Conference Saturday started out just dandy. I always look forward to it. PJ's and breakfast in front of the t.v., couch pillow towers on the couch and conference packet coloring at the kitchen table. Then Justin asks, how much longer is this going to last? Well...a while.
Fast forward to the afternoon session. The children's choir started singing "I am a Child of God". Justin said, "Mom, when will I be able to do that?" I asked him if he was talking about singing at General Conference. He told me that he was. I said, "Why don't you sing with them right now?" He looked confused and asked me what I meant by that. I told him that it was a live broadcast which means that those children in Salt Lake City are singing right this very second. If he sings along with them now, he will also be singing during General Conference. He got a cute little sneaky smirk on his face and he started singing along. After about 30 seconds he turned to me and said, "Mom, I'm really getting tuned in now!" I thought that was so cute. On Sunday, he was so disappointed when the Primary children's choir wasn't singing again during Conference.
Tyler, on the other hand, was pretty much tuned out all weekend. He would yell with protest when I turned on yet another conference session. It must have seemed like a LONG weekend to him. He even fell asleep at the dinner table Saturday night! I don't think he has ever done that before! By this morning, Justin told him not to worry because he was going to build Tyler his own little nursery to play in during Conference. Hehehe!
Travis was all packed up this morning waiting for the town car to come pick him up to take him to the airport. Tyler thought a talking car was coming to take Daddy to Japan. Well, the car never showed up and so we all piled into the car "as is" and went on an adventure to the airport. Tyler is having a hard time grasping the idea that Travis will be gone all week. He thinks Dad is coming home "in the morning" or "after quiet time" or "after dinner". He keeps asking me to show him the "map to Japan" or "just the airplanes". He frowns and says, "I miss Dad." Me too, buddy, me too!
(Pictures to come...Travis, where's the camera charger? Don't you feel loved?)
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Wahoo!
We won our city softball league tournament last night! Our team is called the Pirates. We look pretty tough, huh? hehehe! Wahoo!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Jury Duty
This morning, I spent 3 hours at the court house waiting to be selected for jury duty. The dreaded day came and it went. I survived! (unlike I had anticipated back in July) There were 8 trials today and I ended up skipping over all of them. The anticipation was the worst part. My card was never pulled. I fulfilled my civic duty and enjoyed reading Breaking Dawn at the same time. I even got to wear this lovely badge all morning.
Nah, it wasn't as painful as I had thought it would be. The worst part was that I thought I was going to be late and would have to come back next week. So I ran most of the way to the courthouse from the parking garage down the street. People must have thought I was so excited that I couldn't wait to get there. After it was all said and done, I felt a tiny twinge of disappointment when they said I could go home. It would have been interesting to see inside one of the courtrooms. Maybe next time.
Nah, it wasn't as painful as I had thought it would be. The worst part was that I thought I was going to be late and would have to come back next week. So I ran most of the way to the courthouse from the parking garage down the street. People must have thought I was so excited that I couldn't wait to get there. After it was all said and done, I felt a tiny twinge of disappointment when they said I could go home. It would have been interesting to see inside one of the courtrooms. Maybe next time.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Habitat for Humanity
Yesterday, Travis and a group from Intel became home builders for the day. Travis was in charge of installing all the windows of one of the homes. Apparently, there are several HFH homes being built on the same street and so they split up the workers between the homes.
I didn't know this, but in order for someone to even be considered for a HFH home, they have to give 250 hours of service towards the building of other HFH homes. Then after they are approved for their own HFH home, they have to give another 250 hours of building service. The new homeowners get a chance to get on top of things in their lives because they are allowed to buy the new home for cost (approx. $90,000) and have zero interest on their new home loan. Then the home stays under HFH's name until the house has been paid off. I was so impressed with the whole HFH mission. After seeing Travis come home happy and looking forward to helping again, I say, "Sign us up!" I'll spot you on the ladder, Babe! J/K
I didn't know this, but in order for someone to even be considered for a HFH home, they have to give 250 hours of service towards the building of other HFH homes. Then after they are approved for their own HFH home, they have to give another 250 hours of building service. The new homeowners get a chance to get on top of things in their lives because they are allowed to buy the new home for cost (approx. $90,000) and have zero interest on their new home loan. Then the home stays under HFH's name until the house has been paid off. I was so impressed with the whole HFH mission. After seeing Travis come home happy and looking forward to helping again, I say, "Sign us up!" I'll spot you on the ladder, Babe! J/K
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Spooked
This afternoon there was a knock at the door and THIS is what I opened the door to find.
