Girl Time

So, my friends and I found this new restaurant/lounge in Provo called SPARK. I so enjoyed the atmosphere, and they have all these great non-alcoholic fabulous drinks. It was great to enjoy some time with the girls. A great night of chatting/music/relaxation. I so want to go with my man. It's quite romantical. I love the lighting and atmosphere. You've got to go and try it!










I just loved this Shirley Temple with cotton candy. I love the idea!!!

Strepp, Round 2

About two weeks ago, Brandon went to the Instacare and found out he had Strepp. The next day, I went, and found out I had Strepp. Once again, on Friday, Brandon went to Instacare, and once again has Strepp. Please let Strepp not strike me again. Apparently Strepp can hide in little gullies in your mouth, etc. so you get better, but then it spreads again----we have taken all our antibiotics. Sickness is not so fun. I am so grateful the kids have not gotten sick...........yet.

Confession

So, our dog has struggles with our 3 year old Maddie. She harasses the poor dog constantly and will not leave him alone. He bit her once (on the face) the first couple weeks he was in our home. I figured it was our accustomatization period and since, Teddy has not bitten Maddie. Unfortunately, he bit her once again, leaving a mark by her eye, just this last week. It so happened that this occurred as I was considering finding a new home for him anyway. Biting Maddie, didn't help the situation.

I was telling my husband about the incident, and he reminded me that Maddie was the problem as she wouldn't leave Teddy alone. I wholeheartedly agree with him, but hmmmmm. I have one little girl, and I am for keeping her.

So, I did some negotiation with my son Brandon (9) to get permission to say adios to our dog. This involved seeing Transformers opening weekend, and getting a $13 Transformer. Best deal of my life. (It took him a while to accept this offer, as he wanted a turtle. I wasn't about to trade in one animal for another after this fiasco.)

My husband put an ad on KSL, and Teddy found a new home in a couple hours.

There were some aspects of having a dog I will miss. Although, I have been reminded frequently throughout each day, what a relief it is to not have a dog.

Every morning, it is nice to be able to dismiss the immediate thought upon waking up: "Teddy needs to go out." It sorta' starts your day with some anxiety.

Then, constantly throughout the day, I was intervening between Maddie and the dog. She would bug him, he would growl, and she would not leave him alone. So, I would put him outside. Then the kids would let him in. This was repeated constantly throughout the day.

It is sorta' nice to know that this will be our last time getting dog hair off of clothes, furniture, and the floor.

I always tried to avoid Teddy as I was going to work, as he is so furry he was a living lint creator.

I also enjoy being able to linger in the doorway without him bolting out the front door. I can actually not shut the door on people, or leave the door open as I bring the groceries in.

I will miss Teddy's smile. He had such a beautiful human smile which I will miss. I will miss seeing him run through the snow in such a graceful, beautiful, exuberant way.

His new owner is a single woman who wants someone to cuddle with. I think this will be better for Teddy and for Maddie and for me.

Anyway, I feel a bit guilty, but it is such a relief. It feels good to be back down to five kids. No dog. Relief. And a touch of guilt.

I am making a rule for our family. No more pets. We don't have a great record with pets. I need to go to pet owner anonymous and get a sponsor to help convince me not to do this in a weak moment. My husband and children want them and I always give in. And usually regret it. Although, getting Teddy was my idea, my plan. I wanted little Brandon to have a dog. I'm over that now. But, if you hear me/see me discussing pets in a fond manner, remind me of this moment. Thank you, you can all be my "avoid a pet" sponsors.

Texas Talk

My kids are very excited for a trip to see Nana, Papa, Aunt Krista, Uncle Ted,and their cousins.

Brandon (9) said, "I've got to get my Southern back on. They speak Southern in Texas."
Benjamin (4) said, "I am excited to see cowboys. Cowboys live in Texas."

It is fun to see the excitement of children in taking a trip and to see the things they are excited about.

Ethan (7) cannot wait to play video games with cousin Jackson. They are little twins. No doubt they will be consumed in games for as much of the trip as they can get away with.

Brandon (9) has worked it. He has his two younger brothers competing to sit by him on the plane. He is taking offers. I better nip this one in the bud before it gets ugly.

Grandpa and Daddy

The relationship between fathers/children and Grandpas/children is so special. Like nothing else in this world.

Good Grandpas and Daddys:

play baseball with their kids/grandkids





plant incredible full smiles on the faces of their children/grandchildren


hold their children/grandchildren tightly

play in the backyard with the kids/grandkids

get signs in their yard

play football with children/grandchildren

let themselves get decorated

Give lots of comfort and don't get upset when kids/grandkids pick their nose




and even put up with "stink eye"

Happy Alternative Father's Day

My hubby, my Dad, and my brother Daniel. My Dad bought matching shirts for them to wear. How cute!

I am grateful for a wonderful father and husband. I also happen to have the best baby daddy in all the land. Thankfully.

My brother was in town this last weekend. He is going to be a Dad soon. I am SOOOO excited to have a little niece. I can hardly wait. I have told them over and over again, they really should not name her Laura. It could get really confusing for little baby Laura. Just cause she is going to be born on my birthday............. (Just kidding).

