Take Me Out

Will and Ben started practicing for baseball a couple of weeks ago. I love baseball and watching them play. I don't know if it's because of the spring and the beautiful weather, that we finally get to be outside, or if it's because of the game. They are both going to be on the same team this year, which will be so nice for us! Last year they were on different teams, but Ben is playing up this year.

They are both funny. Their friends are extremely important to them. They had a practice game tonight against another team in their league, and it was my responsibility to get them dressed and ready to go. Easy enough, but they were playing with their friends. And, if I try to pull them away, they transform into two little boys I don't like very much. Well, I was able to get them dressed, much to their dismay, and I let their friends know that they had to leave. The friends stayed in our back yard, playing basketball. That was fine. But, Will and Ben were fighting tooth and nail with us. Saying that they hated playing, that they want to do Karate instead. EWWW! Ben is usually pretty mellow, sweet kid. Will is another story - very ornery. Every morning when I wake him up for school, he yells at me, yelling about how much he hates school. He is going to be my challenge and I've know this since he was little. Very strong willed, intelligent and talks back - I think I know someone that was just like him (me) when she was little. My mom used to say "I hope you have a child just like you", and I think I do.

They've played baseball ever since they could. I think we started Ben when he was two. They love it once they are there, but it's getting them there that is the most difficult part. They are like that with a lot of things - church, running errands. It's just they love playing and hate being ripped away. With church, I used to let them watch cartoons in the morning. Not anymore. No TV on Sunday mornings, and it has made getting ready for church more pleasant.

I thought they had left with Mark when suddenly Ben and Will appeared from the garage. Mark just got so sick of them that he just left without them. Mark had to be there because he is helping coach their team. I was mad! When baseball sign ups were upon us, they both really wanted to play. We informed them that they couldn't pull any of the "pranks" and had to take it seriously. That we were paying for them to play and if they fought with us about playing later in the season, it was wasting money.

I sent them to their rooms the entire night, only to let them out to eat dinner. While friends played outside, they sat inside, reading. I made them apologize to Mark when he got home and they both said that they would never do that again.

New rule: No playing with friends until their homework is done and they are dressed and ready for baseball.

It was so nice to have them locked up. I even made Will dust his room. Isn't parenting fun?

Things You Should Never Do...

Never answer the phone on a Sunday if the caller ID is from your bishop. If there is a mysterious cell call early on a Sunday morning, you can probably guess that it is a member of the bishopric looking for the prayers for Sacrament Meeting. Well, tonight our caller ID showed the bishop and Mark did the unthinkable - he answered the phone.

I could kind of hear the conversation on Mark's side, "well, she doesn't really like to speak in public." As I heard Mark coming up the stairs, I immediately shouted "no"! I know, I'm bad. But, I really dislike speaking in front of large groups of people. Will happened to be upstairs and he was coaxing me, urging me to accept. He said that he wanted me to speak so he could laugh at me the whole time. Great! I know there are a lot of people out there that feel the same way as I do. I am great one on one of with a group of peers, but I die in front of large groups of people. I've done it before, but it's not my most favorite thing to do. I can think of a million things I'd rather be doing!

Mark said that I only had to take two-three minutes and he'd do the rest. DEAL (after much negotiation)! My topic is the joys of motherhood and Mark's is the joys of fatherhood. The topic will be great, I get to talk about my kids. I'm not very excited about it, but it will be good for me and good for my kids to see me up there. I'd really hate them to get my fear. Hopefully they'll be more like their dad in that aspect. Mark is so great at public speaking.

Wish me luck. I have two weeks to stew about it!!

Do You Believe in Ghosts?

