George Foreman and a Funny Caroline

I have a new love. The George Foreman Grill. I was able to get acquire one for free from my parents. My dad received it as a gift. He is a "as I have always done it" kind of guy, and George was too much for him.

I can put a frozen chicken breast on the thing, and within 20 minutes have a tasty grilled chicken breast. No thawing. No thinking ahead. There it is.

So, I would recommend it to everyone. Especially if you are counting your points!

Last night we decided to play a board game. I had told Allie I would do it earlier in the day, and then did not have time. So we all sat down for her favorite - pictionary. My team, Sophie, Becca and Caroline, were about to win. Eric and Caroline were the artists.

Now, in case you are thinking that was not fair - the last time these two went head to head Caroline won. Why? Because the answer was salt, and Eric decided to draw Utah, and the Great Salt Lake. Caroline drew a salt shaker. Beat by a six year old!

So, the hint is scary stuff. Eric told Caroline the word was skull. She decided, on her own without telling anyone, that she was going to go with spider because, that was scary. So, we get it right away. Eric takes the win away from us because she drew the wrong thing. Her answer? Well, the hint was scary stuff and a spider is scary!

Oh to be six again!

Rachel Ann Hansen and Her Meany Parents

Does that not sound like a Junie B Jones title? I have come back from ALA and the Hansens left while I was gone. Not only is Sophie sad, but I am sad as well.

Right after we moved here, about 7 years ago, some friends of friends had a 4th of July party at their house. They invited 1/2 the ward, and the Hansen family was there. Sophie and Rachel were only three, but they hit it off. They were playing with each other and having fun. That was the beginning of a their special friendship.

They were in preschool together, played soccer together and although we were not in the same class at school, they have always managed to find each other. Rachel is a joy to have around - she does not fight with anyone and always has a smile.

Of course, when you have a sweet girl her mom is wonderful as well. Becky was a great friend, we figured out the blog banner together. She always helped when we needed it, and that seemed like too much as of late. I will miss her! So maybe it should just be Rachel Ann Hansen and her Meany Dad.

I am consoling myself with the fact that Luke, Rachel's little brother, keeps telling everyone that they will be back in two years. Don't know if it will happen, but it would be nice.

Sophie is sad and is trying to work me for all she can. She is having Becca spend the night tonight because she is so sad. Lucky for me Becca is also a wonderful friend who does not cause fights and is a joy to have around. Becca also had meany parents who took her away once, but they came back! Hear that Hansens...

Our Nation's Capital

(editor's note. I know this is all squishing together. Blogger is not working, again...)

I am on my way back from the American Library Association meeting in Washington DC. Pretty sad that this is the only site I was able to see in DC. Fun times for me!

From a work perspective, this was a very productive meeting. I met with lots of libraries, and moved some business forward.

The one "fun" thing I did is have dinner with my friend Nanette. Nanette and I were roomates my freshman year at BYU. There were six of us in good old Heritage Halls. We had a great time, and we all got along. Well maybe minus one.

One of my roomates Melodee was from Blackfoot, Idaho (of all places). She had these two friends, Scott and Steve, and we soon adopted them - well that is all except Nanette who had a boyfriend who was a total poop (I would normally use other words to describe him, but this is a family friendly site). Scott, Steve and the rest of us had a blast. It turns out, Nanette ended up marrying Scott, and they are now the proud parents of five children (although Nanette does it much better than I do...she is not crazed). We were all poor married students together in happy valley. Scott and Eric became great friends. They even had nicknames - Orville and Horace with all that entails.

Anyway, Scott, or Scottie as we call him in our house, has been working on a presentation for all of us about our freshman year. He shot for the 20th reunion, how the HECK can I be that old, but did not quite make it. Nanette gave it to me when I saw her. It made me laugh and want to cry. It is SO COOL (and I am not just saying that because Scott has been known to stalk the blog). It brought back so many memories. THANK YOU SCOTT!!!! YOU ROCK.

