Carter, Stay Out of the Road!

This is the new phrase I will be screaming at the top of my lungs for what's left of winter, spring, summer and possibly into fall. This is Carter's best attempt to obey my screams.

Let me Out!

The unthinkable has happened, yesterday it was finally warm enough to play outside most of the day. I am just as amazed as you are, believe me, we've been in hibernation long enough. We went outside at 11:00 a.m. and only came in for lunch and a short rest time/I had to get some things done for work today. Then it was right back out again until about 5:00 p.m.

The neighborhood was teaming with children who had saved up all their squirrely energy all winter. It was like the fresh air was too much for them to handle and they ran around as if they had rabies or something. I wouldn't even say that it was actually "warm" by normal standards, but considering what we've been through this winter it was like a summer day.

Small Hinges

It has been said that the gate of history turns on small hinges, and so do people’s lives. The choices we make determine our destiny. -Thomas S. Monson November 2004

Just Another Day in the Life of Cali

Yesterday I went to pick Cali up from her primary class, when I got there she was still coloring her picture so I had a chance to talk to her teacher. Her teacher said to me, "I didn't realize that Cali was in kindergarten, I think she's the oldest one in the class today." I informed the teacher that Cali isn't in kindergarten, she's only four but will be five in July....so we've been talking about getting ready for kindergarten. The teacher looked at my with a puzzled look, and Cali looked at me with a "busted!" look.

I put her in the car and tried my best to explain that it's not a good idea to lie to your primary teacher. I said things like, "Cali, you're not in kindergarten. Why did you tell your teacher that you were?" and "Cali if you want talk about kindergarten you should tell people that you WILL be in kindergarten this year." and several other alternatives.

She looked me right in eye and said, "I didn't tell my teacher that I was in kindergarten, I told her that I was in school......so forgive me if I didn't put the preeesk in front of it."

Honestly? Where does she come up with this stuff. She really is in pre school, that's not a lie.

So, here's my observation of the situation:

1. Lying is a natural part of development. Most kids go through a lying phase. In fact, my sister Jayna once told my mom that she'd been to the circus during Joy School. So, I get the lying thing. But to lie by omission, and possibly on purpose...I think this is a whole new level of deception.

2. I am basically screwed! Plain and simple. If this is what I'm dealing with at age four, can you imagine the conversations we'll be having at 14? I shudder at the very thought.

To Do

Today I attempt to tackle the vast piles of laundry stacking up in this house.

Double A's (Not Talking About My Cup Size)

What's the point of buying electronic toys if I never replace the dead batteries? Carter is at the point where he holds up a toy and asks ,"batteries?"

I asked myself the same question as I took the following inventory of toys that need batteries:

1. Seasame Street Tool Bench
2. Scamps the Playful Pup (not so playful without some double A's)
3. Fisher Price Kitchen
4. Kiddizoom Camera
5. Lightening McQueen (I do enjoy not hearing "Kachow!" all day)
6. Tow Mater (Same thing but, "Git R Done" all day)
7. Fisher Price Basketball, Baseball and Football play set
8. Leapfrog Learning Center (not a lot of learning getting done with no sound)

I guess that's about it, for now......until the next eight toys run out of juice! Does anyone out there have the same problem? I think it's going to cost as much as most of these (high quality) toys to buy this many batteries.

Out With the Old and In With the New

We've lived in our lovely home for almost 4 years now, and we still have unfurnished/college furnished rooms. It's hard to part with the college furniture (ie. the Lovesac), but we are slowly doing it. This week we are working on the loft and replacing this set up (do you love the classy church chair?) with.....


This bad boy. We are replacing the furniture thanks to IKEA, and then on to the business of getting a new computer. Phewww. Being a grown up with a grown up house is hard work.

Getting In on the Action Too

Carter picked a dinosaur.


Carter lost interest in the whole process, and decided to ride around the store in a Build A Bear car. Seriously, who buys a car for their bear? Damn the marketing and low shelving!


So, Christian took over where Carter left off. The stuffing girl wanted him to rub the heart together with his hands so the bear/dino wouldn't have a "cold heart". He took the heart with his finger and thumb and rubbed it together in her face.


