So the other night we decided to decorate a gingerbread house for a family activity. What a wonderful time to bond, right? I pictured it so happily--siblings taking turns with each different variety of candy, sharing time together, talking about their favorite kinds of candy while they delicately place the gumballs or peppermint candies in their places....NOT...I have come to the conclusion that these boxes should not be called Gingerbread House Kits, but rather "Contention in a Box" kits, and come with a warning label that reads:
WARNING: THIS PRODUCT MAY BE HARMFUL TO THE WELL-BEING OF YOUR FAMILY. PARTICIPANTS MAY EXPERIENCE MANIC EPISODES OF FIGHTING OVER DIFFERENT COLORS/VARIETIES OF CANDY. POSSIBLE CONTENTION IN AN OTHERWISE PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT. DO NOT USE IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE CHILD UNLESS YOU PLAN TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL HOUSE FOR EACH ADDITIONAL CHILD. POTENTIAL LARYNGITIS FOR PARTICIPANTS, WHO FIGHT OVER WHICH DECORATIONS TO USE, OR PARENTS OF PARTICIPANTS, WHO FIND THEMSELVES YELLING AT PARTICIPANTS TO CALM DOWN AND SHARE...NOW. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Somehow we survived the incident with no festering wounds, but it was a close call. One child even chose to boycott the activity for a time in order to regroup when the younger children were not following a pattern for the fence. Don't 3 year olds know that you have to alternate two colors for a fence, that it cannot just be a random pattern of Sprees interspersed with gumballs? How can they not know that? Two brave children chose to brave the activity through to the end, despite the potential threat to their voice boxes.
Now it has been several days since the "activity," and we are left with an adorable gingerbread house that everyone who enters our house comments, "Oh, that must have been so much fun!" We just smile and nod our heads, unable to find the appropriate words to describe the experience.

Standing in the ocean waves on the Caribbean shoreline is one of our family favorites.

MORE CANCUN PICS...

On the Beach, at Ek Balam ruins where you can still climb the pyramids (the ultimate stairmaster), boys playing for hours on end, sisters, so much fun!

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS?

Remember when you were little and you would ask your mom what she really wanted for Christmas and she would answer something along the lines of "Everyone to clean the house" or "Love at Home" or "Everyone to be nice to each other for a day" and you thought she was just making that up because she knew you didn't have any money anyway and that Dad would really be buying the gift and she knew he was already buying her something so it would be redundant? (I know that was a runon sentence, but it was a runon thought, so it figures).

Well, I now realize that she really was telling the truth. That REALLY WAS WHAT SHE WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS. And now it's what I want--a clean house (not cleaned by my hands), everyone to be NICE for the day, and peace and quiet, and oh, yes, sleeping in on Christmas morning would be great, too. Really, kids, that's all I want!

But if you insist on getting me something tangible, I'd love a new hoodie from Aeropostale. And tell Dad I need new ski boots. Okay?

HOLA! We all went to Cancun to celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday! Julie's entire family went--22 in all, for a week of glorious swimming, snorkeling, sand castle building, ruin visiting, over-eating fun! We stayed at the Moon Palace just south of the city, and we persuade everyone to go at least once in your life. By the way, it's a TRUE MOM's vacation--no cooking, no cleaning, plenty of R & R.

If only we were normal...this is how youmight see us...smiling, arms around each other, happy as can be to get our picture taken. You'd never know that we argue and raise our voices and don't work together. You wouldn't ever know that the other day one son pushed another off a chair, or that one always makes sure to "notify" the parents of all wrong-doing by others in the household, or that one has hormonal moodswings that allow vast variations in behavior from one moment to the next, and perhaps even one who takes a gameboy to bed at night. No, you'd not know those things. We would appear as the American Dream family. Yes, the one who floats happily into church five minutes early, and always knows where every pair of shoes is. We'd appear to be the family that always has every food group represented in our lunch boxes, the family who happily assists in the household tasks, who joyfully sings together as we ride in the car...Primary songs, in fact. Yes, if only...

I've been tagged...

I've been watching this "tag" thing on my friends' posts and today I saw my name as next in line, so here goes...

1. Q: Best thing you cooked last week:
I made spaghetti sauce from scratch, chopping garlic (I don't have a garlic press), herbs, the whole nine yards. I don't usually do this sort of thing, but I got a cooking bug and off I went. I also made balsamic vinagrette salad dressing from scratch to put on my salad. It was a good cooking day. And it was AWESOME! The kids inhaled it. Unfortunately, Dave was out of town so only got to enjoy it as leftovers.

2. Q: If time, money, and babysitting were no option, where would you go, and with whom?
I love to travel, and I've always wanted to see Italy (Rome and Florence). But I wouldn't stop there, I think I'd also hit Switzerland, the French Riviera (and Paris), Austria, Germany, Belgium, then on up to the Netherlands and Sweden to see where my family comes from. I've also always wanted to go to Jamaica, but while we're at it I think it'd be great to go on an African Safari and also to see the Great Wall of China. And...(time and money are no object, right?) I was born in Washington, D.C., but moved when I was 6 weeks old and have never been back. And I've always wanted to see New England in the fall. And...you get the picture?

3. Q: When was the last time you cried?
This morning. Dave and I were having a heart to heart about our marriage and spiritual matters and it all came bubbling up. I tend to be an emotional person and it doesn't take much anyway!

