June 26, 2011
When I was about 10 or 11, I wanted to do something nice for my mom. So I decided to load the dishwasher while she was at a church meeting. My plan was going wonderfully until I walked back into the kitchen for something and saw nothing but bubbles. Everywhere. Literally thousands of bubbles billowing on top of each other, spilling out a good four feet into the kitchen. I had used dish soap instead of dish detergent. Filled to the gills with dish soap. Whoops.
I called my mom in tears, terrified she was going to ground me for life or that it would start leaking into our downstairs neighbor's apartment. I had no clue how I was going to clean up all those bubbles either. My mom just laughed at me, probably as a survival mechanism at the thought of coming home to the mess and one hysterical daughter. Needless to say the dishes were squeaky clean.
Well, tonight in my rushed hurry to get the dishwasher loaded and scrub some of the pots I had used to cook dinner with, I just dumped the soap I had in my hand in the dishwasher. Then I stood there trying to figure out what was wrong. Something just seemed "off." It seriously took me a good minute before it clicked what I had just done. And I was dang near ready to close up the dishwasher and walk away before it dawned on me that I had put a full load of dish soap in instead of detergent.
I'm fairly certain that Jeff would not have been as good of a sport about a second dishwasher disaster as my mom.
June 25, 2011
I'm fairly certain my Dad will never go on a two week business trip again. Well, at least leaving my Mom and sister unsupervised for that long.
He came home to find not one, but two surprises. On Father's Day weekend no less.
Meet Rex (on the right) and Maddox (on the left). English Springer Spaniel puppies. Just like my dog Sam. If he hadn't been such a good dog, maybe my Mom and sister wouldn't have fallen to temptation when they went and looked at a litter of pups. But then again, I'm not sure many could resist the adorable faces of a springer puppy. They are just the most adorable things with their big brown eyes, docked tails, curly furred ears, and big paws.
I was certain my Dad was going to kill them, but surprisingly he reacted fairly well to the news. My Mom said she came home and found him in the backyard playing with the new additions. He did grab both of them by their throats and tell them sternly, "I'm the alpha male. I could rip your throats out." Yeah, like my kind-hearted father could ever follow through on that threat.
With all my squeals of delight and "ohhhhs" even Jeff realized the day will eventually come when I finally talk him into a puppy of our own. I've just got to wait until a puppy doesn't think Cole is a giant chew toy.
June 24, 2011
Our neighbors have a reputation for holiday decorating. They go all out.
Then there's us.
It's not like we don't try. We do put up a few decorations and lights, especially now that Vickie has begun clearing out her sheds which means we end up with at least a ginormous tub of hand-me-down decorations every holiday. But it pales in comparison to the neighbors.
So tonight they brought us a present to hang up. For you non-movie watchers out there who never saw Ghost, Ditto means "the same" as in, however festive the neighbors get we're right there with them. It's been funny watching people pointing and laughing as they drive by, folks walking by to get a picture, and everyone at church asking about it.
I guess now we're off the hook for decorating! Ha!
June 23, 2011
Jeff really knows how to turn me on.
And they were oh, so sweet.
June 22, 2011
It's finally done.
Dance class.
Pearl had her big dance recital tonight. She's the one on the end, looking straight at the camera and looking way too cute in that makeup and hair do. Although I've decided I have no idea how to gussy her up after seeing some of the other girls' makeup and up-dos. I'd like to think she's raising her arms "whooping it up" as Jeff would say that dance is over, but it's just part of the routine. Five months of dance lessons (most of them stressing me out because we had to rush home from work to get ready, then deal with Pearl suddenly developing this ultra clingy, separation anxiety the second I turned around to leave, and stressing about getting something for dinner on the table) paid off. Pearl did fantastic! I thought the moment she saw me standing there with the camera, she'd freeze and refuse to do anything but whine and cry (like at dance class). But she waved at me, smiled, and remembered all her moves. It was really cute to watch her dance around in that ridiculously expensive costume.
We were so proud of her for sticking with dance, even on those days she didn't want to go. And she looked so dang cute up there, that I just might reconsider my threat to never let her dance again.
