Monday Fun

A few times a summer, Dentist husband closes his office on a Monday so his staff can have an extended weekend. As a family, we often go somewhere, but this time, for a lot of reasons, we didn't. But, we still had a very fun Monday.


I am a theme person and so we turned Monday into an "Asian Day." It sounds much more involved than it really was but this is what made it "Asian Day":

After swimming lessons, Dentist husband and I took the kids for sushi. There is a local restaurant that has 1/2 price sushi lunch specials on Monday and Tuesday. My kids LOVE sushi. It is a pretty nice restaurant and during the lunch specials is it always full of men in their business attire and I have to admit, I get some small satisfaction walking in with my four kids all attired in our summer vacation casual clothes (flip flops--dare I say "thongs"? being the dressiest part of our outfits) and getting all of the stares from the patrons and employees. They look as us like we are crazy and I am sure many are thinking, "Young kids don't belong here." But after years of eating out, (yes, I do need to cook more), my kids know how to behave in restaurants and this time they did not disappoint--even toothsome #4.

After sushi, we took them to see Kung Fu Panda. I think Dreamworks hit it out of the park with this one. I really liked it. But then again, I am a huge Jack Black fan. The animation with this one was beautiful and I know I am going to be hearing, "Skadoosh" from my kids for the rest of the week. (which really is not that bad of a thing.)

Since I don't like Asian desserts, we just took our kids to get ice cream afterwards but then for dinner, I did make stir-fry. So it was a fun Asian themed day.

On a side note, if you want to read a silly book that will bring back memories of your BYU coed days, "Rules of Engagement" by Stephanie Fowers is a good choice. I enjoyed it and it was a fast summer read.

After my rant I thought I would show everyone this

My husband and his siblings often try to find funny things on Youtube and try to outdo each other with their forwards. We got this recently, and after my last post, I thought this blog needed a little levity. The music is actually really good. Enjoy and happy weekend. Happy MODEST weekend (I couldn't resist.).

Once Again . . .

I just got back from the pool. I was there with a bunch of ladies from my Stake to celebrate a friend's birthday--most of them wearing swimming suits well beyond normal modesty standards--some frighteningly so. I overheard a conversation from a woman I consider a true friend that REALLY upset me about modesty. Her theory is that girls shouldn't have to dress modestly until they are atleast at BYU or married. She then bragged about only owning one one-piece swimming suit and since she had it on and I saw it, hardly qualified as a one-piece suit. For the sake of not alienating everyone around me, I kept my mouth shut, which is very uncommon for me. But, I live among these people, my kids go to school with and are friends with these people's children and so I kept my mouth shut. Maybe I am a coward. I don't know but left the pool sad and disheartened. As to not re-write it out, here is what I wrote about this same subject, last summer.

Just one new thought: All of these woman are married and know what goes on in the minds of boys and men once they hit 14ish. Since they are married, who are they wearing these outfits for? Whose attention are they seeking? And if it is for all men 14 and older, isn't that some form of inappropriate flirtation? Anyway, I certainly was not impressed and don't know how to interact with these woman.

Books!

Ok, here is a list of books I am currently reading (I have started several) and ones that are waiting in the wings to be read:

The Diary of Mattie Spencer by Sandra Dallas (Almost done with this one. As usual, anything by Sandra Dallas is a good read. If you haven't read Chili Queen, you should.)

Certain Girls (I have read the first chapter and am not sure I will finish this--we'll see. I am learning I am not liking most of the books recommended in People magazine)

The Host by Stephanie Meyer

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

In the Castle of the Flynns by Michael Raleigh

The Miracles of Santo Fico by DL Smith

The follow up book to "These Is My Words" (I can't remember the title and the book is upstairs by my bed)

Also, I just got an e-mail telling me two books I put on hold by Stephanie Fowers are in. They were recommended by my sister-in-law.

Favorite Recipes--Fresh Summer Salsas

I am sure most of you have had these or a variation of these but now that summer is in full swing, I make both of these often. My children LOVE them (which I know is not normal. My kids are exceptionally good eaters, which I know makes me very lucky.) Anyway, if you are looking for a good summer side dish, these are both winners.


