This Old House

April 29, 2012
Without fail something goes wrong when I go on a business trip. Like a sick kid. Or this time, a sick tub.

After giving Pearl and Cole baths last night, I couldn't get the drain to work. It's struggled for a long time and with a little boy who thinks it's his personal toy to beat on, we knew it was nearing the end. But did it have to completely break? And the night before I head out of town for five days? Seriously.

At first Jeff just thought it was doing its usual and told me to keep trying. But something felt weird when I'd push the drain down, like it wasn't catching. Jeff sort of rolled his eyes at me until he figured out that despite my horrible attempt to describe the problem, we were in real trouble. The metal part was totally broken.

Great.

But Pearl knew just what to do. She innocently looked up at Jeff (who was trying his best to not totally freak out) and said, "Just call This Old House. They can fix it."

Yes, Pearl. Yes, they can.

Oh, and the kids are coughing too... convenient. Please pray for Jeff!

Dumb phone

April 28, 2012
Jeff bought me a new phone today (because my phone broke and won't charge anymore).

A smart phone.

The problem is, me.

My new phone is smarter than me. I have no clue how to use it. Even my kids are smarter than me when it comes to this new contraption. So if you try calling or sending a text message and I don't reply? Forgive me. I probably can't figure out how to turn the thing on.

Super irritating

April 27, 2012
If you have never worn contacts before, then you've never experienced the irritation from having a slight tear in one of them and being stuck at work with no spare and no glasses.

It's more than irritating.

For several days now, the contact in my right eye had been bugging me. It felt like it was inside or dirty but I could never figure out why. Then today at work, my eye itched like crazy and it was like I had a blind spot right down the middle of my eye.

I knew the tear had finally come.

I carefully examined my contact and found a tear right down the middle. But it hadn't ripped all the way yet so I decided to tough it out until I got home. The second I took it out, it ripped right in half. That was close... had it ripped all the way while I was at work, I wouldn't have been able to legally drive home because I am nearly blind!

15 minutes before bedtime

April 26, 2012
Why does the toy room suddenly become so fascinating 15 minutes before bedtime?

Sittin' on the sidelines

April 25, 2012
Fern refused to sit on the sidelines tonight. And with "team mom" (aka me) helping on the field, Jeff gave in to Cole's pleading and let him take a turn at bat. Cole couldn't have been more happy! He did great... running to each base and then patiently waiting for the next batter to send him to the next one. He had a huge grin on his face, until he learned he couldn't keep batting for the other team.

Take my picture, Mom!

April 24, 2012

I don't get it. Pearl NEVER wants me to take her picture. I fight her every time I want to capture a precious memory with her. She might smile, but her eyes are cast as far to the right as humanly possible. Or she'll look at the camera but frown.

But today - with her hair not combed - she BEGGED me to take her picture. Granted it was eating a peanut butter Triscuit cracker sandwich.

I don't get this kid.

It must be a guy thing

April 23, 2012
I glanced down at Cole, who had climbed up on my lap to watch some cartoons, and found this.

Sound asleep. With his had down his pants.

It must be a guy thing.

Front yard picnic scene

April 21, 2012
If you drive by our house around dinner time, this is what you'll probably see.

I don't get why the kids like to eat in the front yard anyway. I mean, everyone who drives or walks by can hear us yelling at each other to "fold your arms," "quit spilling," "sit down," "put the chalk away," "keep eating"... you get the idea.

Old Mother Hubbard

April 20, 2012

Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard,
To give the poor dog a bone:
When she came there,
The cupboard was bare,
And so the poor dog had none.

I've been working on something really special this week. I haven't slept - or fed my children and husband as evident by the lack of anything edible in our fridge - because I've been up until 2 a.m. coordinating schedules, worrying, praying, or just from sheer excitement! I've just been too distracted by this little project. After tomorrow though, life can get back to its crazy normal self.

Grandma's smell

April 19, 2012
I was walking over to the Tball field for Pearl's game when I was overcome by the sweet scent of these blossoms. I'm pretty sure they aren't lilacs because the shape of the flowers and their smell is a little different than what I think of with lilacs. The first image that came to mind was my Grandma Jewkes. The scent of these blossoms - and Jergen's Almond scented lotion - remind me of her. I miss her a lot.

