Back to life, back to reality.

(to be sung to that tune we all know)

School started today and as usual, we were ALL excited!  I am so glad my kids enjoy school.  To celebrate, (I was inspired by Stephanie Nielson author of Nie Nie Dialogues (blog), and Heaven is Here memoir), we had our first annual "Back to School Dinner."  I surprised the kids when they got home from church with a few decorations and plans for an appetizer style menu.  They were shocked!  My practicality usually gets the best of me in life and I skip all the cutesy stuff.  The surprise on their faces assured me it was all worth it. We also invited the Corvino's over to help celebrate.

This was the food table.  I forgot to take a picture with it filled up.  We dined on chicken wings and drumsticks, barbecue meat balls, little smokies, strawberries, veggies and dip, crackers, salad, garlic rolls, mozzarella sticks, and topped it all off with homemade ice cream cookie sandwiches.  I was hoping to make a ceiling out of the balloons with the kids pictures attached and hanging but it didn't work. Some Pinterest ideas are too good to be true.

Kennedy was happy as could be what with her beloved mozzarella sticks and the whole party idea.  She's excited to enter 8th grade.

The kids decorated their own hats.  They wore them with pride (for the picture).

Jackson provided the entertainment.  He's sexy and he knows it.

Could Olive be any cuter?  She's starting full day kindergarten.

Big, bad Angelo taking a bite out of 1st grade.

Mr. 1st grade, Boston always takes it up a notch.

Leighton and Jackson sure loved Sadie's chicken wings and drumsticks.  They are going to be the big men on campus this year - 5th grade!

The summer break has been nice for many reasons:  sleeping in (like some days until noon), not having to make lunches, no homework, lounging by the pool, vacations, no set schedule.

But there are many reasons that school is nice:  routine, structure, space, gaining knowledge, friends, etc.  So the reality that school is back in session, is a very good thing for all involved.

Normally I would be at Target right now, wandering aimlessly, but I am jumping on an airplane to fly to Los Angeles to meet Eric.  He has been in Australia for 3 long weeks.  We will drive back tomorrow but for one short day, we'll enjoy our peace and quiet.  Now that Kennedy is 13 1/2, she can hold down the fort, right?  Too bad she can't drive.  Lucky to have great friends to step in.  Thanks Nikki and Sadie!

Watering

Eric's parents went to Seattle for a couple weeks and asked the twins if they wouldn't mind watering their place.  This is the instructions they left and this doesn't include the back yard where the bulk of the hand-watering is.

Seriously?  He is so funny.  I like his note:  "Just a few notes on the watering."

It takes about an hour (could possibly take 2) to do this chore.  Unfortunately I banned the boys from watering the back because I found black widows everywhere!    When I told my father in law there were black widows everywhere, he said, "I know.  They eat other bugs."  I immediately had a bug guy over to spray.  I also invested in little sprinklers that I can move to do the job for me.  I am not about to walk into a web, guarded by a big spider. 

The funny thing is, they have automatic sprinklers but they aren't working like they're supposed to.  And I called yesterday to see when they are coming home and they said not until the beginning of September.  This is a true labor of love.

Welcome Visitors

My sister Jodi and her family came to visit from about 7 pm last Saturday night until 9 pm Monday night.  Jodi got off work (she's a nurse) at 1:30 am Saturday and they drove through the night and day. They said the drive wasn't that bad.  May have something to do with the age of their children, Hunter (almost 18), Hudson (15), and Beau (almost 13), can manage themselves now and don't do much whining or complaining.

Jodi and the kids came to church with us.  Hudson and Beau jumped right up when asked if they could help pass the sacrament.  I was impressed.  Jodi said they weren't about to say no to Eric.

Hunter wanted a pictures with "her boys."  Don't mind Leighton's flip flops.  His toe incident happened the day before.

We kept things pretty simple with swimming, shopping, watching the Olympics, going to a movie and eating.  They just wanted to relax.  I felt bad because it's hard to really relax around my kids although Uncle Matt is probably the biggest rough-houser of the group.

