Weekend Update

Charlie, Jack, & I kicked off Friday by successfully completing a HUGE trip to Wal-Mart & then to the grocery store-- no small fete with those crazy monkeys. Granted, I did have to start throwing fruit snacks at them half way though Wal-Mart but there was no waiting in line (generally where the toddler-torturing of mommy takes place) - and they accepted all of my coupons (Saved $7.90!). I rewarded their good behavior with their favorite lunch stop - Wendy's & they blissfully dipped their french fries in their Chocolate "Melty" (that's what Charlie calls Frosties, since they melt so quickly). Jack even dipped his chicken nuggets & cheese burger in his, but hey.. at least he ate all of his food. While I was eating and putting the groceries away at the same time, I accidentally spilled my entire Dr. Pepper all over the kitchen floor to which Charlie told me I was going to be in big, big trouble for making a huge mess & Daddy was going to come home and tell me to get in the corner. I explained that it was an accident & I was going to clean it up & this seemed to be a good solution to him (besides eating my double jr. bacon cheese burger without my Dr. Pepper was punishment enough). At least he's not telling me to get in the corner like he was a few weeks ago, but I guess he thinks Daddy can put Mommy in time out if she's naughty.

Uncle Al came over for dinner & to do his laundry & play with his nephews while Greg & I took some time to finally go watch Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest in the movie theater of our club house. I love that Captain Jack Sparrow.. loved the chirography of the sword fights.. was horrified by the sea creature people.. but it definitely felt like a 'middle' to me & I can't wait to see the next one - I think it comes out on May 25th!

When we got back I put Charlie to bed. Alan had successfully changed his first poopy diaper & had gotten Jack to go to sleep successfully. The boys had a great time with him & when Charlie woke up this morning he said "Hey! Why did Uncle Al go home? I wanted him to stay here!" Greg and I vegged in front of the Discovery Channel and watched Lobster Men & contemplated a move and a career change. The crew members made $7800 for 5 days of lobstering!

Greg jumped on an opportunity to work at Scuba Ted's on Saturdays to get a sweet discount on gear & classes. So that's where he's been today. The boys and I went to hang out with him for awhile before their naps. This morning we got all the bedrooms cleaned, the kitchen & living room cleaned & dusted & vacuumed, the upstairs bathroom done & the laundry done. My random-Saturday-project was to straighten out the computer cords and dust/vacuum behind the desk - it it looks awesome. My living room feels so much less cluttered now.

Tonight I'm going to finish my young women's lesson for tomorrow. I'm teaching the combined lesson - so with all of the young women & the leaders. I have too much material & I'm trying to narrow it down. The lesson is called Loving Ourselves & Others and everything I read seems to totally apply & I want to share everything I've learned with them. I know that it's probably the hardest time for these girls, being in Jr. High & High School & dealing with mean girls who are supposedly their friends but hurt them continuously & peer pressure & clicks & wanting to be accepted and trying to figure out who they are and who they want to become---- I just want them to really feel their own value and worth and know that they can ignore those outside pressures and be who they want to be & make the choices they know to be right. We have the cutest, funniest & most accepting group of girls. I'm really loving my calling as the Young Women's secretary & I'm glad I get the chance to teach every few months.

Here are some pictures I uploaded of the boys looking at a caterpillar in the backyard (2-22-07).

Charlie was afraid of it at first, he kept saying it was going to sting him & stayed in the safety of the wagon. Jack was initially intrigued by our little caterpillar.

After following it for awhile, and even holding it while it was on a stick & petting it, Jack decided it was funny to be afraid of it like Charlie was. So this is his 'feigned fear of a fuzzy little caterpillar'. The kid can really act!