Recipe for Disaster

Wet Child+Tumbler of Water+CD Player = Sleepless night!

Last night Cooper was taking a shath (bath/shower) right before he went to bed. I was downstairs, Kurt was on the main floor, and Hunter was in his room. All of the sudden, I hear Cooper screaming the most terrifying scream I've ever heard....the kind where you know the E.R. will be involved.

It's one of those moments you don't want to face. You just want to hide and pretend nothing is happening, but you just don't have a choice. So, I ran up the first flight of stairs and was almost up the 2nd flight of stairs when I saw Cooper, soaking wet with just a towel wrapped around him, sobbing and obviously terrified. Tears were streaming down his face and my heart was about to pound out of my chest. I asked him what happened and he said (in a high pitched shrill voice) water had gotten on his CD player and it started making loud, scary noises.

It seems he somehow (not sure if was accidentally or on purpose) spilled the big cup of water all over the CD player, counter, and the floor, and the CD player was, of course, plugged in and turned on. Then Hunter, the true hero he is, ran in, unplugged the player and put it on the ground. Basically, both of my boys almost got zapped last night. It took about an hour to calm Cooper down and 2 hours to get my heart to regulate my heart beat. So, I'm very thankful to have two healthy sons today!

Nephew Spotlight: Energetic Jamin

Jamin is Amber & Roy's 2nd oldest child. We've never lived close to Amber & Roy, so it's a true treat when we get to be with their family.

Jamin is a handsome little devil and I'm pretty sure he was the inspiration for the energizer bunny. He is always busy playing something or the other. Every time I'm around him, he is looking for one of the cousins to play with. He is also a sweet child. He looks out for his younger siblings and if someone other than him is not being nice to them, look out.

It's hard when you don't get to see little nieces and nephews very much. Hopefully we will be able to spend some quality time with Jamin soon! Here is his interview:

1. What would you like to be when you grow up? Why?

I want to be a builder when I grow up and build houses and stuff, because I get
To use so many cool tools and stuff.

2. If you could visit any person you wanted in the whole wide world, who would it be? Why?

A fireman, just because they are so cool!


3. What is your favorite movie?

Like you have to ask…TRANSFORMERS

4. What is your favorite book (or book series)?

Power rangers


5. What is your favorite holiday? Why?

Christmas and Easter because Santa brings us awesome toys and the Easter bunny brings us candy we have to look for.

November 11, 2007

In honor of Veterans Day, I would like to thank those who have served the cause not only in our country, but in other countries as well. On a personal note, my grandfather, father, and husband are all veterans who have served our country during times of war. I know I have many more relatives who are celebrated veterans and I'm proud to be from such a patriotic heritage.

My 5th grade class is writing an essay right now titled, What is an American? Although I don't have to write one, I would like to express my views on what I believe an America is. An American is someone who honors the laws of this land to contribute to the peace and well-being of our communities. An American honors our flag and can recite the Pledge of Allegiance with full conviction of heart. An American is someone who doesn't take our freedoms for granted, understanding how blessed we are to the opportunity for free education, an allowance to respectfully disagree with others in authority, to own land, etc. An American is someone who realizes the family will determine the success of a nation and backs up that understanding through word and deed.

I'm feel incredibly blessed to live in this country. Happy Veterans Day everyone!

Captain Literal strikes again!!!

As of this very moment, this is what Hunter's room looks like. It's always messy, but there's a story behind this disaster. Yesterday I told Hunter I wanted him to clean everything out from under his bed. I'm not kidding when I say he packed every square inch with junk under there. About forty minutes later he, Ryan, & Cooper came downstairs.

Hunter said he was done and Cooper was very excited that he got to help (lucky, lucky Cooper). Cooper declared, "I helped Hunter clean under his bed and he gave me this candy (an old jawbreaker and a sucker). I think I got the better end of that deal". Oh Cooper....so much to learn. I told Hunter I was going to check under his bed, so it had better be completely done. His response should have given me a clue as to the completeness of this project. He grinned and exclaimed, "Mom, there is nothing under there. It's completely empty. Now I just have to clean the rest of my room". So Hunter & Ryan left for a four miles skateboard ride.

