Giving in to peer pressure

Maggie and Allie have two friends, Alayna and Annika, that are their same ages. The other day, Alayna and Annika got cute haircuts. Well, my girls both stated they wanted their hair cut. So, I gave in and cut it. I cut about 6 inches off both heads of hair. Chris really likes long hair, so it was a bit of a shock for him--I think he likes to be consulted in "life-changing" events for him. Cooper wanted his hair cut, but he wants to be completely bald--as in, shave it with a razor. I refuse to cut his hair off. We're still compromising as to how short to cut it. (In the picture, Allie wouldn't smile. She did the opposite--frown! She was even happy.)

FREE is good!

I have become a "KSL Classified Free" junkie. I check it all the time to see what treasures are out there for free. The other day, I got 11 Disney videos. Yesterday, I got a TV stand that holds videos for the toy room and a bookcase for the girls' room. We put a lot of their dolls on the book case and some of their books. There wasn't even a scratch on the bookcase. Today, I picked up a 1/2 bushel of roma tomatoes--a few bruises here and there--but I pureed and froze them and made fresh salsa. I love FREE!

Saturday is a special day...

If you grew up with Primary, you should know the song, "Saturday is a special day. It's the day we get ready for Sunday..." Well, last night after the kids took their baths, Maggie wanted her hair braided in small braids, so on Sunday it would be all curly and wavy. I consented and started to braid. Allie, seeing her sister get this done to her hair, also wanted her hair braided. It takes quite a while to do this and it was already 9:00 p.m. I then turned to Chris and said, "You can do Allie's hair while I do Maggie's." He looked at me as if I were crazy. "I know you can do it. It's not that hard to braid." He agreed to give it a try and it was cute to see Chris braiding Allie's hair. Cooper did not want his hair braided--good thing! We all sat on our bed watching a National Geographic show on salmon sharks. It was a fun ending to a great day--beautiful weather, playing outside, cleaning out car trunks, going to my parents' quarterly birthday party, watching made-up plays, playing basketball, walking. (The girls' hair looks very curly and pretty today!)

Leapin' Leprechauns

Today we had preschool at our house. We studied about the letter 'L'...so the obivious thing to learn about letter 'L' the day before St. Patrick's Day is Leprechauns. They had so much fun leaping around saying, "Leaping Leprechauns!" Lots of fun today.

Sallie, the eye doctor

I got new glasses as of Tuesday, complete with eye exam. That night, my right eye started hurting. It felt like there was a hair somewhere floating around. I couldn't find it upon examination and it drove me crazy. On Wednesday morning, it felt like I had a rock floating around, rubbing my eyeball. More craziness ensued, with me trying to find what was hurting my eye. I finally found the culprit--a pimple-like, white bump on the upper inside of the lid. I googled trying to find what it was and no it was not a stye. I called the optometrist that I had just seen the day before, thinking they would see me. NO! They told me to go to the ER. I said, "No! I will not pay an ER copay of $100 for a white bump." So, I got the peroxide out, a pin, and tweezers. I did the operation with no copay--I did get that little sucker out. It was a rather hard little pimple. Well, my eye hurt all night and emitted much ooze. At 4:00 a.m., I was thinking I maybe should have gone to the doctor because it was glued shut with ooze and hurt like heck. Well, at 6:00 a.m. I thought maybe it was pink eye. I told Teresa about it, but she said it probably wasn't that. It was just the eye trying to readjust to being invaded by the non-doctor. She was right. My eye is feeling much better and is not oozing anything at the moment.

To swim or not to swim...

The month of March started out so beautiful and felt a lot like spring, but Monday, March 9th, brought about 6 inches of new snow. So, with all of this snow, isn't it a perfect time to do swimming lessons?!

Cooper and Maggie love their swim lessons. They always have big grins on their faces and wave to me when I am looking their way. Allie isn't quite old enough to do swim lessons, so she just makes friends with other little girls in the bleachers.

Who's been sleeping in my bed?

Chris left for Chicago on Sunday afternoon leaving me the lone parent this week. Monday, I embarked on matching the hamper full of mismatched socks--a task I dread--which I am happy to report a finding of about 60 pairs of socks!! I then added to that pile a few loads of clean laundry. I hadn't quite folded all of the laundry as bedtime approached. Being tired last night, I pushed the clothes onto Chris's side of the bed and went to sleep. Allie came and cuddled with me in bed this morning and I told her that the laundry slept with me last night. She said, "It looks like Daddy! Hi Daddy!" She had a big grin on her face as she said that because she knew it wasn't Daddy. I still need to go fold the laundry and put it away or it is sleeping with me again tonight!

Cabelas

We have wanted to visit Cabelas since it opened a couple years ago. We finally made it yesterday--between the wedding and family dinner. The kids and Chris loved every second there. I enjoyed it too, but my fun was in watching them mostly--I did enjoy the animals and how big it was.

