Hail to Google!

I love the internet. Google especially. I have been looking for a movie I remember seeing when I was younger for a long time now. The movie plot was a little vague so I didn't have much to go on. And my siblings didn't seem to remember seeing it. And of course I couldn't remember the title...that would be too easy.

So this movie: all I remember is that there were some sisters, a couple of them were mean, and the nice one fell down a well for some reason and there was an underground world or something down there. Anyway I thought maybe I just dreamed it...until today!

I typed in "animated film, mean sisters, fall in a well, ring" on Google. And it came up with a site, The Internet Movie Critic. I guess you can describe movies on this site and they (someone..who knows who? I think anyone who thinks they know the movie being described...) will tell you the title of the movie. Well my movie was describe by someone else #136. And the title given was- "Once upon a time". How exciting.

So I went back to my dear friend Google and typed, "Once upon a time" and the movie came up on amazon.com and ta-da. There it was. How exciting, again. Well of course I bought it and can't wait to watch it again...this time with my girls.

So to my now best friend Google---you are amazing. You answer all of my questions....You even helped me cheat on another friends blog -read about it here. And you've helped me prove to Shayne that I am right about two different bets we made (guessing celebrities who may or may not be on commercials)..anyway... those winnings have be great!

So for now and probably many more questions to be answered....I thank thee!

Disneyland Adventures

Little Kranky Kate

So Kate was whining about wanting to watch T.V. Some days I might let her watch more.... but today I was feeling particularly strong and wasn't going to let things slide, so I told her no. Of course that brought on more crying and begging. Some days I might loose my cool and yell at her to stop.... but today I was a little more motivated to discipline the correct way, so I told her she could stop whining and play outside or she could go to her room and continue her crying up there. She didn't stop so I started escorting her over to the stairs... and since I was doing so well, I resisted the temptation to inadvertently twist her arm in an Indian-burn-type-fashion, like I sometimes do. (Gasp! Oh, stop you know you've done something similar. Right?)

We made it to the stairs, and she didn't want to go up... and as good a day as I was having, I didn't really have the energy to calming drag her up the stairs either. SO, I just took her over to our guest room and closed the door. She continued her crying, now asking for her blankie...to which I replied, "You may come out of the room and get your blankie once you are done crying."

Well, after about 5 minutes I realized I wasn't hearing any more yelling, crying or even whining, so I slowly opened the door and peeked in. And there was Kate..........


......fast asleep. She even made a blanket with the pillows from the couch. How cute!

Who needs MTV?

Starring Kate.
Lip Sync-ing to Maroon 5.

Note: This is Kate's first time hearing this song.

The Best Birthday Gift Ever!

What a great birthday! I thought I was pretty cool, but now I know I am. I have great friends and that includes family. Thanks for all the nice comments...very nice, maybe too nice!

So...Shayne and I headed out for dinner. We were going to Outback Steakhouse, I love their salads and I always get the Chicken on a Barbie with the garlic mashed potatoes instead of the vegetables. Yummy!

Anyway, we walk in and the greeter asked, "What's the name?" Shayne whispers something and we head back. I thought that exchange was a little strange, but didn't think more about it until I looked over towards the back of the restaurant. There was a huge group of people. All people I knew. And it hit me....they were there for my birthday.

What a fun surprise! I really had no idea. And they were all in on it. I didn't know I had so many friends. I not only got to enjoy dinner (one that I didn't have to make or clean up afterwards) I also got to enjoy a lot a great conversation (something I love to do). The perfect gift!

Shayne- you are so great! This was my favorite birthday gift ever.

Then I got to come home and watch a hilarious Office episode.
*By the way...Shayne called the phone number that was on the "Looking for this Pervert" poster and it was really Dwight talking. How funny is that!

My 30th Birthday Rocked!

Today is my Birthday.

Today I am 30 years old. Pretty great huh!

My cute girls made me breakfast in bed. Cereal, toast with jam, 1/2 cup of orange juice, and a great note to go with it. They also decorated the house with homemade posters. And all of this was done while I was out running.

Shayne surprised me with a patio set I have been asking for.

Shayne parents bought me a cruiser bike that I thought Shayne was buying me...tricky.

And my parents bought me much needed new skirts and shirts for church.