Then he tenderly brushed it's fur and inspected it's horns and gave it the name "Topper", because it's a Triceratop Dinosaur (have I mentioned before that I don't even believe in dinosaurs...save that for another time)


Carter came back on the scene just in time to grab the box and run out the door.

All in all it was a really fun adventure. When Cali was done she thought that she could get back in line and make bears all day. Unfortunately I was not prepared to fund such an adventure so we had to stop with one. Also, thanks to Grandma Vicki for meeting us there and for buying the bear clothes.

Build a Bear (Pink Leopard)

Our recent trip to Build a Bear went something like this:

Pick it!


Stuff it!


Bathe it!


Dress it!

Love it!

A Walk with Aunt Bethany

Organized Disorganization

Carter dumped every single toy and book out of Cali's tote shelf. I was finishing some work projects from home on the computer and didn't even realize what was going on. When I went to check on him to make sure everything was OK, I saw the distruction that he had wrought upon her room. Then I noticed in all the mess, he'd stacked up her totes in two neat stacks.

A Realization

The other day Cali threw a pretty magnificent fit, so I sent her to her room to sit on her bed. She asked me how long she would have to sit there, and I told her she would sit there until her dad came home. This made her even more mad, and intensified an already awesome fit. A few minutes later Christian came home and went upstairs to talk to here. They were up stairs talking for about a 1/2 hour, and when she came down she'd had a change of heart. She hugged me and told me that she would never disobey me again.

That's when it hit me. I can't be expected to do everything right all of the time. So, I can't expect her to do what I say every single time. It seems like a pretty simple principle, but in practice it's hard. I am so impatient with her when she doesn't obey me, and I honestly expected that she should and would do what I say every single time.

My new goal: be more patient!!!

Chocolate Moose

The Proposal

Our friends, Derek and Nicole at a CEU dance 1998. I really never thought that I'd be in a photo that looked so dated!

I didn't buy him a ring and get down on one knee and ask him to marry me. Although what I did may be considered just as forward.

Christian and I had been dating for about a month (which seemed like a long time....at the time). We had been hanging out together every day and going out with friends or on dates at night. I was in my first semester of college and was eighteen. He was in his second year of college, had been home from his mission for 5 months and was twenty one.

At the time I was in the process of turning in my papers to be an EFY counselor, and had been working hard to scrounge up letters of recomendation. Also, as part of the application process I had to provide my feelings about the gospel and answer several personal questions, all of which required a lot of prayer and thought.

Dating Christian along with doing the studying necessary to complete the EFY paperwork sent me on a spiritual high. I felt that things were great and that I was doing the right things in my life. I had also had several strong feelings or impressions that Christian was a person that I could spend the rest of eternity with.

So, one night, after a bishop's fireside we were riding home together(30 minutes from Castle Dale to Price) and we started talking about where our relationship was headed. Without a hesitation I told him that I thought he was the one for me, and that we should get married. Then the tears started flowing and my anxiety level rose. I talked about my feelings for him and some of the personal feelings I had felt. He didn't look as stunned as he was. He just listened, then told me he would have to think about what I had said.

The next day, he told me that he felt the same way, and that he knew I was the one for him. I talked to my dad about my feelings and told him that Christian and I would be getting married in May (It was October at this point). My dad told me to do what my heart told me to do. I told my mom, and she said the same thing.

Later that semester (December 15th to be exact) there was the ring and the "formal" proposal, where Christian did get down on one knee. So that's that!

Here's what I've learned from that experience:

• When you are 18 years old you have much more courage, because you are unaware that there is a possibility of failing.
• My parent's reaction to me announcing my upcoming marriage has taught me many things about parenting. I have on occasion asked my mom what SHE was thinking, letting her 18 year old daughter act like that. She always says, "could you have been stopped?" I know the answer to that questionn.
• When times have been hard for us, or things don't seem to be working out like I've planned. I have often reflected on the feelings and impressions that I had leading up to my gut spilling proposal. Remembering how I felt has brought me comfort and strength and a committment to always do better.

