The Leatherwoods: March 2009

Monday, March 23, 2009

We Highly Recommend It

On Jason and Melanie's recommendation, we rented this movie, Fireproof, last weekend. It is a Christian-based story about the marriage of a firefighter and his wife. Both Dave and I were impressed by the message of this story. Actually, I can't remember the last time I was this "moved" by a movie. The story is so touching and the message so applicable to really every marriage. We highly recommend it. Everyone should see it. It is made by the same people who did Facing the Giants which is another Christian-based movie. That one is about a football coach and his wife. That movie is also really good and definitely worth watching. Neither movie has any garbage in it which is so refreshing.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Thank You

It is only 10:00 a.m. and I've already been moved to tears twice this morning (which is a good thing) and the responsible people are ... Kelly and Cassie. Kelly reminded me who I am and what that means and also to have perspective and be able to let go and move on. Thanks Kelly. Cassie posted this amazing slide show accompanied by a beautiful song that we heard at our Relief Society Enrichment last night, and I just flat out copied her and posted it below (thanks Cassie!). We had a guest speaker who was fabulous (Justin Harper, a seminary teacher from Rockwell), and he talked about living a life centered on the Savior. He played this song with a different slide show, but the effect is the same ... tears, gratitude, humility, and a renewed determination to look to Him.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Look at me go

Let's just make a note here that this is my second post in five days. Okay, moving on. The kids had the day off of school today (I have no idea why, I'm just glad I remembered!), and we were hoping for a fun day outside (on bikes, at the park, at the zoo, etc.), but alas, it was snowing .... again. We remembered Austin had a free pass to the Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy, and off we went. It was pretty cool. We had a lot of fun looking at all the sea creatures, driving the boat, and eating lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe. What it really did was get us all totally excited for Sea World in the fall! I actually do like planning vacations pretty far in advance, but I think I might be torturing myself with this one - we're not going until OCTOBER!!! I know, I know ... I'm as bad as the kids! At least I have something to look forward to I suppose.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Poor neglected blog

It has been a while since I've blogged. I've been busy I suppose. We've had a nice month despite my persistent crankiness about winter in general. So here's what we've been up to:

The boys just finished up another Jr. Jazz basketball season. This year was a little different. As you'll notice from the pictures ... THEY WERE ON THE SAME TEAM!!! It turns out the Jr. Jazz teams are divided up by grade, and third and fourth graders are together. The recreation director called me to see if it was okay that he had put Austin and Jackson on the same team. What?!!! It is a good thing he didn't ask me in person since there is a good chance I would have hugged him (and honestly I don't really even know the man). He saved me time and energy and hassle and all of that, and he thought I'd be upset. Funny. One practice and one game each week and two brothers playing together - that's my kind of basketball season. They had a great time, and we had a lot of fun watching them. They've improved a lot since last year and seem to be getting the hang of it. It was fun to watch them play together as teammates.

Dave got a new job this past month. He is now working for Stonehendge of Utah (see picture below). It is a transitional care facility, and he mostly works with high-level patients who have had surgery or have fallen or been injured somehow and are in need of a short stint in rehab. They just completed this brand new beautiful building on Center Street in Orem (jus east of Mountain View High School) in December, and he started in February as a Physical Therapist Assistant. He loves it there! He talks all the time about how nice it is to be in such a nice, new, beautiful place. He has good friends there and works around good people. I like that. The kids and I went over for their open house a few weeks ago, and I must say, if I needed to go to a transitional care facility, I'd pick this one. It is beautiful and so nice. The Stonehendge out front is really cool, so if you get a chance to drive by, it is worth seeing. We are so glad Dave has been able to work consistently as a PTA. He graduated with this two-year degree in 1999 and has always had work (sometimes more than we want!). He is really good at what he does, and we are all grateful for how hard he works for us. His training comes in handy when I get hurt (it happens) or need (or want) a massage. Thanks hon!

We had a couples' Valentine's Dance with our ward a few weeks ago, and it turns out, some of our friends can really "bust a move." Dave and I are not big dancers, so we usually avoid such events, but honestly, we had a great time. I happened to have my camera in my jacket pocket, so if you need any incriminating "dancing" or "karaoke" evidence on several individuals (who shall remain nameless), see me. I can be bribed.

I am enjoying my spinning class and occasionally riding outside. My friend, Paula, and I are registering for the "Little Red Riding Hood" Women's only ride in Cache County in June. We are going to try for 67 miles (wish us luck!). Thanks to a fun day in Park City, we are now both the proud owners of some styling gel padded cycling shorts and claustophobic clip-in cycling shoes that are sure to result in me injuring myself (not to mention humiliating myself). Stay tuned for updates ...

We are looking forward to spring and summer and some fun vacations coming up this year (Bear Lake, Duck Creek, Disneyland - yeah!). The boys are not looking forward to getting their braces on which will be in the next couple of months. They are both wearing jaw expanding appliances right now, and after all that junk in their mouth, braces will probably be a relief. My poor kids. They got my awful teeth. They are missing teeth on the bottom and have no room on the top and all of that. Good times. They are looking forward to school getting out for the year and spending another summer in the pool. I say "ditto" to that.

