New Drama Same Zip

Oh Dylan, Brenda, Brandon, Steve, David, Donna, Kelly, and Andrea how I have missed you. Since you were snatched off the air in the year 2000 my life has never been the same. Is there any possibility that the new 90210 series could be as wonderful as the original? I don't know. But I intend to find out on Tuesday on the CW. Nicole are you with me?

Adding Insult to Injury

Christian found out last week that he has a huge tear in his Achilles tendon (see above diagram for details). He turned his ankle while we were climbing Wheeler Peak, but didn't think much of it. He continued to play basketball each week, until the pain prevented him from running up and down the court (that's when you know it's bad). He iced it every night, and walked on it all day at work, but it never seemed to get any better. Finally after about a month he went to the doctor. He now has to wear a large boot on his foot for the next 6 weeks, not to mention the physical therapy and vast amount of ice. We are hoping that wearing the boot will give it time to reattach and heal properly, and that he gets feeling better very soon. He couldn't even mow the lawn this week, which was like torture for him!

A Reason to Celebrate

On Saturday I reintroduced the potty trainer to Carter. He was mildly amused, and sat on it for a few minutes. I offered him cup after cup of juice and water with the hope that it would get his juices flowing. Nothing. Christian came home from work and offered to watch Carter while Cali and I ran to the store. When I got home there was much joy and elation at our house. Whilst I was gone, Carter peed in the potty trainer. Christian said the exchange went something like this:

Christian: (upstairs vacuuming, sees Carter walk up the stairs with no underpants on...stops vacuuming)
Carter: Dad, dad I have to tell you something.
Christian: What Carter?
Carter: I sat on the potty trainer and something came out of my winger.
Christian: Let's go see.
Carter: (very excited pointing into the potty trainer)
Christian: I am so proud of you (much celebration!!)

So, we've made a huge step. He now knows where the potty comes from (his "winger") and where it goes (in the potty). I thought that maybe this was a one time deal. Something that he did just to impress his dad. But, no. He did it again yesterday too. He may actually be potty trained before the age of 12.

pictures coming.......

V.I.P. Day

Yesterday was Cali's V.I.P. day at school. We (and by "we" I mean Christian designed it and did the letter while Cali and I glued the pictures on) made a poster all about her, and picked out some mini muffins at the store for her to share with her class.

At school she was presented with a crown complete with a coronation ceremony and song. I held up the poster and told a little bit about her, while she giggled and smiled and pointed to the pictures. Afterward she answered questions from her class mates. Such questions included, "What is your favorite food?" "What is your favorite hot food?" and "What is your favorite breakfast food?" I think these kids must have been hungry.

Later at school Cali she passed off her first level which means she can spell her first and last name using the correct case, count to 30 with no errors, recite her phone number and birthday including the year. She was so excited, and we were so proud.

However, one tragedy did occur amid all the joy. After school she and a friend bumped into each other, which caused her crown to fly off her head and into the road. Before she even knew what happened a car ran it over and smashed it flat. She sobbed and sobbed, but told me that she didn't cry when it happened she waited to get home before she let the tears fly. It was very heartbreaking. So, I'm on a quest to find a new crown for my little V.I.P.

Gym Ass Kicks (aka Gymnastics)

Right before Cali turned three I signed her up for gymnastics. She loved it. I didn't. Carter was just a little boy and was too squirmy to hold, and much too young to take a class himself. Not to mention the staff at the gym (which shall not be named) were not very attentive (in my opinion). Her coach asked her each week, "now, what is your name again?" Which I thought was a little impersonal. I didn't think the staff was very attentive. So, I was torn. Cali loved it. She didn't care that they didn't pay attention to her, but for the money I was paying I expected more. So we stuck it out for a year. We quit when she turned four, and took a year off.

Cali has been asking all year long when she can get back into "gymasskicks", I really wanted to make sure that we had a better experience, so I kind of just put her off. Then several months ago my friend Leisa suggested the gym where she coaches, Bailie's. We finally got Cali signed up and she had her first class yesterday. The girl has never been happier, and neither have I. The staff and coaches were right on, and I noticed a marked difference in their teaching techniques. It was a great experience.

Her favorite thing was the beam and she also enjoyed chalking up her hands. With her recent physical milestones she was right at home on the bars. As for the sweaty shirt. It's not sweat at all, it's spit. For whatever reason Cali thought it was necessary to chew on her shirt while she was waiting for her turn or listening to instructions. When I asked her why she was chewing on her clothes she told me, "my tank top is a little too low, so I was holding it up with my mouth so my boobs didn't hang out." Thank goodness that five year old boobs don't do much hanging!

Beware of Giants (or Midgets)

So which one is it? Am I a giant? Or, is she a midget? If you know us, you may say both statements are true. I've never been know for my petite frame, and she pretends to be five feet tall (which is a literal and figurative stretch).

Last Friday we showed up to work in about the same outfit, if it had been anyone else I would have been totally humiliated. However, since it was just my sissy I didn't mind too much. Our coworkers thought it was equally hilarious, so we took a picture.

This very day we went to Costa Vida to split a salad and I watched in awe at the problems little people encounter. First, a lady in line nearly smashed Bethany. This woman mowed her over and didn't even see her. Second, another lady snuggled right up to her and stood way too close for comfort. Bethany claims that strange things like this happen to little people all the time. She has even had people pat her on the head. Nothing like this has ever happened to me, so I guess there are some pros to being the "big one".

Well, I guess I better go hem some pants. I have three pairs of Bethany's pants here that need at least 3 inches taken off.

More pictures of this fateful occurance can be found here.

