The Right Answer!

Today when I picked up Caleb from school he was in a BAD mood, and it was all my fault.  Apparently there was a big party at his school today that he didn't participate in because he didn't sell any products at the last catalog fundraiser.  I just couldn't deal with it at the time, so we didn't sell anything.  So he missed the party, and I heard all about it all the way home from school.  He was ticked!  It was all directed at me, and rightly so, I suppose.

So we get home and he storms into the kitchen and announces, "I had a very, very bad day, and I just need something that will make me feel better."

"I'm really sorry, Caleb."  I'm thinking he is setting me up to give him some cookies or candy or something. "What is going to make you feel better, honey?"

His answer floored me.  "Scriptures, Mom!" (in the tone of " DUH, Mom!")

While I recovered from my shock and joy, he marched over to the computer, went to the Church website and started listening to 2 Nephi 20.  Really.  He is 5 and doesn't read, but he has been "reading" his scriptures nearly every day since January, as part of the primary Book of Mormon challenge.  Its not me.  I never even thought that the challenge to read the Book of Mormon even applied to the young, non-readers.  But then Alysa and Kelly, who are in the primary presidency, suggested that non-readers can listen to the scriptures online.  I suggested it to Caleb, and showed him how to find the web page, and that was all it took.  That kid has been faithfully reading his scriptures every day!  I never, ever remind him.  His record is better than mine, for sure.  Kids amaze me.

Here is a picture of Caleb "reading" his scriptures at the computer.  (He doesn't even know if he is on the right page.)

And the fact that he realized that when he was in a bad mood that he would feel better if he read his scriptures, was absolutely wonderful to me.  Sometimes I  feel so unworthy of my children. My answer to the question of what would make me feel better would probably have been "chocolate."   He had the RIGHT answer.  And the lesson learned was all mine.

High Kickin' & Board Breakin'

Tonight Caleb, Derek, Dylan, and Dennis all tested for belt advancement at TaeKwanDo.  Here is Caleb all ready to spar.  Who will it be?  Who dares take on this terrible foe?

Who dares to stand up against Caleb, the man who knows how to use his tongue to get out of any situation?

Who dares to take a beating from Caleb's high, powerful kicks?

Who dares?  Only the big man himself.  Dad!  Dennis was sort of a punching bag for Caleb's blows.  Good job Caleb.  Good job honey.

But Dennis had to move on to his own thing.  He mastered his form.

Derek did a great job on his form too.

To stand face to face with this guy is true intimidation.  That blue dot seems so small on him.

Dylan's form was precise!

Look at Dylan's height on that double kick in his form.

It take two to tango.

Then for the real fun - Breaking boards!   Caleb does a great front kick.

Derek with a perfect step side kick.

One of Dylan's breaks.  He did a series of three, but my card was full after this kick.  He was awesome, and I was so bummed that  missed the other two breaks.

Yes, that is MY MAN there - the one shoving his palm through a stack of four thick boards.  The things some guys will do to show off for their woman.  Yes, dear, you are ALL THAT!

His hand was fine, but see that brick falling over on the right?  I fell against his leg and really scraped it up.  Ouch.

Caleb proudly carries around his stack (well, his dad's too) of broken wood like he was the one who broke it all.  A man is measured by the size of his wood stack, apparently.

Our Master has a very strange trophy distribution method.  The higher the belt, the smaller the trophy.  Or maybe it is the smaller the kid the bigger the trophy.  Oh well, it is the belt that really counts, right?  And now Caleb is a purple belt, Dennis is a senior blue belt, Derek is a brown belt, and Dylan is a senior red (next stop- black!)

Great job guys!  You are awesome!

Full House

On Tuesday night we had the whole VanBuskirk gang over to celebrate all the March birthdays.  When I say the whole gang, I mean the whole gang - almost.  We were just expecting grandma, Jenny's family, Shirley's family, and Tammy's family - which s already a lot of people.  Then, just that day I got word that Gene and his daughter had just flown in from Utah, Leah had just flown in from Nebraska with her new baby, Grandma Webster, Diana, and Justin, and a friend were driving in from LA, and Courtney brought 3 kids she babysitting!  We had a full house!  Almost 40 people.  I had to make a few emergency runs to the store to get more food.  Thank goodness that the weather was lovely, because we all stayed outside.  But it was so fun to have so much family there - a regular family reunion!

