A little Short Getaway.

So I'm back from my weekend away. I went to my older sister's Mom's Out weekend again this year. Great time! Lots of yummy food. Movies. Talking and laughing. I also worked on a project this year. Which I stressed over each step, but they turned out superb. Here are a few pictures.

Me, Laurie (sister's mother-in-law), Emily (sister)

Table set for dinner

Food/Yummy

Movie time

Bedtime. One room was full of bunk beds. Good times.

Here is my project. Silhouette of the girls. They turned out great:

Happy?

So it has almost been a month since my last post. Sad. But how about something to make you happy. How about pictures from the Happiest Place on Earth. That's right. Disneyland! We went on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of last week. Advice: Go to Disneyland on Tuesday. It was awesome! The line situation is ideal. We went on Space Mountain 5 times, Thunder Mountain 4 times, and Splash Mountain 3 times. Each time Parly, Clayre, and I went on a fast rollercoaster ride we got braver and braver. One arm up, then both arms, and for Clayre finally screaming. She was always so stone faced and she finally started to let loose. Great fun.

I had a blast because Shayne does not enjoy any rides that basically move, so I got to run around with Parly and Clayre while Shayne mostly hung out with Kate and Maggie.
Favorite rides:

• Parly, Clayre, and myself loved California Screamin in California Adventure. With Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain a close 2nd and 3rd. Clayre also loves the Tower of Terror, which Parly and I braved but Kate didn't quite make it all the way. Opting out a the last second.
  
• Shayne enjoyed Soarin that is also in California Adventure.
  
• Kate said she like the Star Tours and Peter Pan and the Fish Carousel (in California Adventure), and the Rocket ride.
  
• Maggie's favorite ride? Probably playing on and around any stairs or railings. Kate and Maggie also seemed to really like the parades.
  

Lots of fun. Lots of laughs. Lots of memories.

Pictures above: Maggie enjoying her favorite rides.

One of the rides Shayne braved, Splash Mountain.

All the girls on Alice in Wonderland ride. Clayre looks like she is sick. Not so.
She was probably just bored. Clayre likes fast and falling rides.

Kate and Maggie on the Fish Carousel in California Adventure.

Parly, Kate, Clayre, and Maggie.

Also in October. Shayne and I ran the St. George Marathon again. It was Shayne's 10th, he is now in the 10 year club. Amazing. Even with the rain I was able to run my best, coming in at 3:32. That made me happy. Until next year.

Teeth and IOU's

Parly was so excited when a neighbor boy kneed her in the face. Why? Because it popped out her lose tooth. Tooth = Tooth Fairy = Money. Parly already knows about the real "Tooth Fairy" read about that here. So after all the kids had been in bed a few minutes, Parly came down to our bedroom. "Mom. Dad. I was thinking that since you don't have a lot of money right now, it would be okay if I didn't get anything from the Tooth Fairy this time. I will just keep my tooth. And it's okay... because it came out in a fun way." Wow. Sooo sweet. She left the room a little teary eyed. I of course had forgotten that she had even lost a tooth so was happy for the reminder. And Shayne told her not to worry that we would take care of it and that it was nice of her to think of us. A little later with the lights out, Shayne asks if I remembered to put something under Parly's pillow. Ah, no. What is wrong with me, seriously? I get up. Neither of us has any cash or change. So... Parly got an IOU from the Tooth Fairy. Now before any of you send us money to payback Parly for her tooth... Shayne does have a job now, no more redundancy...just no cash at the moment.

Back to School = Scott kids chores

School has started so that means the Scott Family is back to all it's routines. One of those routines is daily chores. I love that my kids are getting older so their chores actually help me, which means less for me to do...yeah! Each child must get dressed and make their beds before coming down for breakfast. Parly usually gets the cereal and milk out for everyone, so if I'm not running that morning, I'm still asleep. So nice. Lazy, yes. But nice. Parly and Clayre also get their lunches and backpacks and drinks all ready before school and THEN they can watch a T.V. show before it is time to walk to school. My life is too easy.

