I won

tickets to a performance at my school. It is the Martha Graham Dance company performing Clytemnestra. I am excited even though I really don't know anything about this performance. I am working on a date - J turned me down :( If you want to go with me and are free Thurs. Nov 5th at 7:30pm let me know.

say no to crack

Yet another reason to say no to crack...Today while C and I were waiting for John to come get her at my school we saw a woman sitting on the curb showing excessive crack! After a while C announced (in a rather disgusted voice) "Mom, I don't want to look at her butt anymore!" All I could say is "me either", but I was dying of laughter on the inside. Leave it to kids to be brutally honest! Just so you know I don't think the woman heard, but even if she had...I don't think it is bad for her to know how a young child feels about looking at that!
Now C is casting spells and making swimsuits appear (abracadabra make it appear - then throwing a swimsuit out at us), so it seems as though she has bounced back from her traumatic ordeal!

pumpkin attack!

Yoda struck again. This year I thought I would out smart that crazy dog by putting the pumpkin on the front porch. With the wireless fence system it is hard for him to get there without getting shocked, but that wacky dog snuck to the front porch and attacked the pumpkin! What a crazy dog. Wonder if I will have to try and hide it every year. What a strange thing to attack.

Disability rights

Like many other reasons change comes about in the government, a disability rights movement occurred to bring about change for individuals with disabilities. This is a picture of people who normally used wheelchairs climbing up the steps of the US Capital to speak to Congress about accessibility of buildings and transportation.This was the only way they could gain access to speak to Congress. What resulted is ADA legislation! Next time you think you have obstacles ahead of you that are too big to handle and no way around them. Think again!

youth temple trip

Yesterday I went on the youth temple trip to the DC temple (in Kensington, MD). It was a long day, but great trip. I am pretty impressed with the youth here. Some of them skipped homecoming at their high schools to go to the temple and all of them skipped a big birthday party for the "grandfather" of the ward. It was his 80th birthday and probably his last big part like this (he does them every few years, but his health has been failing). The trip is about 4 hours each way, so we were gone about 13 hours total. My kids missed me and I didn't get homework done, but I feel great and less stressed. Plus the temple was beautiful. Here is a photo as we were driving away.

do you?

pick pepperonis off pizza
sing while playing
have bruises on your head weekly
plug your nose when you poop
beg for snuggles at night
own too many shoes (according to J)
love your brother
scream "AMEN" at the end of prayers
give lots of hugs and kisses
talk about bodily functions (a lot)
have Dora for a best friend

You don't? Well C does!

Do you?

clear the dishwasher without being asked
complain about being cold
love to ride your bike
make sound effects with your mouth (some which resemble bodily functions)
sing songs about booties (not the kinds you wear)

love to color and do other art work

steal tape and staplers from your parents
obsess about recycling
eat veggies so you can have dessert

You don't? Well H does!

plans

We are planning to drive out to AZ during the holidays. If you will be around we would love to see you. I think our trip will cover most of the state so just let us know when we could see you!

Dreamin'

C came to our bed last night which has been happening more often recently. I think it is because she throws the covers off and gets cold in the night, or wets her pullup. I am usually too tired to figure it out at 4 or 5 in the morning. This morning I asked her a few questions when she woke up to try and find out about her night.
S: C did you have a dream last night?
C:Yes with Dora.
S:Oooh, what did you do with Dora?
C: I went in her tummy!
S: (WHAT??) Really, why did you go in her tummy?
C: She is having a baby, and I wanted to see.
S: Oh.
So that is the first. What is going on in this child's head? She went on to describe the size of the baby, and she took her blanket in Dora's tummy to give to the baby. Just for the record I am not having a baby, so this is out of thin air (or maybe from the sitter who is expecting).
Next conversation:
S: Why did you come to my bed last night?
C: There was something in my room...a giant.
S: There was a giant in your room?
C: Yes, a giant bird!
Hum, well I think I can say that this girl has a well developed imagination. Too bad it is affecting my sleep.

Know what's creepy?

