Bryant's First Date - Post Date. For realsies.

Last Saturday was a bit of a teary day for me. Could it be that I stayed up until 2am in the morning, and then went out and excersized and didn't take care of myself so I wound up dehyrated and pretty sick afterward? Probably. But most likely it was because my baby had grown.

Oh, he grew a few years ago. But I'm really startin' to feel it.

The boys decided to take the girls bowling and to Jamba during the day before the dance. I then imagined Bryant getting ready for the big night and me sending him on his way. I then realized, this is the beginning of the end. This is what it's going to feel like for the rest of my life. My boys are leaving me. I know, I know, I sound like Agnes Skinner, and I probably am. But the mom of the boy always sends him off and doesn't get to see the date in her cute dress, the mom of the boy sends him off to have some other gal take care of her baby, the mom of the boy "loses" a son when he gets married. It looks like this mom of boys is going to send her boys off and be left all alone. I know, I know, Agnes Skinner...

But I always thought once you become a mom, you always have kids in the house. So not true, and this part of my life is happening too fast. They were just little, I swear. I had all of the boys by the time I was 26, my days of empty nesting are approaching too fast. Some people might relish the thought, but my boys bring me delight every day. And I mean every day.

As I went down the dark path of my boys leaving me in my mind, I started explaining to Boyd what I was feeling as he was preparing a talk at the kitchen table. When I told him how it wasn't fair that the mom of the son always has to send her boy away I started bawling. Boyd froze and looked over at me like I had an alien growing out of my head. When I think about the look he gave me, it makes me laugh. In fact, all of the boys completely froze and looked at me like I was crazy. Okay, so maybe I am, but maybe not. I love my boys and don't want this stage of my life to end. Is that so bad?

Anyway, Bryant had a great time, and he went with a darling girl. She used to be in our ward so we know her family too. At least I sent him away with a good girl who was totally modest. I was very proud of both of them.

Catching up with him after the dance took me back to the days when I was in high school, just a mere 4 years ago...it seems like yesterday because it was. It's true, I swear.

I am glad the boys are growing up, but my how my heart hurts when I think about the time when are no longer under my wings and in my roost....

Bryant's First Date

I have severely neglected my blog. Oh well, more important things, right? I haven't read any blogs, nor have I updated mine (obviously). Pinterest has taken my interest.

So, what's new? Well...Bryant has his first date...tomorrow! It's Homecoming and I can't believe he's old enough to go. He's a junior!! Lucky for me, he still can't drive on his own, however, that's not very lucky for him or his date. Good thing, my very best friend from high school -Toni - has a son Bryant's age and he just happens to be one of Bry's very best friends. They are all going to Homecoming together and luckily, Cameron can drive.

It's funny, I never thought in a million years that Toni and I would live by each other as adults, we would have sons the same age, they would go to the same school, and happen to be in a group of best friends. What's even crazier? We are old enough to have kids the age we do. I can't believe it. Time goes by too fast.

I love Toni as much as I did back when we were in high school. We still go on "dates" (we need another one soon), and she seriously hasn't aged a day. I, however, do not look the same, but she still loves me the same.

I had to have a talk with Bry tonight about "what to do on a date". Of course we always follow "FSOY" as we call it in our house. For the Strength of the Youth. But more than that, I have always taught my boys to be chivalrous. I NEVER open a door when I am with my boys, they always watch for others women who need their door opened for them. However, I realized tonight that I did not teach him he needs to open the car door for his lady friend. This is one thing I have negleted to teach them or have them do. Boyd always opens the car door for me, but somehow the boys have missed this. I found out tonight that maybe Bryant didn't realize he had to be "extra chivalrous" on a date - that means opening her door, always looking after the girl, never having her tell him she's hungry (he needs to be proactive on that one), making sure she's not too cold, hot etc. I thought I had taught him everything, but apparently I wasn't specific as I needed to be.

He's a good kid and I'm very proud of him. I am pretty sure I birthed him when I was 13. That's right, everyone in junior high missed me having a kid.

Yes, I'm still alive....

