me a lesson on using modern-day blush and also eyeliner (which I still find tricky and I've actually admired others thin eyeliner lines--how do they do that?!) and wha-laaa, I was refreshed!

I was so excited I called my sister, Rachel. "I've learned the greatest thing! When you look in the mirror and you look kind of tired and old, blush and eyeliner can change that!!!" Through the phone I could see her sad lok of pity. And I realized I was the last to know.

2nd Revelation: Exercise OCD
Two years ago after having Nicholas I tried to start running again but kept getting shin splints. I bought a new pair of shoes and became committed to starting out slowly. Last spring I was running 6 minutes and walking 2 minutes. Alternating 4 times. Kind of a conversation stopper whenever a fellow runner asked, "How far do you go?!" But I was only doing it for me so I didn't mind that I was taking baby steps. I added an extra minute every week or so and have successfully beat shin splints and am now running 40 minutes straight. Yea for me!

I have noticed that I have exercise OCD. Having bad knees has partly caused this as I take my orthopedic surgeon very seriously who says I should run on flat surfaces. Therefore I'm very committed to running in the middle of the road if I can help it. When I'm on the edge of the road a curious little voice in my head is screaming at me to, "Get to the middle! Get to the middle! This "slope" at the side of the road is ruining your knees!"

But this fall the voice wasn't just looking out for my knees. It wanted me to crunch every crispy, colorful, delicious fall leaf that was in my path. Sometimes stretching a step to get a leaf, other times taking half a step to get one with each foot. On occasion I'd have to leap off to the side so I didn't miss one just to the right or left of me. I find the crunch very rewarding!

3: My Christmas Cards Are Done
Na-na, naa, na, naaaa-naaaa! :-)

4: I love note pads and paper.
I get a pad I like and then it sits by my desk for a couple of months untouched so I can just enjoy having it. Then I'll start using it when I'm ready. I actually pitched a huge fit one time when my husband scratched a phone number on a pad I'd just purchased with a vintage mom saying, "Because....I'm the mother...That's Why!" He was baffled, of course. I have tons of blank "meaningless" scratch paper in the drawer of my desk for just the purpose of phone numbers and such. But I get very possessive of "my paper." My Paper is for lists. I like making lists and I like having special paper to make them on. Now I have several pads with my name on them. And I love them very much.

And the 5th little-known fact about me...
I am perfectly comfortable going to bed with dishes in the sink.

The five people I tag are... Melissa A., Michelle H., Courtney, Kay and Mom (I know mom doesn't have a blog, but I'm dying to hear what she says!) You're It!

Daylight Savings

I'm planning on getting up tomorrow at 6:00 because it will feel like 7:00 and will be about to get light. I'm going to go for a run. These are my plans. I haven't run for 3 days because I did lunges for the first time in about 5 years and could barely walk for several days. I've always really hated lunges. That's why I loved Pilates -- exercise but no lunges! I've been so sore I've realized I really should do more lunges because it's scary when you think you're getting into shape but a simple exercise causes so much pain. Dan asked how heavy the weights were I was holding while I was doing lunges... I hope the pointed glare let him know he shouldn't comment on my private exercise pain if it requires me to confess, "Just my body weight, honey."

Happy Halloween!

"Biker Chick" Grandma!

Catch-Up

I haven't posted in the longest time! Spent my free time surfing everyone else's lives instead. Click on the link to "Meesh" to see how creative my sister and husband are and why I always look forward to seeing what they're going to be for Halloween. (By the way Michelle, when you have brown hair we really look a lot alike!)

So here is a catch-up of the many things I've been thinking about and doing over the last couple of weeks:

"Recycling"
I found this cut-up 6-pak plastic can holder in the recycling and marvelled how wonderful it is to have a 12-year-old back up! Because when I don't have the motivation to take the time to cut up the plastic thingy to save the birds and I simply chuck it, I have a daughter who notices my carelessness, retrieves the plastic thingy and cuts it up on her own, thereby doing her part to save our environment!



