This is Not Going to Sit Well with Someone

Today is Kyle's "half-birthday," and as such, we performed the traditional (and ceremonious) measurement of his height, and marked it on the growth chart.

As you can see, his line is now JUST A SMIDGE higher than his older brother's line!!!
{due to growing 1 1/2 inches in the last 6 months, and 4 inches in the last year}

Now, of course, it's been a whole year since Ryan has been measured since he's been away on his mission for 8 months, and the 4 months before that was one huge whirlwind with High School graduation activities/mission prep/last family vacation/last ever family photo with our family as we know it/bidding farewell to dozens of his friends when they left on their missions.....

So, who knows?  Ryan MAY HAVE grown some more in our absence.
But, if NOT.......Kyle is SO PLEASED with his current standing!  ;)

And he's convinced that he is going to pass up his [6'3"] dad.  Lately, so many people have made comments to him that he is totally starting to resemble Matt, so naturally, he assumes he'll end up as tall or taller than his dad.  Ha!  I seriously doubt that!  Because first of all, he has ME as his mom (a mere 5'3") but also, way back when, I took note of the height predictor test.  (The one where you take a boy's height at age 2 and double it to get their future full height).  And, according to that, he's only going to be 5'8" (which is right where he's at).  According to the "test," his older brother's potential isn't much better at 5'9" but it would be one inch taller than Kyle, so that's mostly what matters in their minds!

I intend to write about this fun little "happening" in my next weekly letter to Ryan......and I already know what the reaction will be!  :)
Horror
Disbelief
Displeasure
Disturbing
Annoyance
Pain
Mental Torment
Justification
Denial


I just hope this news doesn't knock him off his "game" to the point that he becomes disabled in his missionary work!  ;)

***************************
POST-EDIT NOTE:  Ryan promptly replied to my letter stating, "I want to see pics (proof) Kyle has passed me up!"

Did I call it, or what?!?  haha  ;)

In Case I Want to Hang Out on My Porch All the Time....

I'm all equipped with a microwave out there....

...ya know, for popping my popcorn, making hot pockets, melting cheese, and heating water for my cocoa.

Heck!  I'd never have to leave the porch!

But, wait!  WHY is there a microwave on my porch?!?
The truth is....it just randomly appeared there this afternoon.

At first I thought, Oh no!  Is Kyle getting asked to a dance?  He's not 16 yet - he won't be able to go!  (We don't date until age 16).  No, that's not right - the next High School dance is PROM, and that's boy's choice....

But then I saw the tag was addressed to, "Kevin" and I was like, Oh...they got the wrong house!

But then Kyle informed me that he goes by that name sometimes.  WHAT?!?  Well, that's news to me!

So, I'm standing there looking out onto our porch in utter dumbfoundedness, and Kyle is completely amused by it.

He said this microwave was definitely for him.  (Apparently, it's a inside joke.)

It looked all clean and new, though - doesn't somebody need this?  Is some teenager's parent wondering at this very second, as they're trying to make some cup-o-noodles, Hey, what happened to our microwave?

So, Kyle attempted to explain.....it has something to do with him wearing yellow jeans and a whale tie to school, a fictitious business he owns selling microwaves (with a partner), discussions about the proper name to call your boss, and another family renovating their kitchen due to a short in their [faulty] microwave.

{Huh???}
CLEAR AS MUD, right?!?

Anyway, I guess it doesn't need to be returned (he figured out the 3 girls who did it, and they said they don't need it) - so we're now officially the proud owners of a porch microwave to make our house look REAL NICE (said in Cousin Eddie's [from Christmas Vacation] accent/voice!) and white trashy.  ;)

Now I Have 'Em, Now I Don't.....and Then I Do Again

THIS WAS ME LAST WEEK!

And this depicts our neighborhood...

Then we went away to a [colder, snowy] ski town in Colorado for "Spring Break" which apparently was against the norm.
We were informed of this when my daughter returned to school following the week-long Spring Break, and all the kids were asking each other what they did/where they went for Spring Break, the "winners" were:

• St. George

• Las Vegas

• California

When she shared that she went to Colorado (and to Wyoming, also, for 1 day), everyone replied, "WHAT?!?" and  "WHY?!?" with dumbfounded looks on their faces.  ;)
(We were ultimately there for my nephew's Baptism, but hung out with extended family a few days before, too).

But, anyway, during the 5 days away from home, this is what happened.....

I could walk and not be sneezy, I could run and not have snot constantly run out of my nose! 

THIS WAS ME!

And, then we returned home to Utah a couple of days ago.....