Tball

April 18, 2012
Pearl had her first Tball game tonight. And I am happy to report that there just may be some athletic genes in that girl after all!

Pearl did awesome! She hit the ball and knew exactly where to run each time. She wanted to play catcher when it was our team's turn to play the field. She was really aggressive and practically the only kid who would run towards the ball after the other team hit it. Even if that meant leaving the catcher position and heading for second base. Or running over to the Cole (aka the Assistant Coach) to sneak a handful of popcorn in between batters. She didn't cry or whine once. I was impressed.

Jeff is coaching Pearl's team... the Washington Nationals. Ten kids under the age of five running around in shirts three times too big for them. It's pretty funny. Not quite as entertaining as watching kids this age play soccer though, but hey, I'm just glad Pearl is doing a real sport. You know, one that involves a ball!

Great Utah Shakeout

April 17, 2012
Here's proof that at 10:15 a.m. today I joined more than 940,000 Utahns in the Great Utah Shakeout... the largest earthquake drill in Utah history. The sole purpose of the drill was to practice the "DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON" technique which will apparently save my life when the "big one" really does happen.

Sadly, I only crawled under my desk to get a picture instead of the full minute I was supposed to. But seeing as how my fellow coworkers were giggling or typing away, I figured 10 seconds for a picture was better than nothing. I've decided that I will probably be squashed by falling debris because my desk isn't exactly earthquake safe.

Yesterday for F.H.E. we also did our part in preparing for a disaster. Remember my 72 hour kit list that I made but had yet to buy and re-pack? Well, I took two tired, hungry kids to Walmart, spent $100 on supplies, and made my family re-pack our kits for almost two hours! At one point, with new food strewn all over the living room and bags of expired food all over the place, Jeff muttered under his breath that we didn't need to have the "big one" hit because we were living it and that he wished it would hit so we could stop!

He did have a valid point. Going through our old supplies, dividing out the new supplies between four people, and trying to keep Cole from sampling everything was as close to a real disaster as I want to come!

Blackmail

April 16, 2012
This should come in handy as blackmail someday.

Quick Sunday

April 15, 2012
Pearl said the funniest thing today.

She randomly told us, "Today was a quick Sunday so we didn't get any treats in Primary."

Apparently Jeff and I need to set a better example of what you're supposed to do on Fast Sunday.

You know you're old when...

April 14, 2012
You know you're old when you spend your birthday at your political party's county convention.

Yep people. I'm THAT old.

Car seat check

April 13, 2012
Friday the 13th. Spooky.

But what was not as spooky as I had anticipated were the crumbs underneath Cole's car seat. Whew. Jeff can't be too displeased with that, especially considering the visible ones EVERYWHERE that I'd already vacuumed a few days prior to today.

I guess you might be wondering why on earth I have a picture of someone taking out Cole's car seat. Well, that lady is Janet Brooks, aka Queen of Car Seat Knowledge. Ok, her official title is Child Advocacy Manager with Primary Children's Medical Center. She works with my program through Safe Kids Utah and has installed both of my kids' car seats. Well, I should say has re-installed their car seats. Each time I've had Janet check to make sure they are in correctly, she's had to fix them and teach me what to do differently. Kind of pathetic considering what my job is and that I have access to the best safety knowledge in the state through colleagues. But there are no better hands that I'd trust my children to than Janet's!

If anyone out there is worried their child's car or booster seat may be installed incorrect - or even if you think you've put it in right - give Safe Kids Utah, Primary Children's Medical Center, or your local Safe Kids Coalition a call. They do free car seat installations and trust me, there's bound to be something to improve on. Even if it's just getting rid of those hard to reach crumbs!

Duck beak

April 12, 2012
I like Cole's hair spiked. It reminds me of the crazy blond haired boy I brought home from the hospital almost two years ago. Besides, if you've got good hair, you should take full advantage of it for as long as possible. Someday Cole will probably shave or dye it purple so I'm going to enjoy having my say about it now.

Pearl? She hates it. Every morning that I grab the bottle of super gel, she squawks at me to leave Fern's hair alone. Today she told me, "It looks like a duck's beak on top of his head."

I laughed and laughed. And then proceeded to "duck beak" away with the gel!

