Steak and Mani-Pedi's

So we didn't make big plans for the Labor Day weekend. Traveling with a 16 month old is quite the challenge, and the last trip wore me out. There is nothing like having their own toys and bed close by. I knew we would have more fun hanging out by our pool than juggling something else. I know, by next summer, everything will start to change. I'm just trying to enjoy this stage of Sophia's life before it ends too quickly. It's hard doing that when I'm frustrated with her. So right now, I'm trying to avoid situations that make me feel like that! Of course, I can't avoid Sunday's! So what was I talking about?? Oh ya, Labor Day. Anyway, Ben suggested we invite Matt and Nicole over for a lunch BBQ and swimming. We cooked up some steak and hot dogs, and had a fun time. They left around 1:00, and then as I was getting ready to take the kids to see the Mummy, my Mom walks in with all these groceries. She had work that day, so we were a little confused. When we asked her, she said she took off early for the BBQ. Ben and I had no idea what she was talking about!! She bought steaks and all the typical BBQ sides. Ben and I just looked at each other, thinking "steaks, again?!" We didn't' have the heart to tell her that we had already done that for lunch, because she seemed so excited to have Joe over and have fun. So after the movie, we came home for more steak. Needless to say, my stomach didn't feel so great the next day!
Here is a picture of some of Ben's handy work! He disappeared with Sophia for a few minutes, and came back with her toes and nails painted! What a cute Dad! He always painted Aubrie's toes when she was little, too! I love that he likes to do that kind of stuff for his daughters!
So, when I went in last time to get my haircut, he didn't have time to do color. So yesterday I go in to get it colored. The next thing I know, he is cutting it! I'm thinking, "what the heck are you doing buddy? You just cut it, and besides that, Terri just cut it this weekend!" So I say (because I'm too chicken to tell him straight up that someone else just cleaned up his mistakes this past weekend) "Wow, did my hair grow already?" He was all, "Just want your haircut to be on the same schedule as your color!" What the heck!?!?! Did he not already see it was shorter!?! I wish I could just not be so nice, for once, and tell the guy what was up! When I said I wanted it as like Katie Holmes, I meant her first short haircut, not the current one! YIKES! Ok...maybe a little exaggeration!
This week we have been working on memorizing the Family Proclamation! The kids get their favorite cereal for memorizing the first paragraph. Aubrie memorized it and got Lucky Charms. Then she asked if she could share. I was wondering if that was a nice gesture, or some plan they are conjuring up. "You memorize the paragraph this week, and you the next and we'll just share the treat?" I'll never know! I like to believe Aubrie is being generous.
While I'm on that subject, Boston did something very generous. I have to post this, because over the weekend I seriously started to feel like I failed when it came to my children. (Anyone else ever feel that way?) They just kept fighting, to the point that I took away all video games and TV! Anyway...back to the story...Ethan has been saving for a tool box, and he finally saved enough allowance to buy it. For some reason Boston gave Ethan four dollars right before we went to buy it. I was thinking that maybe Ethan didn't' have as much as I thought he had. As I was dropping Boston off at piano, right before we hit Walmart for the Toolbox, Ethan said, "I have the best brother in the world", with a huge smile on his face. That made my heart smile!!! Well, it turned out he didn't' need Boston's money, and when I told Boston that, after piano, Boston said, "I know Mom, but he would have to use up all of his money, and I wanted him to have some money left over". He can be so thoughtful! Of course, Aubrie was trying to borrow the left over money, while we were at Walmart, for something she found in the checkout line! She is definitely an opportunist! Of course, she paid it back! Also, the kids passed the Service Star off (refer to earlier posts) 5 times today. I think when you start getting really discouraged, Heavenly Father sends tender mercies your way to say, "Be of Good Cheer My Child...Your Doing Better Than You Think!"