Happy Thanksgiving!

I had a really great last couple of days. My sister has been in town for the last week. We didn't get to see them on Tuesday (see previous post for what we did Monday), but on Wednesday morning, we braved the treacherous roads, and went to see the Carl Bloch exhibit. It was amazing! If you go, and I recommend you do, you should definitely rent the iPad. It's only three dollars, and all the commentary on the paintings is insightful and moving. The poster sized book I bought doesn't do the painting justice. There is just no comparing seeing them in their life-sized realness. I just wish I hadn't brought my kids. They were unimpressed, and bored, and just kids. Riley was supposed to stay with my dad, but he ran off. My mom went and asked a lady if she had seen him (describing him, of course). She hadn't, but he was soon found, and my dad made him come and sit with me. Later, my mom came and told Riley they closed the museum doors and were looking for him. She said the woman she had asked came up to her and asked if we had found him. She said we had, and she said, "Good because we sealed the doors, and weren't letting anyone out." Nobody told me he was even missing. But he was probably just running around in the hall, looking at the toys in the gift shop. He told me he wanted to be done, and wait for us there, but I told him he had to stay by me, and not leave.  Next time I go with Kurtis, I am not bringing the boys.  Mine just can't handle it. It made me grumpy.  They really liked McDonald's though.  Yuck.
Thanksgiving was a really nice day! I made my "Best Ever Hot Artichoke Dip". You can find the recipe here.  We really love it.  My sister's father-in-law, and brother-in-law came and shared the day with us, too.  We ate, played Clue, ate some more, played Mall Madness, ate some dessert, and had fun just hanging out with each other.  It was a great day.  Michele says it's her favorite holiday.  Emily says she hates Thanksgiving, and was kind of pouty by the end of the day, and nobody could get her to tell us why.  The boys had so much fun playing in the snow with their cousins, and grandpa.  They tried to make a snowman, but the snow wouldn't stick together.  Ryan showed the kids the moons of Jupiter, and talked about our ancestors who came over with the pilgrims.  It was good to get to spend time with everyone.  The only sad part is that they went home this morning, so we couldn't spend more time having fun. :'(
Today, I'm gonna decorate for Christmas.  Kurtis went to work, but no one was there, so he came home.  Usually, he doesn't get today off.  It's awesome.

 Here the kids are in front of the museum.

For more information about seeing this exhibit, check out this link.

Finally - We Meet in Real Life!

A long time ago, in a state not to far from my state, a boy met a girl.  He fell in love with her, and somehow, got this beautiful girl to fall for him, too.  They set a date for their wedding.  Everyone was invited.  It was going to be a grand affair.  But two of his cousins and their families were not there.  They never got to meet his stunning bride, and fall in love with her, too.  They're relationship with his family became reduced to the family picture and Christmas letters they got sent every year - even after they moved to the same state.  Then, one of the cousins (me) discovered blogging.  She began reading other blogs.  The boy's sister had a blog.  She read that one.  Then she clicked on a link to another blog.  It was his wife's blog.  "Oh, my goodness!"  She thought.  "I am so excited to find this!  But is it weird if I post a comment?  I'll just stalk her a bit.  She'll never know, and I won't be a bother."
That is literally how I met my cousin's wife.  One day, her post was just simple.  It was of a picture of an eaten Creamies Popsicle stick.  It said, "Out of Creamies?  Time to die."  Or something like that.  It was hilarious.  I couldn't hold myself back any longer.  I had to let her know I that when I saw that, I literally laughed out loud.  For real.  Then, she posted pictures of my cousin (who I hadn't seen in a very long time), and I told her he looked so much like my brother.  Then I realized she probably had no idea who I was, so I told her Jamie and I are cousins.  I almost didn't publish that comment.  I felt silly.  Then, she started reading my blog.  Sometimes she would leave comments, and remind me that we had never actually met in real life.  "Oh, yeah."  I would always think.  Because reading her blog always made me feel like I had, and that we'd known each other all along.  I would sigh, and feel a little empty after that.  Like that was a problem that needed to be fixed.
After I wrote about my brother's missionary farewell, she said she would have come if she had known.  I didn't know she didn't know.  My parents should have told everyone!  I should have told everyone!  So I invited her to Riley's baptism.  They were so excited to come, and then tragedy struck.  She got sick, and because she's awesome, she didn't want to give it to us.  We'd had enough puke the week before, so I was grateful.  But I was bummed she wasn't there.
It was destiny that we should finally meet though.  My big sister decided last minute to visit for Thanksgiving.  She's the other cousin who never met her because they live so far away!  It was perfect!  We could both meet her.  Arrangements, and a pot roast were made.  Last night, she drove to my house, and Michele and her family drove to my house (they are staying at our mom's), and we ate dinner together.  Apparently, I make really good pot roast.  I wouldn't really know because I don't like pot roast (but I like the carrots and potatoes!).  But at least I am good at something.  After dinner, the three of us went on a quest for dessert.  We drove to Nielsen's Frozen Custard only to find it closed for remodeling.  Then we drove to the frozen yogurt place in my town.  It was epic.

