So behind on the times.....

So this weekend was a really weird one....not that anyone cares. But Gregg and I along with Jaxon came down with stomach flu! I spent Friday cleaning like a mad woman, only later Friday night to work my tail off and get sick! Not too much fun! So what do you do? Well I certainly did not feel very excited about going to far from home so we ran to get a movie from the red box! Red Box what a great invention. I love it. Order it from home drive less than .2 miles and it is yours for the night....

We got 'Knowing'. Yes I know it came out like forever ago. But what a thought provoking movie. Man, it was really intense and yet such a movie that it made me think about something that no one has concrete evidence as to how, when, why and what exactly will take place. What an interesting portrayal. And I love the underlying message of the whole movie that 'Families are Forever'.

Saturday was spent running kids to basketball again only long enough to run home and sit sit sit being sick! Our Red Box run on Saturday consisted of my choice (and Gregg picked up another one of his choices!). My choice 'Julie & Julia'. Gregg was not so excited about it.
Can I just tell you I love this movie. I think Julie's thoughts about life, friends and goals are me?! Yes, I get a little crazy sometimes, doesn't everyone. But isn't it so important for everyone to fulfill a lifetime goal or challenge too? Oh, I just love it. Gregg even liked it! I always have thought Julia Childs was pretty rediculous and to be honest I have not ever eaten too much french food but honestly I love to cook. I love to be able to make a great meal and have people rave over it! I don't think I would go so far as to cook every recipe (especially over 500 recipes in 365 days!) I do like to take some time away from it every now and then. I do love butter though and agree that everything tastes so much better with butter.....(too bad I have high cholesterol!)
Meryl Streep can I tell you was so good in it! She sounded just like her! And I think the way they portrayed her so awkwardly tall made me laugh. I am sure I would feel some of that in a European country myself!

Ah, definately one to pick up on a rainy/snowy/sick weekend!

I am going to have to figure out something this year that I am good at, or at least want to be really good at and make a challenge to myself to practice, practice, practice to perfect one of my passions. That is the thing I always complain to Gregg about. I love to do so many things. The problem is, I am not great at any of them! I think I have ADHD when it comes to interests. I cannot concentrate on just one thing. There is so much I want to do. Seriously, what is my problem? They say, 'the jack of all trades, master at none!' YUP THAT'S ME!!!

Christmas is coming!!!

OOOHHHHH I am getting so excited. The anticipation of Gingerbread building, Christmas carol singing, egg nog drinking (more egg nog drinking), family parties and visits from Santa.......
I feel like a little kid. It is coming up so fast we haven't even made our annual trip to the South Towne Mall to see 'The Real Santa' yet. I don't know if I am excited about going this week either! I am sure me and all the other slow moms will be waiting and waiting. So my sister sent me a link:

http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/bb04878e9815c1b2dcd5d8d2a89291db


please try this out! It is so cute! It is a real message from Santa on the internet. He even knows everything about your kids! Oh how fun!
I just love it when everyone cooperates and puts up with pictures! Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

The Good, The Bad and the Cold!!

Our annual 'Turkey Shoot' on thankgiving was fun as usual. We had some that were awesome.
Some that bit the dust.
And some Jett that helped us burry the dusty with TAPS! (oh so fitting)
Yes, this years shoot was fun. We had cousins and friends (and this year we even had an audience!) Papa's rocket didn't fare so well but the kids had a blast chasing them anyway (we even got to dig them up this year! Thanks for making it so fun.

Hawaii 2

So we had a lot of fun in Hawaii. It was really hot. We overheard people saying how it was unusually hot for that time of year. But it was beautiful. I usually like it hotter. Gregg on the other hand, poor guy, walked down the street and was dripping!

Oahu was a different vacation for us. We didn't rent a car and took shuttles etc. We won't do that again! It pretty much stunk! We didn't get to go over to the other side of the island. That is something Gregg is famous for. He get's on tangents and just drives. When he does that, I am usually comatose! I don't know what it is about driving I just can't stay awake! So we missed out on the PCC and the temple, something we wanted to see, but instead we stayed right in Waikiki.

