Green Thumb

Sunday, June 29, 2008-I am anything but green. Darrin and I gave up on our yard in Highland (all 1/3 acres) because it was just more than we could handle. Instead, we now have .28 acres and it is still more than we can handle, though this time, we have less lawn to take care of. In this house, I wanted to dedicate an area to an actual garden in hopes that I might actually grow vegetables. (I attempted last summer. I ended up with A LOT of cucumbers, really strong radishes, and lots of green tomatoes. [My tomatoes all popped out late October...]) So once again, I am attempting a garden in hopes that I might actually grow enough of something to can. I can already see my tomatoes coming up, along with yellow zucchini, carrots (not shown) and plums (not shown). My $12 cherry trees from Costco and Lowe's seem to be holding up well. Now if only they could produce shade and fruit. Next year?

Jack & Robbie

Saturday, June 28, 2008-While doing dishes in the kitchen, I hear two little boys giggling and out of the corner of my eye, I can see that they are running into each other. I couldn't figure out what was going on, until I took a closer look, only to find padded tummies. They found it amusing. They even posed for me when I took the pictures. I didn't even ask them to. Sorry Jana for letting your little boy dress up like a preggie woman...I am sure that it was Jack's idea!

Jack Allred and Robbie Williams-fun huh? (For those who aren't familiar with the English scene, Robbie Williams is like the Justin Timberlake in England.)

Get Smart

For those who haven't seen it, GO SEE IT! For those who have seen it, didn't you just love it? I DID! I haven't laughed so hard in such a long time. I was so impressed with Anne Hathaway (that still makes me want to think of Shakespeare's wife...) and still a fan of Steve Carell's. Even 24 hours later, there are still scenes that make me giggle until the tears are flowing. Rating: A+

Our Little Ariel

Friday, June 27, 2008-We went swimming at our neighborhood pool. Our next door neighbor-ok, they live across the street-was there too with all her fun pool stuff. Of course, the Williams pool stuff is more exciting than ours-even though they beg and whine for it at the store... Any who, Megan found all of Brittyn's Ariel gear. Megan just had to put it all on and show it off. While watching the track and field Olympic trials, I asked Megan if she wanted to be a runner or a swimmer. Her response: "Swimmer!!!" Should I be surprised?

Swimming Lessons

For those that know me well, know that I am such an advocate for children learning how to swim, and swim well. My mom taught me how to swim at 9 months old and have loved the water ever since. Fortunately, I grew up surrounded by water (own pools and oceans). Unfortunately, we now live in a land bound state. But still, that's no excuse for not allowing children to learn how to swim. I enrolled Jack and Megan in survival swim lessons again this summer. They are a little pricey, but so worth the money. Jack is a little fish and Megan is trying to be one, at least she think she is. She is surely not afraid of the water and has no fear just jumping in, regardless if anyone is ready to catch her!! I just love that between our neighborhood pool and gym, we can go swimming every day this summer. And so far, we have. One of these days, we will have a pool in our own back yard to enjoy.

June 16-20, 2008

Friday, June 13, 2008

After dinner on Friday night, I thought it would be a great idea to get the yard all mowed and trimmed so that we can enjoy our Saturday without yard work. I also enjoy mowing. Any who, as I am just about finished with the back yard, I asked Darrin where Megan was. He mentioned that she went instead awhile ago... Well, once finished with my job, I go inside yelling for Megan. I hear her in my bedroom/bathroom saying: "You found me!" You bet I did. Megan was sitting on our bathroom counter, with her feet in Darrin's sink, preventing the drain from draining the water and so was overflowing EVERYWHERE! She had managed to flood our bathroom. Water was everywhere, even in the basement! Fortunately, it hadn't flooded to the carpet yet... This little girl defines the terrible twos. She is getting into everything and somehow trying to make me go crazy. She's headed on the right track because at this point, I don't know how I could ever manage a third child. Megan has pushed me over the edge!