So, even though all I saw was the convention center, the trip was well worth it. Here is hoping my now delayed flight makes it out of here sometime...

Sweet Cousins

Erica and Hyrum finally took us up on our invitation to watch Reed and Lucy last night. We had fun with them. They are so easy to watch, and to be honest Sophie did most of the work. Allie has deemed Reed her new best friend - best cousin and friend.

I went upstairs to setup Lucy's crib and I left her on the floor to play. Sophie was very concerned no one was holding her - I told her it was OK. Babies needed to have floor time. Anyway, I walked downstairs and found Sophie laying on the floor with Lucy singing to her. Lucy could not take her eyes off of Sophie. It was the sweetest thing to see, I had to snap a picture.

It is nice to have family around!

No More Stamina

Once upon a time, I was the mother of three darling children (and the fairy tale begins). We thought we could handle one more child, and the Lord saw fit to bless us with twins.

Since these were babies four and five, they went everywhere. I hauled that stroller and those carseats with me everywhere I went. I would even push the stroller and pull a cart at the grocery store. I was supermom.

Fast forward six years. I have a 16 year old babysitter, a 12 year old babysitter, a very responsible ten year old and two six year olds. I don't have to bring the little ones with me anywhere. There is always someone at home who can watch them. I am used to my freedom. It is bliss.

Well, this week both Ryan and Kelsey are at High Adventure and Girl's Camp. Let me just say I have LOVED the quiet. There has been no fighting. There has been no yelling. I have been no babysitters.

Yesterday, Sophie was at Rachel's house all day (they are moving on Saturday and I don't want to dwell on it for fear of sadness). Those two are having their last big thing this week. So, I had to bring the twins to the YMCA with me. Getting everyone ready and out the door on time took an act of congress. I had the complaints about not wanting to go to the YMCA, etc. I had to bribe them with Sonic afterwards. (especially since I did a double header and they were there over two hours)

Then I needed to go to the mall. So, for the first time in years, I had to take the two of them with me. They complained the whole time, their feet hurt, they were tired. Even a cookie did not totally satisfy.

See, while I have lost stamina, so have they. They are not used to working with me on my timeschedule. It is a shame.

Lucky for all of us, Kelsey comes home today, and Ryan on Saturday. Kelsey will be leaving again next week for Colorado. She will be gone a week and a half, so the responsiblity will fall on Ryan to work hard to make my life easier. Isn't that what being the oldest child is all about?

Lost Tooth!

Well, one of my babies has lost her first tooth. Caroline is down one tooth.

She told me on Sunday that her tooth hurt. Of course, it was during Sacrament Meeting, and I kind of waved it off. Kelsey and Sophie, always looking for something to do during sacrament except pay attention, determined it was loose.

That was all Caroline needed to keep wiggling it. Once I investigated, I found out her big tooth had come in behind it. I gave it the final tug and out it came. She is so funny. She told me she loves to have a missing tooth because she can put her tongue in the hole and it is fun. I am just impressed that the tooth fairy remembered to come - one the first night. Many times she is so busy getting all her teeth it can take a few days, or weeks, to make it to our house.

I think she looks cute. She also announced at dinner that she is sick of us calling them the twins. She said, "We have names. We are Allie and Caroline!" So, we have been put on notice. We will have to work on using their names. I wonder if that means calling them the babies is out...

Why, Why, Why?

Why do we have to have flight delays on Fridays? It is the last flight to Houston tonight, and I guess there is bad weather en route, so we are delayed. I have been gone all week and I am tired!!! "Get me home" I want to scream to the crusty gate agent, but it is not her fault I am tired and have had a long week. (how is that for enlightened?)

It was a long, but productive week. I even worked out three times. At one hotel there was no workout facility so I did squats, lunges and abs in my room. I have felt it the rest of the week! It will be nice to get home, and crash.

OOK LAHOMA

Sing it loud! I have spent the last few days driving from one end of the state to the other end of the state. I am in a CRAPPY car - I am trying to get a pic so I can post. It is a mettalic blue Ford something. No power ANYTHING!!!! No power windows, locks, no cruise control. It is gutless. Ah, my glamorous life.

