Fam-uh-lee Time

Today was a pretty good day and thus, it deserves to be documented. I know I've been the laziest of all lazy mommy bloggers lately so this shall count as my turning over of a new leaf (hopefully...I make no promises). 

We headed down to Provo for the annual Homecoming parade. We went last year too. We wanted to go the year before that but Cousin Andrew decided to get married that day so we had to miss it. The kids were 4 and 3 then so maybe they wouldn't have endured it well anyway. I certainly know that they didn't endure the wedding festivities very well so who knows. 

I took that picture up there just after the parade had finished. I made them get in the middle of the road (which Danny was a little freaked about because he is very big on rules and obviously a very big rule for a kid is don't stand in the road). Danny's making that face because he could see the policeman on a motorcycle headed our way and I'm sure he was sure that we were going to get in trouble for being in the road. Yikes. We didn't get in trouble though.

Have you seen those pictures of people recreating old pictures from their childhood? They float around facebook and they make me laugh. The people are dressed mostly the same as they were in the picture, in the same spot and same pose but they're 20 years older. Some of them are so good. I think I'll save this one and force Danny and Cate to recreate it in 20 years.  I can't wait.

Before the parade started (at 10:00 but it was more like 10:30 by the time it got to us because we sit near the very end of the route) we stood in a little line for some free blue pancakes. The kids scarfed them down while watching the ducks swim about.

We had left our chairs and blankets all set up to walk down a few blocks to the duck pond. Cate was so concerned that someone would steal our stuff if I didn't stay with it. She's funny.

The parade was good. The best part is the band of course. There's nothing better. Dan and I did some pretty good hootin' and hollerin' so as to get the parade guys to throw us lots of candy. We didn't get much, maybe because we sit at the end of the route. 

Just as the parade was finished Cate leaned over to me and semi-whispered, "Know what this is called, Mom? Fam-uh-lee tiiiiime." How cute is that? 

We walked up to campus for some bowling. Dan stood in line at the bookstore to buy a few Halloween books for me while I took the kids to get started. Danny won. 92. I don't remember Cate's score but mine was 88. I'd like to say that I threw the game so that Danny wouldn't be completely depressed (he really likes to win) but I don't think that would be very honest of me. I just sucked. No excuses. It was fun anyway. 

We drove to Cocolito's for lunch and then went across the street to a park to play. I pushed the kids in the tire swing enough to make Cate's tummy hurt. She told me that maybe she feels the same way about spinny rides as Daddy does now (meaning she thought she was going to puke). 

Next up for our day of fam-uh-lee time fun, back across the street for a cupcake. It was all their idea but by the time we got there, Cate just wanted to sit at the little kid corner and play with the toy kitchen stuff and Danny had no interest in a cupcake. Dan was too stuffed with Mexican food so he went out to lay in the car. I ordered a cupcake that I was in no way hungry for and sat there and ate it because I didn't think it was right to just sit on their couch while Cate played. The things I do for my kids, I tell you.

The rest of the afternoon the kids played outside (because the weather was perfect), Dan parked it on the couch (because fam-uh-lee time is exhausting and he had a homecoming football game to watch), and I made another stinkin' trip to Lowe's to buy drywall screw thingees so I could finally get my hallway makeover project finished. I've been working on this in my brain for 10 years and in real life for over a month. Doing stuff like this with a family to take care of is a joke. That's just the honest truth. 

But it's done and I am so proud of myself. 

I like to call it Operation Camouflage the Big Huge Fuse Box. We don't have a basement so there it is in the back hall. Big and huge and gray. I like it much better this way. I also painted all the trim and the ceiling. The trim needed it badly since our naughty kitties used the door frames as scratching posts. 

I made places for coats and backpacks because we were using the knobs on our cabinets near the side door for that job and it drove me crazy. Like super duper crazy. I feel so much better now. I still need to paint the new back door. Do I really even have to since it's white and I want to paint it white? Maybe I'll get around to it in another 10 years.

And I spray painted the doorknobs. They're oil rubbed bronze now instead of ugly. Cate was very disappointed though. She kept asking when I would take the black off so she could see the beautiful gold again. Oh, how about never? She's funny.

And then I made brown sugar cake for Sunday dinner dessert tomorrow. I swear I don't relax. Ever.

*   *   *

It was a good day. I love BYU. I love going to a parade in October when the weather starts out chilly and then turns into perfection. I love being with my cute kids who are both big enough to not have diapers or strollers or bottles. I love that they remember when we came to the parade last year and that hopefully they're looking forward to it next year. I love Cocolito's and stuffing myself with chips and salsa. I love that Dan is happy because our team won the game too. 

