Our Thanksgiving Adventures

1. "Are we there yet?" really means, "give me another snack and I'll stop talking," "what else do you have for me to do because I'm bored," "I want to watch a different movie," and "I had no idea that 'vacation' meant spending 12 hours in the car."

2. Throw up all over the kitchen floor and discussions of this matter, while eating Thanksgiving dinner, is a good way to minimize your desire to eat until your pants won't zip up.

3. Parker crying really means, Blake hit Parker, Blake looked at Parker, Blake walked towards Parker, Blake took a toy away from Parker, or Parker just didn't feel good.

4. Thanks to Michael, Blake now knows how to talk back and shout, while shaking his finger, "no, no, no, no!!"

5. "Making Mud," for a 3-year old, is much more fun than using a toilet!

6. You haven't truly experienced the lights at Temple Square unless you go with screaming children in the freezing cold and forget your camera!

7. There is nothing like experiencing a BYU victory to the Utes in Provo, Utah!

8. Tucano's is always worth the wait--especially when the store next door is giving away free prizes, food, crafts for the kids, a visit with Santa, and has cheesey middle school performers singing Christmas songs.

9. Sleeping in your own bed never felt so good--especially after sleeping on a flat air mattress.

10. No trip would be complete without tons of goodbye tears, hugs, and kisses!

Hunting for Geodes

Below is a list of three things I (Devon) really want to do. I got to check one off my list this week. I had a plan to go Geode hunting last Thanksgiving. But everyone chickend out because of the cold weather, and hour drive.

This time around, I recruited, Kim's, Grampa Roush to go with me. He might be about 80, but he is a die hard “Rock Hound." We left for the Dugway Geode Mine at about 5:45 a.m., it took 2.5 hours to get there. On the way we passed some deer, a wild horse herd, and lots of Antelope. I had not seen Antelope since I was 12, with my Grandpa Haycock.

After an hour and a half we got to the old Pony Express exchange and rest spot. I

quickly realized, since the pony express stopped with the expansion of the Locomotive, nobody in their right mind had come back out this way. Then we traveled about 50 more miles on a dirt rock road. We finally arrived at the Geode mind, that was really two back hoe dug holes in the middle of hell. When we got out of the door, the cold air tore threw my sweater, gloves, and shoes. I put on every layer of clothes I could find. Grandpa, one of the toughest 80 year olds you will ever meet, lasted outside for about 10 minutes. While he got back into the truck to warm up, I kept digging. Finding an interesting vein in the rock sentiment, I started to hack at the frozen solid earth. Soon I came across my first Geode. Minutes later I came across my second Geode. It was the older brother of the first, and about 5” in diameter. From what I read online, I knew this was pretty big for this area. The Geode was very heavy. Most Geodes are lighter, because they are hollow.

Holding my prized Geode, my high hopes were riding on the contents of its core. Being so heavy, my expectations were low. We looked for another two hours, never coming across a Geode even half it’s size. After my limbs where frozen, and my body sore from digging in the frozen tundra. We packed up and left for Salt Lake. The next day, we went to Grandpa Roush’s home, where he conviently has a diamond saw to cut Geodes. We loaded my Geode up, and closed the top. It took about 15 minutes to cut, and when it opened up, you can see what I saw below!

Well to say I was excited, would be an understatement. It was the most beautiful Geode I had ever seen. I have another picture below, so you can see the size of my Geode, compared to the typical size we found.

I would like to thank my beautiful wife, for letting me leave for half a day, and dig in the dirt, while she watched the kids. I can’t wait to go to Tennesse next, where I plan to take a little trip over to Arkansas, and dig for Diamonds!

People Say The Strangest Things!

Being a young mom of three, and living in Southern California, I am often stunned and surprised by the things people say to me when I am out with the kids. For example:

• Blake attracts attention from others easily because he is still so chubby. His fat cheeks are irresistible. One day, I was entering the Post Office and a lady passing by shouted, "Do you breastfeed him?" Embarrassed, I quickly replied, "Not anymore, he's 16 months!" Of course, I was thinking, "how rude to even ask, you don't even know me!"

