One of my favorite things...

Is there anything better than a parade?

Seriously.
Is there anything better?

I adore parades...the excitement in the air...the sound of the drums drawing nearer in the distance...beauty queens in convertibles ...candy flying...music...and happy people everywhere.

I just love parades.

Saturday morning we headed to the square for the County Fair Parade.

The first thing we spotted was the token wiener dog.
Every parade has one.

This one had a magnificent arch.

One of the highlights was the matching father/son overalls..

.

I imagined the father whispering...
"You see that beauty queen sitting on the back of that there sports car?
Don't mind the likes of her one bit.
You find yourself a good woman like your mama.
You need someone who can make some good vittles...
and that girl aint seen vittles in a loooong time."

It made me happy to see them in their outfits together. It was so cute.

Every parade comes equipped with a grumpy Shriner....

...and a stud Shriner.

Another common sighting at a curb sitting parade is "coin slots".
This time I spotted a half-dollar slot!!! Bonus!

The climax of my morning was making eye contact with the "conductor" of the band.
(What is the real name for that, anyway?)
I made eye contact with him and we were having a stare off.
I pulled out the camera and he got nervous...but still couldn't look away.

I finally won the stare down when I made him twitch.

I think he thought I was stalking him...but in truth I was only admiring his ability to walk backwards the entire length of the parade.

How do they do it???

My favorite part of any parade is watching the excitement/concern on my kid's faces.

The best part of any parade is laughing with Tom.

Laughter is one thing our marriage has never lacked.

After the parade we perused the farmers market on the square.

I walked away with jam, salsa, zucchini, and butternut squash.

The kids scored snow cones...rainbow...not organic.

I was tempted to pay this lady for a massage...



Until I noticed she was doing "husband massage"...you know that kind...
where he rubs you in one spot until a vertebrae is exposed or a commercial comes on...whichever happens first.

We also saw the characters of Beauty and the Beast...a local play that is showing.
This guy was my favorite.



He had a "quiet dignity" about him.

We then headed home to enjoy the rest of our Saturday...bags of produce in hand... and smiles hidden behind the snow cones.

p.s. If you liked this post...

Sweet Morsel of Goodness

He is just so delicious to me...
and today I have him all to myself.

Must.Gobble. Him. Up.

You wonder why he is eating with a plastic spoon, do you?

Seems I've "gobbled" the dishes right off my to- do list.
Woopsie.

Maybe tomorrow Bryce...maybe tomorrow.
But today??
Today ....there is much gobbling to be done.

Delayed First Day

The first day of preschool, that had been anticipated with such eagerness, finally arrived...and he was sick. The second day of preschool came....and he was sick. The entire weekend he was sick.

It was on day 6 of illness that it occurred to me that he might not be sick - and just have allergies. Duh. Apparently - coughing and sneezing accompanied with itchy, watery eyes is a good indicator...which I mistook for a cold.

I am a bit of a germaphobe. To me there is nothing worse than inconsiderate people who drag their sick children around to infect the well ones...so if I err....it is on the disinfected side of caution.

Since he missed the first week of school - he had convinced himself that he was excused for the entire year.

"I'm ever not going to pre-school!", he announced every morning at breakfast...
repeating his mantra every night as he was tucked in.

Well...Bradley was finally able to enjoy the first day of class on Monday. I thought I would have a battle on my hands but was pleased to see that he had overcome his denial and was going to go somewhat willingly.

His hair had been done earlier that morning...but he tousled it in the car as his final act of retaliation against me.

He was extra nervous since it was like being "the new kid".
He begged me not to take pictures...
what mom takes pictures well after the 1st day of school, anyway?
I do.

He came in and hung up his bag...

Washed his hands...


And picked his activity bucket while waiting for class to start.

Tom and I kissed him on the top of the head - reminded him we love him - and headed out. I was so proud of him. No tears. No looking back. When I picked him up...this is what I found...


Though he did come home and announce, "I'm ever not going to Kindergarten!"
Perhaps he's saving "the real" battle for next year.

*(I'm hoping there is no genetic predisposition to bailing on Kindergarten like my brother Mat did. The school notified my mother that he was missing. Everyone was out searching for him when my mom discovered him in her garage -
hiding in a trash can).

Go Mat! He aint no hoop jumper.

Alone Time

This past weekend we had our dates with Karah and Bradley.

Karah and I went to Red Robin and shared salad and onion rings...(Forgot my camera!!!)
We topped lunch off with a little shopping trip to "Justice", her favorite.

