Tether Ball

On Saturday we had to arrive about twenty minutes early for the boy's soccer game so they could warm up.  Laron and Steven noticed there was tether ball on the school playground and of course that called for a brother on brother tether ball match to the death!

Steven totally got pegged in the nose

 

I'm not really sure who ended up winning, there were several games.  It's always fun to see grown men acting like thirteen year old girls.

Dentists Are Super Annoying Especially When They Procreate

Steven and I left work early today to take Xander to the dentist to get his three cavities filled.  The plan was that after picking up the kids from the other Ross household Steven would take Paizley home and I would take Xander to his appointment.  As expected I was running about ten minutes late, I swear I've finally subscribed to Ross standard time.  We arrived at the office and all the lights were off and the door was locked.  I was like seriously I know I'm a couple of minutes late but what is going on. 

When I got home I checked Steven's phone to see if they had left a message, of course they had.  Apparently the dentist's wife had a baby today and they needed to reschedule.  This would be fine, but begs the question, why in the bleepity bleep didn't they call my bleeping work phone like they bleeping did on Monday to confirm the bleeping appointment!

Now I feel a little better I guess I'll take advantage of being home and clean a bathroom or something.

First Game

Saturday we had Xander's first game of the season.  He was super excited to play and his whole team tried really hard, but of course we got trounced.  It was something ridiculous like 10-0. 

 

With his team mates before the game started

The boys sat on this blanket when they were subbed out

Xander playing defensive

Blocking a shot (Steven's knees were in the way, ticked!)

Steven and Paizley

The coach at half time.  His name is Sebastian and he's from Sweden which is cool.

Various game shots

Xander is the one on the ground. He kept sliding into the ball

I swear the game was played on the surface of the sun, it was so hot.  Xander's face was very red and sweaty by the time it was over.  He said he was very tired but had plenty of fun playing.  We are going to work on being a little more aggressive for next time.

Start Of Soccer Season

Hurray for soccer starting again.  Xander is very excited to be playing this year.  He took a year off because frankly he has a flake for a mom and I kept missing the deadline to sign him up.  We opted for a different league this year.  You pay for two seasons up front, fall and spring, and the team stays together.  I think that will be much better for their team work.  Plus we received almost a full uniform, jersey, shorts, socks and a new soccer ball.

Xander and Tommy are on the sames team, Laura is super woman and is assistant coaching.  Hopefully we will get in some good wins this year.

Lagoon

We went to Lagoon on Monday for one last hurrah before school started up again.  Nate was able to get some pretty sweet discount tickets through Walgreen's for only $23.99 a ticket.  We were excited because Paizley has finally hit 36 inches (with her shoes on) so she could ride rattlesnake rapids and some of the bigger rides.

It's Lish tradition that the first thing we ride whenever we go to Lagoon is the white roller coaster.  Paizley is still too small (and I hate it) so my dad, pregnant Emily and I took Paizley on the carousal while we waited.

The first couple of times we rode the carousal Paizley didn't want to actually ride on an animal, we sat in a sleigh that rocked back and forth.  It worked out well so that Emily could sit by us.

 

Everyone else decided to take a turn when they finished riding the roller coaster.

Waiting in line

My parents have a picture of me riding this same cat when I was about Xander's age

Emily and Creep-a-thon

Heidi and a rare Nate smiling photo

Hailey and Zach

I couldn't get Xander or Paizley to look at me

Lunch

 

After lunch my parents took Paizley to ride the little people rides and the rest of us went to ride some more thrilling things.  I forgot my camera in the stroller so I didn't get any pictures of the interim.

This is the new ride for this year.  It's called the Autoplane or something I don't really remember.  Heidi, Ryan, Zach and I rode it

Nate and Emily had no desire

 

So this is where it starts to go bad.  After riding the airplane ride, I went on the jumping dragon with Paizley, then the airplane ride again and then the samurai.  I am entirely too old to be going on that many upside down circle rides in a row. It just about killed me.

Sick after the jumping dragon

Sicker after the airplane

About to vom after the samurai

Samurai

I'm on the furthest end by the middle of the ride.  What made it totally worse was after the restraint came down the stupid ride operator came by and shoved it into my stomach so I couldn't breathe.

Ticked, mangy Paizley

We left shortly after the samurai debacle, after all Xander started school the next day.

New Outfit

My parents went yard sailing and bought Paizley some new clothes.  She has been dying to wear everything, but most of it has long sleeves and it's still too hot for that.  This shirt was the one thing I thought she could get aways with.  I think she looks all sorts of grown up.

First Day Of Second Grade

Xander started his second grade year at Saratoga Shores Elementary yesterday.  He was very excited to be a shark again and to ride the bus with his cousins.  He was hoping that he would be in the same class as Tommy but that didn't happen.  He'll just have to make do with playing with him at recess.

 

Xander in his "first day shirt"

Ammie and Paizley wishing they were old enough to go

The obligatory boarding the bus photo

BBQ Accomplished!

