evil genius comes naturally to me

Today demanded a trip to Target. It's my "go to" place for anything and everything plus I needed a diet coke. I was armed with cheetos and purchased drinks for my thirsty (and often naughty) shopping companions and we began to peruse the store for at least the second time this week. Nope, nothing new, but still so so pretty. My phone beeped alerting me to a new message. Hooray! I stopped in front of an aisle near dog food but also with the Target scanner cause I had business there, too. Whilst checking my phone, Abe picked up Target's handy red phone and started dialing. To China most likely. I grabbed it out of his hand and replaced the phone while letting him know that we had to hurry and get out of there because now someone who worked at Target is going to come and see what's going on and probably take him to Target prison. It just came out of my mouth so...effortlessly. This little lie that I thought surely my kids wouldn't believe, but they DID and I made the conscious choice to play along because I figured this may come in handy and not just for me, my friends, but for you too and for the whole world.

As we high tailed it out of there and moved towards the frozen foods, my kids asked me about Target prison. I decided not to make it a scary place but made it far worse and far more real. It's a place, I said, in the back of the store where they take naughty little kids who won't let their mothers do their shopping and they make you sit there and NOT MOVE. (And I'm saying all this without even really thinking for I had some window shopping myself to do.) You can't touch anything, I continue, and it ISN'T FUN. Can you blink, they asked? Only if you have to...but I wouldn't recommend it, I reply. How long do I have to stay there, Abe questions. Only til I'm done shopping, I reassure him. (I'm not totally cruel.) They were in a silent quandary for awhile and were very good the rest of the time. Wouldn't you?

So there you have it...my gift to you. Next time you're at the store and just need TWO MORE MINUTES let your little ones know about Target prison and you won't get two minutes, you'll get ten.

suffering

I am suffering a slow and painful demise and the cause is summer vacation. They (the children) pretend to be angels. It's a lie...

On days when there's nothing to do they turn into soul snatchers and suck the living life out of me.

Here's proof...


I try to be a good mother. I really do. See, I've practically got a halo.

But my children turn me into a raging lunatic!

Oh blessed school! Why dost thou take so long? Hurry, hurry or I shall not make it!

The finale (our weekend part 4)

On the night of the 4th, we took our family (we were glad Grandma Sowell was still visiting with us) and went to the park with friends and wait for the big show.

We ate pizza.

Played with friends.
Watched crazy people fall from the sky.

Took self-portraits.

Started a shirtless gang of hooligans.

Enjoyed time with family.

And watched a fantastic firework display.

Happy 4th of July!

Our weekend part 3

Sunday was certainly a day of rest. I was exhausted! It was good to finally be able to relax a little bit. That night we had a block party in our neighborhood.

We had to wait to do the fireworks, though, cause we had a pretty good rain storm complete with flash flood warnings and lightening and thunder. Our neighbors came over and the kids liked to play with the sparklers.


Lilly wasn't so sure about the whole thing, though.

We had a fun night and enjoyed watching the firework display Kelly put on in front of our house.

The baptism (part two of our weekend series)

Saturday morning we woke up bright and early to get ready for the big event. Most of the family had arrived on Friday, but dad and Bertha came in early Saturday morning. Last minute things were tended to and then we were off to the church.

Our family and friends were all ready at the church by ten, but by 5 after the hour we realized that the member of the bishopric, who was conducting, hadn't arrived yet! It took a half an hour to get a different member of the bishopric to come, but it all worked out find. The program was wonderful. My sister and Kelly's mom gave great talks and Lilly and two of her friends sang "If I Listen With My Heart." They sounded great and I was so proud of Lilly. She couldn't wait to get baptized and finally the time came. When I met her in the changing room and she was soaking wet, she was so happy and said she felt clean. She was excited to get into her new dress and then get confirmed. Everything went smoothly and it is a wonderful memory.

Lunch was served at my house afterwards. There was plenty of pies, cakes, fruit, veggies and Capriotti's sandwiches.

After lunch, the kids went outside to play on our waterslide.

Lilly received some gifts from family for this special occasion. Kelly and I bought her scriptures. Grandy bought her a hymn book. Grandpa and Grandma Bertha gave her a scripture case, scripture markers and a book on how to mark your scriptures. Grandma Sowell gave her a journal.

(Don't hate me, Kelly)

We are so proud of you, Lilly!

Our weekend part 1

This weekend started off with a bang. Kelly's mom came into town late Wednesday and my family trickled in on Friday and Saturday morning. Friday afternoon we took the kids down to the hotel where my family was staying and went swimming.

The kids loooooooove their cousins and had such a great time with them. My oldest nephew, affectionately known as Munch, is almost 11 and took great care of Oliver. They became fast friends.

After the pool it was time for dinner. Fourteen of us crammed ourselves into an itty bitty restaurant and ate some good grub.

Lilly had some birthday gifts from family to open after dinner.

After such a long and busy day, we all headed home to get some sleep and get ready for Saturday, or as Lilly called it, the biggest day of her life.

to be continued...

It's Great to be 8! and all that jazz...

Lilly had been waiting for THE momentous occasion of turning 8 and after months and days and hours of counting down, it finally happened! She had great plans for her day and we wanted it to be a BIG birthday. It started off with doughnuts in bed...

Then presents.



Those two really do love each other...at least they do when giving gifts. Abe gave Lilly some bracelets which he promptly asked to have one or two or twenty. She graciously (with a little bit of coaxing) gave him one. Hence, the happiness on both sides.

Then it was time for the par-tay! We took Lilly and half of our town's 8 year old population to Sky Zone to jump on the trampoline ground for an hour and then pizza and a never ending supply of pop and cake.

After about 5 minutes of jumping, the kids already showed signs of exhaustion. Here's Abe covered in sweat but happy.

After jumping, the kids were more than ready to eat! Here's the group ready for the grub.

She's so excited! And crazy!

After lunch it was time for more presents!

Then cake!

Make a wish!

After the party, Lilly was ready to spend some of her cash so a trip to Target was in order. After the hard core shopping trip, we were ready to eat again and as Lilly's request for dinner was a potato, we took ourselves to Jerry's Deli.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOLL FACE!

Lilly is a wonderful, thoughtful, kind, obedient, smart, sensitive, giving, and helpful daughter, whom we love with all our hearts.