Fire! We're on fire!

So we are slowly finishing our basement and we had our guys down there yesterday doing some framing. I was upstairs with the kids, and yes they are still off-track. I was playing a game of Life with Madison, Eli was helping me. He is such great help.

We have a very, I mean very, sensitive smoke alarm way up in our vaulted ceiling. Anytime I burn something just a little bit the smoke goes up in the vault and sets the alarm off and then you can't get the alarm to shut off until you get the smoke cleared out.

Well, yesterday during our game of Life....the alarm goes off. It didn't scare me because I knew it was probably some dust or something from down stairs. No big deal, I went over to where the alarm is and started fanning a paper to try to get the air to move around. At this point, the kids are nervous. They are all standing right under my feet (moms, you know what I mean)! As I am fanning I notice flames down in our return air vent. You know, those big vents by the floor. There were flames shooting up in there. So I ran down stairs and yelled, "Fire, We're on fire!"

As I got down there, I realized one of the guys was grinding on a piece of steel right under the return air vent. No, it wasn't fire but only sparks. Tyson ran upstairs to make sure everything was okay. Sure enough, no flames just sparks.

The alarm was still going full blast so the guys grabbed some big mats and started waving them around. We opened all the doors and finally the alarm went off.

Thanks Tyson, I'm an idiot! You can make fun of me if you want but it really looked like flames.

Madison was so funny too. When I ran down stairs I told all the kids to go outside and of course they followed me. Madison started screaming because she was so scared. The first thing she did was turn off her hearing aids, smart girl that'll at least save her ears from the alarm!

Off-Track! Aaaaaahhhh!

My kids are off-track and I swear they were just off-track. Where does the time go? We have 3 1/2 weeks of off-track time. What am I supposed to do during off-track time? My kids get bored, how do I entertain them for 3 1/2 weeks? Off-track time makes me want to scream!!!
(I just wanted to see how many times I could mention off-track in one paragraph).

Any ideas? I need ideas of what to do with kids in the winter. Yesterday we went to the dollar movies and saw Madagascar 2 for the third time. I probably don't want to do that again. Please, any ideas are welcome especially if they are paid airline tickets to Chicago or maybe somewhere else that is warmer.

Out of the cold

Last week we decided to head south. The kids had Martin Luther King Day off so we headed to St. George to get some sun and warmth. We loaded the bikes and headed south. It's sad that all of our vacations revolve around biking. We always find other things for the kids to do. I think they had fun. The kids played at a park, went on a walk, watched birds in a pond (thanks to Heidi for naming the birds), Madison took pictures with her camera, fed lots and lots of ducks and geese (about 4 loaves of bread), and went to Zions. We packed a lot into 3 days! The kids were ready to come home. However, I am ready to go back. I am so sick of the snow and yucky air.

Few pics from the weekend...

Look closely in the background to the right and you can see a Blue Herrin (not sure on the spelling).

Eli and his cute hat hair. He was looking good!

Troy and the kids going for a walk in Zions. Like father like children...


What's so exciting Gabe? Oh yeah, he is always like this.

Madison in Zions.

Zions was so beautiful, I wish we had more time to spend.

I didn't get any pictures of the bike rides but Heidi, Sunny and I were getting mad air...

So fun!

Swimming pool vs. Puke

I'm back! It has been almost two months since I have written. Sorry, but I have been a little overwhelmed with everything that has been going on. Christmas, weddings, school, work, BMX, church callings etc. etc. I will try to be better but I can't guarantee anything. Honestly, I haven't even been reading the blogs or even turning on my computer. The only reason I have even turned on my computer was to delete emails or do work and then it gets turned off.

I read some of my sisters blogs (you know who you are) tonight and realized how much I need this. I realized that everybody struggles and gets busy and this is an outlet to make them feel better. Sorry, I am just rambling......blah!blah!blah!

Okay on to the title of the post. What do you think would win, the simming pool or the puke. Well, let me tell you that I found out if someone pukes in a pool they will shut it down. So, I guess the puke would win. Do you want to know why I know this?

Okay, okay I will tell you. Last night we decided to go swimming at a swimming pool nearby (I will withold the name for certain reasons). Troy was going to workout upstairs and I would swim with the kids. Troy would join us later. Well, as soon as Troy left we got in the pool. We were all swimming and having a great time. All of a sudden Eli swallowed a whole bunch of water. Immediately he starts gagging. This has happened many times with him (not in the pool but other places). He is my really good puker (Clisty, Meg, Jill, Sean, you all know first hand). I now realize that he is going to puke so I put my hand by his mouth and try to get him out of the pool. He starts puking, I catch what I can. Almost immediately we are on the pool deck. I don't know how we got there but mothers turn into superwoman when something is wrong with their kids. Now, on the pool deck he continues to puke. Mostly, the dinner that we ate about an hour earlier. At this point, I am looking around for some help. I am all alone with three kids, what to do? I flagged down a life guard, and she's like"You want me?" And I'm like, "Yes! Duh!"

