An Evening with the Palmers

It's a beautiful spring evening.
The lawn is green and freshly mowed.
It's Friday with a three day weekend.
Dinner time has finally arrived.

So off I send my Hotstuff to the House of Caesars to fetch dinner. He returns home triumphant with to large pies of pizza and Beer made from root. As we all gather in the kitchen for a Moo Cow dinner, Bubba Jones begins grace. Remembering to ask God to keep us all safe... including the blonde Swiss Miss next door.

Translation: It's Friday and I am too damn tired to cook. So Hotstuff goes to Little Caesars  returns with two $5 pizzas and root beer. We all stand around the kitchen, like cows that are grazing, to eat our dinner. Bubba Jones says grace. You with me so far???

Even though we had completely thrown all manners... well most of them anyways, out the door the kids wanted to eat their pizza outside. I don't blame them, it is a nice evening. We, Hotstuff and I, tell them no and  to just eat their dinner here. When they are done they can go outside.

Bubba Jones is not happy about this. He begins to be a serious punk about the whole situation.

"Bubba Jones," my amazing Hotstuff says. "Do you want to be grounded?"

Then the sweet little voice from my beautiful 9 year old Miss May speaks from the corner speaks ever so softly: "Yeah, I'd be okay with that."

Bubba Jones, who doesn't back down from a fight, then threatens to throw his pizza in my face. This earns him and automatic five for fighting- off to time out he goes. With his face, somewhat facing the wall, Bubba Jones begins he ritual time out chant.

"Can I come out now?"
*Pause
"Can I come out now?"
*Pause
"Can I come out now?"
*Pause

"Well," Hotstuff comments. "You should give him credit for his determination.

Good Brothers and Mean Sisters

When the Sunday occasion calls for it, I will run down to the local convenient store and get myself a very large soda to get me through the rest of my weekend. Today after church, Bubba Jones was having a very hard time. Since Hotstuff and I went to Vegas this weekend, we had spent very little time with the kids.  I decided to take Bubba Jones and go get a soda together.

On the way to the store, I talked with Bubba Jones and got thing sorted out between us. He was feeling a lot better. We got to the store, got out of the car and Bubba Jones gave me a big hug. We went in and as usual I went for the soda machine. Bubba Jones didn't follow but instead went to the cooler. I found him getting a juice from the cooler but he had two of them in his hand.

"Mom, I am getting this one for me and this one for sister," he told me.

"You don't need to get her one. This is a special treat just for you," I said.

"I know but I don't want her to be sad that I got a something and she didn't," he replied. I gave in and let him get her a juice too.

"That is really nice of you to get something for your sister," I told him.

"Well, I am trying to be proactive. She is a mean sister but I am good brother,"  he said.

All I could think was: Yes, yes you are a good brother. Even when faced with a mean sister, you can still be a good brother.

Cash, Diamonds and Harry Connick Jr.

For the last few years, when my birthday rolls around I ask for three things.

CASH DIAMONDS and HARRY CONNICK jr.

This year I got all three.

At work, we do birthday exchange. Each of puts $15 into the birthday pot and we pick a name randomly of another employee that we are in charge of celebrating their birthday. We plan their birthday lunch, decorate their desk and get them a gift.

My boss had picked my name for the year and at the begining of the month asked me what I wanted. I told my boss, that I was accepting gifts in the form of cash, diamonds and Harry Connick Jr. I also requested that she make her famous lemon.

Earlier this week, her huband was admitted to the hospital for some complications with this health. I told her not to worry about my birthday because she had a lot on her plate.

Thursday, on my birthday day I came into work. We have two doors to our office; a back door (for doctors) and a front door (used more for the public). As I approached the back door I noticed a sign. When I got up to the sign, on it was a picture of Harry Connick jr. with: It's Honeys Birthday today! When you see her wish her a Happy Birthday. On the front door of our office was another sign with Harry Connick Jr. on it with the same message.

At my desk, my boss had put a happy birthday sign and below was another picture of Harry saying Happy Birthday. I had one more Harry picture with more birthday wishes of: I wish I could be here in person to wish you a happy birthday. In total, I ended up with for different pictures of Harry.

On my desk, were small diamonds. They weren't real but they are the kind that are used for embellishing scrapbook pages. She had also gotten me a few other small gifts and a card. When I had opened it up, inside was some cash.