June 21, 2011
I've nearly pulled all of my hair out trying to not kill my kids lately. They have been little turds to say the least. Both of them.
Between Pearl's whining, hellatious tantrums, and back talking and Cole's constant pleads to be picked up, crying, and total destruction of the entire house, I'm about to lose it! I have no clue what I'm doing! I'm losing the battle, make that the war!
Many of my well meaning friends have suggested reading numerous books about discipline. Top on the list is "Parenting with Love and Logic." The real pathetic thing about this though, is a friend actually gave me this book for a baby shower gift with Pearl. So you'd think I'd have this whole parenting thing down. But I've only skimmed a few chapters in those emergency moments of a tantrum, when I've already done the opposite of every recommendation in the book.
Well, this morning in the midst of trying to get ready for work and screaming out loud "I HATE MORNINGS!" Cole brought me a book. Yep, the love and logic one I'm supposed to memorize so I have happy, productive, polite kids. He had a big smile on his face and happily jabbered something as he handed it to me to read. And it just so happened to be the only book he pulled off the bookshelf. The irony.
June 20, 2011
We had a long awaited picnic tonight.
And not just because it's the end of June and we have yet to eat dinner outside.
Tonight we went window shopping for a new car. Seeing as how it's been almost two years since we bought the Audi and I have yet to learn how to drive it, Jeff has decided he wants his truck back. He says it smells like a girl. So we drug two hungry, squirmy kids to look and test drive cars. Thank goodness dealerships have become more "kid friendly" and have playrooms with toys and movies to keep them entertained while the dads talk shop with the salesmen. But even a movie, balloon, snacks, and a few toys could keep Cole happy for long. He was done and wanted to go home. And by that time, Pearl was starving. I think both kids figured we had forgotten to feed them. So Pearl came up with a "great idea, Mom" to have a pizza picnic at the park.
It was a good idea.
June 19, 2011
Any guesses as to what Jeff's favorite Father's Day present was?
The Mater hot wheels truck Pearl picked out at the grocery store?
The car wash I finally got the truck?
The watering can (stuffed with candy) he asked for?
The new sprinkler hose thingy I figured he needed?
Or the homemade rolls I made today?
I'm not sure either. But I know what Pearl would say.
June 18, 2011
The car show was in town this weekend. Pearl insisted we go and see it. Not for the cars mind you, but the bouncy houses she was sure had to be at the park somewhere. And just when all hope was almost lost that there wasn't a single kids thing to do amongst the hundreds of vintage cars, she spied a bouncy house and bouncy slide. She then managed to talk Jeff into $3, enough to buy $3 worth of kids bucks. Kids bucks is the only way you can do any of the activities or buy any food at the car show. It's a fundraiser for, well I don't really know. But a good cause I'm sure.
So we went on the bouncy house, the bouncy slide, and then bought one expensive balloon sword. We barely came out unscathed with the balloon when Pearl started in on one of her hysterical fits where there's no talking any sense into her, she screams, flops around lifeless, and causes a headache for everyone. It was close. Thank heavens we were in public where we couldn't do much bodily harm to her without someone seeing.
Then we continued to meander our way through all the vehicles. Some really cool ones, some really ugly ones, some that made me think ok this guy has what Jeff calls "tiny penis disease", and others I kept thinking if it wasn't for a registration fee I'd hope they wouldn't let you enter your fancy, new Mustang in the car show... this is for vintage, restored gems. Jeff found a couple of "cute trucks" as I call them (he hates that... it's not manly) that he said we could buy him for Father's Day. Cole just chilled in the stroller, happy for a change of scenery even with day two of his 104 degree fever. And I was just hoping no one was snickering too much seeing me wear shorts, yes real shorts NOT capris, for the first time in well, ever!
June 17, 2011
Jeff wanted to make Cole a sandbox for his birthday. But May came and went so he told Pearl he would make it for her birthday.
Well, life happens.
But tonight he was finally able to take the truck and get a huge load of sand to finish the project. The kids were thrilled! Even Cole, with his 104 degree fever insisted on coming outside for a few minutes to play in the soft sand.
It's going to be a great babysitter this summer!
