Always Bring A Banana To A Party

That's what the tenth Doctor says anyway...
I'm getting ready for Riley's birthday party.  He wants a Doctor Who themed party.  I made really awesome invitations.  Here.  Check them out:

This is my first idea.  I thought it was awesome.  Then I went on Pinterest and saw some that opened.  I thought those were even cooler.

So they turned into this.  But I wasn't quite satisfied.

So it became this!  This inside is the same.  I'm really pleased with them.

I like throwing my kids parties as long as I don't feel too overwhelmed by it.  This means, I need to start planning things well in advance.  Thus, Riley's birthday isn't until October, but it is time for me to start the planning.  Invitations are done.  Sometimes, that's the hardest part for me.

I was talking with Zach and Riley (Kaleb was upstairs in his room) about their birthday parties.  Zach told me he wants a Minecraft party.  Which is fine.  But then I realized I need to ask Kaleb what he wants for his party.  He's after Riley.

So I asked Kaleb this morning before he went to school what kind of birthday party he wants.  Our conversation went something like this (but I can't remember everything exactly - I was still not quite awake):

Me:  What kind of party do you want for your birthday?
Kaleb:  I'm not sure.  There are so many kinds of parties you can have!
Me:  That's true.  You'll have to let me know when you know.
Kaleb:  I want... I want.... I want a MILK party!
Me:  What is a milk party?
Kaleb:  No, wait!  I want a cow party because cows make milk and you need milk in milk chocolate!
Me:  It sounds like you want a chocolate party.
Kaleb:  I want a cow party!  With milk chocolate!  Will you see if you can borrow Grandma's chocolate fountain?  You should just buy us a chocolate fountain!  Then we can use it whenever we want!

His last party was a chocolate party.  It was awesome.  I guess if it ain't broke don't fix it, right?

Oh, and then there's this.

In Which the Forthcoming Baby Boy Is Celebrated

I never blog any more.  What's wrong with me?  Well, today, I am sick with a cold.  It sucks.  I hate being sick.  I'm hacking up all sorts of stuff and it's great.  That better mean I am on the mend.
But last week, was my sister-in-law's baby shower!  It was so much fun!  I never get to see her very much any more.  She is due September 17th.  I am soooooo very, very excited!

Okay, so I started this post yesterday, realized the laptop upstairs has all my pictures of the shower on it and it was not plugged in or on, so I couldn't get to my pictures to show them to you.  So I quit.  But now, I've prepared better.  I plugged in the laptop and it's on, so I can get to my pictures on it from my computer in the basement and yippee!  I can share them with you now.  Also, while I am not 100% better yet, I do feel much better.  I came home from church (I only went to church at all because I had to give the lesson in Primary) and pretty much slept from 1 until 6 pm.  It was awesome.  Even if I did get woken up by one of the kids bugging me once or twice.  They still haven't learned that when dad is home, and mom is trying to rest, dad is perfectly capable of answering any and all of their questions.  Especially ones regarding what they are going to have for dinner.  I fear that day will never come.  Well, okay.  I don't really fear it.  More like I've accepted that it is a basic truth of my reality.  I just don't like it. Not one bit.  I often scream at them, "WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LET ME SLEEEEEEEEEEP!?" in my head.  Out loud it's not really that intense.

These are basically all of the pictures I took at the shower which is really not like me.  Usually I take more, but I needed a new battery for my camera (It came in the mail a few days ago, and it's like my camera is new again.  I'm so in love!), and I got distracted by talking to people.  You know, being social and all that.

 This is the card I made her.  I found the idea on Pinterest and it is sooooo stinking cuuuuuute!

 My aunts and cousin.  She's having a baby, too! :)

My mom's cousin's wife, my aunt, and my cousin.

 Grandma, Lili's mom, & the guest of honor.

 She's so fun to have around.

 What!  What is a boy doing at a baby shower?  Those are for girls!

He he.  Kaleb said he wanted to come.  I said it probably wouldn't be that fun for him.  I think he disagrees.

 My mom.  Trying not to look at the camera.

 We played one game where we had to guess the cost of a bunch of baby items.  I lost horribly.  Then we ate.  Then there were presents! :)

 Lili's mom gave her this awesome vintage card.

 And also was able to find black t-shirts and jeans for the baby.  So he can look just like his dad. :)

"Do you know how hard it is to find those in all the sizes that I found them!?" She agonized.

I gave her some adorable onesies and a cute pair of jean shorts.  Michele and I also went in on a gift.  I wrapped it and then started talking to her after she opened it.  I forgot to take a picture of her while she was opening it.

