My Little Rock Star!!!

On the 19th my mom's family (the Birds) had the yearly Christmas party. My aunt told us all the families to come with a "talent". So, since I have no talents I put it on my kids, because it wouldn't matter what they did, it would be cute. Olivia was my victim. She said she would sing one of the songs she sang for the Christmas Progam at school. Since the song she picked went to the tune of "I've Been Working On the Railroad", Emmett decided to accompany her on the guitar.
She sounded really good and was really brave. When the other kids at the party watched everyone perform they wanted to perform too. Even Ethan (my shy child) kept begging me to sing. I said, "what are you going to sing?" He says,"My song!" I say, What song?" He says, "It goes WHAAA A AA, UH UH UH!" I'm like "Oh great a hard rock thrasher song!" I say, "Ethan, I think you should think of a nicer song. Can you think of one?" I thought he was over it and I start to get things ready to leave. I thought the talent show was over when my aunt was showing us some really neat Christmas stuff she had got from another country. Then I hear, "Ethan wants to perform a suprise talent! I'm like,"NOOOOOOOO!!!!!" So, Ethan gets the mike and says,"This song is going to take either three, four, or five minutes. (So cute) And then, "A WHA AA A A, UH UH UH! Down with the sickness, down with the sickness! And then violently it changes, violently it changes!" and so on and so forth. Emmett and I were laughing so hard! He was rocking back and forth and of course he was wearing a black shirt with flames on it and black vans with flames on them. He looked like a little rock star! I actually got some most of this on my video camera. If I can figure it out, I'll put it on the blog. Livi's song too!

Sometimes I guess you just have to let your kids be who they are even it will embarrass you. I was really proud of him for being so brave. He knew what he wanted and he went for it! I wish I was more like him.

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

I know this blog is a cop out, but ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! And yes, that is about an inch of dust on those drums. (I've cleaned them since.)

Rule #1

The rule at our house is: If you want to play the Nintendo DS you have to depickle it yourself.

Yes, this is the kind of thing I find around my house on a daily basis.

It's been a while!

Thanksgiving really threw me off! We had a wonderful time though. My in-laws(Em's dad, step-mom, and 2 younger sisters) came to our house this year. I cooked the WHOLE dinner. It was fun though. I don't entertain very often and we don't get to see Em's family members often enough. They totally spoiled us. The kids especially had fun with them. As you can see from the picture they brought the kids cute snow hats made by a Yurok indian woman they know. They are so cool because each stitch pattern means something. They stayed until Sunday morning. I wish I had taken some pictures, but I forgot.

Then on Sunday our friends Derek and Ryan and their families came over and we had an unexpected pizza party! The fun never stopped!


We got a Christmas Tree last Tuesday. This is mine and Emmett's favorite holiday! Our tree is really pretty this year. We don't have too much rhyme or reason to our tree, we just do COLOR! All colors. I like it that way. I guess our style of tree is "no style". I love the wonderful smell a real tree brings. It doesn't seem like many people get real trees anymore. We will forever I think.

I've had so much to say this last month, I'll write more later. (I think)

I love you, but.......

I was telling Ethan how much I love him the other day and this is what I get....

Me: "Ethan do you know how much I love you?"

Ethan "Uh hu."

Me: "I just love you so super much!"

Ethan: "I know!"

Me: "Do you love me too?"

Ethan: "Yes, but...sometimes...you...make me...want to...throw-up."

Me: "I make you want to THROW-UP?"

Ethan: "Well, just sometimes. Like when you danced with me in Home Depot and then held my hand and ran through the parking lot saying, "whoo hoo". That...well...kind of made me...sick...like I wanted to...throw...up."

Me: "O...K. But, you love me though, right?"

Ethan: "Yes, I DO love you, Mom."

(You just make me want to puke) If he wasn't already so strange I would be offended by this. But, knowing what I know about my crazy kid, I know he loves me.

So Sweet!

Jonah: "Mom I'm going to marry you when I'm big."

Me: "Jonah, that's sweet but I'm already married to Dad."

Jonah: "UUUHHH!"