I am hoping everyone is alive at home. I am really worried about too much fighting among the kids when I am gone. I am going to cut back on travel, especially this summer, because I don't feel great about the kids home all day killing each other. Keep your fingers crossed that everyone is alive.

You might be wondering what a salad from McDonalds has to do with Oklahoma? It is here I discovered this tasty treat. I have joined the likes of Jenny McCarthy and others - you know the Weight Watchers of America. Now, why would I admit that to the world at large? Two reasons. One, I pretty much put it all out there. Second, peer pressure. If anyone sees me eating crap you need to say, I thought you were on Weight Watchers? See - it does take a village. I am committed to be 40 and Fabulous in October.

Back to the salad. It is GREAT!!! If you are into salads, go and get one. You don't even need salad dressing because the chicken is saucy. The best part - only six points! So, go and get you some.

Have a great day!

Duct Tape

Have you ever thought about what a wonderful invention duct tape is? I am a firm believer in the tape - and just had it work its magic again.

First, for anyone who does not really know me, I don't sew. No really, I don't. I have begged, borrowed and stealed (I know it is stolen, stealed worked better) to get my sewing done - things like Ryan's scout shirt, etc. For me, when it comes to sewing, I try to use the duct tape. Look at any pair of my pants, and you will probably see the hem being held together with duct tape.

I learned this love of the tape from my father. He was always using duct tape to "fix" things. If it couldn't be held together with duct tape it was not worth putting together.

Recently, I have relied on the healing power of the tape. You laugh to yourself and say, what healing power? The power to remove warts. Yes they are ugly, and no one wants to admit they have one, but what can I say. I am an open book.

I tried to pretend for a while that what I had was not a wart, but after careful consultation with my book club, we decided it was. I tried the nail polish for a few days, did not work. I tried the duct tape. And guess what? Gone, or really almost gone. We will have to wait a few days to be sure.

So, if you do not have a supply of the tape laying around, and we all know it should be in your 72 hour kit, go on down to the Wal-Mart and get you some.

Back in the Grind

Hard to believe we have been home for one week now! It seems like just yesterday we were on vacation and having fun. Allie and I were watching GMA this morning, and they said "Live from Times Square" and she said, "Mom we were there!"

I think we are adjusting back to life in Tomball. I am trying to keep that balance of work and kids going. It is not easy, but my life would be boring with easy - right?

I have introduced a new chore chart - there are morning chores and evening chores. When Kelsey found out she had to do two things a day AND clean her room there was a lot of complaining. How could I possible expect them to do two things a day???? I am so mean. Even with that, it looks like a bomb exploded in here most days! I refuse to constantly pick up after them all summer. How is that for a stand?

The picture is my friend Lynn and I during our Little Italy experience. Hard to believe we are turning the big 40 this year - please just agree with me that we don't look it!!! Time marches on.

Well go and have a happy day.

The Little Blue Box

While we were in NYC, walking up 5th Ave we came across Tiffany & Co. I had been thinking I wanted a bracelet, and I thought how cool would it be to buy one here in NY on 5th Ave? So, I went inside and after 5 minutes of being ignored I walked out a little distgusted. I thought oh well, I don't really need anything.

Eric felt bad since I had not really gotten any souviners. I am not a real t-shirt kind of gal, and nothing jumped out at me as I have GOT to have this. I was not upset, and believe it or not I was not playing the martyr.

So, Eric said he and the older kids would go back the next day and get something. I showed him a few that I liked, and thought if he goes great, if now I am really OK with it.

Well, he took Kelsey and they picked out a beautiful bracelet which I love. I think Kelsey loved the chance to go and get it with him. She is a girly girl.

So, thanks to Eric and Kelsey and of course Tiffany & Co for my little blue box.

Caroline And The Subway

Blogger would not allow me to upload another pic, so I had to create a new post. This picture was a tribute to Caroline and her love of the Subway!!

