Call of the Wild

Let's just shorten the word to -STRUCTIONS!

2012-01-27T19:21:00.000-07:00

Evie, Rainy, Dalyn, and I are playing the board game Payday.

Eve starts reading the rules. Rainy asks Eve a question about the game and Dalyn says to Rainy-

Dalyn: "Ssshhhhh!!! She's reading the DESTRUCTIONS!!!!!

Rainy: (In a nasty tone) "It is REEEEE-STRUCTIONS Dalyn!!"

Like Father like son... talented taunters! (files fixed finally!)

2012-01-22T08:40:00.004-07:00

So during the break I noticed Brandoneous playing the piano, so I quickly grabbed my camera and tried to be incognito... but it didn't work! I got caught and was destined for an evil glare!

Btw... Brandon is a freak of nature... he doesn't like to play off of sheet music.

So I found this little duet between Brandon and Jacob, from when the Richard's family was in town and (right now) we all just laughed because Jake does a little doosie at the end when he notices me filming him too! I have two twin dorks in the house!

But again... Brandon isn't even using a hymnal to play and this is the boys playing this song without practicing first. What superheroes!

So this is "The Spirit of God". AND Jacob is my angel on a flute ready for a church solo!

Christmas Morning!!! 2011!!! (Video fixed!)

2012-01-22T07:05:00.002-07:00

The Call Family had a great and pretty quiet Christmas. We loved having Daddy home. Then we had an exciting and fun-filled New Year!

I am going to post in little blurbs because Brandon has the flu really bad... and needs my tender loving care.

So this is a video of the kids coming down the stairs Christmas morning. :) They are all ready for church and my girls in their matching dresses look GORGEOUS!

Caleb had a tummy ache so he is not in church clothes. Poor kid, but he quickly perked up. No one got enough sleep over the break so I think he just needed a rest. Call's are ready to 'party all the time' and all night long!

We had 9am church so we just looked in our stocking and then left for next door. Then we came back and opened presents with Grandma Fae and Papi John.

Well, I will not only never forget the sweet and excited looks on my children's faces, but I will never forget the Christmas when my dress was soooo tooo big that I accidentally wore my PJ's underneath to church!

I was cold when we came down stairs so I left my big PJ bottoms on to warm me up... along with Brandon's socks... and well... then we rushed out the door... to next door (I just love saying that part!) and I sat down and just looked at Brandon and said 'uh-oh'...

but Brandon and I just laughed because we just find everything in life humorous!

What a wonderful 'and warm' Christmas we had! AND I COOKED!!!!!!

.... haha! Evie just read this and said, "you wore your pajamas under your dress? I should have done that!!"

An angel sleeps before me

2012-01-15T19:49:00.005-07:00

I have written this entry into my journal 3 times, but it never seems good enough to explain how I feel inside. I know it is every mother's worse nightmare to have one of her children injured, but I never even thought, or tried NOT to think, of what it would be like to hold someone else's dying child.

I feel selfish in even saying that because I can't even fathom how devastating and what a horrible drive that driving from a different state would be, when my child was injured, let alone unthinkable injuries. I am so blessed to know that one of the gifts of the Spirit is comfort. I know those parents had that with them on such a horrible horrible drive.

I am so glad that we could give these parents comfort in knowing that their baby boy was not alone and would never be alone, and I am so thankful that we gave them security even though they did not know us personally at the time.

Now that I have spent time with Shawn, learned more about him, and seen a community deviated by his passing I feel very special to be the one at his bed side holding him during his last hours. It is one of another mother's fears, you know, to watch our teenage boys turn into young men and travel so far away form us and home, that if something bad happened, we wouldn't know what to do or how fast we could get there. I hope his Mom found some peace knowing we wouldn't leave him. Will I ever feel worthy enough for the trust I was given? I am not sure I ever will. I just hope that if the situation were ever reversed someone would be there for my son.

Wednesday, we received a call from friends in our Colorado Ward. A family in our old area, who were now friends with all our old friends, had a son get in a car accident in Utah. He was on his way from traveling with his Church Singing/band group to California to play at a Christian Concert. The van was in a car accident and the young man suffered a severe brain injury. He was life flighted to a Provo hospital, even though the accident happened hours away, because Provo is the closest severe trauma center.

I can't imagine what it would be like to have this happen in a state where I knew no one, but the parents didn't not know a soul in Utah. Sometime in the 3 o'clock hour on Wednesday we got the call from friends. They had told this family that we were close by, a little about us, and already had us authorized at the hospital. We didn't even need to be asked: I left for the hospital immediately and Brandon left work. We were both about 15 minutes away in opposite directions.

It would not be appropriate for me to give explanations of what happened from either the accident or the hospital so I would like to just share my feelings and how this young man was a blessing in my life. However I would like to say that the 3 musician young men did nothing wrong. They were completely stopped, and rear-ended.

First of all, I was so touched with how a young man brought up in such a strong loving home, can effect so many others while peacefully sleeping. The nurses had all watched his Youtube videos and his singing is phenomenal; but beyond phenomenal. We have been even more touched with all the young people on Facebook who have published even more videos of Shawn singing. Well the hospital Chaplin was familiar with this young man's Christian music and asked if he could have someone come sing to him by his bed side. We were blessed to be able to be there for this.

Brandon felt, given this boys testimony, that we should read the scriptures to him. There was a bible in the room, so Brandon read. He read II Corinthians. He read the entire book. Now that I ponder back, I realize that I don't think I have ever read from beginning to end. I am more a "read in spurts" type of person. What a great thing to have learned from Shawn. This would be the first influence that this young man would have on me, without even speaking. That is why I refereed to him as "an angel sleeping". We would stay with Shawn for over 9 hours never moving from his side.

I learned that I shouldn't only believe that children are our greatest blessing but I should make sure my children know that every moment in this life, and in fact I want everyone's children to know that they are not just a gift to THEIR parents, but a huge gift to me. I have watched a community of young men and women gather together and support each other in ways that make me feel so proud of them.

These young people are inspirational to me to be a better person.

Saturday we drove down to the car that the boys were in and retrieved all of Shawn's belongings for his parents. I am still so amazed at how this young man's love for pretty much EVERYTHING and his clean and Christ-centered life style affect seriously EVERYONE. Even the gentleman in possession of the car was so moved by stories of all three boys. He told us even more inspirational stories that we didn't even know yet

The Youtube videos I posted are of the kids singing playfully. I have his Christian band music too, but I just got the links and need to get them ready.

Please hug all your babies tonight.

The Funeral will be held next Saturday.

Cutie Pie

2012-01-06T23:24:00.001-07:00

Dalyn gets up on my bed with me and crawls under my electric blanket.

He says: "OH this is warm. I am going to sleep here tonight!"

Mom: "No you're not. This blanket is only for Mommy's"

Dalyn: "OH come on! I need to be warm, so I don't get fat during the winter."

Mom: "Why would you get fat if you are cold during the winter?"

Dalyn: "Like lizards!"

Mom: "You are sleeping in your own bed tonight... in that cold cold dungeon we call 'the boys area'. (Our boys are in a bonus area that is its own living space).

Dalyn: "I am going to sleep with you under your blanket so I can protect you."

Mom: "Protect me from what?"

Dalyn: "Anything... that is what gentlemen do!"

Wow what an awful lot of cuteness to come up with to try an steal my electric blanket!!!!!

Purple Pajamas

2011-12-25T20:17:00.003-07:00

Merry Christmas!

I thought this video was soooooo cute. Yes Jake, I called you cute. Brandon and I looked at each other while this scene was happening live and we got all melancholy and Brandon said... "oh, remember when he was so tiny and excited for Christmas like this?"

So, if you want your almost 17-year old to retain his childlike innocence, then I suggest (as seen below)... feetsie pajamas WITH a butt-flap (or poop-shoot as Jacob says) AND then have him help assemble a Razor Trike that does 360's and go for a test run in the middle of the night Christmas Eve.

Seriously, can any older teen ever be obnoxious again OR make ANY bad choices in life, after looking THIS cute? NO NEVER!!!!

Grandma Fae's illustrations for the Friend Magazine

2011-12-18T20:18:00.001-07:00

Brandoneous' Mom used to illustrate for the Friend Magazine, back in the early 1970's when she stayed home with her little children. Something we have always felt was wicked cool about her... among many other wonderful aspects about her.

So now that the internet has almost everything digital, we have found a few of her original masterpieces. Let me know if you have any 1970-1974 Friends, because we would love to see original copies. Eve looks at DI all the time! They are 25 cents there. So here is one we found... Where Fae did the illustrations for someone's story. She loves to draw little children

Thanksgiving part dos

2011-12-18T20:10:00.001-07:00

Back to Thanksgiving!

Here are some of the pictures off of my blue camera. I still can't find the new red camera Brandon bought me and I just don't like to blog without pictures, but there is so much I need to write.

We went swimming at the Legacy Pool Playhouse. My kids even convinced me to go on the big slide that went outside and then back inside the building. :) I had to buy the ugliest swim suit from the office since I forgot mine. Actually I figured I would just lifeguard but then I got really jealous at how much fun my family was having. :) This is us about to go into the lazy river.

We went out for Thanksgiving dinner and they had a soft serve station AND a chocolate fountain for strawberry, marshmallows, and cakes.

We decorated our tree! Thanks for the new tree Yuko! Now we have Yuko's couch and Yuko's tree! (Inside joke!)

Scrooge faces!

All the kidos! We have the tree in our school room (AKA... formal dinning room) and we pushed all the desks against the walls!

Rainy danced the Macarana for us! Swing it baby!!!

Glitter Girl Revival

2011-12-12T21:17:00.000-07:00

I am tempted to write this post in a clandestine soap opera style! But I will try and hold back!

There once was a young man named Jacob, who thought skinny jeans were cool for WAY too many years. His mother blogged incessantly at the time and even documented his first kiss!!! Yes a much publicized DOUBLE-smooch recorded in the post... (If you haven't read it or need a refresher... enjoy the hyperlink!)

Get your grubby grimy glittery goth lips off my baby boy!

A post that would get one Emilee F. known in the Call home as .... "Glitter Girl" for the past several years. In fact most of us had forgotten her name because we had just always refereed to her as simply "Glitter Girl".

But a chain of events would create a situation where we had to actually sit all 5 of our other children down on the couch and make them PROMISE not to 'slip' and call this lovely young lady any "G-words"... and then remind them her real name is Emilee.

Why? Because Jake is in love. Awwweeeee. A glitter revival is reborn! A glittery goth girlfriend renaissance!

Jake and Emilee ran into each other and then started hanging-out at our home. Before long he found himself victim to the wiles (or at least the glitter) of women.

Now this intense of a relationship is a bit new to us. Jake has been a "love'm and leave'm after a few days" type of guy, but now he is twitterpated.

In all good parenting strategies, Brandoneous had Miss Emilee and Jake sit down next to us and read out loud "For the Strength of the Youth." Then after they read together, a generous Brandon rewarded this obedience and offered to pay for their next date. (Can't take credit for that good parenting impromptu... all Brandoneous's idea). We have come to really like Emilee. She has grown out of her goth glitter as Jake has his skinny jeans, and she dresses really cute.

I am now SO old that when Jake had his band concert, Emilee joined us. OH yes, we are in 'the girlfriend sits with the family' phase of life.

Some of you have gone thru this..

Some of you haven't...

AND some of you are watching me to see how I deal with every new parenting adventure--- heaven help the latter of you!

I will say though... since my Dad calls Jake 'the most grounded teenager on the planet', there is nothing like your very own glitter girl girlfriend for good grades verses grounding G-motivation!

So again I ask for no teasing on Facebook! I like being privy to all of Jake's friends and what they say. And while Jacob would loose Facebook before he were allowed to delete me, his friends just might think different. :)

Thanksgiving part uno

2011-12-06T01:54:00.003-07:00

My blogging always starts to dwindle at this time of year but not because of busy holidays, rather finals week(s) at BYU. Students start to freak if you don't grade things fast enough, and test review sessions, end of term projects and papers, and I haven't even looked up what time I have to administer this semesters final at. I am just hoping it is not a 7am final.

So Thanksgiving week took a bit of a turn. I was so desperate to be warm but our available vacation days kept diminishing. The high school boys just did NOT want to miss school. It was then decided we would leave after school on Tuesday and come back Sunday... until we read it was raining and chilly in California. Well since we can get that here, we just stayed and decided we were still on vacation and we would do what everyone wanted to do during the same time frame we were to be gone.

Now again I took pictures with two cameras so I might have to post a second set of pictures. If I could just figure out how to use (or buy) a good camera then maybe I wouldn't have a camera I like better outdoors and one I like better in doors (and then there is the fact that my blue one can go underwater. (Not forever Brandoneous... don't loose another one!)

Do you know (off subject) that Brandon still calls Xel-Ha in Mexico (Yucatan) about once or twice a year (isn't that sweet), to this day, to see if my camera has been found, because I still have that 'lost' feeling about loosing my camera in the depths of river with all my (and Caleb) cruise 2007 and Caleb's private vacation to Disneyworld, McCullough family cruise pictures on it. Caleb cliff dived... and it is lost! We even convinced a stranger to cliff dive if our boy could do it, and promised to email him the video clip. Boy did I learn the importance of downloading every night!!!! Ok... I will quit dwelling after all these years...

