Ironic Crap!

Did I just offend anyone by using the word, "CRAP"? If so I am sorry and you better not read any more.

Yes, "crap," is one of my vices. It comes out of my mouth at least once a day. But, it is a lot better than a whole lot of other words that I sometimes wish to use. Unfortunately your little weaknesses can be passed down to your children.

Halle has a lot of "friends" that use a lot of bad words. (And when I say bad words - I mean the worst words that you can use!!!) She has come home several times crying because they have used words that she knows are bad and she has also been called a "lesbian" by these so called friends. She has had the courage to tell her friends she doesn't like that kind of language and to stop - but being the great "friends" that they are they haven't stopped one bit. She now walks away when they start using bad language. (This apparently all happens during lunch time - are there no adults around?!)

I was helping out in Halle's classroom yesterday. The kids all went outside to work on a science project for a few minutes while I was still inside grading spelling tests. As they were going out the door Mrs. Nye yelled at one of the students - telling her that her language was not appropriate and to never use that word at school again. I didn't hear what the student said so I have no idea to what word in particular she was referring too. She was mad at the student and yelled at her - but didn't give her any type of punishment.

As the kids all come back into the classroom the teacher approached me and warned me that she was giving Halle a Think Time for saying the word "crap." I was totally shocked. Seriously?! Another student that is always misbehaving and just said a bad word gets yelled at and my daughter who says the word, "crap," is getting a think time?! I was so in shock I didn't know what to do. I want to support the teachers - and if my kid is doing something wrong - they deserve what ever punishment they get. But I didn't think this was right at all. But I also didn't want to argue with her in front of the whole class.

Poor Halle was bawling and bawling. After their lesson on the floor concluded the teacher approached me again. "I think Halle has learned her lesson. I won't send her to think time this time." Gee thanks, lady - you think?!

I didn't get a chance to talk with Halle again until after school. We joked about not ever saying the word, "CRAP!" in front of Mrs. Nye again. I told her that her teacher went a little too far and to just remember the classroom rules. Halle explained that she was telling people not to step in the dog crap outside. So she actually used the word quite correctly and was trying to help people not step in crap or smell like crap by warning them about crap.

I guess we can just say that yesterday was a very crappy day!

What do you think about the word, "crap"?

Daughter Date to the Dancing Princesses

Last night Halle and I attended the Spokane Youth Ballet's performance of The Dancing Princesses.

I have been wanting to take Halle to a ballet for some time now. I vividly remember the first ballet I saw. I was 10 years old, I was living in England, it was Sleeping Beauty, and it was a school field trip. My memories are a swirl of beautiful emotion seeing music alive through movement. I was completely enthralled. I remember getting books about ballet from the library afterwards and trying to practice all the steps and moves in the illustrations. But I quickly realized I would never be a dancer - just an appreciator.

I was very nervous about the whole ordeal. I've never really spent money on entertainment before (except date nights with my hubby). I hate driving into downtown Spokane and I really, really loath finding parking. But all went well!!! No getting lost, no accidents, and I found a great parking spot - totally free.

Halle and I had a small walk in the rain and had fun avoiding all the ginormous puddles accumulated on the sidewalks and crosswalks. Our seats were great. Pretty close - where we could really see the stage, and a little off to the side. There were mostly kids and moms seated around us. Just one dad to be seen in our little section. Just one 6'5" dad with the biggest, broadest head you have ever seen. And who was he sitting in front of? Me of course. Luckily his little kid was sitting in front of Halle and she had a great view. My view was great as long as leaned to the left or right of the BIG HEAD! I had stuffed our coats under Halle to help give her a boost up in her seat - I should have brought a couple more so that I could have had a boost too.

The dancers, costumes, and back drops were fantastic. Especially cute were a bunch of 3 to 4 year olds running around in overly sparkly fairy costumes. The funnest part for me though was to turn and face my daughter and watch her face. She was completely engaged - every story line and emotion written on her face. I hope she had a great of a time as I did and that this will be one of those memories she will cherish for ever.

Hello 2011

It is a brand new year. I'm excited for so many changes and have a ton of goals - which I am really, really, really going to obtain this year. One of course - is to keep up on my blogging.

I really want this year to count as a good one because it is my last year to be in my 30's. Yes, that big old 40 will be sneaking up on me before I know it - and I want to be fabulous before I hit that number.

