Christmas Photos

Sledding

The kids had a great time at their grandparents house all last week. One of the highlights was sledding in the backyard.

We decided to take the kids a few days early so we could sled before all the snow melted. I'm really glad we did. The conditions were perfect: packed down snow with a layer of ice on top.

The kids had a blast. Caleb screamed the whole time. I'm sure the neighbors were thrilled with all the noise at 8 am. Beth liked sledding on the disc the best. She said it was "wild and crazy."

Jacob attempted to make snow angels in the ice. Even though he couldn't manage to leave much of a print, he smiled so big the entire time. It was adorable. I took some video of our sledding adventure and I'll post it later this week. Until then, enjoy some photos.

Easy Bake Ovens, Potions and Two Boys

This afternoon we have had another incident involving our usually two suspects. The two perps, Caleb and Jacob, decided that it was high time that they participated in the world of potion making.

Ingredients

Two boys
A bike
The kitchen floor
Flour
A Gallon of Milk
4 eggs (all that were left in the container)
Rice

Instructions:

Dump the said objects into a few cups, stir with spoons and throw the rest on the floor. Proceed to take the extra flour and spread it all over yourself and your brother.

Then take the bike and ride it through the pile of flour and into every other room in the house.

Then track the flour up the stairs and into the bathroom.

Tell your mom that you need a bath, get in and splash enough water that it starts dripping on her head while she is cleaning up after you.

That is the potion for crazy mom.

Have a good day!

(No pictures because I'm too mad and worried that the flour/milk/egg combination will dry into some type of cement type paste.)

Beth's Birthday Party

As you know from the last post, Beth recently turned eight. I wanted to share some photos from her Harry Potter party. The apartment was a spitting image of Hogwarts. Okay, well, maybe not so much. But there were colored streamers and a Gryffindor coat of arms decorating the room.

The Past Eight Years

I can't believe that Beth is turning eight this week. Quite frankly it blows my mind. Our lives sure changed when we had her, and in a good way. The day we brought her home from the hospital there were carolers right outside our door. I've really enjoyed all that Beth has brought to my life. She had her birthday party yesterday. It was a Harry Potter party that got a little bit crazy, but we managed to pull everything off. I'm just relieved that it is over. She also had her baptism interview. She's very excited to be getting baptized and I'm very proud of her. She is a good girl.

Caleb has been one for messes lately. I don't know exactly why, but he woke me up by asking me if I wanted to see his tattoos. He had drawn on himself (with some help from Beth) all up his arms and across his belly. The primary president told me today that he was sitting there in Sharing Time and pulled up his shirt for a second and everybody in Primary got to see his beautiful artwork. Caleb also gave the closing prayer in Primary, and I must say he did a totally awesome job, and only needed on nudge from Rob to finish the prayer.

Jacob has matching tattoos. He also slept through most of church today. And then came home with lots and lots and lots of energy. He is growing up and some of his words are just so clear. I mean you can really understand them. At tithing settlement today (which is another nightmare of a story you don't need to hear about -oh the horror- the bishop was very understanding and cut the meeting short) Jacob was walking around with his hands in front of him and moaning--"Brains, Brains, Brains." Yes my two year old knows what a zombie is and what a zombie eats. This is mainly due to the song "Re: Your Brains" by Jonathan Coulton. We are actually big Jonathan Coulton fans.

Re: Your Brains - Jonathan Cou...

On a side note, I had a lovely conversation with my sister Ruthann, and mentioned Glee to her. My sister was in Madrigals in high school, which is the equivalent of Glee. And she hadn't seen the show at all, and she hadn't heard of it. Well only the last five episodes are up, and you really need to watch from episode one since the entire show builds on the preceding episode. But they come out on DVD just after Christmas. So you can buy it if you think you will like it. I'm going to embed one of my favorite musical numbers so you can watch and see, but there is lots of cool stuff on that show.

But as an aside, Ruthann and I were talking about how atypical our high school experience was. Really I don't think we went to a normal high school. I always thought it was because it was so big. My graduating class was over 600. But my sophomore year the principal told us that we had more than 900 kids there. The high school was split my senior year and I know that we had people drop out. The thing is that the Madrigals weren't on the bottom of the social pyramid. It was pretty much live and let live unless you were a goth. I was friends with some goths and they had crazy stories of getting beat up, but other than that I think it was pretty peaceful. Maybe I was in my own little bubble, but I was definitely happy there. My point is that it was okay to be what you wanted at school for the most part. I'm sure there were exceptions, but I wasn't really aware of them. I wasn't popular, but I wasn't an outcast either. Nicely in the middle of the road.

Well here's the clip. Hope you all enjoy. Have a great week!

I Am Slowly Going Crazy

I am sharing this video because I feel as though others should truly understand what I am going through. Watch it. Please.

Unfortunately, I have had to watch this clip about ten times (and that is not an exaggeration) in the last two days. It tickles Rob's funny bone. I mean really tickles it. He will come up and sing to me the clips while I'm downstairs.

When I told him that it just wasn't that funny to me, he insisted that it was because I hadn't truly watched the facial expressions the first seven times he made me watch it. No he is not happy that I simply hear it each time he plays it again, I actually have to watch it.

I told him that the reason it spoke to him so strongly is because of his roles at Marvel's. There is a tape of him that would fit in perfectly with this clip. The simple truth is that Rob could do this. He could have an alternate life as a sketch person. If I had that clip I'd post it online. I think Greg has a tape of it somewhere. Otherwise it is lost to posterity.

I hope you all enjoy or at least not go crazy!

Autumn Photos

In Approximately 10 Minutes . . .

Today while I was in the shower the boys managed to accomplish all of this in approximately 10 Minutes

Dumped a Huge Glass of Water in the Toy Box

Pull all of the sheets off of my bed and take them downstairs

Caleb got dressed for school

Dumped a big bowl of cheerios in front of the television

Dumped all of the books from a shelf on the floor

and give each other haircuts

(That's the kicker. I'm not sure if Caleb got one too, when I found them after my shower his hair looked like it was intact, but I found so much hair, that I don't think it all came from Jacob, but it might have. Caleb's at preschool, I hope he doesn't have tons missing in the back. I'll post a picture of Jacob after he is done with speech therapy.)

What I did in the ten minutes after dropping Caleb off for preschool and before Jacob's speech therapist showed up

Cleaned up the bowl of cheerios

Repacked the blanket box downstairs

Put the books all back on the shelves

Picked up the shoes that were scattered around the room

Got Jacob dressed and changed his diaper

Wiped down the tables

and wondered how on earth we were going to fix Jacob's hair.


Have a great day!

The Holidays Are Fast Approaching

So I haven't posted in awhile. We had a good Thanksgiving week at Gail and Eldon's. The kids had lots and lots of fun. There were two different fires to play around, a lot of leaves to burn and general fun all around. We took the kids to the Science Center there, and they had some fun with their cousins Chloe and Casey. Dinner was great. The drive to Hickory took five hours. Truth be told it was awful. We got on the Interstate and it wasn't moving. Not to mention that we needed our brakes changed (thank you for fixing them Eldon). The brakes were so noisy every time that we stopped that I was dying of embarrassment. Not to mention the safety issue when it comes to stop and go traffic. After about forty five minutes we hit the Davis Drive exit. (This is seven miles from where we got on the Interstate), Rob had decided that this wasn't going to work. Neither of us are familiar with that particular portion of Cary/Apex, but I told him to get off and I'd find 64. So we got off and we made it. Rob thought that I was crazy and that we'd missed the road, but we found it. The drive home was much, much happier.

We have instituted a chore system around the house. This is a nightly chore system, which involves mopping, vacuuming, and wiping down the bathroom each night. It really is great. The kids are super involved meaning that they actually do it. I don't know how long the novelty of using "the spray" will last, but right now I'm super excited and happy about it. We have a different spray for the bathrooms, kitchen and windows and each child wants to use it. Don't worry it is happening under close supervision, but it is nice to wake up to a super clean house.

December is tomorrow and the craziness is about to begin. We've got all our kids birthdays in the next two months, Christmas, and Beth's baptism. Plus out of town visitors and going out of town. Somehow or other we will survive. Usually we are done with present shopping by now and we haven't even started yet. The main problem is I don't know what to get the kids. I'm not in the mood to inundate them with more toys. Seriously after the great toy take away of September and October I'm not in a place where I want to provide fuel for another hostile takeover. We will see what we come up with.

