I am in Love

I've looked at the Roomba for years and wondered if they were worth the money, but had never convinced myself to buy one.  However, after recently talking to a few neighbors who did have one and liked them, I decided to bite the bullet and buy my own...on my birthday....as a birthday present to myself.  You only turn 40 once right?  And who wouldn't buy themselves a vacuum on their birthday?

Oh. My. Goodness.  This little guy is a gift sent straight from heaven.

Today was his big trial run all alone in the house to see if he would earn his keep.  I picked up the major obstacles on my main floor, shut a few doors and turned him on right before I left the house to run errands.  I had doubts that it would do a good enough job to warrant his price tag as his mini trial run the day before was a little iffy.

To my amazement, when I returned home the house was swept and vacuumed and he had safely returned to his port, ready to do it again whenever I called.

As soon as I got over my amazement, for I was truly awestruck,  I about jumped for joy I was so pleased.  You mean this little piece of equipment will sweep and vacuum and I don't have to do it nor pay anyone else to do it for me?  Where have you been all my life?  I'm Sold!!

Sure, he doesn't do as good as I do.  Corners are a little tricky and there are spots he missed.  If I were to grade him, I would give him a B+.  But he does it well enough to make it sooo worth the money.   So, in between my weekly sweeping and vacuuming, he's totally got me covered.

Oh and I love him so much, I gave him a name.  Milo.  Welcome to the family.

Procrastinator

That's me.  Don't you hate it when you read your e-mail in the morning and realize the due date for the space derby ship thingy is today and you haven't done a darn thing to get it ready.  Was I reminded about it for months.  Yep.  And I did absolutely nothing about it.

So, the second Owen got home from school we had a marathon derby building afternoon.  With a lot of help from YouTube, and a sufficient amount of spray paint and wood glue, we threw one together. I'm just hoping the thing doesn't fall apart before the race is over.

Swimming on a Soccer Field

Soccer games this past week have been wet, drizzly and cold.  Taylor's game was the icing on the cake, though.  After raining all day, their team showed up at Lone Peak's poorly drained artificial turf field and found standing water.

What a game.  The boys were sopping wet by the end and found it quite the challenge to play with large lakes in the middle of the field, squishy sopping wet turf,  and a ball that kept stopping every time it hit the water. To top it off, Taylor decided to take a quick swim after the game was over.  You don't get that opportunity very often.

Helping with dinner

A table setter and a cook.

Owen and the Rubic's cube

A few weeks ago, Owen found an old Rubic's cube at my parent's house.  Most of the stickers had peeled off, but was still in working, twistable order.  He brought it home and immediately tore off all the remaining stickers and then asked me to buy new ones.  What did I do?  I go to Amazon, because that's where I buy EVERYTHING and find someone who sells stickers for the cube for about $3 bucks.  The problem is, they are coming from China on a boat that is being rowed across the many waters to America, followed by a handcart to Utah.

When Owen meets a problem he wants to solve it rather quickly.  He got these rectangular stickers as temporary replacements, put them on and colored them.  They actually work fairly well, all things considered and has only replaced them once.

He has been happily working on solving the cube ever since and is not-so patiently waiting for the real stickers to show up.  Keep waiting kid.  They've still got a long ways to go.

Try not to laugh

Don't you love this picture?  I sure do.  A few years ago, after sitting through yet another spring soccer game in the drizzly rain, with the cold wind going right through me, I thought that there must be someone out there that makes a blanket heavy duty enough to keep me warm.  Within a few clicks online I found my lifesaver.  Windproof, waterproof and oh sooo warm.  At first I couldn't believe I just paid so much for a blanket, but the first time I wrapped up in it at a cold, windy, wet game and I stayed toasty warm, I was completely sold.  I am no longer the one shivering on the sidelines.  Add an umbrella and boots and I could sit in this weather all day.  I may look ridiculous, but I could care less.  I am warm!