"Bookwise Conference"



I attended a conference downtown discussing writing and publishing. It was interesting, very motivating and so fun to spend time with my sister-in-law who invited me.



In addition, I ran into a friend from Chicago! It was so fun to get caught up and hear about friends I hadn't seen in 10 years. I had actually read her blog recently when I found a link to it on another friend's blog!





"Arthur"
So at the Bookwise conference, Marc Brown was going to speak. I had to leave early to take Christopher to a piano rehearsal which was also downtown. As we left the rehearsal, I knew we may be able to catch the last few minutes of Marc Brown speaking. However this entailed a $12 parking fee and a VERY long walk through the entire conference center to get to the other side. As I passed the center, there were a ton of parking meters available.

I had a choice -- get home in time for dinner with Dan and family and enjoy being home, or park and walk a long way with the slight possibility of maybe hearing him speak and having my son get to meet Marc Brown. In a moment of, "What would Mom do?" I pulled over and parked and we walked VERY quickly to try and catch his speech.

We made it to hear quite a bit of his talk and him read a new book he illustrated and talk about another he co-wrote with Rosemary Wells. He was darling!! We also got to meet him right after at his book signing. We LOVE Arthur in our family and I wanted to spend 10 minutes telling him all about how all the kids of all ages watch Arthur, but refrained since the 100 people behind me would have been really mad. But, Marc Brown was wonderful and sooo kind!! AWESOME!

I will also mention that Christopher had a sprained foot so by the end he could no longer walk. I carried him piggy-back to our car and in my intention to take a short cut took a very long cut and walked about a mile around the whole dang conference center with a kid on my back. But I was kind of giddy and still thinking of my own mom and how she inspires us to take "risks" so I was happy to do it.

(Yes, I know, it's funny to hear me call "perhaps missing Marc Brown and then not getting home with enough time to enjoy being home" a "risk" but I'm kind of a like a horse...when home is in sight and I'm tired it's hard to redirect my course!


"Pumpkin Carving"
I used to dread pumpkin carving because it feels like it takes forever and I hate gutting the dang thing times as many kids who also hate gutting it. That was until 4 years ago when I timed how long pumpkin carving takes so I would know what to expect in future years and therefore not dread it so much anymore. It takes one hour. So now I love it because one hour isn't that long after all. And all my kids can gut their own pumpkins (or, as in Marty's case, pay a little brother to gut his pumpkin for him... yes, this truly did happen this year). And once the pumpkins are gutted I enjoy carving.

I did not enjoy watching Nicholas stab his pumpkin with a small "pumpkin carving knife" raised high above his head and plunging it into the pumpkin over and over. It frightened me a bit.



"Christmas Photos"
Finally, if you're having a hard time getting your six-year-old to smile naturally during Christmas photos, try saying "diarrhea!!" And then singing verses of that wonderful song. What's curious to me is that Marty and Nicholas weren't phased. Click on the photo for a larger version!

Fun With Bekah!

Everyone needs to hop on their blogs and create some more posts -- Bekah and I have just spent 30 minutes blog-stalking at 11:00 at night for some sort of entertainment and couldn't find anything new. The sad part was that I'd even read all of Bekah's friends' blogs (and there are a ton) a few nights ago for lack of anything better to do. (I know, I really need to start a good book!!!). So, we created our own entertainment... Enjoy!

And The Winner Is...

Michelle got it on the first try! The mystery "treat" was peanut butter balls. I recall making them with peanut butter and honey and then rolling them into a ball and refrigerating. This time I made them with almond butter, maple syrup and carob powder. They were super yummy but nobody was interested in eating them but me. Apparently they are much more exciting when you're sugar-starved as we were as children and I am now.

Also, here's what happened with Veggie Pasta Surprise: Marty had to go to football practice and we went straight from dropping him off to Courtney's soccer game. So I had all three boys in the car with me at dinner time. I put "Veggie Pasta Bake" in paper bowls and covered with tin foil. I grabbed three plastic forks and we were off. As we jumped in the car someone said, "We haven't had any dinner and I'm starving!" As nonchalantly as possible I simply said, "I brought dinner with us," and handed it out. What happened after I'm still running over in my mind to understand.

