XXX Library XXX

Libraries....ughhh. Lets just say that I have a long history of disappointing experiences at many a Public Library. Yes, it is a fact that I once lost a Stuart Little DVD and ended up owing over $100 in fines. I found the DVD over a year later while unpacking after our move to Minnesota in a bathroom box....what? Yes, it is also true that we (as in my boys and I) have been kicked out of multiple libraries for excessive noise. If we weren't lucky enough to officially given the boot, I was sure given enough looks of death to make me want to leave. Needless to say, we don't frequent the library often. As a lot of you know, both my boys have grown up and improved on all the things that make them who they are in the last year. So contemplating on how far they have come, I decided on a whim to take a trip to the Maple Grove Library. I'm happy to say that for the first time my boys didn't have any major issues. No, this time the Library is the one that had a problem. As we were perusing the adult non-fiction for some good Star Wars reads we walked by a nasty man on a public computer. He was on youtube about to watch "hot sexy teen girls getting frisky." I herded my boys away as fast I could and didn't end up seeing the actual video. I went up to the help desk to ask what their policy was on that kind of nasty crap. So if you live in Maple Grove listen up: there is nothing they can do about "pornographic text" and because I didn't actually see the video about to be played, there was nothing the Library could do. So basically I would have had to wait around for the video of girls getting busy and risk my boys seeing something offensive to get this guy kicked out. I guess if I read more books my vocabulary would more extensive, but all I can come up with is this is Lame Lame Lame! I guess it's back to scholastic book orders for us!

Lessons Learned

We got back from our 13 day vacation extravaganza on Tuesday night. As I look back on the trip, I decided that I learned quite a bit in the last couple weeks. Lets just say that this vaca was done Grizwald style......

Here are a few things I learned in no particular order:

1. Never let Max outside in high altitudes while the sun is shining or his poor little nose will blister!



2. John is capable of making the UGLIEST FACE KNOWN TO MAN if given a sour warhead. My bellybutton is so enormous that you can see it through my shirt...gross!


3. There are apparently people not as excited as I am to go to Nielson's Frozen Custard the minute it opens. (at 10:30 am) This one I will never understand, who should have to drag their kids to get custard, what kind of a world am I raising my kids in nowadays?


4. Temple reflection pools have to be cooled down too even though no one swims in them. We didn't get to see the reflection due to the "cooling system", but the boys were down for a pose or two.


5. I forgot how much I love the scenery and red rocks or good ole AZ. I need to get back to the Canyon!!


6. How picky Max really is. While all the cousins shoveled candy into their baskets, Max is happy to pick through piece by piece to find the two or three pieces he would like....he' so funny like that!


7. My kids no longer require a babysitter, all I need to do is buy another Nintendo DS and call it good.


8. After a long trip, nothing is better than sleeping in your own bed!!


I learned many other things that I sadly don't have pics for such as what my Mother in Law looks like naked and how cranky a 7 month prego can get on a 24 hour car ride, but I think those are better mental images anyways!

MMMMM New carpet smell!!!

This morning I had my living room carpet replaced compliments of KHOV. They should make this smell into a candle if you ask me, it's so yummy! I'm going to enjoy the sent down to its last wiff. It smells almost as good as my dessert tasted last night. Thanks ladies...especially Camie!

It's not easy being green

So here is the thing. I'm usually afraid of color. What I mean by that is although I love it, when it comes to decorating I think I will get sick of some brilliant hue that looks great now. What if it looks good now and in a few years will just look like a old trend. Think 70's shag carpet. For this reason, I stick with my good old faithful browns, blacks, with possibly a hint of an accent color. I know, I'm pretty much boring.

So lets back up a little, say a month or so. Well when I learned we were having a girl I decided to go shopping for bedding. Lo and behold I found the cutest hot pink, black and white bedding by eyes had seen. It was even on clearance people!! Not to mention, this bedding matched a crib that's days were numbered because it was clearanced out too!! So I went out on a limb and bought the bright colorful bedding and crib.

