Summer Reading Program....

Today was the culmination of the summer reading program for the kids in the 'Ville. It is this big fair that has many games with a renaissance theme complete with a juggling court jester. Last year it was held outside and was so much fun to wander to the different booths. Today it was held inside due to a rainy forecast. It was actually a beautiful low 80's day and sunny, so it was tough to be crammed into the library knowing we could have better enjoyed ourselves out in the fresh air. But, what do you do? We heard that there was going to be a maze that all the kids could enter if they had the right "clues". We guessed "Wizard" was the answer, and we were let in. I'm not sure if it was the correct answer, but you don't really tell a mother of 4 she can't let her children enter the main attraction.

Inside the maze choosing prizes.

Landon crawling out of the maze.

Showing off the toys chosen.

We then decided to venture out into craft land where we made our very own goblets. I gave one to Landon and he wasn't quite sure it was what he wanted. He seemed to prefer the sunglasses to the plastic goblet.

Next was the sand bottles. Endless line, only to find out when it came our turn there was only enough to make 1. My kids all took turns pouring in the sand and nobody complained. Wow. I was amazingly surprised, and quite pleased at the attitude my kids took not being able to make their own.

For the grand finale there are prizes given via a drawing. Upon entering this event we were all given tickets with numbers. The numbers are called and you've won a prize if you hold the winning ticket. The first number called today was #13. Jack held the winning ticket! He won a lovely gigantic poster of a transformer. The poster is larger than him.

Of course when Jack won the prize there were a few tears from Kennedy who really thought she should win something and Jack probably really had her ticket. She was fine when she realized nobody was in the maze and she could go back through to claim yet another "prize" from the box. After the great library extravaganza we headed over to Wendy's-----every thursdays all summer long kids meals are only 99 cents. (I recognized quite a few of the mini-vans in the parking lot.) I think today it is going to be Wendy's for lunch, and probably dinner too. I think my kids think that makes me mother of the year. What they don't realize is that I'm not doing it for them, I'm doing it so I don't have to run the dishwasher which will then need to be unloaded, and I also get out of making two meals today. I think Thursday is my new favorite day.

Ewwww........

I like to think that Landon is a pretty smart kid, minus the lacking vocabulary skills I've mentioned many times before. I'm noticing that he is becoming quite the independent child because of this. If he's hungry he'll head into the kitchen and start eating leftovers from many a previous meal dropped into the deep crevices of his high chair. I enter the kitchen, see him foraging, and get him something decent to eat. If he's tired he'll start stamping his feet, grunting, and pointing to the secret place I hide his pacifiers because they are only for bedtime. I ask if he wants a nap and he nods his head. See, he's figured out how to get my attention without words. Today he did the unthinkable in order to get my attention over his need for a drink. I was folding laundry in my bedroom, so crying wasn't going to get me into the kitchen to see him pointing to his cup placed just out of his reach, so he resorted to getting his own drink. Shawn had left an empty cup on his nightstand and I watched Landon pick it up. He's always transporting things room to room so I thought nothing of this activity. Kennedy happened to also be watching him and she sometimes follows him around simply for entertainment. I kept folding (mountains of laundry always) and then I heard Kennedy from my bathroom saying, "Oh, Landon, no, oh, Mom, Landon, no, no, don't, ewww". It actually sounded kind of urgent like she just didn't know how to solve the problem herself and she needed my help. I arrived just in time to stop the actual drinking. Landon had ever so carefully dipped the cup into the toilet, and scooped it full to the top. I caught him when it was almost to his lips. I think I threw up a little in my mouth. Of course I went and got him a drink from the faucet, after I scrubbed both his hands and my own. I guess now the mystery is solved as to why this particular child has had rotovirus 3 times in his very short life. Who knows how long he's been drinking out of my toilet. I now keep the bathroom doors shut so if I ever hear them open, I know he must be thirsty.

