Spring Break

Last week was my Spring Break. I loved every minute of it! I still answered the phone and my students emails, but I was able to spend the rest of the time with the kids. We were busy with dentists appointments, swimming lessons, and track practice (Brianna's doing track, but that's another blog post.)

Friday I took Tom and Charlie to the dollar movie to see Bolt--the Disney movie about a TV super hero dog that thinks he really has the super powers. It was a cute movie and the boys loved it. I loved that the three of us could go and get popcorn, drinks, and candy for less than $12.

We were celebrating Tom's excellent report card and the good boys they had been by going to the movie and then we went out to eat at Hires, a burger place that's a family favorite. We went and met my mom and sister, Emily, for a late lunch.I love being able to spend time with the boys and I hope they know I love them.

Our Trip to the Dentist

I finally took all of the family to the dentist--Tom and Brianna on Monday morning, Charlie and I yesterday. Charlie did GREAT he opened is mouth when he was supposed to (yes I was worried.) Brianna, Thomas, and I should have used a little more of this:








We all have to go back in for cavities. None of us are excited. We are making cavity trips back on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Brianna = Monday--She'll do well and we're going to talk about braces.

Me = Tuesday--I'm not worried--maybe I should be.

Tom = Wednesday--This is the one that'll be the real test. The dentist gave me a prescription that will make him really loopy before we go in on Wednesday afternoon and then they claim he won't care at all when I bring him in. He had a hard time heading back to get them cleaned. He looked at me with his giant eyes and was a little questionable. I'll let you know how they go.

Swimming Lessons--Week 1

My sister and I decided to sign up the boys for swimming lessons. Tom and Charlie were so excited to have lessons, especially Thomas. He was always asking if today was Tuesday so he could start swimming lessons.
Well, Tuesday came and that session might have been the end of my life--or Charlie's anyway. We walked in and he got ready to go in the pool, but as soon as the teacher called his name, he wanted nothing to do with it. He screamed and carried on. I was so upset. I felt like wringing his little neck. I even left the room where the lessons were being held and then tried to go watch Tom's lessons. I felt so much anger for him. Usually the little things he does, doesn't bother me but during swimming lessons that wasn't the case. (Maybe it is because of the previous post.)
The lessons are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday, and today's lesson was so much better. I don't know if was because I "threw" away the light saber, or if he couldn't see me, or if he wanted the fruit snacks I promised, or a combination of all of the above. Whatever it was it worked.
Thomas was a trooper and did awesome both days. Trust him to always surprise me.
Due to the trauma of our first day, I didn't get any pictures. We'll have to wait to get pictures until the last day of class...stay tuned.

Brian's First Week at Work a.k.a. My Wake Up Call

So Brian started at 3-Form this week. (Check out the web site here--tons of really cool stuff like the pictures below.)












We were excited and I knew that it would be an adjustment for me--I just didn't know how much of one it would be. I was so spoiled having Brian at home. All I had to do was wake up and start working. I would get my work done and then spend some time online and life was easy. Now I'm running Thomas to and from school, making the boys meals and keeping them on schedule, doing the laundry, keeping the house up, etc. I always appreciated all that Brian would do at home and I really loved that he was a "stay-at-h0me" dad. (Not to mention getting to hang out all day together--my favorite part.) I think that he really likes what he is doing and they love him at his job.
I am so lucky to have Brian. He is the best husband, friend, and dad.

CHUCK - A - RAMA

We have several family memories involving Chuck-a-Rama, so why not add some more. While the older boys were out, they wanted to go to a yummy buffet dinner, so the night Brianna and I went to Enrichment night at the church, Brian took all 5 boys (Pete, David, Thomas, Charles, and Ryan Musselman) to Chuck-a-Rama. They had such a fun time. Among the highlights were:


Tom having 3 glasses of Dr. Pepper


Pete eating a plate full of only mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn






Charlie getting in trouble for not wanting to eat only wanting to play games on Dave's or Ryan's iPod touch

Brian not getting sick from the trip

All in all everyone had a wonderful time.

Happy Birthday Brianna

Friday, for Brianna's birthday, she wanted to have a few friends over for the night. Vyola spent the night instead. They had a lot of fun. We ate pizza and cake and ice cream. Then she opened her gifts. She made a haul! She got a couple pairs of shoes, some super cute new pants(that I picked out), a bunch of shirts, and two new movies--The Notebook and Phantom of the Opera (her FAVORITE!)

She also had plenty of help opening her gifts...(notice Charlie's sleeve)

But the best gift was to have the boys come to town.



We had a full house and a very fun night! This will be a 15th birthday to remember.

Swimming Anyone?

I decided that for part of my exercise routine, I would include a water aerobics class a few times a week. I have really liked going and being in the water and really feel a good workout. The first couple of times I have attended, I wasn't prepared--I didn't have a swimming suit, so I was improvising with shorts and a tank top. It worked fine for the first few minutes of class, but the longer I was in the water, the further my shirt started riding up. In order to continue the classes, which I really wanted, I decided I needed to get the gear.

Today, we went to a swim shop that has some great swimwear. I found a wonderful suit that'll work well for class and when I want to take the boys to the pool. I also decided that I'd get a swim cap to protect my newly colored hair. (I have a problem letting that money get washed down the pool drain.)

I came home and tried out my new swim cap and was pleased with the fit and hoped that it will keep my hair color bright. I wasn't the only one that wanted to try on the new swim cap...Charlie quickly took to wearing the cap. He made sure that it came down and covered his ears. He loved seeing himself with a read head.

He also really liked the noise that it made when he banged on his head. He sure is a funny boy.

Bowling...finally!

Every day we drive down the street, we drive past Bountiful Bowl. Each time we do the boys always ask if we are going bowling. We have never been brave enough to take them until...the UTVA high school outing that was last Friday. It was in Provo at Fat Cats--a really fun entertainment center. They had bowling, arcade games, pool tables, air hockey, and restaurants--very elaborate.

We all had a really good time. Brian beat us all both games, but Thomas was close the first round.

I tried to get some good pictures, but the camera died after I only got a few. So Brianna, yet again, didn't get her picture taken.

Brian did have a little fall, but you'll have to ask him about that. We might own the Provo Fat Cats soon...we'll keep you posted.

The boys wanted to go bowling so bad and have been asking forever, but the funny thing is that once we got there and Charlie saw the arcade games that's all he wanted to do. We tried hard to rip him away from the racing games to come bowl and you'd think we wanted him to do something awful. He's funny!

Here he's waiting for his ball to come back. I love the hands on the hips.