4 fresh tomatoes--cubed
3 avocados--cubed
1 bunch cilantro--cut into pieces
1 can corn-drained
1 can black beans--drained
1 can black eyed peas--drained

Pour over the top Good Seasons Italian dressing (I only use about 1/2)

Serve with corn chips, pita or just eat plain.

4 avocados--cubed
4 tomatoes--cubed
1 package crumbled feta cheese
Juice from 2 fresh limes
If you have it, cilantro is good too.

Again, serve with corn chips, pita or plain.

Also, is anyone else as into "So You Think You Can Dance" as I am? I don't know why I didn't watch this more in the past, as I am a reality TV junkie. For some reason, this season has me captivated. Looks like we will be eating salsa and watching it tonight.

Sometimes I am a Crappy Mom

Ok, my kids are currently in swimming lessons from 11:00-11:50 am. Open swim at our pool starts at 12:00 pm. There is a Wendy's restaurant across the street and so last summer, we often swam, ran to Wendy's and then went back for open swim and usually stayed until 2:00 pm.

So, today was the first day to do it this summer. The only problem is that toothsome #4's nap is at 11:30ish and so I knew I would be pushing the envelope by going back for open swim without first putting her down for a nap. However, we my kids were still in their swimming suits, and I didn't want to deal with going back home to do it.

POINT NUMBER 1: I am a crappy mom because my house is within walking distance to the pool and going home to put her down for a nap would have been no big deal. She only sleeps until 2:00, so we would have had plenty of open swim time before going home to get dinner ready. Nobody would have cared but me and I did care, so we didn't.

So, we swam and everyone had a great time. Toothsome #4 was fearless in the water, I was able to talk to some great friends and enjoy the pool on a hot day (currently 92 degrees).

At 2:00 pm, I loaded the kids in the car and decided that instead of going straight home, we would go to the grocery store, which is in the same parking lot as the Wendys.

POINT NUMBER 2: I am a crappy mom because it was WAY past toothsome #4's nap time and instead of taking her home, I went grocery shopping. It took about 45 minutes.

While shopping, some lady says to me, "Your baby has fallen asleep in the cart." I look down and poor toothsome #4 is fast asleep with her little head bobbing back and forth--you know, like the men in the bishopric do during Sacrament meeting.

POINT NUMBER 3: I am a crappy mom because instead of leaving and putting her to bed, I had toothsome #1 hold her head still, while I pushed the cart and finished my grocery list. I only had about 3 things left to get and I was bound and determined to get them--regardless of my little baby's sleeping needs.

We headed home and finally toothsome #4 was put in her crib.

POINT NUMBER 4: I am a crappy mom because because Toothsome #4 was put in her crib, in her swim suit with her swim diaper still on which means she will probably go pee all over herself and wake up. I will need to change her bedding which will be payback to me for taking such crappy care of her in the first place.

POINT NUMBER 5: I am a crappy mom because when I got home a friend called and invited me to go to the pool on Thursday at 12:00 to do the same thing and I AGREED!

To finish this day, maybe I should just give everyone ice cream and Diet Coke for dinner and let them stay up until midnight.

Fun Weekend but Now Back to Real Life

Well, I had another great day at Cub Country with the boys on Saturday. I think the 2nd day was better organized and a nicer camp, so I enjoyed it even more. My one complaint would be that since this is a Scout camp, ALL of the activities should help the boys pass off something in their books. They did pass off a lot of great stuff but they could have incorporated more from the books.



Going backwards, we had a WONDERFUL dinner at Costa Vida with our friends. We are so lucky to have great friends like that and we stayed up way too late talking to them but it was so worth it. Once we got home, Dentist husband and I stayed up even later and watched, "The Great Debaters". Maybe because I went in with really high expectations but this movie felt "flat" to me. I liked it but I didn't love it.



On Saturday night, we watched, "We Are Marshall" and I LOVED that movie. I am a big football fan so I am sure that helped but it was just a great story put together really well. I know I am not the first to say this but it is a "Football Hoosiers".



