The Viking, the Maypole, and the sun

I admit I was a little ticked last night but it was worth it to see Carter dancing around a Maypole as a Viking.

I'm amazed at what teachers do for their students. Talk about a major event! This afternoon was the culminating activity for the last history unit for 3rd grade. I think they ended with the first colonists living on the east coast.

Costumes reflected one of the people/time periods studied over the last eight weeks.

The Maypole started as a pagan ritual offering homage to spring but was quickly adapted by the Christians as a seasonal celebration-- that's why a Viking is walking around a Maypole. Bet you didn't know that little piece of history!

It was hot and sunny but we had a wonderful time!

Carter took off his socks and shoes in the car--EVERYONE complained about the smell!!

Carter took a picture of mom as retaliation over the previous picture.

Anja looked like a melted little girl on the ride back home covered in chocolate chip cookies.

You need what tonight?

8:30 p.m.--

Mom on cell phone with Carter:

"The note we got today said you could wear a costume for tomorrow's culminating event. What kind of a costume?"

Carter:

"I need to be a Viking."

Mom:

"Really, a Viking? Um, okay. What do they look like?"

Carter:

"Lot's of fur on their clothes, armor, silver armor hats with horns--you know."

Mom stops at Wal-Mart at 9:30 p.m. to buy supplies--calls other 3rd grade parents to see what they are doing at the last minute--few unkind words exchanged about short notice on assignment--hang up and keep looking.

By 10:14 thanks to dad's sculpting ability and mom's imagination, we have a Viking costume ready for school in the morning!




(helmet is a green army helmet painted silver. Horns are some kind of oil based clay that artists use and we had on hand, fake fur hot glued onto a piece of tan fabric with a belt, and like magic, we've got a Viking)



When we get projects like this I can't help but think the teachers don't like parents. Who do you think stayed up making the costume? Not the third grader!! Yeah, he could have gone to school without a costume.. BUT what kind of mom would I be if my kid was the only one not dressed as a Viking? Oh, what a vicious cycle it is..can't wait for the science fair next year... I better start working on my, I mean HIS, project this summer.. :) six days and counting until summer!!!

Tinkerbell Phase...

I can account for much of my life according to stages. There was the hanging out at Bonnie's house phase, dating so and so phase and the pageant phase....

My kids are the same way. We entered the Thomas the Tank Engine phase, moved on to Star Wars and Lego, dinosaurs, and Indiana Jones. We are currently in the stinky boy phase -- why do boys smell so bad?-- and we seem to be stuck in the Wii game phase.

The girl phases are different. Although Anja would happily play Star Wars, she gravitates toward girl things. Every morning we argue over which shoes she'll wear (she owns more than I do) then we move on to arguing about hair accessories. I still wont let her pick her own clothes but she can choose from 'skirt, dress or shorts'. However, on Sundays, before church, I give her free reign.

Sunday she put on her swimsuit cover-up and Tinkerbell wings. Since then, we've been wearing them daily. Trying to do her hair without the added obstacle of wings is challenging enough, now it's more complicated. So far, only one old guy in the grocery store has asked if she was a bird. She gave his a nasty look and said "NO!" Everyone else we've encountered in public seems to get the Tinkerbell phase. I, for one, am glad it's not rocket ships or race cars. I'm all about the glitter and sparkle!

Hostess with the least to do...

Our ward is luck enough to be involved in the open house of the new Oquirrh Temple. I was one of the first to volunteer this week. I was asked to be a hostess for the VIP's who were invited to see the temple on Thursday. We got there at 8 am, had a short orientation then went to "work".

We (20 or so volunteers) washed a few windows and straightened the chairs (yes, we had to wear those aprons)...

Then we sat for 3 1/2 hours. It was so boring! Talk about a let down. The first group didn't even arrive at the temple until 10 am, an hour long tour, then they chatted and didn't even make it into the tent until 11:30 am, at which time I was told my shift was over and to leave.