Another chore is at dinner time. Kate has to, gets to, set the table every night. Then Parly and Clayre take turns clearing the table and making their lunch for school the next day. (One does the lunches while the other one clears the table, then the next day they switch). It's easier for them to do the lunches then, because if we have some kind of leftover that they want then .... okay let's just say the real reason.... It's easier for me, because I don't have to worry about them rushing to make it in the morning and bugging me while I am still sleeping. There.

In addition to these daily chores the girls have to put away their clean clothes in their closets and drawers (this is usually just once a week). And my favorite is when one of them is grounded from T.V. or friends. I can then give them more chores, like; sorting the laundry piles, picking up shoes and toys left on the floor, taking out the garbage's, emptying the kitchen misc. basket. This is a small basket that I keep on the kitchen counter so when ever I find toys and things of theirs that go upstairs I just throw them in the basket and when it gets full I send one of them to clear it out and bring back. Genius. I am the Queen of making less work for me to do. Of course they must clean the bedrooms and playroom from time to time as well.

Now you may be wondering what little Maggie does for chores. Yes she can't get herself dressed in the morning or make her bed yet, she sometimes helps Kate set the table at night but this is not her designated chore. Maggie actually came up with this one herself. She has always had a fascination with cockroaches. Before viewing, note: rolly (meaning rollypolly) = cockroach



Yes, Maggie's chore is to find the cockroaches every morning so we can throw them away. She is very very good at it.

How to spend your Saturdays.

This weekend I got to run a 1/2 Marathon. We were up in Logan for a last minute thing and since most of my family (mom & dad, sister & brother-in-law, sister-in-law) were all doing it, it being the Top of Utah 1/2 Marathon, Shayne and I decided to join in. It was a lot of fun. Yes, running a 1/2 marathon CAN be fun, though mostly it is just good when it is over. It was during the race that I learned what shin splints are the hard way...hell. They are hell. But because of them I persevered, learned how to be mentally tough and ended up finishing strong (because they didn't hurt as much on the flat or uphill parts). 1:42 was my time. This was a personal best, so that is good. Everyone had a super race. My mom who hasn't run a 1/2 marathon in her life also persevered, she walked the last two miles with a broken foot. Well the verdict is still out on that but definitely a stress fracture. Only my mom would continue with pain like that. It made my measly shin splints seem more like a bothersome blisters. My mom is incredible. I unfortunately did not get this amazing attitude, maybe it skips a generation...which I actually hope is true...with 4 daughters...hummm. Anyways, I myself am a complainer. My mom IS NOT. I should be more like my mom.

Since so many of us were running in the race and the few of my family members that weren't, were watching all the children (that in itself worth a first place medal), we did not get pictures of the event. I will however post some from the Spudman Triathlon that a number of us did a month ago. That also was a great race. If any one is thinking of doing a triathlon (Olympic distance) this is the one to do. It is a FAST one. The mile swim is downstream. The 25 mile bike and 6 mile run are both very flat courses. It was a lot of fun. I did this race before I was married, and got a time of 2:29. 11 years and 4 kids later I got 2:32 . I didn't think I would even come close to my old time, so I was pleasantly surprised. Hopefully I will feel the same way about my St. George Marathon race this year. Fingers crossed for a personal best and no hellish shin splints.

Elise (sister-in-law), Isaac(brother), Christian (brother-in-law), Sadie (sister),
Baby CJ (nephew-did not race), Steve (dad), Me

Me

Here's one from the TOU 1/2 Marathon:
(My sister Sadie just sent this to me. Thanks Sadie.)

Shayne, Maggie (did not race), Me

Me (racing to the finish)

Thanks Liz or rather her husband Jared for taking this keeper.

Passing Notes

Parly loves to write us notes. We have gotten quite a few over the years. She usually writes them when she is angry and upset, or sad and remorseful. Well, we got one from her the other night, right after putting the kids to bed. And this is what it said:

1. I cant go to sleep one tinsie wincey bit.
2. It is light out side.
3. And I'm ready to Dance.

Shayne and I were dieing. So funny. So Shayne caved and let her stay up a little longer with us. This is when it's fun.

I'm out saving lives!

