Family-UNfriendly

So, I'm here in Las Vegas and we (I) wanted to go to a new show. (We've been to Mamma Mia! and Celine Dion in years past and I was looking to add something to our resume.) I actually took baby Katelyn (7 months old at the time) with me to Celine Dion at Caesars Palace and they treated us very well. This time I have baby Brookelle with me, so when we got to looking at the shows, we noticed a lot of them have "age requirements." We found one that sounded GOOD and it said, "No age restrictions." In fact, it even called it, "Kid friendly." It was The Price is Right Live! at Bally's. It's a lot like the TV show except it's NOT on TV - it's on Stage. You can register to be a contestant and have a chance to compete for a bevy of valuable prizes, from luggage to a brand new car. Contestants are beckoned to "come on down" and bid on a prize and a chance on stage and play the familiar games, spin The Big Wheel and compete in The Showcase. (50 contestants in all are involved) - sounds fun, huh? OR you can just watch the show --but WHY?!

We go to buy our tickets at the box office and the lady asks, "How old is the baby?" I just rounded UP and said, "4 months." She gives me a look like, "I don't know..." I reminded her the website says, "NO age restrictions." She says if the baby cries, we can't be in there. REALLY?! You think with all the Price is Right audience members going nuts and screaming, "30,000," "1,000," "higher," "lower," "STOP!" "GO!" "I love Bob Barker!" "one dollar, one dollar" "Get your pets spayed & neutered," "That one, " "YES!" "BARKER OR BUST!" (that one's for Mandy B.) that ANYONE is going to hear a baby noise? It's not like they're filming a Hollywood movie or anything. So, she proceeds to call "someone" - she comes back to us and says we can't take in our stroller - I say, That's fine, we'll leave it at the Bell desk. Then she says she better call "someone else." She comes back again and says they'll let the baby in, but we have to buy her her own seat. What?!? I tell her she can't sit up - SHE'S A BABY! She says she'll give me a discount on her ticket - well, that still doesn't help her sit up alone. Then she asks me, "Were you planning on carrying her in there?" (as if that was absurd of me to try to do.) OH...MY...WORD! Well, if she can't even sit up, then she for darn sure can't walk!! - CAN YOU SAY, "BABY?" She told me she'd told the whoever-it-was-she-talked-to that Brookelle was 6 months - like she was trying to help our chances of getting in, but was told these stipulations....well, guess what?!? A 6 month old can't walk in to a Theatre and find her own $37 "discounted" seat to sit in by herself either!! WHAT PART OF "BABY" DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?!?

We left and walked away - apparently they did NOT want our $100.

So, what does, "No age restrictions" mean anyway?

Be Cool!

I opened my birthday present from Ryan and just started laughing out loud....

He got me the Twilight book. (As in the first book, not the one that just came out!) I know that's ancient history to most of you, but I haven't read any of them yet!

It all started when he learned that his friend, Kennedy Gregson's, Mom reads them and then he heard/saw all the buzz about it on the news when the latest one was released this summer and then he starts to find out that everyone has read them. Thanks a lot, guys, for raising the "standard of coolness" in his eyes! Of course, he became interested and started asking me questions that I just cannot answer because I don't know anything about it! Aaah, the pressure!!! How embarrassing for him to have a Mom who is not doing what everyone else is doing - he can't understand it! He's been asking me when I am going to read them - and I don't commit to anything....I say I don't know when or if I even will. So, he took matters into his own hands...if I'm not going to "help myself," he will do it for me. I realized that he bought me the book in a desparate effort to try to make me cool. (Thus, the laughing out loud) He even said to me, "Promise me you'll start reading it tonight?!" Yah, right...

It's been a week now, and I still haven't done it. It's all your fault - I've heard your stories about how you stop answering your phone, you ignore your kids, you don't shower, fix meals, work, sleep or go anywhere, etc...and it scares me! But, it actually sounds just like my life since baby arrived on the scene 3 1/2 months ago, so how would it affect me?

Although, I am going to Las Vegas this week with only Matt & Brookelle, so I might have a chance to open a book! :)

Pigs are Flying!