Me: "Jonah, I'll always be your mom."

Jonah: "Can I marry you after Daddy?"

Me: "Jonah, you don't marry your mom. You marry a girl you think is pretty."

Jonah: "I can't find any pretty girls!"

Me: "You will when your big."

Jonah: "Can I marry the prettiest girl?"

Me: "You can marry the prettiest and the nicest girl. You get to pick."

Jonah: "OK! Mommy, will I be as big as you someday?"

Me: "Yes, you'll probably even be bigger than Daddy!"

Jonah: "OK, but I can't get too big or I'll smash the house!"

Can we just freeze Jonah in time? I'm really going to miss these conversations.

Two Dorks in a Pod

Emmett, my mom, and I were sitting around the table when Emmett does something really dorky....

Me: "You are such a dork! Isn't he a dork mom?"

Mom: "No."

Me: "You don't think so?"

Mom: "How come every time Emmett does something I would do, you call him a dork? Us dorks stick together!"

Truthfully, I love dorks. I am a daughter of a dork and a wife of a dork. I wouldn't have them any other way!

Kicking Butt Time (mine)

I ordered a workout video from a t.v. infomercial. It's called "10 Minute Trainer". I just did it for the first time and it kicked my butt. My body feels like jello. I can hardly type this. I know it will work if I could just do the moves. It's hard and I am a weakling. Sweat was dripping from my fore head. My kids kept wiping it off with a paper towel.

Halloween 2008

We had a really fun Halloween! Here are some cute pics.....
We went to see my 95 year old Grandma Bird. She's so funny!
My mom made this amazing angel costume. Livi was so pretty despite having a cold.
We added a push light to Ethan's Iron Man costume so he would be more authentic. He lit the way through the darkness.
And of course we have Indiana Jonah.

Early Voting and Early Voting

Emmett and I voted early yesterday. This was the dinner conversation that night....

Olivia: "Mom, who did you vote for?"

Me: "Barak Obama."

Olivia: "Good! That's who I voted for too! Ethan likes McCa-ain."

Ethan: "I've changed my mind about McCain, now I like Obama."

Jonah: "Me too! Obama! Obama! Obama!

For some reason I didn't care who or what the president was when I was three. My kids are already politically savvy. Is that good or bad?

Sandwich Smandwich

I went to Blimpe's on my lunch break yesterday and they had ran out of mayonaise. You're a sandwich shop! You can't run out of mayo! If I owned that sandwich shop, I would have sent someone to the grocery store or to steal some little packets from the gas station. I wouldn't just say, "Sorry no mayo today."

Also, I asked for white bread and they gave me wheat. I said it was ok, I would live. But, then it was burned on the top! Needless to say, that was not the best sandwich I have ever had.

Chinese Water Dragon Fever!

Ethan is totally obsessed with reptiles and amphibians. Right now the Chinese Water Dragon is at the top of his list. I'm a little worried about him. You know how most kids get addicted to video games; well, Ethan is addicted to watching lizard videos and pictures on the internet. When you type in anything that starts with the letter "L" the website for "Lizard Lounge" pops-up.

The other day Ethan says: "Mom, I want a TODDLER Chinese Water Dragon but I ordered an ADULT one from Santa on my Christmas list. What do I do?"

What does he think? You just place your order to Santa and then your order is delivered on Christmas? I must be doing something wrong. No. Let's blame Emmett for this one.

A couple of weeks ago Ethan tells me that he is moving to China for the Chinese Water Dragons and chicken dumplings. He said not to worry he WILL see us again. On our birthdays.

It cracks me up. He tries to breathe like them and acts out the things they do. He makes fun of other kids who do not know as much about lizards as he does. "Mom, Jared thought Kimodo Dragons were the only dragons. He thought there was only one kind. He didn't know about all the other kinds like Bearded Dragons, Chinese Water Dragons, and Australian Water Dragons."

That Jared must be an idiot! (J/K)

Autumn

This is my very favorite time of year. I love the food, the smells, the crisp, cool weather, and of course the brilliant colors of the leaves. It makes me feel renewed like the spring-time. I made Emmett miss work the other day and our family went galivanting around. Here are some pics.