Harry Potter Maniacs

On Thursday, Cooper said, "I would like to watch this show mom." He handed Harry Potter to me. I agreed and let him watch it thinking it wouldn't keep his attention. Well, Maggie got home from school and they started it over. They didn't quite finish it before bed, but they didn't forget and watched it the next day. Well, they also finished Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets that night too. They also devoured #3 that night, because they have a soft mom and convinced her to stay up and watch it with all three kids--even Allie. She would just cover up her head in the scary parts. Saturday, they all watched #4--in the van mostly--to my cousin's wedding in Highland. They all finished it that night. Today, Sunday, we are about to embark on #5. Can you say too much Harry Potter?!

Chris, the REDNECK

Chris and Adam became Rednecks this weekend. They went to a NASCAR race in Las Vegas. While the race was going, Chris called me. I could hear the roar of the crowd (100,000 people), the rumble of the race cars, and the announcer booming overhead. I could barely hear Chris on his phone. They were both having fun blending in with the variety of people they sat around. Chris has never gotten into Nascar racing, but likened it to a 10,000 in track. He talked about the stategies involved and the guy who started out last ended up winning all. He will get back tonight. (Oh, it took them 3 hours to get out of the parking lot and the race was only 3 hours.)

Wedding Planner

Today was my nephew and new niece's, Austin and Mariluz's, wedding reception in Willard. My sister, Denise, did a lot of last minute planning for this reception because the wedding was in Florida two weeks ago. So, I offered my services to help. I have a friend that has a wedding business and I borrowed a lot of stuff from her to decorate for the reception. I thought it was so much fun doing it. Sarah, my friend, offered the business to me at a very, very discounted rate. I have thought hard about it, but I don't have any storage or a way to haul it, so I am going to have to pass it up. It sure would be exciting though.

The wedding reception and luncheon were so much fun. Roger, my brother-in-law, planned the luncheon program: newlywed game, question and answer, songs, and video. I think he had a great time doing that too--we enjoyed it. My children had a ball running around the church and playing with their cousins. Chris and I had fun chatting with everyone too. It was a nice and happy day.

Getting paid by the doctor!

I have been doing a heartburn clinical advanced research study. I have had heartburn since having Maggie and wanted to know if the acids that come up are causing any damage. So, I had an endoscopy today--a throat, stomach, and upper intestine scope. They found that I only have grade A--being the lowest--esophagitis in the gastroesophageal junction. I love that doctors have such long names for "a sore in the throat." They have to put you out for this procedure, so I was basically wiped out for the rest of the day and couldn't drive. Chris wasn't able to take me, so my dad did. Teresa had the kids for the day, so I just slept and read. It was a nice, relaxing day. I was a little sore and cranky this evening and got a little dizzy coming home from Maggie's SEP conference--which she did awesome at. The best thing about doing this heartburn study is that I wanted to get it done anyway and it isn't costing us a penny and they even pay me $50 a visit!! (Oh, I wanted to post some pictures, but Chris wouldn't let me because he thought they were gross looking.)

Crayons in the dryer--a big No No!

Chris uses the dryer as an iron most mornings. I will iron occasionally. (I have a fear of ironing since my compound fracture while ironing.) Well, this morning he put some slacks and a nice dress shirt in the dryer after spritzing them with the water bottle. A few minutes later, he yelled "Ahhh!! What did you have in the dryer?!" I ran upstairs to look and his khaki dress pants and dark blue dress shirt were covered in black smudges. My first thought was that our dryer was emitting grease. I then sarcastically inquired, "Did you have a crayon in your pocket?" I thought I was being funny. Chris then replied, " I took them out." What was he doing with crayons in his dress pants?! Well, he did not remove the black crayon from his pocket and therefore had melted crayon all over them...and inside the dryer!! (Hopefully I will be able to get it out with oxyclean.) Whoops!!!

The moral of the story: don't dry your pants with black crayons in the pocket.

Dinner Out!

Chris got home before I did last night and I hadn't made dinner yet. He called me as I was headed home from my mom and dad's house and said, "Let's go out to dinner." Whoopee for me. I love cooking, but sometimes it gets a little old, so to go out is a bonus. We went to a Mexican restaurant near our house. When they brought the salsa and chips, the waitress brought green salsa (mild) and some red hot sauce. Cooper, thinking the red sauce was mild, took a big scoop of it, unnoticed by his parents. If his top could have blown off, it would have. All of a sudden he was yelling, "I NEED WATER!!!" It was actually kind of funny. The waitress hadn't brought our drinks yet, so he cooled off with the mild salsa. Later, Allie dropped her drink on the floor and the bottom of the styrofoam cup fell out, spilling her Sprite all over. The mop brigade was brought out. After that she announced to the whole restaurant that she had to poop. Maggie decided I needed a few love taps under the table with her foot on my ultra-sore calf (remember-- from me falling down the stairs at the beginning of the month.) I was in major pain from that. By the way, who seats a family with 3 young kids in the middle of the restaurant?!! Chris and I just had fun with our little family. Never a dull moment!!

