Dinosaur Train!

Today we had an awesome treat! Butterfield Canyon Elementary had a fun assembly for K-2nd Grade, and they invited parents and preschoolers! "Dinosaur Train" is a show on PBS where a family of cartoon pterodactyls (plus one adopted T-rex!) travel back through prehistoric times by riding the Dinosaur Train through the time tunnel to learn about other dinosaurs. During each episode, Dr. Scott, a paleontologist pops in to teach more about the dinosaur from that day's episode.

This is Dr. Scott:

(The assembly didn't start until 9:45, but I went in and sat down when I took the kids to school...A little more than an hour early!...to make sure we got some good seats! The plus of being there early? Time to go up and meet Dr. Scott!)

They showed a episode of Dinosaur Train, and then when it was over Dr. Scott showed slides of some recent discoveries. He showed skulls of two new dinosaurs that had been found, and he said that we were some of the first kids he's showed the slides to since they were announced! Then he told the kids how they hunt for and discover bones in the earth and talked about the tools they use to dig.

Next Dr. Scott played a game where he would show a slide of an animal (giraffe, lion) and ask the kids if it was a dinosaur. Then he'd show a slide of a dinosaur and talk about what that dinosaur had in common with the animal in the previous slide.



After about 3 different animals, he put up this peacock slide and asked his question. When all the kids answered "NO!", he said, "Oh, see...I finally got you!"

Then he talked about the recent discoveries that show us dinosaurs are like birds...that they had feathers and sat on nests...and how every year we learn something new about dinosaurs that we didn't know before!

He told the kids that they didn't have to wait until they are grown ups to discover dinosaurs...that they could go right out to their back yards and study birds to learn more about how dinosaurs behaved.

You can tell that Brinkley REALLY enjoyed herself...

Then came the really exciting part: Buddy, the baby T-Rex came out to say hi! He stood by the door as the school kids left the room to go back to class and gave them all a High 5 (er, High 2, since that's all the fingers T-Rex has!).

(By the way...Spencer is the blond head blocking Buddy...He didn't sit with us...He sat with his class!)

It was a riot! If there was a down side, it was that after the school kids went back to class we (meaning the preschool moms!) went to say "HI" to Buddy on the way out. Rather than forming a nice, civil line...the mom's sent their kids a-running, until Buddy was mobbed...(Literally...Look at the picture!) He turned around after only 2 minutes, and went to head back into his little room. It was then that Michael and Mia went scrambling to try to at least touch his tail. It would have been fun to get a better picture, but oh well! This one is pretty funny!

We came home, and Michael told me he's going to go outside and start discovering dinosaurs right now.

(Okay...Maybe I'll make him wait until the snow stops!)

All That Jazz...

Wednesday night our awesome Uncle Ryan hooked Lee and Spencer up with some Soo-weet Jazz tickets! (Lee and Tory have gone a few times, and Spencer has been telling us that next time it's HIS turn!) They had a table for 4 (Ryan took Emma!) and they got to eat a big yummy dinner before the game, and then they got to back down to the table at half time for a dessert spread!

Here is a picture of Spencer from their seats...Row 15!...Lee was pretty excited about that!

The game was a good one to watch! In the end, the Spurs beat the Jazz, but the real winner was Spencer! He came home wearing his "Williams" jersey...In a little bit of a cotton candy sugar rush!...and had a GREAT story for show and tell this week!

Thanks for thinking of them, Ryan...They had a blast!

And It Made Me Think...

I watched the movie "10 Things I Hate About You" again the other day, with Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. Several of their movies are on my frequent "re-watch" list (A Knight's Tale, Save the Last Dance, The Prince and Me...) so finding a frequent re-watcher they are BOTH in is totally a treat!

Anyway...There's a scene in the middle where she is mad at him, so to win her back he makes a huge romantic gesture, singing to her from the loudspeaker of the football field while she's practicing soccer. He even enlists the marching band...He sings to her from the bleachers, dancing, being silly, and belting, "I love you baby, and if it's quite alright I need you baby..." until she is smiling, and laughing. Truly a great, romantic, melting moment...makes me want one of my own, where the "prince" sweeps me off my feet...

Then I remember:

...The other night, while I was at work, Lee and the kids had Papa Murphy's pizza for dinner. They also got a Cinnamon Wheel (cause why else would you go there?) dessert pizza. And when I got home from work, sitting on a little plate in the fridge was a slice for me to have today...saved by MY prince. (Sydney told me he was pretty adamant about saving it, too...it wasn't even leftovers...He saved it on purpose!)

...And we found a pulled pork sandwich recipe we wanted to try, and I told Lee I'd make it this week, but instead, he spent time Saturday and Sunday making it, so all I would have to do is re-warm the crock pot on Monday.

