The things we learn in nursary...

So today Adia and I were singing songs while we were cleaning the kitchen. She wanted to sing the "bum song". I don't know a song called that, but I thought maybe she was talking about ba-donk-a-donk (Not positive how to spell that:) because Ethan LOVES that one (Not sure why, not proud of it either) So I sang it, but that wasn't the one, she wanted the "bum shake song" For the next 45 minutes I sang every song about bums, shaking, or anything that even implied those things. I sang everything from the hockey-poky to Baby Got Back. It's amazing how many songs there are that talk about bums... It was not my proudest moment. So finally I got the idea, (I would like to say the spirit guided me, but after so much "Bum talk" I think he must have been long gone:) Maybe I should ask her to sing it to me. Why that thought hadn't crossed my mind earlier, I don't know, but she started to sing, and you will never guess what song she sang...
"If You're Happy And You Know It..." What?!? There is no bum shaking in that one. Apparently when you sing it in nursery there is. "You sing clap your hands, stomp your feet, and shake your bum" What the heck kind of primary am I sending my kid to?!? That's the last place I would expect her to learn a bum song! I don't even know what to say about it... That nursery is a questionable place...

The Elders Quorum is not a moving company!

This is for you Grandpa Jim-three posts in one day- enjoy!
So, when Troy was put in the Elders Quorum we pretty much knew it would mean he would have to help people move a lot. We have a trailer park, and an apartment complex in our ward, (though hopefully not for long) and it is on the edge of town, so there is a lot of building going on, so it comes with the territory. A new apartment complex was just built in our ward boundaries, and several new people are moving into those, but also several are moving out of the old complex into the new one. Plus, there are two houses on our street that just sold, so that has meant moving the previous owners out, and the new owners in. Really, poor Troy has been moving someone about three times a week for the last month. (He is going to wish he still lived in Wyoming) Also, he has been asking people to help so much that when he calls around people screen their phone calls and won't answer if they see his number. Even his counselors won't.:) So Thursday was his birthday, and also Stake temple day, and there was a special Priesthood session that the Stake Presidency asked he make it to. That's what we planned to do for his birthday, go to the temple, then out to dinner. But... someone needed help moving that night. After talking to the Stake, and Bishopric it was decided that these people should be the responsibility of the High Priests, so Troy should go to the temple. When we got home we had four phone messages and three people who came over to our house, yelling at Troy for not helping these people move. Well, Troy had taken about all he could, and got really angry, and yelled and stewed about it for a few hours. (He wasn't going to yell at actual people, so I was the one who had to listen) and finally decided that the EQ is not a moving company, and the next time someone called to be moved he was going to tell them that. So yesterday, the first counselor, second counselor, and Bishop all called the house to tell us of a family three houses down from us who were moving in Saturday (today). Troy might think that it's okay to say no, but he wasn't home, and I am not about to tell any of those people no when they ask something, so I said I would share the message. And guess where Troy is as we speak... You got it, three houses down, moving in our new neighbors! Way to stand your ground Honey!

Carnival Fun!