This is the part where you come in. Take a look of the pic and bedding along with the almost pea soup green walls that Max picked out.....what do you think? I initially loved it together. Then John did the unthinkable and told me he loved it too. (Just as a side note, when we were first dating and married I would ask his opinion on what I was wearing or what color he liked and then would automatically do the opposite....he's a little what we like to call "color coordinating challenged." I stopped doing this because it hurt his feelings.) Ok, so back to the matter at hand, John is saying it looks great, but I really think it's because of one of two things:

1. He does not want to paint the room. And for the record, he has never painted but made the mistake of telling my that he would paint one room while on paternity leave. To me, that is the equivalent of being bought fine jewelry, because he dreads painting.

2. It could actually look good. And by this I would have to admit that John has come a long way and his tastes are improving!

Chances are, it's #1, but I'm hoping it's #2. What do you think? Should I keep the green or make John buy me a new pair of earrings so to speak?

Dear Mr. Parrish -

You know I'm not the type to write letters, but today I felt compelled to so here is goes. I've read a few blogs that write to their husbands, usually in a fond, loving tone noting how much they are missed when they are out of town. I thought that it better suits my personality to tell you how much YOU have missed out being gone for so long/often....who knows, maybe you'll cancel next week's fun in the sun uh er um business trip.

It's 8:39 and the kids are fast asleep....the most peaceful time of day! We have spent most of our waking hours (besides school time) outside soaking up the beautiful weather. Only in Minnesota will people think that 45 degrees is wonderful. We saw a girl riding her bike wearing a tank and shorts....hmmm I wouldn't say it was that nice.......





You are already aware that Jackson finished up his first season of basketball and lost a tooth at school. (apparently it is the cool thing to do because you get to go to the nurse and bring home your pearly white in a tooth necklace) What you don't know is that Jackson brought his first ever piece of math homework that he didn't understand and couldn't do by himself. I seem to remember in our iron clad pre-nup that math was your responsibility. I guess you assumed that because I gave up on our agreement to never own a van, that this too was null and void. Ummmm no.



Onto our not so little anymore Maxers. He has had a great week. Monday Max went to the audiologist and picked up his new custom green and blue earmolds. With the molds, apparently he picked up a new facial expression as well. He likes to call it a smile with no lips. I'm not a big fan of the look, but what can you do? Also, now that the dead grass has reappeared, Max's title as the "slug whisperer" has been reinstated. Jackson is still fiercely jealous that Max has the special gift of finding the tiniest of slugs.




Now onto your great with child wife. Remember me? I'm the one who loves to steal your t-shirts and sweats because mine are cutting off my circulation? Well I have been busy as well. You see, there is this thing called nesting. I like to call it pregnancy induced neurotica. Let me tell you, it is in full force this week. I could mention a million things I've done, but don't want to bore you. The most impressive thing I would say is that I put together the ikea dresser we bought last weekend. This baby had 48 steps written in hieroglyphics. Lets just say it took some time. I was out running errands and ran into someone I knew. I got the "HOLY CRAP, YOU HAVE REALLY POPPED, I MEAN YOU ARE HUGE, DO YOU REALLY HAVE ABOUT 3 MONTHS TO GO?" comment I always dread. Don't ever say that to a prego, just don't. I didn't want you to miss what I looked like on the day that I really popped, so I included it.


So that completes my guilt trip disguised as a letter. Come home soon, we miss you.

Oh, and one more thing, our big screen t.v. blew up, so no March Madness this year. I guess I can just put you to work on my ever growing to-do list.

Ode to Neilson's

For most who have read this blog know that deep thoughts on the subject of love and affection don't flow from my brain and onto the world wide web. It is just something I'm not into, and actually makes me uncomfortable to even think about writing. I know, I'm like a 12 year old self conscious girl. What will people think? Will they laugh, taunt, make fun? I've decided tonight to throw caution to the wind and express my undying and everlasting love for Nielsen's frozen custard.

Many of you may ask: what is this thing you speak of? I say to you: you have not lived a full life until tasting the sweetness of custard found at Nielsen's. The thought of it keeps me awake at night, and is in my fondest dreams.

You also may say: you are just prego and being as such are prone to over exaggerated cravings. To you I say: You have obviously never tasted this divine substance, or for those of you who have, you can no longer be my friend if you too do not heart Nielsen's.

I have been told my a few: Don't torture yourself, there is no NeilsEn's where you live. Get the custard out of your head, it will do you good. My reply you ask?: As long as I live and breathe I will crave, hunger, and yearn for it.

