Bathtub Art

I should be folding my mountain of laundry...but I'm not, 'cause blogging is way more fun!

We recently bought some bathtub crayons, in the hopes that it would make persuading Spencer to get in the tub a little easier. Once he's in there he doesn't want to get out, but for some reason getting him in there is often a battle. Anyway, they are a hit, and here are some of his drawings. I am really proud because just in the last month or so he has started to draw things that actually resemble what he is telling me they are. I was beginning to worry, because it seemed like all the other kids in his preschool class were way ahead of him in artistic ability...and probably they still are, but at least he's progressing!

This is a train, on tracks, about to go into a mountain tunnel. You will notice the driver with a hat on, and passengers in the other cars. Love it.

Spencer said that this is a picture of him (on the left), next to mountains and water. Personally, I think his self portrait looks like Tommy from "Rugrats." And again, love it!

Also, while we are on the topic of Spencer, as I often am, I wanted to write down a couple of funny things he's said recently too:

Me: Look at my eyes. What color are they?

Spence: Green, and black. And there's some white with red cracks in it.

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Dave: How goofy is mommy on a scale of 1 - 10?

Spence: 10!!

(we laugh)

Spence: Wait...20!!

If I am a 20, then Dave and Spencer are both at least 40...on the goofy scale. =)

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I almost forgot this one...

Spencer: Mom, I'm a pirate on the pirate ship, and you are a princess.

Me: Ooh, a princess! Thanks!

Spencer: No, no, no, wait...you're a woolly mammoth.

Time Out!

This weekend I was in Time Out, for almost 24 hours. It was AWESOME!!

Hee hee, I went to Time Out For Women in Salt Lake. In case someone out there doesn't know what that is...it's kind of like a little women's conference geared for Latter-Day Saint women, with speakers and music and such. A bunch of sisters in my ward all went together, and since it was Friday night through Saturday afternoon, we all stayed up at my Grandmother's condo together - no kids! It was so much fun! Shout out to Dave for entertaining Spencer all weekend...and for being happy to do so for me =).

Not only was it fun to spend time with some great girls, and eat yummy treats, and laugh a whole lot...but I really felt uplifted and inspired by the messages of the speakers. Why is it so easy for women to get burned out and run down, and forget what's wonderful about their lives? I dont' know, but that's how I had been feeling recently. So this "time out" came at the perfect time. I needed to be reminded why my life is wonderful, inlcuding the challenges; and that even though I have a lot of room to learn and grow, I am capable of doing a great job at my jobs. And most importantly, that I'm not alone, I have a Savior who loves me and who I can rely on for help and support in every moment.

This week I feel energized. I have had a smile on my face, and a bounce in my step. And I'm trying to make some changes in my life to keep this feeling going.

Time Out For Women travels all over the country...I would highly recommend going if it's ever in your area. And I wasn't even paid to say that. =)

Sickies

For the last 3 weeks or so, someone in our house has been sick. First Dave, then me, then Spence, then Dave again...and Spence is still sick. It sucks. I don't think it's the swine flu or anything...there's just been slight fevers, some stuffy noses, lots of coughing, and all around feeling yucky.

The worst part is, not only do we feel yucky, but I have been feeling like a failure in my motherly and domestic duties. My house has not been seriously cleaned in like 2 weeks. Dishes and laundry are about all I've done...and Dave is the one who did the laundry. Spencer has watched at least 4 hours of tv everyday, or more. While I was sick (for over a week), I would fall asleep on the couch like twice a day, while Spencer runs amuck...or watches more tv. Plus, no one wants to be around a sickie, so we have been couped up for most of that time, and last week the weather was gorgeous! And we had to miss it. Ugh. Yes, I'm complaining! I hate cold and flu season...

On a lighter note...

Spencer is loving preschool (except that this week he can't go...), and they learn about the different months of the year. Last week he came home and said, "Mom, it's November!" And I said, "Wow, you're right, it is November!" and he said, "When is it gonna be Yes-vember?"

Also, a few weeks ago we were at a restaurant for lunch. Spencer's food came first, and for some reason Dave and I started picking at it like vultures before he could get to it. Spencer said "Hey guys! Why are you so hungry that you have to eat MY food?!" We laughed and laughed.

Fall and Hallween Festivities...

We enjoyed October. Here's proof!


LEAVES

HEE HAW FARM

PRESCHOOL HALLOWEEN PARTY

WARD HALLOWEEN PARTY

TRICK OR TREATING WITH THE ROBBINS

This is a cute little video of some kids in Spencer's preschool class "saying" the Pledge of Allegiance. You can only really hear the teacher, but I just think it's cute.