Funny kids

A new road just opened up by us called Pioneer Crossing. T.J. and I were on it the other day when he asked where all the pioneers were. I explained that they lived a long time ago and talked a little about the pioneers to him. He said, "Well, if the pioneers are dead, how can they be crossing the road?"
At the Qquirrh Mountain Temple Open House, there was a player grand piano playing hymns as we exited the temple. T.J. wanted to know who was playing the piano, so of course Dave told him it was a ghost. T.J. wanted to know, "Dad, is it the Holy Ghost?"
T.J. was changing himself out of his wet swimming suit today and into his pajamas when he took a few laps around the living room completely naked. I chased after him and said, "T.J., you can't run around naked. Get some clothes on!" He gets all indignant and says. "Mom, I'm NOT naked ... I have sunscreen on."
T.J. came running up to me this morning and said "Mom, I want to play knock-knock joke." I said, "Well good luck with that. You should probably wait until your father gets home becuase he's better with the whole knock-knock joke thing." T.J. said, "No I'll do it." I said okay, and he ran off. So a few minutes later there was a knock at the door. I answered it and it was T.J. laughing hysterically. I was a little confused and said, "What's up T.J.?" To which he responded, "We played it mom. We played knock-knock joke, and it's so funny." Apparently knocking and then laughing when people answer is now called "playing knock-knock joke."
London wanted me to buy her a new movie at the store today and I told her "no." She, of course, started in with the "Why not?" and "How come?" and all of that. So I just said, "London we don't have enough money to buy every new movie that comes out!" So she said, "Well, why don't you do some jobs and save up your money?" To which I responded, "London, are you serious? You want me to do jobs and save up my money so you can have a new movie?" She said, "If you work hard mom, you could do it."
I told T.J. the other day that he had to clean up some toys he had gotten out before he could have the piece of candy he wanted. So I said, "Come on, let's just hurry and clean it up. I'll help you." So he comes over for a minute and we pick up a few things and then he just walks away. I said, "Hey! Where are you going?" And he said, "You don't need my help mom. You're a big girl. You can do it all by yourself."
T.J. always wants me or Dave to lay by him at night while he falls asleep. Sometimes we do and sometimes we don't. Tonight, we were busy with other things, and T.J. was in there calling for me, "Mommy, come lay by me." I said, "T.J. I can't right now but I love you." So he said, "No Mommy, don't love me ... just lay by me."
I think my kids might be getting a little too much "election" exposure this year. We were at Partyland the other day having fun looking at costumes. Dave found a Barack Obama mask and put it on. London was not amused and told Dave, "No Daddy! Don't be him. He makes bad choices." You got that right London.
T.J. got into trouble yesterday and I got after him for it. He says to me, "Don't get mad at me or I'll call you a big red chicken." Huh?
I've been thinking about going back to school, and we were asking the kids what they thought about it the other day. So Dave says to Austin and Jackson, "What do you think mom should be? What should she study in school?" Austin gave some perfectly reasonable responses like "teacher" and "writer." Jackson says, "Mom, can you be a really famous football player?" You bet Jacks. You know what Dave's response was? "Jackson, have you ever seen mom run?" How rude!
So T.J. is pretty much potty trained, but we're having a few issues with number two. So, I walk into the room today and clearly caught him in "the act." So I say, "Uh oh T.J. Guess what?" And he says, "Uh ... I don't know. Maybe you smell something?" I definitely smelled something.
I went to put T.J. in his car seat the other day, and he said it was too hot. I said, "I'm sorry. What should I do?" So he thought about it and said, "Can you blow on it for me?" So I did, and then he said it was only warm and happily got buckled up.
Austin needs to have a wart burned off his finger. Jackson happens to be an expert on the subject after much experience a few years ago. So he reassures Austin by saying, "It doesn't hurt too bad ... maybe like London scratching you about 5 times .... or maybe 10." Thanks Jacks.
In the midst of a Saturday full of errands, we agreed to take the kids to McDonald's to play on the playground and have some lunch. They were all excited, but I think London most of all. She jumped out of the car at McDonalds, ran over to me, and in her most dramatic fashion ever said, "Oh thank you mom! I just knew we were a happy family."
We always tease London about eating like a bird, and she really does. But it may be getting a little out of hand. Last Sunday when I handed her the sacrament tray of bread, she said matter of factly, "No thanks mom. I'm full."
The week of London's 5th birthday, Austin, in family prayer, makes a heartfelt plea that London will "understand the reponsibilities of being 5." What a good brother. Now if someone could just explain what these "responsibilities" are ... maybe I'll ask Austin.
Jackson broke the personal, family, and possibly world record the other day by thoughtfully saying in his prayer NINE TIMES: "Please bless us to have a good time." Wow! This kid is seriously concerned about having a good time.
London was playing her computer game this morning and after passing off a level, she was really proud of herself. I was happy for her and told her "Wow! Good job. You are really good at that." She was really excited about her accomplishment and my praise and exclaimed, "Mom, I did such a good job. Maybe I should be in a parade."

The Leatherwoods