I've gotten lots of nice comments on family blogs...here and here.

And I'm looking forward to dinner with Shayne and no kids!

**Feel free to add any nice birthday wishes in the comment section (or "compliments" as Parly calls it) I'll consider it your birthday present to me.

I hate big trucks and I cannot lie!

I don't know the loser in the picture. But that is a big truck.

I don't know if it is only here, but there are a lot of big trucks. Not only are they big, but they have huge tires that are jacked way up. How do you even get in one of those? Well it has been bugging me because I just don't see the purpose of these hideous things driving around town.. in our neighborhoods...where our children walk to school...cross the streets...etc.

These drivers would not be able to see me in front of their truck, let alone a small child. They are a disaster waiting to happen. It can't be legal to have them jacked up so high, can it? One of these days I'm going to get the nerve to do or say something. I'm not sure what I would say ....little help here.... I'm sure one of you witty geniuses reading this could help me come up with something good.

See mom......matching.

Here is Clayre. Doesn't she look so cute in her matching red and white striped shirt and purple flowered pants. (see earlier post: Unique style)

A Park without Swings

I have been taking my girls to the park lately. It has been amazing weather here. (That's an open invitation to any who wants to come visit). I like to keep them guessing, so we will go to different parks around town. There are a lot of great parks here, and they all have there advantages--but I have found that my favorites, are the ones without swings.

I remember when I just had Parly, oh so many years ago, and we would go to the park alone. She enjoyed the swing a lot and I didn't mind pushing her. And bonus, we were doing something outside of the house for a change. A park with or without swings...what a luxury. Then we were invited to go to the park with a friend and she said let's go to one without swings. Really? Now I get it.

With 4 kiddies, I know like most moms know- that if I go to a park with swings...I will be pushing my child (or children) on the swings the whole time. And now when I go to the park I try to invite another mom + kids to come along with us, so I have someone to else to talk to (an adult conversation, which is hard to come by as a stay-at-home mom) and my kids have more kids to play with and thus need less attention from me. Genius, I know. So if you're like me...you want to visit instead of push kids on the swings the whole time.

Now I know Shayne is reading this and saying, "Just tell them you won't push them on the swings." That's easy. No, not really. It's just easier to avoid that whole conversation that repeats over and over and over and over....by going to a park without swings.


Of course it was great a few days ago when I took Clayre, Kate, and Maggie to a park with swings....and I gave Clayre one underdog push and she swung for 40 minutes (pumping herself). Now that was nice! Push a child on a swing and they will swing for a few minutes- teach a child how to pump on the swing and they will swing forever...by themselves. Way to go Clayre!

Good for you, Sadie!

Sisters: Emily, Sadie, Me
Moms and Babies: Me & Maggie, Emily & Jane, Bonnie & Angie

So I got to go to Logan for the weekend. Just me and the baby. It was great! I went because my little sister, Sadie is getting married and we were having a bridal shower for her. Of course my other sister and I were thinking it would be better for us if she never married, then she would be available to come and babysit for us while we go on trips with our husbands whenever we need her to. She did this for me and Shayne when we went to New York last year before Maggie was born. She watched the other 3 girls for a week. Pretty much we trust her with our children more than we trust ourselves. Selfish..I know. I'm very excited for her. She is marring a great guy.

It was a lot of fun being back with the family. Sometimes I wonder if other people find my siblings as funny as I do. I pretty much laugh the whole time. Everyone in my family is very clever and smart...so if you aren't you'll get yourself into trouble. That being said... I take a hit every now and then, unless I can come up with a good come back-which isn't very often.

You see growing up I was the target. I was the one that they would all tease. Probably because I would get mad and bugged and oh... put on a pretty good show. Instead of learning to ignore or join in, I would just react. It's funny now. And since then I have realized because I didn't learn... I married Shayne, the biggest tease that ever lived! And he is trying his best to tease me straight!

So I enjoyed myself this last weekend. And it's not only because I was without 3 of my 4 little angels (2 of them throwing up all Saturday night. Sorry Shayne), or not having to plan or make any meals-just eat...(now that's heaven), or the cute clothes I got shopping (thanks, mom), it was all the great conversations! Thanks Family. You know how I love CON-VER-SAY-SHE-OHNNN!