For the past six weeks I've been stressing out about this stupid BBQ I got roped into planning with a couple other people at work (really there were about eight people who were suppose to help but of course three people end up doing everything.)  Brett Hopkins the CEO and a bunch of other people from corporate were coming and we needed to make a good impression. 

This morning we had to go to Sam's to pick out all the deserts, we were scared there wouldn't be enough food and the band we hired never confirmed that they were coming.  Luckily there was more than enough food, the band did show up (and was really great btw) and everyone said it was a lot of fun.  Hopefully I won't have to do anything like that again for awhile.

Congratulations Christy And Jacob

Another thing I've been meaning to do, and of course haven't, is congratulate Steven's sister Christy and her husband on the new addition to their family.  In July Christy gave birth to a boy whom they named Isaac.  We attended the baby blessing a couple of weeks ago.  I forgot my camera so I don't have any pictures to share ( admittedly I wasn't in the best of moods that day, so even if i had my camera I don't know if I would have taken anything).  Anyway welcome to the world Isaac!

Dentists Are Annoying

The kids had cleanings at the dentist yesterday.  I of course got in trouble for not taking care of Paizley's front teeth issue that we talked about last time.  When she was a baby she had to be on tons of strong antibiotics for the ear infections we could never get cleared up and it started rotting her front two teeth.  The dentist wants to cap them, but she is so small he wants to knock her out to do it.  I don't have a problem with them doing it, it's just we have to pay for the anesthesia up front and then get reimbursed from the insurance ourselves and it's going to be like $400.  I just haven't had that lying around in my back pocket lately.  Now he's threatening me with a root canal if we don't get it done soon.  Fine, whatever I'll figure it out and get it done.  It would probably be a good idea to do it when we actually have insurance to reimburse us. 

Xander only has the two small cavities that didn't get fixed in the fiasco last time (they sedated him, he freaked out and tried to punch the dentist.  I had to hold him down while they pulled two teeth...good times) and one new one.  We are opting for the laughing gas this time so hopefully it will go much better.

Happy Birthday Laura

Today is my sister in law Laura's birthday, she is married to Steven's older brother Laron.  They only live a couple of blocks away from us which is great because we can spend a ton of time with them.

Laura's had a really rough year.  Eight months ago she had to do the hardest thing a mother will ever have to do and bury a child.  It hurts my heart to watch her struggle with it everyday, but she has handled it with as much grace as humanly possible.  Her strength through the whole aftermath has been amazing and has made me a stronger person by simply being in the wake.  I know she thinks she isn't strong but that simply isn't true.  I'm totally starting to bawl as I write this which is awesome because I'm at work so I guess I should wrap it up.

Thank you for being not only family but a great friend.  I'm glad we can fight like true sisters and make up just as fast.  Thanks for treating my kids like your own. 

Have a wonderful birthday!!!!

P.S. Screw expectations lets be young forever!!!!!

Save The Date

The word has finally come on the demise of Franklin Capitol.  Steven Ross will officially be standing in the unemployment line on October 1st.  It's amazing to me that it has lasted this long, they told us it would be 3-6 months back in January and here it is mid August and we still have six weeks to go.  It's been nice getting paychecks but I think I am excited to close the Franklin chapter and get into the next one in our life because hopefully it will be a good one.

Santander will assume day to day operations on August 25 and the first round of layoffs will take place on September 4th.  We have opted to be part of the crew that hangs around and finishes shutting everything down for an extra 4 weeks. 

I'm grateful for Franklin, they are really taking care of us.  On top of the two weeks for every year severance, they are cashing our vacation, one sick day for every two, giving us our full year bonus and as an added thanks for sticking around to the end they extended the last day into October to give us another full month of insurance benefits.  Franklin has been a really great company to work for and I'm sad to see it go, but like I said before I'm ready to get on with our life.

Happy Birthday Zach

I meant to do this on Friday, but I love me a good procrastination, Saturday was my brother in law Zach's birthday.  Zach is married to my youngest sister Hailey.  He joined the family about two and a half years ago.

Zach is very confident and ambitious in anything he does.  He recently started his own publishing company.  The blog is on my list on the right, go check it out!  He says he's not taking outside submissions at this time, but if you have a manuscript you are shopping let me know and I'll put some pressure on.

Paizley's Toe Update - The Gross Version

Here is the promised picture of the nastiness that is Paizley's toe.  I've been trying really hard not to look at it.  Last night when I took this picture it grossed me out so much that my vision started to go grey and fuzzy and I had to sit down. 

Yogurt In The Crock Pot

I've had a couple of requests for the yogurt recipe.  It is pretty much amazing and isn't hard to make, it just takes some planning and you have to be around to keep an eye on it.  I like to start it at about six in the evening because it takes about three hours to heat up and then has to sit for eight so I like to time it so it sits overnight.

All the hard equipment you need it a crock pot and a thermometer.  I personally enjoy my digital one because I'm lazy, but whatever floats your boat. 