I stole this picture from her blog.  But I think it's the one she gave me for Christmas, so I think it's okay.  We're tight.  Aren't they a gorgeous family?  I got to meet her little monkeys, too.  But alas, Jamie had to study for a test the next day, and couldn't join the lot of us.  I hope you did awesome! :D

I Know About These Things

When I started babysitting in August, the baby's mom would tell me she would have blow-outs, and her diaper would leak sometimes.  I told her if she put her daughter in a larger size diaper, she wouldn't have that problem any more.  I'm not a new mom anymore.  I've had three kids, so I know a little something about these things.  Well, she didn't listen to me.  Now, she is really, really needing the larger size, but because they are like me, and want to use up the old diapers before using her new diapers, she is having huge blow outs, all up her back, and it's really, really nasty.  This morning has been completely crazy.  I fed her, and she pooped in her diaper.  That's pretty normal.  Except when I'm holding her, and I look down at myself and I am suddenly covered in poo.  But guess what.  I didn't notice I was covered in poo until I put her down on her tummy, and saw the poo on my shirt sleeve.  Then I saw it on her back.  Then it was all over the front of my apron.  That was some divine intervention there, too.  I took off the apron when I went to the restroom, and almost didn't put it back on.  I was done using it - or so I thought.  So, I took off her clothes, wiped as much of it off of her as I could, and gave her a little bath in my dirty kitchen sink.  I don't have baby soap any more, so it was mostly just rinsing her off.  Then she peed in the towel.  I just had a feeling she was going to do that, too.  All the while Tyler (the six-year-old) kept asking me to read him a book.  Everything got put in the washing machine.  That was all before ten o'clock!