I have been so busy latetly, and frankly, I've been jealous and super negative towards anyone who has the time to blog all the funny and cute little quips their rugrats make. Or how about those scrapbookers that have time to scrapbook "All about me"? That's just sick. And wrong. I live in a world of juggling a full time career and a growing family who think when I "cook" pasta with store bought sauce that I am the bomb. Keep their expectations low, that's my motto.
In an effort to diffuse my negativity towards those mothers who get to stay home and "live the dream", I thought I would blog and see if I feel any better. It helps that for the first time in my working life I have been able to take off the week before Christmas, as well as the week in between Christmas and New Years.
Boyd bought me "Xanadu" for Christmas....one of my favorite movies. As I watched it today, I realized my desire to look and skate like Olivia has not diminished over the years in the least bit. I still want to be just like her as much today as I did when I was little. If I could describe what is really in my heart in a few words it would go something like this:
Legwarmers
Olivia Newton-John
Roller Skates
Rainbows
Unicorns
George Michael
Bo Duke

My love for these things never fades. And, look at this movie poster? Can't you see why I love her so much? I mean, she's gorgeous and her skates with legwarmers can't be beat! Oh, and how she accessorizes her hair with beads and ribbons. I could just die!! I mean, where can you find a movie that will give you Greek Mythology, 80's punk, grown men doing the splits on a tight-rope, juggling, Gene Kelley, roller-skating, dancing, 40's big band, cartoon animation, and awesome music? Nowhere I tell you, nowhere!
One more thing, I can sing every word of every song in this movie too. Thanks to Amy who had the Xanadu record and a stereo complete with a microphone. We spent many days belting out the hits from this movie on the "rainbow" (how appropriate) on the Douglas T. Orchard playground. I own the cd now too....Olivia/Kira, wherever you are, I still love you at age 37 just as much as when I was 8!

My Old Man Turned 40...

Boyd turned the "big 40" this last week. I met and married this guy when he was a wee 23 years old. Boy, how time does fly!

Boyd's sisters and I decided to throw Boyd a surprise 40th birthday party - you have to go out of your 30's in style, so we decided on a 80's themed birthday party. I lived the 80's and still love the 80's. Ask anyone - 80's music is my fav. Howard Johnson, The Thompson Twins, Janet Jackson, MJ, OMD, and the list goes on...Boyd too lived and loved the 80's, in fact I had to pry a triangle, circle, and square desiged bright sweater out of his hands at one point in time. True story.

Thanks to friends and family for showing your love and support for Boyd and our family. We had awesome costumes, sweet prizes (Adventures in Babysitting DVD, Hulkamania DVD's and 80's cold cereal)and a way fun time. Boyd was so surprised - here's some of my favorite pics of the evening:




















And last but not least, my old man with his big gift for the night. He's gonna need these!! Here's to another 40 years - he definitely gets better with age!

Yes - I will make all your dreams come TURE!

This post is completely random, but take what you get and don't throw a fit.

The epitome of Chinese to English translation:



This was a big booth at the Canton Fair - I don't even remember the product they were trying to pitch, and I wish I did, because I really do need my dreams to come ture!

Ahhh, it's been a busy few months, but it seems as though it never ends. There is never a lull in anything.

Boyd is almost done with the basement - he has done a BEAUTIFUL job:



My craft space/office...




Spencer's room




We'll also have another spare bedroom, and we left the other big space as our permanent storage room. The bathroom won't be finished, but we are calling the carpet guy this week. I am so excited to be able to send the boys downstairs and have friends etc. out of the main traffic area of the house.

Boyd has done everything by himself, with the except of Dan and his bro. doing the wall texture, and his dad and brother coming over and helping out where they can. He has worked hard, and it's taken a long time, but it's been worth it.

For more bits of random, I was going though photos and found these pics of a bouquet Boyd gave me for v-day. I did not realize I had some freaky eyes staring at me through the blossoms until now...




Gotta love those boys. Speaking of loving my boys, I was talking to my dad and relating to him how my boys have the same sense of humor I have, and the same sense of humor my brother and sisters and I had growing up. One of our favorite movies is Mr. Mom. I LOVE that show - it's such a classic!