Another big inspiration was the Relief Society lesson that I taught yesterday on keeping the Sabbath day holy. I am really good from refraining from things that I should not be doing - but I really haven't made it a wonderful and joyful and sanctified day. So yesterday I shared my lesson with my kids and we talked about how we can make our Sundays better - especially now that church is in the morning and we have the whole rest of the day. We set a goal to scrapbook/journal every Sunday, read from the Friend, write letters to missionaries and family members and have quiet time (so mom can take a nap!). I would also really like to incorporate some service into our Sundays - I still need to think about what we can do to help others as a family (so any ideas - pass them on!).

I have also realized how very quickly little toddlers turn into children and then tweens. I want to devote much more time to my family - the time is really counting down until they leave the nest.

I've also started on some fix-it projects around the house and am finally getting ready to actually decorate the house that we have now lived in for 9 years. Yes, I'm a little slow on some things - but I am getting there.

So hello New Year - I've got a lot planned for you this year. Wahooooo!!!!!!!

Excited for Snow?

You know your child is excited for a snow day when you wake them up in the morning and they have put on their snow suit during the night and fallen asleep in it. That was Sean this morning.

Last year all the adult prayers were answered and we finally had a mild winter after having two years in a row of very excessive snow fall.

This year the kid prayers were answered and we will be getting another plentiful season of snow. They were very sad to have missed out on building snowmen and sledding last year.

"Snow" is the "s" word to me. I can't stand the stuff. It is cold and wet and I can't ski worth beans - so it has no value what so ever for me. In fact - it makes me really grumpy to see snow.

But my kids see it as magical and exciting. So I am trying to live through their eyes.

Sean made a snowman the very first snowfall (barely covered the ground) - it was very small - but well made nevertheless.

The kids have enjoyed having snowball fights, shoveling the snow (all over the place - not exactly helpful), throwing it up in the air, and making snow angels. And all day long they have talked about going sledding. And, they keep playing outside (something they haven't done lately in the last few weeks).

So as long as I don't have to drive around - bring on the snow and lots of fun.

10-10-10

Celebrating October 10, 2010 (10-10-10) was a big deal for Chris and I. It marked our 13th wedding anniversary. We haven't done a lot of big things for our anniversaries but thought we should this year.

Chris had heard of a fun little bed and breakfast inn from some friends and booked us a room for a romantic weekend. After booking our room, we were later emailed by the inn that they were having an October special - where any room was only $99. So Chris immediately upgraded us to one of the bigger and more expensive rooms - the "Island Suite."

Chris' parents gladly took the kiddos for the weekend - starting with Friday night and then meeting them back up at church on Sunday.

On Friday we had a fun time at the home of some of our friends. It was the husband's birthday - so we had a delicious dinner and played some fun games. Unfortunately Chris only stayed for dinner and then headed out to the Ferris football game (he gets paid to do "crowd control"). I stayed for a while longer but then headed home as I still had to get my Relief Society lesson completed for Sunday.

Our original plans for Saturday were to go to the temple, watch a movie, go out to eat and then head for the inn. Unfortunately the temple was closed and there wasn't a movie at all that appealed to us to watch. So what did we do? Oh, we are so romantic!!!! Chris finished grading papers and preparing his Monday lessons. I continued to work on my Relief Society lesson.

We did get some shopping in - mostly looking. And then we finally headed to the Outback Steakhouse for some yummy dinner. I haven't been there for years.

As we drove to Newport it was rainy and dark - but it made the drive all the more romantic to me. I love the rain.

The inn was spectacular. It is right on Diamond Lake and had a wonderful atmosphere. We stayed in the Island Suite which had it's own entrance since it was an addition to the original house. It had a huge bed, whirlpool tub, rain shower, fireplace and flat screen TV. Chris and I took a little stroll down to the lake (in the rain). We then had a great and relaxing evening - with NO KIDS!!!!!

In the morning we slept in (no church meetings!!!!!) and then enjoyed a fabulous breakfast in the breakfast area of the inn. It was a three course breakfast - and it was totally scrumptious. I would totally go there again sometime.

Then it was back to reality - driving back to Spokane and arriving at church ready to put our callings back on.

It was a nice and memorable weekend.