7-7-07

People are referring to this day as the day of luck. Lucky 7's. I myself find it to be a special day because 12 years ago I was being sealed for time and all eternity to the man I love. Wow. 12 years seems like forever ago. I still remember the day I met Shawn. My ward at Rick's College was hosting a fall barn dance. Shawn and his roommates attended this affair with none other than my FHE sisters. Shawn must have thought I was hot because he asked me to dance. His roommate Stace also asked me to dance. I was just out to have a good time that night so didn't take particular interest in either boy. A few nights later Stace asked me to a formal dance hosted by the school. Apparently him and Shawn had discussed me and Shawn being the gentlemen he was (and not wanting to get involved with the opposite gender due to extensive schooling in the future years) relented and let Stace have me. So, that is how it went. I dated Stace. Only Stace wasn't really my "type". He was a beefcake that drove a fancy pick-up that he treated like a child. Don't get me wrong, he was fun. We always had a good time. One night we had gone to the movies and ended up back at his apartment around 10 pm or so. Shawn was sitting at a large table in the middle of the living room holding a 48 oz. caffeinated beverage and studying from various textbooks spread out within his reach. Stace and I sat down on the couch to discuss further plans for the evening. (Remember when the night started at 10:30? Now it ends at 8. What a change.) Shawn obviously didn't want to be disturbed, but he was also easily distracted and very friendly. He and I engaged in small talk. It seemed only minutes had passed when I looked at the clock and it was 5 am. Stace had fallen asleep on the couch hours ago and Shawn and I were enjoying our conversation so much we lost track of time. I vividly remember walking in my apartment door and telling my roommates "don't ever let me date Shawn because if I do, I will marry him". (I guess I failed to mention that at that time I was waiting for a missionary. What a patient "waiter" I was.) Obviously Stace and I called it quits shortly thereafter. The next year I ended up living with Shawn's sister Rhonda. We both later admitted to secretly arranging this living companionship, but it was so sneaky on both our parts neither one was the wiser. Shawn and I basically became best friends. I started to get hooked and when he'd call to see if I wanted to go to the laundromat with him, I'd quickly empty my drawers into a basket so I had something to wash. I found myself waiting by my apartment door until I saw him exit his door across the street so we could walk to class together. It was pretty pathetic. We finally started to date a little, or rather just admit we enjoyed one another's company. It wasn't the traditional dating. We did things like homework, laundry, he'd call me over and make me pancakes for breakfast, and just real life things like that. I was woken many a morning to help him push start his car so he could go to the grocery store. Even push starting his car was enjoyable to me. Crazy. I'd kill him if he woke me up now at 7 am to push start a car. We officially broke up 2 days before we got engaged, and spent those 2 days discussing with each other how crappy it was that we couldn't get married. Sounds so silly to me now, but at the time it all made sense. So, on 7-7-95 we joined together as man and wife. Every year around this time we like to reflect on all that we've accomplished in the years we've been together. We really have done a lot. As I sit in this comfortable house, with my 4 kids sleeping upstairs, knowing I have 2 vehicles that start everytime I put the key in the ignition, I can visibly see how far we've come. It's good for me to remember the push-starting corolla we once owned and all that wedding money we received that had to pay for our first months rent in that spider infested basement that was so damp I got strep throat as a wedding gift. It helps me to see and appreciate how hard Shawn works for our family. We aren't celebrating this year as I'd hoped. Shawn is in Utah at his sisters wedding and I'm home with the kids. I did go out to lunch and shopping with some friends in lieu of my celebration with my husband and had a great time, so don't feel sorry for me. He deserves the much needed break. As for our anniversary celebration? We'll find sometime to sneak out together and enjoy one another's company. I love his company more and more with each passing year. It's funny to think that on our wedding day I loved him as much as I possibly could have, and I marvel at how much my love for him still grows. I love you babe. Happy Anniversary. Life's only going to get better, I'm sure.