Luckily, my pain and suffering of with drawl will be coming to an end soon. I will be visiting the fabulous state of AZ for spring break. What makes it fabulous? Do you even need to ask? Friends? Family? Excellent weather? Those are all just icing on the cake that is known in my soul as NIELSEN'S FROZEN CUSTARD!!!

P.S. - I know this was a little self indulgent, but it was either going to be a post about how Jackson tried to stab a boy in the head with a pencil today at school or this. I choose denial in the form of custard.

Max lost his first tooth....thanks to Jack!

I guess I wouldn't have expected Max's first tooth loss to come any other way. This morning, Jackson was chasing Max up the stairs. They were both racing to see who could change their clothes first. (as a side note, if you can't get your boys to do what you ask, put them up against each other in a friendly competition, it works every time) So Max was clearly in the lead and Jackson had to act quickly. He couldn't let a kid 2 years his Jr. beat him this time. Jack decided to push Max up the stairs. Does that even make sense?? Anyways, Jack pushes him, Max face plants, and wha-la, Max lost his first tooth! Max is one tough kid, there was no crying involved, he just walked into my room with tissue in his mouth saying that Jack made him bleed. He's totally excited about the prospect of the tooth fairy visiting, the tooth is already under his pillow just waiting to be snatched from the Fairy herself.




Did I mention that we couldn't find the tooth and thought he might have swallowed it? Max insisted on taking the pic to document where the tooth went. We did find it later on the stairs!

My family is Numero Uno!!

My boys have had a cold of some sort for the last week or so. I started feeling it on Saturday night, and by Sunday morning I felt like a slug. Life goes on and you still have to do things like go to church and teach that lesson that you don't want to. So as I got to church bright and early, I was feeling like I would rather be anywhere but there, preferably snuggled in my nice warm bed. This is where one of my number one family members stepped in for me. Max was feeling the lets get out of here vibe and decided to help out. He slammed his finger in the car door so badly that John had to open the door to get his little finger out. Poor Guy! Lets just say his plan worked so well that I didn't have to teach my lesson, and got to leave right away. That's my Max, always thinking of others! He did go a little overboard this time if you ask me. I ended up taking him to our Dr. (can you believe they are open on Sunday Mornings?!!) and after some soaking, topical anesthetic, Tylenol w/ codeine, 3 x-rays, a local shot, a board to strap him down, two stitches and a finger gaurd later, he was all good. Max and I did end up getting home about a 1/2 hour before than John and Jackson, so I guess his plan did work to get me home earlier! I told him then next time he wants to go home he can just throw up....that would be easier.

Hopefully our girl won't be a red head........

.....or have the manners my boys have.

(We had another ultrasound today and the baby is healthy....and in case you didn't get it, we are having a girl!)

Due to the offensive nature, and at the request of the model, the photos in this post have been removed in order to stop further harm to any party.

Linds...you know I love readheads.....just not ones that wear bright blue eye shadow, press on nails, and pick their nose!!

Did this Valentine's Weekend kick your butt??

Uh, yeah me neither, just checking.

"Long Weekends" are always hard for me. This was especially true as it was not just a 3 day weekend, but a 4. The kids both had Friday and Monday off from school....boy were they excited! At least Jackson was. Max on the other hand, did not get it. He kept telling me "Miss Gretta says I go to school on Mondays." I'm sure we are very close to the day that we can add Max to the list of people in this house that think that I make things up as I go. (in case you were wondering, both John and Jack have been on this list for quite some time.)

We did make lots of memories...mostly good. To sum it up, we were busy! Some of the highlights were making valentine cottages with some friends (see above pics), a date night thanks to the Baldwins, going to Ikea (queen sheets for $10 - if that's not love, I don't know what is), dropping by the Mall of America for some delicious crepes, making red hearts at the lego store, PF Changs take-out, doing sharing time in primary, and last but not least, turning our baby into a frog after making wizard hats and wands. Now that is a run-on sentence for you!

Looking back, I did have an awesome weekend. I was however grateful this morning to take a shower without hearing any screams from the other room, or curious boys trying to check out the ever growing belly in all of its naked glory.

P.S - we have another ultra sound tomorrow. Hopefully modesty will not prevail again. Here are the details: If I don't call or post something, that means we are having another boy and I will forever be outnumbered. If I do, you don't even have to answer/ check our blog because that means it is a girl.