I just found my new calling. Now that Shayne has been made redundant, see his post about that here, we have had to find creative ways to make money, you know to feed our children and pay the bills. This morning I was on my way to my new "job" and a friend of Shayne's pulled up beside me at a light. He rolled down his window, and noticing it was me driving the truck said, "Where's Shayne?" My reply, "Someone's got to pay the bills!"
So for now I am a working mom. What is my new job? I give plasma. Yep, I go and sit for just over an hour while they take my blood out of my body, separate the plasma, and then put my blood back. Very fascinating, I know. It's kind of rough. Actually not. Easiest money ever made.

I have found some interesting benefits to "working" at BioLife, besides the saving lives and getting $50/ week (if I go twice/week), I get my iron and protein checked each and every time I go there. I have a history of low iron and when I am running lots I sometimes get too low. I spent $170 a month ago to check that iron, and find it was normal. Ugh! Now I can do it for free. Awesome. Another benefit? I have an hour in my day with uninterrupted reading time. After getting Breaking Dawn, I was dieing to go give plasma, so I could get reading without the girls bugging me about dinner or Shayne giving me the eye. No guilt.

Could there be more benefits? Believe it. It was there that I learned I was gifted. Gifted, really? Yes. How so? I think I can safely say that I was born to give plasma. I have the perfect veins for it. They are huge . I didn't know this really until now. Almost every time I go, the person sticking me with a needle comments on how large my veins are. They are surprised that a small person like myself would have some so big. Super. No need to panic with the needles when even a half blind person could stick me in the right place. Good. And for some strange reason this new discovery has made me feel special. I get a weird satisfaction knowing that I am the perfect candidate for plasma giving. And it really feels good when you find that one thing you were meant to do in life. Mine happens to be saving lives, an hour at a time.... and without a medical degree. My self-esteem has never been better.

I've been biten!

So I am back. I was on a sort of mini vacation. Laundry piled up, kids ran wild, food was a bother, sleep not a requirement, and I hardly left the house. It started as soon as I picked up the first book of the Stephenie Meyers Vampire series, again. That's right, I reread all three of the books, Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse, to get ready for the last and final book of the series, Breaking Dawn. Well I finished Breaking Dawn last night at 1:30 in the morning and I was too jazzed up to sleep. Too bad it was too late, or earlier rather to call anyone and discuss. I so looooooved it. I have heard from others that not everyone feels this way. They are idiots. This was my favorite of them all. Stephenie Meyers is pure genius. Just when I thought I had it figured out she shocked me and I couldn't have been more pleased to be wrong. She is an amazing story teller! And instead of finishing my vacation sad and wishing it could have been longer, I was thrilled, happy, and a little exhausted.

What could be better than Karaoke?

When we were in Pine Valley with Shayne's family, McCall brought the funnest (is funnest even a real word?) game. Sing Star. It's kind of like Guitar Hero, so people say, I've never personally played Guitar Hero. You pick a song from a list of all kinds of music genres. The screen will then show the music video, the words, and rates you on your singing abilities. Pretty much how well you can sing on key. You can also compete against one another. Oh... and it records your singing so you can play it back afterwards. Scary. Yes, scary but holding that microphone and belting out the latest Brittney Spears song next to Shayne, well that just feels right. We all had a blast! And if you were wondering who was the better singer, Shayne or myself? Be surprised... it was Shayne. Watch out Brittney!

Picture time

We just got back from my sister's in California and then left for a Scott Family reunion at Pine Valley. Lots of fun. Cousins. Food. Games. Driving. And now laundry. Since Shayne and I are so cheap we took advantage of having a lot of cameras around and tried to get a new family picture, one that includes Maggie who will be turning 2 in a week. Here are some of our options:

This one turned out pretty good. I love Maggie sucking her thumb here.

We are all kind of squinting though.

Not bad but I think we were all looking at different cameras.

I love Kate in this one. It is not a family-picture-taking-session
without one or more of the girls in tears.

Here's Maggie (crying).

This one is probably my favorite because everyone is smiling soooo big.
We may have a winner. Or we will try again when we head up north in another week.
Sadie get your camera ready.