Fabulous Fourth........

What a great day. Shawn wasn't on call so we got to see him all day long! Fabulous. The kids played outside and downstairs with dad in the morning so I was able to clean up all the things I've been putting off until I had back-up. Fabulous again. Jack took a nap on the couch so he could enjoy the fireworks without driving us all insane. Super fabulous. Then the real fun started. The 'Ville started doing a parade on the 4th a few years ago. It's a small parade, but totally worth it. When I say small, I mean it lasted a whopping 15 minutes. I actually really love this parade because you can show up 10 minutes before start time and get amazing seats. By amazing I mean in the shade only 20 feet from where you actually parked your vehicle. Who can beat that? The kids came prepared with walmart sacks to gather candy. You'd think with such a short parade you wouldn't need an entire bag to hold the loot, but we still have candy tucked away in the garage from last years homecoming parade. Best parade ever. Short and sweet, just how parent's like them.

Is this candy going to ever start being thrown at me?

The Candy Scramble.

Happy for the popsicle, irritated at the photography.

Hot little firecracker.

Landon loves those motorcycles.

Jack savors his sweet parade finds.











Landon sports his new prize from the home depot float.

After the parade we headed home to the neighborhood block party. That's right, I said BLOCK PARTY. I feel like a real-life-true-blue adult. I'm old enough to host a block party with my neighbors. Crazy. I'm not really old enough, am I? We started off with a little parade of our own. All the kids decorated their bikes and scooters and rode to the end of the street and back. Most were sporting swimsuits due to the extreme weather. High 80's with 97% humidity. It felt like a sauna.

After the parade, bring on the food! Everyone brought goods to share and boy were they good! We ate until we could eat no more, and until the men could no longer hold off lighting their explosive entertainment.

I'm happy to say that I know my husband as well as I thought I did, and when he came home from the fireworks stand yesterday, he didn't disappoint. Fabulous. Looks like explosives win out over knowledge of danger. So much for that medical degree. He even went over budget as I anticipated. He is seen here in this picture using one of his "launchers". I guess it is a necessary part of this holiday to use some type of launching mechanism in order to get the full effect. Unsurprisingly fabulous.I was proud of Shawn when he handed over the "punk" to Ethan and let him have a go at lighting the display. Ethan really got into it and I don't think the punk was ever returned to the rightful owner.

Jack was a little apprehensive, and Landon pretty much stayed on my lap. I was literally stuck in this chair all evening. (I don't use the word "stuck" lightly. The humidity made everyone sticky. )

Overall I'd have to rate this fourth as one of my favorite. I guess it's the first in a long time that I was actually able to enjoy the fireworks outside instead of viewing them through the living room window due to an inconsolable child. Fabulous. Ethan is already planning on what to buy next year. After all the kids were in bed (10:30 pm) and I was washing the sticky sweat off of my face, Shawn said to me, "good thing no accidents happened this year." My guess is that by the time the 4th rolls around next year the medical degree will kick in once again---that is until he enters that first firework tent and remembers what all the hype is about. Fabulous.

Pyro? Maybe not.

