Problem solved!

Remember this? Remember how I struggled with walking into the kitchen and finding the doors wide open, and the contents of my fridge on the floor, day after day, and so I resorted to parking the vacuum in front of the fridge to scare the little troublemaker away but my ingenious solution only lasted 24 hours? My 8 year old came up with a better solution. And it totally works like a charm. (I know y'all were worried about this)

That dowel fits perfectly, and is easy to use so that everyone else besides Christopher can get into the fridge. Yay! Go Madison!

Right above the dowel is my personal art collection. I stole the idea from John's aunt. She had quite the collection of famous paintings on her fridge which I had admired for quite awhile. So for awhile now when I would run across some magnets I would feel compelled to pick them up. Of course, the last time I went to her house for dinner, I was saddened to see the art collection was missing.

Pros and Cons

Summer vacation is coming to a close in a little less than two weeks. I'm pretty conflicted about this. No seriously. Crazy, I know. Generally the prospect of sending my kids to school gets me pretty excited, but this year is a little different. I started a list.

Pro- A Quiet House. Relatively anyway. I still have Christopher. But the whining and the arguing and the fighting and bickering will be limited to evenings instead of all day long.

Con- Homework. I hate it. "Do your homework." "Do your homework." "Have you done your homework yet?" "Do your homework NOW!!!" I feel like a broken record and a nag.

Pro- Less dishes. How can there be 14 plastic cups scattered over the table and counter, and yet belong to nobody? Or why do they feel the need to get out a new cup every single time they need a drink of water? And don't even get me started on the fact that there is a new PB&J coated knife stuck to the counter every single time I go into the kitchen. How can that be?

Con- I will be Christopher's sole playmate. His brothers and sister are so good to play with him and he loves them. I have no doubt he will follow me everywhere and be my "helper". ALL DAY LONG.

Pro- the return of school means there's a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to this blasted heat.

Con- I am going to miss my built-in babysitter. This is the first year I've felt comfortable having Nick babysit, and believe me I take advantage of that kid. "Nick, I need you to watch the kids, I am going to (fill in the blank). " I'm supposed to start seeing a chiropractor, but I'm not sure what I'm going to do with Christopher. Maybe I can find one with evening hours.

Pro- I get total control of the TV(s) in the house. I can watch the Food Network, Travel Channel, any of my DVR'd shows, or just put on some music, and for the most part not have to compete with the kids and their need to watch Nickelodeon, Disney channel, Noggin, the science channel, or play on the Wii all day long. (of course my guess is that Christopher might put up a bit of a stink himself, so I'll still have to share, just not as much)

Con- I struggle with paper piles and just thinking of the amount of paper that will start flowing through my front doors in my kids backpacks and start collecting on my kitchen counters is already giving me nightmares.

Pro- my kids will stop treating me as their daily activities committee. "I'm bored." "what are we gonna do today, mom?" "when can we go swimming?"

Con- I think I've enjoyed them more this summer than any other. I don't know how much of that has to do with taking off with John to Europe for 10 days without them, but for the most part they have been helpful and pleasant and a joy to be around, and I think I'm gonna miss them, at least some of the time.

Mystery solved.

When I was just a little sprout and would choose to spend my time coloring, I had a rating system for crayons. Not an actual, solid, tangible rating system, it was of course as fickle as I was, but a real, if unspoken, one none the less.

It went something like this. Whole, sharp, brand new crayons in pretty or bright colors were the best, and any thing short of that lost points depending on the severity of the infraction. Ugly colors, short, stubby, broken, difficult to use colors would be at the bottom of the rating scale.

It didn't really matter a whole lot, but to my young mind when picking a crayon to color with, I had to weigh my options carefully. Color the flower with the short, stubby red crayon, or the longer, sharper, orange crayon (red being superior to orange) or something like that.

Even as an adult when cleaning up after my kids, the shorter broken crayons just generally get tossed in the trash, and the whole ones get put safely away. Law of the jungle, man.

