General Conference Activity Packet

For those of you who would like a General Conference Activity Packet I was just emailed a blog site that has a packet you can print up and use this weekend. Go to coloroftheskyinmyworld.blogspot.com to see the packet and decide if it is something you would like to use for your family. Have fun listening to General Conference this weekend!!!

Reflections

My two oldest are currently working on their Reflections entries. We had a glitch with the Walmart photo processing system and they messed up with developing one of the pictures. My second oldest boy has yet to chose from the pictures he took last week. We will do that tomorrow. Anyways here is one of the Reflections entries.

Super Boys

As my two oldest boys work on their Reflections pictures I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a few pictures of my own. I saw this field of flowers on the way to Walmart and one of my boys used it to take some pics of his brothers. I also took each boy aside and snapped some pictures. We were not the only ones using the field I noticed. Another family had the same idea to use the field for a family picture. My boys each wore a super hero cape. They sure are super characters!!! Each with their own unique personality. They make me laugh, make me smile, make me cry sometimes, make me shake my head often in amazement (more in the area of "what were you thinking when you did that" category), but overall make me glad I'm their mom.

Wheeler Farm

On Saturday we went to Wheeler Farm as a family to enjoy the activities which were sponsored by Marcus' school (he attends Head Start).  The boys had a great time on the inflatable slide, bounce house, and wagon ride.

We also checked out the chickens, pigs, sheep, and turkeys.  Brett asked Gage if he wanted to chase the rooster which was not in a cage.  It is our running joke to ask Gage about chasing roosters as Gage has told us a number of times that once he chased a rooster at his Grandpa's and the rooster turned on him, chased after him and pecked him on the butt.  

If you look carefully you can see Brett behind the tractor in the picture below.

When we checked out the barn with an unknown large black animal in it, Gage quickly identified it as a cow peeking around the doorway.  As the boys looked at the cow from behind the safety of the fence, suddenly the cow charged out of the doorway towards the boys and didn't stop until at the fence.  They ran away yelling, some laughing.  Marcus was the first to go back to the fence to try and make the cow charge the fence again.  He was NOT disappointed and the cow charged a second time.  A cow with issues I guess. She must be a mother of four. hahahahaha!!!

We ended the day with feeding the ducks and geese.  When the bread ran out I took a final chance to sneak in a few last pictures... of course!!!

Brain Dead Moment of the Day

Today we had lunch at a very small park while I waited to attend a meeting for Marcus' school. (may I emphasize small ... really you can't call it a park... but hey the kids were happy with it)  In typical Robin brain-dead fashion, I realized at 5 minutes to 1:00 that I was at the wrong location for the meeting.  My husband didn't take my urgent call for help on my cell to find out where Harrison Street was and my usual back-up also didn't answer.  Thanks to Dede I was able to get the number of the Community Center and find out the West coordinate.  Thanks Dede!!!!  If only I had a brain!!!!  If stake roadshows come back into popularity again and our ward chooses the Wizard of Oz, you'll know who to cast as the Scarecrow.  I win hands down!!!

Big Feet, Little Feet (oops I mean Baby Feet)

So I was hanging out with my camera my kids and Dede's kids last night and baby Chase (we call him baby Chase in our house to differentiate him from our grown up cousin Chase) and I were comparing our feet.  I told him he had little feet and I had big feet.  He said "no no I baby feet!".  I stand corrected and the name baby Chase becomes even more solidified. :P

I showed Brett the picture I took of our feet and Brett shuddered and said in horror something to the effect of "why would you take that picture!!!!  I thought the picture was kind of cute other than the fact that I needed to redo my nail polish ... so I looked again to see why the drama and sheer disgust on his face.  Still puzzled over his reaction I asked what was up?  Why I didn't realize it in the first place.... Brett thinks I'm beautiful (blinded by love obviously) but the one physical flaw I possess in his eyes is that I can spread my toes .... hideous isn't it???  All I have to do to get a rise out of him and repulse him is ... you guessed it... spread my toes.  He can't stand it!!!  I'm thinking of enlarging this picture and putting it on canvas and hanging it somewhere conspicuous in our house. hahaha!!! 

So what is your physical feature that you don't like?  me... it's my chin... or should I say the lack of chin.  I once made a high school mask for theatre class and someone picked it up off a desk and said "who's mask is this? it has no chin." thank you very much! point made.  Anyway if you are brave enough to share your least favorite and/or your favorite physical feature....

Tubes at 8????

We survived or should I say Jaden survived another ear tube surgery.  This is number 4 or 5... who can keep track of these things???  In the car this morning the boys were picking which superhero they were with what vehicle and I said I was Wonder Woman with her invisible jet.  I think my choice was obvious... not that I think I look like Wonder Woman by any means but really... aren't ALL moms Wonder Women and don't we ALL wish we had invisible jets at some point??? be honest!!!

But I digress... Jaden's surgery went well although day 2 he crashed and slept most of the afternoon.  His ears have been sensitive for a few days.  Not that that is a bad thing because it means I have an excuse to tell brothers "don't yell so loud, it hurts Jaden's ears (and mom's for that matter)" of course it also means I have to be more patient.  I raised my voice (that's a kind term for yelled) at Cody the other morning and Jaden said "mom! you hurt my ear!" oops!  guess I need to watch that anyways.  My bad!

