The Leatherwoods: May 2009

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Funny Jackson

So this is how the conversation went:

Jackson: "Mom I need a monkey costume for a play for Literacy Night at school."

Me: "Okay. No problem. When do you need it?" (Of course, I know that with my finely-tuned shopping skills, I can surely track down and purchase for a nominal fee, a monkey costume.)

Jackson: "Tomorrow."

Me: "WHAT?!! Jackson, what is your plan here? We don't own a monkey costume and I don't have time to go to the store tonight."

Jackson: "It's okay mom. You can just make one."

Me: "Ha ha! Ha ha! Ha ha ha ha! I'm sorry ... have we met?"

This is what we came up with and frankly, I'm impressed. It is a brown T-shirt inside out to hide the Hurley graphics and his dark brown Sunday pants. With my superior internet surfing skills, I found a money mask, dug out some cardstock, and found some yarn (that was the hardest part) to tie it around his head. Not bad for 24 hours notice on a monkey costume.

For Literacy Night, they had to switch up classic stories, and his group chose "Little Red Riding Hood" and instead of a big bad wolf they had a big bad monkey. It was pretty cute. Jackson did a great job and was pleasantly surprised with his state-of-the art costume.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Moab With Friends

A few weeks ago, we went on a great trip to Moab with some great friends. We camped Friday night and had a fabulous dutch oven dinner complete with a ridiculously good dessert (peach/rasberry cobbler - yum!!!). On Saturday, we hiked Delicate Arch which was amazing. I can't believe I've never done that before. It was beautiful up there. We also climbed around at Double Arch which was really cool. After everyone else left for home, Dave and I and the kids drove to Dead Horse Point just to check it out, and it was the most amazing view I have ever seen in my life. It was just spectacular. I had never really even heard of that place, but it was just amazing to look at.

The kids had so much fun running around with their friends, climbing all over, and getting so dirty. We all had a really good time. The scenery was amazing and the company was even better. What a fun trip!

Monday, May 11, 2009

London's Big Day

Our baby girl turned 6 on April 17th, and boy does this girl relish birthdays. She gets so excited and anxious and nervous that her special day will never come. And of course we tease her that it won't come or that we moved her birthday and all of that.

London is so torn between her "girl" things and trying to keep up with (and impress) all the boys in her life (3 brothers and 5 boy cousins right down the street), so we tried to help her have the "Best of Both Worlds" as Hannah Montana would say .... and Hannah Montana was a big part of this birthday. London wants to be a "rock star," so the guitar was a big hit. It happens to play three very loud Hannah Montana songs and make a lot of other fun noises, so that's been just fantastic. Good thing it's warm finally so we've been able to push most of the concerts to an outdoor venue.

She wasn't happy when I told here we were not doing a friend birthday party this year since we did one last year, and I'm still trying to recover. Actually it was a lot of fun - I just don't think a friend party every year is a good idea. So we let her pick a fun family activity, and we invited the Webbs along. She picked Kangaroo Zoo. That place rocks! They have probably 15 huge blow-up bounce houses and slides in a big warehouse in Lindon. The kids played for hours and had tons of fun! (The boys were all impressed with her choice).

That night, we had a Girls Night Out with just London and I. We went to the mall to Build-a-Bear, and true to her "Best of Both Worlds" form, she picked out a darling little puppy, declared that the was a boy, and picked overalls, a cowboy hat, and cowboy boots for him and named him Zack. That's my girl. We hit a late showing of the new Hannah Montana movie complete with popcorn and crawled into bed around 11:30. Don't think she even fell asleep in the car on the way home ... no way.

That Saturday we had a fun Leatherwood birthday party at the park for London, Jordyn, and Autumn. We had a picnic (complete with birthday cupcakes) and then went swimming. Lots of fun!

With all of our crazy days, we ended up doing her birthday cake at 8:00 on a Saturday morning after the Webb boys slept over after Friday night date night. Crazy!

London and Kati celebrated their birthdays together with the Morton's when we got together for Easter. She loves blowing out candles and sharing her cake (this time yummy cheesecake) with Aunt Kati!

It's fun to watch London growing up. This girl has such a spark for life. She brings so much excitement and fun (and noise) to our house. She loves to laugh and giggle and be silly and does pretty darn well keeping up with all those crazy boys. She loves her alone time too with her dollhouse and Barbies and loves to read to her stuffed animals. She takes the time to write me little notes telling me she loves me and making special cards and pictures for all of us. I think she's already looking forward to her next birthday, so here we go. Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

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