Ward Party

Our Bishop challenged us to re-read the D&C during this summer. During Bishopric meeting, the Bishop said "If we all start Sunday when we announce it, we will only need to read 3.14 pages a day to complete it by our Stake Conference." Steve, always thinking, immediately said "That's Pi. 3.14 is Pi." Well, Bishop got into it, the Activities Committee got way into it and we ended the summer with a Pi/Pie party. There was a pie baking contest (for men and women separately - what's that about?), and I would swear the way some people were eating, that there was a pie eating contest. We had dinner, a scavenger hunt about the D&C, and lots of fun. As usual, we sat with the Abbott family and we LOVE them!!!! Here's some pics from our evening.

Stray Bird

A few nights ago, we were sitting in the back yard, just enjoying the cool weather and the little breeze when along comes a bird. Seriously - he just dropped down right next to me. Immediately, I realized this wasn't any wild bird (we usually have magpies, robins, bluebirds and sparrows) - he was very colorful and VERY friendly. He wouldn't fly even though the kids were right on top of him. I seriously don't know where he came from or how he got to our yard from wherever. He really just plopped down. Steve picked him up and he immediately climbed up Steve's arm and just sat on his shoulder. I took him and he climbed over to the collar of my shirt and just kicked it. He must be someone's pet. We drove through the neighborhood and called or visited each house within a block of ours, yet no one claimed Mr. Bird. We even offered him to some family members - no takers. Steve kept saying "it's your bird - what are you going to do now?" while I kept protesting that it was most definitely NOT my bird.

I called the Humane Society to see if there was a lost bird/pet site or list - all I got was an answering machine. We settled in for the evening and put the bird in the garage. I didn't have any birdseed, but he drank water and ate pumpkin seeds (hope that was ok for him). He would even come when we would walk into the garage and call out "Bird....." By the next afternoon, I was out of pumpkin seeds and out of ideas of how to find this bird's home. (I realize if I were Shally or Sherine, I would have set this bird up with a cage, food, toys and a companion by now, but I seriously didn't want a bird!!!) So, by the next afternoon, I called Sandy City and they happily came to pick him up. The guy assured me that the owner was likely to call the city (ha!) and the whole time he was playing with the bird - having a great time. Who knows, maybe they'll make a great pair. Either way, we are back to being a "no-pet family" ... with the exception of the dogs that Steve's parents gave us last year for our birthdays - they are pretty low maintenance though :)

First Day of Preschool !!!!!

So, maybe this post should have been entitled "I'm such a crybaby." Reagan started preschool this week. I know it is only 2 days a week, but she is just growing up WAY too fast for me. Last week, we attended orientation and met her teachers. Last night, I reviewed the dropoff instructions, attached the visor to my car and committed to memory the map of how to navigate the school parking lot. (I kept thinking of the line in that movie Mr. Mom where one of the other moms yells to Jack Butler - "South to drop off, moron!!!")

This morning, Steve gave her a Father's Blessing, continuing a tradition in my family that I have cherished. I tried to prepare her for the dropoff : "the people with the vests on will open the door and help you out of the car and walk you to your room where your teacher will be waiting." I was so worried that she would freak out with a stranger pulling her out of the car and me driving away. Nope - she jumped right out of the car and headed for her classroom. Cole was yelling "Me!!! Me!!!!" and struggling to unbuckle himself so he could follow her. Sorry Cole, you're stuck with Mom.

I pulled out of the parking lot and the tears flowed down my cheeks. Why? Why am I emotional at this time? Why? It isn't like when you have a baby and your hormones are freaking your body out.... what's going on? I guess I just realized how fast the last 3 years has flown by and how she will never again be "mine all mine" (I'm actually not sure she ever was all mine, but...you get the picture). I elected to skip swim class for Cole today, just to make sure I could be by the phone if there was a problem or she needed me. Guess what....... it never rang! She was fine. In fact, when I picked her up, the first thing she said was "I had so fun there Mama!" Yep - the tears flowed again. I'm so glad that she had a great time, but a bit sad that my first little baby is growing up so fast. Here's a look at my big, preschool age, girl. Let's hope I can hold it together when I drop her off for the second day of preschool.

