This is how we clean at our house!!!!!!

We got in the car yesterday to pick Tanner up from school & my car started fine but it would not shift into reverse. I was a little late already so we got out & loaded up in the truck. The truck that had been sitting outside all day long in the heat. They boys couldn't even sit in the seats. Everything was so HOT!!!

I am not sure what is wrong with the car. Brian looked at it when he got home from work but he's not sure. Called the dealership this morning & it was towed to them. Hopefully it will be something that can be fixed fast & something that will be covered under warranty.

The boys started swimming lessons this week. They had the first one last night. Their teacher's name is Tanner too. They thought that was pretty cool. They both did really well. He said maybe only 1-2 weeks of lessons. We will see.

Crew has had a rash all over one side of this body. On his tummy & thigh. It has been there since last Thursday. Have been giving him benadryl & also benadryl cream. It wasn't going away. Took him in on monday to see the dr. She gave me some other stronger cream & said it was a viral rash. It is not contagious.

I hate driving the truck. It won't fit in the garage & it is HOT when we have to go anywhere. I am such a brat...I know!

2 more weeks and school is OUT. But for only 2 weeks. :(

I got a jury summons. I have to call tonight after 6pm to see if my badge # is needed. Cross your fingers it isn't called!

* Talked to Tanner's teacher after school today. She told me that she tested him in reading & he was at a level 4 and now is at a level 8. That made me feel good. Makes all the hard work worth it. He also got 100% on his spelling test today too. I was really surprised because when I was testing him in the car on the way to school he was having a hard time with badge, budge, and fudge. He kept forgetting the silent "D". And I wasn't being very patient with him either.

* Crew loves to talk to Brian on the phone. He talked for so long this afternoon & I finally had to tell him to hang up because Crew would not let go of the phone. When he finally realized that daddy was gone he cried for a good 10 minutes. He brought me the phone and grabbed my hand to press the buttons to call him back.

* I am having a hard time lately with dinner time. What's for dinner? I don't even feel like cooking. I am blaming it on the heat. I need some ideas if anyone wants to share. What's for dinner at your house?

* I got my hair cut today. That is always my favorite. Look how short it is in the back. I love it!

I started reading this book that Melissa recommended.

House of Testosterone
One mom's survival in a household of males
Sharon O'Donnell

I am about half way done with this book. It is pretty funny. I find that I can relate to a lot of the things she writes about. So all you people ( Jessica, Brooke, Melissa, Shaunna, Kim Baker) are going to want to read this book!! You can borrow mine when I'm done!

I thought these were funny:

Sure signs you're a mother of boys ( this is from her book )

• You have to arrange two weeks ahead of time to take a bubble bath--and then must lock the door and scream, "I'm in the tub--ask Dad!" every three minutes.
  
• You can get your sons to eat broccoli just by telling them whoever eats the most, wins.
  
• You look forward to going the the dentist just so you can read a magazine and relax in a chair.
• You daydream of resort hotels with a jacuzzi while they are perfectly content camping.

Note to self

If we do anything fun during the day while Tanner is at school like go to the water park or just anything that he will be sad to find out that we did while he is at "BORING SCHOOL"......

hide all evidence before he gets home!!!

Today....

We went to our stake pioneer day celebration. Ate breakfast & the boys played a couple games & then were ready to go home. I was too. It was hot.

Brian took Tanner to skate class while I stayed home with Carson & Crew. Crew took an early nap since he was up at 6am. Carson & I watched Ben 10 for the second time and waited for Tanner to get home.

I folded 2 loads of laundry.

We went to Gabe's birthday party at the water park. It was a good time. The company & food was the best part. Jess did a good job like always.

Prepared my lesson for YW tomorrow.

Made pork chops & scalloped potatoes. This was the first time I cooked all week. I haven't felt like cooking lately cause it is so hot. Well I guess that is my excuse. But that will be another post.....maybe asking for some quick easy and you don't have to turn on the stove kind of recipes.

Took Tanner & Carson to get haircuts. Yes, Tanner got his hair cut off. I will post a picture tomorrow. I didn't even take one yet. He said it is too hot for long hair. And Carson got a trim with it "long in the front to spike up with gel"

Went to grocery store to buy milk.

Dropped boys off & took myself to go get a much needed pedicure. Had fun listening to the people acting like I knew what they were talking about. And then went to vacuum out the inside of my car. That felt good.

Brian put the laundry away while I was gone.

Ironed church clothes and got bag ready for tomorrow.

Summer fun

I decided that since Tanner's track break is almost over I should
maybe do some fun things with him.
We made these sponge balls.
I don't remember how I found them but I loved the idea. So much easier then
water balloons. And you don't run out. Just get them wet again in the bucket.
The boys had a blast. Brian even got in on the fun!

We made these beanbag balls today. They had some fun with those.

Some other ideas that we might try is:

Chore dice ----I thought this would be good since we have no schedule.
Fruity Play Dough
Homemade Bubbles---- ::Candace's idea::
Recycled Crayons

Wanted to play along with Emily, Jessica & Brooke.