In the picture it looks kind of like a hermit crab. But no, it is a spider. Does anybody know what kind of spider it is? This is my new quest. I have never seen anything so freaky.
Of course this happened while Travis was at work. In a meeting. I took a gazillion pictures of this THING so I can look it up online later. I called Travis two or three times in a row on both of his numbers and kept leaving messages about this monster spider on our front door. Yes, this was an "interrupt the meeting" kind of emergency! I wanted him to tell me how to catch it or kill it. This whole time I'm shuddering with the heebie-jeebies. Finally, he answered the phone and said he had left the meeting to take the call. When I told him what was going on he laughed at me. That was not the reaction I was hoping for. I wanted him to drop everything and jump on his horse to fly home like my knight in shining armor does and save me from this dragon on our front porch. You'd do that right, Travis? Hmm...not for a "dumb" spider. He said, "Just kill it." I asked stupidly, "With the end of a shovel handle?" (Who thinks of killing spiders with that sort of weapon?) He told me that would make it too difficult. Duh. "Just knock it off the door and step on it." Interrupt for a heebie-jeebie dance. "I can't do that. This thing is gigantic. I can't just step on it! EEEWWWWWW!" "Well I can't just come home." "O.K., I'll figure something out." End of conversation. More pacing.
Then I hear Tyler crying in the house. Oh right, he probably thinks I have abandoned him. I ran in through the garage to summon my two knights-in-training who would hopefully jump to my aid. I told them I needed their help to get a huge spider. They ran outside full speed to see our celebrity spider. Justin says, "Oh yeah, that's kind of big, Mom." And then he promptly ran over to the other side of the house to build a stream from the garden hose. Tyler on the other hand runs so fast he almost skids into the creepy crawler. "Oh Mom. What are you going to do with it?" "I need to get rid of it." Tyler thought about my answer and said, "When I get bigger, I'll just hit it with my shoe. But his spider family will miss him." And off he ran to splash in Justin's stream.
After I paced for another 10 minutes holding Travis' basketball shoe, Justin said, "Why don't you just knock it down with this broom and than hit it?" What a smart boy. The extra-long broom stick gave me a big boost of bravery and with a big swipe and a "ha-yah!" he was a goner. And I feel much better now. As long as his little spider family doesn't come looking for me...I'm spooked.
In the picture it looks kind of like a hermit crab. But no, it is a spider. Does anybody know what kind of spider it is? This is my new quest. I have never seen anything so freaky.
Of course this happened while Travis was at work. In a meeting. I took a gazillion pictures of this THING so I can look it up online later. I called Travis two or three times in a row on both of his numbers and kept leaving messages about this monster spider on our front door. Yes, this was an "interrupt the meeting" kind of emergency! I wanted him to tell me how to catch it or kill it. This whole time I'm shuddering with the heebie-jeebies. Finally, he answered the phone and said he had left the meeting to take the call. When I told him what was going on he laughed at me. That was not the reaction I was hoping for. I wanted him to drop everything and jump on his horse to fly home like my knight in shining armor does and save me from this dragon on our front porch. You'd do that right, Travis? Hmm...not for a "dumb" spider. He said, "Just kill it." I asked stupidly, "With the end of a shovel handle?" (Who thinks of killing spiders with that sort of weapon?) He told me that would make it too difficult. Duh. "Just knock it off the door and step on it." Interrupt for a heebie-jeebie dance. "I can't do that. This thing is gigantic. I can't just step on it! EEEWWWWWW!" "Well I can't just come home." "O.K., I'll figure something out." End of conversation. More pacing.
Then I hear Tyler crying in the house. Oh right, he probably thinks I have abandoned him. I ran in through the garage to summon my two knights-in-training who would hopefully jump to my aid. I told them I needed their help to get a huge spider. They ran outside full speed to see our celebrity spider. Justin says, "Oh yeah, that's kind of big, Mom." And then he promptly ran over to the other side of the house to build a stream from the garden hose. Tyler on the other hand runs so fast he almost skids into the creepy crawler. "Oh Mom. What are you going to do with it?" "I need to get rid of it." Tyler thought about my answer and said, "When I get bigger, I'll just hit it with my shoe. But his spider family will miss him." And off he ran to splash in Justin's stream.