(And if you noticed, this picture is neither a "duck beak" do or straight as Pearl prefers. It's sort of the aftermath of spiked, good looking hair in the morning followed by all day of playing.)

Blowing in the wind

April 11, 2012
The winds were whipping when I left for home from day two of the Utah Public Health Conference. All that white stuff you see blowing around the parking lot are blossoms from the trees. It looked just like snow, only it smelled a lot better.

Popsicle weather

April 10, 2012
Popsicle weather is officially here! At least for today. And hopefully the rest of the year.

Lunch with Dad

April 9, 2012
I sent Jeff a text this morning begging him to come home and play with us! He immediately thought I was trying to trick him because he assumed the kids were being monsters.

Maybe a little.

But it was a beautiful day and he'd worked 12+ hour days all of last week. I missed him. The kids missed him. I wanted him to come home and do something with us. Anything... go to the park, clean out the storage room, keep me from yelling at the kids, you get the idea.

Instead he proposed that we join him for lunch.

And since the four of us went, I can't help but break my #1 rule for this daily blog. I'm posting two pictures.

Easter Bunny Disappointments

April 8, 2012
I failed to document all the excitement from the Easter Bunny. I just wasn't in the mood to tell my kids they had to wait another second to see what was in their baskets while I put in my contacts, went pee, and adjusted the camera. Sometimes you just have to live in the moment... camera-free.

I know shocking coming from me.

So you get a picture of almost the full aftermath. Two baseball gloves, baseball bat, T-balls, USU Cheerleader outfit, car (that I have no clue where it is now), Leap Frog game, and three boxes of fruit snacks. Pearl was highly disappointed the Easter Bunny didn't bring her "much stuff" like the phone she thinks she should have... "to call Uncle Kurtis" with... and the fact that I refused to allow her to wear her new cheerleader outfit to church today.

And poor Fern. He wasn't allowed to take his new baseball bat and ball to church either. What a mean mom I am! Next year I think I'll tell the Easter Bunny to just put a bag of carrots in their baskets.

KidsCare

April 7, 2012
Two hours before 10 guests arrived for an afternoon of egg hunting and food, I drug both kids to the KidsCare clinic.

For about a week, Cole had been waking up at all hours of the night crying and whining. Not to mention his overly happy personality (exert laughs of sarcasm here). I knew it had to be yet another ear infection. Once he starts waking up in the middle of the night, that's the clue it's more than a cold or teeth. And it was. I really should be able to have one of those fancy look-in-your-ear-doctor-tools myself.

But Pearl. She was another matter. Mind you she has NEVER had a diagnosable illness in her entire life! Almost five years and not a single ear infection, strep throat, or one of the gazillion other germy things kids pick up. Even the doctor at the clinic was impressed. Her poor little eyes were almost swollen shut, bright red, and oozing gross goop. I hadn't noticed anything the days before today (of course... a Saturday before a holiday with company coming to our house) but after seeing her rub them non-stop all morning, I thought it had to be pink eye. The diagnosis was allergies (great, so this will be a never ending problem for her) and probably pink eye as a secondary infection.

So $150 in prescription eye drops and antibiotics later, we were ready to start our Easter celebration!

Instructions

April 6, 2012
Let's pretend that I COMPLETELY spaced the fact that I'd voluntarily signed up to get my driver's license renewed today. And that I COMPLETELY did not do my hair or makeup because I'd forgotten that teeny, tiny appointment. No big deal, though. I mean it's not like I'm going to have that thing for oh, at least the next DECADE!

Ick. A fat, pimpled, dark-circles-under-my-eyes, hair not done, neck covered in a red, splotchy rash from trying to keep two bored, hungry kids contained face is EXACTLY what I want to see when I have to show my ID.

But I did remember one very important thing. I remembered the simple instructions on my online application I'd scheduled beforehand: "Go directly to the appointment desk and request a number. DO NOT wait in the line."

And that was a very good thing because the line wrapped outside the building!

HPER building

April 5, 2012
I journeyed to what was once my home-away-from-home for four years... the HPER (Health, Physical Education, and Recreation) building today. (Jeff will tell you it was really the library 'cause I was a nerd) Each spring, my favorite professor from my days at Utah State, has asked me to come and teach her Foundations of Health class.

