Maintenance.

No one ever, I mean EVER, has enjoyed sitting and waiting for their car to be worked on at the auto repair shop.

Every person in there today looked annoyed by something. Some were frustrated with their customer service rep. Others bothered by the amount of time it was taking. One lady worried about how much it would cost. She was also quite irritated by how cold it was in the waiting room. Oh, and to top it off,  one lady was dissatisfied by the channel that was on the tv. "How do you NOT have cable? This is ridiculous."

I didn't have to worry about these things, because my work was under warranty, but also because I was worried about my two babies. I didn't want their behavior to add to the frustration of any of these highly irritable people in the waiting room with us. (Don't get me wrong, I would have been just as irritable. Waiting rooms SUCK! I just couldn't afford to be today.)

While in there, Jack, Jocelyn and I had a decent time.

Jack worked on some homework (The contents of his backpack were completely sprawled out all over the floor by our seats). Attacked a plastic plant with his ax (There was a broken branch that stuck out, just screaming to be attacked). Sang "Old McDonald Had a Farm." (He's really into this song right now). Practiced some gymnastic moves on the very soft leather chairs. (Building up his core muscles).

Jocelyn ate her breakfast, bottle, and her toes. She pooped. She told a sweet little grandma a story for 3 minutes straight, complete with smiles, squeals, and grunts. Then pooped again (Explains the grunting). She practiced sitting up on her own. She played with her toys. She posed for pictures.

The whole time we were there I swear, every employee seemed to be watching our every move, or maybe I was just being overly concerned. But truly, they kept watching us.

Oh well. I only wanted to pull my hair out 18 times instead of 200. I'd say that was pretty good for a waiting room.

We sat there for about an hour and a half, before we left for some lunch, and because I was truly worried about all the employees staring at us.

When we returned, I was thrilled to see that our car was done. Yay! The worker informed me that our paperwork was at the cashier and that he'd be right with me.

All of a sudden, I had ALL of those same feelings the others in the waiting room had - frustrated, bothered, worried, irritated, and disappointed. Thinking to myself, "Why am I seeing a cashier when I have an extended warranty? When I made my appointment, I asked if it was covered and the worker dude said it was. So... why am I seeing a cashier?"

Then this conversation happened...

"Yes mam, that will be $135.17."

"Ummm, no. I thought this was under warranty." (Frustrated, bothered, worried, irritated, and disappointed)

"Well, no mam. This is maintenance and that's not covered by the warranty. But, I can go and talk with boss about it."

"Yes, please do so." 

I took some deep breaths, tried to NOT go nuts, and chatted with the cashier girls about my babies. They raved over how well they were behaved all morning, adorable, and sweet. I thanked them, and mentioned how today was an exceptionally rare day. Like, exceptionally rare.

Then the boss walked up, "Miss, I charged your bill to our internal department. You have no charge for today. Just so you know in the future, that type of work is considered maintenance, which has a fee, but your babies are so stinking (I think he wanted to say a certain F word, but refrained, thankfully) cute. THEY are why you are not being charged today. We'll see you guys next time. Have a great day."

I thanked him over and over. I was shocked and so thankful for his kindness. The cashier girls said, "He's NEVER done that before. I told you how ALL of us were watching your kids."

I knew I wasn't crazy, but I'm really thankful they were. I would have hated to leave that place feeling like others do most of the time - frustrated, bothered, worried, irritated, and/or disappointed.

Instead, I was thankful to them and thankful for my babies!

The Vasectomy Care Package

My sugar had this procedure done. I love him for it. I know it was NOT an easy thing to do, but I am very grateful. (I am sad that Jocelyn is our last baby. I would love to have another. Let's make that very clear, but I can't be on bed rest again. I would go seriously BANANAS! Especially with 3 kids now... ARGH. Bananas just thinking about it.) Clearly, I am thankful.

