Out and About

While the valley is inbetween inversions, and the air quality is good enough to be outside, and the sun was shining, we left Lincoln with Aunt Deid and strapped on our snowshoes.
Bentley was excited to spend a little time with just Mom and Dad.


But even more excited that he got to ride in the sled.

He was sad we had to come home. But his fingers were icicles because he couldn't keep his mittens on, and his snowpants were soaked through because it was so warm--it was time.

Super Nanny

Nothing I try seems to work with Bentley. He is simply unphased by punishment, or at least I haven't found the right punishment for him.

Today I asked if he would like to pick up his train, or if we should give it to Kaayl.

Yep, Kaayl gets the train.

I told Chod tonight that the train needed to go in the car cause it was heading to Kaayl's house. He looked a little confused and I explained that Bentley opted to give it to Kaayl instead of picking it up.

"But don't you think we should keep it?"

"He doesn't want it."

"But, but what if Lincoln wants it?"

Chod loves the train, he would have picked it up.

I suppose it will join the other toys still being held hostage in our closet.

Yesterday, he spent 1 hour and 15 minutes sitting on a barstool in the corner because he chose that option over a nap.

I haven't resorted to beating yet. Any other ideas?

Giggle-kisses

Oh the flatterings of self photography. I look and sound like a dork, but this isn't about me...

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Early to rise

Once my kids are awake, the day is shot.

Take yesterday for example. I had a 2 hour head start, since Bentley didn't wake up until 8:30 (usually it is 7). In those two hours I cleaned both bathrooms, mopped the kitchen, made bread, did two loads of laundry, and changed sheets. That's more than I usually get done in a whole day!

He woke up and the rest of my day was spent doing something...although there is nothing to show for it and my house didn't look much different at 6:30 pm than it did at 6:30 am. I'm sure that the millions time I answered "What you doing Mommy?", the diapers I changed, and hours spent feeding the babe weren't a complete waste.

Even if at the end of the day it kinda seemed like it.

Here's hoping for more 8:30 mornings!

Odd way to show it

"Bentley, get the pillow off your brother's face."

"But I love him."

What you doing?

"Mommy, what you doing? What you doing Mommy?"

"What does it look like I am doing, Bentley?"

"Um, I don't know."

"What you doing Mommy? Mommy, what you doing?"

It takes 2 seconds for him to ask what I am doing. On average I would guess I hear it 15 times a minute.

Did we skip the "why" stage or is that yet to come?

Join in the Fun!

Because we aren't on our way to Chile as a family (and I know people who are), I have declared the next two weeks officially the "Share Your Mission With Your Family Weeks".

Chod's mission didn't take him to an exotic or far-off place, but I have manage to find a few famous foods from the Burgh. In honor of Chod's mission we will be eating Pittsburgh originals tonight. Primanti Brother's sandwich recreations, Heinz Ketchup, and Klondike Bars. (You could save these to eat during the Superbowl as you cheer on the Steelers, if you wish.)

And next week, Chris will be sharing Cincinnati Chili with us--5 ways.

Perhaps, it should be called "clog your arteries with your family weeks"...hmmm.

Feel free to join us, or even better, share where your missionary served and what's a famous food from there?

Families are Forever

To experience the grandness of this photo, please click to enlarge.

I just came across this photo from a few years ago. I couldn't stop laughing. We are at Disney World having the time of our lives--can't you tell.

What do you think my father-in-law (on the far left holding the balloon) is thinking?

In fact, what do you think any of us are thinking?

Sunday Night at the Movies

Popcorn at the Parish house is serious business. In fact it is treated as an exact science.

Every Sunday night Dad, for as long as I can remember, pulls out the air popper and goes to town, making the most delicious popcorn ever. He adds his butter and salt carefully, making perfect tasting popcorn.

He has outfitted each daughter with an air popper of their own, and the tradition carries on in our own homes.

Tonight, he was at a meeting, so Bentley and I took over the popcorn popping duties. Dad's recipe is secret--locked up with KFC's crispy chicken recipe in fact--so we had to do a little experimenting

I think I disgraced the popcorn bowl with incorrect ratios of corn, butter, and salt.

Nobody does it like Warren.

(And don't forget--tomorrow is National Popcorn Day!)

We want to sing to you today

It's this little lady's special day. The ultimate homemaker.

She is a great decorator (what in the indian?) and her home is always welcoming.

She is a great seamstress and with 4 girls, always seemed to be making a new dress.

My cooking skills were learned from her. A list of ingredients, don't measure, and bake everything at 350.

You're lookin better than ever!

Here, here, and here's why our mom is the best. But no one can do a birthday tribute better than Grandpa.


Happy Birthday Mom!

I'm a criminal

State law says I have 60 days after moving into the state to get a valid driver's license. We have lived here for 381 days. I still don't have one.

I've gone to get one twice, and both times I was sent away before I was allowed to take the test. The first time was because I did not have two proofs of residency. See, that is hard for someone with no responsibility like myself. All bills are sent to Chod-that's the way I like it. The only mail I get are magazines and online purchases, and neither count.

After being sent away the first time, I have watched our mailbox with a very watchful eye. A doctor's bill with my name on it came! I tucked it away in my "to someday get a new driver's license file". And a while later a quarterly statement from Utah Retirement System came. Yay, my two proofs of address.

