Programming Troubles

Well, we are trying out a program called weblock on our computer that Stephen's friend highly recommends in case you all want to try it ... it is a free program downloadable from www.We-Blocker.com. It is a few years old I think, but it is supposed to block problem web sites. There are too many of them! I was doing a simple job search for Wolf while he was at work, and I couldn't believe what kind of sites came up on my serach. Some looked like what I was looking for. Hummm, nope, I was wrong! So.... here we have a problem! (My search was for probation and parol officer jobs)...
Stephen's friend said that when he installed this program, him and his son tried for hours to get into a sickening website...and it didn't work. His son couldn't hack his password, and he has loved it. The first couple of days I have loved it too. I can web search to my hearts content, and the program decides if a site is safe or not. And it won't let me in. Whahoo, no more "Oops' I went to a bad site".
Now, my problem with it is...if it chooses, I can enter your blog, and if your blog has pictures, it will let me in to read your blog, but won't show pictures...I am slowly going through and unblocking your blogs. That is time consuming. My other problem is that it considers the word verification box in the "write a comment page" as something taboo. So, I am having trouble leaving comments on your blogs because it won't let me see what it is. If anyone has experience with this program please help me figure out how to unblock that too.
Anyway, this seems like a good program, it is just going to take time to get it set up to work for us the way we want it too. (Warning, it has an audio alert, so when I go into a blog or my email, it screams "BLOCKED!" at me, I keep jumping, and so do the kids.) I know that there are sites out there that aren't marked with adult warnings so they may slip through...but I feel better about my internet now.
Have a great day everyone!

6 Years!!!

Bountiful Utah Temple February 27, 2003

Wow Hun, it has been 6 years!

This Friday we celebrate our 6th Anniversary!

I Love YOU Sweetie!!!

I love our sweet boys too.

Life has had its challenges,

but has been worth it!

You are so wonderful!
How did I get to be such a lucky girl to get you?

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY WOLF!

Happy FYFD!!!

Happy Fluorescent Yellow Food Day!!!

Ok, so...FYFD isn't really until Friday, but to get ready for FYFD, I thought I would post this now. Just so if anyone wants to join in on this fun celebration with their own families, they have time to prepare.

Ok, everyone is wondering what FYFD is. In a nutshell it is a celebration that came upon my cousin Pamela and I by accident 12 years ago. (Can you believe it has been that long ago?)

The History Lesson

Pamela and I needed to go grocery shopping, but were both hungry. We hurried to put together food for dinner before going. Pamela said, "I have mac'n cheese", I said, "I have corn". Pamela said, " I have some Crystal light I haven't tried yet." (There was more, I just can't remember it all) We tossed everything on the table, and not til that moment did we notice that everything...everything! was a very bright yellow. Tammy, a roommate was a health nut, and we had heard her laugh at us many times about the unhealthiness of "Fluorescent Yellow Food". Oh, if she could only see us now. We laughed, ate and went shopping. When we got to the check out counter we laughed again. We had each bought treats for us and the roommates...all unintentionally yellow of course...we cracked up to say the least. We wondered if there was a holiday we were celebrating without knowing it.

When we got home, we packed the treats in a basket, made a "Happy Fluorescent Yellow Food Day" card, left it on our own doorstep, rang the doorbell, ran back up to our room and waited for roommates to answer the door. We couldn't believe it!!! No one was home, and no one came home for hours. Finally at 11:00pm we retrieved our treats from the front step. (Acting surprised of course...I mean, who knew it was a holiday besides us?) Meanwhile, we tossed a glow-in-the-dark frog back and forth underneath the glow-in-the-dark stars, and had a big party, just the two of us.

Since that night 12 years ago, we have celebrated FYFD each February 20th, with a pot luck dinner with friends, and of course, anonymously leaving yellow treats and a card on our doorstep. (Yes, it was a bit tricky distracting guests as we placed the basket on the doorstep.) But to see their faces all light up at the surprise left for all to share was worth the trouble. I remember making, was it 12 boxes of mac'n cheese? It was a lot anyway, and having plenty of leftovers.

Tossing a frog under the glowy stars has become optional, seeming, not all people have access to glowy frogs and stars.

FYFD has since been celebrated in Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Canada, Oregon, Illinois, and the Ukraine...did I miss any? Maybe Germany?

This Year

This year will be the biggest year yet for partying. Pamela just got married, Congratulations by the way, and is having a party in (place of a reception) and it is on Friday the 20th of Feb. And yes, she happily reports she is decorating in YELLOW.

To see some absolutely awesome photos of past parties check out the link in my sidebar to Pamela's website, yes, you guessed right...the Fluorescent yellow food day link.

Hope you all had a great Valentines Day, and hope you have a great President's Day!

Life Time Acheivements

My Sister-in-law has this list on her blog, and I Completely copied it.

Things I have done during my lifetime are in bold.

