A-firin' The Lasoooorsss... and Other Random Things

Cole is awesome.  He has recently taken to yelling "I'm a-firin' the lasooooorrsss!" when he pees.  It's really funny the way he says it, too.  Here - I have a video of it.  Minus the potty, of course.

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I have a cold.  I'm 99% sure Cole gave it to me, which means he loses some of his awesomeness.  For whatever reason, in the last year or so whenever I get a cold it isn't just a cold.  It's a COLD.  Remember my last year and my 2 blown ear drums?  I do.  (How could I forget?)  So my ENT (because I have one now) said that any time I get a cold with lots of congestion I should just go for the heavy over-the-counter stuff.  I don't really like the heavy over-the-counter stuff because it makes me loopy, but that's better than blown ear drums with heavy meds and antibiotics that make me nauseous.  Lesser of two evils and all.

So I'm at the Wal-Mart pharmacy this morning and I ask the pharmacist what she recommends.  And good heavens, trying to by Sudafed over the counter is like buying uranium or something.  I was pretty much given the 3rd degree and had to sign my 1st born away.  (And given his latest antics with homework, I'm okay with that.)  Seriously, do I really look like a meth addict, in my blue polo shirt, mom jeans, polka dot purse, and two little kids in the cart?

Apparently I do.

I blame "Breaking Bad". I must have a Walter White look about me.

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Last week my friend Carri let me pick a ton of apples from her tree.  I canned 18 quarts of applesauce today and I still have a rather large laundry basket full of apples.

I am tired.

And the thought of all those other apples makes me tired

And the fact that 2 of my quarts didn't seal properly makes me mad.  Not because it'll go to waste - my kids'll eat it in a heartbeat.  But it's the principle of the matter.

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I forgot to mention that I have been released as the 2nd counselor in YW and am now the 2nd counselor in Relief Society.  I really miss being with those cute girls, but there's something extra great about being with the women in RS.  I love it.  It's a bit overwhelming and a bit tiring, but when I feel that way I just remind myself that I could be RS president, and then I'm not so tired anymore.

Sunday Selfies

"Momma, you want to take a picture? I pritty cute."

Of course I do, Tess!  And yes, you are.

Happy 7th Birthday, Josh!

Josh was really excited about his birthday this year.  He counted down the days for two weeks and talked about it a lot.  He was kinda bummed about my friend birthday parties only on even numbered years, but he didn't put up too much of a fuss.

He did have a half dozen reasonable demands, though:

1. Triple chocolate chunk cookies for his class.
2. Pancakes and poptarts for breakfast.
3. Lance having lunch with him at school.
4. The kitchen decorated with streamers and balloons.
5. Tepanyaki for dinner.
6. Chocolate-peanut butter brownies instead of a cake.

Done and done, Josh.

I was really glad he was happy having cookies at school - they're much less messy than cupcakes and so much easier to transport!

Lance did most of the streamers this year.  For whatever reason he doesn't like to use tape but likes to hang them low so you have to duck when you're at the table.

Creepy doll head joined in on the action.  Like her crown and flag?  Josh sure did!

Pancakes and poptarts for breakfast - brimming with sugar and fat! (Josh's main diet staples.)  He had three pancakes and three poptarts that morning!  (Blech!)

Lance took the cookies to school and had lunch with Josh and his friends.  He seemed surprised to learn that first graders are brimming with bits of unnecessary information and non sequiturs.  

When Josh got home from school I let him open one of his presents, because I knew he'd have so much fun playing with it.  Walkie talkies!  Isn't that an awesome gift for a 7 year old?  I decided to spend a little bit more and get a good set that wouldn't just break after a few weeks.  It came with a set of three, so Josh, his friend Justin, and one other person could have fun.  They sure enjoyed them, although they kept standing right next to each other and talking. (I guess it's more fun that way...)

That night we went to Tepanyaki Buffet for dinner, Josh's absolute favorite.  We don't really go all that often, but I think we're all getting tired of it.  The kids only ate one meager plate of food each, and that night I wasn't feeling so great.  So I think we'll give the buffet a rest for several months.

At first Josh refused to look at the camera.  But this is a quintessential Spencer look. "Why do I have such a stubborn, immature brother?  I am so much older and grown up and mature.  Now time to eat the half-plate of Jell-o I chose for dinner."

Forcing him to look at the camera proved futile.

However, he was willing to look at the camera while in front of the fountain, but the pictures kept coming out blurry, dang it.

Do you like Cole's 5 o'clock chocolate pudding shadow?

Here are Josh's brownies.  I got the recipe online, and they turned out okay, but the chocolate frosting on top was a bit weird.  Not the most beautiful of birthday 'cakes',  but Josh seemed to like it!

Time to sing happy birthday!  I love how all of my kids now know how to sing this song - it's so cute.  Don't you also love how Spencer can't take a hint and keeps talking - LOUDLY - during the end of the video?  I kept swatting him, but you can't tell because he won't STOP TALKING.  Sheesh, Spence, I'm recording a precious memory here!

He wanted to open the birthday money from Great Grandpa John and Great Grandma Nancy first.  

More Colie and his 5 o'clock shadow.

Tess was so good in sitting still and watching Josh open presents.  Much better behaved than a certain oldest brother, who I had to tell - several times - NOT to open Josh's presents.