Of course we had to take them to the Chicken Shack.  I think we've built it up to be something great so they may have been a little disappointed.

We all went to different movies at the same time.  The twins, Boston and I went to Diary of a Wimpy Kid; Jodi, Hunter and Kennedy went to Step It Up; and Matt, Hudson and Beau went to Total Recall.  I think I was the only one who would've rather seen something else.  I know I look like a dork here but like the fact that we're laughing. 

Too bad they couldn't stay longer but we were their first stop along the way.  They headed to Utah for the rest of their vacation where anxious cousins awaited them.  I told Kennedy we had to share them and she didn't like that idea.  She has been planning for their visit since May and didn't get to do half of what she wanted to experience with Hunter.  At any rate, thanks for driving all day and night to spend time with us Mauseth's!

Stuff Happens

*Do not attempt to eat while reading this.*

Although I was not present for what I am to describe, I'm pretty sure this is how it all went Down.  I did get permission from my son before writing this post.  He was all for it and has been sharing freely.

The setting:  A hot 105 degree evening around 7 pm.  Football practice in Las Vegas.

Leighton tells his dad he needs to go to the bathroom.   His dad tells him to hold it because this has been his pattern every practice.  Coaches seem to think Leighton is using the bathroom as a "water break."  A couple minutes later, Leighton insists he really has to go.  Dad requests him to pee on a tree. After breaking the law (peeing on a tree in a public place), Leighton tells him he is going to poop his pants.  Finally, he is sent to the bathroom.   Fortunately (not near his peers) but unfortunately (in front of the team moms), he can't hold it any longer and stops dead in his tracks and goes #2!  Some moms are freaking out while others jump into action.  One helps guide him to the bathroom while the other heads for water bottles and shouts for another to get him some shorts.  Eric is summoned as well.  The mom that went above and beyond, Cindy, is a junior high p.e. teacher and mother of two boys.  She assured Leighton that "this happens to the best of us."  Meanwhile, Cindy's dog Pepper (bless her heart) is helping herself to the pile of "stuff" on the grass.  Once Cindy realizes this, she grabs her water cooler and starts dousing Pepper.  Pepper is licking off the water cooler and getting all the residue on the cooler.  I know, gross, gross, gross.  

Forward to 8 pm, end of football practice, Cindy's husband is very thirsty after coaching  for 2 1/2 hours.  He proceeds to pick up "the" water cooler and drink from it.  Cindy catches him before he comes in contact with it.  "Do not drink from that!"  He asks her, "Did someone pee on it?" She nods her head no.  "Did someone spit on it?  She nods her head no.  "Did a dog poop on it?"  She nods her head no.  "I will just tell you in the car."  She didn't want to embarrass Leighton by telling her sons right there in front of everyone.  So kind.

Back to Pepper.  She came to the football practice in Cindy's Nissan Cube which is an enclosed car.  The whole family had to ride home with Pepper in their personal space, trying to avoid contact with her.  What a series of unfortunate events!

When Eric arrived home from practice, he was beside himself (I'll spare you the details).  New rules - no dinner before practice and if Leighton says he has to go, let him go.

We picked up a new water cooler for Cindy and she insisted it wasn't necessary.  But really, it was the least we could do.

News travels...one of the helpful mom's works as an orthopedic nurse and was retelling this story at work.  "Did you say Bateman boy?"  An orthopedic rep asks.  "I love those boys!"  It was Marshall Young who used to be in our ward and our neighbor.

And while I'm at it, Leighton was wearing this self-made mask while answering the door the other day and...

opened the door right over his big toe.  He said the mask got in the way.  He didn't shed a tear and will be losing that toe nail in the near future.  Tough kid physically and emotionally.  Getting the nick name "Johnny Crapper" (from his brother and teammates) hasn't seemed to affect him.  He can laugh at himself which is always the best medicine.