What happened was...nothing. Nobody said a word. They took the foil off and started eating. I chanced furtive glances in the back to see if they were all alive, and they were alive...and they were eating. Was it the cool, "tin foil meal" look? Was it that I didn't beg such as, "Here is your dinner and it's really delicious. I expect everyone to try a bite before complaining!"

I started fantasizing that they really liked it. That cooked in such a pleasing manner Marty suddenly liked sauce. Christopher really has always been such a great eater. I knew he would like it, of course he does.

Then we arrived at football. Marty handed me his bowl, "I'm done, will you take this?" But it wasn't an empty bowl I was holding but a bowl full of vegetables with only the pasta eaten. And each of the other boys had done the same -- picked the pasta from the veggies.

However, Dan, Courtney and I all loved it and had seconds.

Saturday

Another Saturday morning and another Nicholas project. He was trying to make pancakes.

How a Two Year Old Thinks

I let Nick paint and immediately he was drawn to handprints. Figured this out on his own -- but nothing I wouldn't expect from a two-year-old.

I was being so patient and encouraging this creativity, so I rolled up his sleeves so he wouldn't get his shirt dirty. But of course he's two -- so what does he think? Oh Good! More arm to paint!

Big News

I pulled into the parking lot of Fashion Place Mall in Murray where a new building was being completed just outside of Nordstroms. Got out of the car and read the freshly painted sign which read... "The Cheesecake Factory" Yea!!!!! Can't wait for the Corn Cake Tamales and Lettuce Wraps with their dipping sauce. I'm so excited!

Guessing Game

In my effort to be more healthy, yet desiring a treat, I made a little something that my mom used to make and tried to bill as "treats." They really are yummy, but not very cool (especially NOT as a birthday treat)!! Can you guess what it is? (HINT: Michelle, you have the best chance at guessing)...

What Nick Did Today

9:00 a.m. "At least it wasn't on the carpet."

1:00 p.m. "At least wood floors are already brown."

2:00 p.m. (All these towels -- and the surrounding carpet -- are mopping up the 1" of water caused by Nick bringing the hose inside the house and not getting noticed for quite some time.) "It's time for a nap RIGHT NOW!"

A Must See TV Dedication

1995 *To Courtney who I gave birth to the week after the very traumatic ER episode in it's first season when the mom gives birth and dies in labor and the dad and baby are left alone rocking together in the recovery room. (And to my midwife who when I just opened my mouth to say, "I have one question," said, "If you're about to ask about ER, that does NOT happen!")
*To Dan who cried with me at the end of the episode.
1996/1997 *To Central Standard Time which allowed me to get Courtney to bed before the first show started at 8:00 p.m. so Dan and I could watch Seinfeld without our baby.
1997 *To Tiffany who was my Thursday night buddy while our husbands worked late. And to that Hot Wings place that had THE BEST hot wings for Thursday night TV (what was it called?!!?)
1998 *To Phyllis who joined us on our last Thursday night in The City and introduced us to Chubby Hubby which became a staple of the Ross and Rachel years.
2000 *To Bekah who joined me and To Dan again who finally was able to be home early enough to watch our taped episodes.
2000 *To the VCR which allowed us to tape the episodes so we could watch with Dan when he got home from work.
2001 - 2003 *To Rachel who was with me on so many premeire nights!
2004 * To CSI which gave us something to watch when NBC was so pathetic
2005 * To Without A Trace that gave us another thing to watch when CSI got so gory and ER should have been cancelled.
2006 * To The Office and My Name is Earl that survived Spring debuts made Thursday a night to look forward to again!
2007 * To another great year!

Veggie Pasta Surprise!! Part 1

Thanks to Winder Dairy home grocery delivery, my family actually had food once a week last year when I never had the time to shop. I would supplement with daily trips to our local market, simply called, The Store. I guess I should say that I never had the time nor the energy to plan ahead enough with a list to make a trip clear down to the supermarket (seriously, it's far), park miles away, push the grocery cart with a truck on the front with Nick in it and navigate the towering aisles to find a weeks worth of food.