Give a man a medical degree and all of a sudden everything becomes a safety hazard. Trampoline? Broken limbs. Motorcycles? Death. Fireworks? Blown off body parts. Yes, that is the fear this year. This coming from the man that 3 years ago tied 30 sparklers together and jimmy-rigged a contraption off the side of our mailbox just to see what would happen. Here in Missour-a nothin' is illegal when it comes to this glorious holiday. (pertaining to fireworks that is) You haven't truly enjoyed the 4th until you've celebrated in a state where roman candles and screaming rattlers are a part of familiar vocabulary. Usually Shawn is counting his pennies and trying to bargain with me how much money should be allotted for this pyro-technic display he will perform. "It's for the children Jayne." That's the one that usually gets me. This year has been different. He's been moonlighting in a lot of ER's around the area, and seen countless surgeries involving some sort of explosive. We do not have one single firework in our possession as of this minute. Ethan has been saying for the past two weeks when we drove down the main drag that we need to purchase fireworks. This town has more fireworks for sale than the entire state of Utah. Three days ago I even jumped on the bandwagon and have been trying to get my husband out the door to one of these tents with the kids. I've threatened that I would go alone and get them if he refused. Why should we all suffer because he now knows what can really happen when a firework misfires? He finally relented and is headed out the door with three kids in tow. (Landon needs a nap so I volunteered to be the one to stay home). I'm curious to see if he actually holds true to what he's been saying for the past two weeks. If I truly know my dear sweet pyro-at-heart husband, he'll come home having spent more money then I deemed appropriate to spend. After all, you can take the boy away from the fireworks, but you can't take the fireworks out of the boy. Or something like that.

Kennedy's new "do"

One month ago today Kennedy saw a little girl at burger king and really wanted her hair cut just like hers. It was quite short, and her mother had done it really cute. Kennedy said she needed it cut because that girl was the cutest one there, and Kennedy says she wants to be the cutest one in the room. What can I say to that? Well, that spurned a whole other conversation about whiny-ness. Lately every morning had been a struggle and she was demanding to do her own hair which consisted of brushing and that's it. No pigtails, no ponytails, no cute little knots, no bajillion elastics creating adorable designs, and DEFINITELY no bows. So, I used this haircut situation to my advantage. I told her that if she cut it I would have to curl it everyday or it couldn't happen. Sure Mom, no problem. To make it look as cute as the girls I'd probably have to use bows sometimes. That is what I want Mom. I would even sometimes want to use little elastics and make cool designs on your head. If that looks good Mom, then you can. No whining? No. Will it be difficult to get you ready in the mornings? No Mom, I promise. So, I told her that if during summer school she didn't put up a fight and it was easy breezy to get her ready, she could have the desired haircut. Well, school was out friday. Today at 4:30 we headed to the salon. She was smiling the entire haircut she was so excited. I actually love her hair short, it's a lot easier to fix, and less tangly. She doesn't look like too much of an orphan if it is only brushed. Of course I will never tell her that. I will keep that secret to myself as leverage. Call it evil, call it deceiving. That's what it is and I'm the first to admit it. But, until you've had a 5 year old dragging her feet every morning for 1 entire school year, the mother deserves some kind of reward. Even if it is selfish. She got what she wanted in the end anyway, right? Everyone's happy.

Before making the cut

During the big moment

After the deed was done

Let's Go To The Movies

Shawn was post-call today, and since it was a light surgery day he was home by 11 am! Unheard of, WAHOO!! We decided to take the older 3 kids to see the new Disney Pixar movie "Ratatouille". We put Landon down for a nap and a friend (thanks Ash!) came over with her daughter to watch him while we were gone. Of course since we rarely go to the movies, and almost never take the kids, we went all out with tubs of popcorn bigger than their heads and drinks so big they had to rest them in the cupholder and stand up to sip them they were so heavy. The movie was great, as are all of the pixar films we've seen. We did have to take 3 bathroom breaks (one for me, TWO for Jack), and refill the popcorn 3 times, drinks twice. After Jack's second bathroom break (Shawn had to take him because he can't go in the girls, good excuse on my part) Shawn upped the age able to attend a movie with us to age 6. We seem to up the age everytime we attend the movies with small children. Too bad for Landon he'll probably have to be 18 before he's allowed to sit in the cinema with his parents. The older two loved the excitement the theatre brought, along with the salty and sweet treats. Jack? At the end of the movie his wiggly body stopped long enough to say, "That was a really long movie".

*after-note: I wanted proof I was at the movie too so Shawn used his go-go gadget arms to snap a shot of us all. Excuse the wide eyes most of us are sporting, that's the kind of photo you get when nobody is behind the lens!