So on our home bound vacation we:
1. Ate out at Noodles & Company and Cracker Barrel
2. Went swimming (to make up for no beaches) at the Lehi pool because they have awesome slides, lazy river, and water attractions... and DANG, my kids would not rest until I went down the biggy slide. The one where the tube actually takes you outside the building and back in.

Brandoneous laughed at me because there was this apparent LOUD squeaking noise when I came down... it was my hands against the dark tube, to slow me down. Come on'... I have said it before and I will say it again. I don't like the dark! (in a serious, I have issues type of way!!). But I didn't know that everyone would hear the squeaking.

3. We went on a trip to DI with $5 each to see who could find the best treasures! We got some board games and had game time.
4. Golden Coral for Thanksgiving Dinner!!!! They had everything! The kids were in HEAVEN! AND there was a chocolate fountain... so it will be a dinner to remember forever!
5. The Twilight Zone marathon
6. Lots of Cocoa and Cider and family movies in the home theater.
7. Black Friday movie at the Movie Theater of Johnny English Reborn AND refillable popcorn! (Boy did the kids laugh at that movie!)
8. Decorating the Christmas Tree
9. Starting advent calendars
10. Brandoneous reading Michael Vey to the kids aloud
11. Caleb's wrestling tournament

Well I have to get up in 4 hours and 13 minutes so I guess I will add the pictures tomorrow. I also recorded what everyone was most thankful for, in the 'Thanksgiving' section of my journal, so I need to blog that too. Stay tuned!

And wait until you hear my next story. Talk about blast from the funny past!!!!

Da Vinci Dance Day

2011-11-15T21:43:00.000-07:00

Last week, our school district offered for FREE to take children, on a bus from their home schools, to the BYU Museum of Art (MOA) and teach dance and sculpting all day.

I kept wondering what the catch was... but Eve and Rainy got all dolled up and went dancing and sculpting.

Apparently one of the art teachers wrote a large grant that paid for this WHOLE SATURDAY 8am-4pm dance and sculpting event.

The sculptor was the famous guy from our city. If you have ever been here before, you know, that on every street corner on Main Street, or grassy area in front of city buildings, or libraries, there are beautiful bronze sculptures... they are all over BYU and everywhere. My kids especially love the bronze deer by the ballet/tap studio because it is complete with sculpted deer poop.

Evie and Rainy had a really exciting day and came home with sculpting clay and many a new dance in their repertoire. Good job girlies!

As for the rest of us... we went to Cracker Barrel for a Saturday activity, after sleeping in, and then we came home and got to watch the Rainy and Evie Dance Hour for Family Time... they were awesome!

There's an egg in my boot

2011-11-15T18:48:00.005-07:00

Ok, who got my 'Toy Story' reference?

So Dalyn...

Dalyn is your stereotypical little boy, much like Dennis the Menace. In fact I need to watch one of those episodes on Netflix with Dally, I think he will laugh.

I am really always disappointed when I see kids today sit inside and play on the computer, even though some of Brandon's childhood stories scared me of what to expect being a mother to boys... like how Brandon used to turn this one old ladies main circuit breaker off and then conveniently show up to her house when she was having electricity troubles and fix the problem, just because she made really good cookies, which she always shared with her Brandoneous hero for saving her life.

With that story you must understand that I am a mom who MUCH rather have cute-boy mischief then excessive TV or video games. Although Call's do like a good movie or computer game night.

Can I picture Dally getting in this much 'boy' mischief? hmmmmmmmm

Dalyn came home from cub scouts tonight well into the dark hours. All of the Cubs left scouts and none went home. One of the mom's found the boys at the rope swing. Now to appreciate our rope swing up the creek, you have to think very 'Winnie-the-Pooh' like.


What mischievous eyes! Poor Fae! She never had a chance!

Someone hung a rope from a tree over a shallow area of the creek (really shallow area... no worries) and they made a wood seat on the end of the rope.

So Dalyn walks in after one of the moms drove him home. He is in tears because he is cold (since we live in Alaska apparently) and asks to have a fire in the fireplace. We comply but his tears are still flowing. Eve asks him if he is wet. He says yes and we help him get into jammies.

Now here is the mischief.... Dalyn asks Eve if they can talk in private. OH NO! So why was Dalyn crying so much from being cold?

He had walked home barefoot because he had taken his snow boots off and filled them with creek water (all the way to the top) and had 7 duck eggs in his water filled boots. Why in water? Because the eggs were in the creek so Dalyn confused hibernation as a duck trait and wanted to keep them cold until spring.

I love you Dalyn. What would we ever do without our little comedian!

Ok we really turned on the first episode of the old Dennis the Menace black and white shows, and the kids just started laughing because the episode starts with Dennis going to bed after a bit of cute mischief and Dennis asks his mom "How come you always say 'thank goodness' instead of 'good-night'?"

I am having flashbacks of Dalyn taking an axe to his dresser!

So what do I do with 7 frozen duck eggs?

Super Sunday

2011-11-06T18:48:00.006-07:00

The unthinkable happened today. Brandon was released from Scouts. He walked that green mile, that only other men have had to walk... yes, the mile to Elder's Quorum.

This was in fact, Brandon's first day in Elder's Quorum, because he has always been the Scout Master or the Assistant Scout Master in over a decade.

Even when Brandon was the Young Men's President, he was also the Scout Master. AND even when Brandon was the Cub Scout Master, he was the Assistant Scout Master. Why? Because Brandon always asks to be.

Today was Fast Sunday, and it started with the releasing of Ryan and Brandon. Two of the most wonderful scouters ever and a great team. Brad was released a few weeks ago, and was one of the greats too.

So it was a sad Brandon who walked to Elders Quorum. I cried!

Really! I did.

I am used to Deacons being grimy little boys who like gross noises, including my own little boys. But today I watched neatly and crisply dressed, humble, young men, take care of the Sacrament, and then go up one by one, without prompting, to bare their testimonies about how much they were going to miss Brother Call.

Three of my favorite statements were:

1. "My friend went to an organized scout camp and he only got 5 merit badges and I got 12. I'm thankful..."

2. "I am already working on my Eagle Scout, and without Brother Call I am sure I would be on my Tender Foot still...

3. "I am thankful for Brother Call, otherwise I know I would be dead in the wilderness." --- Andy B.

I could tell Brandon was moved, when he got up to bare his testimony to his boys and I saw the look on his face.

Here is a picture of what Scout Camp week looks like with Brandon and Ryan--

When we moved to Utah, I remember when we first met Bishop Goddard. Brandon introduced us, "We are the Call Family. This is my wife Christina and I am Brandon. I love being a Scout Master. Please throw me in and leave me there."

Once we scooped the Bishops jaw off the ground, we introduced our children.

It is a great blessing to have 2 Eagle Scouts in our family and Caleb working on his Eagle.

I am not going to tell Brandoneous that I wrote this story, and have him journal about today, so I can get his feelings while they are still fresh in his mind.

Scouting is such a great program for our young men. I love knowing my man could feed me and save me "in the wilderness" with a pocket knife and some string. I know that one of the things my boys would say they love most about having Brandon as a dad is his love of scouting that he so freely shares.

Happy Birthday My Beautiful Young Woman!

2011-10-26T12:37:00.003-06:00

Savannah turned 12 Monday!

In our little world that makes Savannah a Young Woman! :)

Savannah picked Noodles and Company for the first thing she did for her birthday week. Now children bring me much entertainment sometimes. For example... Noodles and Co. had installed a BRAND SPAKIN' new soda machine. The kids were in utter and complete AWE!

Suddenly it seemed like I was being asked by 900 children with excited squeaky high voices, if they could have a soda cup. When I asked for one soda cup and a bunch of water cups, the lady looked at me like I was CRAZY. I told the lady it was one of my daughters birthday's and it is her special dinner and it was tradition that she get a big soda with her yummy noodles.

The cute old lady then got all excited too, gave Savannah a free soda, and then during dinner, showed up with rice crispy treats for all!

Now I still couldn't believe the commotion over this soda machine. As we waited for Daddy to meet us, I went to turn to Jacob and ask him if he could BELIEVE how much attention this machine was getting.

Well Jake was outside. On his phone. Calling his friend to tell him about the new soda machine! Really?!!!!

So do I feel like a heel for not getting everyone one or what?! Apparently a fully digital soda fountain, that you control and add the flavors to, in any combination, is something that must be enjoyed by all!!! :)

My kids also LOVE the mac and cheese from Noodles & Co.. In fact if you have eaten there and LOVE it, I have a recipe! I made it once and it was to die for!!! The kids loved it! It takes, pretty much, all day to make though.

Savannah is the only kid who chooses something else. She likes the buttered noodles with Parmesan. Yummy too!

Savannah attended the her first mutual last night. They had a Halloween party, and she came home from school on Monday to find a big sign by the kid door from her BFF! (Her BFF has a great mom, because her mom had to have been the one to hang it during a school day!)

Happy Birthday Nannie! You make a beautiful young woman!!!!

Vernacular Etiology

2011-10-25T21:23:00.000-06:00

So I have realized while raising children that kids love to mimic what parents say. I remember the first time one of my little ones (Evie) said, "Holy Twap!"

... ummm Brandon and I looked at each other... like, how in the heck are we going to live without the phrase 'holy crap'. It is like crack to those of us born in the early early 70's.

Buuuuuutttt. I learned to do without. Brandon, not so much... Then there was the positive way you could use the expression 'shut up'. For instance... "I just won 5,000 dollars!"... response," NO WAY, SHUT UP!"...

Well I have moved past this phrase too... Christy Miner... not so much! :) jk! (love you Miner!)

To think I was teased in my youth for saying the word, "like" to much in dialogue. I didn't like say it that much! But at least my kids could like say that without me feeling guilty.

... NOW we are to present day! Imagine you just asked Rainy to clean her room... Her response...

"SERIOUSLY?"

Mom: "Seriously."

Rainy: " URGH! I can't believe I seriously have to clean my room again... Seriously."

I think it can be concluded that my next word choice change is seriously, the word seriously... and this after I just moved past the word... "Whatever."

I mean those of us who graduated in 1990, are the coooooolest collected individuals on the planet. I mean how do we deal with any contention? Easily!

No need to argue...

We have the words "WHATEVER!" or "SERIOUSLY", available in our repitoire for immediate, indesputable, argument ending, usage!!!

Really, who can argue with a good ... WHATEVER??!!!!

Why do I tell you allllllllll of this? Because my cousins, whom I haven't seen in 30 years, taught me the expression "talk smack!" When I was 8 years old.

So I don't know if anyone even knows this phrase anymore, but my kids sure do, because I tell them to stop talking smack all the time. So if you are not familiar with this because I am soooo out of date, and desperately need to start saying things like "... umm I can't think of any."

Talking smack was originally used as a verb for gossiping, but in my home it has evolved into 'telling jokes or making fun of someone.'

I figure if you have half a dozen kids like me and are thus populating the world so effectively, you have the right to coin terms and even invent your own language... I mean you are paying enough taxes too.

So thus, my boys decided to have a 'smack down' yesterday.

First Jacob came over when I was working on my computer. He sat down next to me and started staring at me laughing. Then he started hitting the enter key repeatedly while I tried to work. This gave him much enjoyment... let me tell you.

Then he grabbed my fingers and started tickling me until I let loose of the computer, and he STOLE my laptop and ran upstairs to his room with a nice evil laugh. (insert evil laugh here)

So, I being a now damsel in distress, I called down to Brandoneous (in his office ripping an old home movie) "Brandon, hurry I need you to defend my honor... and every second, more damage is being done to it."

Well Brandon jumped at the chance! We both jogged on up to Jake's room, where I recovered my laptop only to find out, I had already told everyone via my Facebook profile that I was an 'old hag' and 'with an insignificant life... like a bug.'

Brandon then sat on one of Jake's legs and tickled him until he typed his password into his Facebook profile. Hehehehehe! There was much giggling between the two while I immediately typed Jake's new status.

My mom looks so great that I want to be like her and eat meat. LOTS OF MEAT! Everyone please bring me meat to school tomorrow. AS MUCH AS YOU CAN!

Then one of Jake's friends started IMing him and Brandon answered with some doosies!!!

Poor confused friend!

Speaking of this friend... Jake informed me that he heard noises from our kitchen the night before last at about 1:30am and he went downstairs because he thought we were being robbed. Turns out there are two kids (Jake's friends) at our kitchen table eating our bagels!

Apparently the kids got hungry and knew we were cool. Life is always interesting when you live in Brandoneous's world... and Jacob's world (they are one and the same).

I remember when Jacob was two, I came home from the store, opened the house, and returned to my car for groceries. When I came back to the house, I was locked out... and there was my toddler, laughing at me through the window..... SOOOOOO BRANDON-LIKE!

Now on with the original story... I gave Caleb my laptop computer for homework, and he got in on the 'burn Mommy' action with my blog.

What did I learn from this experience? You would think that it would be to log-out and kick kids off my computer... but NO... I learned that my teen-agers can't spell worth beans!!!

... and Caleb that is smack about YOU! :)

Caleb, may you sometime in your life, encounter your own proverbial Nikki... a little woman with a big verbative stick, who teaches you to write well, given your poor articulative upbringing! As she did me!

I LOVE YOU BOYS! AND NIKKI!

pay back

2011-10-24T21:45:00.001-06:00

my mother talks smack about me on her blog and for some reason she thinks it is safe to leave her blog loged in so i am going to make a post that represents a childs independance and that this is revenge for my mother making fun of me.

