$1 Movie Wednesdays

Who doesn't love going to a movie filled with mommies trying to keep their children happy during this blistering hot summer? These mommies drag their children of all ages, from the sleeping newborn, the wild rambunctious toddler, the eager elementary school aged child, and the "too cool for school" teenager who spends the ENTIRE time texting his friend or messaging on Facebook about how terrible his life is. (It was pretty funny to look over his shoulder and read the things he was saying to his friend. Yes, I was looking. I don't feel bad either. It's called, turn off your phone and enjoy yourself and your family you little punk kid. I only read during the previews, but I assure you, he continued the ENTIRE time the movie was showing.) "Yah I no. so lame. my mom is makking me be here. dum family. just want to skate." - exact quote with perfect punctuation and spelling

Unlike this tortured teenager, we had an enjoyable experience watching "The Big Miracle."

 

 Waiting patiently - We were a little early.

 Grandma wanted popcorn.

She took out a 2nd mortgage just to buy this medium sized bag of popcorn for $8.

(Seriously movie theatre people - it's popcorn. HOW do you sleep at night charging that?)

The girl asked me, "Do you want to upgrade to a medium combo meal? It's a medium drink and medium popcorn for ONLY $12.50."

Um. No thanks.

 

 

After the movie, we went to lunch at Café Zupas.

There we were able to purchase a bowl of soup, whole sandwich, yummy bread and chocolate covered strawberries for less than the bag of popcorn.

 Jack liked to eat his soup with a straw today.

 "It makes it taste better mommy. You should try it grandma."

 We love Zupa's soup, even when it is 114 degrees outside.

And, who doesn't love chocolate covered strawberries?

My children surely do, since their last name is WESTRA.

(Mark, that was for you.)

The Golden Nugget

This little gem, or nugget of gold if you will, in the center of downtown has brought me so many memories. Each one filled with family and many different friends. Some friends who are still here in Vegas and even those who have moved far away. (Tear - I miss you friends.) Today's adventure was with the Jones family and it was no different! An all around golden time!

 We got the new key so we can return at a later date.

Waiting for them to come down.

Waterfall

 Shark Tank & Slide

"That shark in there is GINORMOUS mom. He could eat you if he was really hungry, but I bet he just ate something else. Like a smoothie or something. You know, for his breakfast." - Jack

Jack was very excited to go on the slide. He couldn't wait. He kept asking, "Can we go now? How about now? Alright, now?" He began his journey down the water slide with no fear, sitting on his bottom, huge smile on his face. When I came down after him, it was a different story. He was completely hysterical in my brother's arms saying, "I hate the stupid slide. Stupid slide bonked my head." My brother said he had turned himself completely around and came out face first on his tummy. :(

"Kickin' back, snackin', relaxin' all cool, all shooting some b-ball outside at the pool."

(I hope you got the fresh prince of Bel-Air reference. I may have changed the words a little.)

 Crazy Cousins

Thanks for the invite Jones Family. We had a great time.

 

"It was gold Jerry. Gold!"

(Not quite sure why I am referencing so many sweet 90s shows but hey, why not?)

 

 

 

 

 

Roll the dice...

If we are home, you better believe we are learning something. :) We picked up these sweet little dice at the Dollar store. So we decided to practice a few skills while having some fun! The babies loved it.

 

 Jack rolled first!

 

 #1 Read a book

 

 #2 Dance Party 

Grooving to some Foster the People

 

#3 Find a shape

We looked for circles.

Afton was looking for something else that was more of blob shape.

Jack said, "Yuck sister. That's not a circle."

So gross, but I love this picture.

 #4 Tickle Fight

Inspired by one of our favorite movies, ELF!

 

#5 Count to 20

We counted ALL of our toes!

 

#6 Let's Race

 They ran.

They hopped like frogs.

 They crab walked.

 They raced in lots of ways.

Such a fun game. The next day, when daddy was home, they showed daddy how to play. He especially liked when they rolled a 4. So did my babies.

Quotes June 2013

I'm way behind. I will be better on posting July on time. (I hope.)


Day 1
Afton: "Is it Grandma's birthday? She is getting pretty old, but she is still pretty."
Day 2
#1
Afton: "I have a plan mom. For your birthday, I say let's go back to Rita's and get another water ice. That just sounds like a great plan huh?"

#2
I think my girl summed up what getting older is like when she said, "So when you get older your boo boos get long?"

