Hmmmmmm....

1. Why did Tyler think the small upholstered footstool at the library was a toilet?
2. Why did he go into serious meltdown because the boys were calling him "Baby Elephant."(Screaming) "I not Baby El-A-Pant(Sob...Sob) I TYLER."
3. Why is it funner to dump all the toys out instead of playing with them.
4. What is so amusing about bodily functions that causes the boys to roll with riotous laughter every time one happens!
5. Why don't we have any girls?
6. Why won't Tyler keep his pants on?
7. Why did I just find a brown substance on the carpet...and why am I the one who has to clean it up?
8. Why are kids so gosh darn cute when they wake up in the morning?
9. Who invented Sponge Bob and what is wrong with them?
10. Will we ever be invited back after Tyler's "accident" on their carpet last night?
11. How the heck did he get blond hair?
12. What's so bad about being a baby elephant, anyway?

Tried These

Tried these cookies from the Picky Palate yesterday and Loved them. I like her food blog - I visit it often - some seriously yummy stuff there. I posted it on Amanda's recipe blog if you want to get the recipe!

I've always wondered what kind of woman I was. This question began to form in my mind right after Preston and I were married. We were working with another married couple and the Husband,let's call him Barry, cut his finger and passed out cold on the ground. Then his wife, let's call her Mary, FREAKED out. I am talking screaming, crying, fanning herself, hysteria, the end of the world -kind of freaking out. She freaked out so much that the paramedics that came said," You're the reason he passed out...YOU need to calm down." "I would never behave that way," I reassured myself. "I have pioneer ancestors... I'm hardy," I said in my mountain woman voice. But somewhere deep inside me there was doubt. Am I really a pioneer woman? Or would I be fanning myself screaming hysterically next to Mary?

Last night my years of wondering came to an end.

Preston and I were cleaning up dinner when Tyler came stumbling into the kitchen in obvious distress. His face was red and he was gasping and clutching his throat. He was chocking and BAD. He tried to talk but nothing came out and he was frantic, which was making things worse. What did I do? Did I try to calm him down? Give him the Heimlich Maneuver? I would love to say that I was calm and reasonable, reassuring my 3 year old that it would be OK. I would love to say that I sang "Come Come Ye Saints" while I performed the Heimlich Maneuver. But alas, that is not the story. I freaked out. I screamed and panicked and yes, I even fanned myself. Thankfully Preston stayed calm and gave him the Heimlich Maneuver(I think I may have even heard him humming the afore mentioned hymn) and the NICKEL that was lodged in Tyler's throat came flying out along with much of his dinner.
It's disappointing to discover you are not what you thought you are...You're not a mountain woman...Not a Pioneer...I cried myself to sleep last night...It was the end of an Era.

Top Ten Reasons Why This Week Was Great

1. This Carrot Cake...The Stuff My Dreams Are Made Of!
2. I'll just let the picture speak for itself...
3. The Fountain at our new mall...saving my sanity!

4. Sleeping Little Boys

5. The Office is BACK!!!
6. The Ward Pig Roast and Hudson's Birthday Party...No Cooking For ME!!
7. A Week of 80's Sunshine!
8. Free Babysitting at IKEA!
9. A little boy who "needed" to wear this hat to Target.

10. Oh,and did I mention this Carrot Cake?

We need a little Christmas!!

I am a early bird when it comes to taxes. As soon as my W-2's are here I am filing - and this year was no different...for my federal taxes. But when I was filing my federal taxes I was saddened that this year not only did I have to file state taxes for the first time but I actually OWED them! NOOOOOOO! It was a sad day for me, so sad in fact that I decided that I wasn't going to file them at that moment. I couldn't bring myself to write over a BIG check to the state of Arizona. I don't know what I was waiting for, possibly the oil or gold I just KNOW is in my backyard, but I waited and waited and waited until the last possible day. Finally, this afternoon I logged on with my wallet in hand- ready to pay, I don't know if ready is the right word...more like resigned to pay the darn taxes.
It was a CHRISTMAS miracle. I got on and now not only do I not owe them a cent but they owe me...that's right THEY OWE ME!!! Have you ever seen Mame? In the movie Lucille Ball sings, "We Need A Little Christmas,"when the family needs some cheering up and when I saw those numbers staring back at me from the screen I burst out singing that song at the top of my lungs. We definitely needed a little Christmas around this house and Arizona gave it to me. I might be putting up the tree tonight!

We went to Chandler tonight for FHE activity, which was buying Ethan a new bike - the City of Casa Grande is purchasing it - and we were out past the boys bed time. When we got home Ethan was pretty near sleep, we sent him upstairs to get ready for bed and when we followed him up a few minutes later...we found little Ethan sleeping on the steps. I couldn't resist!

Everyone had a great time at the camp out. The kids came home tired and took a long nap on Saturday which I appreciated.

Tyler had an ESPECIALLY nice time...stealing Ethan's"girlfriend"
Tyler wishing he was in the middle

I googled singing opera and this is what they gave me!