Heros and Hotdogs

2011-10-12T17:51:00.004-06:00

Caleb is the king of wanting to accomplish everything life has to offer... and RIGHT NOW!

Morph suits

In fact I am pretty sure he will have done everything there is to do by the time he leaves our home. He truly is my superstar.

Caleb wants a morph suit for break-dancing... maybe I should get him one with a big C on it. :)

Last week Caleb auditioned for the Utah Youth Symphony on viola.

Sooooo... without further anticipation I will say... "How many extra tickets do you want, when his first recital comes?!" He is in!

Now this does add a bit more on to our week.

Practices are in North Orem at 4pm once weekly.

Way to get the ladies!!!!

But luckily since Brandon works the next city up in American Fork, I drop Caleb off at 4 and Brandon picks him up at 6 on his way home from work.

J-dawg now has the whole parking lot!

Then it is J-dawg time!

Last Tuesday, I had to move all my plants from my old BYU greenhouse to my new BYU greenhouses.

I am sooooo glad to be done with the 1920's version of old greenhouses. My new ones are computerized! I can set heat, clocks, lights, fans, humidity, and even set when to open the shade awnings on the ceilings.

Inside & outside J-dawgs new & old building!

In the other greenhouse, I had to get on a ladder and hang shade cloth. If I went at night I had to bring a flashlight. It flooded if I didn't turn the main water line off every time, and I had to go and set the heaters when it snowed.

All the dawg rave! Get in line!

SO as you can imagine I am in HEAVEN!!!

Anyway, since my little family helped me do all the moving, and Caleb came straight from Symphony try-outs, he not only helped move in church clothes, but was without dinner, so we went to J-dawgs, and now Caleb says it should be his "Tuesday Night Tradition".

There is another thing about my amazing son... he is sooooo sentimental that sometimes, Brandoneous and I have to laugh. Thus the making of a "tradition" so quickly!

Seriously, Caleb gets upset if I have to throw a pair of his boxers out, because they are "special".

Oh and don't get me started on his "hand-blanky" (a woobie with a hand print pattern).

He only lets me wash it in distilled water so the material won't disintegrate more than it already has... you can seriously see the batting through the material it is so thin now.

But I must say, that Mister Jacob was worse!!!

I remember driving to his daycare and asking a janitor to PLLLEEEEEEASE let me in because it was a Friday and there was nooooooo way Jacob could function for a whole weekend without his woooooobie! BTW... Jake may not tell his friends, but he still has it.... keeps it under his quilt, down by his feet, so no one knows it is there... but I do!

Congrats Caleb on you new triumph!!! You are a hero (as Grandma Fae would say!)

So we call Brandon the "Crimson Chin" as a superhero name, in our house. (Or Mr. Incredible when he pushes a kid on the swing and they fly off it at 35 mph [NJ! Poor Rainy!].., or when he closes something and breaks it.) Like on Fairly Odd Parents! ... because of his chin... what should Caleb's name be?

Empty and Quiet

2011-10-11T20:59:00.006-06:00

I sit alone in a house once run rampant with 11 people, while the smell of teriyaki turkey fillets wafts through the kitchen and living room. I am not sure what is more disturbing. That my Oxford spell check didn't know the word teriyaki. Do the English not eat teriyaki?

or... that I used the word 'waft' in a cogent sentence... when Brandoneous uses it to describe when his eeking 'scent' is being dispersed through the very same living space-

or... that I had to dry my freshly laundered skivvies with a blow drier to be on time to the Y. At least I have never had to resort to turning them inside out. And if I ever did... like I would put it in writing! Not! (Oh that just reminded me of Miner! YAY! The word 'not' that is... not inside out underwear!)

Now as far as the 11 people... we were pleased to have Justin R. (Ol' Bishop's son), Chris A. (Danae's bro.), and Un-named 3rd-person (He was just one of their old room-ies... kinda like a 5th member of the away team that you never learn the name of before they're gone) live with us for August and most of September while being booted from Summer housing at BYU to fall housing.

We have 2 bedrooms that don't even have furniture in them (well one is empty and the other just has a bed) and that I never go in for months on end, so we love visitors. Most people are still shocked when we say that the Hougaard's lived with us for 5 1/2 months, but it was REALLY fun!

So, why am I alone? There is mutual tonight. Jake, Caleb, and Brandon are at Scouts. Rainy, Dalyn, Savannah, and Evie, are at our neighborhood park.

OK That is life at home... how about the Y?

For those of you who have left the Y. It was a hard week on the BIO/PWS faculty last week with the loss of Dr. Harper BYU emeritus and U of U faculty. Dr. Harper was Loreen's PhD adviser in her youth. I taught her Ecology class for her on Friday during the funeral. I lectured on 'Sex and Evolution'... I hope it is OK to call male birds with ugly plumage "LOSERS!!"... "who will never find a mate, eliminating their genetic material from the gene pool".

Everyone is home... bye!

EFY

2011-10-09T14:42:00.000-06:00

Have I told EVERYONE I know that it is time for priority registration for the 2012 EFY year?

You can now go to the EFY website, create a login, and get a 'number' that will allow you priority registration for children 14-18.

EFY WESITE PRIORITY LOG-IN

FYI... in doing this, you need to go add EFY priority registration to your shopping cart, but I promise when you go to the page to 'buy' it, it is free. FREE! No pressure to actually go to EFY should you reconsider. (PS... the dates of each session have not been listed yet.)

If you are considering a PROVO EFY do it ASAP.

Also, feel free to have your kids coming to Provo, invite their friends. I have plenty of room and am happy to make airport runs. I go to BYU every day of my life so this really is no big inconvenience. And since the Potter Family did it for me, I need to pay humanity back! :) I want good Karma you know!!!

Thanks again Misty for helping Jacob have such a wonderful experience!!!!!!!!!!!! Misty, guess WHAT????? Savannah found my cell phone today and as soon as I charge it... I can CALL MY PHONE FRIEND AGAIN!!!

So we were out having a BBQ when Caleb started talking about EFY. Caleb REALLY wanted to go to the Special Edition Church History EFY in Nauvoo last year, but he wasn't old enough to fly cheaply. Anyway, Caleb is going this next year. This is one of the few EFY's that has an airport shuttle.

Well when Jake heard, he yelled out... "I want to go again!"

This is how great EFY is everyone! Jake, before he went last year, would have chosen his shaggy hair over EFY if the decision were all up to him... then he went... now he will feel ripped off if he doesn't go again!

BBQ boooooooiiiy!

2011-10-03T21:39:00.000-06:00

Well I am not sure where to start with my blessings! Conference weekend was FAB!!!! We live about 7 miles from the Provo Tabernacle that burnt down AND NOW it is going to be the PROVO TEMPLE (numero dos!!!)

I have such fond memories there watching Micheal McClean's 'Forgotten Carols' at Christmas time every year while I was at BYU. I was so sad when it burnt to the ground, leaving only the outside brick.

RESTORATION PEOPLE! Now that is what I am talking about! Announced on Saturday! I totally started crying when President Monson announced it. Like a baby

But that is not the subject of this post :)...

BBQ-ing!

We have been having a BBQ with steak and chicken kabobs (whoops... spellcheck just asked me to fix 'kaboobs to kabobs' YIKES... my most excellent blunder yet), every Saturday with the Grandparents Dahl's!!! FAE AND JOHN, YOU ROCK!!!!!

John is like a kid when he comes over. I pretty much think you could dare him to do anything and he would!!

Now these kabobs are EXCELLENT! The guy at our local Reams store uses a SECRET recipe for the marinade. This Reams is the only place you can get his glorious spiciness!!!

We are addicted! And we are now addicted to roasting marshmallows and making smores too!

Dahl's are always great sports to stick around for our family night gathering.

Brandon built this BBQ pit, or rather should I say EVIE built this BBQ pit at the beginning of the summer. The kids love it and so do the adults. It is under our pergola.

The pergola area is about the only area on our side yard that we have finished so far. The rest of the yard is still covered in the natural brush.

We did bury our trampoline way out there. I guess we will wait until one of our daughters gets married and we are forced to finish that large of an area for a reception! JK... I hope! :)


Really Jake? Now we have to see your underwear hang out your pant leg too?? I loved slapping the one leg that stuck out your uneven cut pants... and yelling "transgression leg"!!!! and then hugging your "Chastity leg" covered past the knee. :)

Savannah, I am sorry Dad melted your beanie, while camping last week.

No Eve, Jake lied. The EFY shirt he is wearing does not stand for "Evie Failed, Yay!" You have a Mean brother!

This is my very first Church dress ever bought! Awwwwwhhhh! I bought it right after High School and took it with me to Idaho... and pretty much wore it for the next decade, until I wasn't a poor student/ young married anymore... I just dug it out for fun and wore it to Church. I did cut out the shoulder pads (they were cool in the early 90's, not so cool now), and shoved them in my bra... JK!

So, until it snows, you are all invited over for BBQ kabobs any Saturday... just let me know!

I promise I will let Brandoneous do the cooking! Although I made a smorgasbord for Saturday morning conference! It was YUMMMMMY! Breakfast burritos, potatoes, bagels-smear & lox, cereal, turkey bacon and eggs, and cinnamon rolls.

Now it did take me two tries to make the scrambled eggs, and I had to go to the grocery store after my first peril, but really I felt bad because I wanted to surprise Brandon with my sheeeeeer cooking SKILLS... and let him sleep in, and I ended up having to wake him to RESCUE me from an infinite egg destruction!

I might have used Brandoneous's Kitchen Aid for the first time, and thought it ok to use a different bowl, but even worse was that I didn't know how easy the lever moved to change the speed and went from 1 to all of a sudden 12... TWELVE!!!

There were no eggs left in the bowl to whip! It was like a HORRID scene from a kid movie! I had eggs on me from head to toe, and with both arms completely drenched... it was on the floor, the cabinetry, the counters, everything on the counters and under, and I am pretty sure if you look hard, you will find egg on the ceiling!

I do have to say that getting egg all over you is a $2 face lift! As the egg dried on me, faster than I was cleaning it, my skin felt like I had just let paste dry on me (remember when you panted your arms in paste so you could peel it off... or were Brandon and I the only ones who thought this cool?)

So if you would like an 'egg is better than botox' face mask, just let me know and I will come cook for your family. I now have experience with a kitchen aid. Don't call me if you have a Bosch! I haven't tried on of those yet! It would just confuse me... let me sequence your genome instead.

Junior Homecoming

2011-09-26T12:47:00.001-06:00

MY JAKIE!!!!

What a good lookin' kid! I would like to take all the credit, but since the day he was born, I have heard, "Ahhhh... what a little Brandon he is."

or

"Ohhh... He has a Barson chin!"

Jake took Lauren to Homecoming! She is back after her freshman year at BYU-I (Ricks).

Lauren is Tyler's sister. Tyler is one of Jake's best friends and I got Tyler back in high school this year! YAH!

Now Tyler took Jake's old girlfriend Jessica to Homecoming. Notice said red-head! LOL!

This was against Brandon and my opinion that you don't triple date with a recently old girlfriend. But Jake said that they all had a great time and it wasn't weird at all.

Jacob and Lauren

Jake and Lauren are just friends though. We said we wouldn't freak out that she was in college, if he kept it this way... and he did!

First all the kids headed off to Trafalga for mini-golf... then they got dressed up and went to the Olive Garden for dinner. After dinner they were off to the dance.

Jake didn't believe me, that you buy a corsage for Homecoming. In fact he insulted my age, and told me that, that tradition was from back in the day! WHAT?!

Jessica's SWEET shoes! Even Grandma Fae loved them!

Well he was put in his place, and ended up making flower arrangements, with Lauren, straight from her garden, for them to wear! :)

Ingenious! AND I am glad that Jake had some flowers to mask those sunglasses, and the 'no belt' look he was sporting. No offense Jake... LOL!

I am so glad that Jake was such a gentleman, and that he is having such a great and successful year!

Tyler and Jessica

I just went to Jake's 'parent/teacher' conference. He is doing so well... although Jacob was a little miffed that I went to the conference. He accused me of not trusting him. I told him it wasn't about trust. It was about being a good parent and taking care of your child.

He then said that I didn't go last year.

and I said, "WELL I JUST STARTED BEING A GOOD PARENT!!!"

:)

Call's in the Wild

2011-09-26T12:14:00.003-06:00

This weekend we headed up to OUR spot in the wilderness so Neanderthal Brandon could be in his element... chopping wood, starting fires without matches or lighters... followed by the divine creating of

MINI-MARSHMALLOW WARFARE!!!

Jake has gotten so good at blowing marshmallow guns, that it actually hurts to be pelted with a mini-marshmallow... laugh, go ahead! I will set you up on for a duel!

Parents got Jake back though! We went on a hike, and on the way back, Brandon and I took a short cut and got to camp first, so we set up an ambush to get Jacob!

Brandon blew the first marshmallow at him, and I blew the pathetic second. Jake said,

"Ya right Mom, I am scared!"

I love the mini-marshmallow stuck to her back!

Brandon laughed at Jake's comment... but that gave me my adrenaline 'mini-marshmallow' rush and I got in a good shot!!! (insert cheering here... "go Mom... get busy... go Mom!")

Brandon makes these marshmallow guns every scout camp week, with the scouts and my boys.

Jake and Caleb take this activity very serious! Look close at the pictures... Jake has a scope on his gun, and Caleb has a two hand-er blow gun (they are out of PVC pipe and fit a mini-marshmallow perfectly!)