She had also made me her famous lemon cake. As I mentioned, her husband had been in the hospital and she also had her family coming in from out of town for the Fourth of July weekend. Her plate was incredibly full, she still managed to celebrate me. I couldn't ask for a better boss... and that mean more to me than cash, diamonds or Harry Connick Jr.

"Dear Honey,

I know that this isn't the kind of diamonds you would like or the amount of money- nor could I get you Harry Connick Jr but I hope you have a wonderful birthday.

~CW"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Pumpkins and Munchkins

Bubba Jones and his preschool class had their first field trip this year. As a tradition, the first field trip is to the pumpkin patch. Due to rain and snow, we all froze and stomped through the mud... well, the parents did as we watched our munchkins play. The kids played on the playgrounds, saw lots of different farm animals, sang Halloween songs and each child got to take home their very own pumpkin!

"Check out my Pumpkin Mom!"

Warty Pumpkins? Guess the Toad got into the garden!

Capturing his good side... and being ignored all at the same time!

Just Clowing around!

Punishable by death!

It is a fact that BYU and Utah fans are not the best of friends. Now, I am a PAC-10 girl. So for me the BYU-Utah rivalry doens't mean much but having married into a family of BYU and Utah fans, I am somehow caught in the middle. (but now that Utah has become part of the PAC-12 things are just a little different!)
This weekend Hotstuff and I took the kids, along with Granny and Great Grandpa C to the Utah Musuem of Fine Arts at the University of Utah. We loaded into Great Grandpa C's van and headed towards the musuem. Now, Hotstuff's grandpa (Great Grandpa C) taught at BYU for 23 years and while driving toward the U, Hotstuff noticed the great big Y parking sticker on the windshield.
"Um, guys do you think we are going to be okay with this sticker on the windshield?" Hotstuff asked. We all agreed the we should be okay but to be on the look out for trouble. We attended the musuem (which was great by the way! it's a must go and see!!! plus it's free!) and afterwards went into Salt Lake and had dinner.
On our way out of town, the best way to get to the freeway is to head back through the campus and hit the freeway from there. As we are passing through campus, Bubba Jones from his back seat starts chanting (and very loudly I might add!):

"BYU! BYU! BYU! "

We quickly hushed him up and nearly made it out with out lives!

(For all of my BYU friends and family- I ask for you forgiveness in wandering into enemy territory.)

(For all of my Utah friends and family- I ask for your forgiveness in that my son used such fowl language on your beloved campus. GO UTES!)

Randomness

Just stopping by to post a few pics of the random things created in our lives! Bubba Jones and Miss May built this Monster.... inside is the lego man.
Hotstuff with his younger Brain House (who flew home from Germany for a couple of Days) and Lil' Brudder and Granny(aka Hotstuff's MOM).

Standing like Deacons!

(Dang I'm Cute! If I don't say so myself!)

I LOVE MY HOTSTUFF!

Camp out with the croup!

Last month both Miss May and Bubba Jones had the croup! (Fun for me!) There is not much you can do for the croup except treat the symptoms. So I got a cheap $20 tent from Wal-mart and I finally invested in my own humidifier. I set up the tent, placed Miss May, Bubba Jones and the humdifier inside. The tent was set up in the living room and later moved to the bedroom at night. Who knew being sick was so much fun!! (notice the puke bucket redily available)

(The purpose of the tent was to humidify a smaller area allowing a greater concentration of humdity allowing the croup to break up faster.)..... (in case you were wondering)

(Not much room for anything else!)

From the life of my (ALMOST) 6 year old

"Mom, I saw Cal today at school! And when we saw each other we gave one another a great big hug and we even sat down next to each other on the carpet during reading time. I just love that boy. I think I am going to marry him." Miss May told me excitedly
"But I thought you were going to marry Dal?" I asked.
"No, Bo won't let me."

Updates!

I didn't realize how busy my life really was until I saw when I made my last post. I just don't make time to sit and blog once a week. So here are just a few pictures of what been happening....


This is what Hotstuff has been working on lately. This was taken about a month ago. This piece is still a work in progress and he has made a ton of progress!

Miss May and Bubba Jones started gymnastics in September. I know the qualities of these pictures are not the greatest ( the lighting is funny from where I was sitting)but I will get better ones up later. Miss May is on the uneven bars and Bubba Jones is on the balance beam.

