Taming tantrums: what works and why | ksl.com

Taming tantrums: what works and why | ksl.com

5 horror movies worth watching once a year | ksl.com

5 horror movies worth watching once a year ksl.com

Another article for KSL.com. Happy Halloween.

Piece of cake

Wes and I just celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary. We've moved four times in those ten years and every time we move, we bring along something that we should have thrown out 9 years ago.

That's right. This is the top of our wedding cake. I've tried repeatedly to convince Wes that it belongs in the trash but he just won't listen. He insists it's something special from the day we were married, and that it ought to be kept forever. You heard me. Forever.


So while we don't have any food storage, if there's ever a major catastrophe and we need something to eat, we always have our wedding cake in case of an emergency.

Below are some pictures from our trip to Catalina. We spent three days and two nights there and had a great time. We had conversations, uninterrupted. Ate meals, uninterrupted. And enjoyed each other's company. It was nice to know that even after ten years, two kids and the hand full of challenges life has thrown at us, we love each other as much and more than when we said, "I do."

Even though I'm terrified of heights, I booked a zip line tour for us. Something fun and out of our comfort zone. We were driven up a huge mountain and the only way down was by zipping down 5 different lines. I was pretty proud of us. We both did it without much trepidation. Just hung on, stepped off the cliff and enjoyed the ride. Sort of reminiscent of how we decided to get married in the first place. =)We were scared. We didn't try to hide it.This is right before I was told they needed to "sling shot" me to make sure I'd get across because I was too light. While I appreciated the compliment, I was nervous about getting flung out over a cliff. Me, in cannon ball position. Going about 45 mph over a canyon and praying I get to the other side.

I made it! It was SO fun and totally addicting. We both can't wait to do it again. It's not scary after the first line. Just exciting. No pictures of Wes. He wouldn't let me hold the camera. Thought I would drop it. And of course, the course had a camera set up but it was broken that day.

Wes booked a ghost tour on our second night. The guy above is a native islander and expert in the supernatural. He's a real gem, this guy. Had us taking pictures of the sky, the mountain, the dark...in the hopes we'd capture a "spirit orb." Wes was asking all sorts of questions just to be nice, while I was trying desperately not to laugh too loud. I hid behind my phone, giving a play-by-play on facebook and trying not to make eye contact with any of the believers in our group. It was all too funny, I just couldn't control the giggles.

A rather large woman was killed here by a car. We were told to look for "echomist." Rather large "echomist," in fact. I didn't see anything but I had fun playing with my glow stick.Wes, adorable with his glow stick on.

Went on a submarine ride. It was very peaceful and beautiful.

I imagine this is what being attacked by hundreds of fish looks like. Ick!

We were bored on the boat ride home, so we snapped pictures of each other. We should have enjoyed the peace and quiet since the rest of the way home wasn't very fun. We popped a tire, had a donut put on, and then popped that ten miles later. We spent 4 hours in poopy Glendale getting a new tire. Not really the ending we hoped for, but our trip as a whole was awesome.

Sad to go home...

But excited to see the kids!

Happy birthday, Ms. Tay!

Dear Taylor,

I'm imagining that you're old and grown, and found one of our old blog books somewhere in a dusty box. Maybe you even have kids of your own and are reading this to them. Here are a few tid bits about you when you were 5.

You are a fun-loving girl! You love to play and laugh. As I'm typing this right now I can hear you playing in the bath with your sister, making up a story about a sea monster and singing a made-up song to go along with it. The two of you are great friends...when no one is watching. Hearing you giggle together is one of my favorite sounds. Even if you're currently giggling about the words "poop" and "vagina." (I'll deal with that later.)

You're a smart girl, and can read better than I ever thought a little 5 year old could. Right now, you're into the Marley books. You also love your little Leap Pad computer that Aunt J and Uncle Jimmy got you, and you're a wiz on the computer.

You absolutely love animals, especially dogs. I lost count of how many stuffed animals and stuffed dogs you have piled up on the top bunk. If we walk by a dog, you beg to pet it. I thought it was a phase, but you've been smitten with them for a while. Your dad and I wonder if you'll grow up to work with animals one day.

You are the best little traveler, too! I can take you anywhere, and I never have to worry about you whining or misbehaving. We go to museums, theme parks and all around town without any complaint from you. You keep asking me to take you to Hawaii and Africa and if I could, I would! I love that you want to explore different places and I really hope you get a chance to when you're older.

