(Four times four) times Two!

Thanks to Dedra and Kate for the tag :) You girls ROCK! I figured since I got tagged twice... I'll do eight of everything because I had a hard time narrowing things down to just four. Lucky me!

Four (x 2) places I go:

• Smith's Marketplace (on Main always, not the one on 4th!)
  
• Church
• Elementary School
  
• Middle School
• Doctor's office
• Library
• Temple
  
• Tandoori Oven

Four (x2) favorite smells:

• Rain
• Steak
  
• Fingernail polish
• My Mom and Dad's House
• Zeke
• Baby Lotion
• Gasoline
• Something baking in the oven, especially pie or bread
  

Four (x 2) favorite TV shows/movies:

• Mythbusters
  
• Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
• Elf
  
• Despicable Me
• Bizarre Foods
  
• Avatar: The Last Airbender (The cartoon series from Nickelodeon --only this one!)
  
• My Neighbor Totoro
• You've Got Mail
  

Four (x 2) recommendations:

• A pet. Any kind. Animals definitely have a place in our human world, and the responsibility learned from having a pet is a good thing. (I had to copy Kate, I agree 100%)
  
• Have all of your recommended cancer screenings done as much as needed no matter what!
  
• Don't ever start playing Tetris. Believe me.
  
• A Library card. Don't leave home with out one. (ditto, Kate)
  
• If you don't feel like being pleasant, courteous, or kind -- Act that way and the feelings will come.
• Look for the positive in everyone around you, especially your family.
• Drink LOTS of water.
• Eat less. Move more.
  

Now, I'm supposed to tag 4 (x 2) others:

Lara
Angee
Hilary
Lesa
Tawnya
Lora
Lorie
Shauntae

In case you were wondering...

Why I love my children:

They just have so much fun!
We found some stray pipe cleaners in the art cupboard.

I really enjoy cooking:
I made Butter Chicken and Garlic Naan on Saturday... it was awesome! My friend, Jessica, gave me the recipes: seriously, if you've never tried Indian food before, you should. I didn't think I would like it, but I LOVE it. If you want the recipes, let me know. Jessica is so awesome! I was having trouble finding an ingredient and she brought some to my house. FYI, "garam masala" is a spice blend and your grocer probably has it, even if they tell you they don't!

Moments when I don't enjoy being a mother:
My dear son, Gabe, thought it would be funny to get on my Facebook account and post a status as me: "My son wants a phone. Do you think I should get him one?" So by the time I checked my FB later that night, there were 18 public comments and 2 private ones... either cheering me on, "of course, why not?" or condemning me for even considering it!

Basically, I was really TICKED OFF!! (Think of Jack Black on "School of Rock") And I guess it wasn't that big of deal... other than it really embarrassed me and put me on the spot and Gabe shouldn't post on my Facebook. First of all, I would never say that... I do my own thing and I would not ask for public advice about that. Mostly though, "cell phones" are a "we're not having a conversation about this topic" topic. Gabe already knows how we feel about it. He was trying to get the sympathy and sway of the masses to change our minds. "Everybody has one, Mom!" Anyway, all is forgiven, but Gabe has lost some computer time. And he's still NOT getting a phone. I don't even have a cell phone. He's only 12! Did you know, "he's the ONLY kid in school that doesn't have a phone?!" Poor baby! I'm sure! (Aren't I mean?!)

Moments when I enjoy being a Mother:
Zeke buzzed Beck's hair; he looks so handsome. It's been getting pretty long... I took him to the store on Friday and hadn't combed it... he was also wearing sweat pants and sneakers... he looked so goofy, poor guy. He looks SO cute now. It really is the best haircut for a 2 year old boy; you know he just loves having his hair combed.

Beck says, "How was dat one, Mommy?"

Why I love Logan:
We had our first snowstorm of the season on Saturday... the girls immediately got on their snow gear and went outside (Beck was asleep and Gabe was at a birthday party, otherwise, they'd be with them for sure.) Snow is just so beautiful. I love to I go outside at night when it's snowing... everything is so peaceful and quiet.

Why I love our neighbors:
Our wonderful neighbors, David and Lora, needed help moving in a deep freeze on Saturday and they gave us the box. THANKS, Guys!! It was the perfect distraction for a stormy weekend. The girls have been making different curtains... pictures to follow... (They told me they aren't done yet and I can take pictures later! These girls are serious about this box! Gabe and Beck just want to wrestle in it.)

My other two children:
I'm having serious relationship issues... with my two cats!! They just do NOT get along. Well, actually Pippin is just MEAN and NASTY to Caspian. Poor Cassie! I talked with my MIL, Patty, about it. She's good with animals and knows everything about them. She has a degree in Biology and even worked at a veterinary clinic for awhile. She says I need to get Pippin's hormone and thyroid levels checked. He is SO aggressive.. and he hasn't always been quite this bad either.

Me with Caspian (I'm not picking favorites here am I?)

Pippin sleeping with Kaia. He's really sweet with people...This is my Mother in law, Patty.
She is the epitome of groovy in my book.
Don't you think Zoe looks like her?

