Wednesday, October 29, 2008

UNSPECTACULAR ME!

So, it turns out I've been tagged. Actually I was tagged a week ago but just realized it today. I was tagged by Maren Hufford, a friend from church.

Here are the rules:
"MY UNSPECTACULAR QUIRKS"
1.Link to the person who tagged you
2.Mention the rules on your blog
3.Tell 6 unspectacular quirks about you
4.Tag 6 bloggers by linking to them
5.Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs letting them know they've been tagged.


Okay, I like to think of myself as an exceptionally normal person, so this is tough for me, but with a little help from my hubby I have come up with six...

1. I am a SINGER..not a professionally trained singer, or even ONE THAT SOUNDS GOOD, but a singer nonetheless. I know EVERY WORD to EVERY SONG played on top 40 radio stations from about 1980 on (and even some from the 70s!). So no matter what the occassion, time of day, or topic at hand--I can almost always burst out into a song that matches the moment. If you happen to pull up next to me at a stop light you will most definately see me SOULFULLY CROONING along to my radio. And, yes, I listen to and enjoy Delilah.

2. I often relive my "GLORY DAYS"... in my sleep. When I'm awake I don't necessarily think of high school as the glory days or wish to relive them in any way. However, my subconscious wishes those days were back--usually WITH A TWIST. I can't count how many times I've dreamt that I was back in high school, playing in the state champtionship game with my old basketball team... NINE MONTHS PREGNANT... with Jordan and my three young children cheering me on from the sidelines.

3. I am a nervous LAUGHER. Whenever I am scared, nervous, or just don't know how to react to something, I LAUGH. Case in point: A few months ago our family went swimming. At one point Dallin swam out too far from the edge and began struggling underwater for a few moments. I was able to grab him and lift him out and he was fine, but as soon as it was over I started LAUGHING. Jordan (probably having flashbacks to a few summers ago) was freaked out and disgusted that I was laughing. He was mad at me for days. Of course I don't think my child almost drowning is funny, but my reaction in those situations is always laughter--definitely not my best attribute.

4. My EARS do not match. If my hair is pulled back and you happen to see only the left side of my face, you'll notice a normal ear, round at the top and average sized. However, if you catch a glimpse of the right side you'll see that the Lord blessed me with one SPOCK EAR. This ear is roughly the same size as the other, but is quite pointy at the top. Wierd, I know.

5. For over eight years now I have been a severe SURVIVOR WANNABE. I was pregnant with Alexis when the first season of Survivor aired. Since then I've given birth to her and three other children, all the while wondering just how I could manage to GET ON THE SHOW (and what would I do with my family while I was gone for two months?)! It's really the competitive part of me that just KNOWS that I could be good--I could win every challenge and be friends with everyone along the way. In the beginning I also really wanted the MILLION DOLLAR PRIZE, but over the years I've gotten more excited about the challenge and the prospect of getting away! Somehow starving, being eaten alive by bugs, and having to eat live worms or pig intestines while being surrounded by 15 other kooky people has begun to sound like a VACATION. Could it have anything to do with the fact that I have four young children? (And are there any volunteers to put together my survivor application video?:)

6. I am POSITIVE that I was meant to be a PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYER--I just somehow got mixed up and put into a family that didn't play and didn't have the money to teach me to play. I started taking lessons three years ago and fell IN LOVE with the sport. And I'm just sure that I could have been good, SO GOOD, but instead I'm just an almost-middle-aged, average (or below) , 3.0 player who tries hard, but usually gets my butt kicked. Oh well, at least I get to wear fun tennis skirts while doing it!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze

A few weeks ago the kids were out of school on a Friday and Shelly Smith from church organized a "field trip" for us to a pumpkin patch and corn maze in Missouri. It was a bit of a drive to get there, but the kids had so much fun--we'll definately make it a yearly trip from now on!

There was so much to do! First we watched an educational video about all the uses for corn. It was a little bit too much information for some of the little kids. They wanted to play with the pumpkins instead!

After the video we went on a hay ride and then the kids road the "Cow Train" that was pulled behind a tractor.

All the kids enjoyed playing in the cornbox--like a sandbox but with corn instead. Alexis and Trista made "corn angels."

Dallin's favorite part was pumping water down the trough to see if his duck would reach the other end first!

There was even a cave for the kids to explore.