The one below is from about a week before the others when we went to the pumpkin patch.

Secret Confession

I was thinking the other day, when I saw all the pictures of the people who are running for office on billboards, that it would be fun to spray paint little horns on all of their heads and maybe some little goatees. I don't condone that sort of thing. I'm just saying, you know, if that's what I was into. I probably just wish someone else would do the painting( because I'm afraid of heights) and I could just laugh (secretly).

Bad Breath Police

Olivia comes running into the room ready to tell on Ethan with Ethan right on her heels....

Olivia: "Mom, Mom!"

Ethan: "You didn't brush long enough! You didn't brush long enough, Olivia!"

Olivia: "Mom, Ethan says my breath smells like balloons!"

Ethan: "No, your breath smells like STINKY balloons with a little mint!"

Me: "Olivia, let me smell your breath."

She blows some air at me

Me: "Your breath does smell a little like balloons, but I think it smells like black licorice."

Ethan: " I do not like the smell of balloons! Olivia, you need to brush your teeth longer!"

Rip Off!

Has anyone else noticed that the "fun size" candy bars are not so fun anymore? They are so tiny now. They also used to have alot more chocolate waves on the top too! I'm sure they cost the same or even more! I find this very irritating!

Cutie Patootie

Me: "Jonah, what is your favorite animal?"

Jonah: "I like iguanas, dogs, and wock and woll!"

Nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

Olivia says that WHEN she is rich, she is going to "dress like hip hop" and wear braids and sunglasses and have a chihuahua in her purse.

What has she been watching?

WARNING: This is a Rant. Enter at your own risk.

Yesterday, we went to the elementary school's carnival. I wished so badly I hadn't. The kids at that school are CRAZY! The parents are even CRAZIER! Emmett was there with us at the begining, but then had to go to work. While he was there he said, "You can almost understand why some people don't like kids." I couldn't believe that I agreed with him....

The girl who is soaking wet from the dunking booth that walks right in front of you while your standing in line and YELLS: "OH! MY! GOSH! WE HAVE TO FIND FIONA GUYS!!!! Like if they didn't find Fiona the world would come crashing down on their prepubesant little heads. And then she runs off splashing water on you from her wet,way to long pants. I couldn't believe how many junior high stundents were at the kiddie carnival. There was a boy and girl there, he was at least a head shorter than her hugging her around the waist from the back. He tried to put his hands up higher, but she casually grabs both of them and acts like she's enjoying his company. It made me want to throw up! I thought of going up to him and saying, "Take your damn hands of her!" EW!

I DID turn into a monster a few times when kids were butting in front of us everytime we were patiently waiting in line. There was one little kid I actually physically held back so that he didn't butt in front of Ethan. I told him he was butting and he needs to go to the back of the line and wait like everyone else! He didn't speak english, I don't think. His mom was right there too. The biggest thing I hate about my nieghborhood and the kid's school, is that no one seems to care that their kids are bullies or say crude things or run around all by themselves across busy streets. I look out for these kids and I don't even know them. The good parents around here are defineatly lacking, at least MY version of a "good" parent.

Anyway, I guess I just had to rant a little. I just know that I turn way mean when I go to these things. I don't even recognize myself! I guess I should just be grateful that there were no clowns!

More of the Weirdo

Today Ethan went to the dentist and had six cavities filled. He was really numb and a little dizzy when we got in the car.

Me: "Ethan, are you ok?"

Ethan: "I hate getting numbed!"

Me: "Yah, but after this, you're all finished and you only have to get cleanings."

Ethan: "Yah, mealworms have legs and the one at Petsmart was alive."

That's what it's like talking to my son on a daily basis.

Silky Smooth

Ethan: "Mom,I shaved today."

Me: "You WHAT?"

Ethan: "I shaved."

Me: "WHAT did you shave?"

Ethan: "My chin felt rough, so I shaved it."

Me: "WHEN?"

Ethan: "Just now. When I was in the bathroom."

Me: "With WHAT?"