I'm just disappointed. It took so much effort for me to coordinated shuffling three kids, two lunches, piano lessons and making sure everyone was up, dressed and fed (including Anja's hair) by 7:20 am so Rich could get them to school, then get to his dentist appointment--oh yeah, I had to shower and all that stuff too--and out the door by 7:24am. Not anyones fault, just a huge let down as far as that goes. I feel bad for our ward coordinator who busted her buns to fill all the volunteer spots only to have us sit.

The temple and the grounds were beautiful and I guess I should have just sat and absorbed the beauty of it all. Unfortunately, I'm not a sitter or an absorber, I'm a mover and a fidgeter. Rich went later that night and said it was better than the morning -- however, he sat and sketched the angel Moroni--a relaxing and enjoyable time for him. I'm hoping for a more memorable experience next time.

I thought this was a fun picture. These are all the bottles of water they were planning to serve in one day. Some organizer said they've ordered 900,000 bottles of water for the open house. WOW!

Dirty Legs

"Oh, what do you do in the summer time when all the world is green? Do you swim in a pool to keep your self cool? Or swing in a tree up high? Is that what you do? So do I."--Children's Song Book, LDS Church

Remember that song? This is Anja's version:
"Oh what do you do in the summer time when all the world is green? Do you crash and fall, but never bawl? Or skin your knee, oh my? Is that what you do? So do I"

Those marks on her legs are not smudges of dirt, they are good old fashioned bruises. Each one has a story to tell. And to think, it's not even officially summer yet. Good thing she looks good in black, blue and purple.

Coupons 101

For two years I have been using something called pinching your pennies/grocerysmarts to shop. Most of my friends and neighbors do it and it is a great way to save money and buy what you will really eat and build a huge food storage. My girlfriend has been teaching classes on how to use grocerysmarts for about a year, and now we are joining forces to teach together. The website is free to use and the classes are free. The concept is three fold: buy when it is on sale, couple the sale with coupons and stock up when it's on sale. For more information click on the link on the side to get to our website.

Here's how I did this weekend... my budge is about $50 a week for a family of five-- I went over this week, but I only spent $38.00 last week and I really stocked up this week on yogurt for the summer.. my deep freeze is full!

12 box of cereal (Frosted Mini-wheats, rice crispy, frosted flakes, raisin brand)

2 rolls paper towels

2 bags of doritos

2 loafs of Granny's whole wheat bread

2 suddenly salad

4 Knor rice dishes

1 betty crocker cookie mix

4 trix yogurts

4 yo-plus yogurts

10 Go-gurts (YES 10!!!!)

6 boxes Green Giant steamed box vegetables

2 boxes Checks mix bars

3.5 lbs sirloin tip steaks

2lbs broccoli crowns

2lbs bananas

spent: $68.90

saved: $126.54

So, if you want to learn how to do this, drop me an email and I'll get back to you. Classes are taught in your home or for Enrichment classes (Salt Lake, Davis and Utah County)--it works, I promise!

Cinco de Mayo on the eleventh

My brother Mat was born on May 5th. We celebrate his birthday with our version of cinco de Mayo in his honor every year even though for the last few years he hasn't even been in town. He and has lived in Portland, Oregon for about five years and recently moved to the Virgin Islands to work. This year, we agreed to postpone the festivities for a week because he and Kelli would be in town this last week. I think he was a little shocked at how big his birthday--with or without him-- has become.

The rules are that everyone must have a turn-- even the grown ups (Scott and Shelbi).

This is the first year that Anja has understood what was happening.

Let the carnage begin...

Mat and Kelli are now off on their latest adventure in Canada and Alaska. They are getting married while in Alaska this summer and will come back to Utah this fall to celebrate with all of us (not sure if Kelli wants a pinata for the reception, we'll have to ask). We loved having them around for a week and can't wait until they are back. Happy 29th birthday little brother!

Father and Sons Campout

Fishing

Camping

Race for a Cure

I participated in the Race for a Cure in SLC this weekend.

