Today was my lucky day!

Paige was up all night crying because of a toothache. (Not so lucky). So we got her an appointment this afternoon up in Sandy. On my way down Sandy's State Street I see a cop on his motorcycle, radar pointed straight at me. Not another car in sight. Speedometer: 60 mph. Speed Limit: 40 mph. Our eyes made contact and I grimaced, knowing I was dead meat. I actually said that outloud, "I'm dead meat." My heart fell to the pit of my stomach and my legs went numb. I slowed down, fully expecting him to pull out and turn his lights on. I immediately made an unnecessary left hand turn, just in case that would confuse him and he'd lose me (I know that will never work, but at least I'd feel better knowing I'd tried! HA!). Well, it was my lucky day because he didn't move! I was shocked!



Then, off we go to the dentist's office to alleviate Paige's pain. We inform them that we currently don't have dental insurance and that we are hoping to be on a plan in the next couple of weeks, so we need just the bare minimums done now and we'll fully take care of the rest later. He informs me that one tooth that has previously had a pulpotomy (a baby tooth root canal) and a filling put in it now has a loose filling and infection has settled in. However, the tooth behind it is the one with the deep cavity and the one most likely causing the pain. He wanted to pull the front tooth and give the back tooth a pulpotomy and a filling. All I heard was $$$$$$$$. So, I told him our situation with the insurance and he still suggested that course of action. After some persuasion, I talk him into just giving the back tooth the pulpotomy and seeing if that helps the pain situation and if not, we'd be back. So, he finally caught my drift and did as I asked and even put in a temporary filling that would do the job until we could get insured. I walk up to the front desk to pay the bill and she tells me that it will be $140. I told her that my other daughter just had the same procedure done a couple weeks prior and they gave her a permanent filling and it came to the same price. She investigated, gave me a 20% discount for not having insurance, honored my $100 off coupon that I left at home (and is expired!) and I walked out of there having paid them $12! I was so proud of myself! I'm not usually one to negotiate these things very well. Austin even told me before I went that I could get him on the phone with them if I wanted and he would do it for me. I called him on our way home and I think I really surprised him!

So, $128 saved due to a simple conversation and no ticket that I fully deserved!

Good day....good day.

New Year's Resolution

This is project #1 of 5483. My goal this year is to completely organize my house. I really wish I had a picture of these shelves in my laundry room before I started this project. Actually, I don't. That would've been way too embarrassing to show to anyone. I had craft/school supply/party stuff strewn in like 4 different places in my house and the thought of having to use any of them was so overwhelming because I never knew where anything was and it would take me forever to gather up all of the necessary supplies. Well, no longer! This makes me happy. Hopefully, I'll have more pictures to share of newly organized spaces. Anyone have ANY organizing tips for me? I'm all ears!

Spaghetti Reincarnated

Last night, after I wrapped up my last piano lesson, I went to pick up the girls from dance. I told Austin that there was meat in the fridge all made up ready to be formed into meatballs and thrown in the oven. Well, I knew Austin and Spencer were up to something when I left and Austin whispered to Spencer, "Don't tell, okay?" and Spencer got a very mischievous grin on his face. I didn't pry so that they could have their fun. Well, to my surprise, spaghetti with meatballs turned into....dun, dun, dun... "Dead Man with Blood and Worms". Spencer thought this was the coolest thing ever and I must say that Austin was pretty proud. As Spencer was giving me the tour of this dish (the dead guy, the noodle worms, the blood sauce) he then went a little impromptu and added, "And there's his spirit." Austin: "His what?" Spencer: "The smoke rising up...it's his Spirit." Insightful or disturbing? I'll leave that up to you to decide. Anyone want to come over for dinner?

The olive eyes and frown make me laugh!

And just before the blessing, I handed Austin the knife to cut him up with (yuck) and he immediately did this....

Now that's just gross.
(Despite the presentation, dinner was morbidly delicious!)

Old stuff, new use...

So my cuckoo children have recently rediscovered the Baby Einstein movies. After watching it, Paige came up to me and said, "Man, that's a workout."
Me: "A workout? What were you watching?"
Paige: "Baby Einstein."
Me: "How is that a workout?"
Paige: "We make ourselves do whatever the toy is doing."

I laughed and sure enough, her little forehead was glistening with sweat! The next day I look over and Spencer is sitting in a weird position, waving his arms out and in. It was then that I realized that he's imitating the little plastic bear, clanging cymbals together! Oh, my....

I had just finished writing this post when the girls came home from school and within minutes were back into their workout regiment! I snapped some pictures and video to let you in on the entertainment...

Oh, Jack...

If you know Jack, you know he is a man of many words at this point. He talks constantly, however, there is one slight problem. Most of what he says can't be understood. 90% of his words do not contain consonants...just vowels. It's actually kind of fun to pretend to speak Jack-ese. Just hold on to your tongue and talk...good job! You've just mastered a new language! However, to try to interpret Jack-ese, well, not so fun.

