This Is What I Do

Pictured: 4 boxes of Froot Loops, 4 boxes of Frosted Mini Wheats, 6 boxes of 12 count Pop Tarts, 2 boxes of Cinnabon Bars, 2 packages of Keebler Cookies, 1 box of Scooby-Doo Graham Crackers, 1 box of Eggo Waffles, and 1 gallon of milk.

Total: $12

I LOVE couponing!

Hot Dogs! Get Your Hot Dogs!

Jack brought me a package of hot dogs this morning and wanted to eat one for breakfast. I tried to change his breakfast mind by offering him Cocoa Puffs, but he wanted a hot dog. As I was preparing it for him, I thought wow, my son is a Curtis - THEN - he started singing a hot dog song, and then he really became a Curtis.

My Romance Doesn't Have To Have A Moon In The Sky

Clint got home from his 9 day backpacking trip late Friday night. Earlier that day I went to the store and bought cheeses and salami and some crackers for Saturday night, so we could have a nice night, maybe watch a movie or something. You see, I grew up watching and learning from my parents. When they wanted to have a 'night', they would make up a plate of crackers and cheese, and close the hall door and make us stay in our rooms. So in my head, Ritz crackers and cheese is a romantic thing. I haven't decided if this is a weird thing or not.

The Happiest Place On Earth

Uncle Garrett was telling Grace that later today he would trace her with chalk, and Grace said, will you give me a happy face and make me at Target with Mommy?

I love it!!

Dilemma

Do you do something that you want to do, or do you do something that you know your husband would want you to do?

It's Good To Aim Higher

Grace and Jack played outside today in the sprinklers for a really long time (it was so nice). They dragged the sprinkler all over the backyard, making puddles on the patio, and making mud in the dirt. Then Grace came in to show me the things that she was collecting. They were tiny rocks. I took them from her and told her they could dry on the counter and we could look at them later. She did this 2 times, and on the 3rd time Jack watched as Grace handed me her 'collections', and I made a big deal of how pretty they were. Then a few minutes later (with my back turned) I hear, "for you, mommy, for you, heavy". I turn around and see Jack carrying a rock the size of his head.

It is sitting on the counter to dry.

Pretty, Pretty, Princess

Should I be worried that Jack can walk better in heels than I can?

Oh yeah, he loves to wear Graces princess dress up shoes. And as much as I love the way he walks in them, my favorite is the way he stands in them - with attitude.

This Is How We Take Turns

Garrett, Grace and I played Don't Spill the Beans last night. It was my turn after Garrett's and he spilled the beans. So while he was picking up the beans, a conversation went like this:
Grace: Mommy, it is your turn
Me: yes, I guess it is
Grace: Yes, it is, but I will go first.

I think it was a 'you had to be there' kind of thing.

"Work" - Out

Grace: Mom, are you going to work today?
Me: Work? What work?
Grace: Work at the gym.
Me: Oh, you mean exercise. I am going to exercise at the gym.
Grace: Well, that's work, isn't it?


She is way beyond her years!

Pear Muffins

Recipe according to Grace:

A little bit of water and some oil, smash some pears, mix it, and then bake it, and then eat them with chopsticks.

Sounds good to me.

Backfired

When I was little my dad told us that beef jerky was kitty meat. I think he did this so that we wouldn't want to eat it - but I can tell you that we all thought kitty meat was delicious. After today, I am thinking this is a dad thing....

We went to Sacramento today to go to the train museum. On our way there, Clint stopped to buy me and him a diet coke, and also came back with a huge cookie. Down the road I opened the cookie and he and I shared it. Well, Grace asked what we were eating and with hesitation, Clint told her we were eating unicorn. We thought that would end the conversation - who wants to eat a unicorn? It didn't end. Grace replied, I have never tried that before, and she wanted a piece. So we fed her a piece of unicorn.

If anyone is interested unicorn is delicious.

Why Did the Duck Cross The Road?

We had a visitor yesterday. I went outside around 9 to turn off the sprinklers, and there, playing in the water, was a duck. I quickly called Grace and Jack to come and see. They loved it. We fed it bread, and watched her (we are calling it a her, but who knows?) play in the water. Then Jack chased her into the street, and off she went.