Jaden was a little nervous about the surgery but he was allowed some comfort items to bring with him.  He chose his Spiderman blanket, his neopet Shadow Grundow (I call it Shadow Creepy on account of the freaky red eyes).  I brought my comfort items of a book to read and a Diet Coke on account of having to get up at 5:00 am for the surgery- migraine here I come!!

  Jaden was spoiled later by his Grandma Glassey who always bring post surgery treats/gifts.  Thanks Grandma!

Summer Favorite

For Carin's latest challenge of something you love doing in the summer, I was at The Gateway today for a class and passed the fountain.  I couldn't resist pulling out my camera and taking some pictures of the kids playing in the water.  

I wanted to get some closer shots but as these aren't my kids (I was alone) and I didn't want to be mistaken for a creepy person with a camera.  I also remembered Carin saying she was kicked out of Gateway for looking like a professional photographer so I didn't want to look too conspicuous.

When I was growing up though I loved anything to do with water... swimming, sprinklers, fountains, playing in the rain etc. 

Oh to be a kid again....

Citizenship At Last!

I've only been living here 14 years and one month ... I put it off long enough. I finally applied for citizenship and it only took them one year and eight months to complete my background check.  How suspicious do I look? :P (don't answer that!)

My last hug as a Canadian.

At long last the day finally arrived and I became an American citizen this morning.  I didn't think I would be emotional about it but I found myself tearing up several times.  I was tearing up before I even got into the building in fact!  

The ceremony was held at the Capital Theatre and I was one of 750 fellow candidates for citizenship from 84 different countries.  United States Chief Magistrate Judge Samuel Alba asked for a few individuals from a few of the countries to stand and share their feelings.  When he asked if anyone from Canada wanted to make any comments three people raised their hands (I of course was one) and he chose the other two... rats!!!  Brett couldn't believe I would raise my hand ... does he not know me by now after 13 years of marriage??? help me I'm talking and I can't shut up!!! hahaha!!! 

He of course did not even see me raise my hand because they did not let family and friends sit with candidates for citizenship.  So he and his parents were in the balcony and I was on the first floor close to the back.  I think he had a better view of the stage than I did!!!

But now I am officially a United States Citizen which means I will vote for ..... you'll just have to guess.  :P

Well, all the teasing can stop now about my background check taking so long but I'm sure I'll still be teased the rest of my life about my Canadian origins/accent/lack of armed forces/poor television programming etc.  Thanks to Brett's parents for coming to the event even though they couldn't see me and thanks to Dede for watching my kids so they DIDN'T have to go and not see me. 

I wondered why the need for all the police ... did we really look all that dangerous? until Brett informed that the crying baby in the balcony almost incited a riot.  

 

John can't believe I finally got my citizenship.  I think he was secretly sending information to the government to delay my background check.  That would explain this picture.

Marcus started Headstart today and boy was he excited.  Gage in his typical - whatever anyone else is doing is better than what I am doing - was jealous of Marcus' school and wished he could be 4 and going to Marcus' class.  Gage got to go to Kid's Club this morning though so I'm sure he forgot about it soon enough (my fingers are crossed).  Marcus was giddy with excitement so I'm hoping he has a great day.  He already has a friend from his other school who will be in his class.

I love boys (and Brett for that matter) in white shirts.  It just gives them that all clean look ... until they eat, play, move or use their sleeve to wipe their face/nose and then, well, so much for that.  But... when my boys were wearing all white shirts this Sunday I couldn't resist a picture.  Jaden wanted to wear his white temple tie to church (it is the only tie he has) and I told him we would shop for some colored ones this week.  One more thing to add to my list.  Why didn't I buy some at Swiss days?????

My Boys

I love taking pictures of my boys and I look at their pictures often to remind me that they aren't always being naughty and getting into trouble.  They are so beautiful (I mean handsome) ... but really they are so beautiful and each has a unique personality.  I love the lighting in these pictures.  Thanks to Carin I was able to get them just right.

Today has been a tough day, not because kids have been more difficult than the usual sibling fighting ("you can never play with my toy again" or "ha!ha! you fell down" or "I'm too tired to do jobs") but when you wake up with a migraine and your husband is out of town ... the usual fighting/complaining/whining etc. seems magnified.  My ray of hope was that Brett would be home this evening to hug kids good night and help get them ready for bed.  He called and dashed that hope and will instead be home right before we church starts (if then....we will probably be halfway through sacrament before we see him).  But I would rather he drive home safely in the morning than start driving at 11:00pm tonight from Lake Powell.

Anyways, missing Brett got me to thinking about what we were doing last September.  Brett and I took a weekend to ourselves and went to Park City together.  It was absolutely beautiful with leaves changing colors and a change of pace.  The Olympic Park had me screaming at the top of my lungs with the luge ride (exhilarating!) and other rides were also fun but not as intense after riding the luge.  Brett made me try Tasmanian sushi (yuck!) but at least I can say I tried it right?  All in all Park City is a great close get-a-way with some fun things to do.