Biking Buddies

We went exploring the old Lorton prison on bike this afternoon and even the littlest riders were all worn out. Nick was a trooper on his bike, but he was definitely worn out too and won the prize for first kid asleep tonight. We found a fun mountain biking trail to explore without the kids one day too. It's been a very long time since we biked (like since we moved back to VA?!), but hopefully we'll get to do more now that we actually have room to store our bikes at home (thanks G &G for storing them for us for so long!)

I Hate the Phone company...

and I always have. Ever since we were first married and I spent hours on the phone with them trying to resolve some problem. I don't even remember what it was about or why I was disputing with them but I was...and it made me so angry...and I've NEVER FORGIVEN THEM FOR IT. I thought when phone service was deregulated and competition was introduced to the phone industry finally, FINALLY, we would get good service. But no...it still stinks.

Well this week my anger was renewed. We signed up for new service when we moved with phone company "B" because at our last house we had phone company "A" and they were a pain in the neck to deal with. With phone company "A" I tried for 3 weeks to get International calling on my phone to no avail. I finally gave up. So, I signed up with company "B" positive that I would get better service there. WRONG AGAIN. Here's the scoop:

When I signed up for phone and Internet as a bundle package I was told I wouldn't have to pay for my wireless modem they would provide me with. So...I signed up. Then somewhere near the end of the call the service rep threw in the fact that the charge for the modem would show up on my first bill but don't worry...I would be receiving a VISA gift card to cover the costs (another pet peeve - companies telling you things are free when they are NOT free - you just get some kind of rebate from them that SOMETIMES shows up and sometimes doesn't - as in my case).

I got my first bill, with the charge for the modem and I called the company. I informed them I wasn't paying for the modem until I got my VISA gift card. Oh..don't worry, I was assured, it will come soon. Monday I get a call telling me my service will be disconnected if I don't pay my bill. So, on goes the chase for finding my VISA gift card before I pay for the modem:

800-288-2020
877-258-1427
800-228-5015
800-310-2355

Those are the 4 different numbers I was given by phone company "B" while trying to track down my VISA card. I was on hold at least 15-20 minutes at each number.

I was told - oh you don't qualify. Um, yes I do I insisted. I was told - there's no supervisor for you to talk to right now, they are in a meeting. Um - what? I was told I would be called back in 24 hours - have I? No! I was told I had to call this number and ask them do to a 3 way call with this department because this department couldn't see my account information, but they are the ones who dole out the rewards. But they don't have a capability to call a different department. Are you kidding me? So I have to hang up, call someone else, sit on hold for another 20 minutes, and ask them to do a 3 way call. After I tried this twice and got disconnected both times, I GIVE UP! And seriously - you are my phone company - if we get disconnected in the middle of our conversation and you KNOW I need help...can't you call me back? You have my number!

YOU GOT ME PHONE COMPANY. YOU WIN. After 2 HOURS of sitting on hold, calling different people, being transferred around and arguing with rep after rep - my time just isn't worth it anymore and I think they know it. I think behind the scenes there is an evil little boss man laughing as he tries to totally frustrating anyone trying to squeeze a penny out of the phone company. I imagine him tracking my number as I make call after call and laughing aloud as he exclaims - "Ha! She will never survive without the Internet - she uses it for recipes, phone numbers, and a little adult conversation...let her try and track down that VISA card - SHE'LL NEVER FIND IT! HA HA HA HA!" They know I'll cave and pay my bill because me and the Internet - we're tight. We depend on each other.

Phone company - I hate you.

Middle finger mishap

A week ago I enthusiastically started trimming our bushes out front. A little too enthusiastically. Four hours at the ER and 5 stitches later, I still have half the landscaping left to trim, not to mention the lawn needs to be edged and mowed. I have a much greater appreciation for the lawn service provided by our HOA fees in our townhouse, and I'm looking forward to the winter break from lawn care... oh yeah, and the idea I had about going back to school for a degree in nursing? Not gonna happen.

Did he really just say that?

Shawn just left (7:30pm=dark and cold) to take the older two boys camping, and as I was kissing them all goodbye, my husbands says: "I really should send you to the store to get our s'mores stuff because it's going to take me forever to unload and load these guys".