June 16, 2011
This is a typical scene post dinner at our house. Well, minus the plate. That usually stays put on the table. But food on the floor, yeah that's the norm.
I happened to turn my back for just seconds to take some dishes to the sink. Apparently I left Cole a tad too close to the table because he grabbed hold of the table cloth (which also had food stains all over it from the previous week of meals) and well, you get the picture. On the bright side though, at least his plate isn't breakable and it was the only thing that got pulled off the table.
June 15, 2011
Had I all the money I could dream of, first on my list of things to buy would be a sprinkler system for the hubby. An automatic, programmable, effortless one.
You see, Jeff is the sprinkler system at our house. Left in my care, our lawn would be dead before the end of June. Every summer we watch the neighbors effortlessly keep their lawns green while Jeff has to move sprinklers by hand all evening long around our third of an acre yard.
Someday. Someday.
June 14, 2011
This picture is horrid. But in my defense, I only had my little, spare camera with me. And Duke was in no mood to get his picture taken.
Duke is my sister's fish. And I'm fish sitting this week.
I have this immense guilt at the thought of any fish on my watch dying. The last time I fish sat, it lasted 18 months while my grandparents were on their mission. My grandpa gave me strict instructions that I keep Jaws alive until they got home. I didn't know he was kidding and secretly hoping, I'd let Jaws die. He was stinky and kind of grumpy. But I kept that fish alive for pert-near two years which is a long time in fish years. Jaws even narrowly escaped death down the disposal, thanks to Jeff who came running when I started screaming. A flopping fish - whose scales are graying and falling off because he's 2,000 years old in fish years - in the sink was a bit creepy for me to save, even if it was the last week I had to keep him alive.
R.I.P. Jaws.
And Duke? He better not croak on my watch.
June 13, 2011
I had no idea how appropriate Cole's shirt was going to be this afternoon.
But that's what you get when you open up the sandbox for the first time this year.
I have a feeling Cole will never be clean again.
June 12, 2011
We do not go swimming on Sundays. Despite what you might be thinking with this picture. It's actually from Friday when I broke out the pool to kill a few hours before Teresa's wedding.
But with a slight meltdown after church and a few tears, I needed a reminder that I do love my kids and at times, they do love me too. Oh, and it was me who had the meltdown.
I don't know. I felt horrible but the second we got home and Pearl started in on her whining, crying, sassing, ignoring, and down-right deficiency which seems to be the normal the past few months, I felt like I had just plain given up on motherhood. In Sunday School we talked and talked and talked about how to keep our kids from making poor choices, teaching them what hard work is, how to be good people, and frankly, not screw up their lives (too bad anyway). I kept thinking, yeah well you can set the best example in the world, talk to them until you're blue in the face but these little spirits come with PERSONALITIES! And for some, those personalities just might be the death of their parents. My kid is 4! Four! And I have no clue what to do with her! I have no idea how to discipline her. How to reason with her. How to teach her. How to love her. And if I can't handler her now at four, what in the world is going to happen at 8, 13, 16? Everyday it's a battle of wills to get her dressed, eat breakfast, get hair combed, brush teeth, get in the truck, get out of the truck, and then comes the tantrum, screams, and leg-grabbing when I drop her off at school. And that's just the morning routine. Every single day. Between being emotionally spent with Pearl and physically spent with Cole, I am exhausted and it showed today.
I love my kids, I really do. But lately I've about had it and have no idea what to do.
June 11, 2011
Jeff did his third Tour de Cure ride today.
80 miles of it.
That's 79.8 more miles than my rear-end could handle. And considering he's only been able to do a few rides this spring with the wet weather, work, kids, and life in general, I was mighty impressed he made it as far as he did. Plus he raised $250 for the American Diabetes Association in the process.
He was going for the 100 mile race, but geez, people! Eighty friggin' miles, and a monster 9% incline hill halfway through is pretty good. He called me at about mile 36, just before the beastly (that's putting it a lot nicer than what Jeff said) hill and sounded great. The next time I talked to him, after almost six hours of straight riding, I thought I might be picking up on the side of the road. Not that I blame him. I'd probably take six hours to just finish the 25 mile race, if I finished at all. After getting lost along the route and driving for almost an hour looking for him, we finally caught up to him at the Bear River Hospital rest stop. Pearl and Cole were happy to finally see daddy "win the race", steal his water bottles, and play with his helmet. I was happy to see he could still walk, well kind of. You can imagine how sore and chaffed things were down there after 80 miles.
