Two Miserable Days

Okay, now that I've got your attention I didn't really have 2 miserable days. For my birthday my mom and Brian took me to Tuachan in St. George to see the amazing play, LES MISERABLES. I've wanted to see it since high school and never had the chance until now. I knew a lot of the music from my culturally diverse room mates in college, but now the music makes a lot more sense. For example, in the song "On My Own," she sings, " ... and although I know that he is blind, still I know there's a way for us..." I now know that there isn't actually a blind man in the play. That, among other epiphanies makes this play one of my favorites! The cast was very talented! (We could hear them quite well from 3 rows from the front.) My dad, being such a great grandpa, volunteered to watch Rachel and Erick for the night. Between treats, Wii, and Bambi (twice), they managed to stay up until we got home at midnight. Unfortunately, we had to cut our trip short to make it back for Rachel's first soccer game. Brian made his coaching debut on a sweltering hot (102 degrees) day. Our team, White Lightning, started with 9 players and ended with 6. No one wanted to keep playing in the miserable heat. Towards the end of the game Rachel was exhausted and found that picking the grass blades helped pass the time until the final whistle blew (did I mention she was on the field "playing soccer" when this was happening). Brian deserves coach of the year for his ref skills. This league makes the coaches call the game, and I guess the other coach was unaware of this fact since he wore sandals and didn't bring his whistle (what kind of coach is that? I mean come on...Anyways Brian was trying to run the whole field, coach, ref, make sure his daughter was having fun, and didn't complain about not having breaks or the heat. He did a fantastic job, especially for the first game. Next Saturday we get to throw in team pictures with this craziness! Go White Lightning!

I'm Lucky to Be Alive! & Other Half Truths

So last week my sister-in-law Carmen tagged me in a tell -5 -things -about -yourself -that- people might- not -know -about- you. Which leads me into my first thing:

1. I can't say "no" when people ask me to do something, even if I don't want to do it!

2. A lot of people don't know that I had my 15. 8 minutes of fame when Brian and I appeared on the Family Feud in 2001! Although we didn't win any money, we got to meet Louie Anderson (what you've never heard of him, he was in that movie..... um what was it called,) and we got great black t-shirts! I guess I can say that I did come away a richer person, (I found 20 bucks in the gutter on the way in.)

3. Brian and I have survived a plane crash, and 3 major car accidents, in 3 different states!

4. I have only turned down sweets/dessert once in my life!

5. I am living my dream, which is to be a full time mom to my 2 great kids Rachel and Erick. I am also lucky enough to be a part time mom 5 days a week to an adorable 5 month old named Gavin, and a 2 year old little doll name Gionna.

Ever since Rachel went back to school a couple of weeks ago, Erick has taken over her role as the mother hen. He helps Gionna with her shoes, gets Gavin his blanket and pacifier, and keeps me great company. But he finally got to start preschool today. He didn't care if went to school or not. He was happy to continue his education at Nintendo University, but as long as the school he was going to didn't have any dogs, or pets, he was happy! After he got home today I asked him what he did and who he played with . His reply," I played those blocks you stick together with Helly (Hailey) and dis udder guy!"

Pet Cemetery

This is Brian again. I know many of you are hoping for some more crude humor, but todays tale involves Rachel so it will be a clean story. During a recent trip I was making conversation with the children while we were driving. These conversations usually entail me making outlandish statements and the children aking their mother if I am telling the truth. On this particlar occasion we were talking about pets. With my enormous love for all things furry, you can probably guess how exicited I was to talk about animals. I suggested several animals that I thought would be appropriate as house guests, turtles, alligators, a kimodo dragon, all the usual things kids love. I finally suggested that we get a raccoon. Rachel then said to me, "Dad, raccoons are nocturnal, we would never see it." Touché, my wise daughter I thought to myself. I then asked her how she came upon this nugget of wisdom. "I saw it on Curious George.", she replied.

From now on, I will be more than happy to let PBS raise my children. I hope that when Rachel turns sixteen she will remember the "Curious George Gets a Job" episode. Thanks in advance for your help George .