Holy moly he's good!

I did something tonight that I haven't done probably since I was 13 (besides free ones). I went to a concert. Truth be told I wasn't exactly thrilled to go but my darling friend Deb called a few nights ago and announced I would be accompanying her tonight since her husband had to go to sea for a week or so. Really I had no choice, she had already made the decision I was going. My sweet friend Leisel watched my kids and off we went.

Now, I am not a big crowd, tank top wearing, beer drinking kind of gal so I wasn't all to excited when we got there and that was all I saw. But after buying 4$ cup of fries, 6$ Dr.Pepper, and 3$ bag of m&ms I had my fill and it was starting to get fun. Heck I was just happy to be out of the house and not just going to the grocery store or Dentist. (that's tomorrow...dun dun )

The first 2 bands played. Yada yada, they were alright nothing to great but then the cute straggly hair, wrinkled khaki, green polo shirt wearing John Mayer strolled onto stage and he ROCKED!!! I couldn't believe how awesome he sounded!! What talent this man has! He sounded 1000 times better than his CD. I loved every minute! Thanks to Deb, Leisel,Dr. Pepper, and John Mayer for making my night! It was well worth it!!!

SEE HIM IF YOU CAN!!! Or go buy his CD.

Words of a toddler as of July 28 2007

As I am cracking peanuts to eat them;

Leah: "You're not a elepant!"
Me: "No, I'm a mom."
Leah: "Only elepants eat peanuts silly"
Me: "Who told you that?"
Leah: "Mickey did. Shake shake shake your peanut."

Leah in the bathroom;

Me: "Did you tinkle?" yelling from the kitchen
Leah: "Yes! and I pooped!"
Me: "Hooray."
going to check on her..
Leah: " I pooped and it looks like a choo choo train!"
She was right.
Cleaning up. Flushing.
Leah: " But mom, I miss my poop. Bye poop, have a good day."

Oh what makes us laugh when we become mothers.....

Aliens!

In the mornings I usually get on the computer first thing. I will take the kids in the living room, get them a cup of milk and turn on the disney channel. This gives me about 20 minutes of computer time before breakfast. This morning I was into my blogging and didnt even notice the scary music I heard coming from the other room until I heard a loud scream.
I went to see what the problem was and saw that the channel had accidentally changed to TBS. Signs was playing and it happened to be the part where the nasty alien appears. I looked at Leah and she said "Mom, this is NOT Mickey Mouse Club House!" Whoops. She has been asking about the ugly green thing all morning. Not good.

Botanical Gardens

This morning we went to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens with some of our friends.
I live about 3 miles away from here and this is the first time we've been. It was awesome! Everything is so beautiful and lush here in the summer and they grow everything from vegetables to fig trees. In the middle they have a huge splash pad for kids to play in called the World of Wonder. My kids had a great time splish splashing and I loved looking at all the beautiful plant life. Its days like these when Norfolk isn't "so" bad of a place to live...wink...

Here is my oops for the week...well one of many.. I have been looking for a double jogging stroller for awhile and they are a hot item on Craigslist. Well, I emailed 2 people about 2 different ones thinking I would be lucky to get a response from one. I got an email so I immediately went to look at it and bought it. Then I got home and the other lady had emailed me for the one I liked a bit better. So I went to look at it and bought that one too. Now I have 3 with the tandem one I already had. Anyone in need of a double stroller? Hopefully Craigslist will get them off my hands. Good thing Paul is gone. Shame shame Jaesi.

The end to my day

I wasn't feeling the best today. Not for any particular reason, I just wasn't. I didn't have much to complain about, we had a fun day. Walked this morning, played with my kids, had a good 2 hour nap, did some shopping, watched the rain, and then a rainbow..... but I have been a little down.
I was sweeping the floor tonight when there was a knock at my door. I opened it to my beautiful and wonderful next door neighbor Abby. She had a few of Leah's washed and folded clothes that we had left at her house in one hand and a big bouquet of flowers in the other. "These are for you, I know how hard it is the first few weeks your husband is gone." (Abby's husband John just got home from a 9 month deployment)
I was floored. What a sweetheart. I immediately started crying and gave her a big squeeze. She knew just how I felt and wanted to do something about it.
What an example to me. Just little things can brighten ones day. I know you all know this but sometimes for me it takes big reminders like these. I don't want big reminders, I want to lighten and brighten everyday. So from now on, I'm going to.

Where do you go to church?

We have all been asked this question. Now that I live outside of Utah I see it more often.
Casual conversation with new people on a plane, at the playground, in a store, or doctors office always seems to bring it up for me. I never want to be pushy or annoying but I like to talk about the gospel. But here in lies my dilemma,
I never know what to say when people ask where I go to church. I had heard somewhere that the leaders of the Church have said when referring to the gospel try to stay away from "I am a Mormon" and instead like the children's song says say, "I belong to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" or something like that. But most people just recognize "Mormons" so I find myself using that term more times than not. But its the way I say it. I hesitate and that probably looks bad. People probably don't even see that, but I feel sometimes I make an awkward situation for myself.
You all are so full of knowledge and smart that I need your opinions and stories about this first time conversation. I try to be confident when I talk about the gospel but sometimes I feel inadequate to cover such a topic.