Physical Milestones Galore

It's been exciting the past few weeks to see Cali's newest physical developments (no, she did not grow boobs like she wants to). It seemed like as soon as she turned five her body turned a corner t00. First, she lost Roxy (remember her tooth that she named?). Next, she lost Kelsey (Roxy's sister tooth on the bottom in the front). She actually lost Kelsey at school. She was chewing on a bracelet and popped her right out of her mouth. Then she carefully put Kelsey in a little pocket on her backpack. Bad news, the pocket was made out of mesh and she lost Kelsey on the way home. Grandma Vicki was tending when this even occurred and retraced about every step Cali had taken, no luck. Kelsey is gone. Now where Roxy and Kelsey once lived there are two new jagged giant teething pushing their way up. The one on the left has grown in the most, and has been named Trixie. Trixie makes it easier for Cali to finally chew carrots and apples.

We also experienced a five year old miracle. Cali can now ride a bike without any training wheels. I call this a miracle, because many of you know that Cali (like her mother) lacks some basic rhythm and coordination. Christian thinks her dancing is like "watching a seizure". We worked with her for a while, but she never could get the hang of the balancing. When she would take a couple pedals by herself, she would get so excited that she would spread her legs in the air. Result: a large crash. Then one day, she got it. She just started pedaling and didn't stop. It was amazing, and she was the proudest five year old on the block. She still hasn't mastered the sidewalk (which is a little dangerous) but she's as good as gold on the open road. Please slow down if you are driving through H.F!



She has also mastered the monkey bars. Most of our summer was spent with her dangling from the first bar, and then screaming and freaking before she could even reach to the next one. Not anymore. She can go down and back over and over. She has the blisters to prove it. She has even figured out how to move her body and gain momentum to swing to the next bar. A small feat for some, a huge deal for Cali. Check out her form. I think she may have an Olympic event in her future.

We Made It

We officially survived the first week of school. Some of Cali's quotes from the first week of school:

"This is WAY better than preschool."

" I have tummy ache from walking around and around and around the school."

"Dad, guess what? School didn't suck today!"

"Do we HAVE to do this EVERY day?"

"My teacher is a grandma and she loves hugs."

"I want to order a t-shirt with a bob cat (their mascot) on it, but not a ferocious one."

"Mom, is it really necessary for you to walk me all the way to school, when I know how to get there by myself?"

At the end of the first week Cali received a bobcat paw which means that she was caught showing respect and responsibility to her fellow class mates. Her teacher told me that she was wonderful, and I tried not to act shocked. Not that Cali isn't wonderful, but she has a hard time showing respect and responsibility at home. Apparently at school she is very obedient and does everything she is asked the first time she is asked to do it, and has NEVER thrown a fit.

I'm not going to lie, I'm impressed! Now if some of the good behavior could just transfer to our home, I would really be happy!

Reunion

The first weekend in August was my ten year class reunion (which suprisingly enough didn't send me straight into therapy...I was impressed). I attended with my best friend (and life partner) Tatum. Both of our husband's had much better things to do than to attend a reunion with their wife. So we went together. Tatum lost her wedding ring right before the reunion started, so it was a little awkward showing up with a girl for a date and no wedding ring. But nothing that we couldn't work through.

I have many other pictures from this eventful weekend such as Cali falling at the park and splitting her eyebrow, Carter meeting his true love (Paiton), The Emery County Fair in all it's glory, and even a few of the reunion. I hope to have them posted soon. I borrowed my mother-in-law's camera, since Christian took ours to New York, and I don't have the correct USB cable. I guess having a CD made is my only option at this point.

Anyway, thank you Tatum for showing me such a wonderful time. It was the best date I've been on for a while. Also thank you Lyndsay for taking so many pictures, and letting me steal this one from you.

Waste Not Want Not

About a month ago I spent some time with my mom cleaning out my grandma and grandpa's house in Fountain Green. Since she and I are the only ones in the family that do a lot of sewing we sat down to divide up her sewing supplies. We had already divided the fabric and the big things, but there were several cabinets and drawers that housed odds and ends sewing things.

My mom was emptying out one of the drawers in the sewing machine when we found the box pictured above. There were dozens of spools of multi colored thread. She had saved all of her thread scraps and wound them onto spools. If she needed a certain color to sew on a button or mend a tear, she would have it.

It was amazing to see the great care she took in not wasting, even a few yards of thread. Not to mention the beauty of all the different colors, and the meaning that it had to me.

Frankie the Goat

After much anticipation my parents are finally the proud owner of a goat. Today my mom told me that he cries and whines when he is left alone outside. In fact, she had to have Dory tend the goat so she could go for a walk this morning. I think it's hilarious, and am glad just to be a simple bystander. My kids are going to freak when they see this thing.

First Day of School

Yesterday marked one of the happiest days of Cali's young life (possibly one of mine too). This girl was ready to go......months ago. I walked her to the school and when we got on the school grounds she turned to me and said, "OK mom, I can go the rest of the way by myself." I told her that I'd walk her to the door for the first day, but that in the future she could go the rest of the way by herself.


First day of school picture, everyone has to have one.


Christian had the day off too.


The only person who cried was Carter. He wanted to go in the doors with sissy.


This picture is just so Cali to me. I don't catch her real smile very often, but I think I did with this one. If you're wondering about the eye, she fell and hit her head over the weekend at the Dino-Mine park in Price. That event deserves its own blog post....maybe later.

Start Spreadin' the News

Christian is back from New York, and the kids are so happy and proud of their Yankee gear.


Times Square. He said it was bigger and more awesome than it looks on TV.


Lady Liberty, he got a little teared up when he saw her. It was awesome to see what his great grandfather saw when he came to New York from Italy.


He is so handsome and proud to be a Yankee.


He also took lots and lots of pictures of baseball. I can't tell who is who or what is what, but he can!