So here we are! Nine years and a couple of kids later. More humble and a lot smarter!

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

Your Candy Heart Says "Get Real"

You're a bit of a cynic when it comes to love. You don't lose your head, and hardly anyone penetrates your heart. Your ideal Valentine's Day date: is all about the person you're seeing (with no mentions of v-day!) Your flirting style: honest and even slightly sarcastic What turns you off: romantic expectations and "greeting card" holidays Why you're hot: you don't just play hard to get - you are hard to get

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

The Day I Proposed to My Husband

Coming soon! The story of how I proposed to my dear adorable husband. He is going to die when I share this story, but he never reads this blog, so he'll never know! Stay tuned......

Road Trip! I Mean, Field Trip!

On Monday Cali's preschool class went on a field trip to Albertson's. I was able to go and take 5 four-year-olds with me (more on this later in the post). A nice Albertson's employee showed the kids around the store and explained what could be found in each department. The kids were mildly impressed, as most of them have been to the grocery store umpteen times with their mothers. They were, however, impressed by the live lobster (or "live monster" as Carter called it). I think I learned more than the kids did, here's what I learned.

• 5 Four-year-old girls are very loud, and will make you want to drive off the road on the way to and from the field trip. Seriously, enough with the Hanna Montana theme song at the top of your lungs! That means you too Cali.
• 2 year-olds who have to come with their mother to the field trip may or may not get lost in the 0 degree freezer.
• 2 year-olds with peanut allergies will cry all the way home when they can't eat the cookies given to the children by the Albertson's employee. So sad, and required a stop at Smiths to get a donut.
• I have so much respect for preschool teachers who show love and patience to all the children in the class, especially my darling adorable child.
• I need to develop some patience....and FAST!

My Baby Turned Into Big Boy

This week Carter decided that he was no longer going to sleep in his crib. It came as quite a surprise because he's never had a problem with his crib, or sleeping for that matter. In fact, with all his craziness, he's never even jumped out. It was the one place I could put him, and he wouldn't move. Well, those days are over. On Monday he told me that he needed a bed like "uncle Dustin's". Last time we were at Christian's parents house Carter slept in Dustin's bed (he's gone on a mission right now), and he thought it was pretty wonderful.

Lucky for me, Cali has a spare twin trundle under her day bed (thank you aunt Brittany). So we got it out and set it up and, shazam! Carter has a big boy bed. That being said, my life just got a lot harder. He now wants me to lay by him all night and when I try to sneak away, I can hear his little feet running around in there. What used to be a 5 minute bed time ritual, just turned into 30 minute fight. So wish me luck, I guess it's just part of my baby turning into a big boy.....I promised myself I wouldn't cry....

Being Honest About Dishonesty

Carter has officially learned to lie, but not very well. Today while he was playing in the loft he turned off the computer. When Christian asked him why he did it he said, "It not me, did you see me?" Christian told him that he hadn't seen him to which Carter replied, "It was mom." Trying to reason with a two year old is not the best idea, but Christian tried to explain that mom was in the other room at the time the computer was turned off. Carter still insisted, "It not me!". Finally Christian asked him if he was telling the truth and he said, "No, I not tell the truth."

So I guess if your son is a liar, at least he's not a very good one. Well, that's what I keep telling myself!

My Sweetheart

His Name: Christian Michael Pollastro

How long did you date?: We dated for three months, then got engaged. Then we got married five months later. So, I guess a total of eight months.

How old is he: 30!

Who eats more?: No question, he can eat waaaaaaay more than I can.

Who said "I love you" first?: I don't remember for sure, but I think it was him.

Who is taller?: He is. He's 6'7" and I'm 5'8", so he makes me look small....which I am not.

Who sings better?: I do. In fact, when we were dating I told him to quit making fun of the hymns at church. Come to find out, that was his "real" singing voice.

Who is smarter?: It really depends on the subject. He is really smart at math and science, plus he has a really good business sense.

Whose temper is worse?: Let's just say, don't get either one of us mad.

Who does the laundry?: Both. Christian is great at doing the laundry.