Ethan: "The thing you shave your legs with."



I felt his chin. It was silky smooth. (As usual)
There was no peach fuzz, however.

The Pledge of Olivia

Yesterday Olivia was proud to tell me she knew the WHOLE Pledge of Allegence. She then repeated it with such conviction:

"The pledge allegence of the flag to the United States of America
And for the republic which is less
One nation underground
Invisible, with liberty and justice for all!!!"

Close enough Livi

Congrats Eric!!!

Last night my brother Eric got his mission call. He is going to the Phillipines. I thought for sure he would go somewhere cold. In my mind I could see him in one of those black wool trench coats. So, I am nowhere near psychic! DANG! It's cool he is going there because that is where my dad went on his mission. Also, Eric will come back speaking Tagalog (not sure how to spell that), you know one of those useful languages. Anyway, Congrats Eric!!!

The leaves are changing

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Yay! My favorite time of year is almost here. Our family went to Little Cottonwood Canyon to see if the leaves were changing yet.

You win some you lose some

The other day Olivia got a little flyer in her backpack about tryouts for the local play Hansel and Gretel. I asked Olivia if she would like to try out....

Me: "Olivia do you want to tryout for this play? It's Hansel and Gretel."

Olivia: "Ya! I love that story! I could be Gretel."

Me: "Olivia, I think you're too young to be Gretel. They'll Probably give it to someone older."

Olivia: "That's OK, I'm REALLY good at witches! EHH HE HE!(SO CUTE!)

Me: "That was really good Liv, but I think the smaller children don't get the main parts." Do you still want to do it?

Olivia : Sure!
This is a picture of when Olivia was 2.

So, today we went to the auditions for two hours. There were mostly little kids like Olivia. She didn't get a part in the play. She was really shy. The older kids got parts whether they could act or not because there weren't enough of them to go around. I felt bad for Olivia, she took it pretty hard. We told her we were very proud of her for even trying out then, we bought her a chocolate shake. I figure, it's a learning experience for her and we'll try again next year.

Are you kidding?

No, No one was kidding me when I show up to my job, at a school, and find out we are having a practice fire drill on September 11th. I think alot of people at the school thought it was a little creepy. They could have done it on ANY day. I guess that's reality though.

Another weird thing is that I show up to work the other day and there are firemen with their truck shooting tons of water from the hose to absolutely nowhere. Just in the middle of the parking lot. I guessed they were just testing how far the water would spray. How else would they know?

We need a new fence

Today some little girls, who live on the other side of our backyard fence, snuck through the big gap between the slats and asked if they could play in our backyard. The girl that asked, said that her mom was in the hospital and really wanted her to do something (like play in a strangers backyard?). Weird. I really wanted to say no, because I hate when people just use you for your stuff. We have a see-saw and a tire swing is all, but I guess if you have nothing, it looks like alot of fun. I also thought they could get hurt and it would be my fault or they might break our things and I would be really mad (we're supposed to break our things). I said "yes" because I'm a total push-over.
Later, I saw them eating peaches from our tree. I went outside and asked her if she had any food in her house. She said that she didn't. I picked her a bunch of pears. Then, I gave her some candy in a little bag and told her to take them home and share them with her brothers and sisters. She seemed very excited. I had the feeling, she was taking care of herself. Where were the adults? I remembered that we also had some yummy grapes growing on our vine and took some to her over the fence. When I saw her, she was totally pigging out on the pears. I felt so bad for her. She was eating like a she had been starving.
I was happy that she had some food, but I really hope she doesn't come over everyday wanting to play in my backyard. I hope her mom comes home and feeds her and hugs her and loves her.

Has it been that long?

<
It was mine and Emmett's 9th Anniversary yesterday. We both worked all day, and Emmett worked all night too, of course. He came to see me at work for the ten spare minutes he had. It was a nice surprise, since I thought I wouldn't see him at all. I was almost nervous around him when he came. I'm not sure if it was because he was watching me work or because I felt like we had just met(maybe al little of both). It was a good feeling, because eventhough I've been married to him for so long and see him everyday,I thought he was really cute(one of the girls in the office thought so too!) It just doesn't feel old yet. So, eventhough we didn't get to do much, it was a good day! Oh yes, and he bought me some flowers too! I REALLY like getting flowers!