I'm Such a Cry Baby!!!

We went to the library last week and rented a bunch of Disney dvds. My kids really haven't seen many movies - the Shreks, Happy Feet, Nemo and Baby Einstein are the only ones we have and watch. Anyway, I put Cinderella on while the kids were running around and playing. My kids have never seen Cinderella although Reagan is fully aware of what Cinderella looks like, wears, and sings .... go figure. I haven't seen Cinderella for probably 25 years. I started reading InStyle while working out on the eliptical machine and figured maybe they'd enjoy the movie. Well, all of a sudden, Reagan is next to me and saying "what's wrong Mama?" I realize that I have stopped moving on the machine, that I am leaning on my arms over the top of the machine and I have tears streaming down my face. (It was the part where the stepsisters rip apart Cinderella's dress just before leaving for the ball - grrrr those stepsisters.) I tried to explain to Reagan what was happening, but I'm wasn't sure how much she understood of what I said. By the time the movie was over, I was in tears again and just loved that the sweet Cinderella had the other glass slipper (I had forgotten that the mean stepmother tripped the king's servant and the first one shattered - grrrr that stepmother).Anyway, as I resumed my workout (trying to re-gain my composure AND my calorie burn), Reagan disappeared upstairs only to return in full princess regalia. She insisted Cole stand next to her and hold her hand, which he was not too happy about. When I asked what was up, she said "I want him to marry me". I told her "you don't marry your brother." She said "but I'm a princess and he needs to marry me." When I insisted that she couldn't marry her brother (it being illegal and all), she said "it's midnight, I have to go bye bye now" and she ran down the hall screaming "ugly dress, ugly dress, ugly dress". Oh yeah .... looks like she "got it" just fine.

So, I'm a big cry baby for tearing up at Cinderella. We'll see how I do tomorrow - we're going to watch Aladdin ... any guesses?

Gotta Love Paybacks

So, Reagan has a ton of headbands (she wears one every day). Well, Cole decides to get back at her for something or other that she did and he emerges from my room wearing EVERY one of Reagan's headbands - or many of them anyway. He was totally taunting her ..... while running away from her. (I'm not even sure how he could see what was in front of him.) Yup - gotta love paybacks!

Are We Sure it's a Toy?

Reagan has a Barbie Phone with a portable handset and a base. Because it is pink, she routinely carries it around with her or puts it in her bag or her room. Lately, though, I've started to question whether it is a toy or a real, working phone. Seriously! Often, the kids are napping or in bed for the night and I am sitting at the computer when all of a sudden, the base part of the phone starts ringing. Other times the kids and I are eating and Barbie will call - maybe she leaves a message, maybe not (I guess it depends on her mood).

The other day, Reagan pulled her handset out of her bag and started dialing. Of course I'm used to her playing as if she's talking on the phone, but this was different. She said something like......"Hi Barbie??? ........ oh, I know........ yeah - that's funny....... Are you sick?....... Oh, I'm soooo sorry Barbie...... So, you won't come to my party?..... Oh...Ok...... Oh... I know... OK...... Yeah..... Alright, Bye Bye Barbie." The inflection in her voice and the way she stopped and started. I swear it was as if she was in the middle of a conversation. Weird Stuff. So now, I've decided that if Barbie calls while the kids are asleep - I'm running for the phone. Maybe I can hang with Barbie. You think????

Hogle Zoo

Our friends, the Abbotts, invited us to join them for a trip to Hogle Zoo. Steve and I took Reagan when I was pregnant for Cole and that is the only time Reagan and I have ever been to the zoo. It was a scorcher, but we had a fabulous time. Pam, her daughter, Stacey, and Stacey's 3 boys (Konnor, Kolton & Korbin) were so nice to us. We ate their food, rode in their wagon and took their tour around the zoo (they have season passes and are zoo experts). We loved the carousel and the train ride. After six hours at the zoo, the Abbotts left to get to a baseball game. We stayed and Steve came to meet us for another hour or two of fun. Reagan and Cole fell asleep before we left the parking lot. What a day - and what fun!