But with a full kids/wife-free evening ahead of him (we headed to Logan for an early Father's Day dinner with my Dad), I think Jeff will recover just fine. He's one sweaty, sexy stud!
June 10, 2011
My wonderful friend, Teresa, got hitched tonight.
Her spring garden wedding was beautiful! Her self-proclaimed "bridezilla" moment the weekend before paid off because the yard looked great. The food was delicious... Filipino party food which made Jeff happy. The atmosphere was causal, comfy, and fun. Her cakes? AWESOME! I was sad I made myself stick to the rules of this whole take-a-picture-a-day-for-an-entire-year because I really wanted everyone to see the beehive cake and the white cake with grass and bees on it. Super cute. Especially considering Teresa and Rodney have their own beehive. Which, they used when sending everyone home with honey from their bees as a thank you gift.
But, I figured I should show off the beautiful bride, who looked absolutely stunning! When she walked down the isle, I didn't think it was her! Plus, I think I'm in like five pictures on my blog.
Here's wishing Teresa and Rodney a lifetime of happiness!
June 9, 2011
I'm homeless right now.
At work, I mean.
Our cubicles are getting reconfigured... only a year behind schedule. Don't worry, I'm not losing my window! So it's been sort of chaotic in the office with everyone scrambling to pack up, label, de-junk, and then find somewhere to put all the crap we accumulate. Being the last ones on the floor to get our offices reconfigured, space was at a minimum for storage. Our awesome secretary, Missi, (who also redesigned my entire cubicle last second because I had a slight panic attack over losing my corner desk) managed to find a teeny-tiny conference room for all 14 of us to stuff everything in. Computers, files, papers, chairs, keyboards, lamps, and yes, even our trash cans.
But the best part about moving, was hearing one of my coworkers, Catherine, upon seeing the massive stack of boxes after looking for a place to put her 15 boxes, shriek, "HOLY S*#!" loud enough for everyone on our floor to hear!
June 8, 2011
Pearl was excited to show me the new basketball hoop at school today. But she was not excited that it was up high, for the boys. Apparently only the boys can make a basket when it's regulation (for midgets) size. The girls whimp out and whine until Ms. Megan lowers the basket for them. Then the boys whine about it being too easy and to raise it up again.
Being a bit competitive myself back in the day, I was not going to let Pearl wuss out and have the boys beat her. I kept telling her, "If the boys can do it, so can you! See look (as I lifted her up so she could slam dunk it... impressed all the boys with that move)!" Even if the boys are more coordinated and really can make it when the hoop is high.
Pearl wasn't buying my "encouragement" to beat the boys and that she was just as good as they were. Ms. Megan gave in to the pleading and lowered the hoop so Pearl could show me her skills. Guess we'll have to keep working on this lesson... girls are just as good as boys!
June 7, 2011
Tuesdays are going to be very long days at our house this month.
Dance lessons and now swimming lessons.
Pearl had so much fun last year, that when Candy said she was teaching them again, I couldn't resist signing her up. Besides, I wanted to see if Pearl had made any improvements from last year. She has. She remembered how to blow bubbles, kick, float, do "monkey-airplane-soldier", and most impressively, she can jump off the diving board without screaming for someone to hold her hands.
I should really just call it a day and not go into work at all. We roll in after swimming about 11 a.m. then leave early to get to dance by 5 p.m. So far Pearl has been a good sport about getting shuttled from one activity to the next but there's still two more weeks until dance is over (hopefully FOREVER!).
June 6, 2011
Besides chicken nuggets and peas, Cole loves corn.
He was thrilled when I gave him his own cob to gnaw on... after eating almost an entire cob of corn I had cut off already. He sucked, slobbered, bit, and smiled all through dinner.
I, however, was not smiling with the diaper changes the next three days... if you catch my drift.