Haylee & Katelyn attended a mini cheerleader camp with some cute girls from our neighborhood this past week at Viewmont. They learned some routines and cheers to perform during halftime at the football game on Friday. How embarrassing, I know! (the V.H.S. part) I can't believe I allowed them to do such a thing - definite proof I am not in my right mind lately! :)

As I was sitting in the stands on the Viewmont side, I had a direct view of the Visitors' bleachers. A vivid memory came back to me...it was those same bleachers that had Karo syrup poured all over them, as a "warm welcome" from the lovely Vikings student body, when I came to a BHS @ VHS football game over 20 years ago - and once again, I wondered, "What am I doing here?"

Oh yeah....

it was to watch our girls perform. Well, Haylee is a whole head shorter than anyone else in her group, so we could NOT find her the entire show. Yep, we have NO IDEA how she did - what do you say to her afterwards since, "You looked so great!" is not an option? We did see Katelyn up front since she was in the youngest age group - and she had NO inhibitions - but our camera couldn't adjust to the stadium lights or something and the photos all turned out dark, so this is the only good picture we got...not during the performance...

So, we did stay and watch the whole football game and Syracuse went ahead with not a lot of time left in the 4th Quarter. Viewmont's QB pulled off a series of plays very quickly that ended up in a score and they won. As this was unfolding, without conscious decision, I had an "out-of-body experience." I found myself standing up (maybe even jumping up & down), excited and cheering! Matt called me on it and pointed it out to the boys, asking, "Is Mom rooting for Viewmont??!!?" (while laughing at me.) It's gotta be just because I was trying to demonstrate cheerleading to my daughters (since that's WHY we were there!) OR because the QB is the son of Kyle's Cub Scout den leader and I was happy for their family's success, OR just "For the Love of the Game", right?...

Still don't understand the "pig" title? I believe years ago if asked if I would ever cheer for Viewmont, I must've replied, "WHEN PIGS FLY!!"

Random Question of the Week

After being so pleasantly surprised with this new restaurant I didn't even know about a few days ago...it got me thinking, "I bet there are OTHER "best kept secrets" out there in the restaurant department!" And since it's my birthday later this week and I MADE Matt PROMISE that the ONLY way I would marry him the same week as my birthday was if I'd get TWO separate celebrations, TWO separate gifts, and TWO separate dates every year, (of course, he agreed!) so that means I'm making plans. So, let me take this opportunity to ask a question....

What is your favorite restaurant?

Highly Recommended!

Matt & I went here last night for our Anniversary - 14 years, woo hoo! We found it in our Happenings book in the fine dining section and wouldn't have known anything about this place otherwise! The review we read called it "Ogden's best kept secret." I'd say! Have any of you heard of it? As soon as we walked in, we could tell the service was going to be great. The food was so good, too!! And, we didn't have the baby - our first time ever! Thank you, Grandma. With the Happenings card, we didn't spend more than we would've at a (noisy, bustling, sometimes dirty) "chain restaurant." So, it all added up to a very nice evening out. If you're looking for a place to go for a special occasion, try this out! (Especially if someone else is paying for you!)
Matt had the Pistachio Crusted Halibut and I had the Prime Rib and shrimp. Check out what else you can order...

Rickenbacker's Bistro Dinner Menu

**And, YES, this time we did leave an appropriate tip, in case you're wondering!**

This week's gratitude list - Anniversary Edition

Matt didn't want to lose this list when I changed the sidebar the next week - I guess he wants to have "proof" I love him in case I ever get super mad at him...? :) So, I figured out a way to copy it and file it away on our anniversary date.

