Now I understand

Don't you hate it when you have a guest in your house who suddenly asks if they can use your not-so-fresh bathroom? Why is it that it never happens the day that you have just cleaned? It is always multiple days out. Oh I hate it.

After that question comes all of a sudden I panic.

Crap. (No pun intended.) When was the last time I looked in that bathroom?
Oh please let there be nothing in the toilet. Or on the walls. Or in the sink.
Is there even toilet paper in there?

I really want to just ask them if they can hold it a bit longer, but I do have some manners. Instead I tell them where to find the bathroom with a warning that I can't guarantee cleanliness. Because I usually can't.

I can go in there and scrub the whole place down, turn my back around and within minutes it's an embarrassment again.

Way back when I lived with my parents, I remember my mom cleaning the guest bathroom a day before a party or get together of some sort. She would then put a sign on the door that would say something like this:

Enter. And Die.

I always laughed and thought that was a little extreme. Now I understand.



I did the same thing on Saturday before Bennett's baptism. I have learned that it only takes one boy going in one time and throwing his own little "pee party" to turn a clean guest-ready bathroom into a disgusting mess.

Bennett is 8!

Happy Birthday Bennett! We are so proud of him and his decision to baptized.

Goodbye Grandpa

March 1

I've always looked forward to March 1. It's not necessarily a special date, but one I am very glad to see when it comes around.

It's the time when Miss Spring decides that her house guest, Winter, has worn out his welcome and is getting on her nerves. The below freezing temperatures, sunless days and bleak landscape are more than she can take. It's the time when she decides that her subtle hints of packing suitcases and checking flight schedules aren't working. Her politeness is not getting through his frozen, stubborn mind. After all, you can't blame him. Winter is old and does not like change. It's time to shift tactics.

Soon, very soon Winter will get the picture that he is not wanted anymore. Even he can't ignore the eviction notice nailed to his door. He will protest with some frigid cold, blustery wind and driving snow. "You can't get rid of me!" he will shout with his fist raised in the air. But Miss Spring is strong. She knows his protests won't last long. And soon, very soon his howling will fade. And with his shoulders slumped in resignation and his face painted in a scowl he will pack up his ice, his snow, his cold, stomp out of the house and slam the door behind him. "Well," Miss Spring will say to herself, "I did try to be polite."

She will not be denied.

LegoLand & SeaWorld

A few weeks ago, we went to LegoLand and SeaWorld with Scott's business partner, wife and a few of their kids. The weather was gorgeous and we all got our fill of some much needed vitamin d.



"Hey kids! Stare directly into the sun while I take your picture!"


All made of Legos. Well, except for the boys of course. But with the amount of Legos that are strewn all over my house I wouldn't be surprised if they are part Lego.


Cortez was sure a nice dolphin.


The boys really enjoyed meeting him and watching him do tricks.


But let me tell you. He knows how to splash some water.

Simplicity, proof that Taylor knows more than me and a science project.

Chapter 1


Me: "Hey Taylor what do you want to do for your birthday? You didn't have a party last year, so if you want to have one this year we can do that."

"I'd rather just have some friends over for a late night and go skiing with Dad" he replies.

DONE!

Buy some balloons, Costco pizza, sodey-pop and they entertain themselves all evening on the Wii and in the playroom. Mom is happy and the boy is happy. What more can you ask for!

Happy Birthday Taylor!

Chapter 2

For the past little while every time I have clicked on iphoto I see these weird pictures of Taylor come up and then disappear. The other day I ask him about it and he tells me about this photo booth application on the Mac. I had no idea it was even on there.

This is what he has been doing on my computer. He learned about this at school.





He even gets his brother to join in on the fun!


Chapter 3

He, no "we" did a great job!

A Valentine Tradition

Do you know what we do every year for Valentines? We sneeze, cough, blow our noses and clean throw up from off the floors. Every year without fail someone is sick. This year it was Owen and my turn to continue the tradition. Me with a cough and sore throat that makes me sound like I have been smoking 3 packs a day for the past 20 years. I could be on one of those anti-smoking commercials letting people know if they smoke this is what they will sound like down the road. That or I could sing bass with all the men in the Mo-tab... if I knew how to sing at all. I think my voice has dropped 2 octaves.

Owen has been battling a cough and general lethargy. Yesterday he didn't leave the couch once and would only sip water and eat 1 1/2 Ritz crackers. I hope today the tides turn and he starts fighting back. So far this morning he has eaten 2 spoonfuls of oatmeal, so we are getting there! I predict by tomorrow he is going to be ravenous and will eat non-stop.