Pretty-boy Browning

I HAD to post this!  I laughed so hard when the scan finished and all these female Asian faces popped up.  You see, I've always told Scott that he has such a nice face and limited amounts of body hair, that he could pass for a woman with a little makeup on.  I was kind of surprised that it picked up on his Asian features though.  Anyhow, here's hoping he's not upset about this one, and this is for all those girls who do this and get maybe one picture of a guy that pops up.  

At least you didn't get 7 guys that matched your face, right?! 

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - Morph

Mr.Scoutmaster

Scott was recently called as one of the Cubscout leaders.  He taught his first lesson yesterday on tools, and then they used some of the tools.  I was a proud wife/Mom as I watched Scotty (who literally got out of the car from school and went straight to the backyard for scouts) show each tool and explain it's use.  You can see in this picture that Asher was very excited and involved in naming the tools (benefits of having a Dad who builds things).  

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities

McDonald's reinvented

Have you been to McDonald's lately? 

I mean have you gone in a McDonald's for a meal and sat down and all that stuff?  I did today, and boy did I get a shock.  I took Aidan and Cole in for a Happy Meal after they behaved well for some errands.  We don't usually go in McDonald's, especially one without a playground.  This McDonald's is new, and it's only 5 miles from home so that's a bonus.  Anyhow, I walked in and ordered.  When I approached the counter the lady said, in a sweet little voice, "What can I make for you today?"  Hmmm?  That's nice.  I ordered the happy meals, and she took my name to call me when it was ready.  Next we went to find a seat.  This was shocker number 2.  They had those high tables with tall barstools, a couple of leather club chairs with a coffee table in between them, and even a stone fireplace.  We picked the high barstools.  After my name was called I filled out drinks and went to get ketchup.  You just pulled the nob and the ketchup came pouring out.  No need to exercise your biceps pumping the ketchup out.  After our meal I threw our garbage away and the garbage said, "Thank you", and then it held the flap open for me, then closed the flap, a red light came on, and the garbage compacted the trash!  

I worked at McDonald's for a short time in High School.  This was not the McDonald's of my youth, it was much  more enjoyable.  Maybe because I wasn't behind the counter sweating, walking in grease, and cleaning the urinals before I could go home.  The atmosphere was nice, but I have to say, the food tasted the same.  

Living the WILD life

Today was Aidan's first day of Kindergarten. He was so excited.  He was the first one up and dressed and then made toast for everyone.  As with most mornings lately, I open up all the windows and even the doors to let that cool morning air run through the house.  It always feels so good.  I was upstairs getting ready to walk Aidan to school when he came hollering up the stairs.  

"A wild animal's in the house", he yelled at me.  

I figured one of the neighbor's 6 cats wandered in.  

I headed downstairs to the half bathroom where Aidan said it was hiding behind the door.  Asher saw it's black fur behind the door and said, "Oh  Mom, it a kitten", and then went to reach for it.  

Just then it stuck it's long neck out from behind the door. 

Definitely not a kitten!

It was a wild mink!

I've had mink experience and so I herded the children away from the mink.

*flashback*2003

Claire had been barking non-stop in her kennel.

Scott went out to find what he thought was a baby skunk hiding under her dog house.  He then proceeded to try to scare it out with a shovel, only to have the animal bite the end of  the shovel and give it a good shake.  Needless to say, this freaked him out.  He hollered for me to bring the garden hose.  I did, and sprayed at the animal.  Turns out it was a mink.  I'd spray, Scott would whack at it with the shovel and that thing would hiss and bite at Scott.  He was screaming like a girl and standing on top of the dog house.  (of course I sprayed Scott with the hose every now and then just for laughs).  Eventually, he sent me for backup.  I went to get our neighbor, thinking he'd come out with some garden tool to help.  I was wrong.  "Just let me grab my shotgun" our  neighbor man replies.  So out he goes with his shot gun.  Scott scares the mink out and BANG!  No more mink, but in true Scott humor he looks at me and says, "Amy, you want some mink panties?"  nice dear, real nice.