You have a freakish memory. lol. Really. You remember things that happened more than two years ago and you recall certain events in detail, quoting people and mentioning things I never even noticed. You're a weirdo.

You've been asking pretty funny questions lately like, "If Heavenly Father is our father, who is Heavenly Father's father." To such questions I always respond with, "What do you think?" In fact, religion is a common topic with you lately. Yesterday you said, "Mom, you know what's even more super than a super hero? JESUS!!!!" I can't wait to hear more questions from you, and I hope you always ask them.

And now that you're five, you've started to notice that the characters at Disneyland aren't real. It makes me a little sad that you're starting to see the difference between fantasy and reality. I hope it's a slow process. I hope you don't grow up too fast in that regard. But I really do love taking you to Disneyland. Watching your little face light up makes my heart feel good. You enjoy every second you're there and you never complain.

You're a very sensitive little girl with a big heart. You always show sincere concern for others. I was so proud of you last week in class when Carolina was crying, and you tried so hard to make her feel better by telling her what a smart girl she was. That's just the type of person you are. I hope others notice that in you.

You still enjoy your "Mommy/Taylor Time" and your special dates with daddy to the movies. Fingers crossed, you always will.

You draw a hundred pictures a week. I try to hang up as many as I can. And right now you're taking soccer on Saturdays. You don't seem to care for it too much, even though you're pretty good at it. Your dad and I are curious to see what hobby sticks, and when. We hope you find something you're passionate about one day and work hard at it.

It's hard to believe you're five. I hope I remember all the little things about you at this age. I know how fast it goes by. I can't wait to see how much you grow this year and how much you change. I am in awe of you sometimes when I think of what a beautiful little girl you are, inside and out.

Thank you for choosing me and your dad. We love you.

Love,

Mommy.

Taylor's 5th Birthday Interview: (Now that she's old enough, I think I'll do this every year.)

Me: Ok, Tay. I'm ganna ask you some questions about you, since it's your birthday. Ok?
Tay: Yup. (Chewing on Frosted Mini Wheats)
Me: Alright. What's the best thing about turning 5?
Tay: Getting a birthday cake.
Me: You didn't get a birthday cake.
Tay: Birthday cupcakes.
Me: Ok. What was your favorite part about your birthday party yesterday?
Tay: The pinata.
Me: Who are your best friends?
Tay: Jasmine, Maddie, and Gabbie.
Me: Who's your favorite boyfriend?
Tay: Alex.
Me: I thought you were in love with Gunnar.
Tay: I'm not anymore. Now I'm in love with Alex.
Me: How old are you ganna be when you get married?
Tay:15
Me: Where are you ganna live?
Tay: In an apartment.
Me: Where?
Tay: On a mountain.
Me: Who's ganna live with you?
Tay: Gunnar.
Me: I thought you were marrying Alex.
Tay: I'll live with Gunnar and Alex. I can have two!
Me: What's your favorite thing about your daddy?
Tay: He hugs me.
Me: What's your favorite thing about your mommy?
Tay: You kiss me.
Me: What's your favorite thing about Corinne.
Tay: She's annoying.
Me: Taylor, be nice.
Tay: She always says, "I love you Taylor."
Me: What do you like about school?
Tay: We do art.
Me: What do you wanna be when you grow up?
Tay: A vet and take care of animals...and a fireman.
Me: What are you ganna learn when you're five?
Tay: A back roll. I think I can do it now.Wanna see?....(attempting a back roll, and failing miserably)Why can't I do it!!!! (Post-birthday party meltdown, coming on) I still can't do it, and I'm FIVEEE!!!!

Taylor had a blast at Disneyland. She is SO fun to take there. She finally went on Space Mountain and the Haunted Mansion, and preferred the mansion. She was pretty peeved with daddy for tricking her into Space Mountain. The best part of the trip was meeting Jack Skellington!





On the morning of her birthday. We had donuts from the donut store and balloons. Taylor brought in her new hermit crabs to school, where two of them later perished. (RIP, Dori and Marlin)

Taylor's birthday party went great! We had a puppy pet adoption table, a doggy craft, pinata, popcorn machine and bouncy house. But more than anything, Taylor loved hanging with her buds! I'm so glad she has such great little friends.

My little pumpkins

I guess this isn't much of a blog post. Not much to say, really. We went to Lambardi Ranch like we do every year, just the four of us. It's my favorite place to take pictures during my favorite time of year. I hate how fast October seems to go. Hope we can fit in another pumpkin patch trip before the month is through.