What started to boggle me recently was the sheer number of broken crayons every where. It seemed as though daily I was throwing away more and more, and putting away less and less. Then one day I happened upon Christopher coloring in a notebook, and he would pick up a crayon, SNAP IT IN HALF, color with it, toss it aside, then DO IT AGAIN! What the heck!?!?

I swear this kid knows that he's my last and is just trying to give me my money's worth or something. I'm just glad it's back to school time and I can buy new crayons for ridiculously cheap. Unfortunately there's no such easy cure for his other bad habit of coloring in all the picture books. We had to take the library books back two weeks early because they were in serious danger from that kid.

Marital Test

76 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Superior Take the test!

So I found this little website today

and I had to take the test- so according to the 1930's standard of what makes I good wife, I scored a whopping 58 which makes me an average wife! woo-hoo! Of course I read in the scoring section, I got 20 points alone for my 4 kiddo's. ( I took this test again just cause I wanted that little graphic for this post, and I was nicer to myself this time, for instance I didn't mark myself down for crooked hose, since I don't own any, but if I did I imagine they would be crooked.)

Then just for fun I took the test for John rating him on being a good 1930's husband. Unsurprisingly he scored 138 which is Very Superior or something (78 and above).

Sadly, my score took some hits for wearing red nail polish, being cranky in the morning, and not always having dinner on the table on time. I tried to be tough on John, but I couldn't even honestly say that John overly praises his stenographer, gets cranky when the newspaper in messy, or writes on the tablecloth with a pencil. Dang him!

So take the test! It's fun, and just takes a minute or two, and I'd love to hear back from any brave souls who'd like to share their score!

Other Stuff

So this is the last Utah post, I promise. But to keep that promise, it's gonna be a long one.

Other stuff we did- We took the kids to Thanksgiving Point to go to the big dinosaur museum there. The other girl is Hannah. She lives down the street from my parents. She was born two weeks after Nick at the same hospital, so since Nick spent three weeks in the hospital, they hung out together. She was 8 pounds. Nick was less than four. She looked like a toddler next to my baby.

What's a dinosaur museum without the opportunity to dig for bones? They took this very seriously.

The kids love to take the "white train" (Trax) into Salt Lake and go down to Gateway. It's turning into a regular above ground subway (oxymoron, I know).

They seem to be adding new lines every time we go. They like to go to the Clark Planetarium and check stuff out, or see a star show, or an IMAX movie. I wanted to see their laser U2 show, but they only show that at night, so I didn't get to go. I think I saw "laser Pink Floyd" back in the day when they were at their old location and called the "Hansen Planetarium". I think I liked it, but I'm fairly certain I was on a date with a certain boyfriend and I try to block out anything to do with him.

I did take a bunch of pictures this year, but I liked last year's better. Here's the kids on the moon-

And here they are on Mars. (Notice how they seem to be right at home? I wonder why that is?)After doing some school shopping and introducing my kids to the lovely crisp bean burrito from Taco Time, our last stop was the big water feature at the north end of the shopping center. Again, I really like some of the pictures from last year. Nick was more reserved this year.

Zach didn't get wet this year either. He kind of wanders around the edges, watching, but never quite getting involved. This is major anxiety producing stuff. Here's last year-

I'm not sure about the exact details, but my guess is that about every hour or half an hour, they do a show with the fountains to the National Anthem. It was loud. And very anxiety producing for my kid who has a hard time with that kind of stuff. He did better this year. Oh and the jelly bracelets are left over from our 80's party. He wore them for like 2 weeks.

Here's this year. Zach seemed more involved, but he stayed along the edges, and barely got wet. A sprinkle or two. Then he gave up, and came over to the table to hang out and study the place mat map of the US that we got him as a souvenir at the planetarium. He doesn't use it as a place mat, he keeps it in his room so he can study it daily. Seriously.

