With friends like this.......

who needs enemies? There aren't many things that scare me but there is one fear that my friends think is funny. A few years ago at work we had a mouse problem. I didn't want to see the little creatures dead or alive. One day there was a mouse in the trap and I yelled. My boss proceeded to pick it up and try to get me to hold it. I yelled so loud that the Insurance guy from the office next to ours came over. He thought someone might be getting attacked.

With my job unfortunately I come across mice. I've almost crawled up a Colorado Springs Utility man when we were in a furnace room. Broke out into a sweat while in a house that was infested with them and had dead mice about every 2 ft. (seriously, it was like an Alfred Hitchcock movie). Just not my favorite thing.

My co-workers (currently lost the status as friends) love to put fake mice in my chair, coat pocket and different places I may find them. This hasn't happened for over a year. Almost forgot this was even an issue. Until today everyone was walking past my desk and kept talking to me. One "friend" even was on her hands and knees looking under my desk. She picked up a pen that I had dropped. Thought....wow that was nice of her! YEAH RIGHT!

As I'm shoveling through some paperwork and I see a fuzzy bottom in my purse. I screamed and then carefully pulled it out of my purse and threw it at the would be culprit. Everyone laughed and thought it was so funny. Come to find out it had been on my keyboard before. I was typing away and Teri was sure that I had dropped it on the floor and didn't notice it. (hence the picking up my pen)

This stupid thing even squeaks. Mike called just as I was figuring this all out and I told him to come kick their butts. He said sure, why? When I told him he started to laugh! So even though it wasn't funny to me everyone seemed to get a good laugh out of it. Just remember, payback is even better!

Boys

Our boys are very active, they love to be outside and do just about anything to get out of the house. Even with the age difference one thing they agree on is skateboarding. If you drive by our street there are usually some of the neighborhood boys out on boards. David and Reid both lost skateboarding a few months ago. David was on restriction and we were in California. We got a call that he was on the way to the emergency room. Come to find out he was skateboarding while on restriction just hours after it snowed. Not the best choice on his part, a sprained ankle and an ER visit that reached way past the budget. Not to mention how stressed I was being 2 states away and not able to do anything or know the damage. Reid, lost skateboarding just a couple weeks before David. We found out that he climbed up on top of our shed and decided to skateboard off the roof into the neighbors backyard. He was so lucky we didn't have an ER visit out of that one. We found out as Mike was out in the garage building something. Dad took the circular saw and cut the board in half. After both incidents I let both the boys know they would NEVER skateboard again. They tried to bargain and even said when they turn 18 and are in their own house they could? I said, no NEVER again. Well for Christmas both boys had skateboarding on their list. Mike and I talked about it and did think that they could eventually earn skateboarding back. We weren't sure when but knew we would make them sign a contract and have some major rules.

Finally the warm weather (fifties) was killing them and they kept asking if they would be able to earn it back. If we had talked about it. Mike told them he wanted them to write a contract, make a power point presentation and a presentation that lasted about 20 minutes. We had dinner at another families house last night so we got home late. The boys were jumping out of their skin to give us the presentation.

Sunday night they also agreed to clean up the kitchen after dinner. They did all the dishes and did an amazing job. They've just had to sweat a little more with the presentation. They took the task at hand very seriously and had a great presentation. They have earned skateboarding back but we haven't told them yet!

(we took the pictures with a cell phone but just couldn't resist)

Reid's 12th birthday

Reid is our 5th birthday in the last month and a half. That doesn't include nieces, nephews, grandmas and grandpas. That would put well into the double digits. With being 5th out of the seven of us, we have teased to cancel his birthday or change it to June. We told him he might get better presents if he agrees but there is no convincing him.
Even after birthdays and Christmas he still got lucky. Finally the bike he has been begging for! (we are hoping the brakes don't come of this one). Unfortunately we have already had to threaten to take it away if it is left in front of the driveway one more time. By the smile we still think he likes it.
We have a rule that you only get a "birthday party" on even birthdays. This year it is Reid's turn since he is 12. He was able to invite friends over and they had pizza, cake, ice cream then went out for a game of laser quest. Reid even won the battle with a close second from Dad. Even though I heard there was quite a bit of pushing going around.
The kids with the HOW MANY times do we have to take this shot look? TIL YOU ALL SMILE!
In our Church when a young man turns 12 it is a big deal. They receive the Aaronic Priesthood and are able to pass the sacrament. This means no more zip up or clip on ties for Reid. He got his first "real" tie. Dad showed him how to tie it. I did notice that he didn't take it all the way apart on Sunday. He gently slipped it off and was able to put it back on when we went back to church Sunday night.

Haley's 9th birthday

Haley turned 9 years old today. She had a big day and got to celebrate most of the weekend. Saturday night she picked Red Robin for dinner. Sunday she moved into a new primary class and picked out butter noodles for dinner with carrot cake.
Our traditional: everyone with the birthday kid picture

She got some great presents and is already breaking in her new clothes.

Mike tried to trick Haley and that is exactly what happened. After unwrapping her presents she was told to go out and put her bike away that was left out in the snow. She walked out to put her old bike away and walked right past her new one. This happened 3 times before she figured out there might be something in that big red bag.

Haley was so excited to get a big girl bike. She has definitely outgrown the princess bike that she had.