Other attractions included wooden slides that the kids rode down on potato sacks or boards, basketball, a corn cannon, the corn maze, a small, stinky petting zoo with chickens, pigs, a goat and a sheep (Trista was very interested in looking but DID NOT want to touch!). We enjoyed a picnic lunch at the tables provided, and by the time we left all the kids were worn out and enjoyed a nap on the ride home!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Happy 8th Birthday Alexis!

Today was Alexis' birthday! Hooray, she's finally eight! She's been looking forward to this day for so long, and she's so excited to be baptized soon. We have her baptism scheduled for Saturday, October 24th. Grandma and Grandpa Post aren't able to come, but we're looking forward to having Grandma and Grandpa Smith and Great Grandma and Grandpa Salmon here for it.

For Alexis' birthday we had a "tea" party on Saturday. She and her friends got to dress up; then they each painted a tea cup and saucer and had lunch.

After lunch we sang "Happy Birthday" and had cake and ice cream. The cake, invitations, plates, etc. were all Hannah Montana themed. We even had Hannah Montana music playing, which every little girl at the table knew all the words to. It was kind of relieved to see that my daughter isn't the only one infatuated with Hannah Montana.

Then today after school I took all the kids over to the mall and let Alexis pick out some stuff at Clair's (she was given a gift certificate by her best friend Sydney).

After that we got a small treat at Candy Craze, a new outfit for her dog at Build-A-Bear and then went to Chuck E. Cheese to play games for a little bit before dinner. Alexis' dinner request was pancakes, eggs, and bacon, and after dinner she got to go on a little daddy/daughter date with Jordan. Throughout all of the afternoon and evening activities Alexis was sure to tell anyone who would listen that today was her eighth birthday!

As a bonus I'll include a copy of the poem I wrote for Alexis in order to try to win a free birthday party for her at Jump Zone. It's nothing fancy, but she enjoyed it!

Ode to Alexis
Alexis Post is turning eight
Her family really thinks she's great!
Oldest of four, she helps out a lot
Playing with and reading to the younger tots
She's an excellent student who works very hard
In class and on assignments she goes the extra yard.
Alexis loves to sing, play piano, and dance
Wants to be Hannah Montana--just give her the chance!
We love you Alexis, as a daughter and sista',
Love Mom, Dad, Spencer, Dallin and Trista!

Happy Birthday Alexis! We love you so much!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

I haven't blogged for a while, so I thought I'd write a little about what I've been up to. September was a busy, yet relaxing month--I guess most days seem more relaxing now that I'm not working.

Becca came to visit near the beginning of September for her 10-year reunion, and she ended up deciding to stay with me a couple extra weeks since Brad was on a very busy rotation. It was nice having her company. We played some tennis, a lot of rummy, and way too much policeman. By policeman I mean that we had to spend a good deal of time tearing Trista and Jacob apart. Everything was great at the beginning, but after a day or two Trista starting getting very territorial and mean and would try to hurt Jacob whenever he got in her way, had one of her toys, or even breathed. Poor Jacob! Several times she left claw/scratch marks on his little cheeks and nose. By the end of the visit Jacob was very good at fighting back or even just walking up to Trista and hitting her for no reason, as she had done to him many times. Sorry for teaching him bad things, Becca--I hope he doesn't start doing that to his friends at home!

Jacob and Trista during one of their rare moments of getting along

Trista, Dallin, Jacob, and Spencer in the bathtub. Of course, Alexis had to be in the picture too!

Jacob, eating a cookie and donning Spencer's vest--a hand-me-down from Spencer's other cousin, Braden. While he was here, Jacob really took a liking to Spencer. The first thing Jacob would ask for when he woke up in the morning was "Fencer."

So now that Becca is gone I've been trying to buckle down and get some sewing done. I've haven't sewn anything for a few years, haven't really wanted to, but I decided to sew Alexis a dress (actually a skirt and shirt) for her baptism this month. Of course I chose a pattern that wasn't the simplist--a tiered skirt with gathers, shirt with gathered sleaves, etc. So far I have it cut out but haven't actually begun sewing.

As if that wasn't enough, a few weeks ago the kids and I were talking about Halloween and I came up with the wonderful idea of sewing costumes for the whole family to wear for Halloween this year. Jordan and I have never dressed up with the kids before, and we've never had a family theme, but last year several families at our church Halloween party wore themed costumes so I thought it would be fun to join in. I'm not letting the cat out of the bag as to what we're planning to dress up as yet--you'll have to check back later for pictures (that is if I actually complete Alexis' outfit and six costumes in the next 24 days!). Ugghhh! What have I gotten myself into?