Also we have been t.v. free today, and are hoping to go t.v. free for most of December. I'll let you know how long it lasts.

Have a great week!

The Dragon Ate My Homework!

This week was rough as far as homework time went. Really, just one big battle after another. It's time to think about contracts, and consequences. Beth isn't going to know what hit her in the next few weeks. She has agreed to get up and read before school each day, and that will start tomorrow. And we will be doing homework as soon as she gets home from school. Friday morning I drove her to school so she'd have time to do an assignment she absolutely refused to do all week. It's not going to happen again, because I want Beth to have good study habits, and be successful, not always pushing things to the last minute.

This week I've got two parent teacher conferences, one for Caleb and one for Beth. It should be fun and exciting to see how they are both doing this year. I like talking to the teachers and getting a sense of what is important and how my kids are doing.

Caleb is very enthusiastic. He loves doing new things and he is just pleased as can be when he gets something new or tries something new. I love the fact that he is so positive most of the time.

Jacob has informed me that his best friend is a dragon. He is very tall and likes to lick Jacob. He makes Jacob very happy. The day after Jacob told me this I forgot and began telling him a story about a mean dragon. Jacob stopped me and told me that the dragon was his friend. So this guys is likely staying around for a while. If you talk to him be sure to ask him about his dragon.

That's about all for the week. It rained a lot. I mean a lot, and I hate rainy weeks. But most of this next week should be pleasant. Not too cold, and no rain. I hope you have a great one!

A Trip to the Zoo

Rob agreed to post the pictures if I took the time to write about the trip to the zoo. It was a a random happening. Earlier in the week we had thrown around the idea of going down to the beach and the aquarium. We mentioned it to the kids who were super-excited, but told them that it was on the condition that they go right to bed. Two hours later (and this is not an exaggeration or hyperbole) we announced that the beach trip was officially off.

Still it was supposed to be in the 60s, and probably the last clear and warm day of the year. I mean come on it is November. Time for cold dreary weather. So Rob really wanted to do something and late on Friday we agreed to go to the zoo. We told the kids in the morning when they woke us up at 7:00. But the deal was they had to let us sleep for another hour. They willingly obliged.

We ended up waking up to the power going out. The back up batteries for our computer begin to beep. This caused both of us to jump up in alarm. Miraculously we both managed to get a warm shower before we headed out to the zoo.

It was a fun trip, although as soon as we got on the highway, Beth asked how much longer. Rob and I had an interesting discussion, while the kids slept on the way there. We headed to the Africa section first and we ended up seeing most of the animals. Beth climbed on every rock and statue and posed for the camera. Of course her little brothers followed suit. The animals were out and it was a lot of fun. There was a new baby baboon that all the kids absolutely adored. Beth also twisted her ankle and had to be carried for a bit, but she recovered nicely.

Then we headed over to the America side. It was a long walk, which we usually avoid but they had two new installations. One was a honey bee garden. The place was rife with bees and hornets. I was distinctly uncomfortable, even though I have pretty much mastered my extreme bee phobia. And then there was a fountain that was designed to look like geysers. It made me want to take the kids to Yellowstone. But we'd have to get a leash for the boys. They are both prone to run away right now. Rob and I honeymooned there, and it is a beautiful place. Rob fell in love with it, like I did on my first visit when I was ten.

Finally we went to see the otters. The animal of the day. They were cute and then we headed to the park. Caleb was doing some awesome hanging and swinging tricks when he landed funny. It was a bad enough fall that we worried about the possibility of a broken arm. Of course Caleb rallied, though we are still keeping an eye on it. Cotton candy on the way out and we were headed home.

This week has been busy. Beth did well on her report card, and Caleb seems very happy with school and life in general. We managed to get all of the kids to a park, and the house is pretty clean. Having fewer toys seems to help the kids, and they are still playing. Hope that your week was good as well!

PS Happy Birthday Mom!

Halloween and No Pictures

Sadly we somehow made it without taking a single picture, everyone forgot their cameras. So you will not see Beth dressed as a witch or Caleb as Darth Vader (plus you'd miss the breathing sound effects he made when he put on the mask), and Jacob as some captain storm trooper from one of the movies. (I thought he was just a storm trooper until some guy in his twenties came up and said you are Captain Blank something blank from episode blank). Who knew? Definitely not me.

We went to Hickory for Halloween. There was a Halloween carnival in the afternoon, and then we went trick or treating in a neighborhood. It was pretty fun until it started drizzling. Then I was ready to go home, but the kids had a lot of fun. Caleb refused to go to doors with skeletons or masks. Jacob had a hard time keeping up, but he wanted to walk most of the time, and said Trick or Treat very clearly the entire time. He was too cute.

We did go to one house that was playing loud Halloween music and they had two monsters on the porch. They had decorated the foyer with lots of silhouettes of scary things. The guy handing out candy was in a Freddy mask. Jacob was brave and went up to the door. But the guy in the mask (an adult no less) got right in his face and growled at him. Honestly I wasn't impressed. Sure they went to a lot of work, and sure it was nice. But really where do you draw the line? Halloween is about scaring people, but not two year old kids.

Tonight was Math and Science night at school. Beth entered the Egg Drop contest. She and Rob came up with some design with a parachute and a balloon landing area. It took several hours to hunt up the pieces and to assemble it all. At the end Beth said that she was going to make it next year with help from me. (Rob got a little stressed and possibly demanding.)

Well the egg drop worked, but Beth didn't get her certificate because Caleb broke the egg on the way to get the certificate. Some of the kids said that Beth's looked the coolest. It was pretty. Rob wanted to get a picture of it, but we didn't have time before we got there, and then we had to throw it away because of the broken egg. So you missed a very interesting egg drop thing.

Caleb has been requesting some pretty interesting things. On the list this week: motorcylce, iPhone, and laptop computer.
Rob has been letting him play with his DS. He has referred to is as a GTS, CTR and the thing with lots of letters. It is very fun to hear him trying to describe it.

We are starting potty training Jacob in the morning. Should be an exciting and messy week!

Celebrating Ten Years

So I probably mentioned a few months ago that Rob and I have been married for ten whole years! Whew! It's been great. We wanted to get away as a couple, but since Rob wanted to do an amusement park trip and I didn't want to go in the summer, we pushed it back for the fall. It was a lot of fun.

We went to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. It's about three hours from us and we both had a great time. First it was nice to not have to worry about the kids the entire time, especially when it got dark and it would have been hard to see the kids. Second it was just plain fun.

Rob happens to think that I'm a wuss about many things. (Bugs, hiking, swimming or touching untreated water, heights, dogs, and the list could go on.) And he told me that when he heard me talk about loving roller coasters and amusement park rides that he thought I was exaggerating my love and sense of adventure. (I think he also forgets that one of my favorite places is Yellowstone.)

Never mind the fact that we went to Lagoon together when we were dating, and again just after we were married. (Granted the rides there weren't all that intimidating--since I haven't been in nine years I can't claim to know how they are now.) But when we went to Universal Studios in Florida about six years ago, he was pleasantly surprised to see me scampering about the park, dragging him quickly from ride to ride.

So he knew that this trip would be fun for us. (The above spiel came as a result of a comment he made yesterday.) And it was. I had a lot of fun. He had a lot of fun. There were four fun coasters--although I only rode Apollo's Chariot once. It was just too tall for me, (although it was only a few feet taller than Griffin which I rode more than once). But seriously the whole way up I kept wondering what would happen if the coaster got stuck. I was looking at the stairs and they are the steel ones that you can see through at the bottom. And I knew there was no way, absolutely none that I could actually physically walk down those stairs to the bottom. Just wouldn't happen. So although the ride was fun with killer hills, I couldn't do it again.

It was the Howl o Scream or some other such thing with Haunted Houses and such. And we went to a total of one Haunted House, out of the seven. Rob does not like haunted houses, which I find quite amusing since he loves creating them, and learning about ghosts and writing creepy stories. And they had people popping out at us and following us around. But it brought back many middle school and high school memories and all of the friends I went to haunted houses with. Good times. Rob has now been to four haunted houses. I honestly don't know how many I've been to, but it's more than four (lots more).

Rob however bested me on the number of times he rode all of the coasters. He went on Apollos Chariot 4 times. He says it is his favorite of all time. Griffin 3 times, Loch Ness Monster 3 times and Alpengeist 3 Times. (Funnily Loch Ness is my age--that was kind of weird.) We were both sad that the Big Bad Wolf shut down last month for good. We looked at the track and thought it looked like fun.