Happy Father's Day 2008

Sunday, June 15, 2008-The Ford Clan celebrated Father's Day at my parent's home. It was beautiful weather to sit out on their covered porch, eat BBQ, and enjoy ice cream cones. The children ran and played hard, as you can see from Jack and Megan's red faces! (They get that from their dad.)

Back Row- Hayley Ford and Ford McClellan
Front Row- Jack Allred, Liesel Ford, Megan Allred, Will McClellan, and Nathan Ford

Guitar Hero

Well, after these two boys spent the early morning hours fishing, they came back tired, hungry, and ready to play. Since we did all our house and yard work the day before-wanted to make the weekend relaxing-I didn't have anything ready and available on my honey do list, so I asked Darrin if he would be interested in receiving one of his Father's Day presents early... I figured that it would occupy the two boys for a couple of hours, while I ran and then got ready for the day. GUITAR HERO!!! 3 1/2 hours later... Jack wants to hold the guitar and Darrin's ready to play for Aerosmith. I tried the beginner level and got the booing and hissing. It took a couple of times for the audience to call me a Rock Star. Needless to say, it's now Sunday and Darrin is still playing. Ok, he pulled away for Church and a family BBQ. Happy Father's Day! No clue that Guitar Hero would be such a hit. Sorry for the other boring gifts of the shop vac, leatherman, and shovels-never can have enough. Maybe for your birthday we will get Rock Band??? Don't ask me about Wii games, can't say I play it all that much.

Free Fishing Day (No License Required)

Saturday, June 14, 2008- It was Utah's Free Fishing Day where a fishing license wasn't required. So Saturday morning, Darrin woke Jack up around 6:30am, where they headed to our local grocery store for donuts and fish bait. Jack couldn't have been more excited to go, though not apparent in the photo. Darrin took them fishing at the local Daybreak Lake, which is just west of us down our same street (114th South). Unfortunately, they didn't catch anything that morning, but surely had the times of their lives. What a great way to start off the Father's Day weekend!

The Muffins...in case you were wondering where they went Darrin?

Thursday, June 12-We got up bright and early as usual from the melodic voice of Megan this morning...what's new? So since I had some time before heading over to the gym, I thought I would whip up apple cinnamon muffins. (Ok, they came from a box. I ain't no Betty Crocker!) Later this afternoon, I heard Jack yelling: "Mom, Megan's making a mess with the muffins..." Oh dear, what has she done now? Not only did she tackle the last two muffins-poor things-but she managed to eat the rest of the butter from the holder. Jack pointed that one out. You will also notice an empty Hagen Daas wrapper behind Megan along with my 44oz Diet Pepsi. How do you think I stay sane with this child?

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

For those of you that have seen this lecture, you will understand the reasoning behind posting it on my blog. The other night, I had recorded an Oprah show earlier that day, knowing that I wasn't going to be able to watch it until later. So after the children went to bed, I nestled in my own bed and started to watch the show with Darrin by my side. The Oprah show was featuring people dealing with the deadliest cancers and how they are coping with a knowledge that they are dying. One of the featured guests was Randy Pausch. Darrin immediately recognized him from the you tube video (see below). Oprah allowed him to give the "cliff notes" version of his last lecture.

After finishing, Oprah asked him why he gave that particular lecture as his final lecture to the 400+ attendees. "I think it's great that so many people have benefited from this lecture, but the truth of the matter is that I didn't really even give it to the 400 people at Carnegie Mellon who came. I only wrote this lecture for three people, and when they're older, they'll watch it," he says. He is referring to his three children. If you have a moment, watch it.

