We've already established that I'm a lazy blogger... that's why I am so grateful for my Bro-in-Law, Jon. Thanks for doing all the work! Check out their blog and the most fun slideshow ever! I am biased, but hey, those kids are all pretty darn cute! We had the best time and each time I see those photos I can't stop smiling.
Click here to watch the most amazing slideshow ever!
It's a good thing I don't embarrass too easily... or that when I am embarrassed I can usually handle it well by laughing it off. Its become a very important coping tool since being married to Doug. (Going on 10 years this year... wow!)
So after 10 years of marriage with my sweet, kind, and sensitive hubby, and 16 years since we first started dating way back when... this story shouldn't come as a surprise.
I am in charge of an activity we are having for the youth in the church tonight. We are doing our own version of the mock Olympics with different relays and competitions that really bring shame to the real Winter Olympics, but will be fun for the kids in our ward. One of the competitions is called a balloon train, where the kids line up like in a Conga line and hold big balloons between their stomach and the back of the person in front of them. Our idea is to have them not be able to touch the balloon with their hands and their team has to walk through some sort of obstacle course without dropping the balloons from between them.
A month ago I was typing up the outline for our YW leaders, explaining the whole process of each event. For this balloon train, I wrote that each kid should place their hands on the person's shoulders in front of them so they can't use their hands to hold the balloon. When I was done with the outline, I ask Doug to proofread it and help me iron out a few wrinkles in our plan. When we had it all done, I emailed it to the other YW leaders.
So a few weeks go by and we are at our meeting last week to discuss our plans for the activity. One of the leaders, Katee, timidly asks "Can I make a suggestion for the balloon train? Can we have the kids put their hands on the person's shoulders or waist in front of them?"
I said "Sure! That was the plan to put them on their shoulders"
"Oh!" Katee says, "Because on your outline you wrote to put their hands on the butt of the person in front of them."
I laughed. "Really?"
Then everybody started making comments - "Yeah, I read that too..." "I saw that and forgot to ask you..." "I think shoulders is a better idea..." "Well, we know what you were thinking about when you typed this up..."
I check my copy of the outline that I brought with me. And sure enough, there it is in black and white for the kids to "Put their hands on the butt of the person in front of them."
By this point, I am sure I am bright red, but I am laughing hysterically. I apologized profusely, still laughing... and wondering how in the world did I possible type that? It was pretty funny. (Good thing I can laugh at myself eh?)
So we move on with the meeting. About 30 minutes later we are discussing a different activity and I have an epiphany... DOUG PROOFREAD MY OUTLINE BEFORE I MAILED IT OUT! I knew at that very moment, that without a doubt, he had changed my outline from "shoulders" to "butt" and allowed me to send it out without telling me.
Of course, I stopped the meeting and announced my enlightenment to everyone. I swore that this is totally something Doug would do. They all giggled and looked at me like I was kidding, but I knew for certain this is what had happened.
When I came home, I started to ask Doug "Soooo, remember when I was typing my outline and I had you proofread it...." And he started to giggle...
I gave him the evil eye and continued "Did you change the word shoulders to butt?"
He is laughing now. "You didn't notice that? Did you email it out to all the young women?"
"No, not the Young Women, but to all the leaders. And nobody said anything until tonight!"
More laughing by both of us. I told him what happened at the meeting, feigned shock that he would do such a thing, then punched him in the arm. He laughed some more.
So like I said... I shouldn't be surprised, but he did catch me off guard. Good one. I hope he remembers paybacks are a "#%@!" Just you wait Doug!
A favorite moment today.
We are driving in the car and Queen's "We Will Rock You" is playing. Cannon and Zane are rockin' out, trying to perform the obligatory stomp stomp clap, but are just a little off beat.
Cannon (3 yrs old) says:
"Mom, this is an awesome song!"
Yes... yes it is.
So I decided I should change the title of my blog to the Lazy Blogger... Because that describes me to the T.
I've wanted to post pictures from our trip to LA for Christmas. But honestly, we have nearly 2,000 pictures thanks to everyone being shutter happy (I love digital cameras!) and there are so many to choose from! So rather than spend my time posting... I'm deferring you to my sister-in-laws blogs so you can enjoy our pictures there! Aren't I pathetic? :)
We had an amazing time. Doug and I flew down with the kids a few days before everybody else and we vegged with Deanna, Jon and the boys for 2 days. It was really great. We knew when everyone else arrived that we'd be busy, so we made no plans and the kids just enjoyed the 60 degree weather. Doors open, windows open, kids playing in the yard with no shoes. It felt like late springtime... not the week before Christmas!