Livin' in the Burbs

Our neighbor lady to the west is ,I swear, The Wicked Witch of the West. Not only does she act like it, she looks like it. She is VERY mean. She has no idea what our names are or what we are like, she just comes over to yell at us because our dog barks when we are not home in the middle of the day. She says that's when she sleeps. My mom was over the other day, and the lady came out in a mumu and starts yelling at our dog. She was barking because my mom was in our back yard, but the lady didn't see her and just starts yelling. My mom said later, "a wicked witch really does live next door." Now she believes us.

So, the other day Emmett is sleeping while we are at the store and our dog starts barking and wakes him up. He looks outside to see about three hispanic guys from the apartments behind us on our fence trying to pick peaches from our tree. When they saw him they took off, but Emmett told them to come back and told them that he didn't mind if they took the peaches except that it makes our dog bark, which makes the lady next door upset. They just said "you don't need the fruit?" I felt bad for them because I think they were hungry. Emmett said "no, you just make the dog bark is all." I wanted to pick all the fruit for them from our pear tree too.

It's sad when people have to pick fruit from their neighbors trees in order to eat and the neighbors get yelled at by the lady that sleeps in the middle of the day because the dog is trying to protect them from the starving people.

Our other neighbor is an anal 80 year old woman who hates plants. She is so anal that she mops the walkway up to her house and sweeps the gutters when they are to dusty. She also lives to drive Emmett and I crazy....

Old Lady: "Eleanor, when are you guys going to cut down this pine tree? I always have YOUR pine needles in MY yard."

Eleanor: "Sorry, I like this tree, it's the only one we have in the front yard."

Old Lady: "Eleanor, your tree is crossing over on my property line. Do you mind if I call some people to cut those branches off?"

Eleanor: "Go for it!"

Old Lady: "Eleanor, we need to get a new fence this one is falling down and I want white vinyl because all by other fences are white."

Eleanor: "I don't think we can afford it right now."

Old Lady: "Eleanor, when we get the new fence was Emmett planning on cutting down any branches on your cherry tree or your apricot tree? They're getting really gangly on my side."

Eleanor: "I don't know."

Old lady: "Eleanor, do you mind if while I'm having your tree in the front yard trimmed, if I just had those trimmed at the same time?"

Eleanor: "Whatever."

I could go on, but I must tell you how she asked Emmett if we were going to get rid of the pretty Virginia Creeper that I was to excited had finally climbed up the house and fence. She says, "I'll get rid of it for you." Emmett says he'll get to it later, that we just haven't had time. The next thing I know, IT'S GONE! ALL of it. Then I come home the other day and she's just finished weeding my garden and killing all living things.

Eleanor: "Thanks, but you REALLY didn't need to do that."

Old Lady: "It was my pleasure."

AAAHHHH!!!!!!

Well, I guess that's just livin' in the burbs!

Kindergarten Kid

Today was Olivia's first day of kindergarten. I can't believe it's already here and at the same time I can't believe she's ONLY in kindergarten because of her grown-up personality.

She was crying and crying last night because she was so nervous and she thought no one would like her. I told her she was crazy! Everyone in her preschool class adored her. They would fight over her when she got there. It was Olivia Mania! Then she wakes up today super excited! She said, "I thought I would be sad today, but I'm not."

She said she made some friends, so I asked her what they talked about. She said," We talked about our dads snoring and about how the toilets are so tiny." Interesting stuff! She is really excited to go back! YAY!!!!

Funny Mamma

This is how I entertain myself sometimes. He was so tired, but I was making funny faces at him and he couldn't resist. I just love my Jonah.

What a man

I just wanted to say that Emmett topped the 17 hours and worked 22 hours on his birthday. What a man!!!

Happy B-Day Em!!!