After I paced for another 10 minutes holding Travis' basketball shoe, Justin said, "Why don't you just knock it down with this broom and than hit it?" What a smart boy. The extra-long broom stick gave me a big boost of bravery and with a big swipe and a "ha-yah!" he was a goner. And I feel much better now. As long as his little spider family doesn't come looking for me...I'm spooked.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Employee of the Day
Costco's newest little employee, Tyler, had a fun first day on the job. His "official" employee name tag and hairnet gave him and his other five preschool friends a free pass into the secret world of Costco's Bakery.
Did you know that they bake all their own bakery goods except the french bread? And over 2,000 pumpkin pies a day during the holidays. They can hardly keep them on the shelf.
Tyler was very brave when we walked past all the loud muffin batter mixers, but cried so he wouldn't have to walk into the refrigeration room. Then he was the first of his friends into the freezer room. Go figure. He later told me the refrigerator room smelled funny. (Everything smelled like cake to me. I could have stayed there all day!) After the tour, the baker put the newbies to work frosting cookies. They gave the kids a bunch of colored frosting and sprinkles to create their own masterpieces. I tested out Ty's work and I think I'll send him back to work tomorrow. This is going to be good!
As a side note, Tyler wants to wear his Costco name tag whenever we leave the house. He wore it to weed the yard with me and to pick up Justin from the bus this afternoon "because I'm a baker!" I'll post pictures as soon as my computer gets all set up again.
Did you know that they bake all their own bakery goods except the french bread? And over 2,000 pumpkin pies a day during the holidays. They can hardly keep them on the shelf.
Tyler was very brave when we walked past all the loud muffin batter mixers, but cried so he wouldn't have to walk into the refrigeration room. Then he was the first of his friends into the freezer room. Go figure. He later told me the refrigerator room smelled funny. (Everything smelled like cake to me. I could have stayed there all day!) After the tour, the baker put the newbies to work frosting cookies. They gave the kids a bunch of colored frosting and sprinkles to create their own masterpieces. I tested out Ty's work and I think I'll send him back to work tomorrow. This is going to be good!
As a side note, Tyler wants to wear his Costco name tag whenever we leave the house. He wore it to weed the yard with me and to pick up Justin from the bus this afternoon "because I'm a baker!" I'll post pictures as soon as my computer gets all set up again.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
It's a date!
This week I got asked out three times by three different boys! Yeah, it's still legal and I loved it!
First date, Justin asked me to go see his teacher at back-to-school night. He watched the calendar AND the clock for a week before to make sure I was still planning to go and would not be late. The kids weren't invited, but it still counts as a date because I went just for Justin and ended up being the only parent meeting with his teacher during the second session. So I enjoyed getting to know his teacher, Mrs. Anderson. She told me that she has enjoyed having Justin in her class. She is happy that he is good at following instructions. Keep up the good work, Buddy!
Second date, Tyler took me on his first preschool field trip to the library on Thursday. We cuddled during the library's story time as we listened to stories about rats and mice. He told me I could go run some errands while he picked out some books "by mine-self". He's my independent guy! He told me I could come on this outing with him if I brought lots of bread to feed the ducks and geese in the ponds behind the library. (I freeze lone bread loaf heals and then combine them into a bag so we can share the love with all the quackers. Boy were those happy ducks! And yes, they like frozen bread.) We walked around the ponds with my friend, Adrianna, and her cute kids. The kids had a lot of fun crunching in the fallen leaves and hiding behind the big tree trunks.
On a side note, Tyler is totally potty trained now! Yippee! I can't believe it only took ONE DAY! Of course, this totally came from him and I don't think I had anything to do with it. When he decides to do something, he's going to do it by himself! I always made fun of those books about toilet training in just one day. I didn't think it was possible. Boy was I wrong! I think I like being wrong!
Third date: Last the best of all the game! Travis took me to a Counting Crows/Maroon 5 concert in Vancouver, WA. We took advantage of our trip through Portland with no kids in tow and stopped at IKEA before the concert. Our quick 45 minute shopping trip was worth 2 hours for sure if we had been chasing kids around the store. Travis is going to be a busy boy this week assembling away.