Plug in your crock pot and put eight cups of whole milk into it.  Laura says she has some friends who have used 2% but it is runnier and tastes thinner.  I suggest starting with whole and back tracking to see what works for you.  Put the lid on and turn the crock pot to high.  You can do it on low it just takes a lot longer.  You have to heat the milk to 180 degrees, this is going to take 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  I like to set the timer so I don't get off on some other tangent and forget about it. 

Once the milk hits the right temperature, turn the crock pot off, take off the lid and let the milk cool until it is between 115 and 118 degrees.  This step usually takes around an hour.  When it's cool, put two cups of the milk into a separate bowl. There will be a thin skin on the top of the milk, just skim it off and throw it away.  Stir in a half cup of yogurt with live cultures.  You have to use store bought the first time because you need the cultures for a start.  After you've made your own you can use your yogurt, but with each batch they get a little weaker.  Laura has made batches specifically for starts and she froze them.  I bought a container of the cheapest yogurt I could find for two dollars and it actually lasted for six to seven batches.

At this point you can add sugar and flavoring to the bowl with the yogurt start and milk. Laura uses a cup of sugar in hers.  I started with that but thought it was too sweet, so each batch I made I backed it off a little.  I like using 1/2 cup but that is totally personal preference.  I add 1 teaspoon of vanilla for flavoring, I haven't tried anything else because I really like the vanilla.   I've heard of people trying to add fresh fruit at this stage.  The yogurt won't set up but it is good for smoothies if you decide to go that way.

Once you've added what you want stir it really well and then add it back to the milk in the crock pot.  Put the lid back on and wrap a towel around it.  In eight hours it should be set up.  Once the yogurt is set don't stir it, that will cause it to go runny.  I just scoop it out with a ladle into little rubber maid cups.  Then sit back, enjoy and maybe later roll around naked in the giant pile of money you are saving!

Sarah's Wedding Reception

I swear the last five weeks I have spent more time in Idaho than in the last two years.  Friday Heidi and I got off work a couple of hours early to once again make the pilgrimage.  My cousin Sarah was sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple earlier that day.  We decided to run up and go to the reception.  It's ridiculous that she is getting married.  I remember when she was born and it makes me feel super old.

This is the card we gave with our gift of a crock pot. It says if you like ham you'll love spam.  Very wedding appropriate.  The crock pot was already in the bag and I'm super lazy.

The inside written in my beautiful handwriting.

Crafted with their own hands!

Sarah and my sisters.

On the way home I decided to try my hand at public mass transit.  Rather than have Steven drive all the way to Layton to pick me up I would ride the front runner train to downtown and then trax to Draper and he could pick me up there.  It wasn't the most enjoyable 1 1/2 hours I've ever spent.  Especially when the guy across from me wanted to chat about how is mom had died that morning and his wife six months earlier.  AWKWARD!  And then there was the mishap of me not paying attention when we got to the end of the line and the train started heading back north so Steven had to drive to the next station to pick me up.  Anyway I did arrive home in one piece. Good times were had by all.

Felix Is A Fat Lard

Yoshi caught another mouse in the house (haha that rhymes) this weekend.  She was playing with it in the kids room when we got up.  Luckily this time it was dead but still gross!!  I feel like Felix hasn't really been doing her job as our house cat.  What is the point of having two cats if you still get mice in your house?

Paizley's Toe Update

Steven went in to wash Paizley's hair when she was in the bathtub yesterday and noticed something floating on the bottom.  He picked it up and her toenail had come off.  It is officially as disgusting as I thought it would be, if not more so.  I'm getting light headed just thinking about it. 

My Toe

It seems that this is the week for foot injuries in our house.  The last couple of months I've been walking three miles with my sister in law in the evening in an effort to lose the nine hundred pounds I gained with my kids.  When I arrived home the other night and took my shoe off I realized that my sock was all bloody.  Anyone who knows me I don't do blood at all so if freaked me out right away.  It turns out my razor sharp bird talon sliced open the toe next to it.  I guess the most disturbing thing to me is that I was completely unaware that my shoe was filling with blood.

P.S. Ryan my talon is pointed at you!

Uninvited Guest

My mom is going to love today's post.

On Sunday I was in the kitchen putting things into the crock pot for dinner later, when I turn around and there is a mouse hiding by the fridge.  It saw me and ran back behind, so I grabbed the camera and waited for a minute.  Out it comes and slinks into the pantry.  I threw a towel under the door so it couldn't get out and ran to get Steven.  I really don't mind mice, they don't freak me out or anything.  I just don't like them when they are cruising my house.

Steven had to pull out everything in the bottom of the pantry to find the creature.  Paizley and Xander were all up in the festivities.

Steven decided that Yoshi needed to earn her keep so he threw her into the pantry and she caught the mouse in point two seconds.  Here she is proudly displaying her catch.  The stupid thing was still alive so she would pack it around for a couple of minutes and then let it go so she could catch it again.  I made Steven take her outside.  He let her play with it for a few more minutes and then Paizley came running inside and said, "Daddy took the tiny shovel and squished the mouse!"  I was like lovely my children are scarred forever.