Snow before Halloween. I don't know the exact stats, but it has been snowing for at least 24 hours now, and I don't think it is scheduled to stop any time soon. We already have a few inches (would be more if it weren't such a wet snow). I just don't think it is right to have snow before the leaves are done changing. Seriously fall is the best and I am getting ripped off. We were even planning to go pick a pumpkin this weekend and now we have to buy one at the grocery store. Plus I have so much work to do and no reward to look forward to. YUCK! By the way, anyone know if there is a book called Idiots Guide to Writing Grants? I really think I could use it right about now, before my grant writing class kills me!

an email to nana

Just thought this might illustrate how different my kids are. Granted the first message had to be typed out by H, but you get the idea.
A message typed by H:
Nana I got a shot on monday and c.I wont to come visit you.love H
I wrote exactly what C said:
Nana I love you and I am going to kiss you. I am going to hug you and kiss you and love you, and I am going to introduce you to Sydney and Sydney's dad and mom and grandma and grandpa. And some (do you know that one). Mom my flu shot goed? Kiss em and hug em I love you. I gonna come to your house. I gonna lay in your bed (my bed) until tomorrow. And I am gong to watch the nice kind of movie. They will get it. (to Harrison) You poop! I am gonna hug Nana and Sydney. I love to see them. I'm gonna really love her. I'm gonna hug her. Bye bye C

Isn't that so cute!? C really makes me tired sometimes! Notice when she talked to H how she didn't loose her train of thought. Didn't even phase her a bit!

Conference plug

It was an especially good conference weekend. I love hearing all of the speakers and feeling uplifted and reignited. While I watched I made it through all of my ironing, made 4 baby blankets, finished the stitching for the top of C's quilt (still a long way to go on that project), and folded a lot of laundry. I love to be productive! It was super nice that J hooked up the computer to the TV, and with the exception of some minimal Internet problems we were able to watch all of the sessions at home. So nice!

Insect Fair

Saturday morning I took the kids to an insect fair. H was a little camera shy that day, so there aren't many photos of him. Here are a few highlights:

• We went into a butterfly tent with monarch butterflies. H didn't want to touch them, C would but didn't want them on her. I thought it was super cool.
• C and I touched Madagascar hissing cockroaches. H wouldn't get near those suckers. They were huge, but surprisingly smooth!
• Saw a ton of dead bugs (my favorite kind). I think H liked the scorpions best. He talks about them a lot.
• Got face/hand painted. H got a dragonfly on his hand, C got a butterfly on her cheek.
• Raced roaches - H's won! Way to go.
• Made beeswax candles and moth masks.
• Saw a real bee hive (and I didn't scream when bees flew by me). Also bought yummy honey. Also met the honey queen - some kind of pageant winner (only in central PA).
• The kids tried chocolate chirpies (aka chocolate covered crickets). C loved them, H ate one bite and threw them away. I abstained. There were other treats to try with bugs in them, but I graciously I let others have them instead. :) Just a note these items were free, that might tell you about their popularity.
• Brought home a pet caterpillar with instructions of how to tend to it until it becomes a painted lady butterfly. Just what we needed!

This was definitely a day we won't forget. J was disappointed that I didn't eat any bugs (and I am sure he would have tried a few had he been there), but I am perfectly fine that I didn't eat them. Isn't there a name for that - I mean vegetarians get a special name. I think non bug eaters should have a special name too. it was too funny that H wouldn't touch things. He was perfectly content to look instead. Never has been much for interesting textures or creepy things on him. He still touches bugs in the yard with sticks. Smart boy that one!

Should I be concerned?

I've noticed that my posts just aren't as funny anymore. I am not sure what has gotten into me, but I found this photo that is sure to cure anyone who has been longing for a funny post. I am not sure what possess my children to spend their free time in this way, but I just want to know if any of you think I should be concerned. Oh, and sorry about the photo quality, there was no time to grab the camera in a moment like this, so my phone had to do!

date with mom

This week I took C on her very own date. A bunch of people from church met at a local apple farm for a tour, so C and I went. It was a cold day so we bundled up in lots of layers and blankets, but we had a great time. We came home with apples and cider. YUM! I even snapped a few nice photos on my phone - although I only thought to use it after the tour. Notice how she gives the same grin in all three photos. What a cutie.

three cheers

for me! I did it! That paper I have been working on for over a year is finally ready to go to my committee. I printed the copies off today and I will turn it over on Monday. In two weeks I will have their feedback and then I have 3 weeks to revise. So in about 5 weeks from now I will either be done with my Comp 1 or I will be out of the program. Then I can send it off to a journal and have my first publication. That will feel super!