Tuesdays Thoughts

Man, I have been tired lately. I feel bad complaining (or explaining) to Mark because he gets less sleep than I do. But then again, my job is manual labor and his isn't. That means something doesn't it? Not that we are competing or comparing, but anyway....

I'd better state for the record that potty training has had its highs and lows. Lately we've been going through some lows. Adam will do great for a few days then I think he gets tired of taking time out to use the potty. So, we've had some hard days which adds to me being tired lately. But at this point there is no turning back. We are in it for the long haul.

Did I never mention this? This is big news and deserving of its own post, but I feel like I am too late on this announcement anyway and I don't want to feel like I have to get to creative with a nice post of its own. Did I mention I was tired? Mark got his CPA designation. And it was a good couple of months ago. So, he deserves a mention because you know, the road through school and tests with a family is a long and tiring one. Mark, you're a champ. And me too, because I think I did something noteworthy also, even if it was only being lonely a bit while he was gone or studying. Good job Mark!!

On that note, who do you think does the taxes around here? Nope, it's me. And we buy Turbo Tax. Two reasons, Mark studied corporate financial accounting and not taxes so much. Thank goodness in a way, because we don't have to go through the tax-time craziness that tax CPAs do. And, by the time he does accounting and numbers all day he is not too excited to sit down at the computer to crunch numbers again. But I, with my manual labor and all, enjoy a break with some numbers at the computer. That's also why I do the budgeting around here. I do the spreadsheet and then Mark and I go over it together.

I seriously have not a life of my own

Well, that's what you may think when I tell you that I had to get my camera out to take a picture of the dishes drying.

The other night after Mark finished washing them I thought they looked so artistic.

Was it the lines and angles?

Was it the bold accents of yellow and green?

Or did it have something to do with the good looking guy who washed them?

Or is something just wrong with me?

Sneak Peak

Last week we were waiting in the lobby of the Arizona Museum for Youth for my cousin and her kids. I had nothing else to do so I filled out a form to enter their drawing for Monsters vs Aliens tickets. Also, the kids both drew monster pictures that may go up on the wall at the museum for an upcoming exhibit inspired by the movie.

Yesterday I was reading Adam a story in his room getting him ready for nap when I heard my phone ring. I decided to let it go to voicemail but instead Dallin answered. After a minute he hadn't brought the phone to me so I ran out to see who it was and he yelled, "I won tickets to see Monsters vs Aliens!" What? I grabbed the phone and sure enough it was someone from the museum telling us we'd won tickets to the early release of the movie. At first I thought Dallin's drawing of a monster had won the tickets, but then I remembered that it must have been the other type of drawing, the one that actually had our phone number on it. I am crediting my secret folding trick for winning. You'll have to ask in person if you want to know--and still I'll only tell you if I really like you.

We had a great time going to the movies together--our first time actually as a family of four. Apparently we don't get out much.

And since we didn't pay for the movie, we actually bought some popcorn. Good thing we bought a lot because Adam couldn't be separated from it. He looked so funny holding a popcorn tub that was nearly half his size. (This doesn't show that proportion so great, I had to be sneaky with my camera, you know.)

Only after Dallin already knew we won tickets to the movie did I find out it was PG (for action violence, crude humor, and mild language). If you need a parental review of the movie here is what I remember from the movie that stood out as inappropriate for kids:

• Lord's name taken in vain (one time I think)
• Guy pulls his pants down and scans his rear to get in through security
• Word "boobies" was used

And maybe another thing or two that I can't remember at this point. Use your own discretion. Fortunately my kids didn't notice these things (as far as I could tell) and they loved the movie. Mark and I thought it was great too though I don't think I would buy the movie because of the reasons listed above. But then again, when was the last time we actually bought a movie?

Apple, cheese, saucy

Yes. That is really what they are saying.


And no. No idea.

And believe me that they will do this over and over again even though here the video only shows one time. "Apple, cheese, saucy!" yelled from the nightstand. Bounce a few times on the bed. Repeat as needed.

Somehow these words became THE words that get yelled for this activity every time it's played. In fact, it's not called "jumping on mom and dad's bed" at our house. It's called "apple, cheese, saucy."

So, one Sunday we happened to be having cheese crips for lunch with apples on the side. Add some saucy and there you go. We take our culinary inspiration from everywhere--even strange made-up children's games.

Dallin took it to the next level by making an apple cheese saucy cake--as he called it. It's important to note that he requested that his quesadilla have refried beans in it. That gives us this:

Quesadilla with cheese and beans, salsa, sour cream, applesauce, and sliced apple. It's also important to note that he finished off three or four of these.

Yum.

Look Who's Wearing Underwear

Tuesday morning was the first time Adam wore underwear. By Thursday he went all day without accidents. Sometimes he will disappear without notice and I'll find him on his potty in the bathroom. He only needs help washing his hands. I feel like a potty-training professional. My next kid will probably prove me wrong. Shoot, Adam might prove me wrong this afternoon.

In related news, Mark started singing the ABC's with Adam so he knows how long he should wash his hands. Since he has been using the toilet every 30 minutes or so the last couple of days he's also had a lot of practice with his ABC's.

First Harvest

Kind of cheating, but it was still pretty rewarding to go outside yesterday and snip a few leaves off of my parsley plant for our spaghetti sauce. And, we've got a few nickel-sized green tomatoes growing, yay! This weekend we make a real tomato trellis. The trellis in the picture was a leftover from the last owners of the house.

The Publicity Dilemma

If you haven't heard, HBO is supposedly airing an episode of Big Love this week that features sacred portions of a Latter-Day Saint temple ordinance. Obviously this does not sit well with me or most other members of the Church as these things are sacred. I was comforted when I read the Church's official statement about it HERE. So before you get all riled up, read it.

Growing

Look at this little person....

Isn't he gorgeous?

Before the recent ultrasound we had the old ultrasound pictures on our fridge of the baby at 11 weeks. Dallin would make mention that my tummy was getting bigger and then hurry to the fridge to see how the baby looked in the ultrasound. I had to explain to him that the pictures on the fridge didn't change as the baby changed. That would be cool technology. Or just Harry Potter-ish.

Speaking of growing, the spinach and pea seeds we planted sprouted about a week ago. It's the first time I've ever grown anything so it's pretty exciting, at least to me. The plants are a little bigger now, but these are the pictures I took last week when they were brand new. Yay for things growing!

Sweet Peas

Spinach

And here are a couple of other pictures worth posting. They don't make sense on this post, but I bet we can stretch it.



Adam and Aunt Kerami making a salad together. Growing relationships.


Homemade tortillas, refried beans, and spanish rice. A food storage meal that I should have posted on an earlier post. I did Minute Rice this time because I was worn out from doing the beans and tortillas. But I just use a can of Ro-tel with the juices and cook it in there while the rice cooks. Super easy. Good food for growing boys, right? Right?