Well, that was before the holidays, so yesterday I finally decided it was time.

Chod came home from work a little early and I headed to the DL office. Because of the Utah's 4 day work week, they are open until 6.

A little after 5:00 I pull into the parking lot. Mine is the only car there. I walk in and notice at least 6 employees available at their stations, and think "this is going to be quick." I approach the first and tell her I am there to get a driver's license, looking at the clock she says, "I'm sorry, but we don't allow anyone to take the test after 5:00. I try talking her into it, and she asks another lady if it will be okay. Finally, after showing them my social security card and 2 proofs of address, they say that if I can have the form filled out in 5 minutes they will let me take the test.

Two and a half minutes later it is filled out. I approach them, and am re-directed to stand in front of the blue sign and to wait for the next available examiner.

So I stand in front of the blue sign.

A man motions me over. I hand him the form and start to write the check out.

"Hold on, we aren't allowed to give tests after 5:00."

"I was told if I had my form filled out quickly, they would let me." And I motioned to the two ladies.

"Who told you that?"

I once again point to the two ladies talking to each other.

"Do you have your social security card?" I show it to him.

"And two proofs of address?" I show those to him.

"Have you ever had a Utah driver's license?"

"No."

"Not even in the past?"

"Nope. Not even in the past."

"Well, it is our policy not to give the test after 5:00. I am sorry."

I take a deep breath and he says that he can get started on my paperwork to save me some time next time.

It is 5:10. Every one is just sitting there watching the clock. One guy was wiping off the counter tops.

Whatever.

"Do you have your Idaho license with you?" I hand it over. He does his thing and hands it back.

"Do you have your social security card?" I hand it over. He hands it back and says it is not valid.

"What?"

"It has to be signed for me to except it." I sign it and hand it back to him.

"Can I see your proofs of address?" I hand them over. He hands them back.

They aren't valid.

"They aren't?"

"No they have to have been issued in the last 60 days."

I then tell him my story of not having anything and having to scrape to come up with these, and now they aren't valid. And then I throw in the fact that my husband works until 5:00 and I live on the other side of town and how am I supposed to be able to make it in before then?

He handed my form to me and said, "it is hard, I know, but that's our policy."

Few places make my blood pressure rise just by entering the building. AT&T and now the office of drivers licenses.

Slow down already

Lincoln had his first rice cereal tonight!

It seemed with Bentley I couldn't wait for the next milestone, the next new thing. And now I swear Lincoln is getting big way too fast. I still think he is a little newborn, and before I know it he will be walking.

2 Lefts Make a Right?

Bentley is very much a left handed kid (so far). Which may prove to be challenging for me. Which is odd considering I'm a lefty too.

A lefty that does almost everything with her right hand. I throw, eat, cut, serve, golf, shoot and even knit right handed. But I write with my left.

When I went to pre-school way back when, my teacher called my mom concerned that I didn't know how to use scissors. My mom was a little confused because I was a pro with scissors at home..then Mrs. Gunnel said that she even had me using left handed scissors, and I still couldn't get it.

Yeah, I used right handed scissors at home.

Anyway, back to my problem. The little lefty. You would think that I would be more sympathetic/helpful in this situation, but today he was trying to figure out scissors with his left hand.

I almost told him he was using the wrong hand.

Looks like it might be time to start investing in those left handed products (I always wished I had a left handed notebook).

More needs

Last night after dinner Bentley announced, "I need candy".

"Where do you think we could find candy?"

He looked around for a little while and after noticing his trick-or-treating bag with a ghost on it (that is currently holding play dough) said, "I know, my Holy Ghost bag."

Love that kid.

All Eyes

Lincoln likes to be looked at. All eyes must be on him at all times, or there will be cries. He will be screaming and I walk into the room, look at him and the crying turns to giggling with just a glance.

It doesn't count if he is looking at you and you aren't looking at him. He doesn't want to see you, he wants to be seen. Just being in the same room won't cut it.

I've tried tricking him by setting him in front of a mirror. But it doesn't work.

3 Ring Circus

Some weeks I wonder why I even bother going to church.

Like today.

It was Bentley's big day to become a Sunbeam, so I took him to Primary and turned him over to his teachers.

Sat down next to Chod in Sunday School. He insisted Lincoln was starving. So Linc and I head to the mother's lounge.

He wasn't hungry, but he was poopy. So I leave to get the diaper bag, but standing outside the mother's lounge I find Chod and Bentley. Apparently Sunbeams wasn't all I had hyped it up to be and he wanted to go home.

So we trade kids--Chod changes Lincoln and Bentley and I go back to Sunbeams.

With Bentley a little more acclimated to the room without toys, I head to Relief Society.

During the opening prayer Lincoln starts crying, so we stand up on the side, but that doesn't do it, so I head out the door.

But once at the door he stops crying, so I stand in the back until he falls asleep. Then I resume my spot on the first row.

For about 2 minutes before he starts crying again.

This time we walked the halls until he was good and asleep.

And then it was all over.

Sea of Blue

Last night after cleaning up a mess, I told Chod just to throw the pajamas in the washer because I needed to start a load of light blues anyway.

Darks
Whites
Colors
Light blues

That's how our laundry gets sorted. Sadly enough my light blue load is usually the largest.