I love a good day with some real good fam-ul-lee time.

homecoming weekend

blue rice krispie treats for the neighbors

cute kiddos waiting for the parade to start

a hike up the ramp because just sitting and waiting is boring

me and my favorite girl

sparkly boots keeping her tootsies warm

the fam

watching the racers before the parade starts

the Y we love

he'll sing the fight song while you hum along

my favorite part of the parade
hearing the fight song up close {amazing}
Danny's favorite float
Cocolito's for lunch
treat from our neighbor {hope Utah doesn't get in a "jam" today}
trip to the dino museum so Daddy could watch the game in peace

*   *   *

It was a fun morning. A parade in October? The best idea ever!
Sadly, our Cougars didn't win. Neither did Utah though.
I guess they got into a jam after all.

Best part of the day (even better than my taquitos for lunch):

Dan sent this picture to me while he took the kids for a walk down the street
(because waiting for a parade to start is hard work when you're little).

They're standing in front of the apartment I used to live in.

On Homecoming night 16 years earlier, I had been sitting on the couch in that apartment with my roommate. I was working on my lesson plans for student teaching. Dan walked past on his way back to his apartment to get ready for work. He had been visiting our upstairs neighbors. I think he was telling them all how pretty they looked in their dresses before their dates came to pick them up for the big dance. Our blinds were open. He saw two cute girls sitting on the couch and popped in to say hi.

And BAM!

A year and a half later we were married.

*   *   *

 He'll tell you he loved me way before that Homecoming night all those many years ago but I wouldn't give him the time of day. Maybe that's how he remembers things.
Not me. I remember him leaving that night and thinking he was a pretty cool guy.
And funny. And that I wanted to be his friend. And that I hoped he'd pop in and say hi again.
Lots of times. He did. Thank goodness.

That's the door he knocked on to pick me up for our first date (lots of months later).

And now I've got a picture of my cute kids standing next to it.

I love it.
And them.
And him.

the truth about football

Last football season my lovely neighbor and I exchanged treats on game days (not all of them though, just most). I gave her blue treats (because we're BYU blue over on this side of the street) and she gave us red stuff (because sadly, she's rooting for the wrong team). It's all just for fun, of course.

I hope she didn't feel too much pressure to keep our little game going. I liked the excuse to be creative and try to come up with blue stuff to bake. It's not easy. That's why I had to resort to candy sometimes. I think that top loaf was some kind of blueberry bread that I gave her. The bottom middle was some yummy toffee stuff with blue frosting drizzled on top. It was a stretch. That little envelope had some awesome blue and white confetti inside that spilled all over when she opened it. Heehee.



Remember the glitter pumpkin I made last year? I'm excited to do it again. This picture just makes me happy. I think I'll even make one for my kind neighbor in her team colors this year.

BYU played their first game of the season a few weeks ago. To celebrate, I made a special dinner. A BYU blue dinner. I don't know where I come up with these crazy ideas.

First on the menu, chicken cordon bleu. Get it? Chicken cordon {BYU} BLUE. Bleu. Blue. Same thing when you say it out loud. Plus, where was I going to come up with a blue main dish? Yuck.

I used the same recipe for chicken pillows but changed it up a bit. I added chopped ham and shredded Swiss cheese to the chicken mixture inside. Then I sprinkled more Swiss cheese on top before baking. I am quite proud of myself actually. (I don't really know for sure if it's supposed to be Swiss cheese in chicken cordon bleu but that's what sounded good to me. It's probably supposed to be some kind of fancy ham too but I just chopped up some lunch meat. Whatever.)

Here's the inside. It looks like I just ripped that sucker open doesn't it? I'm no food stylist, that's for sure. It sure tasted yummy if I do say so myself.

Also on the BYU blue dinner menu (but not pictured):

BYU blue juice (blue Kool-aid)

Salad with bleu cheese dressing

Blueberries

Green beans in a BLUE bowl (that wasn't very creative but I do my best)

Leftover rice (nothing blue about that one, just trying to clean out the fridge)

And for dessert:

Blueberry frozen yogurt for Dan and me and ice cream for the kids. Blue Bunny brand of course.

We ate off blue plates and the kids had their drinks in their BYU cups.

BYU won the game. Of course they did. I didn't bring my neighbor any treats because I knew she was out of town. On the day of her team's game last week she brought over a little treat for us. "Utah's on a roll." She's so clever. Too bad her team lost their game.

