It's Great To Be An Uncle

This was the conversation I heard while driving carpool on Friday-- The boys were talking about video games.

Cam to friends: "I can show you guys how to play Halo."
Friends: "No Way!!!" "Cool"
Cam to friends: "Well,,,,, my Dad doesn't let me play Halo."
Cam to Mom: "Mom, do you have Brett's number on your cell phone?"
Cam to friends: "My uncle Brett lets me play Halo."

Too funny!!!! Oh when I think of the things Chad either taught or allowed Andrew and Ryan to do...well, all I can say is, Sorry Matt and Shan.

Ice Sitting with Friends

Parker, Caitlyn, Jessie, Jarrett, Spencer and Cameron all bundled up and ready to goOne of only two catches for the day--mommy's glove. The second catch was Chad's reel
I know that I look scary in the balaclava, but boy was it warm
Such a cute picture of Jessie and Jayne
I'm surprised Spencer would even stand next to Cam in his mask

Last Saturday we went to Strawberry Reservoir with Jayne and Jeremy and their kiddos. We were supposed to go ice fishing, but I don't think I've ever actually ice "fished". I have been ice sitting several times though. Chad is the fisherman of the fam. Summertime, wintertime, rivers lakes, streams, it doesn't matter, he just loves to fish. Me, well not so much. Summertime is ok, because I can read a book sitting on the shore, or fall asleep in the float tube (my personal fav). But winter fishing excludes reading or falling asleep. Jayne invited us and said they were going to bring the 4 wheeler and Jer was going to buy a 6 hole ice shed. So, I figured the kids would at least be warm in the shed, and the 4 wheeler would be fun. We stayed pretty warm, the hot chocolate was a hit, and the kids did really well.

No, we didn't catch any fish, but Cam caught my glove, and Chad, well, he caught a reel. I was put in charge of watching the reels, but I was more concerned with feeding the kids lunch and keeping them warm (yes, I should have propped the reel upwards). So the pole was forgotten. Chad came in to an unattended pole and picked it up. Well, the reel came off the pole and fell into the water. Let's just say Daddy wasn't happy and he let us know he wasn't happy (college should be paid for Cameron by now). Jayne and I didn't know whether to laugh, cover the kids' ears or yell back at him. Good thing the "$30 favorite" reel was recovered and although there was tension for a good 24 hours, apologies were said and at least Jayne and Jer have a great story to tell everybody. I'm sure we will get to the point where we can tell the story, but it isn't quite funny to Chad yet (I keep reminding him that it will get funny as time goes on).

I did feel better when Jer laughed and said that he would have reacted the exact same way. AND, Jayne told me to be nice.

So here's a cheer for the $30 favorite reel.

"Oh, Shiz"

Cameron: "Oh, Shiz"

Daddy: "Cameron, we don't say shiz, it's just like saying the real word. I don't know if you heard that word at pre-school or where, but it just doesn't sound good."

Cameron: Pointing his finger at Chad with a big smile on his face "I heard it from you" giggle, giggle, "I gotcha there Dad."

I really don't think Chad does say that word, but Cam just knows if there is a bad word, it's a safe bet that Daddy has said it. (I am so proud) Ahem. To be fair, I need to clean up my language too.

Why You Should Always Rotate Food Storage

Yes, this is all VERY expired food. Chad finished my wonderful laundry/storage room this week, so I moved all the food onto my new shelves, and boy the picture doesn't do the amount of expired food justice. I was going to catalog it just for fun, and counted to can #30 and couldn't go on. Needless to say I will be doing better. Cameron helped move all the food, so he deserved to be in the picture.

Sometimes a Mom Just Can't Win

Well, our resident artist has changed mediums. He has gone from boogers on walls to Kleenex EVERYWHERE. At least he has variety in his Kleenex; big and flat, big and crumpled, little and crumpled, little and flat, and my very favorite, the teeny tiny bits that are all over his bed and floor and some have even made their way into my laundry (I know mom, it's payback time :) ).

Oh Well!!! Gotta love kids!!

Draper Temple Open House

Utah's 12th Temple


At the Church for refreshments after the tour (the decorations were not that of your typical Relief Society function.)

All tuckered-out on the ride home. Brett does make a great pillow.

Cameron showing a little bit of the Brett attitude.


It was nice to take the boys to the Open House for the Draper Temple. I'm glad they can see the inside, so it doesn't seem so "secretive" to them. We had a Family Night on Monday about Temples and the boys were really excited for Wednesday. Brett and Nat rode with us (thanks guys, you're always great to entertain the kids!!!). There was quite a wait at the church to even get on the bus, so after driving from the "blue" church to the "yellow" church, which actually was the "red" church (it really is amazing how organized it all is), we got right in and they had a nice video presentation. Elder Holland's remarks about heaven not being heaven without his wife and kids was wonderful. The boys loved the bus ride to the temple and they were thrilled with the baptismal font. Cameron kept his arms in front of Spencer as we walked in front of it so Spence "won't fall in". It was cute.
It was a beautiful building, but I was distracted by the throngs of people walking on the squeaky vinyl mats, not to mention the smell of the vinyl. I couldn't help but try to calculate how many feet of vinyl they had to lay, and thought of the poor guy unrolling all of it. I am easily distracted at times.....hey, wanna go ride bikes?
I was actually kind of disappointed in my feelings as we walked through. As I thought about it later I realized that although it is a beautiful building, as I saw it, that's all it was. The important part of the temple isn't the beauty of the African wood or the amazing chandeliers, it's the ordinances that are performed after it is dedicated. So I am sure my feelings will be different when I return after it is dedicated (and all the vinyl is removed).

I asked the boys some questions the next day
mom:"Why do we go to the temple?"
Spencer:"a bus" (He LOVED the "school bus" that took us to the temple)
Cam:"to be baptized and get married"

Mom: "What do we do at the temple?"
Spencer:"You get baptized at the temple"
Cam:"you have to have a recommend and you get married"

Mom:"What was your favorite part of the temple"
Spencer:"where you get baptized" (he's got the baptism thing down)
Cam:"the place that's supposed to be heaven" (even now, a week later, he is talking about the Celestial room--the chandelier truly was amazing)

The Beginning of the End...

I think I just embarrassed Cameron in front of his friend Cooper. The boys were eating lunch at the bar and I had some Michael Jackson playing on the Ipod. Thriller came on and I started grooving. All 3 boys were cracking-up (especially Cooper). After a couple of minutes I was breathing hard, the 2 boys were laughing, and Cameron as serious as ever said, "Mom, please stop dancing." I kept dancing--I was to the Zombie part (can't stop me now). Cameron says again, "Mom, SERIOUS, please stop dancing." I was tired anyway, so I stopped. I like to think that Cameron was just worried about my safety (I sometimes resemble Elaine on Seinfeld---no dancing on tables for me--I leave that to Christy). But the way he kept looking at Cooper makes me realize I just embarrassed him. Well, get used to it kid!!! Momma's gotta move and groove!!!