Who does the dishes?: Both. He never hesitates about doing up the dishes or loading the dish washer.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?: We don't really have our own side of the bed. Whoever has to get up earlier sleeps by the alarm.

Who pays the bills?: I do. I always have, I would never be able to function if I didn't know exactly where every penny went.

Who mows the lawn?: He does, and he love it. If he could mow all day in the summer he would. It's really quite a sight. He mows different patterns into our lawn, like a baseball field.

Who cooks dinner?: Both. He cooks dinner on the days I work. I cook when he's at work.

Who drives when you are together?: He ALWAYS does. I don't even go near the driver's seat when he's around.

Who is more stubborn?: I would say that he is, then he would say that I am. So, I think it would be a tie.

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong?: I don't know, I've never been wrong.

Whose parents do you see the most?: We see Christian's dad quite a bit when he works in Salt Lake, but over all we see both sides of the family pretty equally.

Who proposed?: I did, and I was 18....and that was crazy.

Who has more friends?: I do.

Who has more siblings?: We both have the same. We are both the oldest of 5 kids.

Who wears the pants in the family?: He would say that I do, but in reality I think we do a really good job of balancing.

Happy Birthday Nicole

Happy Birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day. I posted this picture in honor of your special day, and because we look super "special". Party on!

Meeting Maya at the Mayan

The highlight of our week was meeting my favorite college friend Natalie and her daughter Maya at the Mayan for lunch. These girls could get seriously crazy together (just like their old mothers)! They had a great time watching the divers and running around.....not much actual eating went down (except for me and Nat, we can both get our eat on!).


It's not every day you get splashed in the face while you're eating. Oh, and there's Mason too. Nat wasn't kidding, this kid loves his blankey! Even cuter in person.



Both of these girls have had a lot of practice posing for pictures. I hope we can meet up again before another six years flies by! We need to take a trip to Austin for sure.

Snow Day! Church Was Cancelled!

This is a picture of the inside of my screen on my sliding glass door. The snow drifts were pushed so high and hard against the screen, that it pushed tiny snow worms into my house.

So, what do you do if there is snow IN your house?

Do this....While your dad does....


This!

What a Way to Spend a Saturday

Last Saturday we met my dad at Riverton High School. My dad is the Speech and Debate Coach for Emery High School, and Speech Meet season is in full swing. What does this mean? It means that every weekend from January until March he will be at a different school around the state coaching and encouraging his students. There are many different events that his students participate in from, Student Congress to Dramatic Interp.



As a former student of Emery High School I also participated in said speech meets. My main strength was Oratory Speaking and I actually placed at the state meets each year. My dad says that I was, "very good". I know it may be hard to believe that I could throw down some mean speeches and debates, but it's true.



Not only that, but as a small girl I traveled the speech circut with my dad. Some of my earliest memories are of "helping" him at speech meets. When I got older I was actually helpful and just he and I would run entire region competitions. Our organization communication skills are very good, and could keep events and tabulations moving at a fast pace. Take my word for it, it's pretty impressive.



So, I thought my kids would like a little taste of the speech meet culture, this is why we were at Riverton High School. They were pretty impressed by the Wolf statues (Riverton Silverwolves), and the common's area steps were really good for running and jumping.


Carter kept yelling, "I FEED THE WOLFSES!" At the top of his lungs. Which was barely audible with all the other speech student related noise.




Trying to keep these two off the statues was futile. I finally gave up, and just started taking pictures. Cali didn't want to leave, and ran off into the catacombs of the high school halls. She was eventually located by the concession stand girl. I didn't know if I should hug her or beat her.






Here he is, famous debate coach and writer extrodinare. Take a look at all the "stuff" thrown everywhere. This is just part of the speech meet life. Dump your stuff and run off to your rounds to get your debate on!



In all seriousness, I must say that my dad has been doing this for literally all my life. He holds the record for the most trophies and competitions won in the history of college debate. I think he won almost 200 trophies in less than 2 years. No small feat. He has been improving the public speaking skills of generations of students. He has also written 20+ original humerous readings, many of which have won state competitons.