Why I LOVE the Logan Library:
We just watched "Hairspray" for the first time. I LOVED it. A LOT! Zeke and I also watched "The Legend of Bagger Vance" last night. That show makes me cry every time. I love how it ends... nobody wins, nobody loses, everyone just has FUN! Other movies we watched this weekend that I love: "Nim's Island", "Night at the Museum" (Beck keeps saying, "Dumb dumb, give me gum gum!) and "My Neighbor Totoro":

You should really see this movie! (picture courtesy of Wikipedia)

Why Beck makes me laugh:
Beck stood up in his chair during dinner, poked his tummy out, and was straining himself so much that his face was going red. His eyes were glazed over and he was concentrating on something. We were all laughing and I said, "Beck, what are you doing?" He was VERY serious and said matter-of-factly, "I'm peeing in my diaper, Mom!" Okay, we need to get this kid potty-trained. (I'm really glad he had a diaper on... or the pee would have landed on his plate!)

Why I feel old:
Zoe's birthday is next week. She'll be 10! I can't believe it. She was my only baby born in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We've got a big party planned, too big, really, but it's okay... Zoe's so sweet and tenderhearted, she doesn't want to leave anyone out, so she invites all the girls in her school class and a few extra special friends. (Okay, so that's like 20 girls!!??) yeah, I'm nuts, but look at this face:

Zeke and Zoe from the Daddy-Daughter Date a couple weeks ago...
Did I already post this picture? Sorry if I did, but I LOVE it.Being silly!

I'm trying to be a good wife (really):

I can NOT wait to put up our Christmas decorations... Zeke always says not until the day after Thanksgiving... now, just so you know, Zeke doesn't really put his foot down about anything with me, he's very permissive about everything. (Paint the walls red, yellow, and green, Why not? Rip out the pantry and remodel the kitchen, again? Sure! What the heck? Yeah.) So I'll wait for him. He just wants Thanksgiving to be Thanksgiving and I can agree with that... but you know how people get up at 3 or 4 am on Black Friday to go shopping? Well, I'll be up digging out all my Christmas stuff... technically I could do it at midnight...hmm, tempting.

I am so thankful for my husband. He likes me even though I'm a weirdo and that's pretty darn cool.

Fish Curry and Fishy Currency

My awesome babysitter, Gabe.
This picture is from "crazy hair day" at school. I love you, bud!

So, Zeke and I went out on a date Friday night! Yes, just the two of us and it was so wonderful. I enjoyed every other minute of it (because every other minute I was worrying about the kids, I just can't help it.) Gabe, our awesome almost 13 year old, offered to babysit for us. YAY! He does a really good job, especially with Zoe helping him with Beck. But I still worry, one time when a babysitter was here, the kids got in a pudding fight (them against her!) and over-cooked an egg roll in the microwave, filling the house with smoke and setting off the fire alarm. Yes, I think you might worry too. Thank goodness for cell phones!

Zeke brought home Little Caesar's pizza for the kids. I even curled my hair for the big night. (I should have taken a picture, dang!) We decided this was Zeke's Belated Birthday/New Job celebration date. We went in my Dad's old truck (Zeke's new truck). That was really fun!

We unanimously agreed to eat at the "Tandoori Oven". YUMMY! This was our second time eating there and we will definitely go back for more. Their fish curry is so delicious! My mouth is watering for it even as I type. We also got some garlic naan and tried the lamb curry. The first time we ate there, we also had some excellent "Butter Chicken". Seriously, don't knock it til you try it! I didn't think I would like Indian food at all and now I love it so much I've been trying to make it at home.

Saturday was fun too. Zeke and the boys stayed home, while the girls and I went shopping! We went to a "Cents of Style" party at my friend, Teri's house. I love that stuff! I got a few Christmas presents for my family and a pretty blue scarf for myself. I've been wanting to get a scarf for forever. Some how it makes me feel really old, but I've decided that's okay. I wore it all day Saturday and to church on Sunday. FUN!

Ever since Zeke got this new job, we have been looking for a new table. The one we have is WAY too big for our little kitchen and it has grooves ("Beware the groooves!") They aren't the best for a family that has 3 out of 4 children who like to draw ALL the time. I'm sure Beck will join them when he stops eating the crayons and scribbling on my windows! Grrrr!

Anyway, Zeke and I went looking Friday night and we found an awesome table on clearance. So on Saturday, I decided to go get it. I had everything all budgeted out (even the sales tax), so I knew exactly what the total should be. When the salesperson entered it into the computer he gave me a total that was $25 more than what I figured. Some people might say "It's only another $25, in fact, that's what the salesperson tried to tell me." But that $25 is MY $25! He said that I have to pay sales tax on the ORIGINAL price, not the clearance price. What?! Have you ever heard of that? It sounded pretty fishy to me. He kept showing me how he got the total and I was like, "Yeah, I get your math, but this is wrong!" I told him there was NO way I was paying extra sales tax and if he wouldn't take off that $25 I wouldn't buy the table. I was ready to walk away and then he said, "Well, I guess I can try to enter it into the computer a different way and hope my manager doesn't notice...I guess just this one time it might be okay... I don't think I'll get in trouble, but you never know." Oh brother! I don't think he planned on me figuring that one out... I've been really bothered by this. Not only is it dishonest, but I'm sure it's illegal isn't it? Zeke and I are going to call the manager and find out their policy. Maybe it's just that particular salesperson trying to take a little bit off the top for himself? or maybe it's the whole store and they're trying to get ahead.... gosh, I hope not.

But on the bright side, I got an AWESOME table for an even more awesome price! :) I won't actually get it until the 19th... just in time for Thanksgiving. Zeke and I are staying here with the kids this year so he can study for finals (aka get caught up and hope to pass!) We are going to make some Indian dishes too.... anyone for some turkey curry maybe?