I love it. It gives me a chance to meet the next generation of fabulous health educators, recruit for interns, and brag about all the amazing work I get to do. Although I do stress a lot about presenting. I'm old. Way, way, way old considering I graduated nine years ago! I always feel this pressure to not be a boring presenter and have some fun activities, stories, and videos. Plus, let's be honest. I procrastinate this assignment every year.

But I must not be too bad because I keep getting invited back. Which is a very good thing because it's tradition to go to Papa Kelsey's for a veggie sub with my mom and dad afterward.

Poor Kurtis

April 4, 2012
I was shocked that Kurtis put up with my kids at all tonight after our car ride to Logan. Especially because he ended up playing dress up and having a parade with them... very manly.

He'd been down here with my sister for spring break but needed a ride home. Not because he missed my parents or even that he wanted to hang out with his FAVORITE sister, but because of that cute blonde next to him. Sheesh. Just because I won't make out with him...

Anyway, the car ride up was well, typical. Pearl talked NON STOP and tried to come up with knock knock jokes. Cole screamed and cried and we had no clue what he was jabbering about. I was stressed out and trying to think of what to talk to a 17-year-old about so he thought I was cool and not some frumpy, boring, fuddy-duddy all while trying not to run off the road and kill us.

Poor Kurtis.

Sand covered toes

April 3, 2012
I love my kids' toes and pudgy feet. Even if they do track sand all over the house.

Face paints

April 2, 2012
Our neighbors brought Pearl and Cole their Easter baskets today. They wanted to make sure they had plenty of time to enjoy their goodies... new toothbrushes, toothpaste, fruit, and face paints.

And we ALL did. Even if one of us wasn't nearly as excited about her hands being covered in scribbles, mermaids, and princesses as the other two.

Joke's on me

April 1, 2012
The joke was on me today.

I woke up to find Jeff putting the finishing touches on a fresh coat of "pine needle" paint in the bathroom. Something he swore up and down, he'd never do. I started the project late last night, itching to redeem myself from our bedroom makeover oops. He said he couldn't sleep so he got up at 4 a.m. to paint. I think he's just anal about having it look perfect or that he loves me.

We'll go with the love idea.

The Lorax

March 31, 2012

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,

nothing is going to get better. Its not."
-Dr.Seuss

Sadly, our expectations of watching 8 hours of church on T.V. has waned over the past two years. Remember my Mtn. Dew breakdown? Yeah, no one wanted to experience that again.

So Jeff suggested after the morning session of conference was over, we go see The Lorax. It was a great family movie! And, the best part was it cost us nothing! I had free tickets and a voucher for two gut-busting sodas and a giant tub of popcorn.

Glare and a name change

March 30, 2012
Pearl was not happy with my insistence that she brush her teeth today. Especially because I used her full name to get her attention. She scowled at me and, with lips pouting and eyes glaring, told me, "Don't call me that. My name is Pearl Lizard Pirate Johnson."

I laughed. And got this glare. Then laughed again.

By the way, she's told us she wants her name changed to Pearl Lizard Pirate before. Weird.

Preschool practice

March 29, 2012
Cole got a taste of the big kid class today. He moves up to the Preschool area of daycare in the coming months and is getting a few practice rounds after nap time. He is LOVING it. Me? Not so much. I don't want my baby to grow up.

Post season

March 28, 2012
Utah State has somewhat of a curse when it comes to post season play. So with an up and down year, I'll admit I didn't expect much, if any, play at all when the Aggies didn't win a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

But I was wrong.

Tonight our Aggies played in the championship game. Who cares if it was the CIT (basically the NIT for the non-power conferences). Being the dedicated fan that he is, Jeff had been to all the postseason games. Every game fell on a day when I had Young Women activities or meetings or church. And being that someone in this Aggie crazed household had to be religious, I opted to skip out on the games.

But not tonight.

I skipped Young Womens and cursed the team. Apparently eternal salvation does win out on instant gratification. Oh well, the game was down-to-the-wire dunking craziness and lots of fun. Just a bit of a heartbreaking end for Aggie nation.

Kurtis

March 27, 2012
I tease my little brother a lot. Like with my message to him before his lacrosse game...

You win, you get pie.
You score a goal, you get pie.
You lose, you get pie.
You run like a girl, you get NO pie.

He's a good sport. And no, he does not run like a girl!