We tried surfing. It was a lot of fun. I emphasize on the word TRIED! We sat there for a few hours the day before and listened in on the instructors. We thought, oh we can do that. They keep saying the same thing over and over. And we agreed that when we went out we would help each other out and give a little push (to help with the momentum). Well I think that worked for maybe 3 tries because after that Gregg didn't want to have anything to do with giving me a push! I think I had a little success, (again emphasize on the word little!). But it was a ton of fun! I was sore the next day from head to toe. Mostly my mid section! Man what a great workout! So much fun. And people make it look so easy. I totally have respect (like I did before) for surfers! What a rush!
I just love the laid back attitude of surfers! It kills me. It is like they just live for the surf and the rest of the world can rush on. I will just sit here and wait. I had to snap a few shots of the surf mecca of Waikiki.
This guy was so cool. He was just sitting there with his harmonica playing away taking a little break from surfing instruction. I thought it was awesome! And I love the beach bikes.
The last day kind of sucked! Like I said we didn't have a car and we had to check out of our hotel by 1pm. Our flight wasn't until 9pm that night. So we initially thought cool we can chill at the beach one more day. Gregg on the other hand was not going to hear of it. 'He didn't want to get his feet sandy'???? HUH?! So we sat with shoes on just waiting the day out! Oh well it gave me some time for some pictures.We ran across this guy. He was great at his weaving. He just sat and chilled. I saw him all week while coming and going to the beach! I loved his hat! He would wait until the end of the day and scoop up all of the palm tree leaves to make stuff for the next day!

So we made it through another vacation. It was a lot of fun. So nice to get away! So needed from the rough year Gregg and I have had! This was the ONLY picture I could get of us
together.So needless to say our plans of finishing our house with all of the upgrades/new furniture/remodeling gets put on hold again! But you know that stuff will always be around. I guess you just need to take the chance to get away when it arises. We feel very blessed to be fortunate enough to have what we have and be able to get away to a fabulous place! We can't wait to go again.....Jaxon has already warned us he better be with us next time!? Umm, we will see about that!

Hawaii

In and among my craziest meltdown Gregg calls me up one day and says, Hey I have to go out of town on the 23rd. Okay good two day's after Jaxon's birthday where are you going? Hawaii??? Oh I am so going with you! What a tough job to get called out of town for work to Hawaii. We have only been there once [Maui] and it was amazing! We had so much fun. This was not the best timing [it was over the Primary program weekend--I am/was the music leader] but how can you pass up the opportunity to go somewhere like that with more than half being paid for. Besides, I justified things by saying I deserve it, it has been a hell of a year!

So among the busy time at work, Jaxon's birthday party, football, soccer, Halloween costumes, etc. etc. I had my work cut out for me to get us ready to go.....I didn't have the energy! I was exhausted and by the time we left it was as ready for us to go as I could have gotten it. Everything was not perfect but we made it. We went to Oahu this time. We were excited to see a new island. And wow did we find out just how different the two islands were!

SNORKELING
We had so much fun snorkeling in Maui we knew we would have fun in Oahu. Wow were we surprised at just how much better we had it at Oahu. We went to Hanama Bay. It was absolutely amazing how many fish we saw. They were so close we could touch them [but we didn't] and they didn't swim away. We got so carried away we ended up floating so close to the coral and rocks we were skimming the surface with our bellies! They were beautiful!


PEARL HARBOR
Gregg was so excited to see Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona the most. It was so humbling to me. I didn't know what to expect at first anyway. I didn't know what I would see [I am not the best at history] but what I did see made me so proud and sad at the same time. Proud that we have such an amazing history of men and women that are willing to fight for our freedoms and willing to put themselves in harms way for us to have what freedoms we have. Yet sad in a huge way because that could be my boys that are so willing to die for me and everyone's freedoms. It made me think of all of the GI Joe toys we have at home and how my boys look up to any 'GI Joe' they see in uniform around town. Jaxon had an army birthday party when he was 5. I went and got some fun 'swag' for the party and spoke with a recruiter when I did it. One thing he said to me will always stick in my mind that "I am really glad you are so supportive of his interests now and I hope when he is older you will still be so supportive". Wow does that have more meaning and impact to me now seeing what I have. I am torn and I am glad that decision does not have to be made anytime in the near future for me! Oh ya, he is already 9! It is right around the corner!
This is one of the torpedo's recovered from the attack.
You can actually still see the USS Arizona. I can't believe how shallow the waters are. How frustrating for them/us that it is that shallow and yet so many men and boys died inside!
The black tears that drip from the hull of the Arizona.

