Perfect Timing

Last Monday late afternoon, the person assigned to Family night treat had NOT planned ahead, and we didn't have anything around our home for them to use. 
Surprise, surprise!

And THEN....in the middle of dinner prep, Matt spotted a car of girls parked out front of our house, with another girl out walking/standing on our front walk and driveway, and then when she got back in the car, they drove away.   

Hmmmm? 

So I opened the front door to see what was going on.....


And WHAT did I see?

Manna Ice Cream from Heaven!!!

Yes!  Our Family Night Treat predicament had been solved!

  {Actually, it was all for Kyle - he was getting asked to Christmas Girls' Dance -

but he "gets to" share with his whole family in our time of need! ;)}

It turns out, Brookelle was out playing on her bikes & ride-in cars out in our driveway when the girls came, and she saw the whole thing, so the girls, not wanting to be caught while it was still light outside, set it up on the porch, then asked Brookelle to go ring our doorbell AFTER they had left.  But, I opened the door too early, when B hadn't made it over yet, and I caught her sneaking across our front lawn to "doorbell ditch" her own home!  haha.  ;)

You Say To-MAY-to, I Say To-MAH-to...

I say we have them coming out our ears!!!

LAST YEAR, I planted three tomato plants, and we had WAY TOO MANY tomatoes, so, as a solution, this year I only planted one.
WELL, I do believe our ONE plant has OUTPRODUCED the three that I had last year!!!

Every time I went out to pick.....

...I got this many!

And this has been going on for a couple of months now.

In fact, last month, when Kyle was trying to think of a way (translated: badgering asking me what to do) to answer a girl to the Harvest Dance.... after throwing around many different ideas, I said, "Can't ya do it somehow with tomatoes???"  (Since there's NO shortage of those around here!) 

So, he did:

(do you 'get it?')

So, now that it's October, there are STILL dozens (maybe hundreds?) of green and half green/half red tomatoes on the plant!  It's going to start getting too chilly at night to be good for the plant, so I tried something new that I heard about.  

Someone told me that I could dig out the plant, with roots still attached....

LOOK how monstrous that plant became!!!
It started out like this:

Instead of saying, "Growing like a weed," I'm gonna start saying, "She's growing like a tomato plant!"

 (A regular scene these days on my kitchen window sill - these are all the ones that fell off during the digging it up and transporting stages)

....anyway, after you pull it out, you're suppose to hang it upside-down in your garage, and the tomatoes will continue to ripen, and you can keep using your tomato supply instead of losing them all to the cold weather.  (At least that's what I heard)

So, I did it:

After each of the kids came in from school that day and ALL inquired, in half-panicked voices, a version of the same, "WHAT THE HECK IS OUT IN THE GARAGE????" question, I decided I better warn my husband before he got home, seems as it was hanging in his parking space.

So, I texted him, "You MIGHT be surprised when you come into the garage tonight.... just giving ya a heads up. ;)"

To which he replied back,  "A new Suburban?  HaHa."

Oh, man....now THAT would've been a first-rate surprise!!!

But, so sorry, Babe - you're going to be sadly disappointed when you open the garage door.......and discover it is ONLY an upside-down tomato plant!  ;)   

I Made the Discovery about 4 Hours Too Late

That awkward moment when..... 

...you're changing your clothes AFTER the 2nd Grade Field Trip you chaperoned, 

and you discover there is a HOLE in the seat of the pants you wore.

And this Field Trip happened to be a walking field trip to the Farmington Pond ---

where we walked in a line of mini-groups, 2nd graders and adult chaperons combined, and there was ALWAYS a group(s) following behind me!!

{Here's my group}

 {a hole big enough for my 2nd grader to put most her fingers through!}

What d'ya think?!?
Will Brookelle EVER want me to come on another Field Trip with her class again?!?  ;)


*Grasping for the last string of positivism and hope....Nobody said anything - so that means no one noticed, right?!?  Right?  Hello?  Anybody there?  Maybe?

But, on the BRIGHT SIDE.....
I killed it on my FitBit results that day, earning the "high tops" badge = 20,000 steps in a day!

