I'm Off!

To BYU's Women's Conference with 11 girlfriends (and 0 children)! Here's to some good shopping, eating (hello Cafe Rio), chatting and some classes to boot . . . WHOO HOO!

The Day Has Come

Will went to buy a baseball glove last Saturday for a softball league he's participating in and he returned home with this additional item. Gasp! A tent for the Bollard family. I know many of you thought the day would never come. I guess he finally got tired of my excuse that "we can't possibly go camping because we don't even own a tent!"It's no secret that I pretty much hate camping. I've only been on one camping trip I liked, back during our law school days to Lake Naciamento. I survived it due to our practically professional camping friends, Lance & Kelsey, who wear things like headlights and actually know how to operate a Coleman stove (I don't). I do realize that I have two boys and that in order to plan family vacations that they will enjoy I've got to "get my camp on" one of these days. Who knows--I might even like it. Soon I might be spending my Summers at REI sales buying my own headlights and buying camp-food-cookbooks. I may be writing a blog post about the error of my non-camping ways. I just thought these days would be a few more years in the future.

So here's the beauty of the whole thing . . . on Sunday after Will bought this tent the church bulletin announced a little yearly event in May called the FATHER SONS CAMPOUT, in which Will, Ethan & Luke will christen this tent and I will glory in an entire night to myself probably watching my collector's edition of Anne of Green Gables. Fantastic.

Pro Bono Case

Attorneys at Will's firm participate in a certain number of Pro Bono hours per year to help give free legal aid to worthy causes. Will's project was to help facilitate the adoption of two sisters by their Grandparents, which was made final this past Friday. The girls are ages 6 & 2.

This was Will's first experience in a Family Law courtroom, so he took some pictures for me to see. We thought it was pretty cute that they decorate it more like a Build-A-Bear Workshop than a government building to help the kids feel more comfortable.

It was a neat project that felt slightly more fulfilling that some of his more typical transaction work.

The Progression of a Cat Nap

"I haven't voluntarily taken a nap since December. My mother would never dream of putting on a movie in order to try and lure me to sleep. I have no intention of sleeping.""My chin is getting a little heavy to hold up, but my eyes are still locked to that screen."

"Wow this rug looks so fluffy . . . and cozy . . . and inviting . . ."

"Must . . . gnaw. . . on . . . arm . . . to stay . . . awake"

And, he's out. Victory!

Meet the Monstrocity

This was Luke's selection from the vast array of "high-quality" toys available at the OC Swap Meet. It was a love at first sight moment, in which Luke locked this leopard in a death grip and gently petted it's head while making soft growling noises at it. He might have imploded if we hadn't handed over the six bucks to purchase it.
It hasn't left Luke's side since, even going to the Beach with us after the Swap Meet. Oh, and in case this picture is deceiving, this is no soft, cuddly animal--it's 1 1/2 feet of solid plastic that could probably give someone a concussion if Luke threw it at them.

Luke and his Leopard speak the same language.

And if leopard wasn't enough of an addition to our household, Will's parents gave the boys these darling little creatures today as well:

Apparently the uglier the toy the more they will love it.

Here it is

We've been up to a million fun things due to Spring Break and some gorgeous weather, but I figured since a) I forgot my camera at all these things and have no photo documentation, and b) NOBODY wants to hear about ANOTHER Sea World outing, I'd better just break down and do the post Kelli tagged me to do about a month ago.

I may be the last blogger on the Net to do this tag and you may all be so sick of reading this tag that you'll click away right now. But here it is just the same in case you are really bored, and because I am too bored to think of something more creative to post.

Ten years ago . . .

I was about to graduate from High School. The gripping dilemmas facing me were: how I could shave another second off of my 100 yard butterfly time for the upcoming CIF championships?, do I have enough knee-length shorts to bring to BYU in the Fall?, should I break-up with my high school boyfriend or attempt the long distance thing?, would my parents extend my curfew during the Summer? (no), would I pass my AP exams? (yes) . . .

5 things on my To Do list . . .

1. Sign Ethan up for Swim Lessons
2. Make a hair appointment (bangs require more maintenance than I thought!)
3. Bills
4. Enter all my books on Good Reads . . . been dragging my feet on this one, although I like the concept it always just feels overwhelming to try and review them all
5. Buy the one ingredient I forgot at the store for tomorrow night's dinner--isn't it the worst when you realize you somehow forgot one thing when it was right there on your list?

5 snacks I enjoy . . .

1. Hummus & Pita Chips (thanks to the Park Day ladies of the 4th Ward)
2. Strawberries
3. Wheat Thins topped with cheddar cheese slices
4. Cashews
5. Kettle Corn

What I would do if I were suddenly a billionaire . . .

Pay off Will's student loans, buy large vacation homes in different locations all over the world and pay for my family & friends to go to them with me, surprise my Dad with a Porsche, give to my church and various medical researchers, build a true children's library--where kids like Luke won't be asked to leave by grouchy old ladies (true story) . . . this list could be endless

5 places I've lived . . . (I've only ever lived in 5 places):

1) San Diego, CA
2) Provo, UT
3) London, England
4) Agoura Hills, CA
5) Irvine, CA

Jobs I've Had . . .

1) Nanny
2) San Diego County Deputy Marriage Commissioner (yes, like a justice of the peace--I have married over 30 couples!)
3) BYU Admission Office Receptionist
4) Assistant to the Director of Admission @ Pepperdine Univ.

5 Things You Don't Know About Me . . .

I've been blogging for almost two years, is there really anything left that I'm willing to reveal? We'll give it a whirl . . .
1. I like to, although rarely get the occasion to, dress-up nice
2. I've liked the baby girl name Chloe since high school--before it was overly popular and over-used
3. I'm scared of most animals
4. I'm incapable of short phone conversations
5. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn is probably my favorite book

Friday Night

The ONLY good thing about having your husband go out of town for five days:

Having him take you on a hot date when he gets back.

What?!

This is what happens when you get down on all-fours and scoot your forehead upon industrial carpet for ten minutes instead of sitting in your mother's lap during your Music Class:

Yep, he gave himself some nasty carpet burns all over his hairline.
(Don't you think the pain would've prompted him to stop plowing his head around the room?!)
Oh no, not my boy.

Maybe Changing Diapers Isn't So Bad . . .

My memory gets faulty sometimes.

If you had asked me yesterday how to measure the strength of a Mom I would have quickly pointed out to you those crazy, albeit amazing, women who give birth without epidurals. Or how about the one Mom I know who actually had the discipline to carry out every guideline in the Babywise sleep training book. Then there's those amazingly patient Moms, who never raise their voice and just smile serenely while their toddler runs circles around them in the grocery store. There's clever Moms who are always able to answer the endless string of "why" questions, or come up with the perfect way to motivate their kids to pick up their toys.

But today I re-discovered what I consider the most grueling task of a parent: potty-training. Let's just say Day #1 with Luke wasn't exactly a smashing success (is anyone really surprised here?). This may be the biggest battle of wills to hit our house since the great bottle weening of 2006. However, the fact that Luke and I are still in one piece at the end of the day is success enough for me.

Here's to tomorrow being a better day. (Is just has to be!)