Day 3
Afton: "Do I have to choke if I am eating an artichoke?  No...? Ok good."
Day 4
#1

"Mmmmmmm! It's delicious! Thanks so much mom for my smoothie!"
#2
10:30 at night, awoken from a nightmare Afton is screaming and crying hysterically, "You won't even believe it mom. There is a poison dart frog  jumping around my room. He is jumping around like uh, uh, uh, uh, a freaking frog. I'm so scared." Poor thing couldn't handle us reading a rainforest animal fact book for a bedtime story.
Day 5
Afton: "Look mom. I found your see through dresses."
me: "Those are NOT to play with. Those are for daddy.
Afton: "Seriously, Daddy wears these?"
me: "No."
Afton: "I don't get it. I just look so beautiful. They're short like they're made for me. They're beautiful colors. Why can't I wear them?"
me: "Um. Just no." (Not sure how to address this other than finding a new spot for my lingerie.)
Day 6
#1
Jack: "This is Mitch-o. This is Spenca. And this is a dude on a horse."
Me: "His name is Helaman."
Jack: "No mom. He IS a man. Not he-la-man. And dudes are mans."

#2
Afton: "Do they have a room full of M& Ms at the M hotel?"

#3

"Mom, maybe Super Y (our elf on the shelf) sent this to us. This is the best day ever!" 

Day 7

Afton: "Is there ranch on my butt?"
me: "Yep."
Afton: "Good, I thought so."
Day 8
Afton: "How about I start listening AFTER my nap? Right now, it's just TOO hard to listen. Okay?"
Day 9
#1
Afton: "Mom, I have something for you. You're going to love it. It's beautiful."
Me: "Indeed I do. Indeed they are."

 

 

#2
Jack while being tucked into bed caressing my face, "I just love your ears mommy."
Day 10
Me: "Hurry upstairs Afton so we can get ready for bed."
Afton: "But mom, (singing and bobbing her head) we're up all night to get lucky."
                              Thank you Daft Punk and Pharell.
Day 11
Watching the NBA finals and Jack is talking on his superhero phone, "Um sorry Hulk Smash. Can't play right now. I'm yelling DEFENSE at the TV because everyone else is. Maybe later. K. Bye."
Day 12
Jack looking into my sunglasses seeing his reflection, "Hey. There are 2 Jacks. 1 Jack. 2 Jacks. Hmmmmm.WHY mom?"
Day 13
Each night we tuck Jack into bed we sing to him, "Take me out the ballgame." One night after hearing the line, "Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks," he says, "Hey, I'm Jack. But I'm NOT a cracker."
Day 14
#1
Afton at Krispy Kreme: "I know how to make donuts already mom. But we don't have that cool sugar thing."
#2
"Giddy up cowboy. This is Flicka. He is a wild horse."         

   
Day 15
Jack: "Can Buzz fly? What about Hulk Smash? Oh, I KNOW Batman can."
Day 16
#1
Jack looking back into the potty at his poop: "Mom look. That one is swimming. He doesn't even have to wear his floaties. Uh oh. That one down there is drown-ding. Where will the poop go? Oh wait don't tell me. I know, a special pool party. Hey, is that corn going to the party too?"
Daddy has to be proud of this on Father's day.
#2

"Happy father's day daddy. You are our superhero!"
Day 17
Me: "What do you want for breakfast?"
Jack: "Hot dogs."
He says this every morning, followed up with, "Oatmeal." Which he NEVER eats. And I no LONGER make.
Day 18
Jack: "That puppet really freaks me out mom. I mean really."



Day 19
Jack: "Can alligators ride on bicycles?"
Afton: "Um no Jack. That's the silliest thing I have ever heard. Their legs are too short. But, a unicorn can. They are really good bike riders."
Jack
Day 20
Jack practicing hitting a volleyball and Afton says, "Jack when you turn 16, you will touch the sky for sure. I promise you brother. I promise."
Day 21
Tucking Jack in, "Please don't sing to me tonight mommy. Let's just talk ok?"
Day 22
Jack: "Knock it off mom. Just knock it off."
Day 23
Daddy, while looking at our neighbors down the street: "Huh. Looks like they're off to the EDC."
Jack chimes in: "A B C D E D C."
Day 24
Jack: "I love you too mommy!"
Day 25
Afton: "I know what I want to name my babies. I'm going to have 3 girls and 4 boys. My girl's names will be Sinta, Princess, and Rain. My boys names will be Car, Shayla, Mayla, and Chuck. I can't wait to be a mommy."
Jack: "So you are going to have the babies in the temple on Saturday?"
Afton: ""Maybe. I'll have to see what my day is like after swimming."
Day 26
Jack: "Guess what sister. I love you too."
Afton: "But I didn't say I love you."
Jack: "Well you should have."
Day 27
#1

"Jack, remember when we watched that documemory about flamingos? They dance to make babies." Jack responds shaking his head yes, "Ahhh look. That one is having a baby right now. (Pause) or is HE going poop?"