9 years old!

Here goes....the great mom that I am! It has been almost 2 months and my oldest is 9 (and I am just blogging about it now!)! Oh where does the time go?

So here are my 9 things I love about Jaxon......

1. You are so thoughtful and really listen[when you want to]to peoples laments. You always find a way to make them feel better.

2. You are all boy! You are the boyest boy I know. Everything about you is rough and tumble. While this is one of my favorite things about you it can also be the most frustrating.

3. Because you are all boy, when you give me kisses and hugs [far and few between], I know you really mean it, and I love it!

4. You know how to win everyone over with your amazingly wonderful sense of humor!

5. You can be the best big brother in the world. You love to show your younger brothers the ropes [when they let you].

6. Willingness to try tough things and see them through....football......need I say more?

7. Your willingness to listen to the scriptures and soak up the lessons taught [and remind me of what we should be doing all the time].

8. I love how you love to read.....I just wish I could keep enough good books in the house!

9. I love your honesty. Even though you try to slip in a little white lie here and there, I know when you are telling me the truth.

We had a great birthday party this year with friends.....

Wild things! It was so much fun. They brought 9 wild creatures of Jaxon's choice. They brought: Sugar gliders, Sable Hooded European Ferret, Rex Rabbit, Colombian Red tail Boa Constrictor, Pueblan Milk Snake, Ball Python, Crested Gecko, Blue Tongued Skink, & Green Iguana.

The boys that attended were having so much fun. Why wouldn't they? Creepy crawlers and stuff like that. They were all over it. The educator told them all about the animals so they learned while they got to handle and play with the creatures too! I really loved that of all the gross reptiles and mammals he chose a cute cuddly Rex Rabbit too! [See he does have a bit of a soft side too!].

We sent the boys home with a picture of them holding the Boa Constrictor too! I think they liked it! I figured with all the candy coming around the corner they really didn't need much more! [I am sure they didn't appreciate me making that decision either! :)].

What a big boy he is getting to be! I am so proud of him!

Dinner Talk

So tonight, as always, was another battle at the dinner table. Whether my boys like what is prepared for them or not it seems they know where my buttons are and LOVE to push them, this typically revolves around dinner. Why? you say. Well at my house we did not have choices. We were given dinner and had to eat at least a taste of whatever it was that was prepared (including boiled spinach...eeewww!). This was NOT what happened at the Petersen house. No, their mom was much sweeter and would fix 5 different meals just so everyone would eat something. Anyway, so this was super funny tonight. We were eating leftovers from Sunday dinner with the Petersen family at our house. Zeke mind you is only 2 and this was the dinner conversation with him:

Zeke: waah, waah waah, Zeke don't like dinner.

Carrie : Yes, you do Zeke it is Roast and rice you like it.

Zeke: waah, waah, waah, Zeke don't like dinner......waah, waah, waah, (to himself) Zeke don't like roast on Sunday Zeke don't like roast on Thursday [Tuesday].....

Well now how do you argue with that?... Especially when Gregg pipes up and says:
Gregg: You know now if he eats it then he knows he is expected to....

This is what happened after dinner and why I put my foot down with dinner. After dinner this is what happened.....
I was making cookies and on the package of flour were two delicious looking cupcakes.

Zeke: MMMMMmmm Mom look at those cupcakes.

Carrie: Yup, those are for good boys who eat their dinners.

Pause.

Zeke: Zeke like dinner Mom.

And wouldn't you know it, he ate the whole thing even the green beans!

What a funny boy.