I bought rock star food, so we had treats galore! Sweet, I know!

We had a fire, family, and fun!

It was a bit chilly at night for the skinny peeps, so there was lots of snuggles from everyone. Basically it was dog pile on Brandon! (Our heat rock!)

We had so many on-going bloopers and inside jokes this weekend that we laughed so hard!

Every thing from a child cutting off their eyebrow (don't ask... we promised anonymity) to denying that Brandoneous melted anyone's jacket (and maybe a camping chair) while being a pyro... nope it never happened!

And Grandma Fae isn't a pyro either! (wink wink)

Caleb got up before us all and started a fire in our fire pit (no lighter or matches) also! That's my boy!

And Caleb NEVER drank Nathan's Pee threw a 'survival' filter while roughing-it camping with the older scouts!

Nope that never happened either! And Nathan's Mom never freaked out! And we aren't the type of parents, where Brandon would laugh at the very thought of this, after Brandon and I found out!

I will tell you one thing! The world could blow up and my men would find away to survive!!!

That I will admit to!

We played fun games and just relaxed in the shade and sun. It was very pretty to see all the Maple leaves turning red!

Utah has its perks in the wilderness beauty department!

OH one last thing! We can't forget that Savannah toasted about 500 marshmallows this trip! The king size one's that are 3X the size! It was awesome! She fed us perfectly toasted marshmallows the whole trip! Come and get it!

Intramurals for every generation

2011-09-19T23:04:00.007-06:00

Savannah had her first intramurals tennis tournament. :) And she is soooooo loving playing in a real uniform.

I went to her first match last Friday! WAHOOO!

She is growing like a weed! It was pretty funny, but at FHE (Family Home Evening) tonight, we went around the room to tell the favorite part of our day and Savannah said "the time between 5th period and 6th period."

Brandon said, "What's his name?" (all sly like)... Savannah replied, "LUNCH!" So apparently she is hungry AND growing like a weed... or crushing on someone named 'Lunch'! She has passed Evie up in height, and we thought Eve was TALL! Go SAVANNAH! Since Savannah is actually older than Evie, it's not evil of me to say that... fyi! :)

Now on the subject of games with rackets, I signed Brandon up for intramurals racquetball at BYU this semester. He had his tournament last Friday and Saturday. Caleb was already at BYU last Friday, for a Breakdancing class, so Caleb watched the first day of the tournament.

The next day (Saturday) I took Rainy and Dalyn and we went to watch. It brought back happy thoughts of being engaged and going with Jay and Stu, who were still newlyweds.

Dalyn and Rainy had fun watching Dad, along with roaming around BYU on their own and rolling down large mowed hills of wet grass to amuse us between matches.

Flashback! Is the blue carpet giving anyone else flashbacks? Huh, Misty?

2011-09-13T11:25:00.003-06:00

Every time I open Iphoto, the program opens to the same set of old family pictures. It is like the computer is trying to tell me something!

Isn't it funny how fast time goes? Because I can 'TOTALLY' remember this day... like it was yesterday!

So Iphoto opens to a lovely family photo with a bald little Eve!

Evie and Savannah had matching Sunday dresses (the most widely photographed $2 dresses known to man... and I still have them! :). I purchased them at Old Navy, and they were the girls Christmas 2000 dresses, Savannah's 'Court Adoption' dresses, Savannah's yearly portrait dress, and Mom had a somewhat matching dress... and this particular night, we went to the Melting Pot with the Connelly's. (Which I just wrote about on FB, because Brandon and I went to the Melting Pot last month here, in Utah, for a date, and got to order what ever we wanted!)

Anyway, while we were taking these lovely photos, all dressed up... Savannah had other plans, in the kitchen! Mom and Dad weren't looking... let the mischief begin!

The next night, Sunday, we had the missionaries over for dinner. They fascinated us with 'hand-towel' art! Rock on! Who knew you could make dead chickens out of hand-towels!

Well while we were again, taking extra pictures with the missionaries, Savannah went to her USUAL 'mischief' spot! Oh, how many pictures I have of Savannah in this very spot... one time she had squirted out a WHOLE bottle of ketchup! Remember this look on her face... you will see it A LOT! All who know her... know 'this charismatic look!' Don't ya?

Love you Nanny! And your new glasses too! She gets her new tennis uniform today! Talk about excitement!!! I will post pictures ASAP!

Annual Family Work Party

2011-09-11T22:34:00.001-06:00

Last Thursday we attended the annual Family Party for Work.

Brandon started working at Move Networks again, so after telling our kids how well-behaved they needed to be, we headed to the party at Drew Majors home.

This home was amazing. We rode ATV's in his yard, swam, ate ribs and BBQ, and Savannah went to the tennis court, while the Jacob and Caleb got along together most magnificently, while playing volleyball.

I had never rode an ATV before so this was a lot of fun for me, especially with my boys!

It was also so amazing to me to sit in the passengers seat in my car, and again relish that my Jacob is old enough to chauffeur me to fancy parties or anywhere else I want to go!

Dalyn enjoyed swimming so much, that he never stopped to eat dinner. I felt bad for him because it was such yummy 'boy' food! BBQ ribs, shredded steak, chicken, etc., and I knew he would love it, but her apparently loves swimming more!

All the kids did get a turn on the ATV's though. This home had its own greenhouse too, near where we are taking a picture on the ATV's and so there were all these exotic 'summer-y' potted plants, that were amazing!

Rainy stayed on the diving board the whole time, and Evie pretty much too. It was great to see Evie 'come out of her shell' when in a pool. Her 'shy-ness' just seems to vanish.

The most amazing thing about this house, was its amphitheater set up, and speakers, and colored glass!

Savannah has made the tennis team at school. YAY SAVANNAH! So that was just another reason she was glued to the tennis court, and wishes we had one... ya right!

We were given nice gifts and we had a fun evening. I am sure the kids are counting down for next year...

but I miss you J!

First day of Jr. High! Wait she is only 11... My baby!!!!

2011-08-22T12:55:00.000-06:00

It was the first REAL day of Jr. High today (The 7th graders did go for half a day last Friday with no other grades there, just so they could have a chance to find everything and learn to use lockers combos etc.)

Our Bishop's Wife is sooooooo on top of everything! This is the girl portion of the carpool. She even laminated little cards for the girls and Mom's to keep with them at all times, with 911 contact info and a driving schedule.

Wow. I started Savannah in kindergarten at 4 years old. So there she is 1.5 years younger than any other kid and you would never know if I didn't tell you.

I am sooooo proud of her and she is so grown up and about to pass me in height... and she steals my clothes! She is such the cute young woman... well almost a young women (at 12 for Church.)\

Caleb is in this carpool too but only on the way home because he has early morning seminary. Poor Caleb, I brought him lunch today, because this is not his favorite first day of school. My little boy. Tell you about his perils in its own post.

Rock it this year Savannah!!!!!!!!!!!

Straight as an ARROW!

2011-08-15T18:54:00.011-06:00

Do U laugh 2 at today's youths' "COOL" expressions?

I was shocked and extremely joyful today to have spent the day at the University of Utah Medical Center's Spinal Institute, and to find out that my Jacob does not have any kyphotic or scoliosis of the spine.

Jacob has been followed over the years for his slouching, but today's full battery of pictures show all normal shaped vertebrae, along with a straight-up spine with a normal swaying back... it is confirmed he just has poor posture and we can indeed begin saying "Stand up Straight!!!" (I never said that before because I hated it when people said it to me because it was physically impossible.")

Anyway, I have to tell my family, so you all get to know. Jacob still has to work on his posture, or he will be 'a haten' when he is an old guy... but he is sooooo obsessed with 'his guns' and his 'six pack'... and is signed up for weight lifting his junior year (that starts next week... ahhhhhh!) so it shouldn't ever be an issue.

PS... do you remember that little boy on the airplane that ate Jacob's snacks on his way to EFY? Do you know that Jake came home and told me the boy kept his shoes that were in the bag too?! LOL! And worse, I assumed that kid was an 'unaccompanied-minor' but he was sitting next to his Mom! That just gives a WHOLE new meaning to "oooother peoples mothers????"

Jake had a great time at EFY. He said it was one of the best experiences ever. His favorite parts were the 'all youth outdoor games', the dance, and his counselor and roommate from Vegas. When asked if it was all about scriptures by Misty, he said, "no, we learned one principle of the Gospel each day and then we lived it all day." Rock on Jake!

He said he would totally go back. Caleb was very jealous. He wanted to go to a Church History EFY in Nauvoo that was offered this year, but he needs to be one year older to avoid the now ridiculous $200 unaccompanied-minor fee.

I can't believe I am old enough to have a junior and and a freshman in high school. Jake's 4.0 has colleges already scheduling interviews with him. He gets as much mail as we do! Where did the time go?

WELL the surgeon gave me a complementary check-up today too! It has been a hard summer, but back dramas are all over in the Call Family... never to be discussed again! Perfectly straight and NO PAIN whatsoEVA! (I will have to talk to you about 'phantom-itching' sometime though as a joke! :) I no longer require any medications, except an unusually excessive amount of Vitamin D... which if I go all organic, means I need to move to HAWAII!!! LOL!

Rainy's Birthday Week! Day 2

2011-08-06T01:22:00.003-06:00

I already started writing about day 1 of Rainy's birthday week, and haven't published it yet. But I am going to move on to day 2 (this last Monday)!

The PRIVATE HOUR! Mommy-Daughter Date Day!

Rainy wanted her private hour to be a trip to the movie theater, like she did with her Daddy the year prior.

Everything had to be done the same way as the year before. Right down to the soda and large popcorn!

Now what movie was chosen... THE SMURFS!

I hear this movie isn't getting the best of reviews... off the subject of birthdays...

I thought it a crying shame that they didn't make the original cartoons more available to the kidos, via netflix, and hulu, and youtube, and TV....

so basically only my generation knew all the little smurfy details and caught on to the 'lingo' and catch-phrases, etc.

Back to birthdays!

Rainy is soooooooooooo a primper. She used all THREE mirrors in my bathroom to get ready!

So first we had to primp... and I was TOLD I would primp too! :)

So we primped with make-up and hair-dos, and wore matching clips, and then primped. and primped!

Then we took pictures primping and primping.

Mascara was when we're stopped. No worries!

And then Rainy took pictures of me primping, and then she took pictures of both of us primping.

There was lots of documentation of primping, and now I am prolonging the agony of primping. :)

Hey have I told you we primped? :)

Then when we got in the car, Rainy primped more!

OK when we got to the movie theater all primping stopped...

because I had bought tickets to the wrong Smurfs!

I had purchased tickets to the Smurfs in 3D! So the excitement of getting to wear the glasses and watch it in 3D overtook personal hygiene and bows!

We bought our popcorn and soda and went in to the show with our fun glasses!

I had a great time and Rainy is so pretty and just is such a hilarious and energetic girl, and when you go on a private hour with her you just get to know her so much more.

Guess I will overlook that our little Birdie filled my dryer with birdseed!

I think we might all smell like burnt birdseed FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES! jk!

Love you Rain!

Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay.

2011-08-02T00:28:00.003-06:00

Caleb and Savannah (I will add a picture in the morning) got their braces on! (Savannah wanted them soooooo bad so she would look more teen-like and now she is sucking down Tylenol and asking to get them off. Poor girl!)

And Evie got her chains 'activated' today. After that, she got to pick out of the treasure box.

She picked a TOP to spin... but what she said, was soooooooooo cute! She said, "Look Mommy at my Dreidel!" then she went on to say that she remembered wining a dreidel spinning match at the Kids Museum when she was at Misty's.

I just thought it was funny that after being chosen for the big 'Holiday Around the World Program' at her school 4 years ago, to represent Hanukkah, being the only token blood yielding girl of Jewish heritage, and then carving the most perfect dreidel with her Daddy.... (I have to find a picture)... she remembers and calls all TOPS ... DREIDELS.

You are too cute Evie! EVERYONE SING...

EFY! NO BRACES! MORE MISSING TEETH?

2011-07-29T16:31:00.025-06:00

Jake-holio (gamer-name) or Jacob-p-whistle as he calls himself on Facebook ROCKS!!!! AND is at EFY in REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA this week!!!! ( I originally thought of driving Jake to see family there the same week, but nobody invited me... but it is ok, I wasn't up to it anyway.) I will make it to Seaworld soon though!

I can't believe how grown up Jacob is. It breaks my heart to see my baby gone but then it warms my soul to see how much of an honorable young man he has become. I love him sooooo much. My first born! Doesn't it seem like your first born baby was a baby for forever... and then the other babies grew like weeds? I guess because we were so young, time went slower. Dang perceptions of time!

So because of new security, you just drop your 16 year-old on the curb at the airport. AHHHH for a MOM!!!!!!!! Then mommies worry: will he find security? Will they grope him? Have I taught him how to read those boards and find the gate? Wait does he even know there are terminals?

Well of course, and as Brandoneous would say, I worry too much, he is a big boy now.

Man I just looked up from my desk into the mirror above it and I look kinda cute today. My new glasses match my lipstick. :)

But even cuter is Jacob!!!! Check him out with no BRACES!!!!!!!! He still has that random one 12-year molar that hasn't erupted or finished developing... the ortho says if it does finish developing and come in... it will be when he is on his mission because it is about 3 years away from done.