AND THIS IS ME, AGAIN!

My conclusion?  
I must be allergic to Utah!!
Where should I start looking to move to instead?  The thing is; I don't really LIKE the snow, so I don't want to go live in the Rocky Mountain area of Colorado, that we were in for Spring Break, permanently.  So, how about Arizona?  Hawaii?  Kentucky?  New York?  Texas?  West Virginia? ;)

I'm sure the difference in how I felt/reacted had nothing to do with the fact that Spring had not yet Sprung up in the colder, snowier location we were staying in.  ;)
And, thus, the absence of pollen.  Nah.

With my new knowledge, I must take drastic measures and start looking elsewhere to live.

But, then, is scorching heat, mold & rainy seasons, fried foods being readily available, honking taxis, big BBQ, & breaking mission rules any better than allergies?

It's for my health & well being.

My husband says we're never packing up another house and moving again.

Whatever.  If he finds a wife with puffy, red, bulging eyes (or swollen shut) with no make up because it's dripped off, and a chapped, red nose to match, with sneeze spray projecting clear across the room attractive.......more power to him!!!

I'm glad we could have this little talk.

Don't Wait for Old Age to Wear Purple

The missionary care package I did for March was PURPLE.

{The contents}

Except, I discovered that popcorn box had been opened a little and it only contained 2 pkgs. instead of the usual 3 in it..... 
What?!?  Did I buy it like that?!?  No, I wouldn't be that unobservant, would I?
And then I had a moment of clarity.......

Katelyn!!!!

(I was right.)

(NOTHING is safe around here, I tell ya!)

{The packed and ready-to-ship box}

The four purple flaps say:

"You are doing a 'GRAPE' job!!"

"Remember: You have been 'born to the PURPLE'."  (1 Peter 2:9)

"Your mission is 'a PURPLE patch' in your life!!"

"When teaching the Gospel....'lay it out in lavender'."  :)

(Is it lavendar or lavender?  woops!)

The next time Ryan wrote to us after receiving this care package, he told us he got it (ya never know with rural "mail people" - he says they just put a sticker on a car and a flashing light thing on top and call it good!), but that there was a slight problem with the V8 Energy drinks, though!  :/

(and he sent me this photo to show me):

Oh, wow!  Don't I get the "MM of the Year" award for sending him that?!!?  Yea for me!  MAJOR Ooops! 

(We, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, do NOT drink tea.)

I didn't even read the label!!  I assumed they were the V8 Fusions (100% juice) that we really like.  You know what 'they' say about assuming!

See!  Don't they look alike?!!?

Now I literally KNOW how the phrase, "Looks can be deceiving" was coined!

Good thing he was paying attention and caught it before consuming it!  ;)  He was forgiving and said he'd have fun getting rid of them!  Whew!

****************

To see past missionary care packages, click HERE.

I Think I May Have Gone to the 'Spa for Giants' by Mistake!?

I received a [very generous] spa gift certificate from my sister-in-law for my birthday last September (thanks, Nicole!) and I finally got around to using it this week.
They gave me a robe and some slippers to wear on my way to and from the treatment room.

I put on the slippers.....and I noticed they weren't quite my size....

....which I wasn't expecting because I know they probably have to invest in a "one size fits all" so it will work for their wide range of clients......

BUT, I have a very average sized foot, so I figured it would just be a little bit big - not THIS big.  I only filled 75% of this slipper!  I had a good 4 inches to go - I didn't get it!  (But, it made me feel "petite" - Yes!)

And then I realized.....I must be in the wrong place - I'd gone to the "Fee-fi-fo-fum Spa!"  ;)

But it was confusing....because I did not experience the same "over largeness" fitting with the robe.  Hmmmm, it MUST have been for the "Giant babies."  ;)

Legos on Steroids

One of the Bears Cub Scout requirements was to go and see a model that is on display somewhere.
And.....it just so happened that The LEGO Americana Roadshow was at one of the malls in Salt Lake!!!

Field Trip Time!

9 Yr. Old Boys + Legos = Heaven! 

{White House}

There were giant replicas of our nation's landmarks made completely out of Legos! 

{Statue of Liberty}

{The Capitol Building}

Each Lego model had a sign by it that told how many "Lego Master Builders" it took to build it (ranging from 2-7), and how many hours it took to complete (ranged from 260 - 1440 hours)!

It also told the specs - height & length of the model, and how that compared to the real landmark

 It. was. incredible.

{Liberty Bell}

And I just HAD to take my favorite LEGO fan on the field trip with me, 

even though he's been out of Bears for 6 years! 