So, we just had a really fun thing happen last night. There is a care center for the elderly in our neighborhood, right next to the elementary school. Throughout the year the school and the care center are very involved with each other. They help each other out with fund raisers, the kids do service at the care center, and in return some of the care center residents come and read to the kids or speak to the classes, or help out wherever they can. They invite each other to programs, assemblies, and whatever else they have. It makes the kids have a greater love and understanding for those in the care center, and gives the people in the center an opportunity to interact with the community. It is a really neat thing, and even though Ethan's school is on the other side of town we have still had the opportunity to see the love these kids and adults have for each other. I think it will prove to be a great help as these kids become adults, and go on to influence our world. Anyway, each summer the care center, through the help of a few community benefactors throw a free Kiddie Carnival for the families in the Lake View District. (I know, we live in the lake view area of town, and I knew this before moving here, and still it took me several months to realize "The Lake" was nearby. Don't laugh, you know me...) Anyway, the carnival was last night and we went. It was so much fun! They had food for dinner, cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn. games, rides, and those big blow-up toys that you can jump around in and slide down and whatever. It was awesome for young kids. The whole thing was free, so even better. The kids had so much fun, and all of the adults from the care center who were running the booths seemed to be having just as much fun. And my kids found the treats! Every time I turned around they were snacking on something, or drinking a soda, or getting treats. They were loving life! And it was all done in a really safe environment, so even Troy and I, the overprotective, control-freak parents we are, still felt comfortable letting the kids just run free with their friends. (And Ethan has some little girlfriends who wouldn't let him out of thier sight. Everyone knows Ethan, it's strange...) Even on the drive home they were having fun. Ethan kept asking me to "un-yo" his yo-yo (meaning untangle the giant mess he had made out of his yo-yo string) and talking about the toys he won from the games, and the cotton candy he ate, and the three snow cones he had-Why weren't we monitoring this better? Adia was telling us all about it too, she went down the huge blow up slide about 500 times, and still managed to eat just as much junk as Ethan did. Then as we turned into the driveway, I guess that motion was too much for her little tummy to take, and she announced "Mom, I just threw up!" As I started having a come apart she reassured me. "It was just in my mouth, It's back in my tummy now. We're good." As I helped Ethan out of the car he hugged me around the neck, and when I put him down and he tried to let go his hands stuck to my hair! I thought we should hose them down before we let them go into the house, but they both protested, so we settled for a nice warm bath instead, and they went to bed. I thought with all of that sugar they would never sleep, but I guess it's true, what goes up must come down, because they went to sleep before we even finished bed time prayers. All in all it was a really fun night. I know I say this all the time, but I LOVE LIVING HERE! (please don't cry Mom)

Potty Mouth

Adia shocked me this morning, and the really sad thing is I have no one to blame but myself. (I really wish it was Troy's fault, but nope, this one is all me) I have been known to use the word "Crap" quite often when something is going wrong. I don't really see anything wrong with it when I say it. I can think of several more inappropriate words that would make the same point, and I choose crap instead. But this morning when things weren't going her way, and I heard my darling angel princess spout out "crap, crap, crapity- crap!", it all of a sudden seemed like a really filthy word. I guess we are going to need to find a new "cuss word" in our house. Any suggestions?:)

Gas

Tonight Troy was tucking Adia in for bed, and he asked for a big hug. She answered "no, I can only give you a little hug." when Troy asked why she answered, "because, you give me gas." I'm not sure where she comes up with things like this. Hmmm...I wonder if that's Uncle Levi's problem...

Shooting the Sullivans

My first photo shoot went really well. It was a lot of fun, and they were really great to photograph. I LOVE this family. They have become great friends to me since we moved here. The mother is such a great example to me. She is doing such a good job raising her sons. They are so well behaved and have wonderful manners. They listened to every order I gave them. Tilt your head, lift your chin, fix your pant leg, put your hand higher up your arm, open your eyes, smile... They did exactly what I asked of them. It was amazing to me. I took about 120 shots and 112 turned out to be usable. When I take pictures of my family the odds are more like out of 120 we can use 4. It was a great experience. They said that I could post some of thier pictures, and these are a few of my favorites. Not because they are necissarily the best pictures, but because of the story behind them. I swear I laughed the entire time. They are such a fun family.

Getting paid for what I love!

He is deliberately trying to not look at me in order to annoy me, you can see it on his face:)
Don't you think Ethan looks EXACTLY like Troy when we have been taking pictures too long?
I don't really know what they are doing, but they have found their happy spot for sure.

See! Compare faces with that one of Ethan. It is the exact same scowl!