Winder Dairy still delivers to us once a week and yesterday I forgot to get online and cancel the items I didn't need. I loaded my fridge this morning and realized I was overflowing with mushrooms, broccoli, carrots and cottage cheese. So, I had a great idea. I'll make a veggie lasagna! But since lasagna noodles are a pain, I'll just make a veggie pasta bake. What a great way to use those veggies up! I got everything out of the fridge and realized I had a lot of chopping ahead of me and had another great idea... OHHH! I'll pull out the Cuisnart from the dark recesses of the cabinets and snap through in no time!

Well I have to say, it really did chop and shred in no time. And when I was done I filled the BIGGEST metal mixing bowl FULL of sliced broccoli, mushrooms and carrots. I felt like mom! So I added whole wheat pasta shells (ooh..even more like mom), cottage cheese and a jar of marinara sauce. Which wasn't enough. So I added another jar. Still not enough. Had to add a third jar (it's all Rao's and it's about 10 bucks a jar). Suddenly I realized this veggie bake was not only expensive, but I had enough to feed the neighborhood. And sadly, it's so healthy it's one of those dishes there's no way you'd share with the family who just had a baby because they'd probably 1) hate it and 2) think you're a freak. And knowing it's so healthy I realized that my own children will also 1) hate it and 2) think I'm a freak.

Fortunately I'm realistic enough to expect that my boys will say it stinks and they hate mushrooms anyway and Courtney will say it tastes really good but she's not that hungry. Dan will LOVE it but add he had a late lunch and ask, "Does anyone want toast?"

So as a last-ditch effort to make it appealing to the family, I added a block of shredded cheddar cheese and put it in the oven to cook anyway. And then I decided to blog about my efforts and laugh while I still can!! I'll update with Part 2 to give everyone's reactions and how it all turned out later this evening.

...Just realizing I probably won't do it later this evening because it's premeire night for my Thursday shows -- a 12-year dedication to "Must See TV" makes this the biggest night of my year. RACHEL, I MISS YOU! However, I will enjoy with Dan. I'm remembering that other years I made Chicken Enchiladas or Hot Wings to usher in the event, not to mention tons of candy and ice cream. No sugar this year and only Veggie Pasta Bake. I hope I'll be able to look back and laugh!

Things I've Been Thinking About

I want to be better at writing Thank you's.
I want to make time to have lunch with my friends.
I want to keep up with my blogging!
I want to keep my house organized for at least one week!
I want to fold the laundry and put it away on the same day it's washed.
I'd like to make time to get my car washed regularly.

It's My Birthday!

It's my birthday! Feel free to post heartfelt comments here! :-)

Arthur

Sue Ellen just had an epilogue on today's episode of Arthur that brought tears to my eyes. It was the one about the school fire and Sue Ellen losing her journal. I haven't been moved by a PBS show since Mr. Rogers went off the air. But I'm really enjoying the new episodes of Arthur. Anyone else?

Courtney and Nick Make Bread

Courtney expanded her ever-growing talents by making bread on Sunday! She let Nick help her and they made two awesome loaves of french bread. Not only that, she did it all by herself without any help from mom or dad. (Which really goes without saying because my bread-making experience is truly limited.) Way to go Courtney!

CyberWorld!

I've finally had an experience to make me understand the usefulness of text messaging during church! Of course Dan and his business partner used to entertain themselves during Sunday School in the past by texting, but I was never happy about it -- c'mon, aren't we old enough to give our full attention to the teacher?! (And then I was released from Primary and attended Sunday School for the first time in many years and realized that yes, sometimes Sunday School is boring.)

So here's what happened last Sunday...

Chad (Dan's business partner and now bishopric member) was conducting the meeting. He finished the ward business and we were singing the sacrament song when I realized, "AAH!! I forgot to remind the bishopric that we had a child baptized last week and they needed to call him up to the front and congratulate him. (Big, important event in an 8-year-old's life -- getting baptized and then getting called up and welcomed to the ward after baptism.) So I look at Dan, panicked, and whisper, "They forgot to call Cole up!" And I'm wondering if there was any way to discreetly alert the bishopric--notes, hand signals, ESP, blinking eyes...what...what...??!!!?