Since 2 out of 4 kiddos don't do well with loud scary things, we opted to buy some fireworks and do our own little show in the front yard. You know, fountains, sparklers, tanks, flowers. I was trying to convince my brother to make a run to Evanston for some of the really good (read -illegal) stuff, but the news was making a big deal about police cracking down on that this year. I'm kinda glad we didn't though. John wasn't feeling too well, so when Christopher started freaking out John took him inside after like the third thing I set off, and Zach spent most of his time a good 10 or more feet behind the rest of the kids, hands at the ready to cover his ears, and then finally decided he had had enough and went inside as well. I was pretty proud of him that he lasted that long. The other kids thought it was great fun though. Oh and Zach came out later and did half a sparkler, and then decided he was definitely done this time. My poor baby.

We always drive to Utah when we go. Even with my terrible gas mileage it's cheaper than flying and renting a car when we get there. We have a DVD player to entertain the kids, and make frequent stops. This year on the way home we decided to go through a drive thru, get lunch, and find a park. We found the best park. It was fun, had something for all the kids, including a water play area, and it was pretty. We stayed an hour longer than we had planned.

I even let Madison use my camera to take a picture of me. (I must like her cause I generally don't let people do that) "I did really good mom! I got your WHOLE body in it!"

Food

Okay, so, I wouldn't be honest if I didn't mention food in the top three things of why I like Utah. There's no mystery as to why a 5lb gain is standard when I visit.

Where to begin?

Training Table- (where I went with Jamie and the hubbies) Pastrami burger, large order of cheese fries (we shared, it's a big order) with their dipping sauce, which is really their hickory barbecue sauce and mayo.

Iceberg- I'm in mourning since they left Mesa. It was the only decent place to get fry sauce around here. So for lunch one day I picked up just shakes and fries for lunch, except Madison and I did share a grilled ham and cheese sandwich cause she questioned my sanity when I wasn't gonna get anything else, so I taught her to dip that in the fry sauce, cause everything's better in fry sauce.

As a super special treat, I just happened to be in town when the peas were ripe for picking, so my grandmother brought over two pounds of fresh picked, shelled peas. I'm sure I ate more than a pound myself. I ate at least a cup's worth after I totally stuffed myself on my nutritious lunch of french fries and rocky road shake. (I know shake for lunch, peas for dessert! what is this world coming to?!?!) Oh heavens, nothing's better than that though. I'm thinking of lobbying the FDA to stick those things in the candy section of the food pyramid cause they're THAT good. And of course there's only a short window to get them good and fresh. I was a little disappointed when my kids didn't share my enthusiasm. "But they're not cooked!" Of course! that's the point! I remember when I was a kid, sitting in my mom's vegetable garden eating those things before someone else could pick them. I remember doing that at Jamie's house too as a teenager. I have no self control.

Taco Time- I know, I know. Don't judge me. It's like a Taco Bell, but they have these crispy rolled up burritos, in a flower tortilla- kinda like a cross between a tostada and a chimichanga. I totally craved the bean ones when I was pregnant with Zach. John was like "Taco Time? Really?" My response was "It's my Skyline Chili" ( A place in Ohio that I don't get why John likes it)

Cinnamon Bears- I realize you can get them here at Sprouts, but they are NOT the same! They have to be Sweet's brand cinnamon bears, or better yet, I generally get myself a thing of chocolate covered Sweet's brand cinnamon bears.

We did make it to one of John's favorite places- Farr's ice cream. He loves their rootbeer flavored ice cream. I used to be in love with 'firestick' which was a cinnamon flavored, but it was kind of a let down this time. Sad. I don't know if it changed, or I did. The raspberry shake John ordered so we could all share more than made up for any disappointment though.

A new favorite-

This bakery I found called Kneaders- okay, I didn't find it, that's where Ali suggested we go to lunch. I took the kids back there for breakfast, a couple days later cause I heard the french toast was the best, and it was pretty good. Plus they had a whole case of tartletts and desserts and what-not. I asked about Franchise opportunities, not cause I'm actually in the market, but I was feeling pretty high on the carbs at the moment, and feeling sorry for myself that I couldn't go there whenever I wanted. The good news is there's a rumor one might be opening in Gilbert, so cross your fingers.