The next day the kids and I brought over a little treat for her to enjoy while watching our favorite team. I wonder if she does watch BYU play. Dan watched the Utah game so maybe she does. It was a good excuse to make these big chocolate chip cookies for the third time in one week. Somebody stop me, please. Sheesh.

Last year BYU's first game of the season was on a Saturday. They won. For church the next day I dressed our little family in BYU colors. Cate's was easy. She wore her awesome BYU dress. Wasn't she adorable? She kills me. The rest of us wore combinations of blue and white in some form (maybe a little khaki thrown in to balance things out). I think we looked quite smashing. Nobody else had letters on their clothes, mind you. Just Cate.

We came in and sat down in a pew. The lady in the pew behind us said something along the lines of how cute. you don't really care that much do you? I wasn't really sure how to take that comment. She didn't say it with any kind of mean tone so I just smiled and said, "Go Cougars!" Just kidding. I don't remember what I said. I have been thinking about that little comment for a good year though.

Here's what I think my answer is now.

The truth about football (according to me).

I don't care about the actual sport. I don't sit down and watch the games with Dan (if it's a close one I'll sometimes sit and watch the ending but mostly I get too anxious and can't handle it...I'd rather just know the final score). I encourage the kids to watch. I let them help me hang up our BYU flag on the front porch. I remind them to wear their BYU t-shirts on game days. I sing the fight song and they join in. Sometimes I even catch Danny humming it to himself while he's playing with Legos. I've been known to take the kids away for a few hours just so Dan can watch a game in peace and quiet. I look up the game schedule online and write the dates and times (and even tv channels if it's provided) on my calendar so that I can try to not plan stuff during the games and make Dan miss out on watching them.  I dress my kid up in a BYU dress with BYU ribbons for her hair for cryin' out loud. I go with Dan to a game when we score free tickets (even though I pretty much just sit and watch the crazy fans instead of the actual game).

So I don't really care about football.

What I do care about is having children who know that getting a college degree is very important to me. I want it to be important to them too. Because it just is. Some of the best years of my life were the ones I spent at BYU. Besides the important stuff about learning how to be a teacher, I learned how to load and unload a dishwasher. How high a stack of garbage can climb the wall before someone actually takes out the trash. How awesome it is to be roommates with someone with a severe case of OCD because she takes cleaning checks very seriously and will probably just go ahead and do everyone's jobs all the time. I discovered Ben & Jerry's my sophomore year. Life changing. I made friends. I laughed. I grew up. It was great.

I want that good stuff for my kids too. So for now, we sing the fight song. Cate wears her BYU dress to church. We hang up the flag. We wear our t-shirts on game days. We walk around campus when the students are gone. Sometimes we watch football. And we eat chicken cordon BLUE.

Rah rah RAH RAH RAH!

what a day this has been

You know what I like? Having a good day.

Today was a good day.

Our across the street neighbors had a yard sale this morning.

Cate used her own money to buy a birdhouse and some glow sticks.

Danny bought 2 stuffed animals and a birthday present for Dan.

I bought a ladder. I'm not a yard sale kind of girl but the kids sure had fun.

Then Cate suggested we go see Freckles again.

We were just in time to help feed him his bottle.

He's got company now too.

Johnny and Whitey

(but Glenda said they're calling him Blanco today to celebrate the Cinco)

We were also just in time to miss out on seeing Freckles become a wether.

Eeek. I'm glad we missed that.

Our kind neighbors sent us on our way with an armful of rhubarb.

We did a little bit of yard work (a very little bit since it was a tad chilly out)

and then buckled up and headed to lunch.

(I wonder if I'll ever get tired of taking pictures of kids sleeping in the car. I think not.)

We headed to Cocolito's for a proper Cinco de Mayo feast.

Taquitos for me. They're my favorite.

Chimichanga for Dan.

Cate at my olives.

After our lovely lunch we zoomed down to the Bean Museum for a little free entertainment.

Cate was super excited. 

She was walking around pointing to the animals and naming them.

She found a puma (which was really a leopard),
a dinosaur (which was actually a rhino)
and a pokey-pine (you can figure out what that was I think).

I told her to go stand on the other side of the glass so I could take her picture with this dik-dik.

The smooshing her face against the glass was all her idea.

Danny found an elephant.

Dan found a bear.

And I found a cape buffalo.

When we'd had our fill of stuffed animals we headed down to campus.