(I'm gonna claim the number of hours of sleep I got the night before had something to do with me

 donning hole-y pants for the field trip!) ;)

This [UEA] Weekend:

Every year, the second week of October, we get Thursday & Friday off school for U.E.A. (it means Utah Education Association, and there's a 2-day convention for educators).  But, working in the airline industry, we know U.E.A. actually stands for: Utah Escapes to Anaheim!

Although, many Utahns do go to Disneyland over this long weekend, we do not. (the crowds!)  We usually go somewhere, but this year, we stayed right in Utah.

We:

* Celebrated "Wingtoberfest," and got half-price boneless wings at Sonic for lunch.

* Went to the WitchFest at Gardner Village

And, while there, we HAD to go to the Chocolate Covered Wagon (a sweets shop) for caramel apples, Utah shaped chocolate dipped Rice Krispie treats on a stick,
old-fashioned candy sticks, etc. (of course!)

We did the "Witch Scavenger Hunt" and we were on a mission to find them all, so we could take our completed list to the Naborhood Bakery to get our cookies for $0.50!
(We did it, getting "help" on just the last [elusive] one).

* That evening, Haylee & Brookelle went to play night games and have a sleepover with their cousins.  Katelyn went for a late-night at her friend's house.

* Matt & I picked up our Bountiful Basket, went to donate plasma, and then to Station Park to do some birthday shopping
for a couple of our children in between taking our kids places.

* On Friday, I took Katelyn out to her favorite smoothie joint: Roxberry's. 

(since she was the only girl at home - the others were still at their cousins, 

and Kyle just wanted to hang out at home and rest for once, after so much XC running/practice!)

* Matt & I had date night at Joy Luck Restaurant.

(It seems they "replaced" some of the shrimp in our Walnut Shrimp dish with broccoli florets - pretty disappointed!)

* We went over to Matt's brother's house to catch the last half of the USU vs. Boise State football game.

It was a great day to be an Aggie!  :)

52-26!  

* On Saturday, Matt & I went out to breakfast at a new place I've been wanting to try, Criddles Cafe.

It seemed their menu was very close to our favorites; the former Doug & Emmy's, and Sill's Cafe.

I had a cinnamon roll the SIZE OF MY PLATE 

(I only could eat a couple of bites, and took the rest home to my kids - they didn't mind at all!)

* We took the family up to the Ogden Temple

Matt, Kyle, and Haylee went in and did Baptisms for the Dead.

I walked around the temple block with Katelyn & Brookelle (too young to go in still) while we waited.

 Katelyn was excited to be almost as tall as one of the stop signs we passed!

We also thought we could take a tour at the nearby D.U.P. while we were killing time....

but it's only open Memorial Day to Labor Day - too late!

So, we found somewhere else to go!  ;)

* We finally helped the kids with one of the "bucket list" items, by taking them 

shopping at Smith & Edwards - the Country Boys Store.

Ya know, the one with the slogan, “We’ve got anything you need....IF we can find it!” 

To say the girls were THRILLED about the largest Schleich toy inventory at a store they've ever seen, would be an understatement!

From Schleich to saddles....this store has it ALL!

*  Then we had dinner at the Burger Bar on our way home.  It’s been featured on the Food Network’s show, “Diners, Drive Ins, and Dive’s.”
Even though their specialty meat they were highlighting that week was ALLIGATOR....none of us opted for it!  ;)
(But we did get deferred when trying to donate plasma later, due to us being lipemic = fat levels in blood too high) I wonder why?  ;)

* Churchy-Church on Sunday 

* Third Sunday dinner/FHE over at the Brenchley's.
Haylee commented on our way home, "That was SO MUCH FUN tonight with the cousins!"  

*  I wrote my weekly novel letter to our missionary son.

A Sure Way to Get Your Teenager to Go to Bed Early on the Weekend

Here's the secret:  have them run the RACE OF THEIR LIFE in the High School Region Championship Cross Country Meet.

And SMASH their PR by 34 seconds!
(Those of you who aren't familiar with running.....to shave just a few seconds off your PR is fantastic.  To knock off 34 seconds is something I (and many) could never even dream of doing.  It's phenomenal, is what it is.)

 Ya....he pretty much ran out of his head. 

SO MANY student athletes were breaking their PRs right and left.  They did amazing!  I was so happy for everyone to see how excited they were!  The air at that meet was definitely filled with ADRENALINE and ENERGY.  To see a "spent" runner dig deep down within him/herself and find something, then pour it on at the end of a race is one of my favorite things to watch.