DisneyLand

After going back and forth about taking a quick trip to DL for spring break, I surprised the boys last minute and took the plunge - I call it a mom and son's trip.  Scott had to work. :(     I have been a very neglectful parent as we have not been in 6 years.  Chase was a 2 year old, the last time we were there and has no memory of it at all.

I was a little worried about the crowds, but it turned out just fine.  Part of the surprise was "happening" upon our besties from Utah who just "happened" to be there at the same time and we then conveniently hung out with them for 3 days making it all the more enjoyable.

We beat the crowds by arriving at the park super early and we worked the fast pass system like nobody's business.  Oh and the churro ice cream sandwich....Wow!!

All in all it was a fast, but great trip and we will definitely go again- hopefully sooner than 6 years.

Taylor at 16

- He is officially driving.  A few scrapes on my van, but otherwise doing great being responsible.  Will also help his mom out and go to the store and pick up his brothers.
- Is now officially 6'2".  When will he stop sprouting up?
- Plays soccer for Lone Peak.  Usually plays defense or mid.
- Plays basketball on a rec team for fun. Also likes playing basketball with his Uncle Tyler and Dalin.
- Hasn't quite gotten up the nerve to go on a date.  C'mon the girls are dying for him to ask, right?
- Has gorgeous curly hair that he is currently growing out.
- Is a very kind brother to his younger siblings.  A definite peacemaker in our home.
- Very laid back and relaxed.  Often tells me, "It's ok mom."
- Loves playing Clash of Clans, especially with his Uncle Jaron.
- Favorite vacation is Lake Powell
- Favorite class in school is AP physics.  Constantly writing all sorts of un-readable equations on the white board in our mud hall.
- Gets up at 6:10 on the dot every day during the school week.
- Loves to watch sport talk shows on TV and discuss basketball facts with his dad.
- Likes to quote Jim Gaffigan.
- Loves a vanilla concrete mixer from Culvers with brownie bits and hot fudge.
- Plays the piano and organ.  He prefers the organ and plays twice a month in our Ward.
- Love to read Lord of the Rings, even though he has read it many, many times.

Bennett at 13

- Bennett is my soft-hearted boy.  Does a great job giving hugs to his mom and dad.
- Has a good sense of how people are feeling and will try to make them feel better.
- Is sensitive.
- Is social and has many friends.
- Is doing well at being responsible in school.
- Loves WWII books.
- Loves sunflower seeds.
- Favorite food is mom's baked chicken and white rice.
- Is good at writing stories.
- Likes to watch basketball on TV.
- Does a great job getting up in the morning and getting ready for school.
- Likes riding his long board.
- Like playing Battlefront on the Xbox.
- Still has his baby blanket on his bed.
- Enjoys putting together Legos.
- Likes to re-arrange the furniture in his room on a regular basis.
- Loves DC comics
- Likes to read the Percy Jackson series.

Owen at 10

- Loves to play soccer.
- Likes Rubic's cube.
- When he sets his mind on something, there is no stopping him.
- Loves to play with friends on a daily basis.
- Likes to play with Legos.
- Does well at being responsible in school.  I rarely have to ask him if he has turned everything in.
- Loves meat of any kind.
- Hates, and I mean hates bananas.
- Is looking forward to swim team this summer.
- Likes to know what's going on.  Asks a lot of questions.
- Just finished a year long soda challenge.
- Very precise in the definitions of things.
- Needs a lot of exercise to burn up his energy.
- Will do any job to earn money and changes his mind daily on what he wants to buy.
- Likes to wear black church socks to school every day.
- Is a very hard worker.

Chase at 7

- Loves to sing and dance.
- Has a large collections of stuffed animals.
- Loves Pokemon.
- Loves Legos.
- Likes to play Minecraft.
- Likes to play soccer.
- Has a large group of friends that he regularly plays with, including a few girls.
- Is a "little" guy.
- Loves salad and cherry tomatoes.
- Likes to dress up in old Halloween costumes.
- Likes to play in the sandbox.
- Still likes his mom and dad to read him stories.
- Sleeps with about 5 blankets on his bed. Most of them are baby blankets.
- Has only lost 2 baby teeth so far.