I suggested Dan look around the bookstore for something he'd like for his birthday.

He didn't find anything but I did.

That's for me, not him.

I'm excited for football season to start again.

I think my neighbor will love some Y cookies to snack on.

Maybe I'll even learn how to properly frost them.

The kids got new cups since Danny's other one broke.

This one was 50% off and cheaper than the cheapo plastic ones we found.

Cate got one too. 

We must keep balance in the universe of course.

After all that bookstore fun we headed outside.

It was a beautiful day.

Sunny and a little chilly.

The kids had a blast rolling down hills.

I had a blast watching them.

Especially Cate.

She needs a lot of practice.

Most of the time she just rolled sideways instead of down.

I think some day the kiddos will be big enough to hike up to the big Y.

I've never done it before.

I'm not sure how I managed to graduate without ever hiking up there but I did.

We walked back to the car...

and found more hills to roll down.

Big hills.

Then we plopped down on the grass and attempted a family picture.

Danny didn't like this one.

He saw it on my phone and said he looked crazy.

I think he's right.

I like this one much better.

Dan is super duper sunny but I think I look superb.

From this angle my wrinkles and double chin all but disappear.

We came home.

I made rhubarb bread while the kids played with neighbor friends.

I hope the bread tastes better than it looks.

I made some rings with leftover wire and beads.

I made one that looks like these.

Then I made another one inspired by my bird nest necklace.

Dan gave the kids a bath while I went to the gym

(in an attempt to work off some of that lunch).

According to the internet and my reflection in the mirror,

I'm a pear.

I'm working on bulking up my arms and chesty area.

Just trying to get a little balance.

Balance is good.

Spending time with the family instead of doing yard work and laundry is good too.

I think we should try this more often.

holiday highlights

Danny had a sleepover at the cousins' house on Friday night. When we came to pick him up on Saturday morning, we were informed that he puked in the middle of the night. Kris told us that when he woke up and saw Danny puking (or when he saw Danny's puke on the floor, I'm not 100% clear on the details), he puked too. Lovely.

Danny had a pretty good fever too so I gave him some medicine, buckled him into the car and made him come on a little family outing anyway. Sickness is no excuse to get out of family Christmas bonding time. Plus, I had a 20% off coupon for the BYU bookstore that was expiring that day and no way was I going to let it go to waste. Such a good mommy. I know.

I guess the medicine worked because he was fine and happy walking around the bookstore (at least for the first little while). We got some stuff and then headed outside to do some sightseeing around campus.

No trip to the BYU bookstore is complete without purchasing a few (or more than just a few) chocolate Lindor balls.



And none of that white chocolate either. That stuff's not real chocolate. It's not fooling anyone. Milk chocolate and dark chocolate. My favorites. I ate one and then saved the other one for Dan's Christmas stocking. I'm a giver. He ended up giving it back to me but it's the thought that counts.



Photo op with the big Y on the mountain behind them.

Know what I love about this picture?

Danny's fireman boots are on the wrong feet.
One side of his pants is stuck in the boot.
He's holding Hard Puppy in one hand and his bag of candy in the other.
Cate's legs. She's a little bit knock-kneed and her thighs are terribly adorable.
Dan's smiling and the sky is blue.



Here's my best effort at a family shot. It's a good thing Danny's head is right there because it covers up the humongo zit on my chin very nicely.



We roamed around outside for a while since it was sunny and not too cold.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I love that place. I spent some of the best years of my life there.

I had a good childhood. No complaints here. My parents and sisters are wonderful. I actually liked high school and even junior high too. I had good friends and lots of great experiences. I'm pretty sure band camp prepared me for the real world.

I love my husband and my kids are great. Duh. I'm thankful for them and all the good that's come to my life because of them. The good times just keep getting better (especially since I don't change diapers anymore).

But the years I spent in college are some that I will always treasure. Sounds really mushy and cheesy. Sorry. It's just the truth. I made some lifelong friends, learned how to have roommates (with 3 sisters I'm pretty sure I'd already been doing that one), went on my first date, had my first kiss (at the ripe old age of 19...good grief), found Dan (who was neither my first date nor my first kiss), and actually learned stuff! What could be better?

I walked around campus on Saturday fighting back tears a few times (and now as I'm writing this too...sheesh, I'm a cry baby). I love it there. I want my kids to love it there too. I think we're off to a good start.



We wandered around this huge building (that wasn't there when I was a student) with a big fountain in the courtyard. Danny loved it. He stood there staring at the water and then stated, "I'm gonna be standing here forever probly."