There were a bunch of us girls from the neighborhood doing the 5k for a variety of reasons. I ran in honor of my aunt Char who died a few years ago after battling breast cancer for seven years. It was an interesting race. I did shave two minutes off my time from the Salt Lake Marathon and I was shocked when I crossed the finish line and realized that.

I had to stop and catch my breath a few times because I kept getting all choked up! I was touched by a family of four children ranging in age from about eight on down running in memory of their mom who died a couple of weeks ago. I cried when I saw the "Breast Jordan Group" waving to their friends who were cheering them on because they were too sick to run. I was touched by all the local high school cheerleaders who lined the way wearing bright green t-shirts that said, "I am the Cure" You run for me".

Isn't that the truth? The money that was raised today for research probably wont find a cure to help my generation, but it could save my daughter's life. I ran today for Anja. I ran hoping that she will know a world were breast cancer is 100% curable.

Presents from Turkey

Grandma Bywater went with a group of friends to Turkey last week. Wish I could go somewhere exotic... anyway, one of the places she visited was the Grand Bazaar. You've probably seen it in a move and didn't realize it. It's very "middle Eastern" and is filled with hundreds of shops. While there, grandma bought the two grand-daughters these scarves that you wrap around your waist. Small coins and beads are sewn onto the fabric and sound like a hundred small bells chiming when you dance.

Anja liked her so much she wore it all evening. She even wore it to dinner.

Then she decided to accessorize.

I thought the hairbands were a nice touch.

Baseball Season!!

We decided not to play soccer this spring. I think after five straight years of sitting through soccer games, we all needed a bit of a change. Both boys decided to play softball. Carter is doing very well and seems to be picking it up fast. His coach has made incredible progress with him especially with batting.

Carter is one of the stronger catchers and throwers on the team all ready. I think that's to be expected when you calculate the endless number of hours Carter and Rich spend tossing footballs around the backyard.

Family nights and flutes

Sometimes I just throw out tradition and embrace the chaos. Monday we tossed out a traditional family night and worked on one of Carter's projects for school: making a flute. We used PVC pipe, instructions from the Internet (thank you Google) and had so much fun we didn't stop at one flute. In 45 minutes we had two flutes and a piccolo piercing ears all over the neighborhood.

Who needs the Utah Symphony?

Scout-a-Rama

If you know David Bywater, you know scouting. That's why it's his grandfatherly duty to take the three older kids to the Scout-a-Rama to engage in all things scout. My boys look forward to this outing as much as Christmas. They LOVE it. I guess I should go some time. But why take the fun away from grandpa? We love Papa and his fun adventures (which always end with chicken, fries and a lemonade).

Dinner at Virg's

There is this strange little restaurant in Taylorsville called Virg's. My dad LOVES this place. It's a mom and pop throw-back to a dinner. It's not a greasy spoon but it serves everything from breakfast to burritos. It's weird, but they have the best onion rings of anywhere I've eaten in my life.

The kids broke from their usual chicken nugget routine and ventured out into the menu. Anja ordered a corn dog, Jensen got a kids burger and Carter ordered the small breakfast with one pancake, bacon and a scrambled egg. This is what we got..

..a pancake bigger than his plate...

..a full size burger with a ton of tot's...

...and a corn dog bigger than the little girl who tired to eat it. The prices are pretty reasonable too. We all ate for under $35.00 and as you can see, we brought a bunch home.

Mommy Miracle...

I'm writing about this only so I'll remember it when I slurp this blog into a book.

My dad was taking the boys the the Scout-a-Rama on Saturday. As we were making the kid swap, I watched Carter's umbrella walk the boys safely to grandpa's truck. I took the car out of park and looked over my shoulder to start backing out. I then had this overwhelming feeling to change the radio station. I can't even remember what was on. It was so strong. I didn't give it much thought, took five seconds to push another present button then turned and looked over my shoulder again, only to see Jensen pop up from behind the car. He stopped right behind me to look at some worms.

Five seconds, that's all it would have taken to change our lives. Five seconds to receive a blessing without even realizing it.