A 20 Questions game from Grandpa ElRay and Grandma Susie.  They also sent him an awesome BYU shirt, which didn't really interest Josh that much, but that's to be expected.  He'll be happy to have it when we take him to the BYU/Notre Dame game in November!  (Go Cougs!)

Ugh.  They also sent a Spongebob card.  That sings.  Good heavens, these kids love that card.  It's okay one time.  But not 376 times.  I think my ears are bleeding.

Then I showed them how you could hold the walkie talkie up to the card and it would blast the song to the other walkie talkies.  This was very well received.

What a cutie this boy is!

One more of the birthday creeper that Josh got such a kick out of.  

At the end of the evening we discovered a new way to entertain ourselves:

Bahahhahhaha!!!  Madsen humor, I guess.

At the end of our meal at Tepanyaki this was the fortune Josh found in his cookie, which he ironically shoved right in my face and yelled at me to read.

Despite that incident, Josh truly is quite charming when he wants to be.  And he definitely is my most courteous child - again, when he wants to be.  Josh has a great sense of humor and a strong love and devotion for his family and friends.  I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this sweet little boy of mine.  Happy 7th birthday, Josh!

Tess is Fun

Tess and I are having great fun while Cole is at preschool.  Sometimes we stay home and play and work, but usually we run errands.  Today we found ourselves at Target looking at new church shoes and some new fall clothes.  Oh. My. Goodness.  I love polka dots and Target obviously does, too, because half of the clothes in the little girl section were dotty.  Love love love!  Unfortunately, none of it was on sale, and I refuse to pay full price.

But that didn't stop Tess from ooohing and aaaahhhing over all the cute clothes.  At two years old she is already a shopping diva; not sure how that happened because I've really tried not to take her shopping with me lately.  (Just a lot easier without the 2 year old!)  Must be genetic.  Anyways, she went from shirt to pants and then fell in love with all of the little tulle skirts.

Tres, tres chic.

She had put three in the cart by the time I snapped this picture.

I tried to sneak them out while she wasn't looking, but she caught me.

Oh, the drama!  Oh, the sobbing!  "My skiiiiiirrrrrrrrt!!!  Mine!!!  Miyyyyyaaaannnn!!! My pritty!  My cute skirt!!!"

Poor thing.  She has her mother's taste in clothes but obviously not her mother's budget.

It took a good 10 minutes and a sticker from the cashier for her to calm down. And then - and I am not making this up - on the way out she said clear as day "Mommy, I'm fun.  I'm fun, huh, Mommy?"

Yes, Tess.  You certainly are.

Creepy

The neighbors gave Tess this creepy creepy doll head.   (Their eleven year old daughter didn't want it anymore. )  Okay, looks alone make her creepy, but get this- hair grows out of her head.   Even worse?  It can reverse and go back IN her head!

EEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHH!!

Each of our children is properly creeped out by this new addition.   Except Tess, who likes to comb her hair and talk to her.
I scared Josh the other day when I put her in his bed.   His exact words were "Aaaiiiiiiieeeeee!"  And then he got over it and is now thoroughly enjoying putting get in random spots to scare other people.   This is right up an almost 7 year old's alley. 

Right now she's waiting in Lance's side of the bed, although I'm tempted to put her in the fridge for Josh or Spencer to find when they get home from school.

We need a name for this gal.   Any suggestions?

Also, I am totally blogging with my new Galaxy S4, which I am thoroughly in love with.   Is it wrong for a phone to bring such joy?  (Is it is, I don't care. )

Smooth Talkin' Cole

Me: Hi Colie Bolie.

Cole: What are you doing?

Me: Putting on my make-up.

Cole: Hey Mommy - you're pretty in my eye!

San Francisco - A Few Extra Memories

I know, enough already with the SF posts!  But there are a few things that I want to remember.

1. On the way out we had a layover in Cleveland.  Yeah, we totally flew east to get to the west coast.  Anyways, we decided to get something to eat while we were there and found a burger placed called "Cheeburger Cheeburger".  The lack of the "s" and the fact that they did it twice bothered me to no end.  Seriously, it still makes me angry.  Just put the S back in, people!!!

2. We flew right over the big wild fire that was burning next to Yosemite.  It was really, really cool.  Spooky, but cool.

3. During the "Bawdy and Naughty" tour the guide brought up the group of 200 Mormon Pioneers who sailed to SF on the Brooklyn.  Not that they had anything to do with the Working Girls we were discussing; he brought them up in reference to the boom of people who came through SF and helped settle the West.  Still, it was funny to me to be discussing Mormons on the prostitution tour.

4. I was walking back to the hotel one afternoon when I saw a rather tall woman.  Very tall.  With an adam;s apple and faint 5 o'clock shadow.  Okay, whatever, no biggie.  Biggie?  He/she was wearing the EXACT SAME denim jacket that I had on!!!  (Mine's military style with no collar, which makes it a bit more noticeable.)  Same shade of blue and everything.  Although he was pulling off his look pretty well, it made me seriously consider changing some of my wardrobe choices.

5. Lance came home with NINETEEN free t-shirts from the conference.  (And he claims he could have gotten at least 20 more.)  So now I have been charged with making a VMWorld t-shirt quilt.  I hope to have it done by Christmas.  Lance is excited.