After a little while I went to check how he did and, as you can see, I was in for quite a surprise (just like Christmas). That right...he did exactly what I told him to....and not a thing more. I guess I should have clarified to clean under his bed and put all of it away. Another mother lesson learned the hard way!

How to look cute when you're pregnant

As brilliant as I am (ask any kindergartner...they'll back me up), I never mastered the art of looking beautiful while pregnant. I usually had a greenish (not healthy) glow and I always managed to do something extreme with my hair.

Obviously, my sister Kelli has the pregnant superstar look down to a T (even the pose). This particular pregnancy has brought so much joy to our family, but I have to admit I think Kelli should have to look a little scroungy...it's only fair!

November 4, 2007

It's November...I'm not kidding. It's also daylight savings, the good one where you get to sleep in and magically you wake up it's still a decent wake-up time. Except for my husband who is still sleeping (10am daylight time & 11am regular time).

I've already discussed Halloween, but you have to love the picture of my 2 nieces in their giraffe costumes. Aren't they the cutest? Either they are holding hands or their hands are so sticky they're stuck together.

I had a minor embarrassing moment this week. I have them all the time, but usually forget. I had a scholarhip luncheon. This luncheon is mandatory because donors want to meet their recipients. There were 450 people at this luncheon and we were assigned seating at tables of 10. I found my seat and one of my donors was sitting right next to me. The V.P. of the college of education was at my table and the other 7 were scholarship recipients whose donors couldn't be there for one reason or the other. As we're chatting, I notice on the placecard with my name on it is the letter "V" (or roman numeral 5) in parenthesis. I look at all the other placecards and they don't have that symbol. Images of impromptu speeches or having to sit on a block of ice or something start racing through my head. So, like the idiot I am, I ask the others at the table if any of them know what the symbol means. My very kind donor says it must mean VIP (trying to cover my ignorance no doubt). No one really knows.....until lunch is served. Oh yeah...I'm a vegetarian...DUH! You know that commercial where the gal says, "I'm a veteranarian, I don't eat meat"? That is how I was feeling. I bet my donor was so proud.

I've been eating a lot of candy lately and I feel pretty good about it. I look at it as a true act of charity for a couple of reasons. First, it would be wrong to throw it away food and all because it would be double the bulk at the dump. If I eat the candy, only the wrapper goes to the dump. It's all about the environment. Second, the more I eat the less my kids eat and lets face it...I'm the better brusher & flosser. I'm only thinking of my kids as I tiptoe to their rooms in the dark of night and wisk away the snickers & peanut M&Ms. Plus, what if they have a peanut allergy. I mean, they haven't so far, but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen. Save your kids, save the environment, eat candy!

Goodbye Halloween, Hello sugar...woo hoo!

Halloween has come and gone, but it has left us not with a bitter taste, but with sugar plums (chocolate) dancing in my head (waistline). We had so much fun last night. Mike, Calie, & Jamie brought bad spiderman (Ben) and good spiderman (Parker) to go trick or treating. Kati brought the devil (Dain), yummy cookies, and they joined Aang (Cooper) and myself. Kurt stayed and handed out the treats.

I love our neighborhood. It's so fun to see people you know and get to catch up. Plus, because of the delay in daylight savings (this weekend by the way), it was light out most of the time. We were done by 8pm and got to see some of the kids who came by. We had these half-naked teen boys in weird deer skin throws come and I thought that was pushing it a little. After 9pm, everything quieted down until 10pm when one more group of rowdy teenagers came to the door. We gave them my least favorite candy....the jolly rancher suckers.

I hope all of you enjoyed Halloween as much as I did, and Hey...it's the middle of the day and my boys are at school. I guess it's time to raid the candy bags. See you on the other side of my sugar rush!