I also took Dalyn in for an ortho evaluation because his upper teeth are sooooooo far apart from each other! TURNS OUT THAT HE IS MISSING HIS 6-YEAR MOLARS COMPLETELY... like as in NOT THERE EVER! And just on top! What? Does Heavenly Father know what family to send kids to or what? He just fits right on in, in the messed up teeth department, here with the Call's!

BTW... Notice Jacobs hair cut it will probably be the last time you see his ears (hair cut #2) and I had to buy him shorts that went to the knee. I think he chose well.

OK Back to Jake's trip...

Misty called and said he arrived OK! But he had a funny story!

So the only thing missing from Jacob's list of things needed for EFY were flip-flops (EFY in CA for ya!), so we stopped at WallyFart, and picked up a pair on the way to the airport. I told Jacob to grab some snacks too because I didn't want him to be tempted to use his spending money on expensive food at the airport.

Jake grabbed a bag of chips, and a big mega-box of M&Ms. I also grabbed a bag of 12 pens for me and forgot them in the bag with his snacks. So Jake got on the plane, and part way thru, reached down to grab his snacks... that had slid under his seat to the little boy behind him... who was eating his M&Ms at the time and using my pens! Jake didn't know what he should do. So he did nothing and watched the little boy move on to eating his chips. Poor but sharing Jake!

Misty took really good care of Jacob though. And Jacob played with her kids all that day. She said she mapped the building that Jacob is at, at the University of Redlands and it is exactly 4 miles from her house. Misty, knows me well enough to tell me that because I worry about taking advantage of people and 4 miles makes me feel very happy. THANKS MISTY FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!

Before contacts and braces off.... longboarding!

When Misty dropped Jacob off she said that she LOVED his counselor. That he looked and spoke like the perfect leader for Jake. Misty also made me feel better by telling me that when Jacob checked-in, he was 'flagged' to go see the dietitian. Man EFY is coordinated!!!!! And takes a LOAD of worry off a mom! I don't even remember what I wrote on the enrollment form.

Well as with the airport curb, Jacob told Misty she could just leave him at check-in and he would be fine. HE IS A BIG BOY NOW!

AND I am convinced he is made of rubber, because he healed so fast that his face is almost totally clear of wounds... his knee is still yucky, and his chest is scabbed, but unless you look at the knee you can barely tell he had an accident.

Unfortunately I couldn't find the charger for my camera, DANG! So we bought one of those digital crappers from WalMart. I hope they are at least somewhat ok... we will see! And I am sure there will be FB pictures from roomies and stuff to see... so look forward (yes I can pronounce that word correctly now Christy M. lol!) to more to come!

I MISS YOU JAKE! SEE YOU MONDAY!!

THANKS MISTY FOR ALWAYS OPENING YOUR HOME!!!

THANKS BRANDONEOUS FOR PICKING HIM UP!!

(SNIFFLE SNIFFLE)

Happy Birthday C. Fox and Eve Fox

2011-07-28T20:38:00.002-06:00

Eve was actually a bit scared of the serpent at first!

So I better blog about Evie and my birthday tradition before it is already Rainy's birthday. I am soooo behind. I still have Caleb asking me for the rest of his bday week. Ahhhhhh!

Well as in years past, Eve chose that we leave town for SLC on my Bday and stay at the Anniversary Inn and wake up on her birthday.

That is just what we did... only I surprised her! Evie was sooooo jealous that Brandon got me chocolate covered strawberries for Mother's Day, so I had chocolate covered strawberries waiting for her in the room, and rose petals all over the floor! (Don't remind Evie that she saved one berry to bring home and then left it in my car... until I figured out what that horrid smell was weeks later!)

So Evie chose that we stay in the Egyptian Pyramid Suite. The Mysteries of Egypt! I took some great pictures inside the dining area because, oh my, the ceiling was soooo high! It was definitely a pyramid.

We unpacked and headed to Trolley Square for dinner. Eve got all dressed up like last year and I surprised her by taking her to the Spaghetti Factory. (Which gave her many flash backs of the Potter's... apparently they like to eat there! But I remember how serious the Potter's take their Italian food! What was the name of that restaurant that started with a 'Z' Misty?)

We got yummy food, they sang to her and she ate spumoni ice cream for the first time, and we each had two Italian Sodas. ROCK ON!

Now we got our food to go because we stopped and got THESE plates (see picture). They are porcelain and they have a girl face on them, and you have to decorate them with your food!

Eve chose the movies again this year... and we brought snacks (candy)... because the dinner, ice cream, chocolate covered strawberries, complementary cheesecake and apple cider, Italian Sodas, garlic bread, and cheese bread, just weren't enough!!!!!

So Evie chose Legally Blonde for day one and Legally Blonde II for day two, and we ate candy!!

This year was as fun as last year! Remember the light house with the round bed and you stare up at fish?

Then I came home to find a yummy cake from Gloria's Little Italy, in my fridge from the Ballard's... so glad they threatened my kids not to eat it before I came home! LOL!

I love Italian cream!

Epic Longboard Fail

2011-07-16T19:19:00.006-06:00

Jake crashed on his longboard when he hit a man hole behind the Mc Donald's fast food. On the hill. He did take an ambulance just in case his eye socket, or ribs were broken, but everything checked out ok, knee, hand, and hip too. No broken bones. Having his braces removed from his lip was the hardest and longest part. Poor guy! I am just glad he still has his braces on. They saved his teeth! He gets them of next Thursday. SEE JAKE... sacrificing last month and going on the Trek and missing getting your braces removed then, paid off.

The irony of this situation is that Jake is heading to EFY and on this same day I informed Jake that he had to cut off his many locks and his ears had to be fully exposed. Now this created more trauma than his injuries.

Jake tried to inform me that since he was going to EFY in California, that he didn't need to cut his hair because ... "it's California... Mormons that are liberal." (How liberal are you Misty? lol)

So I told Jake that he could either come with me to get a hair cut or I could have Brandon hold him down. Then he ends up flat on his back. To bad I didn't have clippers! JK!

We only joke now because Jake is ok so now this is an epic, hero, get the girls at EFY set of wounds. :)

I told Jake next week is devoted to him. I do love his hair too, but I found a nice Mormon lady who says she knows how to do the perfect hair cut for these longboarding boys. Then I need to get him some longer and thank goodness, baggier shorts (Emo days are out now... WAHOO!). I had just bought the shorts he was wearing when he crashed.

So Jake will go to EFY still on July 24th. I am very excited for him and thankful to Potter's, who are picking him up.

I want Jake to see how life is outside of Utah County. I hope and pray he comes home like some of the other kids I have seen and heard.

Jake we are so glad that you are ok. YOU SCARED THE PISS OUT OF US! There will be more safety required for longboarding.

As I wrote on Facebook Jake came home 3 days before this with a black eye from 'ultimate boxing'. This is were you act out the video games. I moved up his curfew for this one.

You see Brandon telling the kids he is invincible has rubbed off and now I have a young man who wants to be invincible too. I don't understand boys, but I do understand girls and I know Jake is going to get lots of girl sympathy.

The 4th finally!

2011-07-16T14:23:00.001-06:00

Happy Independence Day!

So our water levels are so high here in Utah since it was still snowing in June... and butt freezing for the very first time when we went to Aspen Grove, that we were ALLOWED, all those (used-to-be) illegal fireworks that everyone snuck in from Jackson Hole.

In fact they sold them HERE! In tents. All you wanted! So I walked in and asked this teenager selling everything, what would be the funnest, but 'cheap' way to have my 16 year-old in aerial firework heaven!

So he sold me some aerials and I gave them to Jake. Who shared with Caleb and EVE! And just made Eve's night!

I had a lot of fun chatting it up with the ladies and watching Bryan grab the bat every time someone else's child (including Caleb) went for the watermelon pinata and actually was about to miss and get another child. Don't worry there were no casualties and I think all 50 kids had a great time. I was glad I showed up with 3 extra watermelons.

I have never seen so many families and kids at our (what used to be little) fireworks party. All the pictures though are on my FLIP not on this camera so I will have to find them and post them. You will laugh your head of and the whole idea. Every time a watermelon was busted open by a bat, all the kids would just dive for pieces. It is a crack up and Ballard's are crazy but totally fun for doing it.

My kidos really enjoyed telling everyone that they have done a Japanese pinata every year that they have been born.

We had a great feast, wow when everyone brings something! There was every thing from BBQ steak and chicken to BBQ shrimp (yum!) and home made ice cream!

I brought the soda and watermelons.

Eve was crazy about lighting off all the fireworks herself. She is so grown up now... but not as much as Savannah, who got all dressed, or should I say 'dolled' up for such an occasion.

Independence Day turned Caleb

2011-07-05T12:14:00.007-06:00

Man I need to watch that movie!

Well first let me also recognize and thank the Hougaard's for taking my girls on a sleep-over for 24 hours. YOU ROCK... nothing more can top that. I made sure to sleep the whole time. Thank you.

OK so back to all those little kids busting watermelon! Well I took a little longer getting help and shopping than I thought. So the block party started about 30 minutes before I got home... and who came and got my kids and BBQ-ed for them and gave me a big hug... it will give it away if I say AFTER giving me a huge insult... but Bro. Morgan. (Brother Morgan makes up your name for that day usually depending on what you look like that day. lol!) Thanks Bro. M and other hottie Kristina for your help!

Oh... secret... don't tell. I just asked Jake why he isn't having Caleb help him clean and he said "MOM, I am doing Caleb's hair so he can go hang out with the girl he likes." Since when has Jake cared about Caleb's love life? And hey... since when has Caleb had a love life? So I asked if she was in our ward (when Caleb was out of our room) and Jake said no but then he whispered, "You can check her out on Facebook." OUUUU-LA-LA!

Then I heard Jake say "Mason, come look at how hot I did my brother's hair!"

OK hope you liked that interjection. Now let me pass out that my 14 year-old is going to meet a gorgeous red-head who is moving up to high school!

MICHELLE TEASDALE... I JUST SAW YOUR GIRLS AND NIECES ON 'SAID RED-HEADS' FB PAGE!!!! OK don't rat me out... I got caught last time! Not by you of course... JAKE'S FRIEND.

I was going to put a picture but maybe I will wait to hear if Michelle's girls go through her 'blog follows'.

OK the 4th is still coming!

Maybe if she didn't have such a bird-like name?

2011-06-29T12:22:00.000-06:00

Maybe if Rainy didn't have such a bird-like name (ie. birdie...) I wouldn't have found my dryer filled with burnt bird seed, while fixing the washer.

Now why is there bird seed in my dryer when we don't even have a FREAKN' BIRD??????

Men will never understand what children do to us mommies when we are sick. I think it is an ingrained-brain-thing to 'make your mom's recovery as heinous as possible' ... and then smile at Dad so she looks like a wimp, therefore thus taking away all sympathy, poem, and flower possibilities!

Jani thank you for the beautiful flowers... that aren't signed but I can tell it is you!!!! I still don't have your text number. You are an awesome girl!

Well got to go. Dalyn just flushed a ROLL of TP down a clogged toilet.

And then there is Caleb... living at Ballard's for a week to play 24hr LOTRO. LUCKY! I want to go. It is cleaner there!

I can't complain though. I say this in jest. BECAUSE I think I conquered the washer... let's go check NOW! BRB!

YES! I FIXED THE WASHER!!!!!!! I may only weigh 112 pounds now but BRING IT ON!

Guess that means I need to clean the bird seed if I have any intention of being presentable in court! Or I will just hurl on her ... haven't decided!

Thanks Jani for not leaving me alone!

2011-06-25T03:15:00.003-06:00

I have spent quality time with kids and friends because of your help. Thank you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANI! You rocker!

Happy 14th Birthday my absentee son... should I say James or Caleb?

2011-06-11T01:19:00.019-06:00

OH MY FAVORITE GREEN-EYED BOY!!!

Today is Caleb's birthday and as every mother would dread, he is not here for me to hug, kiss, and make a cake for.

Now I am really, I mean REALLY bad with Church history... and oooooh how I regret that I didn't not call Carol and Norm. (Don't you love them... I remember talking to Norm about BYU for hours). but boy could they have helped.

So since, Brandon is sick and I have to all on my own, help the boys get ready for a pioneer trek in Wyoming. They are doing the Mormon Handcart Trek at Martin's Cove.

Now they are required to walk in place of an ancestor. They, and by they I mean Jake and Caleb, had to find the stories and pictures and choose a person to walk in the place of.

Now I will tell you about who Jake is later. But you will love it! He is Peter Sheffield Barson (Hyrum's Barson Dad), but since it is Caleb's Birthday I want to focus on him!

So I got out Fae's Scott Family books. I chose James Smithies for Caleb. Now James in an in-law so there wasn't as much information on him as Jacob's ancestor. James married a Scott girl.

But I wanted to make sure the boys had the perfect stories. Ones that had hardship but ended in triumph.

So James married a Scott girl and crossed the plains with Brigham Young. Now after hardships of losing babies but having a HUGE family in the end, James seemed to have his dreams be his realities... with music!!!

When James got to Salt Lake (not called Utah yet), he was known as "the Music Man".... is that sooooo CALEB!!! Born in 1810, he was the second man to take charge of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.... and actually journal about it and about traveling with Brigham Young.

He also owned one of only 3 violins in SLC. Again sooooooo Caleb! For a living he was a farmer... but for the most part a musician.

His exact date of birth was not in the book and I had to write it on Caleb's paperwork, so I put that his birthday was June 10th... so Caleb could share his birthday with James... 101 years later.