Grandma and little Brooke.

Cortney and Chris & Leah's sweet new baby.

It is always fun to have Gene here.

Does this look familiar to anyone?  Another birthday cake and another show of defiance!  That kid knows how to milk it, doesn't he?  That's it.  No more birthday cakes for that kid, at least not for another year.

Once again, his mood shifted when he opened his presents.

Grandma Webster enjoys a performance from Nate.

It was a full house, but a fun house.  We had a great time with everyone.  Not bad for a Tuesday night, huh?

Tub Time with Duck and Monkey

The other day when my two little critters, duck and monkey, (or "wack wack" and "ooh ooh ah ah" as Luke calls them) were climbing out of the bath, I thought I'd play around with my new camera.  I still have so much to learn.  Hope I learn it before they are all grown and gone!

Which are your favorites?  I like first three and the last three, I think.  The baby feet and the ducky feet.  I love how my kids get out of the tub and curl up in a little ball on the floor with the towel around them.  Derek still does that, and will just sit like that for ten minutes until I tell him to get up and going.  I remember doing that too.  Still want to sometimes.

Toile Party!

Hello all.  It is a big day over at my creative blog, Out of the Attic.  We are hooked up to a Toile de Juoy linking party over at the Pretty Organized Palace.  Do you love toile, or just like it, or have no idea what it is?  Well, pop over to Out of the Attic's Tour de Toile to see what all the Frenchy fuss is about.

Also if you haven't been yet, come see the lovely spring banners that Alysa and I were making late into the night.

And don't miss Momma's pixie present.

Wanna see some of the good stuff we've discovered on our garage saleing sprees in March?  Peek here.

Ta ta, for now!

I Dream of Paris!

Ah France!  What girl hasn't dreamed of going to Paris?  I know I have.  After our more than magical trip to Italy several years back, my wanderlust has been on overdrive, and I've been dying to get back to Europe.  But I didn't dare get my hopes up, not for a  while longer.

Then last week Dennis and I went out to dinner with my parents, and somehow the conversation turned to France. (It was a Mexican restaurant, so that wasn't the inspiration.)  Then suddenly Dennis suggests we all go to France, and my parents agree that it is a great idea.  "Wouldn't that be wonderful?" I add, thinking we are talking in hypotheticals.  But Dennis isn't, and neither are my parents.

"Marriott has a beautiful timeshare near Paris.  We should see if we can get it," Dennis suggests.

"Let's do it!"  my mom says.  I'm shocked.  My parents are always very careful with their money, and with the economy going the way it is going, I'd think they would be a bit more cautious.  "I figure, with the economy headed where its headed, this might be our last chance to do anything like this for a long time.  Besides, how much of our money just disappeared into thin air without us spending a dime of it?  We might as well make the most of it while we still have it."  Good point.  Interestingly, my parents and grandparents have always been very careful with their money, but they also believed that travel is an investment; an education.  My grandparents never spent money, but they sure traveled.

So, anyway, that was that.  I didn't think much more of it.  We have had this type of conversation before.  At one time we were going to Great Britain, and Greece was also a chosen destination.  So I put this in the category of "someday, maybe."

Its the next morning.  Saturday.  I had just finished my garage saleing, and was running errands, when Dennis called my cell phone.  "I did it."  "Did what?"  "I booked our trip."  "What trip?" "Paris!"  "What?"  "I got us the timeshare in Paris?"  "When?" "August 30 through September 6."  "Oh...  You sure?"  "Of course!  It will be great!"  "Um...  What about the kids?"  "Oh, don't worry.  My mom can watch them."  "You sure?"  "Of course.  No problem."  "Um...Wow... OK."

 Imagine that. Here we were on a waiting list a mile long to get into the Newport Marriott timeshares, and the Paris ones were available, not problem.  Go figure.

Then I started to get a little nervous.  My head was swimming.  Wow.  None of us speak French, and I'd have to take a photography class for sure, and ooh, that's the first day of school, but at least we don't have to deal with a kindergarten schedule then, and on and on with the worry stuff.

But then the Parisian music started playing in my head, and images of the Eiffel Tower, sidewalk cafes, and quaint Provencal villages started to push the common sense right out of my head.  Ah Romance!  Being the right-brained romantic that I am, it wasn't hard to win me over.

