If You Give a Mouse a Cookie....

Have any of you read the book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie? It's a pretty adorable book. Well, we had our own live version of this.....with a sick twist. Since we are surrounded by fields there are a lot of mice in the area. I am not a big fan of cats so we don't have one. Our neighbor's cats are doing just fine mousing are fields as far as I'm concerned.....although I'm looking into a dog that eats mice. Either way, we have some that find their way into our home.

I've been setting traps. Unfortunately,they are starting to get smart and either lick off the delectible little entre I've so generously placed out for them; or they order take-out and lift it right off the trap to enjoy their newly acquired meal at home. I'm sure somewhere within my walls there is a possee of little varmits that have a get together with all their friends every Friday night and just laugh at their home videos starring me, in my pajamas, trying to slyly select the perfect spot to delicately place a so-called "trap." I bet they especially love the parts where the trap go off before I've completed the placement.

Well, here's my little tip for the day. these mice aren't dummies. They have licked, nibbled, and just plain taken the food from the traps for the last time!

Those of you with weak stomaches may want to picture the pied piper seranading a group of happy-go-lucky mice down the road to a well kept, ritzy retirement center for rodents.

What I've resorted to is SUPERGLUING the cookie to the mouse trap. Yea you heard me. I've resorted to supergluing the food to the trap. It works "and that's all i have to say about that." (thank you forest)

The Us of Today Part 1

Yah know, I wrote a totally different blog for today and decided to bag it on account of it sounding like a whole bunch of whining.........we all know how much I hate whining.....so I decided to start over and take a different angle. Here's a "who's doing what" list instead.
Tovenator: Working like a maniac programing plc's (not pc's) it controls automated machinery. He's a hard worker and a dedicated family man. He is the best at playing with the kids! They can't wait until he gets home each day. He is a scout leader which not only involves scout stuff as we know it, but he also serves as one of these boy's teachers on Sunday. He's not currently in any rock bands, but there is much talk of training up the kids in the ways of the rock-n-roll. Why not. We are currently taking suggestions for band names. I can't get "undomesticated spider monkies" or "major crazy babies" out of my head on account those being the perfect descriptions of my children....but neither has a very catchy sound to it.

The Us of Today Part 3

Kadeoppolis: This little darling has just as much energy as ever. And yes, he still jumps off the high countertops onto our indoor trampoline (aka: the striped matress) which is 3 or 4 feet away. He'll do flips and crazy stunts. We got him a chin-up bar to swing on which we can put up and down in his doorway. He totally utilizes it. He is in gymnastics and almost goes crazy with anticipation during the week. It's only once a week so, yes, he is going bazerk the other 6 days. He is still obsessed with superman and has worn out the seams in last year's halloween costume. He is also a little video game junkie. I've had to make him earn game time by doing chores to kindof keep it under controle. He definately keeps me on my toes. He also is starting to experiment with vocabulary and says some pretty funny things.

The Us of Today Part 2

Tiffarriffic: I just got a job as a fitness instructor at the local gym. Lots of fun, but a little overwhelming on account of all the time & money it took to get here. That, and I don't usually have the time I need to write the choreography for my classes. Hooking up there does work out really nice because 1-They have a free daycare, 2-I only have to work like, one hour at a time, two if i have back to back classes (which i don't), and 3-I'd be there workin' out anyway; so I might as well get payed for it. I just got put in the primary presidency which has been a lot of work so far, but it's been fantastic and I love the gals I work with. Lastly, I'm trying to organize and keep-up on a pre-school for Kade. Honestly, I about wet my pants when I learned what kids are supposed to know before they start kindergarten. So, I decided I'd work with him this year so he'll be all ready when next school year starts.

The Us of Today Part 4

Haleeenia: Her favorite phrases right now are "happy day", "princess castle", and "'a dat for?"I think 'Happy Day' being repeated over and over again is her version of "happy birthday". 'Princess Castle' is only to be said while wearing an extremely tattered cinderella dress (thanks belle) and twirling. I think she thinks that "castle" is her princess name.....and not her princess home. Lastly, I'll ask kade "what did you do that for?" when I'm not quite sure how to react to his actions. She's picked that up and exercises her ability to use it after everything anyone does. She's a 3 word sentence girl for the most part and she shows a lot of spunk. She is a pretty aggressive person when it comes to standing up to others.....ie: she won't back down from a fight over a toy, over a hitting battle with her brother, or anything else she's set her sights on. But, if you need a hug, she's the best person to go to.

The Prophet You Never Knew About

Family Home Evening is a rather interesting event at our house. For those of you who aren't familiar with Family Home Evening, it is a weekly event where families spend time together. Sometimes it involves outings and games; but usually it is a learning time. Families share talents, discuss religious topics, develop and strengthen positive traits, and become closer as a family unit. It really is an amazing concept and helps you conciously make time to have "quality time" together.
It's something all families should try to do......but...... more often than not, I'd rather pull out all my arm hairs with tweezers and then go swiming in a tub of lemon juice than try to have one. I know that in the long run, it will pay off; and there are many blessings promised to those who have FHE regularly. Unfortunately, that doesn't make it any easier to make it through an event that involves a 2 year old and a 4 year old in any sense.....let alone one where they are supposed to be semi-reverent, and sort-of listen. Even with brightly colored visuals and coloring projects, it is kinda frusterating. We do survive though, and one can only hope that some of what we do sinks in.
Well, at one point in a recent FHE we were talking about the prophet of our church. Kade and I had talked about him and what his name was pretty recently so I asked him if he remembered what the new prophet's name was. He couldn't remember. So I prompted him......."Thomas......." I started. With these adorable eyes looking up at me, he raised his eyebrows and attempted to complete the sentence ..........."The Train?"
I couldn't stop laughing. It was the funniest thing I had heard all day and his sincerity in the reply made it all the more amusing. Although in the back of my mind I thought 'Oh great....now my son thinks that the prophet of our church is this ficticious choo choo train with eyes.' Yes we did try to teach him that the prophet is actually "Thomas S. Monson", but who knows if he really believed us.