Pete Pages

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Learning to jump

Tosh has always been rather coordinated, especially for his age. He is quite fond of jumping off of things (much to my dismay) and I'm continually having to pull him off of couches, counter tops, tables and so on.

We set up our trampoline a few weeks ago and thought that Tosh would be thrilled that we were finally allowing him to have a try at it. Ironically, this child (that I fondly call "Monkey") was afraid to try at first, but he has now taken off! As you might expect, he loves it.

Step One: Tongue out. Essential for any "sporting" event
(a family trait from both sides).

Step Two: Launch (again and again).

Step Three: Enjoy with pure delight.

Step Four: Post-jump rest (and snuggle) with bear.

Creativity

Creativity often looks like this:

Deep in play, with the ability to make a game, story, or friend
out of just about anything.

Creativity often looks like this:

Deep in thought, focused and quiet.

Creativity may also look something like this:

An awesome book titled, "Crewitt Wrestles the Donut Robbers."

What it looks like when creativity is achieved:

Saturday, October 24, 2009

A message from Bob and Tammy

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Our family dressed up for a Halloween party tonight. I decided to dress up '50's style and convinced Rob to go along with the theme. I've joked with Rob for years about how funny it would be if we were to start going by "Bob and Tammy." I mean no offense to any Bobs or Tammys out there, but it just doesn't really seem like us, although it does fit the "1950s" us, don't you think? This is really the only pic we got of the two of us tonight, but if you look closely, you will see that Bob (going to stick with this name for the entire post) shaved the top of his head leaving only the sides longer for a really *good* look and had a skinny tie, short pants, white socks, a briefcase, etc.

We took home the prize First Place Trophy! This was made by one of the judges (welded metal) and it's actually pretty cool.

The victory was sort of hollow though as we were the only adults that really dressed up. (This reminded me of winning my prize water bottle.) Sometimes it feels exhausting to be the "new girl." (Sigh.) I assumed that since they announced that there would be prizes for best "adult" costume that there would be others in costume...no just Bob and me and a handful of teenagers. I sort of felt a little nerdy tonight, but I kept reminding myself that feeling nerdy (and a little lonely) was just adding to my character.

Anyway, regarding the costume, I decided to be as authentic to the time period as possible. The earrings were Bob's grandmother's. The pin was my grandma's and the shoes and scarf were ones my mom wore in the 50's. Having bangs also came in handy for completing this look. And, yes, I was going for more of a maternal look (thus no poodle skirts or Letterman's jackets...).

The kids had fun at the party too (until Hewitt got a terrible nose bleed that cut our night a little short). My photos aren't the best as I was losing my light but here are the cute chillins...

Obi Wan Kanobi

Indiana Jones

Superman (notice the curl on the forehead)

Little flower girl

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Mommy magic

My kids just pulled out our "magic wand" and top hat that they haven't seen since the move. They've been taking turns doing various magic tricks. I thought I would give it a try and said, "Abracadabra, alaka-ZUP. When I open my eyes these toys will be cleaned UP!" My kids then scurried around the room picking up toys as fast as they could saying, "Don't open your eyes yet, we'll tell you when to look Mom, etc."

They were so cute about my request that I just had to take a second turn. "Aracadabra alaka-ZEET. Now it is time to all have a treat!"

I highly recommend this. Amazing what a little magic can do, isn't it?

Oh and p.s., my favorite singer/songwriter has some stuff up on itunes now. Feel free to check it out if you'd like: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=332952439&s=143441

Monday, October 19, 2009

Looking back

One year ago today I was very sick, in bed with a PICC line/IV in my arm (while my husband was in Costa Rica on business). I've thought a lot this month about where I was a year ago and what a difficult time it was for me and our family. I sort of "missed" autumn altogether last year as I was in bed for most of it.

I still get emotional thinking about the service given to our family during that time and how much I depended on family and such wonderful friends. I will love these women forever! I am pretty sure that this experience (though really a "small" trial compared to many) has made me even more grateful for our sweet baby girl that is, well, the result!

On what may seem like a random note, I'm guessing that many of you have seen the "JK Wedding" video on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0
Watching this video (and seeing the entertaining take-off on Jim and Pam's "Office" wedding) gave me the strangest sense of nostalgia and made me teary. I first heard this song ("Forever" by Chris Brown, and sorry that he turned out to be lame in real life...) on SYTYCD and loved it. Anyway, I listened to this song over and over while I was sick last year (thanks again to my sweet 80's clock radio) and it made me so happy and helped me to forget about the constant vomiting and discomfort of pregnancy. Anyway, hearing this song again after not hearing it for so many months made me feel really happy again as well as thankful for such a great family that I plan on keeping forever.

Friday, October 9, 2009

The "Ramones", aka Fun with a wig

So what do you do when it's Fall break (no school for two weeks), and the chores are all done?

Liv is such a good sport. The boys thought that this was hilarious. And yes, her eyebrows looked bright red in contrast to this hair color...

Oh, the simple things that entertain my children and make them giddy with laughter.

Friday, October 2, 2009

A look at five

Five things to help celebrate the day:

1. A trip to the store with Dad to pick out "birthday breakfast." Hewitt's choice: A box of Corn Chex. (Rob also bought donuts)

2. Setting up the trampoline in the backyard (it's finally down in the 80's, yea!).

3. Hot dogs for lunch, and pizza for dinner (Hewitt's two favorites).

4. Family "movie" night.

5. Presents, cake, and ice cream of course.

Hewitt requested a "Star Wars" theme this year:

Happy Birthday Hewitt! We love you.