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

Kung Fu Panda

We saw Kung Fu Panda with the children on Friday afternoon-total hit. We bought tickets earlier that day, and you would have thought it was years to see the movie later that day for our little boy, Jack. He just couldn't wait. Well with our large popcorn and two large drinks, we were ready, now we just had to wait for Darrin to arrive. (He promised that his meetings would end early enough so that he could meet us at the 5pm showing.) He showed up during the previews-hey not too shabby... Any who, we all loved the movie, even Darrin. It was cute, funny, entertaining, and actually had a good underlying theme behind it. We would see it again. It's definitely one on our list to add to our DVD collection. In fact, we might just enroll Jack in karate, as he thinks he is tiger kung fu now...

Our rating: A

My Week...

This was my week in a nutshell. Last Sunday, while our hometeachers were over, Megan ran off (what's new) only to do her duty. You could smell her from down the hall. Any who, as the hometeachers were about to leave, I thought I would check on her since she seems pretty quiet. She managed to take off her dirty diaper, wipe the "mess" on the wall & bedroom door. She then opened the brand new container of wipes and go through every single one trying to wipe her bottom. Admist all of this, Darrin and I couldn't find her diaper or PJ bottoms ANYWHERE! She did manage to throw the diaper away in the garbage, PJs and all.

Monday (Memorial Day), I thought I would escape to the treadmill before the hectic day began, to allow myself to think freely sans les enfants (without the children)... Well, about 40 minutes later, Darrin and Megan greet me with one very unhappy little girl. Darrin asked me to join him on a Tasmanian devil tour of our home. Room #1 (the half bath)-Megan unrolled a whole roll of TP (what's new!). Room #2 (the kitchen)-While in the care of her father, Megan crawled up on the kitchen counter, sneaked into the cupboards (the ones above the counter-mind you) and grab a BLACK sharpie and scribble over our red birch wood floors. Room #3 (the family room)-Megan then proceeded to draw ALL OVER the entertainment center (coffee stained and so black sharpie is very noticeable) and on our dvr (but I don't care about that). OK, where was her father when all of this happened???? With the magical help of the Mr Clean eraser, we scrubbed it all off, though taking some of the glaze with it-ggrrrr! What can I say, I live with Picasso.

Tuesday, Darrin heads out to Seattle. His first trip as a Microsoft employee. Very exciting for him. He still can't stop talking about "the campus!" Anyone who has been there, knows what I am talking about. (He's going out again in July, where I get to meet up with him for an extended weekend. Can't wait!) Darrin is anxious to get out there again. Honey, so am I! Have I mentioned that I am sold on Seattle? Any who, so while he enjoyed, cooler weather-though not saying much for Utah right now-lots of greenery, oceanside view drives, and fresh seafood, I wrestled two small, busy children.

Wednesday-surprising, nothing terrible happened.

Thursday-We had another incident with a messy diaper on the wall, same spot too. What is up with her? I think that she is ready to be potty trained. I am just not sure that I am ready for it. I don't have the energy right now. I just wish my children could go on the potty, wipe their bums, wash their hands all by themselves. No, Jack still doesn't want to get his hands "dirty" as that is mommy's job.

Thursday night-Costco size Pam-need I say more? Megan emptied the WHOLE can (new can, might I add) all over the kitchen cupboards, bar stools, seat cushions, floor, and countertop. She was also pretty well greased down. Needless to say, by this time, I was at the end of my rope. I was tired, frustrated, and ready to call it quits. It took almost an hour to wipe and clean up the mess. I had to mop the kitchen floor 3 times just so that it wasn't slippery. By this time, I was so ready for Darrin to be home. That night, the children didn't fall asleep until 10pm. Aaahhh, where's the Calgon to take me away?

Friday-I made the children play outside from 10am to 7:30pm. I wanted them to be super tired and ready to go to bed after their tubbies. Fortunately, the day was beautiful weather to allow us to be outside. We even ate dinner outside (Cafe Rio to go). So at 7:30, we took baths, brushed teeth, made sippy cups, and I put these two children to bed. Darrin walked in the door from Seattle at 9:30pm. amazed that the house was clean and quiet. Oh, if only he had been here the day before?