I planned on spoiling him by letting him (This sounds like I wear the pants in the family... I don't. Well mostly, he does, but maybe sometimes I do.) play XBOX all weekend, watch movies, and ignore us entirely to help him recoup. But, I also wanted to show him how grateful I was with some yummy treats. They needed to be treats he could enjoy while following the doctors specific orders of "BE A COUCH POTATO!"

He smiled at them.

I think that means he liked them.

I saw this on a t-shirt. I laughed.

Our friend, Joe, gave this advice. 

I remembered.

I think he was just in too much pain to jump up and down raving about how sweet and thoughtful they were. :) (Because he ALWAYS does that... NOT!)

My notes got less and less cute, as my daughter Jocelyn was in the background SCREAMING bloody murder because I wasn't holding her. 

TEETHING SUCKS!

I am sad he was, and is still, in pain. But I am very thankful to have him do this for me and my peace of mind.

I love you Sugar!

Playing with Patterns

In preschool, Jack is learning about patterns. We just finished a shapes with patterns homework page and it was lunch time. I was determined to continue his learning, even if I have to trick him into doing it with food! SUCCESS!!!

I grabbed some toothpicks, cheese, turkey, and hard salami.

Sneaking some food already.

He got to decide what pattern he wanted to make while we practiced saying each piece of the pattern out loud. (This was also good practice to help build his fine motor skills some more - it's so hard being left handed.)

"Cheese, salami, cheese, salami."

At the end, he threw on some Turkey and explained, "I put it on just cuz I wanted it on, but I know it's not part of my pattern. It just tastes yummy like that."

"This was a fun lunch mommy! Thanks."

My patterned food!

Popcorn Popping

On Afton's way to school Monday I asked what her favorite church song was. She said she couldn't decide between "I Like to Look for Rainbows," "Do As I'm Doing," "Families Can Be Together Forever," and "Popcorn Popping." 

I told her that if she gets nervous on her first day of Kindergarten (for the second time) to just sing one of these songs in her head to help her relax. Then, I found myself singing the "Popcorn Popping" song all day. I wasn't nervous or anything, but it was just stuck in my head.
   

At dinner that night, we were discussing our day and Afton and Jack both shared stories about something that someone did for them that was nice. Then within seconds, they started arguing over the last piece of chicken. Like a ridiculously loud argument, SO I just started singing at the top of my lungs, "Popcorn Popping on the Being Nice Tree!"

They stopped arguing, looked at me puzzled, and quickly informed me I was singing it wrong. I knew I was and I told them it was a remix! (I could do that since their daddy's family member somehow, Betty Lou Cooney, wrote the music for the original version in 1924!)

Popcorn Popping actual lyrics!

It then lead to our FHE for the night. How could we go from being so nice to each other and having such a nice conversation to little heathen children so quickly?

I made these little sheets for us. We did one as a family where we discussed ways that we can be nice to one another, be it in our family, our classroom, our neighborhood, at church, or anywhere. They had great ideas and we wrote them on our popcorn kernels, then glued them on our bare tree trunk and admired it proudly! :)

Then they got their own tree. They had to decide people that they can be nice to and write it on their own little popcorn kernels. This was really simple and fun.

Our treat was of course POPCORN! 

Jack thought "We could take this to a friend's house to be nice and share our popcorn."

I LOVE that he wanted to do this so I made a few more copies, stuck in a little note explaining what to do, and we dropped it off at a friend's house. Now they can have a fun and simple FHE about Popcorn Popping on the Being Nice Tree!

"What's a $5 shake taste like?"

My boy and my baby had a date last night. Big sister and daddy were at a school function, so we partied without them. PARTIED HARD we did!

"What do you want for dinner Jack?"

"I want a yummy cheeseburger and a chocolate shake. Ok?"

"Ok! I know just the place."

(Instantly the Pulp Fiction scene popped into my mind about a $5 shake... but that quote/movie is not appropriate for this blog! Even though it's a great movie, minus all the bad words, I guess.)

To In'n'Out we went!

I love being silly with my boy and I love our special date nights together. 

Jocelyn LOVED munching on bits of french fries. 

All around a good night!

ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A few months ago I asked Jack which birthday theme party he preferred -  Dinosaurs or Lions? It had to fit with the theme, "Roar About Turning Four." I was really hoping for Dinosaurs because he has a cute little Dinosaur Party THING - I don't know how to describe it - that was given to him a while ago. It would have been perfect. I wouldn't have to buy a whole lot. Plus I already had tons of dinosaur toys for decor as well. Oh and dinosaur fruit snacks.

He chose lions.

Hmmmph. This made things a little more challenging. I didn't want it to be. I really wanted this party to be super simple. I didn't want to go all nutbag crazy, like I usually do. And I was doing really well at remaining chill, until about 3 days before the party.

Oh well, my boy loved it. Lots of people there seemed to be having a good time. Overall, I think it was a fun party! Even if I put a little more effort into it than I was initially planning on!

Roar about the Decor!

Each kid got a hat, lion teeth, and a bag of animal crackers!

This was one of those last minute things I thought about, thinking it would be cute and simple... but it took forever because everyone kept telling me my lion looked like a bird, a cat, or just about anything else other then an actual lion. ARGH!So much for keeping it simple!

Cutest little invitation made by my sweet sister-in-law Cindy as part of the entry way decor. 

Thanks Cindy!!!!

Roar about the Food!

Food consisted of Raw Flesh (watermelon), Lion Claws (Bugles), Tiger tails (Cheetohs Puffs), Croc Babies (Bay Dill Pickles - Jack's favorite food), Zebra Cakes, Lion Prey (Animal Crackers), Emu Eyes (Olives), Hyena Burgers (Hamburgers), and Giraffe Necks (Hot Dogs). Thanks to so many who helped cook the food with my sugar and keep it well stocked throughout the party! 

Do you recognize this crocodile face Aunt Rebekah? 

Jack removed it from the table before the party started because he said, "This is too special to me to have out for someone to ruin. Sorry Mom."

My attempt at making a LION cake!

Roar about the Games!

Can you see the Yellow 4? 

I was going to try and make a lion face... yeah right once I got started. 

In all of the yellow balloons there are MINI lions that are supposed to bring you good luck. 

The kids were trying their very best to hit a yellow balloon. 

(By the way, this wasn't even all of the kids that were at this party. AHHHHH!)

Jack did!

Afton did!

Then we had a bounce house and our trampoline -  With RULES!!!!!!! 

(Thanks Langenbach for totally giving us this bounce house for FREE!!!)

All Jack wanted for his birthday was a pinata. 

So glad we could come through for him.

Is my sugar flipping me off on purpose?

Roar about the Photo Props!

Tiger, Lion,Cheetah, Zebra and Hunter attire!

Thankful for this recycled box that we saved for over a month because I knew I would make these sweet props and FORCE my guests to take pictures in!!

Come on? Is she not the cutest little thing?

Plus, Dillon in the LION mask. 

(only kid who would put it on)

Roar about Jack Turning FOUR!

 All he wanted was a cupcake. 

"Don't ruin the Lion face for me mommy. It's so nice." 

 So spoiled by his family and friends. 

Very thankful for all of you!

Jack loved all his presents, but this was a special one from Uncle John. 

He told him he wanted dragons. 

"I know Uncle John won't let me down. I know there are dragons in this bag mommy! (Opens it and smiles) See mommy, I told you he loved me."

Roar about all the Guests!

Thank you cards are still coming, but I just wanted to thank all of you so much for loving our sweet boy! We are so blessed to have all of you in our lives! Thanks again!

Grandma and Grandpa from Utah

The Jones'

The Dunns

Lily

Jake

Cherie

Noah

Aunt Debbie

Tyson

Jackson

Dillon

Elle and Tallon

 Dillon and Chace

Chace

It was such a fun party! My boy is seriously the sweetest little boy a mommy could ever ask for. He is silly and loving. He deserved a fun party. I would have even got him a real live lion cub... if it would not have grown into a real live lion one day! :) 

Happy Birthday Jack boy from all of us!

We love you.