IN HONOR OF 14 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, THIS ONE IS DEDICATED TO MATT...
You are a valiant/strong/honorable Priesthood Holder
You're up for ANY kind of date (walks, "chick flicks", symphony, gymnastics meets, live Theatre, roller skating, dances, dinner w/ my family, gym workouts, etc.) as long as you can be with me!)You make me feel safe
You thank me for all that I do
You support & encourage my Girl's Nights Out, hobbies, events I want to attend, & work, etc. (and you make sure you're home to take care of OUR kids, so it can happen.)
You make a point to always hold my hand and kiss me
You rave about my cooking and EAT happily (unlike most our kids)
You rub lotion on my feet/give me foot rubs
You save the last [insert dessert item] for me
You're the only one who does dishes & garbage around here
You put OUR children to bed
You keep my electric toothbrush always charged for me
You never cease to freely give me compliments (even if I disagree w/ them!)
You tell me You Love Me every day;
You ADORE our daughters
You ENJOY our sons
You are SMART (and can answer all our kid's ???s about sports & scouts!)
You have such a "nice butt!" :)
You think your "expensive wife" is SOO worth it! :)
We can have "inside jokes" (like the two above!)
You work a [oftentimes] demanding job, w/ a heavy load & long hrs. so you can take care of your family
You have nice/easy hair to cut
You watch "Desperate Housewives" with me (is that OK to publicize?) - the countdown to 9/28 is on, Babe! :)
You smell good
You tell me I am a good Mom
You've provided GOOD height genes (that I hope I haven't counteracted!)
You give THE BEST hugs
You are a peacemaker
You remind me to be positive, nice, & grateful
You are patient... and MAY earn the Celestial Kingdom JUST for putting up with me! (refer to the above 2)
I have a "built-in" pedicurist
9/9/08

Your Opinion, Please...

If you forgot to leave a tip, would you go back to the restaurant and pay? If so, what's the time frame it should be done in? Would it depend on how far away you got before you remembered? Or on how good/bad the service was? Are there etiquette laws about this?
This happened to me! Our family ate at Doug & Emmys the other day and Matt asked me to take care of the bill while he went out early to the car with the girls. Those of you who know this place, know it's a "hole in the wall" where you pay at the front counter - they don't bring you a bill back to the table after running your card. So, I went up to the cash register and she gave me a copy and asked me to sign it - I did and then left. It wasn't until that night when all of a sudden, I remembered, I didn't write a tip on the receipt copy. I'm so not used to paying the bill that I was just on "automatic pilot" and signed the credit card receipt just as if I were shopping at a retail store or something. (still out of it) I don't even know the waitress' name - she was wearing a yellow shirt that day, younger than I, dk. brown hair ...how would I even explain who the tip was for if I go back? This is embarrassing!

The Folks are back in town

Dean & Marsha (Matt's parents) returned from their mission yesterday afternoon, after taking a week to drive home. They have been serving a 12-month proselyting mission in Rochester, New York. It FLEW by! In fact, Marsha kept saying, "It doesn't seem like we were even gone -- and it didn't! (Our family actually went out and visited them at the end of October, so it really hasn't been that long since we saw them last.)
We were in charge of getting balloons and Katelyn was so excited about that. She kept telling me the 3 things we had to do, while counting on her fingers: 1) Go to the balloon store, 2) Decorate Grandma & Grandpa's house with balloons, 3) Wait for Grandma & Grandpa to come home and say, "Surprise!" Haylee made them each a "Welcome Home" water color picture at school. Aunt Julie made this sign for them to see when they drove up.

The last time we welcomed home missionaries (our siblings) we went to the actual airport gate and waited for them to walk off the plane (it's been a while)...So, it was kind of different for us to just be standing on their front lawn when their car drove up.


HUGS! HUGS! HUGS!

There were 3 grandbabies born while they were gone and Brookelle was one of them. This was the first time they met each other.

.

Tayler, our neice, had the idea to just sit the new babies, Max & Brookelle, on the couch and the rest of us hide and let them walk into the house. This is what it would've looked like - pretty cute, huh?!?

The girls didn't want to go home and kept asking me when they could sleep over - they don't know how to let ya relax even one minute, do they? :0
We don't know that many details about their experiences, yet, so we look forward to hearing all about their mission in the coming weeks & months.

WELCOME HOME!
We're so glad you served a mission. Thank you for your example!

It's the MOST wonderful time of the year!