I think I've mentioned before that my sister Karyn and her husband Jon are currently renovating their home around 15Th East and 15Th South. Her contractor and the guys working on their home informed them that they do in fact have a ghost at their house. The know for sure that it is a man. He frequently makes himself known and will watch over the workers while they work. He wants to let you know that he is there. He is probably upset about his house. They've torn it down to the exterior walls and floor boards. She has heard noises in the home before, but blew it off, thinking it was the heating/cooling system. They've never seen anyone, but Jon said he's felt weird things and seen a light at the bottom of the stairs. But, the contractors have had many experiences. They finally had to tell "him" to calm down, that he needed to get the house done - that they need to exist together. I think Karyn and Jon might head over there and have a little talk with the ghost. Hopefully that goes well!

A couple of years ago she had someone show up at her house. It was an old man that said he had grown up in the home. We're wondering if it might be him, if he has passed away, or his father. Luckily he left his card, so they are going to try and get in touch with him.

So I've been online searching out ghost busters in Salt Lake. I would be freaked out if it were my house and I had to live there. But, it's Karyns house and I'm thinking it is pretty cool. I've emailed two different ghost hunters that I located on the Internet.

Do you have any ghostly experiences to share? Please share!

Utah Ghost Organization

Some of my Favorites

My friend Kami just posted about some of her favorite kitchen gadgets. So, I thought I would do the same and show my fellow bloggers some of mine.

This is a total splurge, but it is the best garlic press ever. You don't even need to peel the clove.



I love my Boos block.



I love my cast iron skillet. It is a must have.



I love my salt cellar from Alton Brown. I only use Kosher salt now.



My favorite knife is my Henckels Santoku.



I absolutely love spraying this on my counter to keep it clean and smelling great.



I can't wait to try this...



because I adore this...



How could I forget about these...






they are a staple to every kitchen!

I love this citrus juicer, too.



That Rosle brand has very nice stuff!!! Check it out next time you are out and about.

Doesn't this look fun?




I could spend hours at SurLaTable or Spoons & Spice perusing all that is to be seen there. I could spend a small fortune with each visit. I wish that I was a better cook. I just need to practice more, but life is so busy!!!

What are some of your must haves?

Easter Weekend

Happy Easter! We've had such a great weekend spending time with each other. Today we went to church and went up to the Cannon's for dinner. The kids had fun searching our house this morning for their hidden baskets while Mark made a delicious breakfast. I even sneaked in a nap and it was wonderful!





Mark was off for Good Friday and he took advantage of his time off and treated himself to a massage at the Kura Door. After his massage, he met up with us at the zoo. We went with my friends Adrian and DeDee. The weather wasn't great, it was a little cold and windy, but sunny.




Our cute neighbors put on an egg hunt every year and everyone who is around usually attends. They cook scones and everyone brings juice and honey butter. It is such a fun tradition.





My neighbors husband is getting in to riding motorcycles and he showed up in these beautiful pants. Man, I wouldn't be caught dead in them!



I hope everyone had a great holiday!

Day at the Museum

My dear friend Becky invited us to tag along with her and her cute kids to the Children's Museum. We are always up for an adventure...so we were off.



We played on the main floor for a bit, but it was so busy due to the fact that all the kids are out of school. So, we headed upstairs to see this...











We had such a great time. Will had so much fun chasing Thatcher around he was sweating!

After the museum, we headed to Ben's Cookies for a little afternoon snack. After getting all the kids settled in the car, I decided to take off Max's shoes. He hadn't had a nap yet and I really wanted him to fall asleep on the way home. Can anyone tell what is wrong with this picture???



Seriously, what kind of mother am I? The poor thing was running around all day with two left shoes. About a month after I bought these shoes for Max, we lost the right shoe. So, off to the store I went to pick up the exact same pair. He needed shoes, right? I don't know why I didn't ever throw away the extra shoe, but I didn't. Now I will so this doesn't happen again!!!

Thanks Beck for the fun day! My boys love your boys!

Happy First Day of Spring

I am so happy that spring has finally sprung. Now only if the weather would cooperate! It seems like everyone in my neighborhood is gone for the weekend. They all went camping to Zions National Park and we didn't tag along. I'm not much for camping. Imagine that.

The kids are out of school until Tuesday, so wish me luck keeping them busy in the rainy, dreary weather:) Happy Spring!!