My birthday present to Caleb even though I am not there.

I do have a regret. We had to send our written testimonies to the boys. We wrote them on paper and gave them to the stake and then the pony express will deliver them to the boys..... oh why did I not think to write HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I just didn't think of the dates that far in advance to make the connection.

Now have a growth spurt and get taller than your 10 & 11 year-old sisters!

So Caleb, when you read this when you are older. I love you more than life itself. You are my hero, and my comforter. You are one of the most perfect kids a mom could ask for. I tell you all the time, that I find so much comfort in knowing I never have to worry about what decisions you will make in life. I know you will go on a mission, no matter how I raise you (although I hope I do good!)... and I know you're patient, compromising, and true to your convictions, and have an ability to see through people, which will mean you WILL be a Bishop some day and higher. I love knowing this deep in my heart and soul. You were the best Deacon's Quorum President and it was amazing to watch you go above and beyond your calling.

Happy 14th Birthday my 'red-head' loving boy!

I miss you and want to wish you the best happy birthday ever! I can't wait to hear the details and I hope you love coming home to a surprise party!

I can't find the cord to my Ipad to download and post pictures of the boys in their authentic pioneer clothes... boy do they look sweet! I did good on the shopping.... I will post them soon! Wait until you see all the kids! Hats, aprons, bonnets (for girls of course) pioneer pants and shirts!

122 Photos & 82 movies all in one day yesterday! Hello ASPEN GROVE!!

2011-06-08T11:37:00.004-06:00

First I have to thank Todd... who came and took my kids for an adventure and gave me this time to blog.

It was very nice, and yes I planned it that way, that after Brandon had surgery on a Friday, that the next week, he would only work half the week because it was time for OUR YEARLY FAMILY TRADITION!!!

ASPEN GROVE!!!

It is so much of a tradition, to go up to the mini-camp in June that I have told my children that they are required to attend every year until they die, with the exception of missions.

The kids tell me that Aspen Grove is more fun than Disneyland!

Well lets get to all the stories about CALL'S and DAHL'S at ASPEN GROVE!

So my kidos couldn't even sleep the few days before... the excitement was overwhelming... especially trying to pack when everyone was so pepped up! But we did it...and when we got there, everyone took a big deep breath because it is unbelievalbe!

We stayed in cabin 12B this time! It was a nine person cabin, right next door to cabin 12A where we stayed last year. The big girls took the loft and the boys and Rainy took the room with two sets of bunk beds.

Dahl's stayed in the Beckham Lodge and Jake mooched a shower from their nicer sleeping quarters, after breakfast each morning.

I have told you... I have asked my kidos if we could 'move up' and stay in the lodge... but they say the cabins are the funnest part of the trip (and well ironically, it is the cheapest too.)

So on day one... the kids and I drove up, and unpacked while Dad finished the work day... and then came and met us there (about 2 1/2 hours after the camp started.)

... whiiiiich was long enough for the kids to notice that 'Dad was not there'!

We met on the lawn for 'family games' and Eve asked to go back to the cabin,

and I said 'no lets go play'

and Eve said 'no offense Mom but it is just not fun without Dad.'

ahhhhh cute for Dad!

BUT I told Eve that I am invincible now too and can play games just like Dad!

So when we went for it (Caleb, Eve, Me Jake, and Dalyn) we actually won the 'volleyball' with sheets game and rocked the bean bag toss! I showed my kids that Mom is back! (ha that is a pun for me!)

Our pictures even ended up in the final sideshow of the week that Aspen Grove shows at the end of the camp in an assembly and puts up on their website. (When Aspen Grove posts them... I will show you! They had a GREAT ONE OF ME winning the volleyball game! YAY ME/ I made the sideshow! Can you believe it? And my new back! IS BACK! :)

So do you realize I have two young adult/teens at Aspen Grove now?!!! 14 and 16! DANG I am old! And it is official... my boys only date red-heads!

....AAAAAAnd who might have found love this year? And might have danced with girls? and might have walked a certain red-head back to her room?

This kinda shocked us a bit. Especially when after the walking her to her room, and upon returning to our cabin,

Brandon said, "remember if you kiss someone for the first time you owe us ice cream." (a Call-Fox tradition for every new person you kiss... and yes we hold Jake up to this standard! Every tine he kisses someone new! :)

And Mr. Caleb said "I know", and then went in his room and shut the door all nonchalant rather than joking around and saying "EWWWWW Gross", which is what we expected him to say!

Bubba and I just looked at each other with huge eyes and open mouths and then laughed while staring at each other for a little while.

Ah my little baby is growing up! And at Aspen Grove!(Well Jacob grew up at Disneyland!)

And is my OLDEST boy JACOB SO wonderful or what! So sweet with his siblings this year. I was a proud mama!

More to come!!! OH SO MUCH MORE!!!

Thanks J!!!!

2011-06-04T18:54:00.004-06:00

Dear J,

You are sooooo sweet to send Brandoneous this wonderful fruit bouquet!

It is beautiful! (or should I say was?!!! YUM! :)

Bubbs is doing so much better from his original surgery day!

You know... I didn't blog about the details, but then Brandoneous told me he told everyone at work all the 'crazy' stuff! So I guess privacy is not a Brandoneous concern... and I kinda like that about him! :)

Pure enjoyment J

He has a follow up appointment next Monday and Wednesday. I will take good care of him. I know the stitches in his nose are driving him crazy but I love knowing that he is healthy and 'nuts and bolt' free!

You are sweet to think of us, and your treat came on a night when we had all the kids in bed, and were relaxing and thinking about our little trip we just went on.

I hope you are feeling better. Bubbs tells me you have had some rough days. You are always in our prayers too!

See you soon!

-C

Poor Brandoneous... who is still invincible!

2011-05-27T13:07:00.004-06:00

Bubbs had surgery today. We are going to stay in the hospital until he can wake up coherent. No more marbles and jacks in his head (is that what the guys at work said?)

I have been holding his oxygen mask for him because for some reason, when it is on, he has nightmares. But he is sleeping now.

OHH... I get to feed him pudding CHOCOLATE! This makes sure I don't have any 'want-a-baby' cravings because now I get to feed him like a baby. (I even wiped his lips with the spoon after each bite, while he ate half asleep! Yup definite help with the 'I-want-a-baby' compulsions!)

BUT BRANDONEOUS IS MY BABY!

He keeps whispering in his sleep that he has to get up and go to work. I know he planned on it (going in half a day) but he didn't plan on complications. I have avoided the question about what time it is, so he will rest, because there is no way the doctors are going to release him right now anyway.

U2 waiting WELL WORTH IT!!!!!

2011-05-24T17:40:00.004-06:00

I just told Brandon that Jeff left a message on my blog, and Brandon asked if I would post these!!!!

SO AFTER TWO DAYS!!!! They did it! They are on the front row standing at the stage... at the U2 Concert!!! Jeff they miss you and are still thinking about you!

OH AND THE SUN CAME OUT... THEY ARE DRY... AND HAPPY! GLEE-BOYEEEE!

LOVE MY BOY... and that is the stage!!!!

YES FOLKS THIS WOULD BE THEIR SPOT!!!!

In the TUNNEL with WYNNIE and U2!

2011-05-24T14:06:00.016-06:00

Couldn't stop for pictures... too excited!

Brandon has been semi-camping out in the tunnel for tonight's U2 concert for 2 days! This is after planning this concert for he and his college roommates for almost 2 years.

The line starts in this tunnel with the first 4 girls being hard-core BONO fans!

The tunnel is awesome because it has been POURING rain, and the line seriously goes outside the tunnel and their are people just standing in it, for days!

SO Brandon is number 72 and Wynn Hougaard is number 73. There are periodic roll calls and if you are not there in the line, you get removed from the 'first to go into the pit' line.

I counted last night and there are 56 people in front of Brandon, even though they don't go through and change everyone's numbers when people are crossed off the list for not being present.

Last night Wynn could not go to roll call because he had to work in order to get today off, so I went to the tunnel to take his place.

When roll call came they said

"number 72"

and Brandon said

"here"

and they said

"what is your name?" (to match to their lists)

and Brandon, of course said

"Brandon."

Then it came time for

"number 73"

and I said

"here, and WYNNIE"

... and they went on to number 74. Oh being part of the adrenaline in that tunnel, the energy, the excitement, the thrill... it was invigorating!!! (Then we went to Izzy's to chow!)

SWEET SMILE!

And to see the smile from ear to ear on Brandon's face... oh to see that smile. It melted me. Brandon says I am giddy now, but I am just so excited for him to do something that brings him such a rush and so much enjoyment.

I really wanted to stay after what I saw, and it is one of the times that being itty-bitty doesn't work in my favor.

Brandon even has an extra ticket but it is not recommended for people under 5'8' to be in the pit. And I would not want to slow Brandon (who would try to keep me from getting smuuuuushed for sure) and Wynn down (and Brandon deserves a 'boys night' out!), because I know they are going to jump those 56 people and I don't want to hamper their jumping distance and mega-giant 10-foot leg range!!!! (GO GET"M BOYS!)

... then I know my gallant husband will make sure that those first 4 girls, who worked so hard, get their dream spot... and then Brandon will be right next to them, ready to touch BONO, in the best spot in the house!!!!!!!

Brandon got dressed 2 days early out of excitement!

Brandon may call me giddy today, but it is because I want to vicariously live through him today. Not because I am as big of a U2 fan as him, but because he is sooooo thrilled and I just want to watch him be thrilled! Is that weird?

Now it is too funny, but there is wi-fi in that tunnel (who-knew), so I have been able to talk to Brandon today, both through IM and Voice-IM. It is sooooo funny that there is wi-fi in this tunnel because this one mega-groupie at the front of the line had the most AWESOME picture of BONO, that she should TOTALLY sell, and Brandon asked if she would email it to him... and then he said "seriously."

And the girl said it was on her Facebook page... so, I whipped out my Ipad and I TOTALLY FRIEND-ED a girl in a tunnel!!!!! For a BONO picture. SWEET DAY we live in now!

U2 has always been a passion of Brandon's, and I have great memories of our anniversary where I surprised him with front row tickets... when he opened my present and looked down at those U2 tickets and saw that the date was RIGHT THEN (like start driving or we will be late)... he was seriously... SPEECHLESS... I had to point out for him to look at what row we were in... when he saw ROW ONE... he seriously couldn't talk for a little while... speechless!

GREATEST ANNIVERSARY EVER!... GAME ON BRANDON!!!! (We alternate years, trying to 'one up' the other person, on the activity.)

How I left him... final picture.. happy and warm!

So be excited for Brandon tonight! He is having the time of his life!!! And I am so happy he could share it with Wynn (a member of our forever house-guests that we miss!) And I know they are missing/thinking of YOU... JEFF! (You are a beloved friend and a forever college room-mate!... and you too Karyn :)

AND cross your fingers that it stops raining because it is an outside concert... RAIN OR SHINE!!

A little trip to Venice (aka... U of U)

2011-05-21T18:50:00.010-06:00

Brandon laughs at me for ending a post (like the last Mother's Day post) with an intention to continue the story since sometimes I don't, although most of the time I do, just out of order.

So yes I am going out of order again. Basically what it comes down to, and what it always is, is how handy my pictures are for said activity.

Last Friday Brandon had an appointment to see a specialist at the University of Utah Medical Center. Now his appointment was at 9:15am, so we knew we could either get up at 6 and beat rush hour to get that far OR we could sleep down the road...

on Fifth South! Our favorite hang-out!

Sooooooooo I used my $50 coupon for our anniversary and we stayed at the Anniversary Inn, in the VENICE suite.

I chose the Venice room because Brandon had just brought me to 'Gloria's Little Italy' for Italian desserts. We had things I can't pronounce with berries, filo dough, chocolate, and Italian cream, along with Gelato! (I have pictures but I have to find them! You will get soooo hungry!)

So I thought this would be somewhat symbolic of Brandon taking me there. The family who owns this restaurant lives in our ward... but that is not why I am 'pitching' their restaurant! Like I say below, I am very particular about my sugar, so if I say it is yummy... then it is! Go there... you won't be let down!

WAY COOL!

Who would have thought to build a Gondola and make it a bed in the back and a couch in the front?!!!

Wicked sweet!

The Gondola looked like it was on water. The carpet was water color and had waves in the texture. Then there were poles and big ropes to dock.

A fountain soothed us to an almost sleep (not the best night sleep we have ever had), but it sure wasn't the rooms fault!

When we went to turn off all the lights and leave the fountain on, Brandon realized you could make the room dark and then turn the lights on inside the building facade. This is hard to describe but since we are supposedly floating on a Gondola in the water, there was the facade of housing with beautiful Italian windows.

There were lights behind these opaque windows, and you could dim them so it looked like you were really floating down a river.

We always love the Anniversary Inn. One perk about Utah... Good clean fantasy!

Cheese cake (I don't like this but it is elegant. I have told you, I don't like cheese in my sugar! Just the sugar please!) in the fridge, water bottles, sparkling pear juice chilling by the bath, a Bumble Bee Fizz ball to excite the water, fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies, and a gourmet breakfast!

Since last year when I stayed in the 'Light House' room with Eve, and there was a slight problem with the... (censored).

When we first got there this time... management sent us a treat, thanks to good customer service notes in our file from our previous visit.