The concert was awesome! Travis has been a huge CC fan for a long, long time and has been so keyed to go see them again! I am more of a M5 fan, so we were both happy to be there. I loved seeing him groove to the music with the biggest grin on his face!
First date, Justin asked me to go see his teacher at back-to-school night. He watched the calendar AND the clock for a week before to make sure I was still planning to go and would not be late. The kids weren't invited, but it still counts as a date because I went just for Justin and ended up being the only parent meeting with his teacher during the second session. So I enjoyed getting to know his teacher, Mrs. Anderson. She told me that she has enjoyed having Justin in her class. She is happy that he is good at following instructions. Keep up the good work, Buddy!
Second date, Tyler took me on his first preschool field trip to the library on Thursday. We cuddled during the library's story time as we listened to stories about rats and mice. He told me I could go run some errands while he picked out some books "by mine-self". He's my independent guy! He told me I could come on this outing with him if I brought lots of bread to feed the ducks and geese in the ponds behind the library. (I freeze lone bread loaf heals and then combine them into a bag so we can share the love with all the quackers. Boy were those happy ducks! And yes, they like frozen bread.) We walked around the ponds with my friend, Adrianna, and her cute kids. The kids had a lot of fun crunching in the fallen leaves and hiding behind the big tree trunks.
On a side note, Tyler is totally potty trained now! Yippee! I can't believe it only took ONE DAY! Of course, this totally came from him and I don't think I had anything to do with it. When he decides to do something, he's going to do it by himself! I always made fun of those books about toilet training in just one day. I didn't think it was possible. Boy was I wrong! I think I like being wrong!
Third date: Last the best of all the game! Travis took me to a Counting Crows/Maroon 5 concert in Vancouver, WA. We took advantage of our trip through Portland with no kids in tow and stopped at IKEA before the concert. Our quick 45 minute shopping trip was worth 2 hours for sure if we had been chasing kids around the store. Travis is going to be a busy boy this week assembling away.
The concert was awesome! Travis has been a huge CC fan for a long, long time and has been so keyed to go see them again! I am more of a M5 fan, so we were both happy to be there. I loved seeing him groove to the music with the biggest grin on his face!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Bring your own water bottle
Meet our soccer boys:
Travis is coaching Justin's soccer team this year and I have been helping out with Tyler's team. They are both having fun kicking that ball and we have enjoyed seeing so many of our friends each Tuesday and Thursday night on the Stake Center soccer field during the games. Just a few more weeks of games and it will all be over...so sad.
Catch the softball craze:
Travis and I are having so much fun playing softball together on our city league team. After winning last night's game, we are in first place for our 'B' league division. Playoffs will begin in the next week or so and that's when the competition really heats up. Travis made some awesome plays last night! I wish I had them on video! He plays 3rd base and I play 2nd base and right center. Justin and Tyler love to go watch our games because they get a babysitter to play with them on the playground. Last night, they came into our dugout as I was heading up to bat. Tyler yells really loud, "Mommy, why are you wearing your pajammy shirt?" Yes, it was a t-shirt I sometimes wear to bed. Then I struck out and he yells, "Hey, you're supposed to HIT the ball, Mom! Why didn't you just hit the ball?" So funny that he somehow knows when to say just the thing to get everybody laughing! He cracks me up!
Make a touchdown:
Travis has been playing on a Portland city league flag football team with his friends from work. He has had late games on Tuesday nights and so we haven't been out to cheer him on. But, I know he's having fun because he comes home after every game covered from head to toe in mud.
Cheer with the zoobies:
Two weekends ago, Travis drove up to Seattle, Wa., with a friend to go see the BYU vs. University of Washington football game.
They had a fantastic time and now he's plotting to go back to see a Seattle/Yankees baseball game the next time they play each other.
Fly to the moon:
While Travis was in Seattle, I took the boys to "Out of this World Pizza & Play". We spent 5 1/2 hours climbing up the space shuttle, riding wiggle cars and sliding down the bounce house slide. They didn't want to leave! I had to lure them away with a promise of a movie/popcorn night to watch "Alvin & the Chipmunks".