We want to take the kids next year. We also briefly drove through Williamsburg, just to say that we had. We want to go spend time there, but it is the type of place that I wouldn't want to just stop at for a few minutes. So we didn't get out. Excitedly enough when Beth saw the brochure, she wanted to go visit, so that would be part of the trip too.

The kids take after Rob and devoured all the silly brochures he likes to bring home so that I can clean around them for three months before I finally throw them away. The kids love Maps, love them! They make their own maps on a regular basis and Jacob can even say maps, and identifies them anytime he see them by saying map!

Anyway we had a great time, and the kids had a lot of fun with Eldon and Gail. (Thanks for babysitting!)

Hiking Panthertown Valley

Some friends and I just took our annual hiking trip. We decided to try out Panthertown Valley, a beautiful spot of land near Brevard, NC, with dozens of hiking trails branching out in all directions. There were beautiful waterfalls and overlooks. The leaves were awesome. This highly-compressed video doesn't do justice to the color of the leaves.

This video is a bit long, but I hope you enjoy it anyway. As always, click on the link underneath to view it in HD at the Vimeo site (1280x720).

Panthertown Valley Hike from Robert Caldwell on Vimeo.

The Last Week

All righty, a quick rundown of the week, would honestly be the last post. Library books not withstanding, it was a pretty standard run of the mill week.

Beth and Caleb were in the Primary program and of course they did a bang up job of it. Caleb was super confident and fairly shouted his line into the microphone: "I love my family when I play games with my Dad" Beth was much more calm and did a very nice job.

The kids went on a hike with Rob yesterday and I got some work done. Rob has noticed how much more mature the kids are all getting. Especially Caleb. He's super impressed. I'm proud of each of them. Jacob is going through a fiercely indpendent stubborn streak with lots of pouting, but I know it is only temporary.

That's about it for the week. I hope you have a very happy October. (We actually turned on the heat, but I think Rob may have turned it back off. It's cold here. I love it!)

The Saga of the Missing Library Books

This last weekend was definitely interesting. It started with Rob leaving to go on his annual fun hike with his friends. (Before you take pity on me for staying home alone with the kids all weekend, don't. Rob gets his hike, I get writer's conferences and such.) He got up bright and early and left before six.

Then the weekend began. I got Beth to the bus! Whoo! Then Caleb to preschool. Then a book I wanted from the library had come in. I checked online to see if others were on their way and realize oh no! I had 10 overdue books. We went and turned everything in on Wednesday. So began my weekend of searching for the library books.

Well a quick surface search turned up three of the books, which I turned in. But I wasn't discouraged yet. The kids room had been bordering on being condemned for a few weeks, and last week it had escalated when Caleb got into the closet and started pulling out the extra toys. I was simply convinced that the books had to be in there. All of the books were comic books that Caleb gets to read on his own. (I had a memory of stacking them all together to take back to the library, but I wasn't positive that the library trip had actually happened.)

Before I tackled their room, I hit up the front room. I moved the couches, got the flashlight and peered behind shelves and just looked everywhere. No luck.

Then I went to their room. It's time to bring out the winter clothes, switch clothes around and finally I decided to get rid of all of the baby clothes and other clothes that the kids won't wear anymore. So I simply emptied the closet all of the way. That way we could be sure the books weren't in there.

Well that happened on Saturday. By the end of Saturday the room actually didn't look any better. Though all of the toys we own were in the middle of the floor. The closet was very clean and empty. And I had broken down a few times at the thought of giving away the baby clothes. But I remembered the fact that having a newborn is not appealing to me right now, or anytime in the near future. The clothes had to go.

When Rob called to tell me he was on his way home on Sunday, I warned him that the mess was worse than he could imagine. He laughed. but he didn't laugh when he got home. He was just very silent. Not mean--he knew not to make any comments.

Monday was spent looking at the mess, and rechecking everywhere for those library books. This was a constant worry for the entire weekend. Still no stuff, but I managed to go through most of the rest of the clothes.

Tuesday we had the kids each pick two toys (yes you heard right, just two) and then I packed everything else up and put it in the closet. There are about eight bins of toys in the closet ready for a yard sale! Whew! But I was extremely happy. No more crazy mess. The kids can earn more toys by keeping their room clean. (So far it isn't going to happen.) The toys aren't put up, but the room doesn't look as though it is going to be condemned either.

Wednesday I didn't get as much done. But I still looked for those blasted library books. I was absolutely convinced they weren't in the house, but I was nearly ready to attack the coat closet, which could end in a very ugly fight. Rob is very possessive of that closet. But I decided I couldn't until the laundry I had been ignoring in my quest for books was done. No one had anything to wear.

Thursday--I've got to sort the laundry, which is piled all over my floor along with the clothes I'm going to give away (which are in big black garbage bags) making it impossible to walk on the actual floor. But instead of focusing I'm worried about those stupid library books. Worry, worry, worry.

So I decide to take the boys to story time, and I also write down the names and call numbers for each of my missing six books. And I spend time at the library with Caleb finding tattoos and looking books up on the computer and Jacob sitting patiently next to me. I look through the shelves. And I find five of the six books. Sitting on the shelf. Sigh.

So I took them up, and they forgave my late fees. And I pay for the book which had gum on it when I turned it in. $13.00 for a book about being an astronaut. Gum is off limits at my house right now.

So I didn't post because of the library books, which are mostly accounted for. Just one left, but I kind of think it is at the library somewhere. I'll keep checking.

The kids are doing well. Beth is happy. Caleb is happy and Jacob has made a major breakthrough with speech and said the SSSS sound. It's not quite right, but he was doing hard 'K' sound for all s and z sounds. Yeah.

Have a happy week.

The BYU Police Beat

While I was attending BYU this was my favorite section of the Daily Universe to read.

Police Beat

Anyway I stumble upon it and thought it was too good to keep to myself. I really do miss that part of campus life. Life was so much simpler when the crimes were hot air balloons and sidewalk chalk.

Enjoy!

Where's My Update?

This last weekend was not a ton of fun. It was General Conference, which of course I love. But Rob was sick, so we didn't even attempt to do anything fun this week, and somehow managed not to destroy the house very much. (Jacob is waging a war with markers on the wall, and nothing is getting it off, not even bleach! Any advice would make me happy--I've tried Magic Erasers--I think the Magic in Magic Markers is stronger than the Magic in Magic Erasers.)

This morning I was handed a Christmas list by Beth. What a list--Cell phone, I Pod and a snake. Plus a dog. So those four are out the window. But Beth still has hope, because she is sending the list to Santa who doesn't always listen to Mom (according to her). She did ask for an Easy Bake Oven or a Cupcake Maker thing. Interesting. Tangent, but I've never understood the appeal of an Easy Bake oven. The mixes were nasty, and it was always much more fun to make lots of goodies and mess in the real kitchen. So I'm leaning more towards buying her own bakeware set. (I can just her the But Mom! now).

Caleb and Jacob were at war yesterday. (Jacob was particularly cranky) Every time I'd distract one of them with a toy the other would immediately want that one instead. And man can they get at each other. Jacob is finally starting to hold his own, but that mean the fights are escalating. I need to find some constructive ways to channel that energy, I'm telling you!

Otherwise the boys are happy. Caleb got to sit in a Police Car today, with the lights on and everything. First thing he told me when I picked him up from preschool. Jacob keeps giving me hugs and saying "I'm Happy Now." Melts my heart a little bit. Well more than a little.

Anyway that's the update for the week. (And I do not approve of the M game that Caleb played with Rob sans blood and swearing. And I don't turn the games on when Rob isn't home. I believe in moderation, especially of video games.)

Dad, can I play Playstation?!

So Caleb is officially a videogame addict. Every day when I get home from work, as soon as I walk through the door, he asks if he can play the Playstation, while he jumps up and down, then clings to my leg. Usually he is accompanied by Jacob, who proceeds to mimic his older brother, yelling, "Playstation! Playstation!"

I'm afraid I've created a monster.

Then again, I remember at the last church conference I attended, there was a talk about fathers needing to spend quality time with their sons. I suppose slaying demons with flaming sticks counts, right? (the videogame I'm referencing is Ico, for those not in the know ... pick it up at ebay.)