...And he stopped and put gas in "my" car so I wouldn't have to.

...Can you hear it? ("I love you baby...") I guess if I'm listening I get those moments all the time!

My favorite flavor...?

I was at work last night, and my boss had put a package of those soft, addictive frosted sugar cookies on the table in the break room for everyone to share. I was sitting at the table reading my book (having already eaten my tasty treat!) when one of the guys who throws freight overnight walks in, grabs a couple, and walks around the corner to his locker.

He comes back after a few minutes and says, totally out of the blue:

"What flavor are these...Diabetes?"

*Snicker*

Didn't know that...

I didn't realize until yesterday that Clairol...or at least someone there!...was ColorBlind!

The box says, "Natural Lightest Golden Brown". And look how great that color looks! All sassy and saucy...

Imagine my surprise when THIS is the color my hair became:

Lightest Golden Brown? Mmm...Nope. =D

I always wanted to try being a redhead...(maybe next time on purpose!)

Best Wake Up Call Ever!

I woke up Sunday to a knock at the door to my bedroom. My little lovelies yelled, "We brought you guys some breakfast!" We open the door to reveal a tray with 2 bowls of Frosted Flakes, a glass of Diet Coke (for Dad!) and a glass of Dr. Pepper (for me!), a string cheese for each of us, and an apple and a banana.

Along with the tray were these two notes...One from Tory (signed by everyone, but he was the author!) and one from Spencer:

(Translation for Spencer's: "I love you bcas you gis mack me so happy" = "I love you because you guys make me so happy")

Aw...They make me all gooey!

Looking Forward!

All hail the return of American Idol! :D Last night was fun!

I wasn't sure I'd enjoy without Simon, but apparently I do!

Growin' Up

Today Sydney had her "Big Girl" shots! (Her selfish mom got something in the mail offering me a $50 gift card if I took her within 4 months of her birthday...and all I have to do is let the doctor stab my kid? Count me in! (I guess I should buy her a little something, too!)) She needed them for middle school anyway, but that is MONTHS away!

Some "Words of Wisdom" from the 12-year-old:

"Today I took a sharp pencil and stabbed myself to see how it was going to feel."

"Dang! Everyone's going to think I picked these out...I said I was going to get dinosaurs." (In reference to her Tweety band-aids)

As I was talking to the doctor as she plotted Syd's growth on the chart (She is in the 5th percentile for height...teeny little thing!) Syd was rambling (something related to the "Megan-envy" she goes through when we talk about how short she is!) while we talked, and we weren't all the way listening to her. Then all of a sudden we both hear her rant out the word "breast" really loud, and we stopped talking and turned to look at her, just LAUGHING...she was totally embarrassed! Hilarious. Wish I had THAT moment recorded!

She was the bravest I've ever seen her at shot time! Not a single tear when they stabbed her. Great job, Syd! :D

Christmas...Part 2!

Because we were up so early, and because we were the first one's visited in the morning, this is the first year we have had time to just enjoy presents before dashing off to someone elses house! It was nice to take an hour to absorb the fun! (Or, if you are Lee, to take a nap!)

Then it was time to drive to Mom and Dad McAlister's house. Mom makes a yummy breakfast quiche that we can't miss! Also, some Rhodes cinnamon rolls and orange rolls...Yum!! We ate breakfast and hung out there for about an hour. (We got to see what the cute Wright girls got for Christmas!) Then we loaded back up and headed to Mom Crabb's house. (And if I sound sleep deprived, you should ask the Crabbs how much sleep they all got Christmas Eve! You'll laugh right out loud!) Grandma always gives the kids such fun stuff! The girls always get these great "to do" things that match...quilts that you knot together, how to make friendship bracelet kits...always among the first things opened the next day! Crabb's were a little obsessed with the world of Zhu-Zhu/Kung Zu this year...even I got one, complete with motorcycle and side car AND a baby hamster! I also got the coziest blanket in the whole world...I love it! :D There were remote control cars for the boys and a pillow pet for Michael. Spencer may have gotten the coolest thing. It's a "Build it yourself" playhouse, made out of foam that the kids get to "saw" and hammer nails into themselves. I'm so excited to open it and check it out! (I'm stalling a little until spring...I think he'd have more fun with it outside!) After presents at Crabb's, it's time for all the food in the world! We all go hang out in the kitchen while Jennie and Shawn do most of the work! :D But we keep them company well! It was great just to relax and visit. I feel like when I spend time with them, it's usually at some event (concert or a show!) so we don't get to visit like I'd like to! I had a good time.