Pete said...

Hewitt was just telling me about a new game he created where you can't touch the ball with your hands or feet. He said, "You can only hit the ball with your leg or foot-wrist." And so I clarified, "You mean your ankle?"
(10/8/09)

Me to Hewitt: Whatcha doin?
Hewitt: Arting. It's making art.
(10/2/09; Hewitt's 5th b-day)

Two jokes by Burke:
What does a storm wear?
Thunderwear!

What do you call King Kong's feet?
Big Foot!
(9/26/09)

I had the following conversation with Tosh:
Me: Are you a boy or a girl?
T: Boy
Me: Is Livvy a boy or a girl?
T: Baby
Me: Yes, but is Baby Liv a boy or a girl?
T: Girl
Me: Is Daddy a boy or a girl?
T: Big boy
Me: Is Mommy a boy or a girl?
T: Mommy a babe!
(Not prompted, I promise! 9/3/09)

Hewitt had set up a bunch of toy figures and Tosh was trying to play with them... Hewitt was telling Tosh not to touch them and I asked him to share the toys or to go and get some more figures for Tosh to play with. Hewitt said, "These are not toys! They are art!" (9/3/09)

We were driving along a road near our house (a rather quiet highway, really) and Hewitt suddenly exclaimed, "Mom! I just found the road to our old house! Keep driving straight!" I looked up and realized there were some big mountains in the FAR distance. Hewitt clearly thought he was staring at Utah. (8/28/09)

Hewitt brought home a little "Groundhog's Day" craft that he had made at preschool and kept calling the groundhog a bear. When I tried to tell him it was really a groundhog he looked at me like I was very silly and said, "It's a BEAR Mom, not a CORNDOG!" (2/2/09)

I explained to Burke about the recent airplane crash into the Hudson River and knowing that he would be very concerned, I quickly told him that all of the passengers were just fine. He looked at me with a worried look and said, "What about the birds? Are they okay?" (1/15/09)

I have a trunk full of old performing costumes from when I was a kid. Hewitt saw the trunk in the basement and told Rob that he wanted to open up the "treasure chest." Rob asked him if he knew what was in the trunk/chest and Hewitt replied that it was full of clothes. When Rob told Hewitt that he didn't want him to make a big mess Hewitt said, "I won't make a mess, I will just get out one clo." I guess that "clo" would be the singular form of clothes... (1/13/09)

Burke is always mentioning how he wants us to have lots more babies because he wants "hundreds" of brothers and sisters. I was explaining to him this morning about how it gets harder and more dangerous to have babies as a woman gets older...he looked at me and said, "Well, you look young Mom, like 19!" Then he leaned in closer and said, "Well, I do see some indents in your skin around your eyes (those would be wrinkles--thanks for noticing)." (12/26/08)

Hewitt blew his nose and must have accidentally gotten some snot or tissue in his mouth because he said, "Yuck! That tastes like cow dung!" (12/24/08)

Tosh got to Hewitt's cup of water at the table today and dumped it all over Hewitt's lap and onto the floor. Rob asked Hewitt, "Are you a little wet?" and he said, "I'm a BIG wet!" (12/24/08)

Rob was playing "Memory" with the boys and when Burke got a few matches in a row Hewitt said, "Wow Burkie, you're on fire!" (11/08)

We just bought some sod for our park strip and while Burke and I were looking at the pallet, I mentioned that some of the pieces looked like crabgrass and that we needed to find the best pieces of grass to buy. Burke looked at the sod for a little while and said, "None of it looks like crap grass to me!"

While I was flossing Burke's teeth he said, "Wait--I need to tell you something." I paused flossing and he said, "You sure know how to be a good mom!" (now there's a treasured compliment!)

Hewitt watched Rob kill a fly in our kitchen and then asked, "Did he cry? Did he want his mommy fly?"

I told Hewitt that I was going to get Tosh a snack and asked if he would like one. He paused and then said, "I'll take a milkshake." What am I, a drive-up window?

Hewitt was asking for toast today and when I pulled out the bread he said, "No, the 'letter O' toast!" I finally figured out that he wanted a toasted english muffin.

Burke came down for breakfast and said, "Mom, it might not look like my bed is made and you might not like it, but it's really stripes that I did as a design on my bed."

Hewitt has really liked eating plain tortillas lately. When I asked him if he wanted one he said, "Oh. Sure. I'll have a mamma mia."

Hewitt understands things very literally. When Rob told him that he "needed to fly" this morning (go to work), Hewitt asked, "Where is the fly? In the house?" When Rob asked him if he had a runny nose he said, "No. It's just boogers."

When Rob was leaving for work he hugged the boys and told them to "be good for Mommy and do exactly what she says." Burke said, "OK bye Dad, you be good at work and do exactly what your boss says."

We were discussing prophets in the scriptures for Family Home Evening and when Rob asked Burke which prophet(s) wrote the Book of Mormon Burke said, "Nephi, Jacob, Enos..." and continued to name the books in order. Rob and I were pretty surprised and couldn't help laughing.

I was just eavesdropping on Hewitt while he was playing with his toys and heard him say, "Ladies and jumpingmen..."

Burke was heading off to a neighbor's house to play and stuck his head back in the door and called, "I'll be traveling by bike."

When the garage door opens for us to drive in, Hewitt will pretend to be scared and say, "Oh no, it's the garage mouth! He's going to eat us!"

Hewitt got distracted and starting playing with his toys during lunch and when I reminded him to please keep eating he said, "But Mommy, I'm working."