The other is the girls in Central Park.

The rest of the Vacation

Sick of hearing about our NY adventure? This should be the last day of our trip blog. Then I have to go back to coming up with other material. I don't know about that.

Sunday, Eric and Ryan went to a Yankee game and we did some basic shopping and made the first of our two stops at American Girl Place. All four girls loved American Girl. We also found ourselves in Times Square and it was a mob scene. It was the end of fleet week, and Memorial Day weekend. Tourist heaven.

Monday we met up with my Best Friend from high school and her family. Lynn, Matt and their kids Stefan and Julia. We went to the Natural History Museum and Matt got us in for free! Thanks Matt. It was fun to look around and see the stuff from the movie. The kids loved the dum-dum statue. From there it was off to Little Italy where we had a very NY moment and ate right on the street at a great restaurant. It was just like Sex In The City - except we had seven kids with us!

Tuesday was Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We got stuck on Ellis for an additional 45 minutes when our ferry was full (we were next). BUMMER. Caroline really was excited about the statue since that really means NY to her. It was fun, but tiring. We got dropped off at Battery Park and we walked by ground zero - still a haunting and somber place.

We ended up in central park where we sat and watched a couple innings of softball and kickball. Now, when did kickball become an adult sport? The guys we were watching were WAY too into it, so it was fun to watch them. It is amazing to be in the middle of Manhatten and be in a beautiful park! The weather was beautiful, so there were lots of runner and bike riders. It was great just to chill.

We loved our time in NY. It made Eric want to enter the lottery to run the marathon this year, so I hope we get to go back. I am serious about Eric and I moving there once the kids are out of the house!!! My little Texans did not love NY, with the exception of Caroline. Ryan led the "we love Texas and not NY" brigade. I am glad to see he loves his home!

Caroline may end up to be our one city girl. She loved the subway and even said at one point she wanted to live on the subway! Yesterday, after we were home for a few hours, she said she missed New York. I am with you girl!

Graduation Day at West Point

This is the part of the blog that turns into an online journal documenting our trip, so if you don't care just click away.

It was nice to be out of our stinky clothes and ready for graduation on Saturday. It was not fun, however, to be up and ready to go at 5:30 am. The kids were troopers, and we were all ready to go on time (give or take 15 minutes).

The graduation was actually very interesting, VP Cheany was the commencement speaker. He had been to BYU as the commencement speaker in April, so some of the family got double credit for listening to him twice. Each speech was very different, but as far as graduations go, it was pleasant.

USMA has a tradition where they allow little kids, ages 6-10, to run out and get the hats from the cadets when they throw them in the air. We sent out Allie, Caroline, Sophie and Josh (my brother Matt’s son). Each came back with a hat – actually Allie got three and gave one to Josh and one to another little girl who did not have one. They looked really cute all in their hats too big for their heads!

Patrick had his becoming a 2nd LT (there is an official name for it, but I can’t think of it now) ceremony after lunch. He changed out of his West Point uniform and into his army green one. Kind of weird to see him all official in the army now.

It was fun to spend our last day at WP, and it was good for the kids to see what kind of an accomplishment this was. We made our way back to Jersey and prepared for our next few days of fun in NYC.

The Pearsons Say Good Morning America!

I love GMA. I have watched it for years - from the Charlie Gibson and Joan Lunden days. Many have tried to get me to convert to the Today Show - and with Meredith it was tempting, but I have stayed true to GMA.

I figured we were in NYC, why not go for the taping? Now, if I was smart I would have looked into tickets, but since I wing my whole life this was not exception. I took the only two who wanted to get up early enough (Ryan and and Sophie), and we caught the first bus into the city. Now, this was at 6:50 and since we did not make it before the taping of the show I did not have a lot of hope we would get on camera, or in studio.

When we arrived, even the folks who were standing outside had been there since 6:30 in the am and the set was closed inside. Being the big mouth I am, I started working one of the security guys. We were able to get behind a shot outside and you can sort of see Sophie, but you really have to look. She was standing behind Robin Roberts.