Stuff I didn't get around to eating-

Banbury Cross- best donuts anywhere. Period. Yes, even better than Krispy Kreme.

Apollo Burger- You'd think that as my first job working at a fast food joint, I wouldn't be caught dead stepping in there, but I've managed to block out all the yucky things, and focus solely on their golden burgers (let me see if I can still get this right) 1/4 lb burger, swiss and american cheese, pastrami, lettuce, tomato, onion, and fry sauce, between two think slices of garlic buttered texas toast. Also they have really good fries and really good fry sauce.

Last but not least- The Cotton Bottom- I think I'm sorriest about missing this one. I've been known to crave their garlic burgers. But I didn't think about it until we were on our way home. Maybe next time. (sigh)

Friends

I didn't get to see as many friends as I had hoped this time around, but it doesn't help when you let them know you are coming in town by texting them from the road on the way up. (yeah I'm that obnoxious.)

I have to admit, I feel a little twinge of jealousy living down here when I hear people talking about hanging out with their friends from high school, or running into them, or going to church with "so-and-so's little/big brother/sister". So I always make it a point to see some when I go up, just cause.

This year I ran across an old friend on Facebook -Ali (I mentioned that awhile back). We were friends in jr. high and high school, were in loads of classes together, hung out with the same friends, but I hadn't seen her in nearly ten years. Not since we moved down here at least. We had lunch together, and got caught up on what's going on in each other's lives- which was good because she's heading off to Africa this winter to join the Peace Corps. She's still as funny and smart as ever. You forget how much you really like someone until you see them again.

I also got to see my longtime BFF Jamie. I've known her since jr. high as well. I think I was 13 or 14. She was a year younger than me, but she totally captured my interest from day one. She's like nobody I'd ever met before. She was like the yin to my yang. In many ways we are polar opposites, and maybe all that we have in common anymore is history, but I would be devastated to lose her. Sounds dumb, but it's hard to put her into words. Life was fun and interesting and exciting, but at the same time safe with her. Her home was like a second home to me. She liked to be the center of attention wherever we went, and that was fine by me, I got to be the wallfower. When I got married, she was my maid of honor, and I was hers. I'm sitting here debating which, if any, stories to tell, and maybe I'll save those for another day, cause having known someone that well for more than half my life, I could tell a couple stories.

But anyways, we spent a day together and went shopping, even though the fudge shop was the only place we both really liked, and we dragged our husbands out to lunch and made them be social. She cut her hair, and it looks really cute, short and pixie-like. Her long waist length hair used to be a source of pride when she was younger. (I'll post some pics when John gets the stinking scanner working)

John's Fam (Family- Part Two)

I lucked out when I married John, that now I am related to a slew of other neat people and when I go to Utah I get to hang out with many of them. For starters we always spend at least one evening at his Aunt and Uncle's house- Brent and Nancy. Conversation is NEVER lacking. They are a lot of fun to hang out with, we always have a good time and the icing on the cake is that she's a great cook) This time around John's cousin J (Brent's brother's kid) and his wife M (I'm using first initials with them cause that's how they do it on their blog, and I don't have permission to blow their cover) spent the evening with us as well. J just got accepted to a school in Mississippi to get his PhD, and they will be leaving for that part of the country for three years, so it was good to see them before they go. Thank goodness for blogs. At least I can keep up on the running commentary on Southern Life. He's a writer- so when he get's his first book published I am sure I will be shamelessly promoting it to the 4 people who read this, and I'm sure then I can spill the beans and use is whole name.

This picture was taken a few years ago when John's sister Corrine, from Texas was running a marathon in St. George, and since she made it all the way over here, the rest of us made the trip to see her. Left to right is Brent, Nancy, Rick, Corrine, J and M, and there's little Maddie in the front.