I Heart Harry Potter

Well, well, well.  Somethings just can't stay hidden for long.  It's true.  I really do enjoy me some Harry Potter.  So my bestest friend, Nicole, and I decided to go see the midnight show.  I've never been to a midnight show.  I went to the movie theater's website, and saw that there was also an event/party thingy.  I said, "Do you want to go to a party, too?"  And she said, "What party?  Hells, yes, I want to go to a party!" (Yes.  She did say that.)  Then I directed her to the website.  Because I am savvy that way.  Girls' Night was on, baby!
Thursday, I drove down to the big city where my bestest friend lives.  We met when I lived in the big city at Stampin' Up! stamp club.  She liked me.  Had one of those girl crushes.  Kind of like a man crush, but only girly.  I liked her, too.  It worked out.  We're awesome together.  I digress.
We went to Chick-fil-A for dinner.  Okay, I ate.  She got a Coke.  I said, "I threw up last night."  It was true.  I woke up at one in the morning and puked my guts out.  Then I was fine.  Then, at three, I woke up and wondered if I needed to throw up again.  I didn't.  I think I just ate something that did not sit right with me in my stomach.  But I lost two pounds when I weighed myself the next morning.  That's all that matters, right?
I digress again.  I probably will again.  Just wait for it.
After dinner, we went to the movie theater where they were having the party.  A little place called "The District".  No lie.  It sounds so - I don't know.  Concrete?  Prisony?  But it's not.  It's nice.  We went to Platform 9 3/4 where we checked in, were given wrist bands, and our acceptance letters to Hogwarts.  So exciting!  Then we got our 6 free Galleons (if you wanted more, they were $10 for 6 - so not worth it).  Then we got to play dress up in some witchy clothes, and get our picture taken.  We watched a kid try to beat his mom at Wizard Chess, and posed by the chess board.  After that, we got sorted.  I am a Gryffindor.  My bestest friend suddenly became my arch enemy when the Sorting Hat put her in Slytherin.  So rude.  Actually, we just randomly picked these badges out of a bowl.  I wanted to be in Ravenclaw.  "Wit beyond measure is a man's greatest treasure." (Rowena Ravenclaw)  I'm really not that brave.
After we got sorted, we decided to check out the Care of Magical Creatures class.  They had a snake, and lizards, and turtles, and spiders!  Super!  We waited in line for an hour (well, maybe only half an hour) to get a characterture of ourselves done.  They didn't look like us, though.  Nicole was talking to the guy doing them, and she asked him if he does this all the time for a living.  He said, "No, I actually work down in the kitchen, and they said, 'Hey - you can draw.  Do you want to do this?'"  Yeah.  That's awesome.  We got ourselves a butterbeer at the Hogs Head, and went to Divination.  We also went to Herbology.  I got an orchid.  I hope it grows into an orchid any way.  We'll see.  I'm not very good at keeping houseplants alive.  Then we went and got some popcorn, and two giant Cokes (I had to drive home after the movie!), and sat down in the theater.  The young men who sat by us were really excited to be there.  It was so fun to see all the people who dressed up, too!  There was a Mad-Eye Moody, the Dursleys, tons of Harrys and Hermoines, and people who just decided to dress in certain House colors.  It was a great night.  I told Riley what I did last night, and he got really mad at me for not letting him come along.  I think that's funny.  Why would I bring my kid to the midnight show?  Oh, Nicole brought her camera.  I stole it, and took lots of pictures.  Here's a few:

Yeah, just ignore her dates stamp.  It's wrong. But that's my letter!

Here we are together, together, together.  Hooray for Hogwarts!

Galleons.

"That's barbaric!"  "That's a wizard's chess!"

 

 We found Dumbledore! :D

I heart Dumbledore!

Oh, yeah.  I'm pretty undesirable.

You'd better watch out for her.  She's dangerous.

Gryffindore!

Slytherin!

While we were waiting in line to get sorted we were asked if we wanted to become members of the Oder of the Phoenix or Death Eaters.  We chose the good guys.  Duh! :)

Yeah, no.  I didn't put a snake around my neck.  But you go, Britney Spears.  Oh, yeah.

Snakes aren't my thing, but Nicole does not like spiders.

So awesome.

Time for some refreshment.

I asked Professor Snape to take our picture.  He was kind enough to oblige.

Butterbeer is pretty yummy.

Hey!  That's where we had dinner!

Oh, what a night!  It was so totally wicked!

Today, I Was A Grandma (For about 2 hours)

Yesterday, I called my mom and invited her to come to Grandparents' Day at Kaleb's kindergarten class.  She declined on account that she wants to get the blue bedroom (in her house) painted white before my sister comes.  It's really not that big, but she seems to think it's going to take all week.  Maybe she is right.  What do I know?  I didn't ask Kurtis's mom because she works, and doesn't get many days off. 
Any way, I went instead.  She really missed out.  We had a lot of fun.  I got to help Kaleb make a door hanging sign, we had a treat, Kaleb read me a book he made about grandparents, and we played counting games.  His sign turned out so awesome.  It has a robot and rocket ships on it.  On one side, he put a rocket ship crashing into an arrow, and an explosion.  It rocked.  Then we Kaleb had a brownie and a tiny cinnamon roll with some fruit punch.  I had a Russian tea cake like cookie with chocolate drizzles.  It was delicious.  I also had some chocolate milk along with it.  It really hit the spot.  His story was amazing, and we build a tower out of our stacking thingies for one of the games.  It kept falling down, but that was fun, too!  No wonder Kaleb loves school so much.  I took some pictures with my phone, so sorry about the quality.

They sang songs to us too!  Kaleb can spell "yellow" and "orange".  You'll have to ask him sometime.

Here he is, making his door hanger.  He's working on the backside that has the rocket crash on it.

The finished front side.  Personally, I love the robot.

Kaleb's book.  It had a sucker inside.  He said, "I am supposed to eat this, while you read the book to me."

