You know you're getting old when . . .

I saw this cute little Santa in a catalog yesterday and my first thought was . . . "That's gotta hurt his back."

Pictures

Thanks to Marci for taking some great photos of our family! I needed some pictures for the photo book I was making for Ian. Despite our battle with fire ants (and John getting peed on), we had a fun time! Here are some of my favorites:

Off Key

Tonight John opted to clean up the kitchen while I got Brooklynn ready and in bed. So after family prayer I sang Brooklynn a song (she chose the "Papa" song [Hush Little Baby]) and then I told her I would sing one more and asked which song she wanted. She just looked up at me and said, "Mommy, go way!" I was a little surprised but got up, went out, shut the door and waited for her to get upset that I left. She never did.
Further verification why I should never sing in the ward choir.

My List

I got this from my buddy Lyn (who got it from somewhere else) and thought it was a fun idea.

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a Meteor Shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a Mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a Lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

My points of clarification (items I didn't count): I've run in a marathon but not the whole marathon, I've been laid-off from a job but not fired, I've helped kill and prepare animals for eating but not the same animal.

I did count #80 (published a book)--I've published several magazines and I figure that's close enough.

Halloween Fun

I think Halloween is a strange holiday. When else do you have an unspoken agreement with random strangers for them to give you something for nothing?
Brooker was a cute little cowgirl for Halloween this year and Ian was a cute baby (no costume required).

At the library. The picture below is to show her cute braids.

We had the Careys and Bonds over for a pre-trick-or-treat Chinese food feast.

Cowgirl Brooklynn, Princess Anna, and Pirate William. The cutest little trick-or-treaters in the neighborhood.

Brooklynn was the official "Trick-or-Treat" spokeswoman. My favorite part of each door approach is when the kids tried to just walk in to each house. Brooklynn thought it was great that people were giving her candy but it took a few houses before she realized I really was just holding her candy for her and not stealing it. I think I was the first one ready to call it a night (the pace with 3 toddlers was SOOOO slow, even with Anna's wagon!). The kids probably could have kept going for another hour.

The event was a big success--there were only a couple scary houses, only one nightmare that night, and we still have a little bit of candy left over!

Creepy Crawly

So, just to be clear: if you are a bug, you are scary and yucky.

If you are a slug, you are interesting and we want to . . . pet you. . . ?

(which she did)

Positive Feedback

Brooklynn must realize that I am one of those people that needs positive reinforcement. Today she went into her playroom and started playing while the light was off. After I turned it on, she said "Good job, Mommy! Good job, turning light on!" Ah, I knew all my hard work hadn't been wasted. I'd take that over a raise any day!

Later, she got out her puppets and started singing Old McDonald's Farm. Her earlier renditions were better but you get the idea.