Of course, I usually get curious looks from Mim as I let Caleb play an M-rated game. It's only happened once, for all you concerned mothers and grandmothers out there, and I DID turn off the blood and gore option and the foul language option (yeah, it's considered an OPTION in this game to see blood splatter everywhere when slaying beasts with a battle axe). And I sat there with him. And it is a FUNNY game, after all, so that makes it okay for kids, right? The kid crack up while while the main character in the game, played by Jack Black, talks nonstop about how the characters in the game should start a mosh-pit. (Brutal Legend, also recommended).

But now Caleb wants to play games all the time. It's driving me crazy, despite the hours of quality male-bonding time together. I decided to make the PS2 "his" and he can play the games I approve. He's amazingly good at them for a four year old. We don't play much, but when we play, I'm constantly amazed at how well he has figured out the controls. There are 10 buttons and 2 joysticks after all.

It always comes to a point in the game, usually within the first 15 minutes when he screams for help. he throws me the controller. "I can't handle it Dad," he says. "It's too hard, " or "It's too scary." I always throw the controller back at him and tell him he can do it. We usually argue a bit. I walk away and listen for more shouts of frustration coming from near the game system. He doesn't know I'm listening. He usually gets frustrated a few more times, then miraculously gets past the monster he's trying to fight, or he figures out a puzzle in the level. And then I hear shouts of pure glee. "I did it Dad! I did it!" I come back downstairs and tell him, "See, I told you that you could."

I know it's just a silly videogame system, and parenting magazines, politicians, and even some church leaders say you shouldn't play them with your kids, or even play them at all. But for a moment, I feel proud of my son. He's discovered something that gave me years of fun in my own life (I still remember fondly hours spent playing videogames with friends in ill-lit basements with bags of Doritos and bottles of Mountain Dew) and it's something we can share together. What's more important though is that he's learned not to give up so easily when something tough comes his way. I've never really thought that videogames could teach too many lessons in life, but I see it with him. I see how proud he is of himself, how thrilled and ecstatic he is when he beats a level in a game that he thought was impossible to him. And usually he can do it with none of my help. He's learned that he's smart enough and good enough to do tough things on his own.

Now, I just can't wait until he's old enough for model rockets.

Mountain Goats

So I'm in a sharing mood today. My favorite band, The Mountain Goats, is releasing their latest album, The Life of the World to Come, tomorrow, and I felt like sharing a song from the album.

Hope you enjoy.

Short Update

Sorry this is going to be pretty short. I believe that I caught a cold at my conference. I've got a headache and I'm achey and I'm grumpy.

Kids were out of school today. We went to the park. It was a beautiful fall day. The park was so very crowded and all of the kids had fun playing with friends. Really that was great, but after about an hour I started feeling even worse, so I really am sick. But the sun did us some good.

Beth came down today. She and I had a discussion this morning about the fact that wearing purple pants and a blue sequiny top wasn't matching. She told me that it didn't matter at the park. Her friends there didn't care. But later that afternoon she came downstairs dressed in jeans with embroidery and a long shirt that came down mid thigh. She looked cute.

Beth: Mom am I dressed like a teenager?

Me: Yes you are. You look nice.

Beth: This how teenagers on t.v. dress (Thankfully Carly from iCarly dresses pretty modestly)

Me: Yes

Beth; Now I just need to get the shoes right. What kinds of shoes do teenagers wear?

Me: You are asking the wrong person.

Beth: What shoes did you wear in high school?

Me: (I'm geniunely perplexed. I really only had about one pair of shoes at a time. And I don't remember what type I wore even. I don't think they were tennis shoes, but I don't know.) I don't remember Beth.

Beth: How could you not know?

Well Beth asks Rob when he gets home and of course he has an answer. Ahh! I'm glad someone can guide my daughter to the cool shoes, because I definitely can't. I'm a comfort before fashion type of person, which you should know if you know me at all.

Caleb is doing great. He and Rob went out on a father son date and came home with a toot whistle. Yes, a whistle that makes farting noises. He's lucky it hasn't magically disappeared by now.

Jacob is doing pretty well. He's talking so much more now and will describe things to me and offer comments on situations. He's definitely contributing to the conversation instead of just mimicing. He also managed to color nearly in the lines on his own this morning. Impressive. But he also got a marker and colored outside of the lines, my front door is now red, red! I don't think a magic eraser will be able to fix it. Another favorite drawing surface is his stomach.

I went to the conference this weekend, so Rob had all the fun with the kids. The place didn't burn down (I'm just kidding, I wasn't worried about that) and they all seemed happy when I got home.

Hope your week goes well!

Book Update

71. Princess Ben

72. Wake

73. The Adoration of Jenna Fox

74. Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies (fun book, great for self image and healthiness!)

75. When It Happens by Susane Colisanti Great love story. I do believe I've found another great author to follow. These books are along the line of Sarah Dessen. Sigh of happiness.

76. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong. This is a paranormal book. It's got romance. Anyway I really liked it and currently have all of the books in the series on request at the library!

77. Stolen by Kelley Armstrong

78. Broken by Kelley Armstrong

79. The Bridesmaid

80. Forbidden Boy

81. The Other Boy

82. Waking Up to Boys

83. The Secrets of Boys

84. The Perfect Boy

85. Guardian

86. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles (loved it)

87. After by Amy Efaw Wow! A dark book because of subject matter, but Wow!

88. Love Off Limits

89. The Safe Keeper's Secret by Sharon Shinn. Loved it, very Robin McKinley kind of, but I love it. I've ordered her other books from the library, but I feel a new author will likely appear on my all time favorites list! yeah! I love it when that happens.

90. Wild Roses Deb Caletti(Wow oh Wow!)

91. The Fortune of Indigo Skye Deb Caletti I really, really liked this one too. New favorite author, oh yeah!

92. The Sweet Life of Stella Madison

93. How Sweet It Is by Alice J Wisler a very nice sweet good book. Good read if you want to find happiness. It is inspirational fiction.

94. Twenty Boy Summer This is a fun book.

95. The Truth Teller's Tale by Sharon Shinn (As could as I hoped it would be. Yeah, she's up there on my author list. Yes she is!)

96. The Dreammaker's Magic by Sharon Shinn Another hit. You've got to try this author out.

97. First Come Loves Then Comes Money (I read this one to review for my about.com site, I really thought it was an excellent book, very insightful)

98. Summers at the Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn

99. Waiting for You by Susane Colisanti

100. Mystic and Rider by Sharon Shinn (Really she's on my top list now. Really)


Yeah I did it! 100 new books this year and time left to spare!

The Kid's First Concert

Yesterday Rob and I took the kids to the They Might Be Giants concert. This was the kid show and it was an outside lawn concert. The kids had a lot of fun. It was neat to see so many parents with their kids dancing and singing along to the music. Sadly for us grownups the only non-kid song they played was Constantinople. Rob and I had gone to their last concert when they came two years ago. We had great seats, eighth row and it was tons of fun. Well everyone was relaxed and it was open seating, so Rob took Beth and Caleb upfront and they were five feet from the band. They had this little dance area for the kids and it was right in front of the stage. Wow! What a concert. The show only lasted about an hour, but everyone still had fun.

This week has been about the same as always. It was Stake Conference, which actually went better than I hoped. That's always nice. The talks were good and that was happy. This next week is super busy for me. I'm going to a writer's conference and doing other stuff. Rob is going to be with the kids all week long. (I'm not going out of town, just gone a lot of evenings.)

Beth starts homework tomorrow. But she seems excited about it. I wish I could feel the same way honestly. But I don't. She is very imaginative and when she's home she leads the boys in her games. Today Caleb was the Dad and she was the kid. She kept changing her age. Dad, pretend I'm two, now I'm eight, now I'm a teenager so I can drive. Yup. Amazing at how quickly she can shift gears. Those lines were all said in about a five minute span.

Caleb is doing really well. He is adjusting to preschool very well. I think he likes the structure and the busy week. He does miss the park, so I'm going to squeeze in some trips on Tuesday or Thursday. I asked him if he wanted to still go to story time this year and he said yes. That is on Thursday. (Our library offers one on Wednesday and on Thursday. That makes it nice.) So we'll do that this week too.

Jacob has started to do lots of actions to songs. He can do The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Rock, Once There Was a Snowman, Popcorn Popping and Itsy Bitsy Spider. He also throws in the occasional word or approximation of a word. So that is always happy. He's so smiley and happy all the time, but he is stubborn. Rob came down today and said that he didn't know what to do with Jacob, because he knows what he wants, he won't stop (timeouts don't work well yet) and he's too cute and he knows how to get away with things.

