I had yesterday off, and as a surprise so did Paul. Although, for him that's not a good sign due to the economy. We sent the kids to daycare as usual so we could catch up on stuff around the house but picked them up early and took them to the dollar movie Tale of Desperaux and out to dinner at Mazza. The movie was cute, a tale about a little mouse who is on a gentlemanly quest. Mazza I think it's my new favorite restaurant. It's Mediterranean. It has a quaint atmosphere and it's surprisingly affordable. I've been there a lot lately. I get the sampler plate each time with the mumahara which is a roasted red pepper dip with lettuce leaves (my favorite and the reason I go) and a salad, but I've yet to remember the third one I had the first time I was there ~ if that made sense. I really liked it but all the descriptions sound the same and I haven't again picked the 'right' one yet. I was hoping the kids would be a bit more adventurous with trying things, they weren't in the mood tonight. The plan was to have Nathan split mine but he didn't eat much of it, and Andrew got cheese pizza and fries - huge stretch in the adventurous department. The fry sauce was at least unique and they tried it generously.

We also stopped over at the Kings English book store next door. Another of my favorite places. It is an old house in Sugarhouse converted to a bookstore. It has old wood floors that creak.

Andrew has always reminded me of my brother. My brother hates me taking his picture, Andrew has picked up on it. I have figured out a way around Andrews antics. I promise to take pictures of his funny faces if he lets me get one 'good' one. But who am I to judge what comprises a 'good one'? These do show off more of his personality.

Another similarity came to mind yesterday as I was flipping through a book in Nathans room that used to be my brothers when he was little. Just last week Andrew was sitting at the table talking about himself in the third person, calling himself 'Andrew boogie boo'. On the inside front cover of my brothers book, he had written: "mine, mine, mine, Kent wiggle worms.

Weekend pictures.

Here's the pictures: Nathan and I in his classroom after the Valentines party. He was pretty excited for his birthday and Fridays are early days so I checked him out after the party since all he had left for the day was lunch and 20 min after which gets eaten up organizing the kids backpacks. We headed off to lunch and ended up at the same spot (Wendy's) and four other kids in his class whose mom also checked them out~ actually all the moms who helped at the party took their kids at the end.

Blowing out the candles on his cake. He had seven frogs on top of grass; quasi jungle theme. The treat bags had frogs, snakes, frog tatoos, and puzzles in them. It was a LOUD party. A couple of the kids from his class came without parents (bad idea).

Andrew and one of his two teachers. This is Ms. Katelyn. He really likes both of his teachers I need to get a picture of him with Ms. Becky ~ He "Loooves" her.

My DH treated me to gorgeous roses for Valentines. We stayed home with the kids and had Pauls favorite dinner, Rib eyes, baked potatoes, salad. And these cute little cakes I made, that still haven't gotten eaten! I even made the candy toppings myself and they weren't easy. I guess we're all a little overloaded on cake from the party. It's not something we eat a lot of.


We had a wonderful time last night. We had dinner at a friends house with a couple other couples. All of our kids love playing together and we were able to visit.

Happy Birthday Nathan

Happy Birthday Nathan ~ how did my baby turn seven????
Busy day: Valentine parties, birthday parties. I took this last weekend and hopefully will have more pictures of the days festivities tomorrow for your viewing pleasure.

Look at those eyelashes! I love the way he sticks out his tongue when he's concentrating. I have a few other favorite men in my life that do that too.

p.s. DW -thinking of you and hope everything goes well this afternoon. Love ya - see you soon.

blog title

For some little ramblings from my brain. I thought when I began this I should explain the title I picked in exasperation. I put it off and a couple people have asked me about it last week so here goes- the title I wanted was "good intentions" (Paul likes to refer to my multitude of unfinished craft projects as my good intentions - I tend to run out of time). Some one picked it, and more someones picked the next twenty or so things I could think of off the top of my head. I ran out of the list of choices I had and so I was going to go with "and the ashes blew toward us with the salt wind of the sea"... I know -waaaay to long and without context it means nothing. Its the last sentence of one of my favorite books. I've always remembered it and contemplate it often. So sticking with the theme of favorite book quotes I went with "I stepped out". Again a favorite line from a book. It's actually the first sentence of both the first and last paragraph of what is probably my very favorite book and it could at least make a bit of sense without the context of the book. The line is actually "When I stepped out of the dark theater". I wanted to leave the theater part off, and when I was trying my twentieth choice for a title I forgot the word 'when' and didn't get my "I" capitalized. No one had it and I was so excited I committed or hit the save button or something along those lines. I don't know how or if I can change it. So why is my title different than the url? It was my plan b, or r or something like that actually. I think I'm usually operating on plan b anyway, kids and schedules and time seem to do that. So until I figure out this bloggy thing and find out if I can fix my url without losing everything and getting the two to match, it remains.

This blogging thing still perplexes me and intrigues me, among other things. There was a conference for bloggers last week back east. That seemed like a weird thing to spend your money going to for me. Reading some peoples posts one of the classes as the conference was on how to make sure your blog was making you enough money. Some people put advertisements and links and stuff on their blogs. A lot of people make and sell crafts on Etsy and advertise it on their blog. I don't mind those, it's the blogs that have 100 advertisements scrolling everywhere that drive me nuts. I didn't even connect that people did it for money until I read the aforementioned post.
This one was never about making money, it was simply an easier way to get pictures and updates to out of town families. I think it does fine at it's purpose - another reasons I haven't really worried about how perfect the url is.

And a tidbit from the kids: last night we were in the car and Andrew looked out the window and exclaimed "look a twinkle" rather than look a star (although we decided it was probably a satellite). It was kinda cute.

a playground for Cora

I have wanted to post something about The Macs for a few days and it hasn't seemed right, I guess in someways beacuse it isn't my loss. I've been following their blog for quite a few weeks and kept checking it for updates on their baby. When I logged on Sunday it simply said she had gone to be with Jesus. I don't know how you go to the doctor for what you think is an earache and come home from the hospital weeks later with out your baby. I cry at commercials and this has brought me to tears multiple times daily. It seems a little odd to me since I don't know them, but apparently I'm normal. I've read comments others have left and they almost all mention being in tears as well - and the comments make me cry too. I would have a hard time getting myself out of bed and this amazing couple is using the donations to build a memorial playground. I don't know if that makes it easier - or if that's even possible. Not only that, other people who don't know them are making and selling items to help raise money to donate toward the fund (a lady named Julie is selling floral lapel pins). I wouldn't have thought of doing that. It is inspiring to the strength of their faith and to see so many people around the country rally together to try to bring them comfort and support.

totally toothless

I voluteered at Nathans school yesterday and he still had his tooth - I'm not sure how, but by the time I picked him up from day care later it was gone. He was jumping up and down in the window with it in a baggie he was so excited. What an exciting week for a 1st grader, two missing teeth - the tooth fairy, a birthday coming fast, and Valentines all in a row.

I managed to get the video up finally, so enjoy!

p.s. you might want to turn the sound down toward the end. Andrew has a bit of colorful (for a kid) language I don't know how to edit out.