• Once again, I was approaching the Gym, with all three kids in tote, and a lady exiting the gym took one look at me and said, "I never had to exercise, until now, because I had 7 children that I chased around." Who knows what this ladies comment meant, but, of course all I could think that she meant was that I must not get as much exercise chasing 3 kids around, as she did with 7, so it's a good thing I go to the gym.
  

• Last, but not least (there are more I could share, but this surpasses them all!), I was out, today, getting the oil changed on the car and the mechanic took one look at me and at the kids and said, "You look really young, are they all yours?" I smiled and nodded and said, "I am young." He said, "How old are you, 25?" Again, I smiled (of course feeling totally giddy that he thought I looked 25) and answered, "Actually, I just turned 30." I watched his face turn from that "oh, you're young look" to "oh, you're not as young as I thought." Then, he said, and here's the kicker, "Well, you look young. Your husband must give you a really good time!" As my eyeballs widened and my jaw dropped to the floor, my thoughts said, "GASP!! Did he mean what I think he meant?"

Like I said, people really do say the strangest things!

6 Random Tidbits...

Now that I've been tagged...here are some random tidbits about myself...

1. My favorite TV show, when I was little, was "Little House on the Prairie."

2. In Jr. High, I wanted to tryout for cheer leading, and, while practicing my routine, I tripped over my dog and sprained my ankle.

3. All throughout Elementary School my hair was permed and I had huge feather bangs!!

4. I really HATE driving on the freeway! After 3 car accidents and 2 nicks in a parking lot (while in H.S.) I still get sweaty palms and a racing heart beat while driving on the freeway.

5. In the 7th Grade, I loved the group "Milli Vanilli" ("Blame it on the Rain..."). One day, my dad told me that they were "of the devil," and that I needed to throw the tape away. For weeks, I was horrified that he wanted me to throw my favorite tape away. I obeyed, put it in the trash, and immediately took it back out. I couldn't part with it! It was just too good! As a matter of fact, I have added two of their songs to the top of my Music Playlist for your listening pleasure!

6. My first job, in H.S, was at Auntie Anne's Pretzels in the mall. To this day, I can't stand the smell or taste of pretzels!

There you have it! Just a few, very random, things about me. First, I am going to tag Christie, and as a welcome to the blogging world, I am going to tag my most recent blogging friends...Darci, Amanda, and Melissa!

Just One More Hat to Wear!

I am many things...a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, chocolate covered strawberry lover, blogger, singer, coke drinker, housekeeper, chauffer, diaper changer, laundry sorter/folder, owie kisser, shopper, hair stylist, teacher, mediator, baby onesie maker, vinyl letter/wall word designer, and NOW, officially, a new Pilates Instructor!

I don't think I have ever worn so many different hats in my life, but I am very excited to add this one to the list! After completing the training, the mentoring, and the application, audition, and interview process...it is official...I am hired!

Aquadots VS. Joe Camel

Many of you have wondered what these fantastic little toys are...so I have provided a picture! I sure hope these cute kids that posed for the picture are still alive! Who wouldn't want aquadots after seeing how much fun the kids in the picture are having! First, there was the famous Joe Camel pushing cigarettes to kids, now we have the aquadot twins pushing the date rape drug to 3-year olds.

Aquadots

We have this point system that we use with our kids. Once they have accumulated a certain amount of points--we reward them with something big. For months Luke has been asking for Aquadots. He saw them on TV and just couldn't stop talking about them. Finally, after two months of earning points, he earned his Aquadots. He and Taylor couldn't wait to get their hands on them and start creating shapes and things with these Aquadots. However, they looked much easier to use on TV than they were in real life. They are these teeney tiny balls that you set on a template to make a picture and then spray them with water and they stick together (does that make any sense?). Anyhoo, Devon said, out loud, that he didn't think the kids should play with those when Blake was around. He thought it seemed weird the way they reacted to being wet and didn't want to chance it with Blake.