No matter how many times I tried to move Ethan out so you could see his face he would move right back to where he was. Then when he saw the picture he was mad that I had "cut off his face." Go figure:)






I'm so excited! I am having my first official -getting paid for it- photo shoot tomorrow! I can hardly wait. It is a friend of mine who came to my house, noticed I have ten thousand pictures on the wall, all taken by me, and asked if I would take pictures of her sons. I am delighted except after I told her yes I realized that I don't have any idea where to take pictures here in Brigham. OOPS! Oh well, we went for a drive last night and I found tons of places that are perfect. The lighting that time of day will be perfect, so I won't have to do much reflector work or anything. The only thing that wasn't perfect last night was my subjects. As usual no one wanted a hundred pictures taken of them in different positions and standing next to various bushes, trees, doorways, etc. That will be better tomorrow too. The boys I am shooting are very sweet, and very well mannered. No one will be sticking their tongue out or bursting into tears when I ask them to move their head a little to the right. (I hope!) Anyway, I thought I would include a couple of the pictures that turned out alright. My kids look like orphans, but the location is nice:) Wish me luck tomorrow!

Day one of Ballerina School

Today was Adia's first day of Ballerina School, and it was fantastic! The teacher only takes four year olds for regular classes, but in the summer she does a workshop for three year olds. If she sees potential in any of the three year olds she will offer them a spot in the four year old classes in the fall. Adia is really a pretty good dancer. She is fairly graceful, and she learns fast, and while I really think she is better suited for gymnastics, there is no possibility of getting her in there until she is four, so we are hoping to get one of the spots in the ballet school. We have been planning and very excited about the class, and even made the mistake of buying her dance clothes and shoes about a month ago, and we have had to try them on to see if they still fit every single day since we bought them. (Because she may just grow three sizes overnight, and the clothes that are already two sizes too big will then be too small) So the long awaited day has come. She woke up early, and spent every five minutes until the ten o'clock class asking me if it was dance time yet. Finally it was. The whole drive to the studio she was so excited she kept bursting out with giggles. The class was wonderful! The teacher, Miss Michelle was so nice, and so patient with the girls. She kept them moving and dancing the whole time, and through fun games she taught them a few positions, and forms. She has such a fun imagination, and never seemed flustered even when a few of the girls had a hard time following directions. Ethan and I stayed to watch and be sure that she was going to be alright. She did great. She listened and followed directions, and even learned a lot, and for the first day I was very impressed with what she came away with. Except every so often she would run over to Ethan and I and give us kisses. I don't know if that was because she wanted us to go home or what, but it was kind of funny. Each day has a different theme, and today was "Practically a Princess". Each of the girls got to wear a beautiful princess dress, and they practiced galloping on their white horses, tiptoeing through the castle, and dancing at the ball. It was very fun. The pictures turned out a little blurry because she would never hold still long enough for me to shoot her. Oh well, tomorrow I think I will take the video camera instead. This will give you an idea of what she did anyway. When we were getting ready to leave the teacher pulled us aside and said that if we were interested she would hold a spot in the fall class for Adia. YAY! Just what we hopped for! We are very excited! Now Adia insists that we call her "Adiebina Ballerina" (we call her Adie B as a nickname, and she likes to watch "Angelina Ballerina" on Noggin, so she made up the name, and if you forget to call her that get ready for war!)

This was taken before she went to Ballerina School.

This was taken after Ballerina School. Look at how much she has already learned:)

This is Adia teaching a very reluctant Ethan how to be a ballerina because, of course, after one class she already knows all there is to know about it.

Almost an Emergency

Today I was walking up the street on my way to meet up with a friend, when I passed a house with three kids in the driveway. They looked like they were 9 or 10, one was pretty chubby, and they had this big metal tube, almost like a culvert, but smooth. It was almost as tall as the kids, when they would lay down only their feet would stick out. They were taking turns laying in the tube, and polling down their driveway, (It was a pretty good slope) They had a garbage can at the bottom, so they would run into it and it would keep them from going into the street. -they were very safe kids, taking every precaution:) Well, as I walked by I saw the two smaller kids take their turn. It seemed to be fun, and everything was going as planned. Then the chubby kid got his turn. Because of the weight he got going pretty fast, and when he hit the garbage can it was no match for him. It flew out into the street, and Chubby and the tube scooted right across the street. A car was coming, but luckily was going pretty slow, and Chubby was going really fast, the impact with the garbage can seemed to give him momentum instead of slowing him down. The tube crossed right in front of the car, missing it by mere inches! It was one of those things where you can see what is going to happen but it's already over before you have a chance to stop it. The guy driving the car screeched to a halt, jumped out of the car, pulled Chubby out of the tube by his ear, kicked him in the butt, marched him across the street and rang the bell to tell his parents. After the shock wore off I had to giggle a little bit thinking about how I love living in a neighborhood where everyone helps raise each other's kids, and it's okay to give the neighbor kid a swift kick to the butt. I decided that I had come close enough to having a stroke, and didn't need any more excitement and moved on, so I don't know if the parents were home, and what became of Chubby or Butt Kicker in the situation, but when I walked past a few hours later, chubby was parked out behind the garbage can holding it in place as the other two kids rolled down the hill in the tube. Oh, the logic of children...