With no hesitation Dan whips out his BlackBerry and seconds later has texted, "Do you need to call Cole up about baptism?"

He hits send.

We stare at Chad, sitting on the stand.

In less than a second Chad feels the vibrate as his BlackBerry alerts him he has a message. He looks at Dan; eyes raise in silent question, "You?"

Dan nods almost imperceptably.

Chad reaches into his coat pocket and checks the phone. He shows the note to the Bishop. They whisper.

Chad glances at us and mouths a quick, "Thanks."

After the Sacrament is passed, Cole gets called up to the front and the meeting continues without a glitch. Hooray for the Cyber world!!

Modern Life

Have you ever tried to get dressed in the dark now that t-shirts don't have tags? It's hard.

Dishwasher OCD

And just when I thought I didn't have a thing to post...

Was reading on my friend, Betsy's, blog where she commented that she had OCD when it came to loading the dishwasher, among other things. Hey! So do I! But anyone who's ever lived with or visited me already knows that. I can't help but reload the dishwasher after you when I see you doing it "wrong!" I blame it on Mom and the FHE we had on loading the dishwasher. She was so good at instructing on how to get it organized just the right way so everything would fit AND the added benefit of water actually hitting the dirty dishes and cleaning them, that the stars aligned, angels sang and I was in dishwashing loading heaven for the rest of my life! I subscribe to the theory that if you do it perfectly, everything will really fit. And of course I've proved it many a time when I've walked through the kitchen and someone is so kindly loading my dishwasher for me and I reach over and start rearranging what they've loaded. Do I say, "thank you for loading my dishes!" Or, "Wow! What a treat -- I really appreciate you!" No. Instead I say, "Want to learn something neat? If you load it the "right" way, you'll fit everything in and it will get clean too!!" So to all of you, I want you to know I'm truly sorry. I may not try to get better (because of course I really do believe I'm right :-)), but I do apologize for rearranging.

I want everyone to know they have permission to discuss this weakness of mine behind my back. I know it's annoying. I hope you can chuckle and say something to the extent of, "It's just Angela. She has dishwasher OCD. We want to kill her, but we love her anyway."

Water Balloons

What do you do if you find a package of balloons? Fill them up with water and head to the tallest spot of course!

Football Season!

BYU vs. Arizona State -- It's fall in Provo!

Teaching

These are the things I taught today all before 9:00 a.m....
To Courtney: When you say "Hi" to a boy in Jr. High, have a friendly tone to your voice. It won't sound like you're in love with them -- you'll simply sound friendly. Friendly is good.
To Marty: When you hold your violin firmly with your chin, you don't have to hold so hard with your hand.
To Christopher: Orange aloha shirts don't match with green camoflage shorts.
To Nicholas: Take one bite of your toast at a time. No, don't cram the whole piece of bread in your mouth. Finish chewing before you take another bite. Spit that whole slice of bread out and try one bite at a time.

First Day of School

It was a great first day! Courtney loved Jr. High! Christopher was so excited to finally get to wear his new Star Wars shirt. Marty was just happy to have something to do all day. Mom was happy not to have PTA and Nicholas was happy to have mom all day. We went to the aquarium!

It's 10:30...

It's 10:30 and we just sent everyone home. I'm such a sucker -- but I knew I was!

Night Games

It's technically the last night of summer. Tomorrow night we will be getting everyone in their pajamas at 7:30 (yes, 7:30) so we can have plenty of time to wind down, read books, turn out the lights by 8:30 and stay awake until 10:00 in our beds staring into the dark as we will our bodies to switch to "school-night" mode.