Can you believe that Dennis?  What a guy!  He is so funny that way.  He completely forgets to fill my stocking on Christmas and just blew it on Valentine's day.  No card, no chocolates, no flowers.  We did go to a group dinner at the cheesecake factory and then to see Taken (not exactly the most romantic film.) That's it - just like any Friday night.  But then, out of the blue, for no reason at all he'll buy me a new diamond ring, or a new laptop, or book a trip to Paris.  Maybe it is because he can't keep a secret, and when you are spontaneous you never need to keep a secret. Maybe it is because he is crazy about me!  I think its both.  Lucky me!

So then I started to get excited.  Really excited!  But still a bit nervous. I can hardly believe it.  I really want to believe it, but am afraid to. My imagination is enjoying itself immensely. Paris.  Paris.  Paris.

Then suddenly the lovely Parisian music in my head get ripped from the record player.  SCREEEEECCCHHHH!

"My mom can't watch the boys.  She used up too many vacation days when Dad was sick and the funeral and all," Dennis announces. That makes total sense, and I know his wonderful mother would have jumped at the chance to help us out if she possibly could have.  She is seriously the most loving, giving, selfless woman on the planet, but it just couldn't work out this time. But we couldn't just pass off six kids to just anybody, right.  Who would take them?  

The trip was off.

Let me hear a little sympathy, please.  "Awwww."  

Thanks.  Now I feel better.

I knew it was just too good to be true!  I knew all along.  I should have never let the anticipation creep into my head like that.  To dream of Paris is ultimately to be disappointed in the end, right?

Wrong.

Yes, Wrong!

We have our very own guardian angel who tries her darnedest to hide her halo and tuck her wings in her shirt, but can't fool anybody for long when they get to know and love her.  Who is she?  She is Caleb's third grandmother (though she is much too young to be any body's grandmother, but she feels the need to practice on Caleb so she'll be good and ready when her own grand kids come along) and one of my dearest (and funniest) friends.    She and Caleb just bonded from the day that kid was born.  He loves her, and why wouldn't he?  She just spoils him and has a stash of hot wheels, movies, and even a trike just for him when he comes over to play.  She even has a picture of Caleb (a small one) next to her own kids' pictures on the mantle. Our angel is the same woman who offered, well, insisted really, to watch my last two babies one morning a week for years so I could attend art classes.  She did more than insist - she found out when and where the classes were, ripped my babies out of my arms, and forced me to go!  And for this I will be FOREVER grateful!  I discovered a great talent in myself that I would have never known was there if she hadn't have done that. See what I mean?  An Angel.

So any guesses who the official "VanBuskirk Family Angel" is?

The one... and only... Miss Kelly Thomas herself! (Caleb calls her "Kelly Thomas." Always.  So formal.  Never just "Kelly" or "Sister Thomas," like he knows another Kelly. As in "Kelly Thomas is my best friend," which he said just today.  So funny.) 

Yes.  My dear friend, Kelly Thomas, has just confirmed her status as angel extraordinaire when she volunteered to watch 6 boys for a week so we can go to France.  She has two boys, so she should have an idea of what she is getting herself into, right?  Her dear sweet college age daughter, and one of my favorite post-young women ever, Emily, agreed to help as well.  Of course Alex and Nate are old enough to babysit, so they can do a lot.  Kelly can watch Luke during the day while the others are in school (no kindergarten schedule next year, thank heavens), and Emily can spend the night.  It will work out great, and hopefully, Kelly will still like us when it is all said and done.

Three cheers for our angel Kelly (and Emily, and the entire Thomas crew who will be in on this).  Hip, hip, hooray!  There is no one I trust more.

And with that, I may now freely, and without hesitation, dream of Paris!

Thanks Kelly!  I LOVE You!!!

Gift Giving Tag

 I just love giving gifts.  It is one of my "things".  Well, I've been tagged (well, technically, I tagged myself)  by my super talented sister Natalee, to do this.  I HAD to, because anything she touches turns to gold, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get something she makes). The first five people to comment get a handmade gift from her. Those who commented also have to post this on their blog and then do the same, make a gift for the first five people who make a comment.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. It'll be done this year. Hopefully sooner than later.
3. You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be sewn, stamped, baked, or it may be something totally random that I come up with on a whim. Who knows? Not you - until you receive your gift!
4. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? The catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. Let's get those homemade gifts going! So, the first 5 people to leave a comment telling me they are doing it also, and post the same post on their blog will receive a gift - made with my two hands! Be sure to post pictures of what you won when you receive it! Don't worry if you live far away. I will send it to you.