Here is a fun little game...Leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time, or a long time, anything you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you....

Does anyone feel sorry for me?
It was either the bedroom or the living room/family room.
I chose the bedroom.

Question

How come on the weekend when I can sleep in Crew wakes up at 6am?
And on those days during the week when I wake up at 5:45 to go workout.....
HE SLEEPS IN?!?!?!?

It's not fair!

This kid loves him some music! Every chance he gets he steals my ipod.

Tonight for Dinner....

We had Sweet BBQ Chicken kabobs.
They were really good. But notice how I didn't follow the kitchen tip.
I didn't have enough time to soak the skewers for 30 minutes before grilling.
And I didn't wrap the ends with foil.
Next time I will have to follow directions better,
because my skewers were on fire!!

Happy Anniversary

July 6th, 2008 was our 12 year anniversary.
We had such a nice weekend with the family. We spent Sunday driving home
from Utah, eating at Cracker Barrel (YUM!! ), unloading the truck and trailer,
starting laundry, putting everything away,
got a visit from Paul : Jean : and the boys,
ate popsicle from ice cream truck (thanks to grandpa),
jumped on trampoline,
dropped trailer off at dad's and visited,
hit my pillow at 10pm and don't remember
a thing after that.

Carson gave me this rock after our hike on saturday.
He said he wanted me to have it because it was a heart. He is such a sweet boy!
I love it!

Happy Anniversary Brian! I love you!!

4th of July weekend

This year for the 4th we went with the Rose family to Kanarraville. We stayed with Jen's family in her grandma's house. Brian, Tanner & Carson slept in a tent outside on the grass.
We had so much fun.

These are pictures of us waiting for the firework show in Cedar.
It was a pretty good show. And the weather was so nice.
Crew was scared at first & then he loved them.
He was even clapping.

On Saturday we took a hike with Jen & her brother & family. We had to walk through water for
most of it. My boys loved it. Once we got to the shade it was really cool
and pretty. We ate some snacks and headed back. On our way back that's when Carson, Paige & Jen fell. We were all wet & dirty!

Here is Jen & I waiting for the parade to start. Jen's family made a float this year.
Cheryl was on it playing the keyboard & singing patriotic songs.
All the kids rode on it and threw candy.

We did lots of 4-wheeling. And this little guy loves him some riding!!
I think he loves the helmet more. He can barely walk with it on.
But he refuses to take it off!

We had so much fun with Jen's family. Thanks so much for letting us be a part
of your family this weekend!!

Challenge

I found this blog and I can't stop reading it or thinking about this family. She has such a strong testimony of the gospel. Her story has inspired me to be a better mom and to live the gospel more fully. She wrote this in one of her posts:

"Take a minute for me tonight and record the little things your kids do right now. They don't even need to be cute things. Someday when your baby is grown you may even miss the food thrown on the ground or the face wiped on the sleeve. Cherish the little things. For the little things are the spice in life."

So I took her challenge & this is what I wrote down:

::Tanner::

-Always thinking & planning....Just like his dad!

-Favorite thing to say right now is "Mom, would I be home from school right now?"

-Is my big helper. He says I should pay him to do chores and help around the house. And mt response to him is...Nobody pays me to do what I do around the house. That is just what we need to do as a part of this family.

- Loves skateboarding.

-Draws trucks, cars, motorcycles. And is really good at it. I find papers of his drawings all over the house.

-Will come up and hug me and say I love you out of the blue. That is the best!

-Most the time is fighting with Carson. But there are those few times they are best friends.

::Carson::

- He gets so angry.

-He never wants attention. Is always worried that people are looking at him or that they might laugh at him.

-Loves animals.

-Has to have a cold water bottle with him every night when he goes to bed.

-Has a great imagination.

-Hates the taste or smell of mint.

-Comes to wake me up but never says anything. Will just pat my arm till I wake up.

-Writes his name all by himself.

::Crew::

-Will go the the drawer with dishtowels if he has spilled something. He will try to clean it up all by himself.

-Every time I open the fridge door he will take something out. It doesn't matter he just has to get something. A-1, dressing, ketchup. It's like a game.

-When the boys take their shirts off he hits them and wants to wrestle.

-Prefers mom to put him to bed or get him out of his crib in the morning.

-I love the way he motions his arm to tell us to come on.

-Refuses to say "mama". And if we ask him he will say "dada" & laughs. I think this is another one of his games.

-He knows our bedtime routine. After bath and he is dressed, he picks out a book or two and runs to the couch to read.


Anther message she wrote that really made me think was:

"So I guess my message for the day is -- Love your little ones--even the ones that drive you crazy. If you could see them the way God sees them -- you would be astounded at their glory. "


I challenge anyone else who wants to also do this challenge. It would be fun to read your lists. And it didn't take very long. And I know you are going to read her blog too. I just have to warn you.....You will for sure need tissue!! She has the ability to put into words the feelings I have of gratitude for our Savior's sacrifice and love.