Because, did you know that Legos can still be heaven for big boys, too? 

I'm glad I had Kyle with me because my cub scouts had to go to the restroom TWICE during our

[40 minute] visit to the mall....and they're probably a little too old to come into the women's restroom with me....which I would've made them do (we WERE no longer in Mayberry anymore, after all) if I hadn't had Kyle for their escort!  ;)

Worth Every Cent

I had to go in for a root canal yesterday.
My regular dentist didn't even want to touch it - he sent me to an Endodontist.
My dentist found a new cavity that ran pretty deep beneath a previous filling, that was extremely close to my nerve......he said he was very surprised that the pain wasn't killin' me!

I just LOVE IT when the dentist/dental office personnel say things (in a nice voice!) to give you the message that you're a total idiot for letting your teeth's condition get so corrupt.  Not.

  {They've got passive-aggressive down!}

Lucky for me, I wasn't feeling anything....That's why he still had his receptionist set me up an appointment with the Endodontist ASAP...because he was SURE I'd be feeling something soon. 
When my dentist's receptionist was talking to the endodontist's receptionist, she asked me if I would want the nitrous for the procedure.  I haven't ever had it for cavity fillings or root canals before, so I thought I was "tough enough" to go without.
BUT, my dentist HAD mentioned that a lot of "digging"...and "scraping"...and "clearing" would be necessary AND it would take about two hours, so I didn't say, "No" just yet.  I told them I'd decide later.  They told me it costs $75.00 and insurance will NOT cover it.  Well, money talks.  I thought, when the time came, I'd probably go without.

Well, the day before my appointment (Sunday), I had experienced flu-like symptoms for most of the day, and I still did not feel 100% the morning of my appointment.  (It was too late to cancel, without 24 hrs. notice, though.)  In fact, I hadn't felt 100% over the past couple weeks since returning from Mexico (we're suspicious of a drink of water we had from a Culligan-type water cooler at a shop there).  Add to all that my dread, unease, and tenseness regarding an extensive root canal, and I [uncharacteristically] ended up opting for the nitrous that day.

It was a good thing.....because while laying in the dentist chair, my head ached, my flu symptoms came back, I had waves of nausea, and my post-Mexico stomach was unsettled!  Not to mention I had needles and drills going into my mouth.  And I hate all the saliva that gathers near my throat, and drips down my chin and neck!  (Yes, neck!)  When everything got to be at it's worse, I just closed my eyes, and took the biggest, deepest breath, in through my nose, that I could (repeated a few times), and then......every symptom was pacified.  I was "disconnected" from it all.  When I described this to Matt later, he laughed, and informed me that on the streets, in the drug world, THAT'S called, "taking a hit."   (Ya learn something new every day!)


I actually think I fell asleep for most of the procedure.  Because it didn't even seem close to two and a half hours, which indeed had past!!!  (And, I DID go into the appointment rather tired that morning; according to my Fitbit, I only slept for 5 hrs. 15 min. the night before.)  I did hear the endodontist say the word, "IRRIGATE" four times, though, in the process.  It was MY BEST DENTAL APPOINTMENT I'VE EVER HAD - because I felt nothing, heard no drills, smelled nothing, saw very little, remembered almost nothing!!!  Ignorance is bliss in this situation!

I was kind of surprised that they said I could go right after they took the mask off of me -- well, maybe, in actuality, more time had past, and I just don't remember that, either?!? ;)  haha.  I didn't feel all that coherent at the time, so I just sat there for a while zoning out.  When I checked out, they said I could sit on the couch, but I told them if I did, I thought I'd fall asleep.  The fact that they let me drive myself home after I made that comment was pretty questionable, I think! ;)  While I was driving home, I definitely didn't feel completely with it or in control - I'm not sure they should let people leave so shortly after using nitrous.

Thankfully, I was home within 15 minutes, and my bed was calling me... and I responded to it's call, and stayed for 3 hours! ;)

And about choosing the nitrous, I've never had "Buyer's Remorse" even once ever since!

Pick Any Two

Here's one of my favorite signs I've found on Pinterest: 

(it's SO true!)

I actually presented it to my husband and told him to do just what it says......PICK ANY TWO!

He looked over the list, and reread it, and thought about it, and scratched his head.  He let out a few, "Hmmmm's."  He opened his mouth as if he was going to say something, and then he closed it without saying a word.  His face looked troubled, conflicted.  He was in a stupor of sorts before he was able to answer.  BECAUSE HE WANTS IT ALL!

But, I told him he had to narrow it down to two.

Can you guess which two he picked?

