Thursday, April 16, 2009

Caught Up


There's been quite a flurry of activity these past several weeks in our home. First up was the Pinewood Derby. Logan did great for his premiere at the events. He loved painting his car that he and his dad did together, so much so that my kitchen table is still showing the remnants of the red, green, and silver love.


A few weeks later was our annual Anthem Days here in town. It's a mini fair at the community park. There are vendors hawking their products, pre-schools, and psychology. There are all the traditional fair foods; roasted corn, snow cones, and fry bread. There are bounce houses, pony rides, and music. But best of all, it's the time of year that the carnie's descend on our little town and charge rates comparable to that of securing life insurance. It cost $12 for Nathan and the kids to ride ONE ride. The Starship 2000 was the chosen one this year. Back in my carnie loving days it was better known as the Gravitron. You know the one where they spin you around at mock 5 and then drop the floor out from under you? I thought for sure Caitlyn would bow out and Logan would puke. Turns out they are natural born spinners and loved it.

The other ride for the day was the giant train. It's a 6 car train that goes all over the community area in the center of town. It comes complete with trips over bridges and through tunnels. We have wanted to go since we moved here, and it was a beautiful day to ride.

We have also hit up a hockey game. Nathan and I have been before, and we thought that there was enough action to keep the kids entertained. Logan loved it. He wanted to ride the Zamboni. Who doesn't? As long as she was eating, Caitlyn was mostly pacified. But then there's Reagan...and Dora. To a 2 year old, a coyote mascot looks much like a fox. More specifically a fox named Swiper. She lost her mind when Swiper came out on the ice riding a four wheeler to give away a motorcycle. She of course believed Swiper was swiping the bike and was screaming at the top of her lungs "Swiper no swiping, Swiper no swiping." When the bike was securely in the hands of the winner, she replied, "oh man..." I am not sure how many more games she will be attending.

All and all Arizona has been lovely this spring. I imagine it is much like fall for those with four seasons. It is a great couple of months, but you know you have to soak it all in before the dreadful weather rolls in...but on the bright side at least we spend our dreaded months at the water park and not shoveling snow.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

4 Minutes...

I have to go out on a limb and out myself. And then, I will have to repent. You see, shortly after Nathan and I got married, we went to his house in West Point, Utah for what we thought was going to be a family dinner. So me being...well... me, started in on how ridiculous Wrangler jeans and Roper boots were and how I could NEVER be a farm girl, and then a story of me was recounted of when we went to the Elk reserve and I thought you could actually pet the Elk. I know, I know. Well, turns out that the family dinner was actually a surprise birthday party for Nathan. As each dear old friend of Nathan's filed in in their "fitted" Wrangler jeans and Roper boots, my plate of crow pie grew.

Fast forward 10 ten years, and not so much has changed. My foot is often still suck in my big mouth, and I am still a city girl. But this weekend we got in touch with our Cowboy side at an old western town set up called Rawhide here in Phoenix. We saw the gun fight, witnessed the sage coach, enjoyed a rodeo, and my kids dabbled in the cowboy life.

It all started during the Rodeo when they announced that for a dollar kids 6 and under could ride a sheep. Having just watched kids riding the donkeys down the western front street, I asked her if she wanted to ride the sheep. Being the city girl I am, I didn't know that riding a sheep in the Rodeo ring was more like riding a small bull than a mellow donkey. Neither did she. But the 10 kids that rode before her tipped her off. Especially the one that was trampled by the sheep. She was a little nervous by that point. I told her she could do it, the rodeo clowns would protect her, and she really wanted the necklace they give you when you are finished riding. So, when her turn came, they picked her up, released the sheep from the gate, and we watched her go around that rodeo ring hanging on like a spider monkey in a skirt and pink cowboy boots. The sheep however, much like the bull in the rodeo, didn't enjoy the riding session and tried to buck her. The bruise on her chin still reminds her of unique encounter with the sheep's head.

Never one to be out done, Logan then rode the mechanical bull. His palms were a bit sweaty, his nerves tried to get the best of him, but he rode his 8 seconds to glory. Right before the bull bucked and he was flung to the mats below. Afterwards I asked him if he ever wanted to ride a real bull to which he replied "uh no way!" That's my boy!


Reagan even logged some pony time. And as we left, I told Nathan I had a really good time. I even mentioned we should go to the rodeo next time it was in town. We could make a date of it. As long as I could wear my flip flops and comfy jeans.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Happy Birthday Logan!


Ten Things I Love About You...

1. I love when you give a little side smile. It shows me you still want to be that little kid who loves to snuggle even though you think you might be getting to old for that kind of stuff.

2. I love your prayers. They are representative of your compassion for others.

3. I love your desire to always serve those around you. You help get your sisters breakfast and then stay after school to help your teacher clean up the class.

4. I love that you wake up so cheerful and ready to start the day.

5. I love that you ask questions.

6. I love your honesty and that you feel like you can talk to dad and I about anything. I hope that never changes.

7. I love that you are always willing to try new things.

8. I love that you love to read. I love to tuck you in at night at talk about all of the books you are reading, from "Tales of a Forth Grade Nothing." to the biography of Barack Obama.

9. I love that you look up to your dad and want to be like him. He is a good man and loves you very much.

10. I love that you want me to stay at home to be with you. I am so grateful that I have never had to miss a moment of your experiences. The wonder and excitement you have for life makes me honored to be your mom.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Momma Mia


Conversations with the kids...


1. What is something mom always says to you?
C. "no, I mean yes"
L. "NO"


2. What makes mom happy?
C. Cleaning up
L. When the house is clean

...See I am easy to please


3. What makes mom sad?
C. When Reagan pinches you
L. When we don't listen

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
C. Tickle me
L. When she does something funny
...or stupid like fall off a chair because I am not paying attention

5. What was your mom like as a child?
C. Watching tv and playing
L. You were...nice to people?

Do you like that he posed it as a question as if I am not now...sheesh


6. How old is your mom?
C. "Uh I don't know, uh 25."
L. 32


7. How tall is your mom?
C. I definately don't know that
L. 5'4"?

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
C. Watch tv and clean up
L. Go get a pedicure and a massage

...We must not live in the same house


9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
C. Work on the computer, watch tv, clean up
L. Clean up, keep Reagan from running out of the house

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
C. Church
L. Writing

11. What is your mom really good at?
C. Helping us
L. Writing

12. What is your mom not very good at?
C. Definately not good at carrying something
L. Getting places on time

...so apparently my inability to get anywhere on time doesn't go unnoticed

13. What does your mom do for her job?
C. clean up the house and make dinner
L. you don't have one

...Again with the eternal praises for staying home with my children


14. What is your mom's favorite food?
C. macaroni and cheese
L. artichoke
...crab

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
C. making dinner
L. She does lots of things for us

16. If your mom were a character from a book, who would she be?
C. sheesh this is hard, is this almost over?
L. Herminie from Harry Potter

17. What do you and your mom do together?
C. play games
L. go to the park or homework


18. How are you and your mom the same?
C. we both like to go shopping
L. both have a dent in our nose

19. How are you and your mom different?
C. don't have the same eyes or hair, but we both do have dots on our skin
L. you're a grown up and I'm a kid

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
C. 'cause she kisses me every night and hugs me and tickles me
L. by taking me cool places

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
C. The Crab Place
L. The spa

...a desereted island...by myself...I relly don't get there often enough

22. What do you wish you could do with your mom?
C. I wish you could play with me everyday and not have any work
L. Go to Chuck E Cheese

23. What's your best memory of your mom?
C. When we went to Pioneer Village and watched the Indians dance.
L. When we went to Disneyland on my birthday