I really needed this night of freedom. Preston and the kids are at a Father-Son camp out and I find myself here in silence! For a girl who was SERIOUSLY anticipating this night of solitude I am pretty surprised that three hours in here I sit in front of the blog. I had big plans for myself...but then this afternoon I remembered that we now only have one car so I would not be shopping or seeing a movie by myself(weird I know, but something I've always wanted to do.) But I wasn't discouraged...I was going to read and work on a project and watch girl movies and take a bath and sing opera - THE WORKS. But here I sit bored with my book, too tired for the creativity my project demands, and completely not in the mood for a movie. The only option I have remaining is the Opera...hmmmm I'll think about that one.
But still I am excited for this - my first time in 6 years...and I needed it.

I need it because today Tyler refused to eat his own apple but ate every bite of mine.
I need it because insomnia has struck and I haven't slept much in a week...my body aches and Tylenol PM is calling my name!
I need it because I kept a mental tally and Tyler needed his clothing changed 18 times this week.
I need it because my brain can't think and my mouth can't talk about caterpillars anymore!
I need it because I walked in to find Ethan chopping my BEAUTIFUL roses on the counter and I burst into tears...you know you've lost it when your crying over flowers!
I need it because if I have to listen to Ethan's,"Songs That Make Kids Happy" CD one more time I might need mental help - loving my Coldplay CD right now.
I need it because Tyler has started a new habit of chewing up his food and then spitting it into little piles on his plate...and as endearing as that is I just wanted to eat my dinner in peace tonight.

Well, this opportunity may not roll around for another 6 years...can't waste anymore time - I'm off to my Opera and blanket. Wish me luck!

A Day in Casa Grande

Let's pretend you live in a town...we'll call it Casa Grande and let's say you have some kids...we'll say 2 boys. Now pretend that one of your kids-we'll call him Ethan- has a bike, I imagine that if this bike existed it would be green and black with training wheels and a horn that was very squeaky. One day, possibly Tuesday, your offspring and their friends are out riding their bikes, hypothetically of course, and for imaginations sake let's pretend that a truck, suppose it was a Casa Gande Sanitation Truck, barrels down your road reminding you of a run away train and crunches this hypothetical bike under his wheels. Then the truck driver, let's call him Andre...Andre the Giant...proceeds to yell at the so-called mother, I'll call her Andrea. What do you think this imaginary 5'3", 25 year old, brunette, wearing high heels and her husbands sweatshirt would do? This is all speculative of course, but I think she surprised herself and grew a backbone. I imagine that she gave Mr. Andre the Giant a piece of her mind demanding that he buy a new bike and scolding him for almost killing her youngest child. I imagine she was surprised that she didn't cry... because usually when she's angry the tears start a flowin...and even stood her ground when The GIANT's boss, let's call him Garcia, came along with the police.
Now this is all just a big made up story but... Anyone know of any good bike sales?

Dreams

Ethan was excited this morning - he had an,"amazing" dream last night.

"Momma, this dream was amazing. First, you were putting makeup on - getting ready for Young Women all day. Then, Dad was a magician and he was doing magic all day. Momma, he was so good at his magic. Then, there was this heart, you know the one from The Wizard of OZ, the heart that goes to the Tin Man. Remember it, Momma? Well, this heart was sitting on a chair and it was looking at me all the time....it just kept looking and looking! Then it started dancing and dancing all day long. Then the dancing heart turned into a dog and it started dancing too. And Dad was still doing his magic and you were still putting on your makeup and you guys couldn't see all the crazy stuff that was happening. Then the whole house started dancing and was going crazy. Momma, it was the best thing in all my 100 years."

Interpretations anyone?

The weekend in pictures...

The Kelly Orton Birthday Celebration!
"Wow! That shirt's workin' hard"(The funniest line of the night)

The Gingerbread houses Preston and the boys made while I was out with Kelly... decorated with old Valentine's and Easter Candy...3 holiday's in one!

The boys trying to be patient Saturday afternoon as we waited to get into Deseret Book's Ladies Night.

The free book they gave me at Ladies Night!

Where I wish I was this weekend!
Wasn't conference amazing? Loved it!

This morning I was in a rush, as I rushed through the house, trying to get everyone ready and fed before we had to take Preston to work Ethan said, "Mom I have to tell you something sooo important" at least 1000 times. Maybe not- but at least 100. It became more and more urgent as the minutes rushed by and so finally I stopped to hear this urgent news. Are you dying to know what could possibly be so urgent to a four year old at 6:45 in the morning. Well here it is:

"Mom did you know there are millions of caterpillars because we have millions of butterflies. Did you know that caterpillars make butterflies? Don't you wish we could see all those caterpillars just crawling around?"

Then later in the morning I came downstairs and found this:
That's right...Tyler prepared himself a feast of apple juice and margarine. I swear we have food in the house...breads and cereals, fruit and cheese. But no...Tyler chooses margarine. Strange times at the Golding House.

Craving these!

Don't these look tasty. Check them out here