4. Q: 5 Things you were doing this month 10 years ago: hmmm...let's see...October 1997...getting Haylee and Tanner's costumes for Halloween, they were both clowns that year, living in a 2-bedroom apartment in Holladay, going walking every afternoon with a neighbor, feeling stir-crazy at home with two toddlers while hubby worked 14-hour days, and scrapbooking--I used to do that when I had 2 kids.

5. Q: 5 things on your to do list today: exercise, drive dance carpool, Cub Scout Den Meeting, Young Women's (I'm Laurel Advisor), and fold laundry. I haven't done any of these yet.

6. Q: 5 favorite snacks: tortilla chips with black bean salsa, m & m's, protein drinks (with muscle milk from GNC...mmm (I know I'm weird!), strawberries, Dove milk chocolate

7. Q: 5 Bad Habits: making a funny noise to scratch my throat when it itches, leaving shopping bags in the doorway instead of putting things away, always wanting to split entrees at restaurants (hey, then you get 2 different dishes!), leaving my shoes laying around the house, and clutter.

8. Q: 5 Favorite Foods: This awesome spinach salad from Village Bakery in West Jordan, Cafe Rio, Stuart Anderson's Black Angus steak house, homemade whole wheat pancakes, and anything my sister Lisa cooks (she's gourmet everything).

9. Q: 5 Places I've been: Israel, Egypt, France, England, St. George

10: Q: 5 Favorite Memories: Reading the story of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday Morning with Dave at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, Dave's proposal serenade at TGIFriday's in Holladay, my wedding day, a surprise party Dave gave me for my 30th birthday, standing on the podium being awarded the first place medal for my swimming event the the High School State Championships (winning isn't everything, but it's really fun!).

The 4 people I'm tagging: Janeen, Lindsey, Megan, Tiffany

WOMEN PARTY with Celine IN VEGAS...

A crew of gals headed to St. George and Las Vegas September 20-23, the pinnacle of our weekend being the Celine Dion concert in Las Vegas. We loved it so much and had a ball (How many exclamation points will it take to express HOW MUCH FUN WE HAD? Blogger won't let me insert them, so feel free to insert your own). I drove and I'm not sure pedestrians and other motorists were safe that evening on Las Vegas Boulevard, but we got to Caesar's Palace in spite of all the directions being called out from the seasoned Vegas-goers riding in the back of my van. "Turn here...no go straight then turn at the next light...ok, wait, go back...now go back to the light...flip a U-ie, quick...ok, maybe there's not a parking lot here...I was wrong, don't listen to me..." you get the picture.

Anyhow, we finally got to the concert with literally seconds to spare and exhaled a sigh of relief as Celine took the stage and WOWED us all with a show that was beyond exquisite. We cheered, and cried, and danced (okay, we didn't really stand up and dance because we were in the top section with the deadbeats who were giving us dirty looks, but I know we all danced in our minds), during the stunning show. Celine was absolutely beautiful. I'm a new fan. When she left the stage I longed for her to return and keep singing. The dancers were incredible, the scenery and staging was stellar, and she was beautiful, even in spandex leggings with a wide red belt.

I would go again in a heartbeat, even if it did take me almost a week to recover from the sleep deprivation. Who knew that six Mormon moms from Utah could party all night in Vegas?

So is anyone surprised that Ben can beat me at any GameCube game? Yes, he's all of 3.5 years. Maybe he's a boy genius...or maybe I'm just a slacker mom who lets him play too much. I'll go with the genius option, it's much more fun to think about! Hey, maybe he can figure out why I can't get my new memory card to work! Then I can post more pics!

We're loving the coming of Fall! Highlights so far: Dave traveled to Alaska for a Boys' weekend fishing trip and caughts many large fish for us. My hunter-gatherer has fulfilled his duty! The kids started school again--hooray! Haylee went off to Jr. High with excitement, Tanner begrudgingly entered 5th grade, and Tyson happily returned for 2nd grade. Ben can start preschool, but I'm just not on the ball enough so didn't get him signed up! I'll begin to work on that now that I have some time to think...

June 18-21, 2007

Haylee and Tanner's performing group, the "Young Americans," traveled to St. George and Las Vegas to perform at several venues, including the pre-show at the Tuacahn Theater and the Adventure Dome inside Circus Circus Hotel. I went as a chaperone and we had a terrific time! Tanner's solo was "Under the Sea" from "The Little Mermaid," and Haylee's solos included "Hero" by Mariah Carey and "A Star is Born" from Disney's Hercules. The performers had the opportunity to take a couple of workshops at the Tuacahn Center for the Performing Arts, which was a highlight. They also got to play, eat junk food, stay up late, and talk, talk, talk! We all got great seats at Tuacahn for "Cinderella" and "My Fair Lady."

The kids came home with stronger friendships with their group mates and stronger bonds with their teachers as well. BRAVO!!!

I feel so blessed every time I enter my driveway! It's also a blessing to have the yard fully landscaped with shrubs, grass, and trees. Dave has been working on clearing the garden area in the back so we can make our own fresh produce this summer! Yum!

Guess What!!! We moved! We found a beautiful home and jumped ship from Draper, where we called home for 8 1/2 years. We moved in on April 2, 2007 and are still getting settled. We love our home and are meeting new neighbors in a wonderful neighborhood. We miss seeing our former neighbors, but know that true friendships are not limited by time or location, so trust that those will endure despite our relocation. The kids love their new big bedrooms, and we're off on a new adventure.

Ben is our little movie star! This photo was taken by a photographer during a filming of a new children's DVD by The Little Playdates company. He'll be famous and you can say "I knew him when..." What a cutie! (But don't tell him that, because he's just "cool." Not "cute").