It's just poopy

Oh how I love my son. We went to Home Depot so we could price out some things before we begin the remodel on our place. Of course, we took our two beautiful children with us. I mean, everyone knows just how much children love to sit in a stroller as their parents cart them through a store.

So we walked up and down the aisles. The kids did great in the lighting aisle. Connor got himself out of the seat in the carpet aisle and by the tile aisle he was out and running around. So, I handed the stroller to Todd and said, "Go price things by yourself, I will chase after Connor."

Connor was having a great time, and I didn't mind following him around, he would occasionally go into an aisle of interest to me, and I would drill prices into my head. I heard a small whine of a baby, and knew that it was Abi. So I figured that Connor was being a good kid, I could handle Abi and him while Todd priced things out, so I rescued Abi from Todd.

Abi and I followed Connor to the most boring aisle. The sprinklers. He found an empty bottom shelf with some wood planks and began walking across them and rolling in the dirt like a good boy should. I didn't mind, because he was happy, the clothes are washable, and so is he. He then found a corner (which means, you know what)...I didn't care, I was prepared with baby wipes and a diaper.

He stood back up and began walking across the planks again, when I noticed a spot on his pants and a streak of brown along his leg. I began to panic. I was not prepared with a second pair of pants. So I began to pray that Todd would come and help rescue me by bringing the stroller so we could whisk the kids away to the van to take care of some business.

My prayers weren't answered as quickly as I wanted. So I took action. With Abi in my left arm, I scooped Connor under my right arm. Only problem was, he wasn't finished playing. I didn't care (theme of this story, I don't care).

With Connor screaming in one arm, and Abi laughing in the other, the looks from the people were those of sympathy and humor. I was grateful for those understanding parents...made me realize that they had all been through this before and these types of experiences are what makes a parent stronger.

At the other end of the store was Todd. He saw me and tried as fast as he could to maneuver through the other customers and then he took Connor. We made it to the van, changed the kids diapers and continued our shopping experience in Costco. Sans Connor's shorts.

Movies

Since arriving here, we have a lot of evenings that we need something to occupy our minds with. What better way to spend these evenings than to fry our brains with the images that come through a television screen.

Heck, we live next door to a Blockbuster...it's so convenient to rent a show. And there is no way I can watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory again. Connor has watched that thing 3 times a day since September. It's time to give it a break already.

So, I am devoting this blog to the movies that we have seen in the last little while. Consider it my personal reviews of the shows. I hope you enjoy it....and as I am typing this, please know that I am watching "Nacho Libre." That is a favorite. I will list the ones that I recommend you NOT see at the very bottom. Green means Go, Red means No.

Okay, so some of the very best shows that I have seen this year are:
An Inconvenient Truth
This show has Al Gore telling us about Global Warming. Yeah, there is some political propoganda...but if you can look past it all, it is a very well made film with an extremely important message. After watching it, Todd and I logged on to the website to see what suggestions were offered to help make a difference. There were a lot of small things, but if all of us do a lot of small things, then they will become a big thing. Everyone should see this show. It is very interesting and eye opening.

Dream Girls
If you have not heard of this show, pull your head out of the sand. It is a very strong musical. There are a lot of aspects of the show that I didn't like. Karen put it best when she said, "There isn't any one character that you can like throughout the whole film". Which is so true. It made me think, is there anyone who likes themselves throughout their entire lives? See, I don't really like myself right now. My face has completely broken out and I am having a really hard time losing my baby weight. But, I can make changes in my life that will help me to like myself again. The characters in the show had the opportunity to make changes in their lives so they could like themselves again. Some took those chances and others didn't. The music is outstanding. If you don't see the movie (Jennifer Hudson is outstanding) at least listen to the soundtrack. If you are going to see it, it MUST be seen in the theater to really hear the power in Jennifer's voice...WOW.