Anyway, my brother loves music and helped me gain my love for music. For the first couple hundred times I listened to Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc. I didn't enjoy it....but then it became enjoyable. It may have been an acquired taste, but a taste I now love so much. Anyway, Daniel and I were chatting when he was here visiting for my Grandma's 90th birthday and he helped me come up with an alternative Father's Day music playlist. (He came up with most of them.)

I didn't get the playlist together in time, but if you are sick of Father's Day sweetness, or have some issues to work out with your Dad, you may find the following music options therapeutic.

On Any Other Day -The Police
Synchronicity 2 -The Police
Billie Jean -Michael Jackson
Father of Mine -Everclear
Had a Dad -Jane's Addiction
Papa Was a Rolling Stone -Temptations

I am grateful to have so many great men in my life and great examples. May my boys be great husbands and fathers, and may Maddie meet a great man rather than a "rolling stone."

And then they lived happily ever after. The End. And if they didn't, at least they could listen to some good music to help get them through.

BYU Indoctrination

So, we make no secret about it, we want our children to attend Brigham Young University. My husband and I are the classic BYU success story, so of course, we would like them to follow that tradition, if possible. So, we do what we can to acclimate them to that BYU culture. We do this through attending BYU events from time to time throughout the year. We will go to the museums, go to the BYU football games (we get season tickets), and of course, take the kids to get candy at the candy counter (positive reinforcement/conditioning). We take them with grandparents and their Uncle who are BYU alumni.

We also take them to Brick Oven which is really part of the whole BYU culture. OK, this part of indoctrination may be for Mommy and Daddy. It is our hope that all this will have an influence. We only have to wait 20 or so years to see the success of our human experiment. Only time will tell. We already have them chanting, "BYU, BYU, BYU." We are doing our part, is all I can say.










I found it funny that Ethan (7) had all these options and more for candy, and what did he choose? Pretzels. Simple, normal, blah pretzels. See, it helps to feed your kids lots of junk. Then they make healthy choices over junk. (OK, maybe not. The other four kids chose candy.)

Grandma's 90th Birthday Party

My Grandma June Bartholomew had her 90th birthday. You get two guesses for her birthday month, and the first one doesn't count. Anyway, it was a beautiful birthday party. The cake was beautiful and there were beautiful tributes to her life. I think her best tributes to her life are her 8 children. I am grateful for my Grandma and the example she gave to her children. I am grateful for the strength of testimony in the gospel she gave to my father and through that link to all of us. My Grandma has always kept in great shape, and would do a handstand every day until just a few years ago. She is health-conscious, and has been service-oriented throughout her life. She spent most of her life in education. She taught many immigrant families English.

I have to admire her having 8 children. She had them pretty close together. I don't know how she did it. And this is all before dishwashers. And microwaves. And probably diapers. (And clearly before birth control. Just kidding. Well, I am not, but knowing my grandmother, that wouldn't have mattered anyway, she would have still had as many kids in the same time span.)

She is an amazing woman. May my mind remain as sharp as hers is at her age. Unbelievable. Happy 90th birthday Grandma June!




All Grandma's kids and their spouses.
Our family with Grandma. In picture, my brother, parents, my children, and Grandma June.

Grandma June's Creations

Look what she created: (she had a little help from my Grandpa too):

Grandma June Bartholomew's life through pictures

My cute Daddy is on the far left.





I love this family picture

My kids new favorite show

Little Dylan (2 1/2) came up to me tonight and said, "Mommy, I wanna watch Wipeout." My kids could watch it for hours. It is great incentive to do chores---works like a charm. It's great that all my kids love it. From ages 2-9. Score. I need to just tape them all to have them on hand for our break in July. (Year-round school!)

How to keep yogurt in the house with five kids

Whenever we buy yogurt, it seems to be gone within 24 hours. For kids, yogurt is like candy. How do you keep "Mommy yogurt" on hand? Buy Activia and explain its use. My kids have not gone near the stuff, have not been tempted by it, and it has actually stayed in my fridge untouched. SOOOO dreamy. And I am regular. (I know you were wondering.) Maybe they need to start a new marketing campaign for Moms. I can see the commercial now. Jamie Lee surrounded with kids enjoying her yogurt and newfound regularity.

The Joys of a Chore Chart

My husband has made a chore chart for each of our children. The new chore charts have been a hit. The kids are so excited to mark things off. Brandon and Ethan rush home from school and compete with each other to see who can finish their chores first. I overheard little Brandon telling Ethan, "Ha, ha, I finished my chores first." For once I am not too upset about sibling rivalry.

Maddie and Benj are also excited to participate. This is so dreamy. I am loving this.

The only down side is when I ask them to do something that is not on the chore chart. I immediately get, "That's not on my chore chart." I think by next week we will have a new category!

Some books that grabbed my interest

For Father's Day, I am hoping to have the kids help me make some cute cupcakes for Daddy! (with a little help from Martha)
I found the ward cookbook at Costco. So great. Maybe I will be inspired!

Who ya' gonna call?

I saw this several months ago, and I was intrigued. It takes commitment. Probably not a coincidence that we saw it in a Toys R Us parking lot.