It's awe inspiring - and in some cases (my husband's at this meet), tears-producing.  The will of the human soul is wondrous.  You give it your ALL - and then some - until you're done.

....And because they were going above and beyond their normal capacities, there was some falling down, some passing out, some white lips, some throwing up, etc. after the race.

 Here, Kyle had just asked his teammate on the ground, "Do you know who we are?"

And he was pointing at each of them saying their names. (through heavy breathing and he kept trying to lie down)

He got it correct!  :)

But, the Viewmont boys AND girls cross country teams qualified to go to State!!! (the first time in several years).

So, needless to say, Kyle was a bit tired.

Worn-out.  

Weary.  

Exhausted.  

Drained. 

And I think all the other runners were, too, because no one came calling to get together and do something on that Friday night, like they usually do.

When the bus got back to the high school, Kyle texted us to come get him up (NOW).  

He got home, got in the shower, changed into comfy sweats/t-shirt.

AND WAS IN BED BY 8:00 PM!!!  And was asleep approximately 12.8 seconds after that.

THAT'S how you get a teenager to go to bed early.  ;)
(although, we, his parents, had nothing to do with it - it just happened on it's own)

The Frivolous, the Frugal, the Wise-Stewards, and the Clueless

It's that time again....
I have an 8th grader this year, and it's October...

So, it's time for:

I blogged about this 6 years ago, too, when it was my oldest's (and my) first experience with Reality Town.  I decided to volunteer at it whenever I have a child in the 8th grade - so, I volunteered 3 years ago with Kyle, too, but sadly, there's no blog post to reference.  I did it again yesterday for Haylee, as well.

 

Reality Town is a program that provides students with a hands-on simulation in which they make lifestyle and budget decisions, as they take on careers, salaries, families and associated responsibilities of the adult world.

Students come to Reality Town dressed up and are given a career and salary based on their current GPA. They are also given a "life scenario" with a family situation and the assignment to pay all the bills of the month. They are expected to live within the means of their monthly income.

At the end of Reality Town, students [are suppose to] reflect on the experience. Did they save or lose money? Is this how they'd really live? How does education correlate with income? This program is a great way to teach students the importance of how the choices they make NOW can affect them LATER.  It also gives them hands on skills in budgeting, math skills (although they let them use calculators), and determining priorities.  Six years ago, the students actually practiced the skill of check writing to pay for their expenses, but now they just "pretend" they did or use their "invisible debit card" and jot down the expense in their ledger and keep a running balance. (This is not offered at all schools, we are really lucky to have this program at ours.)

If they run out of money, they have to go to "Financial Counseling" or visit the "Supplemental Income" booth where they can get a part-time job that would realistically work with their current schedule.  They can also join the military (and get some more income), but at this Reality Town, they had the military people all doing MANY push-ups at one end of the gym to make it [kinda] the real deal.

That "Just my Luck" booth you can see in the background was required for them to visit.  They spun a wheel, and a scenario came up; got a flat tire, furnace broke, someone gets sick, get an inheritance check, drop your cell phone in the toilet, get in a car accident, etc. that they were face with - just like real life!

Haylee's career was a Music Therapist.  (What?  How did THAT happen when she doesn't even practice her piano???)  Her "spouse" did not have a job because he was a disabled veteran with one leg.  They only get a couple hundred dollars from the Army due to his disability status. (tough luck!)  They have two children; an 8 yr. old and a toddler.  It was super fun for her....until she started to get stressed with everything she had to buy on her finite income.  ;)  Ya gotta love the reality checks!