So I'm nervous about this mink that is sniffing around in the bathroom.  I clap my hands at it and yell at it and it looks at me like I'm crazy, then saunters out the door it came in.  I locked the door, snapped some photos of  Aidan on the porch, snapped a photo of the mink leaving the vicinity, and walked Aidan to school.  He kept telling me how excited he was for recess, and how smart he is.  He's so ready for school.  When I picked him up a whole 2 hours and 23 minutes later, he told me about snacks, and recess, and a "kissing paw", and how much  fun he had, and when does he get to go back?   However, when we got home, there was Mr.Mink hiding behind the garbage can.  I've called animal control to no avail.  I'll let you know how it turns out.  Hey, I might get a chance at another pair of mink panties.

"Who will help me CLEAN UP the wheat" said Little Red

Yesterday Scotty and I decided to take Chloe and Asher swimming @ the Legacy Center being that Aidan and Cole were having a fine time up at Grandpa Ray's and Grandma Bonnie's. They had a great time and I only nearly fell in the pool once while throwing rings for the kids to dive for.  Well, I had left all the windows in the house open because it was nice out.  Unfortunately, we walked in the house and EVERYTHING was covered with a fine layer of wheat dust!  The farmer had decided it was time to harvest the wheat.  

Now, we have really enjoyed living right up against the field.  It is beautiful, there is wildlife out there on occasion (deer, raccoons, antelope, foxes, coyotes, & even cows),  it's also nice if you want to walk around in your underwear!  The kids have gone sledding out there in the winter and flown kites out there in the summer.  Best of all, it's free food storage! (he, he) So I suppose there are a lot of positives, but this fine layer of wheat was definitely a negative.

  

A Match made in Heaven

This morning in that half-awake/half-asleep moment I began thinking of matching Christmas dresses for Chloe and her sister-to-be.  It won't work this Christmas obviously, but next Christmas it will!

Back to School Blues (or pinks)

Today was Chloe and Asher's first day back to school.  Aidan doesn't start until next week.  Chloe is in 4th grade and Asher is in 3rd.  I love the first day back to school.  The kids wake up early (Chloe was up @ 6:30) simply because they can't contain their excitement.  Their outfits have been laid out since the night before, the backpacks are packed and ready to go.  I made buttermilk pancakes and fried eggs,  I take their pictures, and I walk them to school.  They were both so excited.  

So after they headed out we took Cole and Aidan to my friend Charlene's to play while Scott and I went to my Dr.'s appt. and to my ultrasound appointment (no pressure).  I was actually nervous for the ultrasound.  Strange I know.  Well, the tech got to work and asked if we wanted to know what we were having.  We said yes, and then she pointed out that it was a...........GIRL!  GIRL!  GIRL!  GIRL!  I was shocked.  I asked her if she was sure about a hundred times Scott said.  Of course I cried and clapped and she thought I was nuts and Scott was counting the cash in his wallet (ha! ha!).  I was just overjoyed.  Chloe will have a sister.  As odd as this may sound to some, I grew up with 6 sisters, and they are my best friends.  I cannot imagine life without them.  So when we had Chloe and then 3 boys I started to think she wouldn't have even one sister.  It really bothered me.  I guess people have a tendency to believe their kids need to be raised similarly to the way they were raised for happiness.  I knew she would be happy even without a sister, but knowing that connection she could have I didn't want her to miss out on that.  ANYWAY, I am so thrilled.  I called family and tried to contain my excitement somewhat.  There was a lot of yelling.  We told the kids at home and Chloe was jumping up and down, Asher and Aidan were excited too.    

So after my ultrasound we were able to meet up with our friends Calvin and Kristen in the newborn ICU and see their sweet 3lb. 3 week old baby Greydon.  He was born at 29 weeks and he is a trooper.  He was beautiful and life-affirming.  It would be difficult not to see the hand of God when you look at those sweet babies.  I just wanted to cuddle him up, but of course I couldn't.  I can only imagine how that tugs at a new parent's heartstrings.   

So here's to babies and the joy they bring!