Seriously?

A) Welcome to my life
B) They're in the truck, which means he's not even dealing with carseats
C) Seriously?

Emma's Prayer Tonight:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for this nice day. Thank you that we don't live in China. Thank you that we don't live millions of years ago with the dinosaurs and that they are extinct now so we don't get eaten.
Amen.

Funny Words of the Week

by the Erard children:

Jacob: Upon crawling in bed with me this morning and looking at my face very closely - "Mom, why is your head so ovally?" (as in the shape of an oval)

Emma: Apparently teachers need 2 days to prepare for parent/teacher conference week so her school had last Thursday and Friday off. We were driving on Saturday and she said: "I'm so glad school is over!" (as in for the year) I replied: "It's not over honey, you just had a few days off for vacation". Her answer: "No mom - we finished Z on the last day of school and now we're done!" She figured since they completed the alphabet there was nothing more to learn in school. HAHAHA

Ben: Friday we went to Disneyland and he really had a good time on the rides. He was always saying: weeee! Flyyyyy! Whohooo! Saturday I had to pick up my aunt from the airport and I just took Ben with me. As we hit the freeway and I sped up he started bouncing in his seat going: "weeee! Flyyyy! whohooooo!" and grinning from ear to ear! He thought we were on another ride. It was cute.

Boston Weekend Get-Away

We had such a perfect weekend in Boston, I don't even know where to start. I guess the beginning is good. Our flight was way oversold, and even though volunteering to be bumped involved taking a taxi from Dulles to National, we turned our two free flights into two more free flights, which means we will definitely be flying to Utah for a snowboarding trip this winter!

The best part about our airport switch was that we had a spare hour, which we spent clapping until our hands were chapped as 193 WWII veterans from Huntsville, Alabama unloaded off their airplane on their way to see the WWII memorial for the first time. They kept announcing the arrival of their plane over the intercom, asking people to come help welcome them to Washington, and there were balloons, a live band playing patriotic tunes, an escort for each of the veterans, and they shot off fire hoses over the plane as it pulled into the gate. It was very emotional to watch these men shuffle off the plane and even though it was quite humorous to participate in a random airport parade, I kept getting teary eyed.

We arrived in Boston just a few hours before my cousin's wedding began opted to try out a water taxi instead of the T from the airport to our hotel. Our hotel actually had its own dock, and yes, we felt cool pulling up to it.

Seriously, I cannot stress how gorgeous the weather was. We changed quickly and then headed to the North End for a beautiful wedding mass at historic St. Stephen's Catholic Church. Here is my cousin and his bride in front of the church, then some family photos we took across the street in front of the Paul Revere statue with the Old North Church in the background.

Sorry for the blow-by-blow, but it was such a fun, relaxing weekend without the kids in tow, I am reliving it as I write. We spent some time getting a bite to eat and of course a canoli while we were in the North End before heading up to the Hampshire House on Beacon Hill for a long night of delicious food and wild dancing. Did I mention we walked there? I love that you can walk almost everywhere in Boston. I did not love the walk in 2 inch heels, but it was such a nice evening.... And even though the professional photographer took tons of dancing shots, fortunately for us dancers, the amateurs were not snapping any. The Prosek cousins really know how to have fun on the dance floor; only three more weddings to go....

We slept in the next morning, joined the family for a delicious brunch on Newbury Street, and then spent the afternoon relaxing on a bench in Boston Common and then took a fun walking tour through Beacon Hill. We've been to Boston enough times that we've done the main tourist attractions, so it was fun to just enjoy being there and learning more history about a specific neighborhood. Here is one last photo of us taken on the picturesque Acorn Street in Beacon Hill.

As you might have guessed, our lovely weekend did come to an end and we are back to reality. It was the perfect getaway and we cannot thank G & G DuB enough. I've had several inquiries about these two sets of amazing grandparents we live by; they are not for sale and we love them dearly!

Protect Marriage

If you live in California, please make sure you vote Yes on Prop 8.

In 2000, by over 61%, California voters chose to pass legislation that read: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

Sadly, because four activist judges in San Francisco wrongly overturned the people's vote, California now needs to repass this measure as a constitutional amendment to restore the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman.

The Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage did not just overturn the will of California voters; it also redefined marriage for the rest of society, without ever asking the people themselves to accept this decision.

This decision has far-reaching consequences. For example, because public schools are already required to teach the role of marriage in society as part of the curriculum, schools will now be required to teach students that gay marriage is the same as traditional marriage, starting with kindergartners. By saying that a marriage is between "any two persons" rather than between a man and a woman, the Court decision has opened the door to any kind of "marriage." This undermines the value of marriage altogether at a time when we should be restoring marriage, not undermining it.

Proposition 8 is NOT an attack on gay couples and does not take away the rights that same-sex couples already have under California's domestic partner law. California law already grants domestic partners all the rights that a state can grant to a married couple. Gays have a right to their private lives, but not to change the definition of marriage for everyone else.

Passing Proposition 8 protects our children and places into the Constitution the simple definition that a marriage is between a man and a woman.

from Protectmarriage.com

Chill

It finally feels like Fall here today. It was actually COLD last night and today there has been a lovely chill in the air - that nice crisp Fall air that makes the leaves start to fall and stings your face a bit when the wind blows.

In the spirit of pumpkin patches, leaves falling, and all things Fall-ish - here is a link to Annie's most delicious Pumpkin Bars. If you haven't made these before...you have to! They are scrump- delicious and there's no better way to celebrate the season than with a yummy desert.

Q: What's better than

a gorgeous weather forecast for a weekend trip to Boston?

A: A gorgeous weather forecast for a weekend trip to Boston WITHOUT YOUR THREE KIDS!!!

Three cheers for grandma and grandpa for watching the boys and three more cheers for free flights and hotel thanks to my husband's busy travel schedule. It's hard to believe we took our first trip to Boston Columbus Day weekend just six years ago, also without kids, because we didn't have any!

Teaching Moments

A lot of bad, annoying things happened today. I think just about everyone pooped in their pants at some point (I'm talking about the kids here), Ryan's naughty list is too long to even remember, and I was not a happy mom by 5pm. But as I loaded the kids up to drive to the soccer field for a swap with dad so I could go to a Relief Society activity, I had such a sweet experience with Nick. He couldn't find his shin guards and immediately said a prayer that he could find them. He told me "Mom, I said a prayer and then the Holy Ghost started telling me where I should look. He kept telling me places that I already looked so I looked again and the only place I can't get to is under the stroller" (which is where I knew they were, smashed under the folded down seat). We had quite an interesting discussion as he told me how the Holy Ghost spoke to him, and it was such a tender moment to see him exercise prayer in his life on his own accord. After we found the shin guards, I taught him that we always need to say a prayer of gratitude when Heavenly Father answers our prayers, so he offered a sweet little prayer and then ran to the soccer field. It was a good reminder to focus on the important teaching moments of the day versus the hassels that don't really matter. And then I got to enjoy a fun night of meeting new women in my new ward and came home to a house of sleeping boys. A perfect ending to a not-so-perfect day...

I wish I could...

capture these moments forever.

Tonight Emma had her first ballet class. Since last spring (when this picture was taken) she has been REALLY into ballet and I kept promising her when we moved I would enroll her in a ballet class. We have done mommy & me classes, gymnastics, swimming, soccer and lots of other enjoyable activities. However, nothing prepared me for the excitement that would light up her face as she fluttered around the room in her tutu behind her lovely ballet teacher.

In fact every little girl in that room was over the moon about wearing ballet slippers and fluttering about as if they were ballerinas. I think the equivalent for boys would be an "Intro to being a fireman" class or "How to drive a trash truck 101". What little girl doesn't want to be a ballerina when she grows up just as every little boy dreams of being a fireman or driving that awesome trash truck that comes down the street each week.

As I listened to the ballet teacher with the beautiful French accent "raizzz ur ams waaaay up ento the ayre and raizzz up, up, up onto yourrr toessss" and the quintessential ballet music played in the background, Emma's joy became my joy. I had one of those a-ha moments when I remembered "this is what being a mom is all about". I little tear welled up in the corner of my eye as I watched her flutter around the room and oh how I wished I could capture that moment forever - seeing pure unabashed joy on her face.