Rob seems to be happy. He's wrapping stuff up on a video project he's been doing forever. I think he'll find something to do after that is over as well.

Well that's our last week. Have a Good One.

PS No concert pictures as there was a high chance of rain.

A Day I'll Never Forget

Except that I sort of did. I woke up this morning without realizing the significance of today. As a child I remember people talking about how specific events stood out in their memories. They always remembered the day that Kennedy was shot or when the wall came down (I was alive, but a very oblivious child).

But I will never forget working and listening to the morning radio show as we got ready to open the doors. It was Bob and Sheri and they loved to pull jokes. So when they first said a plane had flown into the towers. I didn't think it was real. But then they said, no this isn't a joke it's real. One of them ran and got a television set, and started describing it.

Immediately my coworker and I want to verify it. So we go to CNN and it's down. That in and of itself was verification.

All we could do was listen to their description and account as the second plane flew into the tower. That's when I realized it wasn't an accident. I knew things were changing. My coworkers and I listened to the radio accounts all day and I raced home at lunch to watch it on the television.

Things have changed. I was so scared at first. I was pregnant with my first and wondered what I was bringing her into.

The thing I've realized since then is that we don't have to retaliate with hate, and we don't have to retaliate with fear. I am still so sad when I think of all those people who died, and the families and friends who lost those that they loved. I'm saddened to think that the world isn't quite as carefree as it once was.

But I also get hope from the brave men and women who worked to rescue those people in the buildings and the people on United Airlines Flight 93 who fought back.

Here's to remembering.

What a fun and exciting week! Caleb started preschool. So far he loves it. He wants to go every day. I think he loves the structure of the environment and that he gets to be a big kid when he goes. His teacher told me he was a preschool pro. He got to lead the lines the first day of preschool. Jacob is sad when he's gone. I think Jacob would like to go as well.

Beth is doing well in school. She wants to start the homework now! I'm not so sure that she will be quite as enthusiastic as soon as it really starts. We shall see. Beth is so happy, and loves to play with her little brothers, most of the time. She's always looking for more opportunities to make a new friend.

Jacob is doing well. He is becoming quite independent. I woke up one night this week to him crying. At first I thought it was the new neighbors since the cry sounded far away. But I got up to investigate. Jacob wasn't in bed. So I listened and realized the cry came from downstairs. Jacob had gone all the way downstairs, in the dark, gotten a cup and filled it up with water. The only problem was that it was too full and he couldn't pick it up out of the sink. Wow! 2 years old and independent all ready. The potty training game, he is not so keen on though. I thought I'd try again next week.

Rob just got back from DragonCon with some crazy pictures. I think he had a good time. He came home tired from the long drive, but I think happy overall. He and Jacob are currently giggling on the bed. I think Rob wants to play a video game. Jacob loves to watch him and laughs every time Rob dies. He thinks it's hilarious!

Well I'm off to make Rob a sandwich or something to snack on. Have a great Labor Day weekend. We'll be doing something fun tomorrow.

This Week In Passing

It's official Caleb gave his first talk in Primary. He was very articulate, and did a great job. Rob helped him. Every time they would go through the talk together Caleb would forget something and say Doh! (very Homer Simpsony). Rob was worried he'd do that in the middle of his talk. Caleb didn't. He was very serious the entire time and I was super proud of him.

Beth had a good first week of school. Very exciting very fun. She made some new friends and did some good stuff. I'm proud of her. She'll start homework in a few weeks. yeah Homework! (not so much)

Jacob is being happy and helpful and fun. This week will be the first week of him with just me three mornings a week. I think he is going to miss Caleb very much. But we'll do play group on Mondays, and he speech on Wednesday and Fridays which should help. Plus we need some together time.

There isn't tons of news this week. We went to the temple yesterday to prepare for Caleb's talk. The kids managed to be reverent for the majority of the time. A feat that would astound many, especially our home teachers. Our kids are awful whenever they come over. I mean awful. Sigh.

Rob worked hard this week, since school's back in session. He's tired. But he didn't get cranky, so I'm proud of him. We had a nice at home date on Friday. I quite enjoyed it.

That's about it for us. Have a great week!

Back to School

Summer is over. School starts back up this week, and just in time. The kids are starting to get on each other's nerves and school will provide the perfect diversion to distract them from the fighting. The summer just slipped by and I didn't accomplish half of the things I wanted to this summer. Aw well, the kids had fun, played hard and made messes, what more could they possibly want.

Beth found out her teacher and met her. She seemed nice. Beth is going to have to make all new friends this year. Sigh. But she's really good at it, so I'm sure she'll have fun. She starts on Tuesday. Tomorrow is the last big hurrah. I've got to wear her out so that she'll go to bed early.

Caleb had a near miss yesterday. He narrowly missed a concussion, but took out a hook on the wall with back of his head. Rob thinks the hook may have already been broken. Either way I think he's lucky, but not lucky enough to avoid a tetnus shot tomorrow. I asked him to get out of the closet fifteen times yesterday because he could get hurt. He'd get out, but then sneak back in. He woke up this morning feeling great though.

Jacob is getting ready to potty train. Well actually I'm getting ready to potty train. We got some big boy underwear brand new. But summer running is over, and me changing diapers is over. Jacob can do this. I know he can. He's headed down the path to being a big, big boy. We're getting ready to wean him off of his paci as well, but that's going to prove to be difficult. Two nights we haven't been able to find a paci, and Rob's frantically gone searching for them as places are closing. Jacob cries hard enough to make himself sick. Current plan is no more day time pacis with the hope that he won't need one at bedtime. Then we can pull one out in the middle of the night so that I can sleep.

Rob's schedule at work is about to get super busy. This means he has to get to work early, which means we'll start going to bed before midnight again. Lately that just hasn't been happening. I'm excited. I'm more productive if I get more sleep, silly thing really. I ought to be able to run on just a few hours of sleep. But no, that's never been me. Not even in college. The truth is (are you ready for this it is shocking) until I started dating Rob I usually went to bed about 10:00. That was during college and everything. Well, weekends have always been a little bit different. You know it wasn't uncommon to be up until 2:00 in high school or college on a good weekend. I have lots of fun stories involving Denny's and Dee's restaurant and drunk people. They sure get honory when they're kicked out of the bars. I smiled thinking back on the grilled cheese sandwiches (I was on a kick that lasted about a year) and Wisconsin Cheese soup. Oh yum, I'd love some now. That stuff was good, especially in the middle of the night. Talking in a restaurant and feeling all bad, since I was breaking curfew.

Anyway enough about my errant youth, college I wasn't so errant, but still out late, and up late. The point is that Rob is the one to blame for my messed up sleep schedule. Truly I wasn't always a night owl (because as stated earlier weekends don't count) I was more of a morning person. It's tough to be a morning person when you are up too late. Now I've thought of a blog topic for my writing blog. But I won't post it today. I'm going to let it simmer around inside of me for a bit, so I can do the best possible poetic justice to it.

All right. Gotta go. Have a great week!

The Beach!

Rob will have to be responsible for pictures, but we just got back from a very relaxing weekend at the beach. We went down with Rob's family to North Myrtle Beach and it was so nice. I was a little concerned when the trip was planned, because I despise crowds. I hate feeling crowded and rushed and ick. But the resort we stayed at was nice, and I didn't feel crowded at all, except on the elevator. It was also super nice to be with Rob's family. His sister Karen and her family came down, as well as Chris and Gail and Eldon. Super fun!

Jacob loved the sun, and the sand. He had no fear and loved to play in the waves. Rob waded out with him, until the waves were up to Rob's chest and they had a lot of fun playing in the surf. he also loved to sit in the tide pools and just dig in the sand. And of course he loved the pool at the hotel. The entire time he just hung on to Rob. I think he loved the extra attention he was getting from his dad.

Caleb was a wild man. He wasn't so interested in the ocean, but loved to dig in the sand and the tide pools. He paddled around on a boogie board in the tide pools and made an awesome castle all by himself. When I went to get him, the tide was washing up and over the castle. It didn't phase Caleb, he kept telling me that it was okay and that we could just build it again. Which we did three times! But then I told him it was time to go up to the pool again. He stayed outside all day both days we were at the beach. At the hotel he loved the hot tub and would strike up conversations with whomever was in there with him.

Beth had a lot of fun as well. She and Chloe played together a lot. Beth went and jumped the waves. She got pretty brave a few times and would wade out until it was nearly waist deep. She also went for a walk on her own (and got in trouble for it) to collect sea shells. She was sad to go.