SK8 PRK

I took the boy's to the skate park in Sandy while Scott was at therapy and they really had a great time.  So today we all loaded up and found the skate park in American Fork.  Asher is learning some skateboarding basics, Aidan loves to ride around on his scooter and he tried the skateboard a few times, and Cole proceeded (without fear) to grab the little skateboard and stand on it at the top of a steep slope until I saw and yelled for him to sit down!  (For all concerned about safety, we bought him a helmet on the way home.)  It was a good time.

A couple thoughts

So I had a dream the other night.  If you don't already know, I have a lot of dreams and I'm a vivid dreamer.  Okay, so in my dream there I am with freshly shaved legs out of the shower rubbing lotion on my legs.  (sorry for the mental picture)  I am in a police station for some odd reason and I'm just kind of getting ready for the day.  I'm chatting with someone who feels like an old friend, but happens to be Eva Longoria (Parker).  We're just chatting away and then she looks at my legs and says,  "You have really cute chubby thighs".    Dissect that one if you will.

Secondly, I've been craving a Hot Dog on a Stick kid's meal.  (corn dog, fries, flavored lemonade, cookies).  So today I had my chance and I had one.  It was so fabulous.  I really love a lot of ketchup and mustard on that freshly fried corn dog.  Oh my mouth is watering just talking about it.  

So that's all for me.  

Have a good one. 

Amy needs...

I followed Jen's lead and typed "Amy needs" in google and they were pretty spot on.

1. Amy needs some help drinking apparently

2. Amy needs to either wake up or start getting some will-power. (so true! I'm always "pregnant-tired")

3. Amy needs prayers.

4. Amy needs a new pair of shoes.

What do you need?

3 Ring Circus

Scott had an MRI this morning @ 9:15 in Salt Lake.  We got out of the house in time and we were off.  When we arrived at the office it was full of elderly people.  I had talked to the kids about being as quiet as possible, and luckily there were a couple of toys there.  We seemed just a touch out of place as we hauled in with 4 kids in tow.  So I began with the paperwork, always paperwork.  One by one each of the boys needed to use the restroom.  I would pause on my paperwork and help them locate the restroom.  

pause

pause

pause

Then Asher came back to get me, a bit panicked.  The toilet is not flushing.  We've had a monopoly on that toilet and so I know the blame is squarely on our shoulders.  I get right to work checking to make sure they didn't turn the water off behind the toilet.  Then I remove the lid.  The tank is empty.  I began messing around trying to figure out how to get it to fill.  

Let me just say the bathroom doesn't smell good at this point and I am dreading going to get that male receptionist and let him know I cannot figure out the mechanics of his toilet... and oh yeah it really stinks in there.  I finally figured it out, huge sigh of relief.  

Back to paperwork.  

While Scott got his MRI, I decided to give everyone in the office a break and head outside to sit on the lawn with the kids.  Unbeknownst to me, Aidan removed Scott's locker key ( he had to change his pants because they had a zipper) and was playing with it outside.  I sat in the wet lawn and so my behind got soaked.  The kids enjoyed some red licorice and Cole sneezed on my pants and left a lovely pink splotch.  We headed back in 40 minutes later and Scott was ready to get dressed. 

No key in my purse.  

After a search outside- it is found.  Scott proceeds to get dressed and the children proceed to get bored, very bored.  They play with the elevator, the drinking fountain, etc.  At this point I have moved our possey into the hall to wait.  With a bit of frustration I head back in to see if Scott is dressed yet.  I go straight to his dressing room and rip the curtain back, only to see an elderly gentleman zipping  his pants.  he he.  sorry. just looking for my husband.  He points me to the restroom.   I just headed back to the hall with a red face and waited for Scott to emerge then we made a beeline for the car.  

So here's the question: why do I always think it'll be fine and the kids won't mind being in a sterile, quiet environment for a couple hours?  why?  why?  I suppose it just makes me a bit uptight because it's not like when you're at church surrounded by people with children who make a bit of noise; we were surrounded by quiet adults reading Reader's Digest.  Ah well.  It's done now.  Scott has a driving test tomorrow.  I'm thinking about bringing the kids....