I worked at the "Property Taxes" booth in this years' Reality Town.  They had to buy their housing first, then come to me and we figured out what they would owe in property tax based on their house/condo/trailer/apartment/parents' basement.  (The higher the value of their housing, the higher their property taxes).
We weren't very far into the experience when I notice one guy was already lying down on the park bench that was set up in the middle of the "town."  We joked that he's already decided to be homeless and bypass the cost of housing and associated taxes!  ;)
These "adults" who came to me and were renting apartments or who lived in their parents basements did NOT owe anything in property taxes - when I told them that, they'd first be surprised, but then acted pretty glad about that little fact.  But, then I informed them the reason WHY was because they didn't OWN it.  And then they didn't look so thrilled anymore.  ;)

Here's the "consumers" who I interacted with:

The Frivolous
I honestly was surprised that we didn't have more "adults" buying THE BIGGEST/NICEST/MOST EXPENSIVE house that was offered.  I think I only had ONE person who bought it, but there was another "Tax Agent" at my table who was also helping, so she may have had some, too? 
But, we still did have some who were buying too much house for their income.  Towards the end of the "experience," I did have some come back to me to get a "tax adjustment credit" because they had ended up downgrading their house after their account got into the negative with all their other bills.  By doing so, they were able to get $25-40 back as their taxes went down, as well.  Although, when one "man" left my table, he was still a few hundred dollars in the negative, so he still had some shaving of expenses to do.  Good luck with that, Sir.  ;)

The Frugal
I had two different "men" come to me, who were both "well-to-do." 
The "Engineer" had only bought himself a trailer house, which only cost him $25 in property taxes.  As I looked at his income, I was a bit perplexed, and then I said to him, "Did you get the trailer, so you could have a lot of money leftover?"  He just gave me the "you got it!" smirk. 
*Sidenote:  this is the same boy who kept raising his hand to ask Matt questions last year, when he came to Haylee's class to speak on "Career Day."  One of the most entertaining questions was, "So, if I get a hold of any checks, can I just start writing them for stuff?"   He was also asking questions about what "robbery safeguards" are in place at financial institutions!  ;)  This boy's thinking about HOW to get money!!*

The "Orthopedic Surgeon" didn't even buy a house - he was in an apartment - which resulted in $0 property taxes.  He was beaming when he heard that news!  I questioned his decision (he's my neighbor, so I can razz him, right?) and he said he just wanted to be close to the hospital so he can make it to the emergencies in a timely manner - AND SAVE all that extra money!

The Wise-Stewards
There were a few "adults" who came back to visit me towards the end, after they had paid all the necessary bills, and realized they had money left over.  They discovered they really could've bought a bigger house, they just didn't want to "chance it" at first. 
So, one "consumer" decided to move out of his parents' basement and buy a 20 yr. old 3 BD/2BA house.  (SMART choice!)  So, he now had to pay property taxes....but he says it's totally worth it!
Another "consumer" was able to ditch his original trailer house to a 20 yr. old house, as well.  He said that was a relief!
And, another, who was feeling pretty rich, upgraded from his 20 yr. old house to a 5 yr. old 3BD/2.5BA house.

Now, I asked them (using my "motherly wisdom") if they were sure they didn't need to use their money for something else.  They said they didn't. 
What about your donations?  I asked them. 
Already donated. they replied.
What about your Savings?  I countered. 
Already got a bunch in Savings. they informed me. 
What about sending your wife to the Spa. I reminded them.
Done.  they said. 
OK, then, I guess you've managed just wonderfully!

The Clueless
There were A LOT (too many!) who opted to live in their parents' basements.  It was the lowest housing option available, after all.
Why were they choosing this?
In this Reality Town experience, $500/month rent was charged for living in your parents' basement (and $0 property taxes), but I don't think that reflects reality.  In reality (and the other volunteers there around me were all discussing this, and have made the same observation), I think "mooching" is what is happening more frequently than rent paying is!
Anyway, in Reality Town, they could've had their OWN place to live for just $150 more per month.  THAT'S TOTALLY WORTH IT!
I asked several of the "adults" if it was OKAY with their parents if they lived with them.  They all said, "YES!" without even thinking about it.
 
(Ha!  They're clueless!  Unless parents, these days, don't want their children to grow up and be responsible!??)

One of the living-in-your-parents'-basement "women" is actually in my ward.  She assured me it would be OK with her parents.  So I told her she better do all the cooking, clean the toilets, mow the lawn, and wash their cars.  She said she was paying rent, so she didn't need to.  ;)  haha.  (see what I mean by clueless!)
I texted her mom (my friend) afterwards:  "FYI, your daughter's planning on living in YOUR basement with her family.  haha."
To which she texted back, "Haaaaa is RIGHT....I don't think so!  I guess we're making life a little too cooshie for her.  I need to crack the whip." 
I'm thinking she better make other plans.  ;)

So, if you're in the market for a Music Therapist in the future, give Haylee a call - her bank account will thank you!  ;)

(And it will keep her out of my basement!)