Afton kindly explains, "Silly Jack. Boy flamingos don't poop. They only toot."

 

 

Day 28
Jack: "I beated you sister."
Afton: "(Frustrated and irritated) Uh no Jack. So just, eat your food. And DON'T make a mess."
Day 29
Me: "Afton, why wouldn't you look at the camera?"
Afton: "We were too busy focusing on the deliciousness of our snow cones to actually stop and look at the camera. Duh."
Jack: "Yeah mom. They were really yummy."

Day 30 after being outside for less then 10 minutes on a 115 degree day
Afton: "It's so hot out here. Do you guys think this is what living on the sun is like? Mom, seriously. I can't feel my eyeballs."
Jack: "Ahhhhh! My eyeballs are on fire. It's freaking hot."

Back in the classroom... maybe... I don't know... Should I?

While waiting for Surf's Up (great movie) to start at an outdoor viewing in Town Square Mall, I received a phone call from a dear friend. She had news that affected her career. She presented this proposal to me. "So Kirk L. Adams is going full-day next year? And you were who I thought of first when Mrs. Johnson told me the news. Do you want to split a kindergarten contract with me? I know how much you miss it. I know how great you were with your students. But I also know how important it is to be home with those babies. I need to know by tomorrow."
There it was.  I was being given the opportunity to "maybe" come back into the classroom to split a contract at my old school. There would have to be some hoops to jump through if I wanted it, BUT, it was mine if I decided to say yes, assuming of course, all of the fun CCSD District hoops we're successfully "jumped."

This news rocked my world. I would be back in the classroom. I would be working with a teacher I adore. I would be back at Adams ES. Oh, and I would be working with 4 siblings of my previous students who all belong to fabulous families. I would be a teacher again. This was what I thought I really wanted (5 months ago when I was really struggling with being "just a stay-at-home mom").

But that night, because I only had 1 silly night to decide, when I was really thinking it over, my mind kept returning to this quote. This quote that means so much to me. This quote that my husband said at his dear friend's wedding as his groomsman, that brought the groom to tears. This quote that is hanging up on my magnet board in my kitchen.

 

It doesn't matter if I am a successful teacher in the classroom. (I never earned the "Teacher of the Year" award. And if you know me, I want to win every award possible.) What matters is the success that will come, in time, with me being able to be home with my sweet babies each day. The success of being their mommy.

 

Although I am "just a stay-at-home mom," I can't get this time back. This special time I have with my babies. My girl will be going to preschool next year and then kindergarten after that. I only have this ONE last year with her until she is officially grown -up. Okay I am exaggerating, but that is how I will feel when she is officially in kindergarten - grown-up. How could I go back to work knowing this time is so precious? Plus, how could I leave my boy? He is so much fun. He fills my days with hugs and kisses and "Mommy, I love you too"s. I would miss out on ALL of that if I were back in the classroom, even if it were only for a half-day contract.

 

 

I have found during this past year that being "just a stay-at-home mom" is more challenging, exhausting, and rewarding then my previous career as teacher. This job is constant. 24-7-365 on call. It is filled with ups and downs. It tests my patience daily, even hourly. It requires more creativity and ingenuity to keep them satisfied and stimulated. It requires superhero powers to run on "empty" regularly because they drain every bit of energy you have. It allows me the opportunity to be a counselor, a chef, a chauffeur, a confidant, an example, an entertainer, and even a teacher. It has given me a new award to aspire to win, "Mother of the Year" award. (It does actually exist. Erin Cranor, in my ward won it in 2012 for the state of Nevada.) This award is SUCH A LONG SHOT for me, but I will try every day to reach it.

 

Needless to say, I told my friend no. I told her I could NOT accept this position. I needed to be at home with my babies. I needed to be not "just a stay-at- home mom." But a proud stay-at-home who works each day to help her family be successful.