However, one lesson from the evening is that a) whenever possible I should schedule things via e-mail, so that I can immediately put it in outlook, (and I will have a secondary document in case I need to double check that I entered it correctly), or b) at least write it down somehow. Immediately. What happened however, was when I scheduled dinner with Nancy, I was on my cell phone outside in my parent's front yard so I could hear better (no outlook, no pen, no paper), so I did my best to commit it to memory, then a few hours later told John what time in case I forgot then he could be my back-up, cause we were talking about an event two whole days away. So we totally showed up A HALF AN HOUR EARLY. Totally a capitol offense in this house. If people were coming to my house for dinner and showed up that early, they'd see...well, I think I'm gonna pass on the details, cause I don't need to embarrass myself any further. Fortunately, it didn't seem like too much of an imposition, the house was spotless, dinner was ready to go (garlic burgers on the grill) but they are much too nice to tell us that we were a total inconvenience by arriving early.

On the 4th of July we spent the day at John's grandpa's house and had a nice lunch. His mother was the one throwing the whole thing together. The kids love spending time with her. John's grandpa had been sick and had recently gotten out of the hospital, so it was a casual, low-key lunch thing, but the kids had fun. They were kind of let loose in the basement and found all sorts of "treasures". We also got to hang out with J's sister C who just happened to be up visiting from California. She attends BYU currently, but was home for the summer. We usually have the privilege of staying at J's and C's parent's (John's Aunt-V and Uncle-B) house when we go to Disneyland. Zach calls it his "California house" (but you have to say it "Cal-ee-for-knee-uh").

We also got to see John's other Aunt and Uncle Jeff and Laurie and their kids-John's cousins Jake and Ellie (who was my flower girl at my wedding, but now she's almost 16.) Wow have those kids grown up. Sadly it had been a few years since we'd seen them.

Colors

Not that this has anything to do with the "Utah" theme, but yesterday in the car Zach said something I thought was cute.

"Mom, I wish you could REALLY hold a color. If I could hold pink I'd give it to Madison"

It's always so interesting the way kid's minds work.

Family- Part one

John and I are both from Utah, and so we have a lot of family up there. I thought I'd divide the whole family post into two parts his & hers because there's so much to say. We'll start with the "hers." When we go up we stay at my parent's house, the house I was raised in. My parents are the only original owners still left on the street. They've lived there for 30 years. There's this huge raspberry hedge that grows in the back yard, and the first week of July is generally prime raspberry pickin' season, but they had a late winter this year, and so alas, no garden fresh raspberries for me. There's totally nothing like going out in the morning, and picking a whole bunch of raspberries for your cereal. I tend to take after my dad and the ratio of raspberries to cereal is generally in the 2 to 1 range. Fortunately Costco isn't so far away and I hate to say it, but Costco's are generally bigger and better. My mother was kind enough to drench most of them in chocolate for us.

I have a couple of brothers who still live at home while they go to school- Tom and BJ. I think mostly they are irritated by the way we descend upon the place, my kids leaving destruction in their wake, but they can be really cute with my kids. Tom went with us to a big dinosaur museum and chased Christopher around for us while the big kids were in the IMAX movie.

This trip up my grandmother taught me how to make peanut brittle. She also got me a granite slab to make the candy on. - She pours out the hot candy onto the slab then stretches the candy as it cools to make it thinner. So I'm totally looking for victims volunteers to try out my first efforts on. If we had had more time, I would have gotten a divinity lesson as well. Maybe next year. This is a picture from the family reunion a few years ago. My grandma and "her posterity". Those other kids are my cousin's kids.

Speaking of my cousins, I might have missed the family reunion this year, but I always make it a point to get together with them anyway. This year Jill, Jess, Britt and I spent most of the day together hanging out, grabbing lunch, and going to a park to play in Park City. Brittney wasn't able to stay very long. She's a busy lady with her new cake decorating business.

Maybe next time I make it up to Utah I'll invite myself over just to watch her work her magic. Fondant scares me. (There's a link to the side- FYI) It was nice to let the kids play outside. Zach asks me daily if I'll take him to a park to play. I told him in October. "October 1st?" "I don't know. We'll see."