Then the area cleared of the outside stuff. I found my friendly security guy, started talking and before you knew it we were in the studio. They stuck Sophie up front because, "they like to put the kids up front." We were in for the bridal and the weight loss segments, just in case you watched.

We did not have time for photos in the studio, but they kicked us out to do the ending outside. It was a mob scene of people and we could not get close to my friends, Diane, Robin, Sam and Chris.

I knew where the stage door was, so before the show ended we planted ourselves outside the door and voila pics with the stars. Now, we had gotten one of Chris earlier because he was doing a segment outside when we arrived. As you can see, all my friends posed for pics. They were all very nice and patient.

Kudos to Laurie and Rich who did not get snappy with me when I called them at 6:00 am their time to ask to tape the show so we can see because, you see, I had planned to DVR GMA the whole time I was gone just in case, and did not.

After our GMA fun, we met up with Kelsey, Eric and the babies and walked to the NBC store, American Girl Place (for the second time) up 5th Ave., across central park and to Lincoln Center to see the Manhatten Temple and eat lunch. The kids were wiped out, so we took the subway to Chinatown where, after three blocks, they gave up. Back on the subway to Times Square to Port Authority to get a bus back to the hotel. It was a great day, and a great vacation.

I will have to fill in the gaps of the first day and the last day later. We are homeward bound tomorrow!!

Finally A New Post

I realize no one will be reading this since it has taken so long to update, but oh well. It has been wild and crazy!!

Right now I am coming to you live from Seacacus, NJ. As usual, I am the only one awake - everyone else is asleep. And as usual I am doing laundry. Wait - is this vacation or home? Actually we are having a blast.

The trip started off not so hot. I flew out with the babies on Continental and Eric and the older kids flew on American. Since I was flying alone with the little ones, and I was going to rent the car alone with the little ones, we decided I would leave all the luggage with Eric to bring with him. He would arrive, get the bags and I would pick him up in the car. A perfect plan...

Well, Eric and the kids got caught in a good ole Texas storm when coming out. I arrived, rented the car and found out they were still in Houston because the DFW airport was closed. They did make it to DFW, but their ability to get out that day, Thursday, was in question. The only flight they could be confirmed on was Friday at 5:00 PM. That would mean they would miss the graduation parade, think not floats and bands, but marching and drilling. We wanted to make that because it was supposed to be cool. So, the kids really wanted to come in on Thursday.

Eric chummed up the gate agent and they went from 20 on the standby list to 7-10. They were the last ones on the plane. Now, said plane was supposed to arrive at 9:00 PM, but due to delays did not arrive until 12:49AM. I arrive bleary eyed at 1:15(since I had started my day at 4:30 AM) only to find out we have no bags. The crack AA staff tells Eric it will be on the next flight which will arrive in 30 min. Well, said plane arrives and you guessed it no bags. We drag ourselves to the hotel and arrive at 3 AM.

Luckily, my sisters had the little ones, but they were leaving at 7:00 AM to go to the not so much floats but marching parade. So, I had to go and entertain the troops until we could raise the dead and head up to West Point. We got there after the parade, but that is OK because we then got the Patrick Linford tour of WP. We were stinky in our same clothes, but that is OK. It was HOT, so stink was relative.

The pictures are a couple of the glimpses into WP (they are not edited, just raw so not perfect but fun). The group shot is all of us looking out over the Hudson River at WP. The dining hall looks just like the dining hall at Hogwarts. Ryan and Patrick are standing in front of some cannon (there are lots).

It was a great day and we were able to have fun getting a glimpse of the beautiful campus, and cadet life. Our bags did finally arrive at 11:00 PM. Good think because we had to leave our hotel at 5:30 AM for graduation. More on graduation, and our post WP NYC trip later.