But this is what it was.  It's so cute!  I loved mine when I had a crawler.  I could put him in there and make dinner or take a quick shower.  It was the best thing ever!  I wish I could give one to all the new moms.

Well, That's A Dinner Topic I Could Live Without

It's not that I am embarrassed by this topic (although, I probably would be if we had company over).  I'm just really tired of explaining this process to them over and over.  It won't be the last, though.  I just really wasn't in the mood tonight.

Zach:  "You haven't taken us to Surf 'n Swim yet this summer!"

Me:  "You want to go to Surf 'n Swim?"  I knew they did.  I just haven't really been feeling like wearing a bathing suit this year.  I shouldn't feel this way, but I do.  I've gained ten pounds over the last couple of months.

Zach:  "Yes!  You asked us what we wanted to do this summer!"

Me:  "Well, I am not taking you when I am on my period." True story.  I hate going swimming whilst menstruating.  I pretty much hate anything whilst menstruating.  Unless it involves food.

Blank stare. 

Riley:  "What's a period?"

I've had this conversation with them before.  Several times.  I'm kind of tired of it.  I usually use the word "menstruation" when I talk about it.  So I sigh and say, "I'm not taking you while I am menstruating."

Riley:  "What's that?"

I start to explain and Kurtis cuts me off:  "It's when your mom's body makes an egg, but because she didn't get pregnant, the egg doesn't implant itself and comes out and there is lots of blood."

I roll my eyes and start to correct him, but he likes to explain things and so he keeps going:  "The egg doesn't implant itself to the lining of her..."

Me: "Uterus."

Kurtis: "Her uterus, and so the lining comes out and it bleeds.

Me:  "Well, okay, but my body doesn't make an egg.  My eggs are stored in my ovaries and once a month an egg is released into my Fallopian tubes and if it isn't fertilized by your dad, and implanted into the lining of my uterus, it sloughs off."

Riley:  "We should have another baby."

That's what he got out of that conversation?  Not oh, gee Mom, I'm sorry.  That sounds really unpleasant and I'm sorry you have to go through that so often.  Maybe that was just his solution to the problem.  Oh, well, as long as you are pregnant, Mom, that won't happen and you can take us swimming all the time!

Face-palm.  Kids just don't get it.  At all.

Daleks! Why Did It Have To Be Daleks!?

We watch a lot of Doctor Who in this house.  The boys really love it.  The boys were reminding me about the episodes called Bad Wolf and The Parting of the Ways (Season 1 Episodes 12 & 13).  Zach was telling me his theory of why the people were piles of dust.
Zachary:  I think that when they teleported the people, it just kicked up a lot of dust and made it look like they were turned to dust.

Then this happened:

Kaleb:  I wish I had a teleportation ray.  Then when I had to do my chores, I would just teleport.
Zachary:  I would teleport just to kick up some dust for you to sweep up, Riley.
Riley:  Where would you teleport to?
Kaleb:  Xander's
Riley:  But when you come back, you would still have to do your chores.
Kaleb:  Then I would just telelport again.
Me:  But then I would take away your teleportation and you would be grounded.
Riley:  If Zach uses his teleportation just to kick up dust so I have to sweep it up, will he loose his teleportation?
Me:  Yes.  If you use your teleportation irresponsibly, you will loose it.

Yeah.  My kids are awesome. :)

I Like My Birthdays!

Yesterday was my birthday.  I am now 34 years old.  In Primary on Sunday, they sang to me.  It was really funny because I forgot they would probably do that and so when the Primary President said, "We only have one birthday this week and it isn't a kid.  It's a teacher!  Can you guess who it is?"  I realized what was happening and turned bright red.  I was caught off guard.  Then the Primary chorister said as I sat back down, "She's turning 25!"  I laughed and said, "Yep!  I'm going to be 25 - again!"  Ha ha.
Zach tried to guess my age once, too.  He said, "But Mom, aren't you only 28?"  I looked at him and said, "Do the math on that one.  If you are 12 and I am 28, how old was I when you were born?"  "Uuuum. 16?"  "Yeah.  I did not have any children when I was 16.  I hadn't even met your dad yet."
I had a good day yesterday.  I woke up to Kaleb saying, "Happy birthday, Mom!"  He also had a present for me.  Riley wanted to take my picture when I opened them, so I got on my workout clothes and let him take my picture while I opened this:

That is love.  He said he wanted me to have my own Pokemon cards so we could battle together.