He cracks me up!

This is a sorting math game.

This is the stacking math game.  You put the number of stacking thingies on the board based on the number of petals on the flowers.  Then we made towers out of them.  We're awesome.

We missed you Grandma!  But hopefully this post will make you feel like you were there.  Love ya! :)

Towels Are Very Important

Yesterday was a pretty good day.  Riley and his best friend E, got baptized.  They are now officially members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Pretty cool.  Zachary and E's brother C sang I'm Trying to be Like Jesus, I was the chorister, my dad gave a talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Emily said the opening prayer.  Everything else was done by members of E's family.  His mom and I planned this together.  Zach and his friend did a pretty great job considering they never got the chance to practice together.  Zach could have sung out more, but I could hear him.  He did really awesome, and I really appreciate those two doing their part to make their brothers' baptism special.
After, we used this occasion as a great excuse to throw a party!  My mom, dad, Emily, Rodney, Jeremy, Kristie, Bonnie, Kayden, Jackson, Ryan D., Taylor, Grandma Day, Melinda and her friend all came to help us celebrate this special ordinance.  Michael and Michele and her family are not living near us any more, so they couldn't make it, but Michael is moving back, and Michele is coming for Thanksgiving!  Woo hoo!  So excited!  We had chicken tortilla soup, and I cried because Joel didn't come.  I told Emily to tell him I was so offended, and really, really extremely hurt, but I couldn't contain myself, and burst into laughter.  Then I cried because I was laughing so much.  It was a great day.  Riley's so awesome.

 Apparently, the party was so awesome and hard core, cups ended up in the trees.

 This is the awesome marble cake I made.  I can be crafty sometimes! :)

 Riley and his dad on his big day.

 Riley

 E.

 We sang happy birthday to Riley because we didn't have birthday party for him.

 Kurtis, Ryan, Kaleb, blurry Melinda.

 Melinda and her friend.

 Riley, Grandma Day, and Jeremy (trying to hide).

 Dad, Emily, and Rodney.  Silly Emily.

 My mom.

 

My parents gave Riley a small Book of Mormon for his baptism.

These are the invitations I made for the baptism.  Then I got kinda lazy, and just took a picture of it and emailed it to everyone in my family.  Except Grandma Day.  She doesn't have email, so she got a real one.  Isn't she the luckiest?!

I didn't take as many pictures as I intended to.  I almost forgot to take any at all, and some how, Kristie and Bonnie avoided the camera all together.  Sigh.  I was too busy being the hostess.  Sorry, Michele, I am not a photo shop artist.  Although, I do think that would be a really cool skill to learn.  So I was unable to photo shop you guys in the pictures.  There was plenty of room for some of you between Kurtis and Ryan, though.  Alas.  I am kicking myself for not getting a picture of Riley and E together, too.  That would have been awesome.  Oh, well.  Sometimes my brain works, and sometimes it doesn't.  I also think we needed to get started.  Our pianist was a little bit late.  Like one minute, but enough to make me wonder if we were going to have to break into the library and get a tape player.  Life is never dull around here.  I totally would have used my awesome lock-picking skills and gotten it, too.  Oh, and Kurtis forgot to pack himself and Riley a towel, so that was interesting.  According to Kurtis, poor Riley, was shivering after the baptism!  E's dad lent them one of theirs, though.  It was a great day.  And no, this time, I am not being sarcastic. ;)

Riley On "Bishops"

Riley will be getting baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Saturday morning.  Before a person gets baptized, they have a Bishop's interview.  They go and talk with the bishop about what happens when you are baptized and what it means.  Things like that.  I was driving Riley to his interview tonight, and I asked him if he was excited.  He said he was kind of nervous.  I said, "Oh, you don't need to worry.  Our bishop is really nice."  "I know.  But what if he wasn't a nice bishop?"  "I've never met a bishop who wasn't nice."  That's true.  All of the bishops I've know have been really kind and loving towards others.  "So in order to be a bishop, you have to be nice?"  "Yeah.  I think that's a really good requirement for a bishop."  After the interview, I asked him, "So, was our bishop nice?"  With a big smile on his face, he said, "Yeah."  "Did you like our bishop?"  "Yeah." Still smiling.  "What do you think of him?"  "He's awesome."