Election Day

Today is the day we have been waiting for and working for. It is election day for the school bond. You know, get a second high school? I have been gone so much I have not pulled my weeght so I am working the polls from 7am to 7pm. It will be a long day. Thank goodness I am at a church with wifi and I can borrow, cause who wants to steal from a church, the internet. We should know the results tonight. Think good thoughts!!!

When A Dad Is In Charge Part 2

I am in Cleveland on my way to Houston. I called Eric to checkin. He had just been to the elementary to pick up Caroline. She had thrown up at school (twice). Why you ask? He gave her the antibiotic this morning without anything for breakfast. They were running late so no one ate breakfast this morning. Hello? These kids can't go to school without food. So, he had to go and get her and she is going to work with him again for the THIRD day this week.

Maybe they can put her on the payroll - she is a fixture at AB now!

When A Dad Is In Charge

I have been in Syracuse all week. I have been in sales meetings and other meetings all week long. It has been long, but clearly easier than it has been at home.

I guess it started on Monday because Sophie had her first practice and Kelsey had a choir concert and Ryan had football. There was a parents meeting for the soccer team, and Eric had to be there with the twins. When I asked if he got what we needed from the meeting he was very snappy to me. "No, I had the babies and they kept having to go to the bathroom and then Caroline has an accident (she pees shes pants). I had to keep dealing with them." I wanted to say, and your point is? Welcome to my everyday. I do need to note that I recieved three calls from the girls Monday night because Eric was being "so mean". I am not sure what I was supposed to do, but they kept calling.

Then came Tuesday. I got a call from Eric that evening. Caroline was coughing when I left, but there are tons of allergens out, so I chocked it up to that. I guess Caroline was sick on Tuesday. So what did Eric do? He brought her to work and laid out some plans on the ground and had her sleep under his desk.(not even a nice built in bed like Costanza's) Yes for real. Then he went to a meeting and had someone watch her.

I asked, does she have a fever? His answer, I think so. She told me she thinks she has strep throat. So, get her to the doctor. Well, that did not fit into his schedule on Tuesday, so he did not get her an apt until Wednesday (after he took her to work again). As all the moms know, if you have strep throat you need to be on the anitbiotics for 24 hours before you can go back to school. So, that meant she could not go to school on Thursday.

Eric's answer? Have Kelsey stay home and take care of her. I am sure it was not much of a hard sell. So, Kelsey and Caroline stayed home on Thursday. There was another soccer practice and I did not hear how that went.

I need to add that there was some kind of bomb scare on the busses, so I kept getting calls during my meeting telling me that the kids were still up at the school and their parent had to come and get them. Eric did not get there until after 5:30 to pick up the girls (minus Caroline who he had at the DR). Then there was a mixup with the prescription card, and it was 9:00 before that girl got her meds.

I am on my way home today. Working a 12 hour shift at the polls tomorrow. Lets think positive thoughts about the bond!! We need a second high school.

So I'm a Loser

Acknowledgement is the first step is it not? I know it has been a week since I have updated my blog. I know everyone in blog land is just dying - yeah right. I do not think that highly of myself, I have just had one of those weeks.

On top getting caught up with work since I have been out of the office so much, I have accomplished the following: getting some order back into the house, not to mention groceries; Sophie's club soccer try-outs; getting Sophie a dress for her Awards Banquet; football carpool each day (to make up for the Wilkinson's doing all last week); TWO music programs complete with the Chicken Dance; and Field Day for Sophie. All of this leading up to Saturday birthday party, bridal shower, Costco and finding shoes for Sophie. Please, someone feel sorry for me!!!! I don't remember all of this being in my contract, but then it is probably in that dreaded "other duties as assigned" line item.

I am glad to say the house is stocked with food, clean clothes and we are ready for Sophie's award banquet. I am gone all week in Syracuse where I hope it will NOT be cold. I will miss Kelsey's choir concert and that makes me sad. She did not give me the date until two weeks ago and I could not change my plans (although I am going to a sales meeting and could not change the dates anyway).

I am sure when I get back, everything will be undone and I will need to start all over again. Something is wrong with the picture...