Going to Choteau

Yesterday Mom and Dad led Lori and her boys and me and my kids to Choteau, MT, where we went to the "dinosaur" museum. It was a very modest museum (definitely not the Denver Museum) but a fun day nonetheless.

There was a dinosaur!

Emma, Trenton, Tyler, Matt, Teagan, Mom, and Abby

A bear trap. The schools in Choteau are said to go to lock-down when bears traipse down through town.

Emma took notes for Josh since he had to sleep so he could work last night.

Abby, Tyler, A Bear, Trenton, Matt, and Teagan

Uh, Abby, don't look behind you...

Emma, Matt, Abby, and Tyler

Millie was soooo rowdy! ;o)

This is what happens when you yell, "Make a funny face!"

We ended the trip with ice cream. Yummy.

Choteau is also the place where David Letterman's ranch is. There was an information booth there and I wanted to ask the lady how often she's asked where his ranch is, but then I thought I might be the only nerd in the world to ask her that, so I opted to just smile at her and make small talk. I'm a chicken.

Fess Up Friday and More

Dad and Millie (the first time he's held her and she hasn't cried)

I'm wearing a hospital band on my wrist. Sometimes stupid things just happen. This afternoon, before I had a chance to do much, I stepped on a nail. With bare feet. In my basement. I know, stupid, right? I moved a bunch of nails the other week when I changed our family room into a playroom and I'm pretty sure I must've dropped one. Well, it must've fallen just right so it could stand up from the carpet because it got me. Not too bad, but enough that I had to get a tetanus shot tonight. Stupid!

So, Fess Up Friday...hmmm.... except for today, I worked out hard everyday. I'm still not seeing the results I ache for, but I'm holding out hope--it's got to happen sooner or later!

I did work out with the second graders today as I helped with Emma's Olympics. I had the minimum number of parents I needed to pull it off. Thank goodness it all worked out. And thank goodness it's the last day of school. Finally!

Lori, my sister, is here visiting right now. I'm so glad she's here. I really miss her! I miss all you all too, of course! My cousin Heather was also in town with her boyfriend James. The camera hasn't come out too much, but I have a few shots.

Teagan, Lori and Millie

Teagan said, "Can I hold it?"

Gramma, Mom, Teagan, Lori, Heather and James

So, 'fess up about your week. How'd you do?

Last Week of School

This is the last week of school. Everyone else I know is out now. My poor girls have another two and a half days. I'm happy they're still kept busy during the day (because summer vacation gets boring after a while), but I'm tired of not being able to sleep in. I know. I'm selfish--either I want them in school to get them out of my hair or I want them home so I can sleep. It's always about me!!!

Abby is having a luau the last two days of school, so she gets to reuse the luau garb she got for her birthday party. Emma is having an Olympics. Somehow, I'm in charge of it. At the beginning of the year the teachers sent around papers asking parents how involved they'd like to be in their child's education. Of course I want to be involved, but I didn't know I was going to be a go-to-mom. At Halloween I organized the parental help for the second grade's roundup. Now I'm doing the same thing for the Year End Olympics. And it's not just Emma's classroom, it's all three 2nd grade classes. I so don't get it. I guess I should feel good that I'm trusted with the responsibility, but now I know to be a lot more conservative in the boxes I mark of the things I'm willing to do.

At any rate, it's almost summertime!

Talent Show

This morning the kids had a talent show for Primary at church. Emma and Abby sang. At the very end they opened the mic to anyone else that wanted to perform, so with some help from the Primary President, Matt "sang" too.

Here's how it went:

Emma and Abby sang "When We're Helping We're Happy."

When we're helping we're happy

And we sing as we go.

And we like to help Mother

For we all love her so.

The girls got a little nervous, or something because of the hard time with the words at the beginning. Abby just plowed along with the wrong words, but her voice was loud and proud. It's kind of hard to see, but the girls put on sunglasses. Emma is rapping and Abby is doing the beat box.

Matt sang "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam."

He was a little nervous too.

Overall, they did a good job and had lots of fun.

'Fess Up Friday

Has anyone seen my ankles? I seem to have misplaced them about nine years ago or so. Maybe I left them in Arizona when we lived there. Then the fat demons can take the "cankle" things back. I don't need them anymore!

How did your week go? Mine was somewhat productive...

This is my fourth week doing P90X, but I was so out of it for the first three weeks I almost considered just starting over again. That probably wouldn't have been a bad idea. But as it is, I did my fourth week's workout, which was supposed to be "recovery." There is no laziness in P90X, so recovery just means you don't do any major weightlifting. I upped my cardio, though, since I wasted so much of last week trying to experiment. I even tried the Plyometrics workout (which is basically jumping around). It was kind of fun, but I always enjoy cardio more than I enjoy weightlifting. I've lost the pounds I stupidly gained last week and just a little more. If I could continue to lose 3 lbs a week, I'd be a very happy camper.

I only ran once this week and that was because of time not because of pain. My knees are finally starting to heal--thank you everyone for your suggestions with that one!

I do feel that I've been increasing my calorie burning around the house. Today I'm creating a playroom for the kids, so that will burn off some energy. Yesterday I mowed the lawn for the first time in YEARS. I'm very proud of myself. That used to be one of my Saturday jobs. I've never really minded mowing. It was the raking grass afterward that I hated. Luckily, times (and mowers) have changed. But I do understand a bit more as to why Josh wants to get a bigger mower. Doing our yard (about 1/4 acre) with a push mower sucks. It's do-able, but it sucks.

How'd you do?

Movie Solutions

Here are the solutions to the movie trivia. Sorry it ended up being difficult. I guess it seems easy when you create it since you're staring at the answers! I'm glad the premise was understandable. I was afraid I hadn't explained it very well.