Poor Emmett, his day started with me waking up late for work, then he had to work until 3:00 and be back to work by 7:30, so we hurried to a pizza place and hurried back just in time for him to be late yet again. It wouldn't be so bad if his last two birthdays hadn't been so lame. Two years ago we all had school and work. We had also just moved to a new house about two weeks before, so Em had to go to the dump ALONE. It wasn't a good birthday to say the least and last year's was so unexciting that I can't even remember it. I bet he can't either. He probably had to work. Anyway, it stinks because this year is no different.

I just want him to know that I love him and that he deserves MUCH better. He is a really great person and awsome dad. He works night and day for our family. The other day/night he worked for 17 hours. So love you EM. Hopefully next year will be better!

Zonk

I have some very bad news. Ethan's pet tiger salamander, Zonk, died yesterday.
We have had him for a little over a year. He was Ethan's birthday present when he turned 7. We ALL really thought he was great though. Yesterday, Olivia cried so hard, she couldn't eat her dinner. Ethan cried some too. I almost cried. It really stinks when a pet dies. He was a good pet to have. He didn't demand attention and it was fun to watch him eat the crickets.

I think he might have committed suicide. He got really bloated, he felt like what I imagine those SHREK frog balloons would feel like. I asked the dude at the store where we bought him "what is wrong with our salamander? He looks really fat all of the sudden, and he won't eat anything". The guy just said that sometimes they get bloated and to try feeding him a moth. OK- YA-RI-IGHT. Anyway, so yesterday I misted him with water and he ran into his pool and submerged himself and there he stayed until we pulled him out.

We are having a funeral for him today, when Ethan comes home from school because he insisted that Zonk is just in some sort of catatonic state that he'll come out of by morning. Nope! Didn't happen. Poor Ethan.

I was like, can't we just get another one just like him, and call him Zonk, and pretend that none of this ever happened?

I don't know what it is, but, I really liked this salamander. He will be missed by all.

Weird Kid

So, Ethan is a pretty strange kid, as most people know. For those of you who don't, here are two recent examples:

Me: "Ethan, what are you doing with those two GIGANTIC leaves?"

Ethan: "I want to make a loin cloth with them."

Me: "Ummmm, OK."

So i get some ribbon and put it through the leaves and then I tie it around his shorts, so that one is in the front and one is in the back. Then I go back downstairs to watch T.V.

A short time later......

Olivia: "EWWW! GROSS! Eww, that is so GROSS!!"

Me: "What's going on up there?"

Olivia: "Ethan is like all naked essept for some leafs!!!"

Me: "Ethan, put some clothes on. That is NOT appropriate."

Ethan: "I just wanted to look like a REAL indian."

Me: "Ethan, indians wore diaper like things, you're more doing the Adam and Eve thing."

Ethan: "OK, I'll get dressed!!"

This is the other goofy thing (he had done this the day before and to punish him, I told him it was going on either mine or Emmett's blog. He didn't care.)

So, the other day I hear all of my kids laughing their heads off in the bathroom. I went to investigate and I find that Ethan has drawn circles around his nipples and a big smile across is bellybutton with a permanent purple marker. He was making the other two weirdos laugh by making his bellybutton sing. We were supposed to go swimming the next day! Luckily, Jonah had diarrhea and we couldn't go.

I never thought I would say, " luckily, Jonah had diarrhea".

3 year old vampire

Me: "Jonah, go and get me a diaper so I can change you."

Jonah: "No!"

Me: "Jonah, you better or you'll be in HUGE trouble."

Jonah (With fake vampire teeth now in his mouth): "OH YEAH!!!"

Me: "AAAAAHHHHH!!!!" ( to humor him, of course)

Jonah (after quickly taking the teeth out of his mouth): "It's just me mom."

I've started a family blog!

Well, I thought I would start family blog. Let me start by saying I am not a good writer, nor do I seem to stick to doing things like this very well, so we'll see how it goes!

I just thought it would be a good way to keep up with family and friends, since that's defineatley not one of my strong points. Hopefully, I can get the true writer and funny person, Emmett, to write a few posts too.

Well, I guess I'll write more later. This has been such a big day for me! Ha! Ha!

Eleanor