Some days, the ordinary daily tasks of being a mom seem to overpower the joy that is supposed to come along with this job we signed up for. Today reminded me to stop and enjoy the ride, even if I"m arms deep in poopy diapers and laundry baskets. One moment of feeling such happiness with your children overrides a few days of a sink full of dishes.

Important Lessons Learned Today

Never try to fix a washing machine yourself when you haven't read how to do it, including trying to clean out the trap. (my washer has a little door in the front with a trap for things like coins etc. that you can remove and clean out)

Never start a load of laundry when you haven't tightened the trap all the way.

Never take the kids out to the pool when you've started a load of laundry without tightening the trap properly.

Always have an extra large broom on hand for sweeping large quantities of water out the back door of your dining room and laundry room after you have done a load of laundry without the trap properly screwed on which apparently acts like a drain if NOT screwed on properly.

Never place the cat food bowl full of cat food on top of the dryer while it's on a extra heavy spin cycle and the floor is wet. (the spinning may cause the bowl to fall to the floor)

Never leave cat food sitting in water - clean it up immediately - unless you want cat food paste all over your floor.

Some lessons are just have to be learned the hard way.

What do you do in October?

After a nice swim in the pool!

Random - ness

This weekend is the General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. Every six months we have a worldwide conference where our prophet, apostles, and other church leaders speak. Last year, I was emailed this awesome packet of activities for my kids to do during conference that helped them pay attention and have fun at the same time. They loved it. Here it is for you to download: Conference Packet. Thanks for the link Natalie C.

Yesterday Emma told me she wished she had brown skin because everyone at school has brown skin. She wanted to know why they have brown skin and she doesn't. We had a little talk about how God created us all different, their mom's and dad's have brown skin and that's why they have brown skin etc. She's still determined that brown skin is prettier and she's bummed that she doesn't have it. At least she's over being a "late bird". She was convinced she was late to school everyday because she was walking into a classroom full of kids and she was called a "late bird". One morning she said "mom, we have to stop reading books before school because I am always late!" I had to explain to her that she was supposed to be "late" and was actually there one time. It's funny to navigate the English language through a child's eyes.

Ben likes to throw himself down and yell at the top of his lungs "owwwww!" like he's in excruciating pain. It's great when he does this at church, right outside the primary room, when the door is open, because I won't let him play with the water fountain. I just smile hoping people understand that no, I'm not mortally wounding my child as I'm carrying him down the hall practically upside down as he throws himself backwards screaming "owwwwww!!!".

I just found spellcheck on blogger! Yeah! For some reason I could never get it to work on our wordpress account. Now you will never have to endure misspelled words from me again because I am a terrible speller!

Just a little moisture

Ever since Nick started school, I am seeing more and more of myself in him, including those Type A, classic oldest child traits. As for sharing interests with his mom, he LOVES the bus patrols! Julie U will get a big kick out of this, his favorite game is playing bus patrol, so tell Jim I already have him signed up for patrol camp :) For those of you who don't know, one of my life's greatest achievements was being the Patrol Captain in sixth grade - hahahahaha I'm kidding of course, about it being my greatest achievement. But patrol camp was so much fun and most importantly, the place where I met Jim, my freshman year homecoming date and future husband of BFF/notebook sharing friend Jule the Mule.

If you go back even further in my childhood, say, age 4 or 5, I had the unfortunate experience of wetting my pants during Parent Observation day at Miss Libby's ballet class. It was just a little puddle, and I remember whole-heartedly believing that the parents bought my story as I loudly whispered "Look, Mom, it's just dirt!", trying to pass off my wet tights as dirty. I really must have thought I was smart, because I also remember telling my grandma that my wet bed was just really sweaty one time too. But enough with my own embarrassing moments, they both just came to mind this morning as Nick crawled into bed with me, explaining that he just had "a little moisture" in his underwear so he took them off. Well, of course there was "a little moisture" on his PJs and his bed to boot, but he insisted he hadn't wet the bed and just kept repeating that everything was "a little moist". I can't stop laughing about it, both the story and the use of vocab crack me up.

I'm not ready to officially announce since it's only been three days, but so far the potty-training gods have smiled upon Ryan. I'm hoping I fulfilled their poop-cleaning quotas with Nick, but time will tell!