I love you Chris - thanks for the last 13 years - they've been the best of my life and I'm looking forward to another 13, and another 13 and another 13 for ever.

Chris always buys me beautiful flowers for any special occasion.

Chris and I enjoying our room and enjoying just being by ourselves for the weekend.

A view of the inn from the lake at the back. It was raining during our little romantic walk.

The view in the morning of Diamond Lake from our balcony.

In case you are interested in The Inn at the Lake, here is the website: http://www.innatthelake.com/

September Review

Back to School

The first day of school this year was on Thursday, September 2nd. There was some nervousness and excitement. I'm so glad my children enjoy school. Chad was looking forward to being back with friends and finding out about his new teacher (who was new to the school this year). Halle was excited that she had her best friends in her class and the teacher she wanted (Mrs. Nye - who had previously taught kindergarten). Sean was just looking forward to having school all day, having lunch at school, and riding the bus home with his siblings. Okay, I guess I was the only nervous one.

A bright looking crew! Sean - 1st grade. Chad - 4th grade. Halle 3rd grade.

A Story About Halle

Halle is usually a very helpful and obedient child. She does well at school and has the perfectionist gene. A couple of weeks into school I got a phone call from her teacher. She had gotten into big trouble. As I listened to the story the teacher told me I just could not believe that this was my child (let alone Halle) that had done this.

I was told that Halle went to the bathroom (they have their own stall out in the portable) and then locked the door from the inside and left it that way for the next person. It was a mean thing to do. This just didn't sound like Halle - she is a great tease for her brother but she has never been purposely malicious before - and especially at school. The teacher said she confronted her (there was proof that she had been in there). At first she said she didn't do it, then she started crying and admitted to the crime. They talked and Halle was warned that the teacher would be watching her and would have to call home and tell her parents what had happened.

After the phone call I confronted Halle. She admitted to doing the deed through big sobbing tears. She was so upset. I lashed out at her and asked her why she did it. Why would she be so thoughtless and mean?! Didn't she know the next person wouldn't be able to use the bathroom, or would have to crawl on the yucky floor to get under the door? She wouldn't answer and just kept crying. I was so mad and embarrassed - but tried to remain calm.

Later that night Chris and I both talked to her some more. She finally explained the whole story. While in the bathroom, she discovered that she could manipulate the lock from the outside of the bathroom stall. She was able to lock it from the outside. She locked and unlocked it several times in the excitement of her discovery. Then she heard another person coming into the bathroom. She panicked - knowing she wasn't supposed to be playing in there and hurry and got out when the other girl came in. She hadn't really thought about if the stall door was still locked or unlocked.

Then when a complaint was made about the bathroom stall door being locked she was panicked. She was embarrassed about what she had done and didn't want anyone to find out. But when her name was mentioned as being a person who was just in there - then she knew she didn't want to lie and confessed.

Once she told me this story - it made much more sense. I could definitely see Halle being bored and discovering something new. I knew that she would never do something like that just as a joke or to be mean. So not that is was okay - she still didn't think her actions through all the way - but now I understood how she had got into that predicament. I think she learned multiple lessons through this experience.

A Story About Chad

The school letters came rather late this year. The children were getting very anxious about who their teachers would be for the new year. They didn't find out until 3 days before school started. We knew 4th grade was going to be a surprise no matter what. Both 4th grade teachers were new to the school this year. So there were no expectations about teachers - just about friends being in the same class. Unfortunately (or fortunately) Chad did not get his best friends in his class. They got the new teacher, Mrs. Weigle (whose name I still can't remember how to pronounce correctly). Chad got Mrs. Smith. So to try and cheer him up and have some positive feeling towards this new teacher he had never met yet, I said, "Isn't great that you get the teacher whose name is easy to say. Isn't Mrs. Smith a great name to remember?"

Chad looked at me and was silent for a moment, probably trying to figure out why I had just said what I said. Then all of a sudden he had an epiphany and exclaimed, "Yea, mom. Mrs. Smith is just like Joseph Smith. Cool, huh mom?!"

I loved that his first connection with his teacher was to relate her to Joseph Smith. I love it when moments like that happen.