The other day, Jack was trying to tell me something. After repeated attempts, and increased frustration on both ends of this conversation, his desires were still unknown. Spencer to the rescue! In his most serious voice, and with both hands (fingers tightly pressed together) going up and down like they do when he's trying to explain something, Spencer suggests that we let him give the interpretation a try. "Mom, let me try. I can figure out what he wants. I speak Jack Spanish." Sure, enough, within 20 seconds, Spencer had it figured out and got Jack what he wanted! I tried not to laugh too hard at the term "Jack Spanish" because he was so serious at the time, but I still get a chuckle every time Jack is talking and I can only hope that one day I can be fluent in Jack Spanish...or that Jack will learn to speak correctly...whichever comes first!

Thanks for the reminder...

Spencer was saying family prayer tonight and amid asking for help for us to remember Jesus as a baby and to remember all of the people that saw Jesus as a baby, he asked that "Mom and Dad could get all of the grumpies off of them". Alright, things must be pretty bad and pretty stressful. Time to slow it down, folks. Sorry, Spence. Thanks for the reminder. Goodbye, grumpies. Off with you!

Man...this time of year is busy!

I haven't even been able to think straight over the last couple of weeks, let alone get things ready for Christmas! It all started on Dec. 8 and it hasn't stopped until right now!

December 8th: I had the first of two Piano Recital Rehearsals.
December 10th: My second rehearsal and the Relief Society Christmas Party. I'm now in the Relief Society Presidency and I'm in charge of the activities. Luckily I have an amazing coordinator and committee who did a fabulous job, but it still was quite the ordeal.
December 11th: Celebrate Linda's birthday at Outback and make sugar cookies.
December 12th: Girls' Christmas Dance Recital and sugar cookie decorating tradition with the Rogers.
December 13th: Meetings, meetings, meetings and lots of kid juggling between my meetings and Austin's meetings
December 14th: Addressed and mailed out 100 Christmas cards
December 15th: Piano Recital
December 16th: Started on Neighbor gifts
December 17th: Still working on Neighbor gifts
December 19th: Shopped with 4 children for 2 other children off of the angel tree (way bad idea...), prepared for Relief Society booth at Ward Christmas party, grocery/Christmas shopping, made soup and dessert for said party, attended party and manned booth that had enough glitter to last anyone a lifetime!
December 20th: Met with ladies to rehearse musical numbers at 9:00. Met with separate lady to rehearse a different musical number at 10:00. Accompanied for the ladies at 10:30. Presidency meeting at 11:00. Church at 12. Accompanied the "instant choir" in sacrament meeting. Visiting teaching from 3:15 -5:30. Headed straight to my parent's for Sunday dinner. Now I'm home...
Still not done with neighbor gifts, nothing's been wrapped and I've barely started shopping for my cute sweet husband. Will there be time? It may take a Christmas miracle. Next year, I'm starting a new tradition of not accepting any responsibilities after the 13th of December, so that when the 12 days of Christmas starts, I can actually enjoy them! :)

Just came across this and it made me smile.
Partly because it's very cute and
partly because it excuses the fact that my house isn't immaculate...ever.

--Emily


Some homes try to hide the fact
That children shelter there.
Ours boasts of it quite openly,
The signs are everywhere.
For smears are on the windows,
Little smudges on the door;
I should apologize I guess,
For the toys strewn on the floor.
But I sat down with the children:
We played and laughed and read.
And if the doorbell doesn’t shine,
their eyes will shine instead.
For when at times I’m forced to choose
The one job or the other,
I want to be a homemaker
But first I’ll be a mother.
--author unknown

You better believe we're going to use this one!

I was reading on Stephanie Nielson's blog (nienie dialogues) and I chuckled outloud!

She said that her husband was attending to their two screaming daughters and said,

"Oh girls, guess what? The devil called and said you guys were doing awesome."

That's hilarious!

I told Austin about it and he said that he will try to work that line in before the week is over.

Quite the Contrast

(Warning: This is way outdated and overdue. It was inspired by the fact that it feels like everyone I know is taking off somewhere or doing something fun this weekend and we're not. It got me daydreaming.)

On April 16th, 2009 we woke up to this:

And we went and did this:

And three days later, we were in Cancun doing this:

And staying here:

And wearing these: (well, only some of us!)

And playing these:

Talking the boys into going with us to get these:

And visiting these:

Being scared out of our pants by signs outside of our hotel room door that looked like this:

Being pestered by these:

Trying to get the boys to stop pestering these:

Loving these:

Constantly eating a never ending supply of yummy food like that looked like this:

With our best friends/crazy people like these:

Thanks for the wonderful time! I want to go back RIGHT NOW!! Let's go! Thanks Mom and Dad for making it possible and for watching the four munckins while we went! We couldn't have done it without you!