One more reason to believe seagulls are evil!

It's no secret that I don't like animals. Don't even try to give me reasons to like them, or change my mind, it's not going to happen. I never have liked them and I never will. I would just as soon put a cat in the microwave and turn it on as to have it sit in my lap, all hairy and smelly. I don't like dogs, fish, cows, bunnies, anything. I don't really even like going to the zoo. I have never met an animal that I thought didn't stink. ( That might also be because in Stacy's words, I'm a "scent snob" I have this superpower sense of smell, and can smell things that normal people wouldn't even notice. It's a blessing and a curse, but this is better saved for another post...) Anyway out of all the animals I have ever been in contact with, birds are one of my very least favorites. I can't stand the things, with the pooping, and the singing, and the chirping, and the flying, ugh, I am getting a little angry even thinking about them. And although I didn't realize it until recently, I really really hate Seagulls. I don't know what it is about them (Maybe the fact that they are EVERYWHERE around here) but they just really annoy me. Oh, and they poop like... well, I won't go into it but lets just say that it's a lot of splattering poop, and it WILL NOT come off your car when it hits it, anyway, I am getting off track once again. I just don't like them, and we will leave it at that.

So yesterday was Park Day for a bunch of friends. We all bring our kids to the park on Thursdays, and eat lunch and let them play while we have some much needed adult conversation. It apparently was park day for another few groups too because there were kids and PB&J sandwiches all over the place. Well, I don't know if it was all the dropped food, or if there was just an infestation of seagulls who had been possessed by the devil or what, but all of a sudden there were  like, nine seagulls that were swooping down, buzzing the kids heads, flying around, doing that awful squawk thing they do, and just being a major pain. I was watching the kids as they played when all of a sudden a seagull pooped and it landed on a little girls arm. And it really splattered, like her whole arm and half of her shirt was covered in a cow-pie-like pile of white. She looked down at it, kind of confused, and then realizing what it was, she puked. Because it was not my child, it made me chuckle a little, but what happened next I was not prepared for. There were a couple of kids playing next to her, and when they saw what was happening, they too, threw up. I think it was the combination of eating so much and then playing so hard in the heat that made it all come up so easily, but none the less it happened. But it gets worse. The three kids were standing on the top getting ready to go down the slide. When they threw up, gravity took it downward fast. Though it didn't hit anyone, it did splatter at a few kid's feet, and there were two more pukers in a matter of seconds. So the moms ran over to see what was going on. They hadn't seen what happened, and they kept asking what was making them puke. One of the kids would try to answer and remember what had happened, and puke again, and it was like a chain reaction. So the moms took the kids over to where they had been sitting to clean them up a little, but the mom or the first girl with poop on her arm hadn't noticed the poop yet. She was cleaning the vomit, and was wiping the girl's face, but each time the girl would look over at her arm she would start gagging again. The sound of that made the other kids gag too. Though there wasn't much more vomit, the kids kept on heaving until the moms decided it was time to pack up and head home. So most of you probably think that this is the most disgusting story, and don't know why I would tell it, but I was literally rolling on the ground I was laughing so hard. I couldn't stop, and each time we would hear a dry heave, I couldn't stop myself from laughing all over again. It was so funny! But anyway, this is proof that these devil birds have to be stopped! Look at all of the pain and suffering they have caused! (my sides are still sore from laughing so hard:)