We had my neices over and the boys were excited to show them the movie - they thought the girls would love it. When it was over, the girls said "it wasn't that great". Wasn't that great? What? They totally killed the boys!

Anyway, I will leave you with one of my favorite lines from the movie (aside from the clip). Can I....have a moment....to myself? Name that scene.

My boys - growing up...

We had "the talk" with Logan last night - the last one of our kids. Boyd did so good, I hardly had to say a thing. I was glad for that, because I was having a hard time admitting it was time for by baby to hear it. Logan was so excited to finally get his turn - in fact he kept asking when he would get his turn at "the talk". Our tradition is to take the boys our to their restaraunt of choice after the talk - you know, to ease the horror that their little brains have just gone through. I'm surprised they've had an appetite after!! And I'm even more surprised Logan didn't pick a buffet. Yay for us!
Anyway, as we were getting ready to go, Logan was stepping into the shower and Spencer said to him "Hey Logan - why are you getting clean when you are just going to barf all over yourself?" We all had a good laugh...
Next, after we got home from church, Logan was so proud "Hey mom - I memorized one of the words we talked about - Vajayjay!" (except that wasn't what he said). Bryant almost spit his lunch out he was laughing so hard. He told Logan not to ever say that word again - he could say vampire or Virginia, but not that word again. EVER.
And lastly, after we watched the Olympic closing ceremonies (BOOOO - except for Michael Buble)we were excited to watch "The Marriage Ref" - from the commercials it looked pretty funny, and it was. My favorite part was about a couple that were fighting over having a stripper pole installed in their home. The wife DID NOT want one, but of course, the husband did. Spencer said he sided with the wife "because it's just one more surface to clean!".
Amen bruthah!

If you can dump it, dump it!

A man? A friend? Rotten meat? No. What am I talking about Willis? I'm talking about baby poop in cloth diapers, peeps!



I work with the BEST people ever! We were chatting at work today and they told me I should write a book about my childhood. Really? Who wants to know about boring old Angie's childhood? I mean, I am so boring, I loves me the Olive Garden and I switch between 2 dishes there. I don't even mix it up!

2 childhood memories were relayed at different times to my co-workers today - don't even ask me how they came up:

1. I always wondered why our next door neighbors house was cold, or cool, in the summer while my house was always muggy and my sheets were damp. I always wanted to be at the Bezzants house in the summer because their house was magically cool. Little did I know that my wet sheets were not on account of some kid my mom was babysitting, but because I had a luxurious swamp cooler IN MY BEDROOM WINDOW! That's right - you heard me. West Valley is in the HIZ-OUS!I later learned that this cool phenomenon at the Bezzaants was central air. I vowed then and there I wouldn't have a swamp cooler in my bedroom window ever again and I would one day have central air. Check! One thing off my bucket list. It will probably be the only thing...


CAUTION, THE FOLLOWING CONTENT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN AND/OR ADULTS WITH CLASS, MANNERS, OR GOOD TASTE (that should really be the title to my blog):
2. Having to go to the bathroom soooo bad, lifting up the toilet and finding a dirty cloth diaper taking a little relaxing dip in the toilet. AAAAAARGH! There was no way I was reaching down into the ice cold poop water, fishing out the grody diaper, and then ringing it with my bare hands. I had to do it enough when my mom made me. There was no way I was going to do it on my own without my mom forcing me. Mom's rule was if you had to go potty and there was a dirty cloth diaper in the toilet, you had to clean it out. No "smeller's the feller" here! I think her rule should have been "I decided to have these D kids, so I should rinse out their dirty diapers" right? As I was telling the story to my friends, Julie kept saying over and over again "Ohhhh, if you can dump it (meaning the poop), dump it - don't rinse it!" She had lots of experience with cloth diapers too. Poor thing.

So what did I do when I found a "non-dumpable" diaper relaxing in the throne? I just went on top of the diaper. Nothing like a turd on top of a turd filled diaper! I did get caught and reamed a few times, but in my defense, I was not the only one who did this. Many times I found a gift from someone else.

However, in an effort to be obedient, I went across the street to the neighbor's house and used their toilet. I would rather walk to another family's toilet than clean out the diaper in ours. That statement still rings true today. Some things never change.