In the words of Alice Cooper...

School's Out For Summer!

I was walking to pick up Mitchell today, and from down the street I hear the Principal on the intercom:

"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...HAPPY SUMMER!"

I started to get choked up during this count down.

Why? I ask.

Is it because my baby just finished 2nd grade?
Is it because another one of my babies will start Kindergarten in three short months?
Or is it because now I have to keep them all entertained this summer or all I will hear is "Can I play (insert your choice of video game here) again?"

My Talented Kids

So, in all the school year end melee, we had a plethora of talent shows to attend.

I was thinking that our kids really don't have any talents that can be showcased by performance. I think we are the only parents who haven't gotten our kids into piano lessons, as evidenced by how many kids played for their talent. Mitchell has expressed interest in learning to play, so we'll have to figure t hat one out, since we don't own a piano).

First, was our annual Primary Talent Show. Here is the conversation I had with Mitchell prior to the night of many talents.

Mitchell: "I want to play the piano for the talent show".
Me: "Mitchell, you don't know how to play the piano".
Mitchell: "I know I just want to make up a little song".
Me: "Um, no you can't really do that".

So what does Mitchell want to do?
Be a stand up comedian.
"How does a lamb get to the hospital?"
"By "lamb"-bulance."

"What do you call a fish without an eye?"
"A fsh."

He also told a couple other jokes and embarrassed us with his behavior at the microphone.

Archer showcased his portfolio of artwork. He wants to be an artist when he grows up.

Addison helped me make peanut butter bars and brownies.

Second, was the Second Grade Talent Show. Since I vetoed his wanting to tell jokes again, I suggested that he show how to throw discs (as in disc golf discs). I think we found ourselves the next infomercial actor.
"This disc is perfect to throw a "Scooby". Let's say you are stuck under a pine tree or another obstacle. Then this is the shot for you".

Lastly, Archer's Preschool Graduation featured all the kids performing their chosen talents. He also wanted to demonstrate how to throw a disc. He performed his favorite shot: the "Roller".

TTA ~ One Word

Saw this on my friend's blog. She got it here. I know it's Wednesday, I didn't get to it yesterday. I thought the whole Tuesday Tell All sounded interesting. I might start doing it. It guarantees something to blog about each week. However, I might do it every Tuesday or I might just do the weeks that I feel like it. So there.

Answer the following with only one word.

1. Where is your cell phone? ....................Hoody
2. Your significant other?.......................Tired
3. Your hair?....................................Ponytail
4. Your mother? .................................Jetblue
5. Your father?..................................Geezer
6. Your favorite thing?..........................Camera
7. Your dream last night?........................Weird
8. Your favorite drink...........................Diet
9. Your dream/goal?.............................Education
10. The room you're in?..........................Computer
11. Your children?.....................................Asleep
12. Your fear?............................................Money
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years...........Here
14. Where were you last night?...................Idol
15. What you're not?.............................Fit
16. Muffins......................................Poppyseed
17. One of your wish list items?.................Cell
18. Where you grew up?........................... Sandy
19. What you read last........................Cristo
20. What are you wearing?........................Jeans
21. Your TV?.....................................On
22. Your pets?...................................None
23. Your computer? ..............................Old
24. Your life?..................................Children
25. Your mood?...................................Frustrated
26. Missing someone?.............................Always
27. Your car?....................................Minivan
28. Something you're not wearing?................Belt
29. Favorite Store?..............................Non-Kids
30. Your summer?.................................Baseball
31. Like someone?................................Lots
32. Your favorite color?.........................Pink
33. Last time you laughed........................Neighbor's
34. Last time you cried?.........................Argument

Is It Just Me?

Tonight for Family Night we were minus one family member, Matt, who is attending a conference in Sun Valley (why didn't I go with him, again?). Since he was in charge of the activity, I decided to do something that he would have enjoyed. We went to the D.I.

All four kids and myself.

The kids were all getting along and being happy the entire afternoon so I thought this would be something I could handle. I even prepped them before we went in about how they needed to remember their manners and if they starting acting out we would leave, no questions asked. Well, it happened, they started fighting over a toy ("Hey! I had it first", "No, I had it first!"), and whining, and crying and complaining. I left my two items in the cart grabbed the baby's carrier and had to drag one out literally kicking and screaming "NO! NO! OWW! YOU'RE HURTING ME!" while the other two trailed behind in a chorus of "NO, NO, I DON'T WANT TO GO!" I think the people in the parking lot (who weren't in the store to witness the entire thing) seriously thought I was kidnapping these children. (Do I have masochist tattooed on my forehead?)

Now, this isn't the first time this has happened to me with one of my kids (Sandi can vouch for the time we were at Robert's in Idaho Falls), but all of them at the same time? I give myself some credit. I didn't yell at them (even after we got home). I did talk sternly for a second in the store, and then I didn't talk until we got home. Sometimes this is more effective when they think I'm never going to talk to them again.

Someone please tell me it's not just me and my parenting. I need to hear some of your horror stories to feel better about myself.

Maybe a good dose of watching "The Supernanny" would help. And I never watch that, but somehow my kids always seem more well-behaved when I see the kids she deals with.

As Political As I Get

I stumbled across a blog that linked me to information about two bills that are coming up before the House and Senate: H.R. 5889 The Orphan Works Act of 2008 and S 2913 The Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008. If these pass, any company will be allowed to use pictures posted anywhere on the web (think digital scrapbookers and bloggers) in their advertisements. Imagine if your cute kids showed up in and ad for who-knows-what-who-knows-where. Please visit this link and send letters to stop this before it's too late. Of course, I just sent a letter to Sen. Larry Craig and I'm not sure what he's doing these days. Hopefully, someone is filling in for him since his time in the airport restroom.


I promise, this is the only time I will ever post about anything political. I have others who do that for me.

Sunny Days, Sweepin' the Clouds Away

Then, it totally rained today.

I Looked Out the Window and What Did I See?

Snowflakes falling from my apricot tree.

Seriously? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. It is Idaho after all. Hopefully, the bees did enough work on Monday that we'll still get some fruit. Last year we got a whopping two apricots off this tree.