4th Of July

We spent this year's 4th of July in St. George. Our day as told in pictures (well not entirely in pictures, I can't help myself but to include a few words).

It's almost Megan's birthday, so she was able to open an early birthday present from my Mom and Ken while we were there.

Hanging out at the park.

Seriously scary snow-cone pictures.

Waiting for the fireworks to start.

This is how my camera chose to take pictures of the fireworks. I am quite enjoying it. My kidllies were so super tired on the way home that they all fell asleep watching a movie which is highly unusual. Megan and Jackson are super night owls.

The B******* Is Back

I change my hair color A LOT. Blond, Brunette, Blond, Brunette. Obviously my brunette self has returned. I just cannot commit.

This picture is a great representation of what I look like during the day. Comfortable t-shirt, apron, old skool headphones (the ear buds kill my ears), no make-up. By the way I am wearing the head phones because I like to listen to music while I clean the house, but Miss Sade is sleeping and I don't want to wake her up.

Also, take a look at my long bangs. I had no intention of growing them long, but here they are. Also, I had a somewhat happy accident while coloring my hair. The dark hair dye did not fully adhere to all of my blond hair, so I have a few highlights that I am okay with.

"Do you have a hard time committing to a hair color?
"Can you wear ear buds"
"Do you think I should grow out my bangs (not completely, I could never commit to that, but just a bit longer)?"

Watch Out PBA

Many of you may not know what the PBA stands for but those of you who are talented bowlers like Eric and I realize that I am talking about The Professional Bowlers Association. That's right, for out date night this week we went bowling! Does anyone find the term "date night" kind of corny? When I use it I conjure up images of old married couples (oh wait, that's me). Anyway, we started off the night eating at Claim Jumper. I wanted to get the pot roast, but of course it is now off the menu. As my Jackson would say (not with my blessing), "What the?". So I settled for the Black Tie Pasta which is very enjoyable. I don't know if you can tell from the picture but Eric ordered the ribs, and they were humongous.

After dinner, we headed out to bowl. I have two things to say. #1) I don't think we have bowled since we got the Wii, and I forgot how physically demanding it was. #2) Bowling without kids is sooooooo much quicker.

There was some sort of major league tournament going on and they actually brought bleachers in for the crowd. Who knew there were so many spectators?

If I had to give myself a bowling label, I believe it would be inconsistent. I can bowl a strike in one frame, and turn around in the next and bowl a gutter ball.

Eric was much more consistent, and kicked my behind. Talking of behinds, there was a couple next to use that was showing extreme amounts of PDA, involving lots of slapping of behinds, and lots of tongue! Ooh, la la.

"Did you ever have the pot roast at Claim Jumper?
Are you okay with the term "date night?
Do you like to bowl?"
How do you feel about PDA?"

Wordless Wednesday-Blackmail Edition

Lake Mead

Last Saturday we spent the afternoon at Lake Mead swimming and playing in the sand (i.e. mostly mud). Oodles of pictures to follow.

The water was a bit chilly at first but once you were fully submerged it was great.

Sadie took a few tumbles in the water and on the beach, which made her a bit sad. However the sadness never lasted long. Her inner bravery took hold, and she marched right back into the water.

Jackson is usually a bit timid in water, but as long as he had his life jacket on he was fearless.

Megan was her fearless self, and had no trouble swimming far, far away from us. I had to call her back in a few times.

We spent quite a bit of time building this masterpiece on the beach.

Under The Big Top

Yesterday we all went to the Circus! I will start off by highlighting the bad. The line to pick up our tickets was horrendous. Since most of us now buy tickets on-line, that means most everyone going has to pick up their tickets at the same time (approx. 15 minutes before the show starts). It was kind of like a mob scene. Luckily the people working were regulating the lines and only allowing a few people up at a time, but that seemed to cause many people in the lines to become angry. I for one was grateful there was some sort of regulation. It seemed to me with all of the anger, someone could have quite quickly been trampled.