Over the Hedge
With Connor around, I try to get a few shows that I know he will like. He enjoyed this one, and so did I. There is one moment in the film where R.J. talks about how humans worship food. He totally nails that one on the head. It doesn't only apply to food, but it shows how obsessed we are over certain things. I loved how it put things into perspective. I also liked that it entertained Connor for a few hours so I could get the dishes done and a few loads of laundry.

Nacho Libre
Laugh. Phrases. Stupidity. When I have had a rough day, and I don't want to think, this is the movie for me to watch. I can always laugh at how disgusting Nacho is, how humorous the lines are and how I don't relate to any of the characters. I love stupidity....humorous stupidity.

Hitch
I always tell Todd that I just want to skip to the dance scene. I love to watch people dancing (a la Napoleon Dynamite). And I love Albert Brennaman. He reminds me so much of my cutest brother-in-law Ike (no offense to the other brother-in-laws, you're all cute too). I don't like how the two main characters aren't very good at communicating. I should learn a lesson from that and try to improve my communication skills with Todd. Sometimes I assume things without asking.

Pride & Predjudice
The A&E version (thanks Kel & Tish for introducing this one to me). The very best chick-flick in the whole wide world. It makes me fall in love with my husband all over again. Just the idea of a romance like that...I know Todd and I don't have a romance exactlylike that but hey, he was once unattainable and I was kind of all wrong for him, but we are living happily ever after too!

American Dreams with Mandy Moore and Hugh Grant. The characters they play have absolutely no morals. It's a real shame.

A Prairie Home Companion with Lindsay Lohan and Meryl Streep. Don't waste your energy or time. Kind of vulgar and depressing. Lame story line too.

B I G Purchase

So we had an opportunity to purchase a place here in Hawaii. When we told what I am about to tell you below to Todd's brother, he quickly told us it was a "No Brainer." So, here's to no brainers. I hope it all works out in the end the way we planned.

Okay. We had been emailing the Bishop notifying him of when we would be returning to Hawaii and asking him to forward to us any listings he found for housing within our ward boundaries. He mentioned in one email that there was a property up for sale in the "prestigious" Marco Polo building. It was being sold as a lease with option to buy. So I asked the Bishop if he could give me the number of the person selling it, as Todd and I had a few questioned we would like answered.

It turns out that he was the one selling the condo. He gave us the numbers and the following day (after Todd and I ran the numbers without our accountant brothers help) I told the Bishop thanks, but no thanks. There was no way we could afford it.

We sat on it and Todd and Adam talked about it constantly. So Adam began "running the numbers" and put together a few plans for Todd to look at. After we arrived in Utah, and Todd and Adam had sold me on the idea, we emailed Bishop and told him we would take the place. He said we would talk about it when we all arrived in Honolulu.

So, on January 9th, we met at the Bishops house. He had given us the rundown of everything and asked us how we were going to afford it. In my mind I was asking all the same questions. But I have great faith in my husband and Adam's work and the fact that I had prayed a lot about this decision and knew that it would work out okay...even though on paper it doesn't work out to me.

January 10th Bishop gave the current tenants their 30 days notice and we get to move into our new home on the 10th of February! I am so excited and very nervous. I just don't see how we are going to be able to afford to eat but know that as long as we pay our tithing and fast offerings and do what is right, we won't die of starvation. Sure, the food won't be very tasty or varying, but we'll survive.

If anyone is looking for a babysitter or someone to make cards or scrapbook for them, let me know. I could do it for a couple bucks. Heaven knows that if I want any new clothes, I'll have to earn the money on my own.

Okay, back to the Condo and away from my pity party. We have great plans to gut the place and remodel. I am very anxious to get the work started and see this project completed. It will be the first work Todd and I have done together since our home in Taylorsville. I have had the decorating bug and have had to use it on family members and friends (thanks Suzy, moms, Angie, Kel, Tish and Lindsay for putting up with my crazy ideas). So now I get to use it on myself. Let me tell you, Todd is the most difficult client I have had to work for!