The kids and lots of friends are all playing Ghost in the Graveyard. They've previously been playing Capture the Flag. It's 9:20 p.m. and I agreed to nightgames tonight under the condition that they finish by 9:30 so we can start getting used to going to bed a little earlier. I won't stick to it. I have too many fond memories of playing nightgames -- running around in the dark with lots of friends--screaming, hiding, running--with total abandon. I'm not that committed to bedtime on the last night of summer to break it up. So live it up kids! It's why I could be talked into moving to Utah -- I knew my kids would get the chance to play nightgames. It's why we bought the house next door, tore it down and replaced it with grass -- so the kids would have a bigger area to play nightgames. It's the last night of summer -- HAVE FUN!!!

Pagosa Fun

Lexie joined us for our annual trip to Pagosa Springs this year and as always it was a blast. ATV's, fishing, beebee guns, s'mores, hot chocolate in the morning, lots of food, snacks at the store, fires in the evening, hike to the falls, and new this year, swimming in the river at Box Canyon! We usually go earlier in the year when the river is running high and fast. In August, however, it's slow and shallow. We found some good fishing holes on our hike and the kids went from getting their feet went to stripped down swimming in their skivvies. What a blast! Marty also built the nightly fire on his own, boy scout style, without the help of kerosene -- way to go, Marty!

Pagosa -- First Fish

Our first night in Pagosa, Chris caught his first fish!

This is Classic!

I just read this on another blog and loved it...

(Visit Daring Young Mom's personal blog: http://theparentingpost.parenting.com/daring_young_mom_index.html)

Yesterday I caught myself yelling at the top of my lungs for [my children] to just be quiet. I put Laylee in timeout. "Laylee," I said calmly, "Do we yell in this family?"

She looked up at me with utter confusion, a look that said, "You were just yelling but I don't want to be in timeout forever for talking back to you so I'm going to wait this out," and stayed mute.

So I apologized for yelling and now I have to go in timeout if I yell in the house too. To me, timeout seems like a great place. You chill out, staring blankly at the wall "thinking about what you've done" but honestly you can think about anything you want. Laylee's not the boss of my inner-most thoughts. No one is supposed to interact with you in timeout so it's really like a mini-vacation in the middle of the day. I may have to start yelling on PURPOSE!

Nicks Big Boy Bed

After 3 nights of Nicholas waking up and wanting to sleep in our bed, we decided it was time he move from his crib to a "big boy bed." He's always gone to bed so well and loved his crib, we were never in a rush to move him out of it.

He was so excited to get a real bed! The funny thing is, he still wakes up wanting to come to our bed, but he sits in his bed and calls out. Same with naps...he sits on his bed and calls for me just like he used to do when waking up from a nap. I guess he hasn't figured out he can get out on his own!

Dan took the crib down while I was at book club. I'm a little sad to see it go. We've had stretches of time when we didn't use it between Marty and Chris and then Chris and Nick. But it was always sitting in the storage room waiting for the next little baby to arrive in our family. Now that time of our life is over.

I remember staring at two different cribs in Babies R Us, not able to decide which one to get. I was there for over an hour debating. That was 12 years ago. We've taken it up and down 12 different times -- moving apartments and simply moving it from one room to another as we got settled in different apartments or homes and changed our minds about what would be the baby's room. Courtney climbed out of it at 20 months. Marty loved his crib but moved to a bunk bed at 22 months when we moved to California. Christopher was thrilled to find he could jump out and have a soft landing when we moved it too close to Courtney's bed as we were switching their rooms. He was 27 months. And Nick's been perfectly content until now at over 2 1/2.

Now we're taking the crib down forever and saying goodbye to our babies. I'll miss the crib and our babies who slept in it.

Michelle, We Missed You!

It was a dream come true having an Adair family Around the World tournament. The only hard part was because we are now adults we had to be good sports about sharing with the kids!! It was a perfect summer night -- a great BBQ, the boys played basketball (yes, I do mean Dan, and Dad, and Michael and Jared, of course.) while the girls talked, and then we threw the football, jumped on the trampoline, talked some more, jumped some more and then the kids played Red Rover (even recruiting Rachel, Rebekah and Wendy) until it was too dark to see. The only thing missing was Michelle and Fam!!