So, the main movie that inspired the offshoots for the other quotes:

Oceans 13

The Nose Plays! // Oh, the nose plays. //The nose plays.

So, here we go...

1. Brad Pitt as Rusty

Mr and Mrs Smith

as Mr John Smith

How many? Ok... I'll go first, then. I don't keep exact count, but I'd say, uh, high 50s, low 60s. I mean, I know I've been around the block an all, but... // 312. // What? How? // Some were two at a time.

(Conversation between Mr and Mrs Smith)

George Clooney as Danny

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

as Everett

You miserable little snake! You stole from my kin! //Who was fixin' to betray us. // You didn't know that at the time. //So I borrowed it until I did know. //That don't make no sense!

(Conversation between Everett and Pete)


Matt Damon as Linus

The Brothers Grimm

as Will Grimm

Exactly what am I enduring here? Can someone please tell me who gave birth to this? // It's Bavarian blood sausage, with sauerkraut! I gutted the pig myself. // I bet you did.

(Conversation between French leader and Cook)


Elliot Gould as Reuben

The Muppets Take Manhattan

as Policeman in Diner

Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it IS "artistic."

(Janice talking to Gonzo)


Eddie Jemison as Livingston

Bruce Almighty

as Bobby (Sandwich guy at News Station)

Well, man from health department say he find rat pellet in pastry but I say no, is big chocolate sprinkle, but he shut store down. So we clean up, make big cookie for to bring customers back. //Let's try that again, shall we?

(Conversation between Bruce and Cookie Lady)


Don Cheadle as Basher

Family Man

as Cash (the Angel)

Do you like kids? // On a case-by-case basis. // Do you know how to make chocolate milk? // I think I could figure it out. // Promise you won't kidnap me and my brother and plant stuff in our brains? // Sure. // Welcome to earth.

(Conversation between Nicholas Cage and the daughter)


Scott Caan as Turk

Gone in 60 Seconds

as Tumbler

Are you alright? // I think so... // Are you sure? 'Cause, you just went through a wall.

(Conversation between the cop that couldn't act his way out of a paperbag and a cop played by a extra)


Bernie Mac as Frank

Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa

as Zuba (Ben Stiller's Dad)

Hey, surprise, freaks! I am coming with you! // Oh ho ho, no, thank you. // Oh, *yes*, thank you. It is *my* plane!

(Conversation between the Lemur Leader and Ben Stiller--the Lion)


Carl Reiner as Saul

The Jerk

as Carl Reiner

I don't need this or this. Just this ashtray. And this paddle game, the ashtray and the paddle game and that's all I need. And this remote control. The ashtray, the paddle game, and the remote control, and that's all I need. And these matches...

(Steve Martin's character and the funniest line in the entire movie)


Ellen Barkin as Abby

Drop Dead Gorgeous

as Annette (Kirsten Dunst's mom)

My mom never hid the fact that my dad chose his career over us. What was it she always said? //Once a carnie, always a carnie. // Mom still cries every time she sees a tilt-a-whirl or a fat lady in a tube top.

(Conversation with Kirsten Dunst and her mom's friend Loretta)


David Paymer as the VUP (Hotel Evaluator)

City Slickers 2: The Legend of Curly's Gold

as Ira Shalowitz (one of the ice cream brothers)

All right, now the sun sets in the East, right? // No! The sun sets in the West. // That's if your *in* the East, but we are way out West now, so we are past where the sun sets. // You can't be *passed* where the sun sets, and if you think you can, then I am directly South of an idiot! // Which is down! //Right!

(Conversation between Billy Crystal and his brother played by Jon Lovitz)

So, there you have it. How many do you know now? I bet more than you thought you did!

More From Our Weekend

There are a few things I forgot to mention about our weekend. So, here they are now.

Matt had Preschool Graduation Friday morning. I'm not exactly sure that going to preschool for a year warrants a graduation, but it was fun and Matt's teacher put a lot of effort into making the kids' diplomas and caps. This is him with his class. He's the furthest on the left.

Here he is third from the right.

Here he is fourth from the left complete with diploma and cap.

Saturday night we went to a BBQ with our friends that work with Josh. It was a fun time and we really love spending time with Howard and Mary Pat. We went to a park and had our picnic there. It was a beautiful day and good food with great company. You can't ask for anything more than that!

Here's Abby coming down the pole.

Josh juggled pinecones to the kids' delight.

Matt likes to swing.

All three kids loved the merry-go-round.

Millie has begun reaching for me. It's so sweet. She also likes to hold hands. She doesn't like to be left alone, but you don't have to hold her if you'll just hold her hand. She's so cute.

We spent some of the day on Monday sitting in the waiting room at the ER. Josh had helped Gramma and Grampa recaulk their bathtub, but the putty knife he was using to remove the old stuff slipped and he tried to take off his fingertip instead. So, he contained the bleeding as much as possible, finished caulking and then headed to the ER. Five stitches and three hours later we met Gramma and Grampa at Mom and Dad's for our Memorial Day BBQ. Matt's scared of Josh's finger.

Movie Mania Hint

Okay, so this one was harder than I intended.

The Nose Plays! // Oh, the nose plays. //The nose plays.

Each of the movie clips comes from a movie that one of the actors from Ocean's Thirteen was in. Not every actor has a movie listed since I wasn't familiar enough with everyone's work. In fact, the only other Al Pacino movie I've ever seen was Dick Tracy, but there weren't enough recognizable quotes for me to us it, so don't look for an Al Pacino movie in there.

Here's an example. Lori already got Quote #1: Mr and Mrs Smith. Brad Pitt plays Mr Smith in that one and Rusty in Ocean's Thirteen. Get it? Maybe that will help a little bit... Good luck!