We had a great three days at Disneyland. In the end, we were exhausted, my feet hurt really bad, but we were in good spirits and it was totally worth it! Zane talks about the Tower of Terror every time he plays with Legos. Its his favorite thing to build.
Christmas was awesome. We talked about going to the beach, but staying in pajamas all day and playing with all the new toys sounded better. The kids did act out the nativity on Christmas Eve. It was fun, spiritual, but a little irreverent. That pretty much sums up our family. :) The dog (sheep) was on a leash and kept pulling the shepherd (Cannon) around the room. The kids were all going crazy and the only person who remembered their line was Mary (Kyah). Who ever knew that when the innkeeper answered the door - it was Mary, not Joseph who said "Do you have a place where I can have this baby?" It turned out great.
So to my 2 dear blog readers that are not Amanda, Jon or Deanna, check out their blogs for some of the great pictures! Thanks for your hard work! And come on Jon - I told you to make a slide show with music! Where is it? I'd like to share many more pictures with my 2 other readers!
Jon & Deanna's Blog
Amanda's Blog
You guys rock!
It is hard to believe... 3 years ago I was 2 weeks away from my due date when we went in for my regular Dr apt. We found out the baby had turned into a transverse position. So they scheduled an apt the next day at the hospital to have him turned, and to deliver the baby. Crazy! Talk about getting ready for the baby in 1 day! Well, by the time we went to the hospital the next day Cannon had turned back head down again. This told me 2 things... 1-that there is still plenty of room in my belly for a big baby to be doing sommersaults and 2-I was not going to wait another couple weeks for this kiddo to grow even bigger. Just because I have the room for him, doesn't mean he needs to take up ALL the space in there!
Here is the proud (and slightly bewildered) older brother holding his new baby bro.
1 Year Old
After many tries... he finally blew out all 3 candles
A picture afterwards... Talk about happy kids!
What a blessing!
Kyah wanted to enter some submissions for the Reflections art contest at school. She was very stressed out about what she would do for it. The theme was "Beauty Is..." After prompting her with questions like... "What do you think beauty is? What do you think is beautiful?" she finally decided to pick up the camera and go outside.
She took a few pictures and then decided which ones she wanted to submit for the competition. This was one of our neighbor's roses that had some dew on it. She won 3rd place! So fun to get ribbons and awards! We are proud of her!
Today after church we asked the kids what they learned about in class. Of course, the initial answer was "I don't remember..." but I know some things did get through to them! They talked about helping people. I asked how can we help people that we know? Zane said "I know! When Grandpa Holsten gets really old and really tired, I can get his walker for him!" CLASSIC! Gotta love that kid.
We've been spending a lot of time with Doug's aunt, since his uncle has been unable to drive and has been unwell. She doesn't drive either... so we get to play chauffeur quite often. Its been an interesting experience. She smokes and Zane never misses a chance to give her a hard time about it. It has brought up some great conversations with the kids about not smoking... (she is the perfect poster "child" example of why you shouldn't smoke). And we've actually had to talk to him a few times about not saying anything so her feelings aren't hurt or so she doesn't get angry. The other day I bought Aunt Judy a sandwich from "Quizzy Nos" and she was raving about how good it tastes. Zane said "Is that because there is smoke in it?" It took us a moment to figure out what he was saying. I was surprised at his insight and skill at making a sarcastic joke. Wow! She didn't think it was that funny. But those of you that know Aunt Judy... please enjoy a chuckle!
A few weeks ago, Grandpa Holsten was showing us a really cool website with 360 degree photos of temple square in Salt Lake City. Sometime I'll have to post the link here. They were beautiful photos of the temple, tabernacle and temple grounds. Cannon saw it and said "I see the temple! I'm going there to get married!" My dad chuckled and said "Oh, do you think you can find a girl that will go with you?" Cannon just gave him a funny look. It was great. Thank you nursery leaders! It is more than just playtime in there!I just want to say congratulations to my awesome sis, Allie, and her awesome team of girls. They played in regionals this weekend and did great! On to state! Way to go! I'm so proud of you and cry that I couldn't watch them play this weekend!
Allie, you are awesome! You care about those girls so much and you are doing a great job! We love you!