Double Winner!

Maggie won last night at the Reflections Awards Night at the region level! She won for both her poem (literature) and sunset picture (photography). We are so proud of her in getting this far. She now goes to the state Reflections contest in April. Fun, Fun, Fun!! (I know I am bragging a bit, but it is so exciting, I had to share with you . I am also posting her picture and poem again. Thanks for indulging the proud momma!!)

MY TRIP TO DISNEYLAND
I went to Disneyland last week.
I had lots of fun.
I saw Ariel and her friends
But I am not done.
My sister skipped through Wonderland
With a girl named Alice.
I stood underneath
Cinderella's Palace.
I went on a very scary ride
with my dad and then my mom.
It was really really bumpy
And the driver's name was Tom.
But now I have told you
What I think is WOW!

So what is going to be my favorite
Out of all this now?
It is telling this to you!

Whoops!

Yesterday was not an unusually busy day, just normal stuff: helping in Maggie's class, a doctor appointment, went to Saver's to find red dresses, went to Costco and bought laundry soap, went and picked up Allie along with Miles and Dayson, went home. Maggie and Grace got home about 3:15. Kim came to pick up some candy I had bought for her. Received a phone call at 3:30 from Cooper's teacher. Whoops!!!! No Cooper!!!! I forgot to pick him up at 3:00. His teacher just laughed when I answered "Oh No!" Cooper told his teacher, "I know my phone number, so we can just call my mom." As I pulled up, Cooper and his teacher were sitting on her fronts steps chatting. He wasn't flustered or upset with me. Cute guy! Cooper later told me, "It's a good thing I know my phone number!" Bad mom day!

Sledding with the Cuzins!

Monday for President's Day, I called Kim to see if they wanted to go to the movie, "Bolt." So we headed to the cheap theater and watched it. I wish I would have taken a picture in the movie theater. Kim was at one end and I was on the other with Allie, Cooper, Maggie, Wakely, and Drew between us. They all enjoyed the movie and then we headed to Kim's house to get ready for sledding. They were all little daredevils in the snow--Allie was a little hesitant. Wakely even got some air. After sledding, it was back to Kim's for playing time. Kim and I had a great chat. We even stayed for some mean Navajo tacos. Great Day!!!

Weddings and Gators and 3 year olds! Oh My!!

Chris surprised me with a gift at Christmas with a plane ticket to go to Florida to see my nephew Austin get married in the Orlando Temple. I was able to go on Feb. 12 for his Friday, Feb. 13th wedding. He married a beautiful girl, Mariluz. She is originally from Cuba and can salsa like none other. I had so much fun hanging out with my mom and dad and my sister's family (Denise, Roger, Austin, Mariluz, Kristen, Kelli, Dave, Travis, Jesse, and Krissy.) We laughed a lot, got the condo security called on us at 2:00 a.m. the night before Austin's wedding, which my mom declared, "We're not drinking!" The security guard probably thought she was drinking. The day of the wedding went without a hitch--except for running 2 hours behind. The reception was supposed to start at 7:00, but did not "really" start until 9:00--with salsa dancing until 1:00 a.m. Mom, Dad, and I took Krissy and Jesse (Denise and Roger's foster kids) back to Orlando with us (the reception was in Jacksonville) a 2 1/2 hr drive. We had extremely late nights and I couldn't drive because I wasn't on the rental agreement. On Saturday, we all went through Tampa to Clearwater Beach on the Gulf of Mexico side. Well, our 1 hour trip took 2 1/2 hours. Chris said we were in a perpetual traffic jam. We laughed about that too. That night we went to Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney for dinner. Sunday, Denise's family went to Disneyworld and Mom, Dad, and I went Alligator hunting on an airboat. The lake we went to was said to have 3400 gators and we spotted a 12 foot gator. Fun times!!

Back at the fort...Chris took care of the kids with the help of Teresa during the day. They all had fun. Chris even took them out for Valentine's dinner at Chili's and then to ice cream at Arctic Circle after. On Sunday, Chris got them all ready for church and even had Cooper prepare a talk for primary. He did a great job. After church, they all went to Chris's parents house and hung out and the kids played with Drew and Wakely. Drew and Allie decided to go for a swim in Dianne's big jetted tub without anybody knowing. They came out drenched with big grins on their faces.

Happy Princess Friends

Allie asked me today if Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella are friends. I said that I thought they were probably friends. She pondered this some more and then happily stated, "They are friends because they are on my plate together."

Family Togetherness

Chris was reading the newspaper Sunday morning and the kids decided to join him. I heard him say, "We have 4 couches in this house and you all want to sit on me!" It was cute. They frequently fight over who gets to sit on mom or dad.