So, today it is back to reality. Laundry, a kitchen to clean and then my kids start swimming lessons today. Oh, and I take back my liking of the book, "By a Lady" I mentioned in a previous post. I actually lost interest, skimmed the middle and then read the last few pages. And for you Mormon conservative girls out there, there was one very graphic sex scene that was SO unnecessary. The book had so much potential but lost me and made it so I can't recommend it.

Maybe there is something wrong with me but . . .

I just got home from my first day (we go back tomorrow) at Cub Country (Day Camp) and I LOVED it. Most people I have spoken to have told me horror stories--complained about how the boys acted, told me the heat was unbearable, the activities were unproductive, etc. I have been up there before and liked it but I thought by their comments that maybe in recent years it had changed. From my opinion, it is the same if not better.

Ours is up a canyon in the mountains, so it was nice, cool and covered in shade, the boys were all great, they all passed off a ton of things (which in the long run makes my job easier), the leaders (14-16 age boys) were kind and respectful and we had a great time. I am actually looking forward to tomorrow.

Yes, there are things I could complain about--parking was hard, one of the activities was LAME (moon walk where they had the boys walk across two queen sized air mattresses), one of our boys refused to participate, I had to get a babysitter which I HATE doing but adding up the whole day, it was great fun. And, in about a 1/2 hour, we are going to Costa Vida with some friends of ours. So, it has been a great day--Cub Country included.

Dilemma

While my mom is in town, she encourages me to take a nap, since she is here to watch the kids. The problem is that since my mom is in town, I would rather talk to her than sleep. I need the sleep and never get it so I should take a nap, but my mom is rarely in town and so I don't often get a chance to sit and talk. Always a dilemma.

Good Reads and Why I haven't been blogging much

After getting about five invites from friends to join Good Reads, I have done so. Who knows how much I will use it or refer to it, but I am now a member. Just thought everyone should know. (I don't know how to add Good Reads to the side bar.)

My mom and dad are in town and so that is why I haven't been blogging much. Dentist husband has been doing a lot of dentistry on my dad. And in honor of Father's Day a few days ago--both are great men. I love them both and wouldn't want any other father or husband. (Although, I did inform my husband that under the right circumstances, I would leave him for James Marsden. He is allowed to leave me for some Hollywood actress too but he hasn't given me a specific name.)

Other things:

1. My cell phone has quit working. Thankfully, dentist husband is taking care of that one for me. Hopefully, in the next few days, I will have it back. I didn't realize how much I use it until it quit working.

2. Soccer practices have started again for toothsome #1. Two nights a week, all summer long for 1.5 hours.

3. I am in the middle of reading, "By a Lady" Amanda Eylot. I am loving it and thought I wouldn't. I'll let everyone know what I think later when I finish it. I have about 10 other books on stand by, waiting to be read.

4. The Chicken Noodle soup at Kneeders is really good.

5. Wendy's has now put tomatoes back on their hamburgers (Alleluia!) but Barbacoa still isn't serving their fresh tomato salsa (so sad, I am having Barbacoa withdrawals.)

6. I learned after my mom swept out our garage that I need to clean out my garage more often. (Note the embarrassed cringe here). However, the guest room and guest bathroom looked great when they arrived.

7. Friday and Saturday I will be surrounded by Scout craziness at Cub Country. Thank goodness the boys pass of a lot of things or I might just run screaming down the Canyon. I think Cub Scouts is great but all the extra crap (yes I am referring to Round Table), I don't like. And, from past experience, I have learned you meet CRAZY fanatic scouting people at Cub Country.

Breaking News!

There are wild fires in California! (Pardon the sarcasm but PLAPEEESE, we hear this story every year.)

The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio by Terry Ryan

I just posted my review of this book on the Book Blogging Babes blog. If you want to read it, go here.