"Privacy, Please" is the New "Barge on In"

Here's something to ponder: if you were to see THIS sign:

WHAT WOULD YOU THINK IT MEANT?

My husband and I spent the couple of days at the beautiful Hotel Park City, about a 45 minute drive from our home, this week.

                           

My husband had a meeting, so I was in our "cottage" making sure I fulfilled the meaning of, "leisurely morning" to the fullest!  (Remember, I like to do that, when I'm a guest on Matt's trips?)  I was sitting out on our deck, in the plush Hotel robe, sipping hot cocoa and eating fruit, with the tree leaves rustling, and a breeze gently swirling about me - not a golfer in sight, yet.......
...when, ding dong, I heard our door bell ring, so I start heading to the door (not even dressed in real clothes) to answer it. 
BUT, before I could even get there, the door opens up!  I was around the corner, and out of view of the door at this moment, but a MAN'S voice calls out, "Hello?" 
"Hello." I called back from where I was standing.
"Oh, I'll come back later," said the male voice.
Ya....you better not be staying!

So, I go and check the door, and sure enough, the "Privacy Please" door hanger had been put out by my husband when he left that morning, so WHY the intrusion from Mr. Hello.......???
To be even more secure, I found a "dead bolt" type knob that was also labeled, "privacy" so I turned that after he left.

.......AND THEN when Matt came back to our cottage, he was totally locked out and not able to get in!  :)  (I guess not even a key card will work if the knob is turned!)

After, we were in the back part of our cottage, getting ready for lunch (and when I say, "we," it means Matt was waiting for me to get ready) with the "Privacy Please" sign still on the door, and we hear a noise that sounds like our front door is opening, followed by a MAN calling out, "Hello?"

What?  Again?!?

Matt goes out to the front (I still had wet hair, fresh from the shower) and I hear him say, "Hey, What's up?"  And then I hear him telling someone that this is our room, and we've been here since yesterday, etc. etc.
Well, my curiosity got to me, so I walked out there to see what was going on, and there were two men in our room, with their rolling luggage and bags over their shoulders, looking like they're ready to move in to our same cottage! 
Did they not see the "Privacy Please" sign and think, Something's not right with this room!?
(Turns out, they had been given this room assignment AND key cards to it at check-in just moments before.)
So, they, being convinced that the cottage was already occupied, left.

Then, of course, Matt & I started discussing all these "forced entries" when, ding dong, our doorbell rings.  It was one of those same guys, asking for his sunglasses that he'd left on the kitchen counter.  Yes, they'd originally come in that far and started to settle into the place, when they must've seen some of our stuff here and there, and were prompted to call out.
At least they rang the doorbell that time!  ;)

Then the next day, JUST AS I was putting myself back together after using the bathroom, ding dong, our doorbell rings.  So, then I'm trying to stumble towards the door, and finish pulling up/fastening my pants at the same time, when the front door opens, followed by.....you got it!.....a MAN'S voice calling out, "Hello?"

Again?!? Yes. Again!

"Hello." I echoed back.
Now, fully dressed, I walked around the corner to the front door, and the man there informs me, "I'm just going to check your hot tub" as he proceeds to walk further into my cottage!
To which I must've responded with a stupefied look, not moving, because then he stopped, as if he was just struck with an intelligent thought, and he says, "I'll just come back later."
Uhhh....,ya you will!

After he left, I double checked - the Privacy Please sign WAS indeed up on the door then, too.

THREE TIMES we had trespassers.
THREE TIMES that sign failed us.
THREE TIMES I was seconds away from being spotted [in a compromising situation.]
THREE TIMES I wondered if people don't know how to read anymore.

OR........
Maybe I have misinterpreted the meaning and purpose of that sign all these years?!?   If so, please clue me in.  ;)


****************
We really DO enjoy this resort - we have stayed there for 3 years in a row now - we came to the conclusion that somehow, their computer system did not register that our room had guests in it, and everyone thought it was vacant.  At least we're hoping there was an innocent explanation, and this is not a common practice......