She's finally gone! My baby sister went into the MTC on Oct. 7th. She has been there almost 6 weeks and is doing great! Here is a small excerpt from her last letter:

"I told my companion that I don't know what to write that was funny from this week and she reminded of plenty of things and said that it is probably because all the funny things are becoming a normal thing for us. But right after we were talking about it, the best thing happened. I had my offical first "woops" with Spanish. I decided to speak only spanish one day. An elder came into the room I told him in Spanish, "You have a nice tie," but when his face turned red and everyone in the class started to laugh I realized I probably said something wrong. And indeed I had!! What I actually said was, "You have a nice body." I was horrified when I realized what I said but when the elder realized that is not what I meant we were all able to laugh it off--ackwardly. Now it is a pretty big joke in the district."

We met with her just before she went into the MTC and had lunch at Jason's Deli (yummm!).

So that's not all! But it's a start...

Conversations with a three year old

I took the dripping wet little boy out of the bath. I began to towel dry him off with an old peach colored towel. His little teeth chattering away. It is small battle of drying him off; he goes one way, while the towel moves the other. As I rub his little head dry, I can see the waves growing back through. He looks at me with his big green eyes and smiles.
"Thanks, Mom," he tells me.
"For what, honey?" I ask.
"For me."

Best Friends

They know us inside and out. Our deepest fears and wildest dreams; our best moments, our worst and all of our secrets. They know our likes and dislikes. We talk only to them about certain things. We divulge the out entire truths and we never lie. They read us and know what to do. They give space or hold us close when we need it. They love us despite our faults and we love them for making us better people. These are our Best Friends.

Milestones & Miracles

What an incredible day for my children!

Miss May

Today was Miss May's first day of Kindergarten. Due to another appointment, I was unable to take her to school. But I dropped her off at a friends home, (one of her classmates). First day of school! Cute curly hair and an adorable outfit. What more could a girl ask for???? How about losing her first tooth!
YA!!!!! Miss May lost her first tooth tonight.

That's right!Miss May lost her first tooth tonight! My baby girl is growing up way to fast. When I was kid the going rate for a tooth was a quarter. Hotstuff and I figure with inflation, her one tooth is gonna cost us $5!

* She had her princess crown on the brave.

Bubba Jones

Today was his annual visit with his neurologist. Bubba Jones has cortical dysplasia; the left side of his brain did not develop properly. So, the two of us made our way up to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, to see Dr. Colin Van Orman. Yesterday, when I was telling him that we were going to the doctors he told me that he did not want to go and that he was mad. I asked why he was mad and he told me: " because I want to stay with my girlfriend!"

When we arrived at the hospital, Bubba Jones began to cry. He was scared about going in. The last time we went to PCMC, he went for an MRI and had to be sedated, intravenously. Without a doubt he doesn't have the fondest memories of PCMC. Before we got out of the van, the two of us said a prayer to help him have peace. Afterwards, he had no problems!

Dr. Van Orman was running on schedule and we were called back to his office. The prognosis: Dr. Van Orman said he is doing better than he ever imagined that he would! Once he turns 5 he will no longer be high risk for seizures! What a huge relief!!!!! Our next appointment will not be until he is 5 or 6.

This little boy is an incredible testimony of the power of Miracles.

*Bubba Jones throwing a penny into the water at PCMC

When in Portland...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Portland

Portland,Oregon the city of Roses, Rip City, Bridgetown; the greenest city in the United States and the 2nd greenest in the world. Home to Mount St. Helens. Incorporated in 1851, Portland got its name in a coin toss. Seriously!! Asa Lovejoy and Francis W. Pettygrove, the founding fathers wanted to name their town after their beloved hometown. Lovejoy was from Boston, Massachusetts and Pettygrove was from Portland, Maine. Pettygrove won and I had the opportunity to visit the beautiful city of Portland for a couple of hours. I flew into Portland for a vacation and after I got done at the airport I was to meet my brother for lunch in downtown Portland at Sushi Land. *yummmmy sushi!

I received directions to where I needed to go and found myself in the wrong end of town.

I have been to Portland maybe twice in my entire life.... a couple of school trips that constituted the bus driver driving into Portland, I got off the bus and got right back on. But in getting lost I learned a few things that everyone should know:

*Roses from the Portland Oregon LDS Temple

1. Get a map! Even though your directions may be simple, you will still need to see it visually to understand. I-405 wraps itself around the city and you might think as I did that you are on the wrong road but due to the lack of signage saying: Honey, 3 more miles until you reach the Morrison Bridge! I did not even drive far enough to get to my exit. Get a map and use it!