On the way home we visited the US North Carolina. A retired battleship from WWII. It was interesting, but not a place for little kids. So many places that the boys could fall through and crazy stairs. Plus it was crazy hot. Rob wants to go back for the ghost tour in October. That's why we went, because there was an episode on Ghosthunter that featured the boat. We don't know why there would be ghosts. Only ten people died on the ship and it was only in commission for about five years. I remember that the episode wasn't very exciting.

Rob is headed back to work tomorrow. Work will start to get busy for him again, because school is starting back up. He has some early classes this year, so he won't be able to stay up until 1:00 anymore.

We still haven't gotten Beth's school letter. She's starting to panic. I may go check the mail again, since I don't think it's come yet. Meet the Teacher is Friday, and if it comes down to it, we can just visit the office on the way to school.

As for me, I will finish up my current draft of my novel, and start submitting it to agents this week. One of my top five agents opened herself to submissions for this month. I've got to get in the window. Plus it's time. A year is long enough. I'm looking forward to a little more structure to my days. So that I can get more down.

Take care!

Book Update

59. My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

60. The Scribbler of Dreams

61. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan--gotta say I loved the end of this one. This was the last book in the series. It was packed full of action, battle scene after battle scene, hardly letting you come up with a breath. I liked the end. The entire end--how the fighting ended and how well the final scenes of the book went. Wow! Just Wow!

62. The Magician by Michael Scott

63. Demon's Lexicon

64. Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer. I needed this book today. It was about finding the positive, and good in the situations around you. Nice voice. I really enjoyed it.

65. Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

66. The Sorceress by Michael Scott

67. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

67. Wings by E.D. Baker

68. Dairy Queen

69. The Off Season

70. The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry (This was really, really good. It was a first novel, and there was bit more I'd like to have seen at the end, but overall a really good read.)

HOT! Hot, hot

This week was hot. I mean hot. Kids have been going crazy, so we did a few promised park trips.

I think we went to play group and left by 11:30. That was Monday. We stayed about an hour.

Wednesday we went to a new park instead of story time. We got there about 10:15 and left by 11:00. Poor Jacob was so red, and flushed and hot. This new park is awesome. Lots of climby stuff and the kids loved it.

Thursday we went to story time. And then came home and the house turned into a huge disaster, from which it has not recovered. That is our primary goal for tomorrow.

Friday we went visiting teaching and then to the Big Slide Park. A park which I have been avoiding all summer, since there is no shade. We got there at 11:20. Sadly I knew it was a bad idea, but I had promised the kids. We left at 11:40 with absolutely no protest from the kids. It was just too hot to be out and about. Too hot!

Saturday we got up early and went to the new park, which will either be called the Climby park or the Spider Web Park. The kids wanted Rob to see it. We got there about 9:30. The kids played, we walked on a walking trail. Beth and Caleb became very afraid of two little teeny tiny weiner dogs on leashes. And then we went over to the big field where they were having the grand opening celebration for the park. Very exciting. We avoided the speeches, but got free balloon animals and the kids made visor hats that have since been demolished. After that we went and got a slush from Sonic.

That is our week. It is so hot, we don't want to do anything. Constant headache and everything. We thought our air conditioning wasn't working until we realized Beth and turned it off. It's hot with it one, but unbearable without it! We've got fans upstairs, and it is just going to get hotter this week. The humidity level will be pretty high too.

School is only two weeks away! Yikes. It makes me sad, and happy.

Have a great summer!

When I Was Eighteen

Quite honestly I can look back at my eighteenth year with a lot happiness. I moved out and had a lot of fun my freshman year of college. But this post isn't about me. It's about Caleb.

We were talking, and I told him that he could be an acrobat. Well he wanted to know what that was, and we hit YouTube for some videos. One of which was Urban Acrobat Guys running around jumping off of buildings, flipping and rolling. Really cool stuff. Then I was telling him not to try that stuff.

Caleb: Mom I know how to do that.

Me: Really

Caleb: Yeah when I was eighteen I knew how

Me: Caleb you weren't eighteen

Caleb: Yes I used to be, then someone turned me into a baby.

Me Thinking: Maybe there's something to the whole reincarnation theory (not Really)

So what could you do before you got turned into a baby?

A Week of Up and Downs

Overall it was a good week. Rob worked a lot. When I say a lot, I mean a lot. Several days he left here at seven, and didn't get home until 1:00. He's currently snoring and I hope he doesn't wake up until tomorrow morning. He's got a few more tough days ahead of him.

Beth had an okay week. She ended up sick today and stayed home from church. Well I'm the only one I went and I substituted in Beth's class. It was an interesting day. We got the back to school supplies for Beth, and she is a tiny bit nervous about heading back to school. She doesn't know where the second grade classrooms are, and it is making her nervous. I'm reassuring her with the promise of Meet the Teacher in a few weeks.

Caleb announced that he is willing to go to preschool. That he is excited to go. He got a new backpack, which may be part of it. He finished up his bronchitis medicine, and now his dark circles are back under his eyes. I think I need to put him back on whole milk. That will make him happy. No soda, just whole milk with added cream. Then his circles might just go away.

Jacob is doing great as usual. Happy little guy. Today he kept throwing things down the stairs. He hit Beth with a toy train. Rob got on him about it. And Jacob was MAD! He went and got something to throw at Daddy. (What Rob didn't realize is that Beth was egging the entire thing on, from throwing stuff down the stairs to throwing stuff at Dad--so we had a little talk.)

As for me, I'm hanging in there. We had a few power outages this week, which gave me the incentive to clean out the fridge. Nothing like a real fresh start to your refrigerator. We also watched some kiddos, baked some cookies and tried to be nice people this week. The house stayed clean more than it was dirty. And that made me happy overall.

Keep smiling!

Swimming, Bronchitis and Other Fun Stuff

This week was good overall. Jacob didn't have speech therapy, because his therapist was on vacation. It made scheduling so much easier, but at the same time I know how much it is helping him. So we will be back to the same old schedule this week.

The kids finished up their last swimming lessons this week. Caleb didn't care for the second week of lessons, though he loved the first. Jacob took a few of his turns, and loved it. He's good in the water. He made it very clear that he wanted to swim. He can say swim quite clearly, and on fRiday when there weren't any lessons Jacob put on his big floating suit and wore it all day long. He really wanted to go. The kids are going to miss the pool. It really makes me think seriously about getting a pool membership somewhere. They were so happy this week swimming nearly every day.

Beth did an excellent job at her lessons. I'm reading her Harry Potter at night, and she loves it. In fact all of the kids go to better so much better when I read at night. I just might do the whole series. I'm still trying to decide. Caleb says he doesn't like Harry Potter, but he doesn't like anything associated with bedtime.

Caleb has had a cough since the Fourth of July. So I finally took him in this week. I had to trick him to get him in the car. And on the way to the doctor he said he'd go visit the frog doctor (that's his neurologist) because he was so tired. I think he chose that doctor because he has never had him poked or given him a shot. But when we got the doctor, he went up and went in. Although he was mad. He was quite relieved that there was no shot involved, and said that he'd go again. He really likes his medicine and you can tell that he feels much better.

(It sounds like Caleb goes to lots of doctors, but really he is healthy. He was going to a gastroenterologist, when he stopped growing, which I'm happy to say he started again. The neurologist was to check his tremors, which turned out to be familial tremors. I have them, my dad has them, and my grandpa had them, so it wasn't surprising. We even got to do some kind of study for Duke for them. Caleb's actually been really healthy lately, minus the bronchitis, which I am happy to say runs on Rob's side of the family not mine--since all of Caleb's growing and tremor issues come from my side.)

Jacob is just talking more and more each day. Right now he is going an Uh Huh phase. The intonation is so adorable, but I'm not savvy enough to record it. So you'll just have to take my word for it. He's getting better at repeating words, and uses multiple word phrases to ask for things. I'm very proud of him.

Rob's doing okay. He's working a lot this week. His normal job during the day and some freelance gigs at night. Seriously we won't see him this week. But the jobs he's picking up in the next week and half will be as much as he makes in a month. (That's just the freelance stuff) I wish the work were always this good, because Rob could think about freelancing completely instead.

Well I'm off to do some reading. My library book is due back tomorrow. I've got a couple hundred pages to go!

Happy Week to you all. This was a very rambly post.

