Weekend Wrap-Up

Our weekends are always packed full. They are fun, but always busy. This weekend Mike took me out on a date, we saw Grandma and Grandpa for dinner, we had swimming, tumbling and two soccer games, a baptism, a few house projects, I did a ton of laundry, we exercised as a family, went to church, and we took the kids to see The Blindside.

The kids liked the movie. Jessi slept through most of it (which I expected.) It was a great movie and it gave us a lot to talk about.

We had not been to a dollar theater in a long, long time--we usually wait for movies to come out on DVD or go to the theater near our house. Mike taught the kids about dollar theaters. Andrew is very interested in all things financial, so he was really excited about the price. Mike explained that after the movie is in the regular theater it goes to the dollar theater. He told the kids that the theater might not be as fancy, the chairs might not be as comfy, and you can't get reserved seats, but that it is a lot less expensive.

I went with Andrew to the window to buy the tickets. I didn't realize it was cash only. Our total came to $12--such a bargain for a family of six. I had eight dollar bills and a bunch of change. We let some teenagers by while I counted out $4 in change in Andrew's hand. He kept hearing the people order tickets for our movie and encouraged me to hurry so they wouldn't sell out.

When we got inside, the kids all checked out their seats. The seats rocked back and forth and bounced a bit. After checking out his chair, Andrew declared, "These seats aren't bad at all--in fact, they are quite luxurious."

As we were leaving the theater, he told us that we should only go to movies at the dollar theater. I don't know about "only," but I think we will be going more often.


Other funny things the rascals did and said this weekend:


Jessi asked if Michael Jackson was in heaven with Heavenly Father. (She LOVES Michael Jackson.) Then she asked if Heavenly Father wears the same clothes everyday. (She LOVES clothes and fashion too.) We have some deep conversations while I do her hair.


Christian's teacher pulled me aside to tell me the following story: The kids were out running/walking on the track. Christian's shoe fell off, so he stopped to tie it. When he reached the teacher he was in tears. She asked what was wrong. He said, "My shoe fell off and none of those guys gave me any sympathy." Apparently they all kept bumping into him as he tried to get his shoe back on.

One night we could not find Tiger. This happens occasionally, and it has caused us to be late for church and school. She will sometimes hide out, but she usually comes when I call her in a baby-talk voice. So, it was bedtime and we couldn't find her. We finally went to bed. The next morning we were nervous because she was still AWOL. The whole family was searching. Finally, Bev saw her tail under the couch. Apparently she had crawled under the couch when the footrest was up. Before bed, Mike had put the footrest down and she got trapped. I suppose she liked it because she stayed quiet under there. So, we got her out and we were all loving on her when Christian got teary-eyed. He said, "Mom, sometimes I get emotional when I'm not supposed to." We reasssured him that it is fine to get emotional.

Now the kids--the boys especially--keep asking if Dad ever cries. Mike tells the kids that it is okay and normal to get emotional and cry, but I keep telling Mike that he needs to let the kids see him get tears. I'm not pushing it though. I know how it will go--he will break-out in a big pretend bawling session.

Beverly got up Sunday morning and Mike and I could hear her starting breakfast with the little ones. We listened to pans clanking and the fridge opening and closing. She was trying to "direct" the other kids to help get breakfast done. They were not cooperating to her liking. Mike finally declared that he better get down to help in "Hell's Kitchen."

I cleaned out all of the backpacks on Friday. I found indications that number three has a crush. It was a heart that said, "Bev + Apollo Ohno." I showed it to her and she quickly took it away. But then she recounted the story. The story I have heard a number of times since the Olympics ended.

She is deeply offended by Apollo being disqualified in his final race. She was so mad. (It reminded me of the time we were watching the final of American Idol and David Archuleta lost to David Cook. After that, she could not stand the near mention of David Cook's name, let alone hear one of his songs.) Anyhoo, we re-watched the race many times. It was obvious to us that Apollo had only placed his hand on the other racer. When the head judge (who is Canadian) disqualified him, Bev said, "Andrew, you are wrong--the Canadians are NOT our friends." She talked about the travesty a lot over the next several weeks.

She is like me in so many ways--she can get onery while "managing people" in the kitchen and she doesn't like injustice.


Andrew was telling our friend about the movie Where The Wild Things Are. I heard him whisper to her that Jessi cried at the end of the movie. Then he said, "Yeah, she is a very sensitive African American child."

They keep me hopping...and laughing.

reaping what we sowed

My picture of the day:
Seeing these little babies come up makes me so happy. So happy we planted them last fall. So happy that they will soon bloom.