Dance Recital, "Sour Vanilla" and other Odds and Ends

I couldn't resist posting pictures of toothsome #2 in her dance recital costume. She was a "parasol dancer" in Beauty and the Beast" with this studio. She is now old enough that she is on stage for more than just a few minutes and it was so fun to see her dance this year. It has been a WONDERFUL dance year for her and she did such a good job.
I think this tomato ban is going to kill me. We live on tomatoes in our house and a Wendy's hamburger is just not the same without a slice of tomato on it. I have resorted to going through the drive thru and then coming home and slicing my own tomatoes (after paying premium prices of tomatoes on the vine) to put on them. My favorite Mexican restaurant isn't serving their fresh tomato salsa. While writing this, I should probably just start cooking at home more.

Toothsome #3, who loves tomatoes, was listening to the news and said, "Mom, we can't eat them because of "sour vanilla"? I like sour vanilla." (I guess salmonella is not in his vocabulary yet.)
Oh and just a reminder, I'll be posting my review of "The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio" by Terry Ryan on the "Book Blogging Babes" website in a few days. So, get reading girls. I want your feedback on the book.

Just finished two books by Tristi Pinkston. She left a comment on my blog a while back and so I checked out from the library her books. Good, fast, historical fiction reads. When my kids are little older, I will have them read them. (They deal with WWII and the Japanese Internment camps.) She has written other that my library didn't have.

Oh and Summer Fun 2008 is going off without a hitch. Can you believe my house is actually cleaner now that they are home from school for the summer? I am a mean mom and make them clean the house with me all day. Yes, the reason I had children was to create my own house cleaning slaves (at least that is how they look at it.)

Trip to the Dentist--Dad

Yesterday, my three oldest kids had their 6 month dental cleaning. Normally, this doesn't cause me any stress because Dentist husband brushes and flosses all my kids teeth every night before bedtime and there has never even been a hint of a problem. I am rarely involved in the process and so I have felt like it is something that is just not on my "to do" list. Dad is a dentist. Dad manages tooth care in the house. Problem solved. Unfortunately, I learned that is no so.

At the previous 6-month check up, Dentist husband pulled me aside and not so nicely, really chastised me for not taking better care of toothsome #3's teeth. He said, "Based on what I have seen today, he is being set up for a MOUTH full of cavities." He then said, "You have got to stop buying fruit snacks, gold fish crackers, or other "flour substance" foods that he snacks on and that sit on his teeth. I know that is what is causing this. I see this problem daily." I was also not so gently reminded to brush his teeth morning, noon and night. (Who has the time or patience I ask you?) Anyway, being chastised by a stranger is one thing, but by your husband the dentist is another. The look of disappointment on his face is even more humiliating. I have seen him give it to others but to me? Heart crushing.

So, for the last 6 months, I have stepped up my game and I hoped we didn't have a mouth full of cavities. I had dreams of "sugar bugs" attacking my son's mouth and when he would walk in the room with a handful of some food, I would say, "What are you eating?" "We have to go and brush your teeth again!"

Well, thankfully, after this last check-up my husband's hygienist said there had been no change in toothsome #3's mouth and thus, no cavities. Alleluia! Dentist husband confirmed it, gave my son a big hug and said how proud he was of him and his good teeth cleaning work (Excuse me, whose work?) and sent us on our way.

Sometimes being married to a dentist is not so great. But only sometimes.

The Thirteenth Tale and Evan Almighty

OK, I stayed up until 2:00 am finishing The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I am now exhausted (since toothsome #4 woke up at 5:30 am) but so satisfied by this read. I have not read a lot of books in the "Gothic novel" genre, so I did not know what to expect but after about 20 pages into this book, I was captivated by this tale. I could not put it down and went to sleep sad that it was over. I won't go into plot details because it is full of twists and turns but if you have read it, PLEASE leave me a comment on who you think the PERSON at the end is. If you have read it, you know what I am talking about.

Also, for Family Movie Night, we watched "Evan Almighty" and LOVED it. It was paned by the critics (probably because it was too religious) but I thought it was a great fun movie. I am a bigger Steve Carrell fan than a Jim Carrey fan, so I liked this much more than the first one and I thought the first one was good. There were a lot of unexpected funny one liners that had us all laughing.

Today, we are taking the kids to see this exhibit at the newly named UVU (what used to be UVCC and then UVSC during my days at BYU). I know I will be chasing toothsome #4 around it the whole time but I know it is something my oldest two will soak up.