A Fun Week

Beth and Caleb had swimming lessons this week, which meant that they got to go swimming this week. They were really happy about it. But Jacob wasn't as happy. For some reason this year, he just wouldn't get in the water. On Friday I decided to fix that, and got in my swimsuit, and went to the pool, knowing that I'd get in. At first he wanted to hold both my hands. I tried just sitting on the side, but he say "Me In, You in" very clearly meaning, if I have to get in, so do you. After a little coaxing, he began to walk by himself, around the water, then he kicked his legs and moved his arms. When Beth's lesson was over, he went and talked to her. "Coool Coool." I think he was really proud of himself. This week the lessons shouldn't be as dramatic, at least for him.

Beth and Caleb are both doing really well with their lessons. I'm proud of them.

We went and saw Harry Potter this week. It was a good movie, and I was pleased with it, except I felt gipped at the end. I love action scenes---and I'll leave it at that. Rob and I had a very long discussion about that. He had points, but I had points, and I still thing the tension would have gone up a few notches.

This week we will have more swim lessons, and it's time to buckle down with Beth and work on her match skills. She needs to be a little bit more comfortable with the subject.

Have a great summer!

Book Update

56. The Alchemyst by Michael Scott (Totally fun, totally loved his magic explanations and his mythology intertwining!)

57. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen of course I loved this book. Of course I did. As always a beautiful well though out story with strong girl characters and real relationships. Happiness.

58. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins--yes it is the sequel that comes out in September. Yes it is as awesome as the first book. But I won't write anymore, because I will spill wonderful plot twists and nail biting moments. What I want to know is how does she manage to build such a level of suspense throughout the entire book? How? You've got to read this one.

A Very Quiet Week

Beth and Caleb spent the week at Grandma and Pap's. They had a lot fun and managed to cross some crazy activities off of their list. And they got to do things, they wouldn't have been allowed to if I were around--but that's what grandparents are for, right?

List of things they did

Treasure Hunting
Fishing
Sleeping in a tent (in the kitchen)
Playing in the creek
Swimming in the lake (twice)
Sleepovers with cousins
Trips to the science museum and library
Caleb touched a sting ray (I think he's done this before)
Picking things in the garden, lots of things.
Riding the lawn mower

The kids had lots of fun. Jacob missed them. He was really sad each morning when he woke up and they weren't there. We did fun things too. Trips to the park, and library. We also cleaned his room--I know not so fun. Jacob was so excited to see them. His entire face just lit up in a huge grin and stayed that way for a very long time! On the way home Caleb and Jacob held hands for a long time, just grinning at other. I'm glad that my kids love each other.

I'm still plugging away at my novel. I want to send it out to agents by the end of the month. Hopefully I'll be able to.

Rob is doing the same old thing. He is working four day work weeks, ten hour days (twelve with his commute) and then Fridays off. Next week he won't be dong that since he is teaching some sort of seminar to eighth graders. The schedule has been hard on him, but he says having Fridays free is worth it.

We are both looking forward to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. It comes out this week. Unfortunately we won't make it to the midnight showing. We both really want to do that, but kids put a damper on that. But we will be seeing it this week. I've watched all five movies, and Rob is starting to watch them now. And I reread book six in honor of the event! Go Harry Potter!
J. K. Rowlings is a genius.

This next week should be fun for the kids. They will have swimming lessons, a trip to the park, and other craziness! Plus chores are starting this week!

Dad When You Were a Hobo . . .

Caleb has had quite a few profound statements the last week.

Conversations:

Caleb: Dad, are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Dad: No, what are you thinking?

Caleb: I think you should buy more Mickey Mouse ties.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - - -

Caleb (to Grandma Great (Rob's grandmother)) taking her by the hand: What's wrong with your arm? It's all liney.

Moment of Silence

Grandma Great: It's an old woman's arm.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Caleb to Rob's Mom: Grandma how did Dad get to be your son?

Moment of silence, while everyone ponders how deep to go with the answer

Caleb: Oh, I know you took care of him when he was a baby.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --

My favorite (We were passing a panhandler in the car, and Rob offered him some food, when Beth said is that a hobo? We tried to explain the difference then . . .)

Caleb: Dad when you were a Hobo, did you get rained on?

Rob: I was never a hobo, but if I had been I would have been rained on.


That's it for this week. I love seeing the world through the eyes of a four year old.

Happy Fourth of July

Well, I know I'm a day late, but we were out of town. I must say that I'm proud of myself because I didn't take my work with me. Rob would be the first to admit that it rarely happens. But on to bigger and better things!

this weekend we went down to visit Rob's folks and to drop off Beth and Caleb for some Grandma and Pap time. The kids had a lot of fun this weekend between swimming, fireworks and four wheeling (not really it's a little kid one).They also loved picking things out of the garden.

The fireworks show we went to was amazing. Then the cops showed up. After they left it went on to be amazing. Just a little tense in the middle. One stray firework did blow up in the street. i was glad that we hadn't chosen a front row seat, but it brought back memories of the circle fireworks show. Aww memories.

We also hit the annual ward pancake breakfast complete with flag raising ceremony. As always it was fun, sticky and slightly off tune. (Well at least I was.)

Jacob is home with us, but wishes he was at Grandma's too. I don't know how we are going to handle just one little guy with us for today.

Happy Fourth! Be grateful for the liberties we have and the sacrifices of previous generations. May we all work to preserve our freedom and honor their memories!

Bowling, and Other Craziness

So I'll direct you over to my embarrassing moment of the week post on my other blog. I'd post pictures of my scrapes, but that would just be gross. Maybe if you see me you can ask to see the general nastiness that is currently my knee. Enough about me, that's not why you read, and I know it.

Okay briefly this week was playgroup, playdate, speech therapy/library for Beth, Visiting teaching (not fun for the kids) and bowling. Yes, we took all three kids bowling. It was interesting. Beth did an amazing job of somehow really swinging the ball down the lanes. The boys used this weird rack thing to roll the ball and both scored higher than Beth (which made her sad, but I'm super proud of her).

Rob won--he had like a 96. I was not far behind--I think, I honestly forget. Rob got lucky and did a spare, then a strike, and then an eight. Otherwise I would have won. I was ahead of him until like turn or round eight. Enough about us. We forgot the camera. So no pics.

The boys were about done when we got to round six. They were more interested in the arcade. Plus I think they realized Mom and Dad weren't that great when super bowlers showed up and starting bowling next to us. They just kept getting strike after strike. Suddenly Mom and Dad weren't quite so cool anymore.

(Actually I though Super Bowlers were kind of sweet. They were understanding of the kids and it was a Mom and her teenage (like high school) son. They joked and laughed together and were really really good--they probably compete. It was nice to see some family bonding.)

We had the Holmes spend the afternoon with us again on Sunday. Our whole family misses them. But they are happy and having fun in Kansas, which we are so glad that they are happy.

On a small side note, Rob and I will be celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary on Tuesday. Wowza! The time sure has flown by. I love you Rob!

A Father's Day Video

Here's a video the kids and I made for their grandpa Ray ...

Last Week

So it was a busy week last week. There is always the adjustment period of coming home from a vacation, and laundry. You have to love all of the laundry. But it was great to see the kids again. They are doing so well. They are happy and enjoying summer vacation. This morning we all slept in until 9:00. Once Rob got up for work at 7:00, they all began piling into bed. There really isn't a happier feeling then being surrounded by your kids and just being sleepy and happy.

The end of last week was busy, busy. It really was. The Holmes came to visit and the kids played hard. We went to the Science Museum, and to the park. On Friday we went on the paddle boats. That was hot, hot, hot. And then Rob tried to bump the shore so that Beth could get out on the island at Lake Johnson and look around. He got us stuck. Really stuck. He had to climb out and push us out. We ended up with sunburns and sweaty, but it was fun. It was nice to the Holmes again. The kids all just started playing like it had been no time since they had seen each other.

We went to a preschool today for Caleb. I felt really good about it. Caleb seemed happy while he was there, but now he says he doesn't want to go. I think he will like it. The preschool isn't far from our house and it comes recommended by other people. The director was super nice. We are going to give it a go. I think Caleb needs a little structure before kindergarten. This school is more focused on play than teaching. It should be a good thing.

Jacob is still working on talking. He really is trying, but is trying to morph two words into one. For example cheese stick is chisk. But I know what he is trying to stay. He also loves popsicles. And he asks for sicles. And then he say orn for orange. He doesn't like purple, but he can say purple too. He is learning his colors from popsicles. I just need to find somewhere that sells blue, green, and yellow. I actually really want a green popsicle right now.