Less than a minute later we were on the move again.

The kids had fun walking around and jumping off these ledges. They weren't very far off the ground. No one got hurt.



Dan and I recreated our first kiss. The one where he leaned in, I turned my head and he ended up kissing my chin.



Ha. Just kidding. I'd never do that.

I just wanted a picture of us together. My big zit kept getting in all the shots. Dan switched sides and covered it up for me. Such a gentleman to kiss my zitty old chin.

The highlight of our BYU outing (besides the zitty kiss) was standing in line for the free gift wrapping. Two old guys were in front of me talking to a young man with one arm. They were just chatting it up like this youngster was some kind of celebrity. How honored they were to meet him. Wishing him well. A one-armed baseball star. Yadda yadda yadda.

I went home and googled "one armed baseball player from Utah" and turns out he is a little bit famous. Plus, he plays basketball too. And he's engaged. I heard him mention that to the old guys. Pretty cool that I eavesdropped on the conversation of a kind of famous one armed sports star on Christmas Eve day.

And then we went home where Danny slept for 4 hours and Cate made Dan play tea party with her for about that long.

I started a new Christmas Eve tradition. I'm pretty sure of it. I made Swedish meatballs for dinner and they were scrumptious, if I do say so myself. Really good. Almost as good as IKEA's. I even had a jar of lingonberry jam to go along with the meatballs. Yum. My grandma's maiden name is Monson so I figure we're Swedish enough to have their meatballs on Christmas Eve.

The cousins and their parents came over to eat and exchange gifts.



Danny finally woke up still feeling crummy and a little bit feverish.

Know what's fun about a sick kid on Christmas Eve?



Nothing.

Dan and Cate had fun trying out Danny's new Star Wars helmets. It kind of made Cate look like a little bobble head doll.



I got a picture of Cate later in her new jammies. Danny was feeling extra grouchy and crummy and would not cooperate. No new jammies and no picture. Party pooper.



I did manage to get a picture of them together the next morning. They sure are cute but I think a few smiling lessons are in order.



You can never have too many pillow pets right?



Cate got some pink girly Legos of her very own from Grama Bama.

I built the house and the car for her. She got busy decorating the garden. That's what she called the green flat square we stuck the house onto.



I think that's my favorite present. Pink Legos. Seriously cute stuff, people.



And in case you wondered, yes, Dan is a very good sport. The perfect daddy for a little daughter.



After church (which was only attended to by me due to the sickness level of my kids), we headed up to Grandma's house for more presents and a yummy turkey dinner.

Dan received a brand new head flashlight thingee from his brother. He put it to good use whilst carving the turkey.



Ricky and Billy kept sicko Danny entertained with their video games. Danny really is happy to just sit and watch sometimes.



Oh, this next picture just makes me laugh. I won't tell you how many pictures I actually took in order to get one where everyone has their eyes open and some of them are smiling. Good times.



I took a happy little Danny to the doctor Monday morning. It was strep. He's feeling much better now, thanks for wondering.




Cate and I went to Target later that morning (mostly to pick up Danny's antibiotics, but also it turns out we needed a few packages of 50% off ornaments for next year and a bag of way too salty popcorn...and a Diet Coke mixed with a squirt of Dr. Pepper) and boy, oh boy, did we ever feel sad that Grama Bama wasn't there with us. Cate sang a song called "I Miss Grama Bama" on the drive home. She mostly just sang "I miss Grama Bama" over and over again.


Other holiday highlights in no particular order with no accompanying pictures:

☢ the key lime flavored chocolate orange I put in Dan's stocking (mostly so I could eat it myself without feeling too selfish)

☢ Cate telling the lady at the gift wrapping station that she wanted lipstick, a phone and a computer for Christmas (the lady mentioned that sounded a lot like stuff a 14-year-old would ask for)

☢ only took me 2 days to clean up the aftermath (not counting the tree or all it's needles that are scattered around the carpet)

☢ my pants have only gotten a tiny bit snugger despite my over consumption of chocolate and under utilization of the stair master at the gym

☢ this little conversation I had with Cate on Saturday night (Mom, when is it Christmas Eve? Today! Is it snowing? No. Mom, it has to be snowing to be Christmas Eve.)

☢ the eggnog milkshake Dan bought for me on Friday afternoon

☢ buying the 2011 Lego advent calendar for almost 50% off (and I plan to use it through the year as needed. nothing motivates my boy to do good like Legos.)