My Enjoyments

Chico sticks.... I remember as a child going to the gas station and my mom letting us choose something off the bottom shelve. Maybe its because my mom would always grab a handful so I would to but I have always enjoyed them! crispy crunchy little yummies.

Kirkland Diapers.... I just made the switch last month. Don't ask me why I have waited this long to try them. They work sooo good at my house.

Disney soundtracks.... who doesn't love the reminding of younger years? I especially love Little Mermaid. "sha la la la la la don't be shy....."

Spray Sunscreen.... The days of rubbing the white stuff are gone! It takes 5 seconds to cover little ones and off they go!

Cotton skirts.... the kind you can lounge around in all day, go to the pool in, or wear to church!

Fruit 2O.... this stuff does the job of water but tastes like a drink 'my' kids want all the time...anything with sugar! I like lemon and orange best.

Reading....It has been forever since I read a book and I just finished Twilight and New Moon in 2 days....They were worth it. I hope to keep it up.

Sonic slushes.... Happy hour 1/2 price. Cherry lime or lemon berry. oooh.

Potty Mouth....

Yes, I have one. A big one. That is all I have been saying these last few days. That's right. Leah just hit 2 1/2. I have been trying trying trying to get her to use her potty that has been collecting dust in the corner of the bathroom for a good 8 months now. Each time with no success, that is until Saturday night. We had just come back from the pool and were eating dinner when all at once she took her bottoms off and ran into the bathroom and peed. What! I never thought my child would be this easy....It has been 2 days of #1 and #2 in the potty.
Paul, along with everyone else would say "when they are ready" I thought, how will they know.... I know! But its true.....for now I am just keeping my fingers crossed it will become habit. (the treats and trips to Target for a barbie help)
So Sunday after church I was STARVING!!! Why is it that 3 hour church can send your stomach into convulsions? So I sinned and cheated my way to Hardee's (Carls Jr. in the west) for their mushroom-swiss burger. I should have known it was the wrong thing to do in the beginning with the 20 minute wait at the drive through and the good people of the ward passing by on their way home to their crock pot roasts. I scarfed that puppy down fast and enjoyed the not so good fries with it.
Around an hour or so after my sin, I was reading and felt pretty miserable. Oh crap, I still have 2 more hours till bed time and all I could do was lay on the couch trying not to think about the ground cow I had just ate. Yes..... it all came up and out. Needless to say I wont be eating a Hardees burger for awhile and on Sunday at that! I think the Lord was trying to tell me something....

Off he goes, into the wild blue yonder...

Today was the day. It was the terrible horrible no good very bad day. We had to say good by this morning to our papa. I have been dreading this day for awhile. The anticipation is the worst part. I feel a lotbetter now that its over with and his ship hasn't even left yet. They don't leave until Saturday morning but Paul had duty today so he wont be able to leave the ship.

We had a wonderful last couple of days. They couldn't have gone any better. We drove to North Carolina on Monday and spent time with family. We came home on the fourth with the intentions of watching the fireworks but were to pooped to stay up that late. Yesterday, my friend Abby watched the kids while Paul took me to lunch and we ran a few last errands to get things. It was a wonderful day. The kids were happy, it was beautiful weather, good food, handsome husband, and a bag full of Hershey kisses.

Here is what Paul does since a few of you asked. He is a nuclear electrician engineer. All of the Navy's submarines and aircraft carriers are powered by nuclear reactors. He is on the USS Enterprise, and aircraft carrier. So he basically does the electrical work on the reactors. There are eight reactors that power his ship. Yes, he hates it. Well, not the actual job but the way the Navy runs. We cant wait to get out and have a real life. I say that because we never see him. Last year was 7 months with him gone, This year 6 months, and all the little "work ups" 1-3 weeks in between. And everyday they are in port is a regular work day 6am-4pm with every 3rd day a duty day. Which means 24 hours on the boat.

But through all that there also is alot of good. We have always been secure financially, school was paid for, insurance is good,free babies and Paul has seen the world.

Croatia, Greece, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Dubai, and Portugal. He will see France this time and a few other ports he has been to.

But family is the most important to us and nothing beats that. We will miss him. And I cant wait for him to come home and kiss me on the pier like the picture! :)

Some Sunday pics

I was taking some pictures before church today for Paul to take with him and for about 2 minutes my kids actually cooperated....I love when that happens! We are getting one more last hoorah in before Paul leaves and are going to Durham, North Carolina tomorrow until the 4th. Paul's brother Sam and his family are moving there to go to Duke University for a PH. D. in finance. We are thrilled to have family relatively close (about a 3 hour drive)! I am sure we will see lots more of them in the months and even years to come since we are both stuck out on the East coast for a few more years. On a completely random side note; Can I just tell you how much I love tin foil dinners! We ate them tonight for "supper" (Crystal ;) There is something about potatoes, carrots, onions, mushrooms and hamburger all mixed together and cooked in grease that gets me....