1. Started your own blog.

2. Slept under the stars.

3. Played in a band.

4. Visited Hawaii.

5. Watched a meteor shower.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity.

7. Been to Disneyland.

8. Climbed a mountain.

9. Held a praying mantis.

10. Sang a solo. (Only to my kids...does that count?)

11. Bungee jumped.

12. Visited Paris.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.

15. Adopted a child.

16. Had food poisoning.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.

18. Grown your own vegetables.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.

20. Slept on an overnight train.

21. Had a pillow fight.

22. Hitchhiked.

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.

24. Built a snow fort.

25. Held an alligator.

26. Gone skinny dipping.

27. Run a marathon.

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.

31. Hit a home run.

32. Been on a cruise.

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.

35. Seen an Amish community.

36. Taught yourself a new language.

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.

39. Gone rock climbing.

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David.

41. Sung karaoke.

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.

44. Visited Africa.

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.

46. Been transported in an ambulance.

47. Had your portrait painted.

48. Gone deep sea fishing.

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.

52. Kissed in the rain.

53. Played in the mud.

54. Gone to a drive-in theater.

55. Been in a movie.

56. Visited the Great Wall of China.

57. Started a business. (Helped Wolf start his business)

58. Taken a martial arts class. (My class starts in Feb... so, almost)

59. Visited Russia.

60. Served at a soup kitchen.

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies.

62. Gone whale watching.

63. Got flowers for no reason.

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.

65. Gone sky diving.

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.

67. Bounced a check.

68. Flown in a helicopter.

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.

71. Eaten caviar.

72. Been to Canada.

73. Stood in Times Square.

74. Toured the Everglades.

75. Been fired from a job.

76. Seen the changing of the guards in London. (no, but saw the Trouping of the Colours, or in other words, The Queen's Birthday Parade.)

77. Broken a bone.

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.

80. Published a book.

81. Visited the Vatican.

82. Bought a brand new car.

83. Seen Bon Jovi in concert.

84. Had your picture in the newspaper.

85. Read Gone With The Wind.

86. Visited the White House.

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.

88. Had chickenpox.

89. Saved someone’s life.

90. Sat on a jury.

91. Met someone famous.

92. Joined a book club.

93. Lost a loved one.

94. Had a baby.

95. Seen the Alamo in person.

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.

97. Been involved in a lawsuit.

98. Owned a cell phone.

99. Been stung by a bee.

100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own.

Self inflicted hair cuts and Winning the Lottery

I will add some pictures to this post...but I think I need to charge the batteries for my camera...as is always the case. K, Post updated with pictures now.

Skyler...(Or maybe possibly even Stephen) got my scissors down off a high shelf. Skyler was a bit overdue for a hair cut...and I was getting up the nerve to cut it myself. (How hard could it be?) Well, apparently someone got impatient. Three chops to the front and one to the back (Middle of the back that is, and the reason I really suspect help from a big brother.)

Skyler is not shy about showing off his own hair cut...

Sooooo...Skyler has a new, and very short hair cut...appropriate for winter...right?

Skyler not wanting his new hair cut shown...

The Stylist cut his hair and spiked it, I thought he looked cute,

I don't think he liked the spikes though.

He tried to mess them up... just for the picture.

Now, on winning the lottery... ok, I don't buy lottery tickets, but Stephen was so funny about this, it was as exciting to him as, well...winning the lottery for us adults.

We got a bunch of Disney stickers in the mail...and Pluto got stuck to my sock as the boys flung stickers all over my house. I pretended to scream that Pluto was biting my toes while I was eating lunch. Stephen says, "Pluto is a funny name!" So, I went on into telling Stephen that Pluto the dog was named after a planet and about the solar system. Starting at Mercury and naming planets right on down to Pluto. He wanted me to draw a picture. (I put Skyler down for a nap as I wondered how to explain it to him in 4 year old language.) I grabbed a napkin since we were sitting at the table. I drew the Sun, and Earth and our moon. I told him little bits about each planet as I added it to our "Treasure Map". Mercury is too hot for people, plants and animals to live, and Pluto is too cold...you know..that kind of discussion.

Stephen then asks: "Where do I live?"
Me: "Earth"
Stephen: "That's nice, I like it here. Where does Skyler Live?"
Me: "He lives on Earth too."
Stephen: Grinning, he says, "That makes me happy, I like to live with Skyler, where do you live Mommy?"
Me: "I live on Earth too."
Stephen: "Nice! Does Daddy live here too?"
Me: "Yes, and Cody too."
Stephen: "Nice! What about my Cousins? They are my best friends."
Me: "We all live on Earth together!"
Stephen is jumping up and down by now grinning, "I love all the people that live on Earth, they are my best friends!" He got a little frown now... "I will miss everyone who doesn't live on Earth." Me: "Who are you concerned about?"
Stephen: "I miss Grandma and Grandpa, and what about Aunt Terri, and Uncle Dan? I miss my best friend Bella."
Me: "They all live on Earth too!"
Stephen was so excited he ran around the house shouting and hugging me and Cody going on for an hour about how much he loved everyone, and was glad you all live on Earth with him. (He also wanted to wake Skyler up from his nap to tell him he was happy to have him on Earth with him.)
He still tells me from time to time that he is glad I don't live on Pluto.