Thanks Dad...

Last week, Spencer woke up from a nap (which are very few and far between these days), and he was VERY cranky! After a half hour of clingy crying and/or whining, I had a brain wave. I remembered something my dad would do to me and my siblings to turn a bad mood around, that usually worked...I told Spencer, "Don't smile, and don't you laugh!" And instantly he was laughing. A few minutes of this and we were both laughing, he was all cheered up, and he was on his merry little way. We have used it a number of times since, and it's still working to turn his frown upside down. I hope we can keep this magic "switch" for a while!

This is an example of just one of the MANY MANY things I can thank my dad for. He's pretty aweome...and wise too =).

A day in the life...

(That's totally me, right?!)

I am a homemaker, a housewife, if you will. Many of my friends are as well. Recently, a few of my friends have asked me what I do all day. To me, it's kind of an interesting question because I'm not sure if they are just trying to make conversation, or if they're like..."Um, you only have one kid and you don't have a job. What do you even do all day?" I'm sure these friends are just making conversation...but I ask myself the second question sometimes, so that's why I worry that other people wonder the same thing about me! But when asked that question, what do I do all day, I have a hard time finding the answer. I mean, I know I usually feel pretty busy. I know I clean, and run errands, and play with Spence, and make meals...oh and watch tv and surf the internet...but does that really take up my waking hours 7 days a week? Seems like I could probably fit some more stuff in there! However, when I write it all down, it does seem like more than I realize, which makes me feel better. =)


Yesterday was a busy, but fairly typical day. Here is a list of my activities that I know you are each dying to see...

• Got up around 8am (I know, I'm lucky!)
• Made breakfast for Spencer and myself
• Checked e-mail, facebook, blogs...wrote some e-mail
• Played trains with Spence
• Cleaned the kitchen (dishes from the night before...ugh)
• Cleaned a bathroom
• Did one batch of laundry, and folded a batch from the night before
• Showered and did make-up and hair for the day...that is a production, you know
• Ate lunch with Spence - cold, but homemade, pizza from the night before.
• Ran errands - craft store, got my blood drawn, and Target (my favorite store!)
• Got home and played "pirates" with Spence. We had gotten his pirate Hallween costume at Target. (He is STILL wearing his pirate outfit, 24 hours later...)
• Made and ate dinner with the fam
• Cleaned up the kitchen right away, as guests were coming over
• Had an enrichment committee meeting at my house
• Put Spencer to bed
• Checked e-mail, facebook, and blogs...again.
• CRASHED...around 11:30

However, this is what I did on Monday. I felt kinda yucky Monday, so this would be considered more of a lazy day. They can get lazier though, trust me.

• Got up around 8
• Got Spencer breakfast, and then tried to go back to bed...but he wouldn't let me...dangit
• Ate breakfast
• checked all my internet stuff
• Cleaned kitchen (from the night before)
• folded laundry
• dozed on the couch while spence watched more tv
• Fixed lunch
• Tried to get Spencer to take a nap with me...to no avail (me dozing, while Spence bounced off the walls)
• Showered, etc
• Checked all my internet stuff
• Made some phone calls for church stuff
• Made dinner
• Watched the news with Dave
• Put Spence to bed
• Watched Dancing with the Stars
• Talked with my mom on the phone
• Internet again...yes, dangit
• Went exhaustedly (for some reason) to bed...around 11pm, I think

I would really like to start reading more (I am not a reader), and get some sort of hobby other than the internet. Like making cards, or digital scrapbooking (wait, that's the internet too!), or something. I need to keep my mind sharp...or make my mind sharp =).

But that, in a nutshell, is my life. Weekends can be a little more exciting =). Sometimes I get burned out, or bored. But usually I am glad to be doing what I'm doing...and glad I don't have to do this and a full-time, or even part-time, job.

What do you do all day?? =)

Funny kids

Spencer and Bailey - 2 of the cutest cousins there ever were...

Bailey - "Hi sexy!"

Spencer - "Hi bummy."

Bailey - "Oh hiii!"

My sister-in-law Amanda has been trying to teach Bailey to say "hi sexy" and "I'm a diva" for a very long time now. Her efforts are finally paying off! And it's pretty darn funny. Spencer just says the word bum (or poop or booger) whenever he's trying to make someone laugh. And it usually works.

Today...

Spencer and I were driving in the car and listening to the radio. We were jamming to a song together, and after the song was over Spencer said "My mom is cool." (Darn right about that.) Then a couple of seconds later he said, "Let's find another rockin' song!"

(By the way, I do not know where he got the word "rockin." I do not say that. I'm cool.) =)