My favorite commercial of all time has got to be the one Staples (or is it Office Max?) does right before school starts. The Christmas song, "It's the most wonderful time of the year" is playing while it shows a parent prancing and leaping through the school supplies aisle of this store and the children follow slowly behind, head down, shoulders drooped, frown on face and we can tell both are thinking about BACK TO SCHOOL! Well...I'm that parent!! I know some parents (at least Moms) cry on the first day of school and I've heard some talk at church about how they have such a hard time when it's back to school - really?!? At times like that, I find myself sliding lower down into my seat and thinking, "Is something wrong we me? What's not to like about it?" I'm just going to get it out there and confess - I LIKE IT!! (SOO MUCH!)

Which leads me to the subject of this post - School's back in session! (YEA!)

We decided we all needed to get up at 6:45am to make the 1st day of school all work - can I just say that just about killed me (or at least made me want to kill everyone else, I was so grumpy!) But at 9:15am when I was back at home with just Katelyn & Brookelle, I was like... LISTEN TO THE SILENCE!

It was Ryan's first day of Jr. High! For the first time in his life, he asked me for fashion advise! Up until now when I tried to tell him what he should wear, it was always, "Mom! I can choose what I like!" (That's true.) I'm floored that he's now taken to shirts that have any kind of buttons on them! Instead of T-shirt only with no collars, tags, or nothing to slow him down! (I'm thrilled.) I thought I shouldn't go to school with him and follow him around taking pictures like I have every year up until now...I think that'd fall under the geeky category, but I'm not sure about the laws of Jr. High anymore. So, Matt just drove him there on his way to work and dropped him off to enter the sea of students all alone. Matt did say he was talking so fast and non-stop all the way there, like he was so nervous (but he'll not say he was). Matt just had to say, "Be Still!" When he got home, he said it was "fun." After I spent the 1st night reading 100 class disclosures, he came home with homework every other day. He came to me one night saying he needed help with English homework - it was on "context clues" in writing. Huh?! I didn't know what he was talking about - and English was one of MY best subjects! I've got to get my brain back! PLEASE don't let him ask me about Utah Studies or for help with Science - YIKES!!


The best thing about school for Kyle? He gets to wear shoes & socks again! In the summer, I made him wear sandals or flip flops (to cut down on laundry, ya know!) He spent at least 30 minutes staring at the shoe selections at the store and carefully thinking about which one to choose. He's so pleased with his new sneakers - do ya like the color? They certainly won't blend in to everything else. They have the LA Dodgers logo/letters on the side. He's in Mrs. Gundry's 4th grade class.


It was Haylee's first day of 1st grade, which meant she'll now go all day! (Refer again to the title of this post!) When we were driving to school, she announces to me frantically, "Mom! I'm not ready!" I told her she was all dressed, hair done, and back pack on - she was READY! :) She has the same teacher Kyle had a couple years ago, so Mrs. Landon was super nice and acted excited when she saw Haylee, which helped a lot. A bonus: she doesn't start homework until the middle of September!

So, I took the elementary kids to school and walked them to class and went in with them to find their desks and spent about a 1/2 hour at the school taking pictures, etc. Well, that afternoon, I happened to pass a mirror and I noticed something weird...the side seam on my shirt - sticking out! I had worn my shirt inside-out to school and didn't even notice...until like 6 hrs. later! (Refer to the title 4 posts ago!)

And to think I was trying to avoid being a geek today.

I'm Grounded!

I want to make another post, but I've had to ground myself, so I can do other (more pressing) things....like laundry (since we're back in school, I can't tell them to just "reuse" anymore), make meals (what a concept!), pay bills - woops, I noticed some of the due dates today had passed - blame it all on my "post-baby coma." And there's probably something else I need to be doing instead...oh, yeah - SLEEP (don't look at the time I'm making this post!)

Seriously, for the last couple of days, I've had to make a deal with myself, "After you've done {insert list items here} then you can get on the Blogs." OR substitute any other "reward" of your choice (eat a cookie/brownie/candy, read, talk on the phone, take a nap, check emails, paint your nails, "shop" catalogs, watch T.V.) Does anyone else do this? I mean, to themselves - not your kids? But, guess what happens? I run out of day before I finish the list.

Oh well, I'll try again tomorrow! :)