June 5, 2011
It's sort of an unspoken rule in Primary that when it's your birthday week you get sung a happy birthday song. Typically it's the "Happy, happy birthday (insert name) dear. Happy days will come to you all year. If I had a wish that it would be, a happy, happy birthday to you from me."
It's also an unspoken rule that when it's your birthday, you get to pick a small gift after the singing. It's usually some sort of book mark and red pencil for your scriptures.
Well, tradition stands. Yesterday, Pearl came home with her birthday book mark and pencil. She was very excited about it. And when we explained she could "color" scriptures that she liked with her pencil, she was even more excited. I was a bit paranoid that this new idea would spring into a rainbow-colored Book of Mormon if we didn't keep a close eye on her, but Pearl proved me wrong, so far. She colored the very first verse she "read" with us (we tell her the words of verses so she can repeat them).
Alma 1:25 Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with the persecution which was heaped upon them.
June 4, 2011
After weeks and weeks of asking, "Is today my birthday?", the day has finally come.
Pearl is officially four-years-old... going on 16.
While the birthday festivities were fun, this milestone might put a damper on our dinner prayer tradition. A few months back, when Pearl was in one of her "moods" I managed to trick her into saying the prayer by doing a contest. The winner got to say the prayer. I just so happened to make the contest a birthday contest and the winner was the person with a birthday in June. June 4th to be exact. Ever since, our nightly ritual before we eat is to have a birthday contest. Pearl decides the contest and winner. And let's just say that Jeff and I haven't had to say the prayer in months. So with her birthday now over, I'm not sure who will get stuck saying the prayer for the next few months. My bet is on Jeff since his birthday is up next.
Happy birthday Pearl!
June 3, 2011
Cole has a new trick. On command he will show you his muscles.
And you better watch out 'cause they're huge.
He puts both hands in front of him, with his fingers either tightly gripped or spread far apart, then grits his teeth and clenches so hard he starts shaking. It's like he is hulking! Then he gets a big smile and starts clapping for himself. It's hilarious, seriously almost as funny as Pearl's "surprise face" trick she did as a baby.
Today also just so happened to be the day of Cole's one year checkup. He even showed Dr. Doug his muscles. It kind of surprised me, but he's a bit on the runty side of the percentile chart. But he is one tough little runt! Even Dr. Doug was impressed with his muscles and running ability.
Weight: 21 lbs. (20%)
Height: 29 1/2 inches (34%)
Head Circumference: 46.2 cm (41%)
June 2, 2011
Pearl was very excited today because it was her turn to bring a birthday snack to school. We went to the grocery store last night to pick out treats for all her friends. Last year we took fruit snacks and Capri Suns which were a huge hit. Mainly because the teachers didn't have to clean up blue, orange, or hot pink frosting off of everything and everyone. And seeing as how I really didn't want to be the cause of anyone's clothes getting stained from cupcake frosting or risking 30 toddlers on a sugar high, we stuck with Disney fruit snacks and drinks.
June 1, 2011
Cole has a secret hiding place. It's on Jeff's side of the bed, where there so happens to be a spare pillow to lay on and flashlights under the bed to play with. The only problem is he likes to be found. A game of hide and seek or "boo" is just too tempting for him to not give away his position.
May 31, 2011
I think Cole was happy to be home from our Bear Lake adventure.
As soon as he walked in the door, he immediately began racing from room to room, dumping toys, throwing dishes, pulling the towels off the towel racks, climbing on the chairs and his own 4 wheeler, and laying on all the pillows. At one point, Jeff hollered at him, "Fern! Leave something for tomorrow!"
And the destruction hasn't stopped since.
May 30, 2011
We wouldn't have Bear Lake without Grandpa and Grandma. Even with all the complaining I do about the cramped quarters and "trailer trash" accommodations, I am so grateful my grandparents bought our beach front property decades ago and have kept in the family ever since. And every time we head up to the lake, they come by to check on us. Although, I'm fairly certain my Grandpa also comes up to take a ride on the 4 wheelers. They're sort of like mini-tractors for him.
Someday, I'll do them proud and build a big cabin on the property for everyone to enjoy.
June 26, 2011
