Party!

My power is back on!  My power is back on!  My power is back on! 

It’s a good thing because otherwise I think Will might have lost his mind.  He tried to go to bed at 8:00pm today.

It was actually pretty sad.  He came home from school and played on his iPad until it died then tried the TV and computer.  “Car, please.”  He asked.

“Where do you want to go?”  I asked.

“Home.”

“… uh, Will, we are home.  Do you want to go to Pete’s house?”

“Yes.”

He wanted to go to Pete’s because he knew that Pete had power and Blue’s Clues on demand.

So we went.  

I told Marcy I got her guest room.  I figured that was alright because I already had filled her fridge and freezer with the contents of mine.

This morning while I was taking a walk with Will a lot of people said, "hi."  People even waved at me from their cars.  It was weird.  I've lived on the east coast for so long that I was a little suspicious.

Then I realized.  Yes, people are that friendly in Utah.  From that point on I kept one eye one Will and one eye on everyone else so I could respond to their friendly greetings. 

I think I'll be more comfortable when I get back home and I can ignore everyone like usual.

Vacation Bonus:  Elizabeth chipped her front tooth ... naturally we have a family picture on Sunday.

A Working Vacation

My little sister is putting me to work while I am staying with her.  Her pathetic excuse ... a three month-old baby.  I don't really buy it.  I think she's a lollygagger.  So, I'm cooking and watching William.  And today, today she forced me to sew her adorable 4 year-old a pirate vest for his birthday.  I felt like saying, "Excuse me I'm on vacation!"

But I didn't.  Mostly because I get to hold a beautiful baby girl whenever I want to.  But I still am holding a grudge that she didn't name the baby after me.

On Being Popular

Sometimes I wonder why people let us stay with them.  We eat a lot, take up a lot of space and Will still has accidents.  Right now my sister-in-law has three pairs of shorts drying on her back steps.  (We also increase the value of their house.)  He used a whole bottle of shampoo to give himself a bubble bath and peed on their couch twice.  And he pinches.

We've been here less than a day.  Oh, yes we are awesome.  And available.  When would you like us to visit?

On the positive side.  I did make lunch and key lime pie.  And my brother asked for pecan pie so I think they'll let us stay until I make him one.  (Strategically I think I'll put off making it for a day or so.)

Jane's Garden is trying to kill me

A gardening layperson might not realize that gardening is dangerous and would try to argue that the problem is actually me.

They would be wrong.

Occasionally when I hang out with my sister Jane I try to help her with her garden.  Not because I like gardening or want to be helpful but because she blocks the TV and blocks any computer site I want to waste time on.

Jane is exhausting to watch.  Between the constant cleaning, huge garden and bundle of kids she is always busy. I think I missed out genetically on whatever she has, but because I don't want her to think I'm a total slacker I help out even though I'd rather spend my day watching Charmed.

On Friday I offered to pick peaches for her because I love peaches and it isn't a lot of work to pick a basket.  While picking -- I WAS STABBED BY A EARWIG!  It hurt!  I shook my hand frantically trying to remove it from my hand.  It wouldn't come off.  I disgustedly thought I was going to have to touch it to get it out of my hand.  At which point I shook even harder and it finally came off.

I was done picking peaches.

I went over and started picking beans.  I stepped on a bee.  I am allergic to bees so that was a problem.  Fortunately two benadryls helped and my foot didn't swell up.  Both times I've stepped on a bee (because 3 out of the 3 times I've been stung I stepped on it-- I consider that a talent) I swelled up to my knee and couldn't walk for two days.

Status:  Really happy that I can walk and my leg didn't fall off.  Considering cutting out a chunk from the bottom of my foot because it itches and hurts and drives me crazy when I walk on it.

Jane's Garden, Well Played.  You win this time.

The way IT goes down in our house.

It starts with a conversation because it always starts with a conversation.  This one started with my husband mentioning we should refinance.  I asked if we were going to try to build a house.    The next day we looked at a house on almost 8 acres of land.  After all, one acre just wouldn’t be enough land.  But once I found out it takes four hours to mow I was considerably less interested in multiple acres of land and I didn’t like the house or like to move.

Long story short -- Someone dropped off the refinancing paperwork at our house today.

V-Day Countdown

I’m leaving for Utah in a couple of days.  I haven’t packed a thing, or gotten ready  so I decided today would be the perfect day to take the kids to a movie.  There is no easy way to say this … it you’re on the fence about taking your 9 and 13 year-olds to Cowboys and Aliens, you may not want to.  I loved it!  I love Daniel Craig and to be honest, I feel that it’s well worth the price of a movie ticket just to look at him.

Well worth … ahem, moving on.

Preparation for our Upcoming Vacation

Status Updates

Me:  So, not ready. 

Husband:  In process of coming home from Germany.

Brianne:  Needs to pack for camp (she's leaving on Monday) and for Utah

Jacob:  Needs to write two book reviews for school

William:  Hates to fly … really, really hates to fly!

Elizabeth:  Hates to do her jobs … really, really hates to do her jobs!

Watching a movie with William

I was watching Amazing Grace while folding laundry.  Will came and sat by me on the couch.  He laid down.  Got up, opened the ottoman took out his pile of blankets and laid back down on the couch.  He handed me Bri’s clothes to fold; probably because they were in his way.  Once I finished folding he pointed to my legs.  “Move, please.”  I moved my legs off the couch.  He pointed at me.  “Move please.” 

I stood up.  “Do you want me to sit on the other couch?”  I asked him.

Will pointed to what seemed like the exact spot I moved from on the couch.  I sat.  He scooted next to me and laid his head down in my lap.  Then he switched back to the other side.  He put a blanket in my lap.  Then another.  Then had me put my arms around them.  I looked at the similarly hugged pile of blankets on his lap.  We smiled at each other and I kept the blankets on my lap.