Hmmm...we will really miss summertime and this awesome warm weather! The days are already getting cooler. I'm going to vote for an indian summer!
Travis is coaching Justin's soccer team this year and I have been helping out with Tyler's team. They are both having fun kicking that ball and we have enjoyed seeing so many of our friends each Tuesday and Thursday night on the Stake Center soccer field during the games. Just a few more weeks of games and it will all be over...so sad.
Catch the softball craze:
Travis and I are having so much fun playing softball together on our city league team. After winning last night's game, we are in first place for our 'B' league division. Playoffs will begin in the next week or so and that's when the competition really heats up. Travis made some awesome plays last night! I wish I had them on video! He plays 3rd base and I play 2nd base and right center. Justin and Tyler love to go watch our games because they get a babysitter to play with them on the playground. Last night, they came into our dugout as I was heading up to bat. Tyler yells really loud, "Mommy, why are you wearing your pajammy shirt?" Yes, it was a t-shirt I sometimes wear to bed. Then I struck out and he yells, "Hey, you're supposed to HIT the ball, Mom! Why didn't you just hit the ball?" So funny that he somehow knows when to say just the thing to get everybody laughing! He cracks me up!
Make a touchdown:
Travis has been playing on a Portland city league flag football team with his friends from work. He has had late games on Tuesday nights and so we haven't been out to cheer him on. But, I know he's having fun because he comes home after every game covered from head to toe in mud.
Cheer with the zoobies:
Two weekends ago, Travis drove up to Seattle, Wa., with a friend to go see the BYU vs. University of Washington football game.
They had a fantastic time and now he's plotting to go back to see a Seattle/Yankees baseball game the next time they play each other.
Fly to the moon:
While Travis was in Seattle, I took the boys to "Out of this World Pizza & Play". We spent 5 1/2 hours climbing up the space shuttle, riding wiggle cars and sliding down the bounce house slide. They didn't want to leave! I had to lure them away with a promise of a movie/popcorn night to watch "Alvin & the Chipmunks".
Hmmm...we will really miss summertime and this awesome warm weather! The days are already getting cooler. I'm going to vote for an indian summer!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Big Boys In Training
Justin wins an award today for "No More Training Wheels!" on his bicycle! I got to make dinner in peace while Travis took the boys out for a bike ride. He said it was as easy as pie! Dad took the training wheels off and away Justin flew! Way to go, Buddy!
Tyler wins an award today for "I'm Wearing Underwear!" He tried out all 6 of his new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Elmo underwear. I'm still feeling pretty hopeful since he did "make it" to the bathroom many times today. I just keep reminding myself that "I can do this!" Sounds like I'm the one in training! When I was cleaning up one surprise, Tyler sighed and said, "This is hard work, Mom!" Let's keep up the good work, Ty!
My computer crashed again...so, I'll post pictures as soon as humanly possible! (Yes, I'm reading Breaking Dawn.)
Tyler wins an award today for "I'm Wearing Underwear!" He tried out all 6 of his new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Elmo underwear. I'm still feeling pretty hopeful since he did "make it" to the bathroom many times today. I just keep reminding myself that "I can do this!" Sounds like I'm the one in training! When I was cleaning up one surprise, Tyler sighed and said, "This is hard work, Mom!" Let's keep up the good work, Ty!
My computer crashed again...so, I'll post pictures as soon as humanly possible! (Yes, I'm reading Breaking Dawn.)
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Criss-Cross Applesauce
We have a preschool boy! This morning, Tyler was so excited to put on his preschool backpack and grab his train lunch box to head off to his first day of school. Last night he told me that I could stay home because he would just ride his tricycle to school. That's my independent guy!
There are 5 kids in our preschool group and each mom will have a chance to teach as the year goes on. It was so fun to watch these cute kids.
Tyler thought Miss Julie's "criss-cross applesauce" name for sitting cross-legged was so funny. They learned about shapes today and Tyler was chosen to bring home the preschool pet, Bobolito Bear.
He gets to play with the little stuffed bear for one week and we'll fill out a little journal page with pictures to turn back in next week. Tyler's squeal of delight when Justin came home from school and he showed him the bear was priceless.
Wow! Now we have two boys in school. That's a little bit strange, but I think I like it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