Woo, hoo.  I am getting some fun ideas already.

OK, Ready...

Set...

Give!

A Bit Too Greasy for My Taste!

On St. Patrick's Day I accompanied Nathan on a trip with the middle school's drama club to see the musical "Grease" at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood.  There were extra tickets, so my mom decided to join us.  We were pretty excited, just having been to the same theater to see Phantom, and having gone with Alex on the same trip last year to see Wicked.  I absolutely LOVED both Wicked and Phantom equally, and have seen them twice.  So I was excited to see Grease.

Unfortunately, I was very disappointed by Grease.  It couldn't hold a candle to either Wicked or Phantom - they are in a completely different class all together.  

My biggest problem with Grease is that it is fraught with sexual innuendos, and when you are with a group of 50 pre-adolescents, it can really get you squirming.  Very uncomfortable, to say the least.  Nate was sitting next to me, and lets just say, I was answering some sensitive questions I really didn't want to be answering at that moment.  It has been years since I saw the movie Grease, so I guess I didn't remember all the sex stuff, or maybe the movie is more mild.  I always thought of Grease as sort of an innocent iconic show.  Wrong!

It wasn't horrible, to be sure.  The dancing was fantastic, the music was fair, and the storyline was practically non-existent.  The whole premise was basically good girl decides it isn't cool to be good, so she becomes bad to get the guy.  Happily ever after?  Not likely.

They made a big deal about Taylor Hicks being in it, but I don't really know much about Taylor Hicks since we aren't really into Idol (are we the only ones? I think so.), but all the fanfare seemed much ado about nothing.  He only sang one song, and it wasn't even that impressive!  What a sweet gig for him though, huh?  The actors do all the work, and he shows up and sings "Beauty School Dropout", and his face is plastered on all the billboards and sides of buses.  I just don't get it.

I enjoyed spending time with my mom and Nate (though I didn't see as much of him as I'd have liked), but the ride home on the bus was a nightmare.  We chose seats right in front of the noisiest, most obnoxious kids on the bus.  Couldn't get a wink of sleep.  Got home at 1am.

But Nate had a good time, and the Panteges was gaudy and glamorous, so it was fun.  But I wouldn't recommend Grease.

I am dying to see Les Miserables and The Lion King, and would see Phantom and Wicked again in a heartbeat (BTW, if you missed it in LA, Wicked is coming to San Diego in July/August).  Are there some other Broadway type shows that are a must see, or must-not see (like Cats - so dumb)?  Do tell.

Erin Go Bragh!

We took a day to "go green" on St. Patty's Day.  They had a green feast in Kindergarten.  I was going to bake some green bread, but ran out of time, so last minute I put some blue food color into a gallon of OJ, and made a new label, "Shamrock Juice."  Caleb was thrilled with his spirited contribution.  Don't you love the Hawaiian Leprechaun?  I never knew Hawaii was the Emerald Isle, did you?

But Caleb came home a bit disappointed, because he didn't see even one leprechaun!  He said it was no fair because "Walker's class (the AM kinder) saw one, and we didn't!"  Oh, the injustice.  "We only saw fake leprechauns."  The fake leprechauns were the principal and the counselor.  Not quite the same.  Maybe next year Caleb.

Sunday we celebrated St. Pat's Day, and my Mom's birthday, with super delicious corned beef and cabbage, with a sauce of brown sugar and mustard, and green jello, of course.  

We all celebrated grandma's birthday.  Caleb and Andie made her a beautiful paper crown for her to wear to blow out her candle.  (She was much more cooperative than Luke had been, thankfully!)
Alex made her a giant card, cut her some flowers, and made her a key chain with pictures of her grandchildren.

Dylan made her a little statue of her and my dad dancing.  It was beautiful, and she was very touched.

We love you mom!  Happy Birthday.

Oh, and Erin Go Bragh means Ireland forever!