just me & T

Last week one night Trent & I found ourselves home alone- just the two of us! I asked Trent if there was anything he wanted to do- watch a movie, go get ice cream, etc. He wanted me to jump on the trampoline with him.

Sounds easy enough- except I'm not really a trampoline kind of gal.

Having six kids has done wonders for my bladder.

I'll leave the imagery to you.

I'm a good sport so-

I took a potty break then met him on the tramp.

Look who joined us...

the boys!

Trent was over the top excited!

He has been trying to get these two goof balls on the tramp all season.

They never want to go with him.
Gee I wonder why?
What-? Sudden jumping & jerky moments by a 10 year old on a tramp isn't their idea of fun?
-Cowards-
Since they are my double shadows all day, every day-
(thank goodness they sleep in kennels)
they were right up there with me.


It was so funny to have them walking around the tramp like two kids.

Ah this is what summer is all about

isn't it?

pictures found

I found all of these on my camera - funny kids-

just a great saturday

It's a beautiful spring here finally!

This is the view from my driveway into my next door neighbor's yard.

Gorgeous!

I went to get the mail & just had to go back in to get my camera.

I wish you could see the majesty of the mountains in the background.

Because of my love of Rhododendrons...

I planted two in my yard, right after we first moved in. They don't bloom at the same time & I know they will never be as beautiful as in the Northwest. But I love them just the same & it is a thrill for me when the do bloom.

SAD, sad news.
Trent finally found the carefully hidden Guitar Hero aka: Guitar hell.
Bummer. I hate this game. He ran upstairs exclaiming, "you won't believe what was way, way behind the games in the game cabinet?!!"
I think it's okay for older kids, but come on- nine year olds should not be playing to- rock me like a hurricane.... somehow it is going to be "lost" again soon.


I finally got around to washing these & put them on my bed!
700 count sheets I bought just outside of Battery Park in NY for $20- score.
Some guy was selling loads of them, I decided I could carry one set around for the day in my bag- it was worth it. They are luxurious.
I did ten tons of laundry & ironed almost everything in my ironing box, all while listening to Chloe's IPOD- the WICKED soundtrack. When the first song came on I got goosebumps. Oh how I love that we went to see that! Do you ever feel like this? After a big, exhausting, vacation you did something right- it was all worth it- just for the memories?

I'm having a hard time getting rid of or even recycling my crate & barrel bags...

The armed forces are in full force sending Jack info about joining up...
hmmmmm- I would be the proud mom of a soldier- on one condition.... he waits to make any big decisions like this until after his mission.

Bronco had an accident- again.

holy. moly. somebody. help. me.

-that is all I am going to say about that-

Finally the time came to go pick up Megan at the airport!!

Hooray!
she made it & we are all hovering around her like she is a superstar.
She is of course better than a superstar around here.

We made it to Cafe Rio - YUM.
It was just as good as she remembered.

Jack is very cool here-I love this photo.

Do you ever miss someone, then when they come back it instantly feels like they never left?

love that

not gone yet?

Yesterday I tried all day to post... but I am so crazy getting ready for this vacation.

I can sit around with nothing to do for a month... (well not really) but as soon as I have something to do I find myself getting everything done.

Does that make sense?

I am just a better person - busy.

I was ON FIRE getting stuff done yesterday!

I had a special scout afternoon with the boys who are not out of town during spring break. We passed off our pocket knife achievement.

I was happy to do this one with a smaller group, just in case it got a little scary. But it didn't- the boys were great. When I taught this one with jack's group- all the boys cut their soap up & were very frustrated. I warned these boys & they listened! I also told them about how I vividly remember my dad taking me to kmart to buy my first pocket knife. I was 12, getting ready for girl's camp. It was no big deal to my dad- he probably doesn't even remember it- but I do. I was so excited. When I went to girl's camp, we actually learned how to use one- not like these wimpy girls today! And look at me? using my girl's camp skills here teaching cub scouts- thrilling? The boys were riveted!

(that was sarcasm)Today is our official packing day.

Lucky for me when I got up this morning Trent announced that he was already packed & ready.

GREat...

He really has saved me so much work?

It will take most of my day convincing him that this stuff is not coming.Remember all that snow last week?

Well- you won't believe this, but it's sunny now!!!!!

it was actually warm- warm yesterday & today it's supposed to be 70!!

I can't believe it- I am so happy to see the sun, finally.

The only bad thing about warmer weather?-
we found out that bronco has a disturbingly long tongue- eeeew
Even Max is surprised!

who knew?

* are you a nervous wreck, overplanning maniac when you go on vacation?
My poor family....

dogs & little boys

Every morning I try to walk the dogs. I try to walk them again in the afternoon- we don't go very far but they love it. It's good for us all. They get so excited, especially the puppy-- that by the time I get the leashes on them I'm ready to call it quits- Just kidding.

They are crazy though! Of course, I'm not the world's smartest dog trainer so that doesn't help. Poor Bronco was sitting...

This afternoon I took the cub scouts (with two other moms/leaders) to the University of Utah Museum of Natural History. We earned the museum walk patch. It was a little crazy... kind of like the dogs, but really educational & fun.

Besides cool dinosaur bones, minerals & precious stones, there was a great hands on lab

and a super cool, temporary, live amphibian exhibit.

There were frogs from all over the world. They were really fun to see.

The first Monday of every month is free at the museum.

If you are local & don't have plans- it would be a fun/free start to spring break next week!

spring.snow.spoiled

My front yard- the garbage heap

The weather has just been Fabulous here lately!!