Kurtis took the day off and while I worked out, cleaned my bathroom and got dressed, he took the boys (except Kaleb) to get their hair cut.  Riley got a buzz.  And Kurtis is always trying to touch it now.  It is soft.
Then Kurtis and I went to lunch.  We had to hurry, so we chose somewhere nearby, and Kurtis was feeling a little crazy, so we went to Subway (he never wants to go there, so much so that when I suggest it, I am usually just kidding).  Then we picked up the kids and went to see Despicable Me 2.  It was awesome!  Everyone should see it!  After that, we went and picked up some cupcakes for after dinner.  Then we went home and I opened my presents.
Kurtis got me a Tardis cookie jar, ninja-shaped cookie cutters, and two cds.  He spoiled me this year.   The Tardis cookie jar lights up and makes Tardis sounds.  The kids won't stop playing with it. :D  The cds are Mumford and Sons' Sigh No More and Of Monsters and Men's My Head is An Animal.  I love them both!
After presents, we went to dinner at Costa Vida.  I love that place.  Then we did a little shopping at Target.  We are having a party on Sunday.  Then we got snow cones (Kurtis's new favorite thing) and came home and watched Jurassic Park.  I realized the kids had never seen it and thought, but they must!  I ordered a copy and it arrived on my birthday.  They loved it!  I told them it would be suspenseful.  We had so much fun doing that, we forgot to eat my cupcakes.  But I had mine with my lunch today.  It was a Skor cupcake.  So yummy!

 While I got the tickets, Kurtis and the boys tried out the D-box seats.  They are pretty cool.

 After the show.  They really liked it.

 Playing in the fountain by the cup cake shop.

 Kaleb didn't want a cup cake.  He wanted an ice cream sandwich.  So I made him eat it there.  I didn't want it to melt all over the car.

 It takes all of them to defeat Daddy!

Look!  Google loves me! :D

Escape Artist (My Film Festival Submission)

Yesterday, we got Zach ready to leave for Scout Camp.  Then, I told Kaleb we were ready to go shoot the film for my sister's 2nd Annual (Just For Fun!) Film Festival.  When I re-explained to him what he needed to do, he decide that it was too embarrassing and he wasn't going to do it.  Luckily, Zachary is less-easily embarrassed.  He took the part of "Painting".  We climbed in the car and I told him we were going to the park, and he could play on the swings while I filmed him dressed up as a painting.  He said, "Will there be people there?"  Well, I wanted to do it while everybody was still in church (by everybody, I mean the majority of the population here.  Not everybody would be in church today, duh.), which would cut the likelihood of people being at the park down quite a bit.  I looked at him and said, "Most likely."  "Then, I'm not going to play on the playground."  Every location we filmed at, had to have minimal amounts of people who would see him dressed as a painting.  But hey, at least he did it.  The rest of the short film was filmed in my home.
Our first stop was Castle Park.  Then we went to the Botanical Center (wetlands area).  We saw a pelican.  It was really cool.  I need a new tripod.  I got some really good footage of it, but it's jumpy because my tripod is hard to work with these days.  And it's lopsided.  All my videos lean to the left a little.  It's annoying.
Any way, I used the not shaky bits in the film.  After that, we went to an alley behind the Kaysville Theater and then the sidewalk in front of it.  Then I scrambled up all the locations during editing to make the story flow better.  I think it turned out really cute (in a good way), and I think it's funny, too.
So I must give a big huge thanks to Zachary (who is now off to Scout Camp until Saturday), Riley and Kaleb.  They did a great job in their parts.  I love those guys so much!

I'm No Doctor, But Headache + Throwing Up = Migraine (In My Book)

Am I wrong?  I mean, I could be wrong.  I hope I'm wrong.  Migraines suck and I don't think my eight-year old has enough stress in his life to be experiencing migraines.
This morning, Kaleb woke me up with his quiet crying.  I woke up Kurtis and asked him to go find out why he was crying (What?  It was practically time for him to wake up and get ready for work anyway).  Kaleb said his head hurt really bad.  Sometimes that happens (and let's face it, with him any pain is really bad pain -he just doesn't deal well with it).  I asked him if he wanted to eat something so he could have some ibuprofen.  He doesn't like to take medicine.  It's a battle that sometimes isn't worth fighting.  I figured this was one of those times.
Then after about an hour of being in my bed with me, he threw up.  After he threw up, he said he felt fine and got dressed for the day.  Things seemed normal again.  Then, about an hour later, he threw up again.  And then said he felt fine again, and asked to play Angry Birds on my phone.  He hasn't thrown up since and says his headache is gone.  I even finally got him to eat something.  He's even fighting with his brothers like nothing ever happened.  That's the part I can live without.
Well, we will have to see if this is a one time occurrence or if it becomes something chronic.  I hope not.  I hate doctors.  They always treat me like I'm crazy, or as though they are some sort of superior being here to look down upon me rather than help me.