We came out a little later to run some errands and there she was laying on the grass. We loaded in the car and the kids waved bye. Grace thought of names for her and settled on Sparkly. We got home and there she was, sitting on the porch. At this point I am thinking wow, this is pretty neat, a duck that likes to hang out at our house. We got out of the car and she politely moved out of our way to let us get in the house. Then I saw the lovely presents she left on our porch, and quickly realized that this duck thing is so not cool!

She stayed all day long shading herself under the car. Clint thinks she was probably sick and going to die. I asked if I should call someone and his response was no, if she dies I will just throw her in the trash. Nice.

So this morning we got up to see if the duck was still here. We didn't see her, and she has not been back today. Every time we go outside Jack calls for the ducky, but she does not come.
I am afraid to look in the trash.

Shhhhh

We had a rare sighting in our house (see picture)



and on a side note, it took me 5 minutes to figure out how to spell sighting (don't you love when your brain just doesn't work)

Name Them One By One

Yesterday was a hard day. Emotional, would be a better word for it. Clint took Grace to the dentist, and thankfully everything is alright, other than now she has a Sloth (Goonies, look it up) smile. Then later that afternoon Grace was telling me that her tummy hurt. So I told her to go potty (this usually is the problem), she didn't have to. So I told her lets lay down in Mommy's bed for a little bit, and no more than two seconds later she threw up - all over my bed. The next 20 minutes went like this:

Took off her clothes and put them in my sink
Started a bath
Put her in
Jack wanted to get in, so in went him
Got Grace washed, out, and wrapped in a towel
Got Jack washed, out, and in the process of wrapping in a towel when I hear the doorbell ring
So I run downstairs with a wet jack, open the door, and there is Jon (father in law)
Let him in and Grace comes downstairs, still in her towel
Jack and I go back upstairs, get him in jams and bring down Graces. Get her dressed. And the kids play with Papa while I go back upstairs to clean up the vomit. Then he leaves, and as he goes I realized that that was a blessing.

And then I started thinking about the everyday things that probably are blessings that we just don't recognize. Jon pops in every now and then and visits with the kids for a few minutes, and so it wasn't unusual that he came over - it was the timing that was perfect. And I remember that Heavenly Father has his hand in all things, and no blessing is too small. And when we feel like we aren't being blessed - we are - just in different ways.

UPDATE!!!

Clint took Grace to the dentist this morning, thank goodness he was able to get away from work, cause I wouldn't have been able to handle whatever the situation would have been. But it turns out that the tooth is broken and one of two things can happen - it will either stay in for a few more years or the root will die and it will just fall out. Or if for some reason it starts to hurt her, it will need to be pulled, and if that is the case Clint will be taking another day off of work.

So for the time being my daughter has a snaggletooth - I think I would rather it be pulled.

Thanks For The Memories

Making a pool on the sidewalk, setting up a carnival in the backyard, hanging from the avocado tree, breaking into the nursery closet and playing with the toys on the patio, these are a few of the things that I remember about my childhood.

I often wonder what my children will remember. Sadly, I have a pretty good idea they will remember the numerous trips to Target. But other than the events they will remember, I wonder what about me will they remember? And thinking of this, I started thinking about other people in their lives. What will they remember about their grandparents? Their Aunts, Uncles, Cousins?

I hope that Grace will remember this (see picture) Painting with Ponga.

Yeah, But You Should See The Other Guy

In this case, the 'other guy' is my daughter. We had an unfortunate accident today. Sprinkler play led to a head bonk between Grace and her cousin Asher. Grace lost a tooth. I should say, will, loose a tooth. Her front left tooth is hanging a lot lower than the rest. Her gums are swollen around the tooth, and it looks really bad. She is doing just fine now. She is afraid to eat or drink, and keeps asking 'but what about my tooth', but other than that - I think she will be ok. I, on the other hand...

I cried (blubbered) most of the way home today. I will miss her Spongebob smile. I wasn't ready for this. I am just getting over losing my baby Grace, and now, she will be toothless years before she would have been. She won't have the same smile. She will be different.

We have a call in to the dentist, so I guess this post is to be continued......