Eat it...its MILK

I said earlier that my blog is my fast pass to heaven. I just wanted written documentation of bonus points that should be added to my heaven account. Getting 300 tin cans for the ward and bringing 4 children along. The best part was that my kids were so excited to hear that you could make milk by just adding water. I told them not to get excited because it does not taste like regular milk. I let them in on a secret...Powdered milk is a Mormon form of torture for little children. I remember my mom trying to put it in the real milk gallon container, as if we could not taste the difference. Scott remembers asking his friends if they wanted some milk...then proceeding to put in in the blender with water to mix up a batch. I can't wait to mix up a batch for them and let the torture be passed down another generation.

GRAND CANYON

In order to do my part to stimulate the economy I decided that our family should take a truly American trip. What could be more American than the Grand Canyon. Scott and I have never been there and everyone needs to go a least once.

This is Scott and Brody looking for the Grand Canyon. "Where is it?" "I don't know, maybe if you squint your eyes you can see it."


It almost looks like this is a fake background. It is real.

I was amazed how close they let you get to the edge. 2-3 people slip and die every year at the Canyon. Needless to say we held Carly's hood the whole time after a few stumbles.

We never get any pictures together. So, I was excited for this one.

We took a two hour train ride home from the Canyon. Look at my boy excited about machinery.

Finally, after a long day Brody fell asleep.

Literally 10 minutes after Brody was asleep this annoying Cowboy came on the train to earn tips playing his accordion. I told him I would pay him $5.00 if he would not play and move to the next train car.

The next day we exposed the children to the Hopi Indian ruins. Scott is a little bigger than a Hopi Indian. Notice him squeezing Brody on his back while crawling through the door.

I told them to sit Indian style since we were at an Indian site. They did not get it.

Finally, our little girl got to go to the hotel pool and our Grand Canyon adventure was over.

You are not forgiven

I have a brother who has never apologized for causing me pain...Physical and Emotional. When I was 20 and he was 16 I was being an Awesome sister and showing him a dance move to impress the ladies. He did not follow the instructions I had given him. Next thing I knew I had broken my collar bone. He left the room and said he had to take a shower as I went to the ER. He has never said sorry and laughs and says it is my fault. I bring this up basically every time I see him just to see maybe one ounce of care and concern. Nope! After 14 years, he still has not said sorry. Today, I get this email from him telling me he was "Thinking of Me!!" "How sweet" I think to myself..."How caring." Nope he forwards me this video. Basically the first two girls are doing exactly what we were doing when I broke my collar bone. I would be the one slamming my face and collar bone in the floor. He said the more he watched it the more he laughed. Curtis, if this is an apology it is a really sad apology. You be the judge...who's fault is it that I broke my collar bone?(FYI...I was a lot lighter back then) I think everyone will agree you are no Patrick Swayze if you break your dance partner's collar bone!!!!!!!!!!!

Not cool, no pool

The girls are off track so we decided to take a short trip to the Grand Canyon. I tried to talk it up as much as I could. I knew their breath would be blown away with the awe and wonder of God's creations. After all it is one of the 7 wonders of the world. How could they not be amazed. I guess I assumed Sydney would know what the Grand Canyon was. See she was very impressed in the first picture.

"Mom, where is the pool?" This is her face after explaining to her that it does not have a pool and this is the Amazing Grand Canyon. "Mom, You said that it would have a pool!" "Sydney I said the hotel would have a pool." Then I am sure after she was breathless by the beauty of the Canyon, and then thought about the sacrifice we were making to expose her mind to great adventures...she said "Can we go to the hotel and go to the pool now?"
What do I expect from a 5 years old. More to come...

Oh HAPPY Day

Being a girl I have always known that girls are smarter and quicker to understand than boys. Do I feel my husband is smarter than me in many areas? Of course...he knows way more about taxes than I do. Who really wants to know about corporate taxes though? He is a better driver with better depth perception. He got better grades than I did. When I am crying because my car is broken he handles the mechanics nicely. BUT...if he didn't have me he would never be able to find the Tylenol...even though it has been in the same spot for 4 years. He is so smart that he knows to turn to me to help him. Don't you go to someone you think has more knowledge than you when you need some help. I see this time and time again in marriages. Smart men turn to their smarter wives to guide them in what the kids should wear, what the kids should eat, where does this go, I can't find this...etc...Well, my boy has been slow to walk. It is OK Brody it is not your fault. It is just the Nature of being a boy. (I have heard) One week shy of 14 months you have ventured out into the world of walking. I am so proud of you.

Get ready for practice on the treadmill. You need to catch up to the girls. Don't worry you are so cute that the smart girls are going to want to catch you. Brody, now that I have my boy I am changing my tune...maybe girls are not smarter than you...just different. What is the saying "men are from Mars, women are from Venus."

Gotta hurt

I definitely don't get as stressed out about baby number 4 as i used too. Even I have my limits. I let the girls take Brody outside so he can crawl in the grass and be a boy. I came out to check on him and saw Carly riding in the street with him. So many things ran through my mind. I knew an ER could be where I spent the rest of the day. How could I explain a 1 year old riding double on a bike, no shoes, no helmet on either kid. Luckily my 6th sense kicked in and I caught them in time. I sent Scott the pictures at work to say sorry for my lack of supervision. He sent me back an email and said "That has gotta hurt". I was puzzled...what are you talking about no one got hurt. "Boys are not supposed to sit like that on a bar!!! You know his package". That never even crossed my mind. I thought it was funny how I was concerned for his safety and the life or death moment and A man was concerned for the life or death moment of his boy straddling a bar. Sorry, Brody I am still learning how to be a mother of a Boy.

my FASTPASS to heaven

I have had some extra time with vinyl orders slowing down. Plus Brody has been sick so I needed some projects to keep me home. My first project is Valentines for my kids classes. They are edible ipods. I wrapped the candy hearts boxes slapped on a ipod label and the ear buds are mini Reese's cups. My kids finally realized how awesome I was. FYI-next year is a cheapy card with a sucker.

I also made my blog into a book. I love it, my kids love it, and Scott loves it. I used http://www.blurb.com/. It was easy and cheap. Now I have a journal from last year. My husband used to think blogging is a waste of time.(Probably still does) I told him I was just following the leaders of the church who say to keep a written record of your life. I even remember during General Conference someone said the word "blog." Now he sees how obedient I am with my hard bound book. I think in heaven when they review your life it will make it really easy for them just to refer to your blog...FASTPASS