"Summer Plan 2008" starts Monday with the kids.

First and Last Days

Toothsome #1--First Day of 2nd Grade Toothsome #1--Last Day of 2nd Grade
Toothsome #2--First Day of Kindergarten
Toothsome #2--Last Day of Kindergarten

I have no pictures of Toothsome #3's first or last day because both were so tramatic for him, I had to down play the events. He didn't want to go or stop.

Some Days You Eat Like Crap

OK, I am a junk food junky and so when opportunities come up to eat junk food, I have a really hard time with self control in not eating it. I am still doing well in eating one citrus, one leafy green vegetable, one carrot and one apple a day but in between those things, I often eat crap. Yesterday was a prime example.

Breakfast: I realize we are out of milk, bread and cereal. So before school, I take my kids to the McDonald's drive thru and order for myself the Sausage McGriddle, hash browns (so wonderful) and orange juice.

Lunch: Toothsome #3 announces to me that pre-school ended last week and we didn't do the celebratory lunch like his older siblings got. He wanted "Training Table". I haven't eaten there in over a year and while I should of gotten one of their tasty salads, I got my favorite Hickory Burger, a 44 ounce Diet Coke and cheese fries with their Hickory dipping sauce. Mind you, when I was pregnant with toothsome #2 the only thing I kept down for about a week was the hickory dipping sauce. I love it and let myself enjoy every fatty cheese fry I dipped into it.

Dinner: I was good in that I had cucumber, tomato, feta cheese salad with only lemon juice as the dressing.

After dinner snack: Dentist husband and I decided to have a date once the kids were in bed and I popped over to Wendys and got two of their new and incredibly tasty Chocolate Cookie Dough Vanilla frosty things.

Honestly, I went to bed thinking, "I might have a heart attack right here and now."

Books I Read This Weekend

While I should have done other things this weekend, I read the following two books:



Losing It and Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time by Valerie Bertinelli



and



Mudbound by Hillary Jordan



OK, I am a little embarrassed about reading Valerie Bertinelli's book but it was a non-stress, escape reading for me. She has lived one trashy life and the decisions she made (and keeps on making) astound me, but again, it was ESCAPE reading and for sure, it was an escape from my very conservative life. So, if you need such a thing, this is a good one. But, please just check it out of the library and don't pay money that would go back to her and support her trashy habits.



Mudbound is not escape reading but I loved it. It tells the story two farm families (one white and one black) in Georgia post Civil War. Each chapter is told from one of the character's perspectives and full of sadness it was still a good read. I think it has won several awards.



I have now started "The Thirteen Tale" by Diane Setterfield. It was recommended to me by a friend who has always given me good reads, so I am assuming I will like this one but I am only a few pages into it and I don't know when I will make time to continue it. I have PILES of laundry, 8 Scouts coming to my house for a bike rodeo and I am hoping to make it to the gym tonight. Not likely.



Oh an on two side notes, we attended two baptisms this weekend for boys my oldest son's age. One of the houses had dinner catered by Kneaders. Only crap, their tortellini pasta salad is to die for! My friend gave me the left overs and I have lived on it all weekend long. I have a feeling I will be stopping by there often to get some.

Other side note, our ward did the GREATEST ward activity this weekend. They called it a "Neighborhood Walkabout". They put a sign on every one's door in our ward boundaries saying we were sponsoring a nighttime walk/social activity. Three houses were assigned as watering holes and they were asked to provide refreshments. From 6:00-8:00 pm, they encouraged everyone to walk to the three assigned "watering holes" where you could stop, socialize and get some refreshments. Even though I live in the heart of Mormondom, our ward is very anemic when it comes to attending activities and this is the BEST attendance I have ever seen at one. Mormon/non-Mormon alike a ton of people came out and did it. It was great. So if you are looking for an activity idea . . . Oh, they plan on doing this the first Sunday of every month for the whole summer. Pretty cool.

Final thing, I do plan on posting a picture of me in the previous post-mentioned Prom dress. I don't have a scanner, or I would post an original 1991 picture as well. My date (sigh) was darling and a class act.