We got to enjoy some Pretzels with nacho cheese and marinara while sitting in our gondola, or soaking in the jacuzzi water-fall bath, while watching Battlestar Galactica (You would think we could have come up with a more romantic movie!) Usually we do...

but the last few episodes have just left us hanging and we couldn't take it anymore! So we left the Anniversary Inn at 9:09am (after buying a gift certificate for Eve's Birthday) and invincible Brandoneous made it to the front door of his doctors appointment at 9:15am!

NO WAY!!! I sooooo WISH I could get around town like that, with his sense of direction.

Strange traditions I married into

2011-05-17T02:40:00.017-06:00

(First off... sorry for the blogging gap... we have had the 'family flu'... you know the kind that comes... one person at a time!) :)

STRANGE TRADITIONS I MARRIED INTO!

At first it was hard for me to get used to the fact that Call's don't always celebrate on the EXACT day of an occasion.

What I mean, is when it was my birthday as a child, my Dad took me out or threw me a party THAT day.

Then I married into a family (or at least a Brandoneous Brain) where there is this whole... extended holiday EXTRA days/ and or celebrating on different days than the actual occasion (not that I am complaining AT ALL!:).

Well obviously I can't complain because it was just Mother's Day and I think I got Mother's Day thoughts/acts/gifts/loves for about a week straight!

So the Friday night before, Dipped Strawberries AND Dipped Cookies came in the mail from Brandoneous... (this was very outside his box so I was quite shocked and happy, especially since my wonderful Brandoneous couldn't join us Saturday.) Sorry baby!

You done did good Brandoneous! Wait til' you see how I paid you back!

Then when Brandon was too sick to 'Party-On' the Saturday before Mother's Day (Mother's Day Weekend as my kids have learned/titled it), my kids took it upon themselves to surprise and treat me... (Seriously, they pulled all this off without any ideas from another adult! Brandoneous you will be so proud of the young men you have prepared! Just read this my love:)

OH MY... CAN I JUST SAY OH MY AGAIN!!! FROM KIDS!!!!

HAVE THEY LEARNED THE ART OF ROMANCE OR WHAT?

First, they made me breakfast in bed. (I don't think I have a picture of that because well... I have some little kids still, so I had to make some of the food disappear and then give the appearance of sheer and utter happiness...

if you get my drift!... some things I am not even sure where eatable.) Cute though huh?

So my kids threw me in the car (almost literally :) and Jake even drove...

so I could RELAX... as they put it.

They drove me to Thanksgiving Point where I was signed up to attend a class, at the Emporium Kitchen, on how to make Macaroons!

I made many a Macaroon, ate some Macaroons, and then started hording the Macaroons I made... so as to share with my thoughtful children, at the end of our instruction. (I even as much, after class, asked for the Macaroons that didn't turn out, so I might share with considerate and caring children.)

Outside the kitchen... Macaroon sharing to come!

I LOVE THIS FACE!!!! :D

OH it was sooooo fun!

And my sweet older boys took the younger kids to the 'Farm' petting zoo while I was in Macaroon Class, and they even took video for my blog (now that is real appreciation to Motherhood from a teen-age boy!)

I think I will write a post JUST on Macaroons, because I learned toooooo much to just jot down and might I say... there are some SERIOUS Macaroon fanatics... who knew?! (I even video taped the end of class for a lady who had to leave early!)

ONES I MADE AND SAVED! :D

I learned to make each and every filling and how you use a circle of denser filling like a raspberry or a Ganache and then you use a middle of looser filling like lemon curd or caramel.

I have many a recipe and Macaroon book suggestions if Macaroons are ever in your taste desires!

So after class and gourmet treats, we went to lunch... gourmet style too. :D

I had a wonderful asparagus soup with cheese and all the kids were pleased with our elegant feast (It is kinda fancy at Thanksgiving Point!)

I JUST LOVE PICTURES WHEN JAKE LOOKS SO SWEET! HE IS SUCH A GOOD BOY!

Then the kids took me to the last day of the Tulip Festival!

They all wanted me to have pictures of them next to the prettiest tulips they could find!

Now if it weren't for Eve getting sick... I might be continuing here...

but we went home after that and Caleb made sure I didn't cook dinner and got to rest all evening.

In fact it was the first day NOT SNOWING in Utah (yes it is May), and I even got to lie out on my balcony and get some sun for an hour!

What thoughtful children. And to do it all on their own.

Now Sunday, Mother's Day, Brandon was well, except for a headache, and so then EVEN more pampering started... so to be continued!

OH HAPPY DAY!

AND THIS WAS JUST SATURDAY! GET READY FOR MOTHER'S DAY SUNDAY!!!

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

2011-05-07T18:08:00.008-06:00

Friday morning I woke up canoobly and happy,

I spoke in rhymes and frankly ever so snappy.

I had had so much fun with my family, namely my tots,

I was all thumbs bumbling breakfast from laughing a lot.

The giggles were contagious, the memories forever,

all from a night more exciting than ever.

Horton was there and I say it Whovilles fault,

that giggling and snorting brought our morn'n to halt.

The kids missed the bus because of my giggles,

I talked and I talked and got out my wiggles.

The irony is that Jake road his long-board,

so I could sleep in, and stay a warm bed hoard.

Now out in the cold to make up for laughter,

it was well worth the cold drive for, a family memory ever-after.

I have had trouble for days stopping talking in rhymes. Seriously seriously it comes out all the time. SEE!!!

Picture in micro mode I LOVE that messed up filming of Eve!

So since our Anniversary was during Dalyn's birthday week and during Easter weekend, I knew that even though this was one of the first times we didn't go anywhere overnight, or have a night of complete romance to ourselves, we would be leaving on many occasions during the week or just plain would want to be alone while at home.

So to make it up to my kids, and I planned this in advance, I bought tickets to the Theater. Like the REAL Theater!

We went to the musical SEUSSICALS!!!! It was so exciting because we were on the front row and on the side of the Theater where we were right next to the scenery.

The kids were THRILLED! Even Jake was excited but ALL the kids were amazed amazed amazed!

Eve coincidentally had new converse shoes (Chuck Taylor's) that have Dr. Seuss on them.

I didn't tell the kids where we were going but I hinted for days and days and gave very few hints to enhance excitement. I gave hints like "you have to wear red and black".

GREATEST FAMILY PICTURE EVER!!!!

Evie was the most curious and after the most hints, so she was all dressed in red and black and with her new black converse on. I made sure to put her on the front row.

Now the most exciting thing was that the CAT IN THE HAT character in the show almost had the same clothes on... in fact ALL the cast had different color converse on!

SO when it came time for the CAT IN THE HAT to do mischief in WHOVILLE, he did lots of pranks while leading music and directing mischief...

but he threw the sheets of music on the floor and pulled EVE out of the audience to direct the music with this GIANT music stick (what are those called), so he could do more mischief!

Now the sad and horrible thing is that I didn't know I had my camera on 'micro' mode, so the footage is all blurry...

and if that wasn't bad enough, I couldn't find my camera and missed most of it... even worse, I grabbed my son's FLIP and could have tapped it in all high-definition, but I didn't because I thought the batteries were dead... they weren't! and I had grabbed it right away! URGH!

Something I will regret forever so I bought my own FLIP. (kinda reminded me of not downloading my pictures during the first three nights of Caleb's private vacation, so that the day I lost my camera, I would have only lost one days pictures and not three.)

But lets get back to the positive.

Eve said that going up on stage was the most exciting thing she has ever done in her WHOLE LIFE!

Here is the clip I have even though it is only four seconds and blurry!

To make up for it, here is a clip off how lovely the costumes, and then you will have to picture Eve up there!

And lastly, since Eve didn't get a clear video, we waited outside the building to meet with the man who played the CAT IN THE HAT and then we told him of our camera issue and he took a picture with EVE!

EVIE'S MOST EXCITING MOMENT!

What a fun family outing and I have many more up my sleeve. This was a truly bonding experience! My family was so happy. My children ecstatic. I can't wait to do more adventures like this!

Eve also wanted to meet SOUR KANGAROO from Horton Hears a Who. Horton Hears a Who was the basis of the theatrical show, but with more added to the story.

Eve loved SOUR KANGAROO and it was funny because she was the star of the last theatrical show HAIRSPRAY, and she just sang like she was still in her HAIRSPRAY roll. (It was amusing.)

The CAT IN THE HAT was the best character ever and Eve and he seemed liked kindred-converse-spirits!

I had so much fun! This was one of my favorite family moments in life... and the kids agree!

We went home and TOASTED our family event with sparkling grape juice in wine glasses! CHEERS!!!

OLE! Cinco De Mayo Savannah OLE!

2011-05-05T21:54:00.021-06:00

Why does Google Reader affect everyone's pictures and the format of every aesthetically pleasing perceptive expression of a post... I am now forever going to click to your blogs to truly appreciate the eloquence and the time it took you to get every pictures in perfect places! :) Venting complete!

(ok I worked and worked to make it look better on Google Reader! :) Love you all!

... NOW I am totally in the middle of another post but I stopped writing it and started writing this one... so expect more kid-full-fun!

TODAY WAS CINCO DE MAYO!!!

Now Coloradans, we still had no famous/infamous party without you all... and we still didn't get any of Garity's flan... or Struh's Churros!

So Savannah chose Betos AGAIN!

I took all the kidos and Savannah was very anxious to put on her celebratory heritage Mexican dress that she purchased on our family cruise to Mexico. (I am planning another cruise with the kids while they are on summer break. They deserve some laughs.)

Well everyone got their usual, but Caleb, Jacob, and Mom.

Tummy aches seem to be going around.

We were going to go to the Sweet Tooth Fairy for cupcakes (I have BOGO coupons), but too many people were feeling yucky.

That is ok though because on Savannah's special day she is always treated to a biggy soda with her dinner...

an all time NOT usual! :)

We can't stop the celebration there though.

It really was no big deal that some people weren't hungry...

sooooo we headed off to the store where we bought our traditional Mexican cookies and Mexican drinks! YUM YUM!!!

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO SAVANNAH-BANANA!

Have you had these drinks... Jarrritos and/or Sangria?

I bought Jarritos Fruit Punch, Orange, One Lime, and then the Sangria...

I was shocked that Lime was the most popular, so of course Savannah got to pick it on her special day.

I was REALLY wham-bolted! I bought lots of red and orange...

I really thought that would be the most popular... lime?... guess not!

Too bad... Lime would have been able to clean off the carpet easier!!! NJ! (But my carpet is clean... poor Eve... she has such a guilt complex... and she chose RED, but we got it ALL out and then I gave her extra cookies to cheer her up... AND IT WORKED!)

I have two Sangria's hid! Caleb already has dibs!

So we headed back to our beautiful theater that is one of the favorite rooms of the children and I.

Now believe it or not, our kids have been totally addicted to "The Addam's Family". YUP! The old black and white show.

A picture of our theater screen with Netflix

Jacob tells us that he wants to grow up like Gomez EVERY TIME we watch it. Sometimes we watch it just for FHE... and I watch it with the children all the time.

It makes me happy to see them happy!

So back to 'believe it or not'... there is a CINCO DE MAYO 'Addam's Family'!!!!


Morticia doing the Mexican Hat Dance!

Thing with castanetes!

Gomez with his Sombrero!

Now the funny part was that since we bought Mexican Cookies and Jarritos Mexican Soda, the sodas had the type of tops that you needed a bottle opener for.
I knew Jake had one so I sent him upstairs for it.

BUT Eve was CONVINCED that you can open them with your eyes because Brandon always teases and does it. (He loosens it first obviously but Eve sure doesn't know that.)

... and she fought it to the death that Dad can open Jarritos with his eye-sockets!!!

The kids and I watched our show and celebrated Savannah's heritage like we do every year.

It was wonderful and everyone was so happy...

Angle to not show black nose/eye! Clumsy?

Even Jake... and that is hard to do!!!!

I love you Savannah... and you deserve a special day! I am glad you had it!!!

Love, MOM

Happy Baptism Day DALYN :)

2011-04-30T13:50:00.000-06:00

What a wonderful way for out biggest boy to exercise his new Priesthood with our littlest boy!

Dalyn will never forget this day Jacob. You made him one happy little man of God!

DOES ANYTHING MORE NEED TO BE SAID? JAKE YOU DID GOOD!

LITTLEST BOY- DALLY

I will never forget the Spirit of love I felt today for the bond of brothers, and what both of you mean to me!

BIGGEST BOY- JAKE

Jake you were so eloquent with your Prayer and Ordinance of Baptism.

and...

Brandon was truly blessed with words of Conformation for the gifts of the Holy Ghost.

What family Priesthood teamwork.

And what an example for a little brother!

More tomorrow when I awake! Any Mom can contest all that goes into a baptism along with our wedding Anniversary romantic celebrations/activities still kindling today...

CUTEST FAMILY ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET!

Playing Dress-up for the Housley Wedding After Waiting Two Years for Brent Again

2011-04-27T12:54:00.026-06:00

REBECKA HOUSLEY GOT MARRIED!

Now I thought I would catch your attention by first saying... ONLY IN UTAH WOULD YOU FIND YOUR CAR DECORATED LIKE THIS AFTER A WEDDING!!!!!!

YOU HAVE TO READ THE PHRASE! Add it to the 'only in Utah' list

ARE THOSE GAMETES? I AM TRYING TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT WITH MY VERBIAGE AS TO NOT OFFEND!

OK Now that I have your attention... on to my post...