Rob had an interesting Father's Day. He stayed up late, late Saturday night. Then we went to church and Jacob got away from him and ran up to the front stand during the closing remarks of the last talk. Caleb looked at me for a moment and then ran after him. I decided to stay put, because I figured two adults would make a bigger scene. Well, Rob didn't think he could get both boys off of the stand. So he stayed up there for the song and the prayer. We left right away. Rob was too embarrassed to stick around for his brownie.

Beth is having fun and reading, reading, reading. She is trying to earn free books, and other great prizes over the summer. She's been a lot of fun to have home. The television's been off most of every day and she is playing well with Caleb and Jacob. It is awesome!

That's it for the week.

Book Update

Quick book list update

44. Carolina Autumn

45. Charlotte's Rose

46. A Dance for Three

47. Eva Underground

48. How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend

49. Fame, Glory and Other Things on My To Do List

50. Heck Superhero

51. A Mother to Embarrass Me

52. Lizzie at Last

53. Keturah and Lord Death

54. Life, Love and the Pursuit of Free Throws

55. True Confessions of Georgia Nicolson

A short update

Last week was a lot of fun, but man I missed my kids. The writing conference was great. I learned a ton of great information. I got really hyped about writing, but I was exhausted at the end of every day. I'm just not used to sitting and listening for eight plus hours a day. I also had fun seeing my brothers and sisters. The family photo was a lot of fun! (wink! wink!) Since Sarah's moving out of state next month, my mom didn't know when the brothers and sisters would all be together again. Sad but very true fact that it will likely be at least five years. It was good to stay at Sarah's house and baby Ethan is adorable. Sarah also knows her some mean baby talk. I've never seen anyone coo as much as she does. Ethan's a very lucky baby!

The kids had fun with Nana and stayed up way too late every single night. Rob had a hectic week, so it was good that my mom was there to help out at home. I couldn't believe how much older they each looked when I saw them again. Craziness.

Our good friends the Holmes are coming this week, and we're super excited to see them for a few days. Then we will get into the summer groove, which includes daily reading and math homework. Plus we are instituting a chores system. Charts and earning stuff and lots of other goodies. We are also restricting T.V. time and I must say so far so good. Kids can and will play without the distraction of the television.

So I thought I'd update my book list, since I had that lovely long plane ride to read on. Plus some other extra time I've managed to squeeze in. (On a side note I requested 36 books from the library this week for me to read--I found new authors at the conference that are lots of fun.)

39. Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter (as always lots of fun!)

40. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols this is her first (as far as I can tell) outside of the romantic comedy series by Simon Pulse) and it is great. I've liked everything I've read by her, and this is pushing her up close to Sarah Dessen for a great emotional read. I'm glad I bought it on a whim.

41. It's a Mall World After All by Janette Rallison (took a short class on writing from her at the conference, I'm glad I did because I found a new great writer)

42. All's Fair in Love, War and High School by Janette Rallison (again totally fun)

43. This Is What I Did by Ann Dee Ellis very moving and sad

Well I still think I can hit my goal of 100 NEW books, cause I'm not counting the fact that I've already reread two of those books or any of the others that I reread.

Now Rob has been on me since my ahem literary taste has in his opinion been a little off. I say that I should read what I'm writing. He says I should read more literary books. I replied by asking which out of the two of us have read more literary books? He said point made.

But so my question is do you have any suggestions of more literary books especially targeted for YA or do you have any books that the language just pulls you in and creates wonderful imagery?

I'm not against reading the classics or gasp literary works--I've enjoyed most of what I've read. (Admittedly I didn't go for Wuthering Heights or The Scarlet Letter, even though I've tried them more than once) There now you have my true confession. Advise me please!

A Trip to the Zoo

Mim's mom came out to help watch the kids while Mim was at a writers' conference in Utah, and I decided to take a day off from work and take everyone to the North Carolina zoo. Even though it was really hot, we had a great time. I think the kids had more fun in the gift store and climbing on anything climbable, like rocks, barriers, fences, etc., than in looking at any live animals. Hope you enjoy our little video.Click the "A Trip to the Zoo" link below the video to watch it in HD.

A Trip to the Zoo from Robert Caldwell on Vimeo.

Hiking at Cape Hatteras

I just got back from hiking with some friends along the Outer Banks of NC. We had a great time, collapsing tent and all. Cape Hatteras to Avon was beautiful. We had the majority of the coastline to ourselves. I may write a bit more about our trip later, but for now, I hope this hastily edited video will suffice. To view the video in HD (and I recommend it) click on the link under the video that says "Hiking Hatteras Island." Music is by Fleet Foxes.

Hiking Hatteras Island from Robert Caldwell on Vimeo.

If you wish to view some photos from the trip, Heather Winters has posted some great photos on her Picassa gallery.

Book Update

It's been awhile since I updated my book list, never fear I have still been reading. If I don't read then I am not happy. So read I must, must, must!


30. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (Awesome book, great ending to the series that I loved)

31. Confessions of a completely Insane Mother

32. Contentment: Inspiring Thoughts for LDS Mothers

33. Love at First Click

34. Love on Cue

35. Some Cupid Chronicles Book (wasn't bad, but I already turned it in and I don't want to look it up)

36. Wings by Aprilynne Pike(she debuted on the NY Times bestseller list--fun book to read. It's the first in a series)

37. Graceling by Kristin Cashore This is a beautiful book. I can't wait to read other books by her. Big smiles!

38. I Captured the Castle-- enjoyable book recommended heavily by lots of family and friends, and I finally got around to reading it. I enjoyed it.

I think that's it--but I have been reading--I reread the Twilight series, because I was trying to figure out how to cut the I out of my first person novel--and I also reread Hunger Games for the same reason. I got three new books at the library, plus I'm super excited about a book that comes out in two weeks. --Don't Judge a Girl by her Cover.


Other random news--I'm headed to a writer's conference next week. I'm excited and hopeful. My novel is nearly done I do believe.

Also Karen sent me a website that tests your reading speed. Naturally I went to it. I read faster than normal to do it, but I averaged about 950. It's not like I can bring that fact up in polite conversation, but being a fast reader (and Rob likes to argue that I'm not a careful reader) is something I've always been secretly proud of. But it can't go on a resume or anything. And I figure you're only reading this far into the post because you like to read to--otherwise excuse my stupidty in sharing otherwise useless information!

I'm going to have to pick up the pace if I'm going to hit 100 New books this year!

Check Out the Latest Pictures

I guess Rob has started putting the pictures up on his facebook page. Anyways, here is a link to the album. These pictures are from the weekend we spent in Hickory.

Have fun!

Okay, Rob here .... here are a few for those too lazy and/or busy to click a link:

Ball Yo Yos, Giant Water Balloon Fights, and Scary Monsters

I've not written for awhile, because basically I've wanted to do other things. I'm not going to lie about it. Two weekends ago was Mother's Day. Then last weekend we got to go up to Hickory for Casey's baptism. That was fun and exciting. Congrats Casey!

This weekend there have been lots of little fun things going on. Rob got the kids ball yo yos. These marvelous inventions wind themselves up, which means that the kids can do them. The are all good at it, except Jacob will pull up and the ball keeps hitting him in the head. Then he needs extra cuddles.

We promised the kids a water ballon fight, and we went and bought water balloons from Walmart. Theycame with a little valve thing to make filling them easier. They sucked! We broke our water filter with the stupid thing, and none of the balloons would fill up. So we resorted to using our giant balloons that the kids love to play with as water balloons. (The entire time I thought that this meant we would be throwing them at the ground.) Well Rob went outside and exuberantly began throwing them AT the kids. Knocked Caleb down flat with one. But then we started throwing them at the ground and the kids had a lot fun.

Yesterday they all drew chalk monsters on the sidewalk outside. Hopefully Rob will post some pics, since he used his camera to do it. It was cute. Beth did an awesome dragon all by herself. And Rob came out and acted scared of the monsters.

Well that's our weekly update. Have fun and take care!

Had to share

We had a bit of wild weather here on Tuesday--everyone made it through just fine.

Beth had to write a description of the weather for the current day for her homework assignment.

Her description:

The day started out sunny, then it got rainy with a touch of tornados!


I love it.

touch of tornados it is such a great play on words. Ahhh!