2. Traffic: I found myself doing 55 miles an hour on the interstate!!!! I called Hotstuff screaming because I had to drive so slowly. Here in Utah, 55 is not an acceptable speed limit. 75 is the acceptable speed limit!!!!!! Whatever you do: do not go through a yellow light. To Oregonians, yellow means stop. To Utahns, it means haul your ass before you get stopped at the red light! Oh, and sometimes you can't make a right on red! Oops!

3. Know your Simpson's and your Alphabet:

Matt Groening, the creator of the Simpson's, is from Portland. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Groening)
Many of the characters from the Simpson's, are named after streets in Portland. I had the pleasure of driving on Burnside (Mr. Burns) and crossing Flanders Street(Ned Flanders- hey diddleyho neighborino!). Numbers run east to west and names run alphabetically north to south.

4. Parks and Bridges: Portland is famous for it's parks. There is a park that runs almost the entire length of the city and in fact the worlds smallest park resides in the middle of a street. There are also 12 bridges in Portland crossing over the Willamette River.

5. You must pay for parking!!!!: I found a good parking spot just outside the restaurant where we ate. I saw the signs for time allowed for parking. Mine was 90 minutes. I saw a small kiosk a few feet away from my car but had no idea what it was for. After I had already been in the restaurant for about an hour, my brother and I left. While my brother smoked his cigarette, I stood by my car and talked to him.
"Did you pay for parking?" he asks.
"Did I need to pay for parking?" I asked in return, naive to the need to pay for parking. My brother laughs at me.
"Come with me," he tells me. We walk down to the kiosk and he pays $.80 for a half hour with his debit card so that I can park for a few more minutes. Come to find out that if you do not pay for parking or if your ticket runs out it is a $40 ticket!

So there you have it! Honey's guide to Portland! OH! and FYI- the ghetto is on the northeast side of town.

A little something to make you laugh!

Called to Serve

My dear sweet baby sister has been called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the California Arcadia (spanish speaking) mission. Which is located in East Los Angeles. (AHHHHHH!!!!!) She will be gone for 18 months (sniff sniff)!!!! She recieved her letter on Wednesday July 16th and did not open it until July 19th! Due to the large number of people she would have to tell; she called everyone over to Aunt Cindy and Uncle Paul's house to open her letter with all her friends and family. She had 35 people there!!!!!!!!!

Brittney opening her letter- me in front with two cell phones on speaker, one for my brother and the other family in Washington.

Brittney and her letter!

Me!

Bubba Jones, Miss May and Brittney

For more information go to: www.lds.org

Precious Memories

Hey Hotstuff,
Do you remember that time when we were dirt poor, living in an apartment that was falling apart? You know which one I am talking about. The one where the carpet was thirty years old, the mold that was growing under the linoleum and on the ceiling in the bathroom. Do you rememeber the time when the air conditioner broke and you got in trouble by the managment for fixing it? I had an infection in my lungs and it took the managment over a week to come fix it. Or that one time where our neighbors swamp cooler was leaking water. He had to turn the water off and we no air conditioning. AT ALL!!! When our swamp cooler finally worked it made this knocking sound or that really loud squeaky sound because of the missing bearing on one side. In the evening times it would get unbearable hot because the sun would shine directly into our house with nothing to block the sun. Or how every winter our furnace broke down and our kids ran through the house freezing and all I did was bake to try and bring in some heat. When we got it to work, we had to make the house as hot as possible because the heater would die in the early afternoon. We would have to wait a few hours before it would finally work again. By then, the heat was all gone.
OH! and don't forget the bath tub! No matter how much bleach was used or how hard we scrubbed it was always gray. Nasty hard water stains... and who could forget the closet doors! They could never stay on. Do you remember the spaghetti sauce that was waxed into the floor that took three years to come out? Or the crazy phone lines in the living room?
For some reason, we always had the worst solicitors coming around.... even with a NO SOLICITING sign. Remember that one guy who called you nasty names?
Yeah, today was a good day!
love ya, Honey

4th of July Weekend

Here a few pictures from our 4th of July Weekend....