Here are the boys with their Christmas babies, (just before the real hair cut happened.)

(And yes, that is Stephen's elephant wearing clothes...imagine my surprise when I was woken up the day after Christmas to find Elephant wearing a shirt, shorts, underwear, and Stephen begging for socks...oh, he is so my child. I'm sure I did something like this growing up.)

More Birthday partying

I had a great birthday, Stephen asked if I would have a monster cake. I said I hadn't thought much about my cake (Wolf usually buys one so I don't have to make it. So, sweet Stephen said I would have a monster cake with big eyes. (Like his alligator) So, anyone scared of monsters shouldn't look at the picture below...

Stephen went shopping with Grandma, and got some fun things for me... Thank you Grandma! A Family Home Evening Chart with picture frames, a Bear, and a bag of pear scented bath salt, lotion and soap.

I got a book from my sister, "Heart in the Right Place" What I have read so far is really good. I plan to really get going on reading it when I finish the Amelia Peabody mystery "The Falcon at the Portal" 'cause I really need to get it back to the library. Thank you Laura!

And among the other items I got for my birthday, Wolf gave me... can anyone guess? Yes, a Kick boxing class, and bag gloves! I am really excited, class starts end of Feb. I had actually been looking for a class to take. (And left the page of times the kickboxing classes are taught up on the computer...not at all a hint.)

Cody had his 4 month appointment on Monday... He is 13 pounds... Go big boy!!! 10 more pounds and you will catch up to your big brother! Oh, and he thinks he wants to get some teeth now. He is growing up so fast!

Stephen had his 4 year appointment too. He is 38 pounds... He is getting sooooo big! His new declaration is, I am big now, I can cook! He even tries to chase me out of the kitchen, and to get me to call him Remy and says the movie "Ratatouille" taught him to cook.

I know I had something else to write in this post...but this will have to be it for now. I told Wolf I would get up and clear the snow off the car for him at 1:30 am...eeekkk!

Here are a couple more pictures of the birthday festivities.

Conversations with an Alligator

...I just want you to know that I am still laughing...

Stephen is such a cute boy. He turned 4 yesterday. First when I said "Happy Birthday" to him yesterday morning, he was confused. (How could the day he had been talking about for 6 months finally be here? He has been planning his birthday cake since June.) He asked me how he got to be 4, and I told him he was born 4 years ago, and woke up this morning, that's how it happens, you turn 1, then 2, then 3, and then 4, and the number goes up each year. He said, "Well, turning 4 was easy then!"
His birthday shouldn't have been a surprize however. He knew I took Skyler out shopping for birthday gifts on Monday. He also commented on the things I bought to make his alligator cake, and cheered when I baked the cake Monday night.
Stephen began begging that I let him decorate his cake right after breakfast. (Skyler would not have been good to have around while decorating however, so we planned to decorate the cake while Skyler had his afternoon nap.)

...By this point you are wondering why this post is called,

"Conversation with an Alligator"

if it is about Stephen's birthday cake...

As I said, I am sure, in a previous post, Stephen is a funny boy. He asked me if his alligator (he says "Diagator") was real. I said it was a real cake. He wanted to know if it would become a real diagator. I said it wouldn't come to life. He wanted to know why...well hun, it's a cake. He quickly told the cake that he would love him anyway.

...We frosted the body first...

...Then added legs...

"Mom, are you sure it is an diagator? 'cause it kind of looks like a car." (At this point it was a cake baked in a loaf pan, and 2 cupcakes cut in half for legs...all frosted green.) Hummm...makes me think it would be an awesome car by the way.

...Then we added the head...

And low and behold...before we even got it frosted, he started to speak!

(Squeaky voiced Stephen) "Hello, Happy Birthday! I am your diagator!"

(Stephen's normal voice) "I love diagators!"

(Squeaky voice) "Don't eat me."

(Normal voice) "Mom, I don't know if a diagator cake would be good to eat."

(Squeaky voice) "I want to go play."

(Normal voice) "My mom has to put your tail on first."

(Squeaky voice) "I don't want you to eat me. I just want to play."

...Let just say that

this conversation with the alligator continued...

(Normal voice) "What is your name?"

(Squeaky voice) "You can call me Tasty the Diagator"

...Until they were very good friends

...And perhaps is continuing on even now as this cake is eaten...

We now present to you Tasty the Alligator, and the amazing Birthday Boy Stephen.

We hope that you had a wonderful Birthday Stephen!!! We love you!