We were there for several hours, then we loaded up the car and headed over to McAlister's again. (This time, the Richins were there, too...Oh, what cute girls!) We went down to open presents. Mom and Dad gave all their kids Cuisinart Ice Cream machines...complete with ice cream mix! We've used ours four times already, and we love it! It mixes the ice cream, and then you get to choose your "mix-ins" and it adds them as it dispenses! Awesome! The kids all got an outfit each, plus a couple of toys...Spencer got a ripstick, Michael got laser tag remote control cars, the girls both got gift cards so they could go shopping, and Tory got finger skateboards.

We are just all so grateful for the generosity of all those that we love! I know that we are lucky to have what we do...in terms of jobs, money, but also in terms of how lucky we are to belong to such loving families. We know if we need anything, we just need to ask...It's really a blessing to know that. We love you guys!

Hope everyone else had as great a Christmas as we did! Hooray, 2011!!

Christmas...Part One!

It's a long overdue review of the holiday. And boring, because I'm not posting any pictures right now, either. My computer has been acting up...Basically, that means that I could only do one thing on it a day, since it took almost that long just to start up. Lee fixed it, but it took restoring it to factory settings to do it. And I just can't commit NOW to re-loading all my pictures. So there.

Let me just say that my kids were (as they always are!) totally spoiled! There is way too much love...and OVER-giving!

I worked on Christmas Eve...That's what happens when you work retail!...but the store closed at 6:00, so I wasn't there too late. Then for the first time ever, we all stayed home on Christmas Eve. It was kind of nice to have the quiet and calm, but we missed seeing all the McPhie family. (My tank is definitely nearing empty after missing the Thanksgiving get-together AND the Christmas one!) The kids went to bed in my closet (yeah...it's that big. Five kids can camp out of the floor at the same time...!) to minimize peeking. :D The Lee and I put out our gifts and headed to bed.

The next morning, we had to be ready by 6:00 AM. (For years, Anna has been inviting her folks (my in-laws!) to come over and watch the kids open gifts in the morning. This year, they decided to take her up on it...and you can't watch just ONE family open gifts! Good grandparents hit ALL the houses!) And frankly, we were up anyway. Darn kids! :D So we all got ready and dressed for the day in the new pajamas Santa brought in our stockings! (One of my favorite parts of Christmas...I wish jammies were acceptable as clothing more often in my life!)

Gift Highlights:

Sydney...She finally got the cell phone she's been asking for since she was FIVE!! (Whatever, Santa. I was good all year...I'm not sure why she get's a phone!) So Santa is the bomb, but her not-so-awsome folks only gave her 300 text messages a month. I know it's not enough, but I wanted to see her actually watch the texting. So far, so good. In fact, it's kind of hilarious to see her freak out about it. ("Ryan has to answer every text! Like I say "Bye", and she has to say "Bye" back!") She also got new clothes (fashionista!) and new bedding and room decor in her favorite turquoise blue color!

Megan...Santa brought her the iPod Touch she's been asking for. And it's the NEW version, complete with camera! She also got lots of clothes...that's what she really wanted!...and new bedding and a lamp. She was also pretty excited about the crystal square with the Salt Lake Temple inside and the new light-up base to put it on. (Maybe I'll take and post a picture for those who aren't sure what I'm talking about!)

Tory...He also wanted the iPod Touch and Santa obliged. "X-Games" bedding, some skinny jeans and a new "Not puffy" coat that he's not embarrassed to wear in front of his friends!

Spencer...Asked Santa for a Paper Jams Guitar. He has been jamming ever since. (Mom loves that it has a headphone plug...!) He wanted new Harley Davidson bedding...He loves it. It's so funny to me! He also got the Imaginext Space Shuttle...very cool...comes complete with aliens!

Michael...Kept asking Santa for the Blue Dragon. (I'm glad Santa knew what he was talking about!...Whew!) He got the Imaginext BatCave, and How to Train Your Dragon bedding.

The three boys wanted the Kung Zu Battle Arena so their hamsters could do battle. And so I went and bought a hamster for Lee so he could join in the fun! (He thinks I'm a dork, I know!) But he also got lots of needed clothes for work, including a new striped Old Navy jacket that I think is fantastic.

I got a vacuum that stays on long enough to actually vacuum a whole room...Yay! :D And a BluRay player. That's pretty exciting!

And that was all before we left OUR house! Crazy, right?

Sledding...

One of the greatest things about my house is that I live on a hill. So when the kids want to sled, I am not required to dress warm and drive them somewhere. I can sit inside my toasty house, and watch and laugh through the windows! It is truly fabulous. 'Cause me and cold, not really friends. And when it's as cold as it's been lately, um, no.

But best of both worlds...Mom stays warm, kids get to sled and come inside looking for hot cocoa and cozy blankets. (And, they don't all have to be done together, which also happens when we GO sledding.)