Two outfits and a Halloween tee later... (sigh)...

We headed to the Halloween shop to find the perfect Halloween costume...
which still has not been found.
We ended our afternoon with a stop for a frozen custard.
It's so fun to be able to go out with her and have her carry on a conversation.
She is just so grown up! We had a great time together.

Tommy T and Boo headed off to the Monster Truck Show for their special night together.

Bradley is thrilled when he gets to ride in Daddy's truck...mom's minivan cramps his style :)

Here is Boo in the parking lot of the liquor store...
Dad's favorite place to park at this redneck venue.

Ear plugs $2....that's $1/per ear.
Is his noggin really that big or is the angle?

He was in mini testosterone heaven.

They grabbed a snow-cone and grabbed dinner at Wendy's on the way home.
That's how Daddy's do it.

Hey Good Lookin’…Whatcha Got Cookin’?

I am sitting here laboring over this week’s menu…and thought I would mix it up a bit and post my menu to my blog in hopes that some of my family/friends will return the favor – so I can gather more ideas.

Monday: Chicken Fajitas, Black Beans, and Fresh Pineapple

Tuesday: Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Baked Beans, Corn on the Cob, Watermelon

Wednesday: Taco Salad, Berries

Thursday: Portobello Lasagna Roll ups, Light Caesar Salad

Friday: Honey Chicken/Veggie Kabobs, Rice Pilaf, Melon

Saturday: Out

Sunday: Strawberry Chicken Salad, Homemade Wheat Rolls

So tell me...what's for dinner at your house?

Compliment?

*disclaimer: this blog is intended to document the happenings within our family...to preserve the little moments that would otherwise escape our memory...to allow our children to look back and laugh someday. Non-family members are always welcome to read at their own discretion...but please keep in mind that my target audience is my family. If you haven't figured it out already...you MAY run across objectionable material. If offended...feel free to click the red X at the top right of your screen* - mgmt

You would think that I would be used to it by now…but I am still surprised shocked at his obsession with “the peedie”. Today’s morning conversation brought us back to this all too familiar topic.

Bradley: Some day my peedie is going to be big.

Me: Yep...it sure will!

Bradley: Mine is going to be like Daddy’s. His is HUGE like a DWARF!

Me: (laughing…laughing….)

Bradley: It is! Have you seen it before???

Me: Yes. We’ve met.

“Huge Dwarf”.

Is that a compliment?

Boys. Gotta Love 'Em.

Reacquainted

I feel like I haven't even seen my kids this week.
With organizing and executing my first garage sale...switching all three of their rooms...painting...and the usual day to day busyness of life - it feels like ages since things have been "normal".

This morning was glorious because I felt like I was able to get reacquainted with each of them. Since Tom serves on the High Council - he visits another ward in the mornings. Our ward doesn't meet until the afternoon...so that gave me all morning with the kids...to do nothing but fall in love with them all over again.

It was so nice to slow down and just soak them up.

It started with smoothies for breakfast.
Raspberry Banana, to be specific.
They were enjoyed out on the deck in our pajamas.

Bryce was sure to chuck a few of my tomatoes off the deck...on his daily to-do list...usually much to my dismay...but today? Today I thought it was cute.

We talked about how some of the leaves were changing...which led to an extensive conversation about Halloween costumes, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and how Christmas is just around the corner. It was only fitting to go inside and turn on some Bing Crosby Christmas music.

The kids then "apron'd up" and helped me make chocolate chip cookies... since I was substituting for Bradley's "sunbeam" class today and wanted to bring them a special treat. They stood on chairs crowded around the kitchen island...chattering with each other and laughing the entire time.

Bryce got bored with cooking and took a reading break.
Next on their agenda was art.

They focused intently on their creations.

Yes...those are kitchen shears...nice.

They volunteered their help cleaning up the kitchen...with VERY wet rags :)


Before we knew it - we heard a key jiggling in the front door...Daddy was home!
He looked scrumptious.


Bryce went running to greet him...as always.


I told Tommy T about the great morning we had shared together -and how I had loved getting reacquainted with them...and how I had missed just "being" with them this week. It was such a blessing to see them with "fresh eyes" - and really see how stinkin' cute they are...how hilarious they are...and how much I love to hang out with them.


In celebration - we threw a pork roast in the crock pot and got ready for church.

The evening was topped off with a candlelit feast...with Bing Crosby still serenading us with "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas". It felt like a dream...a very good dream.

"Perfect" days don't roll around too often...but I am grateful when they do...so I can see my children as they really are...absolutely lovable.