Megan and Jackson waiting to get our tickets. I would like to know what they are looking at. Do they not realize I am the one with the camera?

Anyway, it was a bit crazy, but we made it into our seats just as the Circus was starting. Seriously, what are they looking at? Eric is the only one looking at the camera.

I don't have any good pictures of the circus performers, because my camera does not do well in darkness. However I did capture Miss Sade clapping along.

Poor Jackson didn't quite make it all the way until the end. We all really enjoyed ourselves. The circus performers are amazing. I don't know how many of you know that I am a semi-professional stilt walker, and I just happened to notice that there were no stilt walkers in the circus. Do you think I could convince Eric and the kids to join the circus with me?

Five For Friday

I am wondering why I have felt incredibly busy this week, when in fact I have had hardly any commitments. I wake up almost every day thinking there is something I am forgetting to do, but just can't remember what it is. Yesterday that thing was Jackson's soccer class. Disappointing for him and for me (I really love to watch). My memory has quite rapidly declined with the birth of each of my children. Anyway, some things to note about this week.

1. I will start by documenting a few of the cheap or completely free things I have acquired.

First up this Jeep I purchased for $10 at the D.I. It was missing a battery but I thought to myself that can't be much money, so I bought it. Well apparently it needs at 12 volt battery and of course the special quick charger, so the final product wasn't as cheap as I hoped it would be. But about $100 dollars later, Jackson and Sadie are very happy, which makes me very happy.

All of this stuff, along with numerous books, a big wheel, clothes, and movies I received for FREE last night at Enrichment. You can imagine my excitement when I found the tap shoes and all of the fingernail polishes, since my dream is to learn to tap dance, and fingernail polish is my most favorite gift to get.

Lastly, my obsessive eating at Chipotle has paid off (Not for me, but for 10 other lucky people). Since I am such a loyal customer I get to pick 10 people to give lunch to. I wish I could pick all of my friends, but it is supposed to be my favorite charity, kids school, day care providers, etc. Very cool of them.

2. Just a couple of pictures of Sade.

She is very, very active, and tries her very best to keep up with Megan and Jackson. This week she has a set of skinned knees the likes of which I haven't seen in some time. The other one is even worse but she didn't want to sit still for the pictures.

Check out these dirty feet. My kids are often barefoot, and Sadie enjoys purposely stepping in the oil cars have left behind.

3. The one benefit to getting 4 Sunday newspapers, is that there are plenty of Sunday comics to go around. Megan and Jackson both love spreading them out to read them each week.

4. My house is a mess. I will not post a picture, because it will depress you. Because of my strangely, phantom busy schedule, I have neglected certain chores, like laundry (my nemesis) and now I am feeling overwhelmed. Big Sigh!!

5. On a happy note, tonight we are going to the Circus!!!! If you have never been to see Ringling Bros. I highly recommend that you go. Just don't buy snacks, such as cotton candy while you are there. If I remember right, last time we went cotton candy was going for $10 a piece!

"Do you think the Jeep purchase was a good idea?
Do your kids seem to get as dirty as mine?
Do you still read the Sunday comics?
Does your house ever seem to overwhelm you, and do you HATE doing laundry"
And lastly, Who in there right mind would charge $10 for cotton candy?"

Jackson Said

While out to dinner, after staring at a girl sitting next to us for quite some time, Jackson Said:

"Mom would you be really embarrassed to go out in your underwear."

Which caused Megan to stare at her and tell him it is probably not underwear but rather a swimming suit or shorts. Eric and I thought we had sufficiently shushed them enough, but when the girl got up to leave, Megan then remarked,

"See Jackson. They are just really short shorts."

If only kids had some sort of internal monitor that would cause them to think these things rather than saying them out loud. Or perhaps even feel compelled to whisper them.

And for the record I would be really embarrassed to go out in my underwear.

The aforementioned girl.