Classy...real classy

People in both parties can do some stupid things, but this is a gem:

http://connect2utah.com/content/video/?cid=81252

Extreme Makeover: Craftroom Table Edition

I have been in need of a sturdy craftroom table. I didn't want to spend a lot on it, so I decided that I wanted to paint an old one. A few weeks ago, I stopped at D.I. and found the perfect table. It was the right size and it seemed sturdy. I bought it and Mike picked it up on his way home.


It sat in the garage for a few weeks because it was too cold to paint. I also had to decide on a color.

A few years ago, my friend Brittany introduced me to consignment/second-hand shopping. I have found a few cool things. One thing I found a few months ago was this fabulous organizer. It spoke to me for a number of reasons. First, I am a child of the seventies--I love avocado green. I am pretty sure my parents had avocado appliances. I suppose it wore out it's welcome with folks, but I just love it--maybe small doses is the key. Second, my grandma had something similar hanging in her kitchen. It makes me think of her.

I had a little moment with this organizer. Of course, after I brought it home, I put it in the sink to clean off all germs and dust from the previous owner. While cleaning it, I had a run-in with some old, crusty spiders from the 70's. (I have spider issues I am working though.) So, after some dry heaving and after uttering a few words that I am not proud of, I got that sucker sanitized. It became my inspiration for the table color. It is hanging in the craft room and is very useful.

It took a few minutes everyday for about a week to get it sanded, primed, painted, stained, and varnished. I loved every minute of it. There is something about taking something old and fixing it up. I purposely didn't go out and buy a new table--I love the idea of reusing something that someone else is done with.

I am now on the hunt for more old stuff to paint. I don't live near a D.I., so if we are ever near one I just have to run in and see if there is another diamond-in-the-rough that needs a facelift and a new home.

Today's Gonna Be a Good Day

Except for the fact that it is snowing--Birthday Boy isn't happy about that.

This kid is a planner (I wonder where he gets it from?) He has been talking about his birthday for months--about 6 months to be exact. I got him a calendar, because he wanted to count down the days. A few nights ago we were snuggling and he recited what would happen on the big day. He talked about his breakfast, taking treats to school, his present.

Little Man woke up, in our bed, for his birthday breakfast in bed. Breakfast consisted of pancakes, eggs and sausage, strawberries, oranges (of course) and his green cup (of course.)
We let him open his gift--the gift he has been talking about for months. It's a Green Machine. He and Dad will put it together when Dad gets home.

Christian is inappropriately interested in motorcycles. He has seen Pocket Rockets and has been asking for one for months. I got on YouTube with him to show him how dangerous they are. I showed him idoits doing crazy things on them. His eyes grew big with interest. We shut it down and had a talk about brain injuries and broken bones. He didn't seem to care about that, so I just told him that I care about his brain and his bones and that I am the mom and that he will not be getting a motorcycle. Mike helped me out and we started the brainwashing process of helping him discover that a Green Machine is really what he wanted.

He has been talking about it ever since. He was thrilled when he opened it. Yay for brainwashing!

We have a full day ahead--his Star Student poster to school, doughnuts for his class, party invites delivered, a cake to be made, and a Green Machine to assemble. Birthday Boy still has yet to decide where he wants to go for dinner.

I will be plenty distracted with a busy day. That is good because then I won't have time to think about how my baby boy is a baby no more.

Jack's Baptism Surprise

Last week Jessi and I went to Disney on Ice. While we were out on the town, Mike took the other three to IFA to see the spring chicks. Then, they went to eat at Kentucky Fried Chicken. (Interesting choice of meals after looking at adorable little baby chickens, if you ask me.)

So, the kids have not stopped talking about them. They would love to have some, and I have given them a number of reasons we cannot have some. But, Aunt Mimi--she has mentioned wanting chickens.

After Jack's baptism Saturday, Mike and Andrew stopped by IFA and got three chicks with all the supplies for Jack (and Mimi.) Randy was not as thrilled as Jack and Mimi were about the new additions to the family.

I asked Jack what he was going to name them, also informing him that they are all girls. The first name he came up with was "Pecker." I don't know if that one stuck or not, but I sure hope it does.

Mike picked out Brahma chickens. They are supposedly good egg-producers and have good temperaments. I don't know about all of that, I just know that they are adorable.

Andrew loves them. He held one before we left. The little thing fell right asleep in his hand. Andrew explained that maybe the chick thought he was her mother.

As we left, my kids discussed how Jack's family is now like the Brady Bunch--three boys and three girls.

I hope they are doing well. I also hope that Randy is not the spiteful type--Christian has a birthday coming up and I can't help but remember that payback, well, she is a really mean lady.

first week of March pages