Ya, first I have to give a stay-at-home-now-mom update! I fixed my dental insurance officially and I should be reimbursed! (but don't count on soon... I am persistent to the death not but not a magician!)

I have run out of clothes to wash.

And I had such a fun morning with the kids that I caused them to miss the bus and I had to drive them, which was ironic because Jake took his long-board to school so I didn't have to go out in the cold this morning, since Brandon wasn't here to take him.

NOW THE STORY... and my Coloradan Homies are really going to get a kick out of it.

First off, I had lost my camera and had to take all the pictures with my Iphone (which I dropped and the glass shattered and the pictures are lesser quality.)

THE GOOD NEWS... I have now found my camera, but lost my phone.

REBECKA HOUSLEY GOT MARRIED!

Now seriously, lets talk about this... The Housely's have seven kids... I know when you are adults it seems ok but if you think about this being our age... how would it be to imagine your FIFTH daughter being the first daughter to be married.

For me that would be like RAINY getting married before any of my other children.

Well enough day-dreaming about that! Savannah would never let that happen! NO WAY! She is already planning her wedding (JK! I think :| )

So I asked Eve and Savannah if they would like to get all dressed up and go to a wedding reception with us. They were thrilled beyond all belief!

Really it was all about the wedding dress! They wanted to go see the dress... who cares about anything else... they wanted to touch a beautiful, elegant, glamorous, coveted, wedding dress! The primping never ended!!! EVE EVEN TRIED TO WEAR MAKE-UP!

THIS IS HILARIOUS.... Evie came to me (now her dress is purple so she was putting on purple eyeshadow) and said, "Mom how come it looks like I have two black-eyes?"

I said, "Eve the eye shadow goes on top of your eyes, not under." She had taken the purple and put it all around the bottom of her eyes.

Did I tell you Eve has had nothing to do with make-up, or did I tell YA?!!!!

Boy do I wish I had a picture! Dark purple smeared under each eye in a semi-circular fashion!

But I knew that getting my camera out would embarrass her and I didn't want to mock her first interest in make-up.

The girls felt soooooo grown up! They were all elegant. The reception was elegant! Brandoneous was amazingly handsome! And the building was amazingly handsome!

The building was incredibly picturesque and vintage, and any photographer would have been in heaven! So seeing my children and my love in such a beautiful atmosphere was heaven for me... even if I was hesitant to go because it was all the way down town... I quickly snapped out of that! Family, best of friends, and party... who could ask for more!

Rebecka's Engagement Photo

NOW let's talk mustaches!!!!!

THOSE ARE NOT AMAZING!!!!!!!! Are they?

Did you know they are back in style?!!!!

OH MY!!!! I just kept thinking that this happy couple is going to look back at their wedding pictures in 20 years and think... 'what was I thinking?'

That is how I feel about my 'puffy sleeves'!!!!!!

I was so happy that when I was sealed to some of my children, that I wore a vintage dress and now decades are starting to pass and I still love those pictures... but get out my wedding pictures and ....

BAM... eyes are drawn to puffy sleeves!!!!

The girls and I ate about 4 pieces of cake each... no joke! And they had the most MAGNIFICENT chicken Caesar Salad. Brandoneous was in heaven (with each bite... wish I had been those bites! :).

We danced. Eve was to embarrassed to dance and kept running away from Win every time he asked, but Savannah finally gave in on the shyness and danced with Win.

I got some Win action too. :)

And as a matter of fact... so did Brandon! (The very poor quality picture on the right is Brandon getting his Win action in the form of a dip. Now who is dipping who? JK!)

The girls did have an elegant dance with Daddy, and Nana wanted to catch the bouquet so badly, but it nicked her fingers as it passed over her head, and she at least got one flower that fell.

So how are the Housley's you ask?

Richard is serving our country! :)

Brent (Even though I waited two years for Brent again... we no longer require our babysitter extraordinaire to watch our kids anymore.) This is the first we have seen Brent since he returned from his mission. Leaving just days after watching the kids when we went on a vacation with Brent #1. I am ready to go on vacation with Brent (and Tracey) again... I just don't need Brent now that I have a built in babysitter! Wahoo!


It is actually a good thing that this picture of Brent is from the back because he had bright red lip stick on... why? I have no idea... he also brought a date, 4 ex-girlfriends (no joke), and a girl he baptized on his mission with him (who was dumbfounded in love with him and now a Relief Society President at BYU-I)... so he is definitely a gorgeous man with a posy... wearing read lipstick! We love you Brent... now marry the Relief Society Prez.!

And Brent was so excited to see our girls. He hadn't seen them since he did babysit them during that cruise and of course my girlies wouldn't dance with him either.

Savannah decided she was going to get Eve to dance!

One way or another... it worked!

Pam and Win... well beautiful as ever!

Scott... well he had an accident right after the wedding... playing rugby!

and is it evil to say that I laughed at some of the comments he got on facebook? I am so sorry Scotty!

and Matty... Well he is taller than Win! And way taller than me... but I still reminded him that he peed on my living room carpet when he was five! Him and his denim green overalls!

Heather (Brent's twin sister)... on a mission!
Jeremy... as cute and 'rico-suave' as ever.

Eve is a WINNER and I am a stay-at-home MOM!

2011-04-26T12:37:00.009-06:00

This has been my first chance to even look at my computer since the 7 & 8 o'clock hours this morning!

I managed, all by my, extremely proud now, self, to get 6 kids ready for school this morning, go to two dentist/ orthodontist appointments in the 7 o'clock hour, get Savannah to early morning orchestra, and then give 4 kids 4 rides to 4 different schools, 2 kids to the bus stop, one Rainy meltdown, and taking Jake home for Advil (he did not get his braces off btw) and then back to school!

I'd ask Bub for help if work weren't so busy! JK!

All this while still dealing with our dental insurance being terminated, making several calls, and trying to be reimbursed for Evie's surgery. I think I have our dental fixed this time. We will see tomorrow... and then I have to fight for that reimbursement. (No insurance company wants to pay for something that a member has already shelled the bucks out for!)

Yes you can tell me I am super-mom!

(And quite the catch... be it ever so humble!)

Also, WOW did I get a lot of cleaning done so far this morning (and yesterday)! I have almost every piece of laundry done in my whole house. I organized kid rooms, cleaned up insulation that somehow blew out of the attic during a wind storm. I even cleaned my closet out... something that would never happen, unless I was elated to be done with finals week at BYU. WAHOOOOOOOO!!!

Look at the cute cards my kids made me after I came home from 7.5 hours of finals! Eve had hers hanging on my bedroom doorknob, the other kids had theirs on my bed, and Brandon had every candle lit we own, in the bathroom, and was waiting in the bath to watch BSG. (Did you like it better when I just said jacuzzi instead of jacuzzi bath... and I spared you from mental images? I tried to be sly, covert, and surreptitious but then it just became to fun to torment SIL's... JK!)

I was sooooo miserable this semester when it came to finals. I am usually really excited and exhilarated at school, but not this time and my kids were so considerate and patient. I just want to take them on lots of outings this summer and vacations... cruises, beaches, other state adventures, hotels, Disneyland... (sky's the limit! and I am going to do it!)

In addition to my cleaning and organizing (ahhhh... I have become Misty! I just used the 'O' word! :) I threw all the socks away for all 8 individuals in this home and bought all new ones (I am sick of trying to match them and I have just always wanted to just throw them away! So I just did it... rebellion I tell ya! Take that Mr. Sock Gnome!)... and with coupons, redemption, returns, and my yearly % pay-back, I left with the store owing me $2.15. (That is a receipt I will keep! I will have to scan it for you! It is a doozy!)

I also bought all the kids new tennis shoes for the Hershey Track meet! Those I paid for unfortunately. :( JK! I am glad my babes all have good running shoes!

Now the good news!

Eve won first place in the 8-meter run... then won the semi-finals and finals

AND

then Eve won the 16-meter run and finals...

all with no water because someone stole her lunch (ohhhhh :(

Eve was also very proud to have been the only kid in the school district to answer the trivia question of the fastest runner ever from our district. She got this nifty bracelet and wore it with pride... then called me to pick her up so she could have some lunch! :) (Thanks Yuko for answering your phone and getting me to Maple Mountain!)

I miss you all! Summer has started for me! Don't make me clean the whole time! I am ready to PLAY!

When Mommy lays an egg

2011-04-25T23:34:00.003-06:00

You know the true irony here is that I haven't posted last years Easter-egg frolics yet! And at are house it is always a party worth documenting for time and all eternity!

Really what is life if it is all grumpies and not one huge celebration!

So tonight we had FHE. It was a long one since I had no time restraints and we had a blast. We ended up having some interesting conversations during dinner. What anxiety and stress are, and the history of smoking, how people didn't know it was bad, and what peace-pipes were.

First we ate dinner. I only tell you this boring point because it is still Dalyn's birthday week so of course we still made sure he had lots of strawberries on his special plate.

Now as usual, we did not finish all our Easter festivities yesterday.

There is just so much; egg hunts, Easter baskets, Church, Savannah was awarded her 'Faith in God' (Hawaii here we come! and video of the award to come too :), family Sunday movie (Around the World in 80 Days), playing, wrestling, crepes, more candy, strawberry shortcake, Bed early since it was a school night, and Mom and Dad having alone time for our Anniversary.

Do you get my drift? We ran out of time.

During FHE tonight we tried to have the family talks I mention above, but the sun was just in everyone's eyes, so instead of coloring Easter eggs right after dinner and our talks, we went down to the theater and watched 'The Addam's Family' while the sun set.

Jake is in love with Gomez and wants to be just like him when he grows up.

Good luck on that Jake! From skinny jeans to creepy... ya I would like to see you pull that off Jacob!

OH, update on Eve's teeth... tomorrow Jake finds out if he gets his braces off and Eve gets her chains attached to her braces and we begin the slow but accurate movement of her cuspids.

She is finishing up the last of her fruit/vegetable liquid food!

After that I showed the kids a humorous romance clip from the marriage seminar at Aspen Grove that Brandon and I were at. The kids were funny. The loved it so much that they HATED when I stopped it and said they could watch the rest tomorrow.

Then we headed up stairs to color eggs.

WOW! I even got out dyes this year! I think they had the time of their lives!

Then we moved on to the couch, went over everyone's favorite parts of their day (Savannah really impressed me with a poetry scrapbook project she is working on... WOW!)

Then family prayers... then down to the basement to see some pictures I hung, while the kids were at school, in my fit of getting stuff done, and then an extra family prayer for someone special.

I have really good kids! I sure love them!

Dalby's Birthday Breakfast

2011-04-25T15:56:00.021-06:00

Dalyn's birthday week began on April 20th. Now this is the first year that Easter has ever caused a trifecta! Dallies Birthday/Week on Wednesday (along with the final for my class), Our Anniversary on Saturday, and then Easter on Sunday.

That kinda put a kibosh on going on an out-of-country, or even in country vacation for any of these special days, having one right after the other.

But that is OK! We just celebrated as a family!

So Dalyn, chose his favorite breakfast as one of his birthday week traditions. (I am sure you are all sick of hearing about the 7 things that the kids get to do for their b-day week... one thing for 7 days, with one being choose your favorite breakfast on a weekend day.)

As usual, Dalyn chose Crepes! Caleb and Jacob washed and de-stem-ed strawberries, and Eve sliced them. We got out our 'You are Special' plate... and went to work!

Yes suds are oozing under the cutting board!

Now if only I hadn't pulled 'a Christina'... Misty I haven't used your phrase in a while... (although I think Miner uses it too!) I didn't realize that after I cut the bananas on the chopping board, I set the board on a soaking, sudsy bowl of water... until I made a boo-boo on the table!

A while ago, Dalyn told me he wanted another Star Wars party, so Williams-Sonoma and I got BUSSSSY!

I bought pancake forms. A three pack to be exact... a Storm Trooper, Yoda, and Darth Vader.

Dalyn got a Yoda crepe! AND we had STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE FOR DESERT! I have told you that Call's take their sugar seriously! (I mean if our kids teeth are already messed up... why not indulge!) JK JK!

Now I bought the Star Wars cookie-cutter set too so he can decorate cookies at his 'friend party', only now he tells me he wants a 'basketball' party.

Rather than beat my head into a wall (I bought everything for the party already, right down to the Wars presents and Star Wars personalize apron, for while he is the birthday boy decorating the cookies), so I asked him if he would like a 'STAR WARS BASKETBALL FRIEND PARTY!'

He started jumping up and down!! "YES YES YES!"

Mission Accomplished... the FORCE WAS WITH ME!

Go Evie!

So I have a lot to write about Easter, but most of it is on video, so this is just focusing on the birthday portion of Easter Sunday for our little Dalby!

The right-hand lower picture show Dally making the basket! WAHOOOOO MY BOY!!!!!!!

The blue happy-faces on our trash cans are Brandoneous's own personal rebellion to the wealthy, anal-pickle afflicted, large-house snobbery, some of our neighbors suffer from.

Rock it Dalyn!

Brandon made sure we are never to be confused as opulent, classy, sophisticated, well-refined, people with a large home... but rather uncouth proletariats who happen to have a large home from being tightwad penny-pinchers! :)... and maybe pick our noses from time to time.

So come on over... :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DALYN!!!!! You eight-year-old!

Dalyn will be baptized APRIL 30TH at 10:30am... Everyone is invited! JAKE WILL BE BAPTIZING DALYN!!!!!! Welcome our new Priesthood holder!