She came over and immediately grabbed someone else to help. Obviously, she didn't want to clean it up. While all this was happening I was still standing there with puke in my hands and puke all over Eli's face. Not a pretty site! To keep the story short....we got it cleaned up with some stuff like kitty litter sprinkled on it and a nice big, bright orange cone to warn people that there is puke on the pool deck.

The girl asked me if any got in the pool and I just told her I don't know. Then she told me they would have to shut the pool down if it got in there. So I said, no I am pretty sure there wasn't any and she couldn't see any. I didn't want to be the reason for the pool shutting down. I have been there before when they have shut it down for poop, everybody gets mad.

So there you have it, puke would win. I think from now on it will be called the Puke Deck!

(Sorry if this doesn't make sense, I was just rambling on a bit and I am not even going to reread it before I post it)

Guess what he wants for Christmas!

Sorry, it has been a while....I have been a little busy. Things probably won't slow down now until after Christmas, that I do know. I know one other thing. I know what Gabe wants for Christmas.....

HIS TWO FRONT TEETH!

I've been tagged, Part dos!

I have never done this tag before, it is a SWEETHEART Tag. For those of you who know my husband (or sweetheart) you know I am pretty lucky. For those of you who don't know him you might learn a little about him. Here goes...

What is your husbands name? Troy

How long have you been married? It'll be 14 years in March (never thought we would get there)

How long did you date? About 1 and 1/2 years. We were off a couple times but always right back on. I couldn't live without him and still can't. (Okay that was really cheesy, sorry)

How old is he? 38 (ooh, he's gettin up there)

Who is taller? He is (6'2")

Who can sing best? He can. We sing Happy B-day at his families house and they all harmonize. My family, not so much!

Who is smarter? I say he is, he will say I am.

Who does the laundry? I do, everytime he puts clothes in the washer he has to ask me how to do it.

Who pays the bills? I do, we would be in bad trouble if he did. When we were dating it took both, his mom and myself, about 4 hours to balance his checkbook. Not good!

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do. I'm not trading, I won't I won't!

Who mows the lawn? I do, he wants the credit for doing it but I usually do it. He mowed more this year than he has our whole marriage put together. However, I still did it more than he did.

Who cooks dinner? Usually I do but he cooked tonight (Mmmm, Bajio!)

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Him (atleast that is what he says). I think we are about the same.

Who kissed who first? He so kissed me first.

Who wears the pants? We both do. (He says I can only wear pants if he tells me I can, so I guess he wears the pants. Ha Ha!)

Now I tag...Kathie P, Nikki, Clisty, Keli, Kristi and Jill. Have fun girls, it was fun asking Troy what he thought the answers should be. He always had some smart alec comment of course.

I've been Tagged!

Okay, Okay, sorry Larissa. I have been meaning to do this all week. However, it has been a crazy three weeks. My kids have been off-track and we have had one activity after another.

I can't think of 8 things for each of these so I hope you aren't mad that I am going to only do 4.

4 Favorite TV Shows:

1. Amazing Race
2. Biggest Loser
3. Grays Anatomy
4. My Name is Earl

4 Favorite Restaurants

1. Cheesecake Factory
2. Pei Wei
3. Spaghetti Factory
4. Z-Tejas

4 Things that happened yesterday

1. I made clam chowder (about the first time I cooked this week).
2. Took the kids to swim lessons
3. It snowed and I watched the kids sled in the back yard all day long
4. I showered two times (don't ask!)

4 Things I look forward to

1. For my kids to go back on-track (don't get me wrong, I love being with them but I am tired)
2. Spring
3. Our cruise in March
4. Being with family for the Holidays

4 Things I love about fall

1. The colorful leaves
2. Looking forward to the Holidays
3. Soup (notice, yesterday, first snowfall, clamchowder)
4. Not having to mow the lawn anymore

4 Things on my wish list

1. To be skinny
2. To have my house paid off (that will never happen)
3. To have my basement finished
4. To go on a European vacation. I don't care where just somewhere far away.

I am supposed to tag all you readers but I have to do a tag tomorrow, thanks to Barb, so look out. I will probably tag you then!!!

*Sorry it took me so long Larissa.