To make a long story short...two days ago, Devon came home from work and said that there was a recall on Aquadots, but he didn't know why. Later on that night, on the news, we learned that the reason the Aquadots were being recalled was because they are coated with a chemical that, when induced, metabolizes into the equivalent of the date rape drug and causes immediate comas in children and, in two instances, children can die!!!

Yes! My children have been playing with a lethal drug. Blake has handled them in his hands when I wasn't looking! They have been spilled on the floor and scattered throughout the house. Yesterday, I went on an Aquadot hunt and found them in the Legos, in the coat closet, under the hutch, in the carpet, everywhere.

Today, we are taking the Aquadots back!!! Luke asked if he could play with them this morning. When I told him he couldn't he threw the biggest fit and cried...they are his favorite toy. Of course, I couldn't tell him that his favorite toy could potentially kill him. So, I did the thing any loving parent would do, I bribed him with a bigger, better toy and it worked!

I May Be 30, But I've Still Got It!

Turning 30, wasn't exactly easy. For the last 6 months, I have been dreading turning this number. Despite the fact that everyone kept telling me that I was approaching the best decade of my life, the thought of turning 30 did not bring feelings of joy only feelings of dread. In fact, for the last 6 months, every time someone would ask me how old I am, I would immediately answer, "29, but I'm almost 30." Then, all of a sudden, logic sunk in and I realized how stupid of me that was! Why did I label myself as being 30, for so long, when I wasn't? I should have relished in being 29 for as long as I could. In my mind, 30-year olds were grown-ups with mortgages, nice cars, careers, children, and bigger butts. But, wait, I have all of those things...so it is true...I am a grown-up! Now that I have established that I am 30 (and a grown-up); I have decided that instead of feeling dread and sadness towards turning 30 and mourning my 20's, I would rather think that, although, I may be 30, I've still got it! And here's why:

• I am self-assured in who I am. I know what I want and how to get it!
• I've got a rockin' new hairdo. An updated hairdo always keeps you young (right?).
• Most people don't think I am a day over 25 (or so I like to think).
• I've got great taste in music!
  
• I can run for 35-45 minutes straight without getting winded!
• I am more flexible than I was at 20--thanks to Pilates!
• The husband still hates to see me go, but LOVES to watch me leave! As the husband says, "it's that honky tonk badonkadonk!"
  
• I am sexy (or so I like to tell myself).
• I am a fantastic mom...I can brush my teeth, give the kids a bath, shave my legs, pack a lunch, kiss the husband good-bye, change a diaper, and talk on the phone all at the same time (hee hee).
  
• I have become, somewhat, an expert at multi-tasking.
• I graduated from College and have my degree.
• I am married.
• I survived three pregnancies, three labor and deliveries, three nursing babies, and am raising 3 children all under the age of 5.
• I auditioned for American Idol (if that doesn't mean I've got it, then I don't know what does!).
• I have a great family and terrific friends!

I'm sure there is more that I could add, but if that doesn't mean I've got it, then I don't know what does!

As a side note, I had a terrific birthday! It was definitely a birthday hullabulloo to remember! Devon bought me some beautiful earrings from Tiffany's to signify my turning 30. My friend gave me a party to remember. Then, Devon pampered me for the day with a pedicure, new cut and highlights in my hair, and a night on the town, ALONE (Yes, NO Kids!)! We went to a movie and to Roy's with some friends and had a great time. It was a blast turning 30!

Happy Halloween

Phew, I made it...I survived turning "that" number! There will be more on "that" topic later. For now, I thought I would share some cute Halloween pictures of the kids.

Our very own, very sweet, Pumpkin

"Dash" from the Incredibles. I swear, he could pass as the real thing.

And, Tigger...isn't he cute!

I even dressed up as a hillbilly.

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween too!