REally warm & spring like. Cruel really, when you consider we have a bit of winter to go. This morning I went to take the dogs for a walk & brought my camera along. Brett was leaving for work & said- "You're taking your camera? Great!"- I think he is happy to know I am pulling out of the slumpy winter blues I have been in. It didn't dawn on me until later, that it is nearly impossible to take pictures while walking TWo dogs- Especially these two crazies.

I am trying to teach Bronco to heel (he is learning surprisingly fast) & reteach Max. Max has forgotten all walking manners with the addition of the young pup. I managed a photo which shows exactly the crazy behavior I am trying to avoid.

Now that the weather has brightened a bit & I am out walking -

Everyone in the neighborhood is finding out about our new pup too. I have had a couple of people say- "you have two dogs?" with this look of shock & surprise-

like they are thinking...

you seem like such a normal person at church & around the community?

I always find myself saying--"it's not me- really- brett is such a dog lover. I have no choice. It's him- I just go along with it... I really have no choice..."

I sound like an idiot.

I came home & looked around the yard with absolute shock & surprise of my own.
Our house faces north, so the front yard rarely sees sun. The snow takes forever to melt on our side of the street. You won't believe what the blanket of snow was covering!trent's blue sled...

multiple pieces of wood from trent's projects...

trent's plastic snow board...

trent's mini skateboard...

two shovels...

and a Christmas tree-

okay, okay- the Christmas tree- we knew it was there on the side of the house.

It's from jack & his hooligan friend's treeing escapades.

Every year the teens in our house "pick up" (steal is more like it - not that anybody cares) old Christmas trees off of people's curbs around town & then "tree" someone? "treeing" is when your doorbell rings, you go to the front door, no one is there... except for a dozen old Christmas trees. this tree got left behind & jack has promised to get rid of it for a month. For some reason the teens (jack & brian's friends) think this is absolutely hilarious. There have honestly been times when the boys & their friends have picked up trees all over town & we've had dozens in our back yard hiding until dark- when they mysteriously appear on some one's doorstep. In one night those trees have been known to visit several unsuspecting people. Family after family get treed on one night. All the same trees. The whole process is about shock value. Once you've been treed & your dad gets all ticked off - they take them to another door step.

don't panic- it's all in good fun- at the end of the "treeing" season they drop them off at the dump to be made into mulch.

All I can say tonight is

It's a good thing tomorrow is TRASh day!

holy moly
this is down right embarrassing

-It's a good think I went out & noticed all this mess-

*have you ever found anything out in the yard after the snow melts?

*have you ever put a Christmas tree on the curb- then wondered where it went?

You can thank me later

do you think it's too early?

Today I went looking for some card making supplies with Lori.

Look what I found instead...I have wanted one of these little trees forever.

Especially the one from Pottery Barn-

(but didn't want to pay the $70- ridiculous)

Hurray for Hobby Lobby's version!!

Do you think it's too early to put out EASter & Spring decorations?

I've got Spring Fever-

BAD.

Look how big this guy's getting.

He's almost six months old & on his way to get some shots here in this picture. It's funny how dogs get into the parking lot of the humane society or the vet & just know something's up.

He's doing so much better now

-NO accidents for a couple of weeks-

wooo hoooo!!

He won't be any bigger than Max- we think.

He has a sweet disposition, but he's still really puppy hyper.
Lots of walks help & that's what I need so I suppose it's a good thing.

*do you have spring fever?

*when do you put up spring decorations?

random

I have been trying to finish up some things around here & haven't had the chance to REally blog or read/comment on blogs. Sometimes life just takes over.

But I want to document a few things.

I took my scouts to the police station this week for a tour & then to get cookies at a bakery. They were really good. I found my old scout shirt from when I was Jack's den mother... 2000. It doesn't fit- like really doesn't fit. I'm talking 6 inches of open space. It's a scout jacket. I'm debating on keeping it as incentive to get rid of this extra weight or just getting a new shirt?

My word of the year necklace broke on Wednesday. Do you think that's a bad sign?

I have started posts on my word of the year over & over. I don't know why it's hard to document for me? I guess I am thinking it has to be this big deal- maybe because it is a big deal to me. But- my word, no surprise to those who know me (I had the same word last year) is CREATE. I have so much to say about this, why is it so hard to blog about?

Last week we fingerprinted & made plaster aparis imprints of our feet. some of the boys wanted to do it with shoes on/some shoes off. It was pretty cold & I was glad I brought wipes! Funny, secretly I would want to make mine with my shoe off too, so I let them.

My big project- okay, I have been doing Reflections on the council level- is almost done. The eight schools I have been working with are picking up their entries & awards today. Only one has come so far & the time frame I gave them to come is up in 20 minutes.... ? I. don't. think. this. will. ever. end. I love kids, I love the arts, I love kids & the arts & think it is so important for them. Thus I get myself into these things.

Yesterday was creative thursday. We celebrated Kristy's birthday & took her to lunch. Really great day. But, my camera battery was dead. Really not cool.

It is raining & I am so happy. I LOVE a rainy day.

Except for..... rain + dogs = mud.

Mud + the painted floor= mess. I hate the mess.

Yesterday Bronco peed on the carpet right in front of the door to go out.

Today he peed on the couch.

Animal cruelty is now a felony in Utah.

It's a good thing.

wordless wednesday

puppy love

Before school-Before bed~

there's a whole lot of lovin' going on!