Hint: he DIDN'T pick the "Works full time" one.
So, I asked him if that meant I could quit my job.
He rebuttal-ed, "You don't work full time."
Well, if he wants to get technical about it, I am not employed at my job "full time" (but don't get me started about telling a Mom she doesn't work!!!)  I also kindly informed him that I work at my job 24 hrs./week - which is 2/3 of "full time," so that means he now needs to decide WHICH of his two picks he will choose for me to reduce by two-thirds to compensate for that?!?
;)

Invest in Your "Fuchsia"

The Missionary Care Package I did for February 

(which really was delivered the first week in March because he was getting transferred, and I had to wait for his next letter to learn his new address - which meant he didn't get to open it on his "click date")  

was FUCHSIA: 

{the contents}

Matt helped me on this one!  I originally had collected what I thought would fill a medium-size box, 

but when I put it all in, it looked pretty scarce.  If it's not full, everything will tumble around

inside during shipping, 

so I sent Matt back to the store, near midnight, but I couldn't think of anything in particular to get, so I told him to just roam the aisles with his eye out for anything FUCHSIA!

He came back with about 9 more things - much better! - he saved the package! :)

{the packed and ready-to-ship package}

Did you know that there aren't that many (if any?) sayings that have the word, "fuchsia" in it?

And can you think of any NORMAL, REAL words that rhyme with "fuchsia?"  Neither could I.

So, instead of writing something on every single flap like I have in the past, I used all the flaps for one message:

"Your "fuchsia" (future) is so Bright!"

The crazy thing is: THIS package (that I'm sending to his direct home address) will probably get to him before his birthday package that I sent to him (to the Mission Office address to be forwarded) 10 days prior.  Hopefully, he thinks it's a good "tie me over" until he gets his Birthday one!

To see past missionary care packages, click HERE.

Keep Calm and Cruise On

After entering our stateroom for the very first time, and being hit with a wave of.......a smell that should only belong in the bathroom,

  (the shower curtain was discovered as the culprit - it hung right next to the toilet, which apparently had caught a lot of "pee spray" from the previous occupants of the room!),  

we had a wonderful week on the Fowers Family cruise!

Here's a sampling of our "yearbook" (weekbook?):

Port 1: Puerto Vallarta

 {Note: Contrary to what this may look like....we are NOT drinking at the bar!  Well, kind of.}  

My brother, David, and us both got the "non-alcoholic drink card" (unlimited virgin pina coladas, strawberry daquiris, "Miami Vice's," "Bahama Mamas" etc. that we HAD to get from a bar).  Without giving you an exact daily number, let's just say we tried REALLY HARD to get our money's worth each day!!  ;)

Port 2: Mazatlan

Port 3:  Cabo San Lucas

The Crown Princess 

AND....interestingly enough, it was WAY easier to get my 10,000 Fitbit steps each day on the cruise...without really even trying!

It turns out, if you don't have to work your desk job for 6 hrs. a day, you get a lot more steps - and there's no last minute running around the block at 11:50 p.m!  :)

It also helped that you walk up 5 flights of stairs to get breakfast in the morning.

Then walk the same 5 flights back to your room to change into your swim suit.

Then walk to the middle of the ship and up 7 flights to the top deck to be by the pool and catch some rays.  

Then walk 2 flights down and over to the the drink machines to fill up your water bottle (and to the bars to get a "sunrise cooler" smoothie).

Then walk to the middle of the ship to watch a movie on the big outdoor screen.

Then you walk around the Buffet, the Pizzeria, and the Grill to judge who has the best lunch options, and then walk the whole outer edge of the ship trying to find a window table to eat at.

Then you go back to your room because you forgot your a) book, b) water bottle, c) sunscreen, d) pen

Then you go around to all the hang out rooms/areas around the ship, on 3 different decks, to see if there is an open table to play cards at.

And then you walk up 3 flights to your room to get ready for dinner.

Then down 4 flights to the dining room.

Then you walk in and out of the dining room a few times to go to the restroom during your 2 hr. dinner, from the constant water you drink.

Then walk to the very front of the ship for the evening entertainment in the theatre.

Then back to the middle of the ship and up one floor for the game shows.

Then down a couple decks to the lounge where you dance the night away.

And then, finally, walk back up 4 decks and to the back of the ship to your stateroom to retire for the evening!

Oh...It was fun while it lasted (which is never long enough!) but now it's back to reality.  boo hoo.

And we've decided (I think, but I'm not convinced) we'll have to try to be "responsible" and take a sabbatical from cruising for the a while......until the next great "opportunity" arises!  ;)