Tuesday, March 17, 2009

1 Word Tag

your cell phone is: useful
your significant other is: awesome
your hair: blah
your mother: amazing
your father: witty
your favorite thing: camera
your dream last night: dreamless
your dream goal: skinny
your favorite room: bedroom
your hobby: blogging!
your fear: loss
where U want 2 B in 6 years: Here
where U were last night: home
what you're not: wise
1 of your wish list items: cleanliness
where U grew up: Bountiful
the last thing U 8: waffles
what U R wearing: capris
your TV: off
your pet: none
your computer: lifeline
your mood: calm
missing someone: yes
your car: van
you're NOT wearing: shoes
your favorite store: target
your summer: short
favorite color: pink
the last time you laughed: last night
last time you cried: dunno

I tag anyone who happens to read this- Its easy and fun- and thanks Jenny B. for the tag!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Jedi Robe Pictures

So here are the boys in their Jedi robes "Smiling" for the camera
In this one, I told them to make a "Jedi" face- look how serious Brock looks- he cracks me up! He is sooo into acting things out and cries if we tell him the Star Wars world doesn't exist! The pattern also includes a piece that they wear under the robe, but I didn't have the material for that, but Brock asks me every day (okay, so twice...) when I am going to make the other piece. Thanks all of you that left such nice comments on my last post- I look up to all of you and think you are great moms, too!!
Here is the link for the pattern: www.degraeve.com/jedirobe/


Wednesday, March 11, 2009

The Things We Do For Our Kids

So as a little follow up to the Jedi Training Brock and Carter did at Disneyland... Brock was so sure that if you got picked, you got to keep the Jedi robes, because they saw a girl walking around in one. They did get picked during the Jedi Training Academy show, but, sadly, had to give back the robes and the "training" light sabers. I promised them we would go to the Star Wars store (at Disneyland) and I would let them pick something out. I didn't want to carry the stuff around all day, so we said at the end of the day we would go back and they could get something. It was a long day of "can we go to the Star Wars store yet?", and a lot of "If you ask us again, we won't go at all!!" "We will go back, just not now!!" Nate wasn't very happy that I had "promised" them we would go in the first place, but I'm a pushover, what can I say? So we went to the store, and immediately they started looking for the Jedi robes. We found them in the back of the store, and they were just the cheapie Halloween costume type robes, and they were $45.00!!! They were heartbroken when I told them no, but there was no way I was going to pay that much when I could go home and buy them for less than $20.00, or just make one. Brock ended up going with a pack of Star Wars mini figures, Carter picked a Ewok stuffed animal, and Tyson picked a little Yoda "Stitch" -its so cute! (It's also already in pieces somewhere in the van- Carter said he found the head, but now its lost again- haven't quite made it to the cleaning of the car, so I'm sure Stitch/Yoda will be back with us soon...) So, anyway, back on track... I got online yesterday and found a pattern for a Jedi robe. It looked simple enough for me to attempt, so I printed it out, read through the instructions, and in the notes at the bottom, it said that one reader had used a flat sheet to make theirs. So, off to Walmart I went with Carter, Tyson, and Marleigh in tow. I hate Walmart and try to avoid it, but I found it is less painful if you go during the day, and if I don't have all the kids- even one less helps!! I bought 3 flat sheets at $3.00 a piece, and went home to get started. It took me about an hour to make Carter's, and it turned out pretty good. He loved it, and he was outside playing in it all afternoon. Last night I made Brock's, and his went together pretty quick, but I did have to unpick and resew the hood on twice because I sewed it on inside out. I made Tyson's this morning, and whipped his up in about 30 minutes. The sleeves ended up a little short because I was a little hasty, but still, he loves it. They all had them on outside while they were playing with friends, and when Nate let Tyson go out, one of the neighbor kids said, "Even Tyson has one?" and looked like he was about to cry! Nate told me I should make some for all the neighbors- I'll have to think about that- that would be 4 more- it seems like a lot more work when it's not for my own kids! Just wanted to share, and yes, brag slightly- (I will post pics soon) I surprise myself when I actually pull off a sewing project- my mom is a whiz with a sewing machine and can do anything, but I am so impatient with it, that I usually end up having my mom fix things for me. Maybe I am just slowly turning into a grown-up, though. I am only 8 weeks away from 30, after all! (I told my mom one day I don't feel like a grown up, and she said sometimes she doesn't either. Maybe we never really have to grow up all the way.) Maybe someday I will like sewing and maybe even be kinda good at it, and maybe I will find joy instead of frustration when I make a pie from scratch- okay, that last one is definitely a stretch... but I do love to do things to make my kids happy, and if it means letting the housework go to make Jedi robes, so be it!! Nothing is as fulfilling as a sincere "Thanks Mom!!" Or "You should make this again, Mom!" Someday they will be embarrassed by me, maybe at some point say they hate me, so I treasure the time that they are little and think I know everything, and WANT to talk to me, and think I am the greatest girl in their life.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Things I Learned on Vacation...

Grandma and Grandpa Davis with 5 of the 10 grandkids
A common sight in the backseat...

Newport Beach... Love that place- it is so beautiful- I want to live there someday!!

Here we are is our matching (and way overpriced) ponchos, oh, guess I'm not wearing mine for this pic, if you look really close you can see Marleigh in the baby pack.
Here we are with a long lost relative
Tyson, Marleigh and Nate posing with Mater and Lightning McQueen
Here are the boys in their matching Goofy shirts acting goofy

Carter is training to be a Jedi at the Jedi Training Academy

Brock was also picked to train to be a Jedi- He took it very seriously

Me and the kids with Pluto at California Adventure

Me and the boys in Holden, Utah at the remains of the cabin Nate's Great-Grandmother grew up in- The boys were facinated by it

20 things I Learned on Vacation...
1. The only thing better than Disneyland is watching your kids experience Disneyland for the first time.
2. Boys are not afraid of anything and will try anything- least once
3. Ten hours at Disneyland will make a 5 month old baby sleep through the night (The first time she's done that!)
4. Kids are very impressed with a maid that spreads their blanket from home out nicely on their bed.
5. Vacations and potty training mix quite well (Tyson wanted to go potty every time the big boys did, and peed almost every time we sat him on the toilet!!)
6. Rain plus Disneyland equals short lines
7. Tyson really likes saying "Aunt Colleen"- rolls off the tougue, I guess!
8. Watching your son be trained to be a "real Jedi" is priceless.
9. Theme park employees are true sticklers on height requirements (Carter waslike an eighth of an inch too short to go on california screamin' at california adventure- he was sooo sad!!)
10. Going down the big hill on Splash Mountain WILL make Carter pee his pants.
11. It is possible to take a potty break without actually stopping if you have sons and an empty Gatorade bottle.
12. Nothing makes a grandma happier than having a house full of grandkids.
13. Nothing makes Nate happier than a scoop of "Thrifty Drugstore" ice cream from Rite Aid
14. No matter how fun the vacation, it always feels so nice to come home.
15. It is possible for the house to stay clean for a week as long as no one is in it!
16. A visit to the Lego store or Starwars store are just as exciting as any ride.
17. To take a trip with young kids requires 10 times your families combined body weight in luggage, snacks, pillows and blankets.
18. Seeing yourself in a mirror 15 times a day makes you realize your body is more lumpy than you thought.
19. A roller coaster will not make me sick, but the kiddie rocket ride that spins around, will.
20. This week spent as a family has created lifelong memories- hopefully all good ones!