A Story About Sean

One evening I was fixing dinner. From the piano room I could hear someone singing. As I concentrated on the sound I could hear Sean singing the BINGO song. He was singing it from start to finish and adding all the claps as letters disappeared. I was already enjoying a small chuckle to myself to hear him singing and clapping when I decided to peek in on him. Not only was he singing to full lung capacity but he was conducting the song to an imaginary audience. He was standing on the very edge of the arm of the couch. Looked like he was trying to be the teacher. It was so cute I knew it was a moment I had to remember.

Sean creates his name out of play dough. He was so excited to be such a big boy and to have Mrs. Miller (who Halle had just previously had the last two years).

Chad the big 4th grader gets put right to work with his new teacher, Mrs. Smith.

Halle the 3rd grader knows how to stand out in a crowd.




Labor Day

For Labor Day weekend we just stayed at home and worked on a few projects that didn't get finished up during the summer. For Labor Day (September 6th) we had just a fun relaxed weekend. Our only activity was to go to the park and hang out together and then BBQ hamburgers when we got back home.

Three crazy munchkins ready to be spun, and spun, and spun. It makes me dizzy just to watch them.

Halle brought her new soccer ball to get some practice in for the new season.






Dad teaches Sean some football moves.







Chad practices throwing his football through the holes in the play set.



School Hawaiian Luau

Every year at Adams they have a school BBQ where the parents are invited to eat lunch with their kids. Usually it has always been a western theme. This year they decided to mix things up a bit and go with a Hawaiian Luau BBQ. So, what made it Hawaiian? How you dressed up of course. They still had the same menu - Cheeseburger, potato salad, watermelon, bag of chips, and an ice-cream treat. Oh, they did throw on some pineapple - I suppose that made all the difference, right?!

The kids decked out in their Hawaiian gear and ready for a fun day at school.




Grandma and Bompa were able to make it this year. Here they are sitting with Chad and his friends during his lunch period.




We went through the lunch line and had lunch with Sean since this was his first year of having school lunches. Sean enjoys his ice-cream treat first.



Halle came and joined us too.


Cross Country

I made Chad and Halle do cross country this year. It is a school activity where they practice running for an hour twice a week. Mostly I just wanted them to stay in shape and be active. But it also kept us very busy as Halle is also involved with soccer and Chad with football. And they are both taking piano lessons. So life have been extremely busy and a struggle to fit in homework, scouts, activity days and sports practices.

The first cross country meet was on Wednesday - September 29th at Mullen Road Elementary. They have never run in a race before and I was really nervous for them. But they both did a great job.

Halle coming to the finish line. She did great for her first race ever!!!! She came in 7th place for the 3rd grade girls and qualified to run the All City Meet with a time of 7.53 minutes. I was quite flabbergasted! I wasn't even expecting her to run the whole mile - let alone do so awesome.




Here comes Chad to the finish line. Chad has great long running legs - but still needs to work on some endurance. He did a great job too. He finished 21st for the 4th grade boys with at time of 8.33 minutes.

I'm just so proud of both of them for trying something hard and new. Sean is looking forward to running next year (and so am I).

California City Pass - III

I've never been to Disneyland more than one day at a time. It seemed quite extraordinary to be able to spend three whole days there. Our morning on the third day started out with tiny gastropods.

The boys had a blast finding plenty of snails on the bushes on the walk to Disneyland. Nanny was brave enough to join in the fun too.

A picture of the whole gang (minus photographer) in a tea cup.

Me and my girl.

Quite the catch - some grandparents and their grandchildren. I think we should keep them.

Another attempt at a family picture.

Part of our third day was an excursion to the Lego store (to appease the boys for not going to Legoland). They found plenty to be excited about! In fact they were all done with Disneyland once they got their Lego fix.

The boys wanted a photo with their Lego purchases. They saved up for almost a whole year so they could by stuff at Disneyland. And then they go and by Lego sets. Crazy boys.

C is for California Adventure and for the Caviness Family.

Chad's most daring ride was the Matterhorn.

Halle and Sean touch the poison apple.

Watch out here comes the witch!

Our last day of Disneyland comes to a close.

We got to watch fireworks 3 out of 4 nights. We watched from our Hotel a couple of nights. We missed one night when we saw the Electric Parade. But we got up close for the last night and celebrated with lights and music. They were crazy packed days but I hope everybody had fun and I hope my children remember it all for a long, long time.