I'm Getting Old!

Apparently I'm getting old faster than even I thought.

After seeing a "coupon guru" on the local news this morning, Tom rushed me out the door so we could run to CVS and pick up their monthly specials, as today is April 30. (Thanks to Sister Savings, this has become a new favorite of his when he is here--going with me to Fry's, Bashas, Albertsons, etc. to pick out the weekly specials and add to our food storage).

Anyhow, one of the items on special was a CoverGirl foundation that I use. Normally $10, I was able to pick it up for only $5. The limit was 3, but I could only find two in my shade. No big deal, and I didn't think much else of it.

That is, until we were in the car a few minutes later. Out of the blue came the following conversation.

Tom: You need to find another CVS and see if you can get more tenderizer.

Sarah: What tenderizer are you talking about? (I didn't recall meat tenderizer even being on special.)

Tom: You know, that tenderizer you use on your face.

It took me a minute to put two and two together, but I think he was confusing moisturizer with foundation, and it came out tenderizer. Or, maybe I look that old that I need tenderizer before I can moisturize and apply foundation! Ahh!

I guess you could say we're even though. Yesterday he had to spend three hours trying to figure out a slight electrical problem after I chopped through an extension cord while trimming the shrubs (first time in four years I've done that, honest!). I think he's secretly relieved when it's time to hit the road again!

Victoria Peak

Hong Kong is another favorite layover of Tom's. Here are some photos from famous Victoria Peak.

Another geography lesson for any of the geography illiterates like myself. Victoria Peak is located on the western half of the Hong Kong Island and stands 1810 feet high. It is said to have the highest land value in the world.

Tom, maybe one day this job will afford us a condo right there behind your head. Yeah, right!

History and Geography 101

OK, so call me an idiot. I had never heard of Luxembourg until Tom started flying there this past year. (Don't judge too harshly, however. I went to high school in central Utah, where there were only 53 people in my graduating class, and geography was taught by the basketball coach and we colored maps for a grade!)

Anyway, Tom's trips are proving educational for Sammie and myself as well. So, if you are an idiot like me, let me enlighten you. Luxembourg is a small, landlocked country in western Europe. It is surrounded by Belgium, France, and Germany, and houses less than a half million people. It is trilingual--they speak French, German, and Luxembourgish (true word-I didn't make it up).

Tom hates how expensive everything is in Europe, but loves the beauty of it. (Don't worry honey--with the price of gas, eggs, milk, wheat, etc. skyrocketing here in the States, you'll soon feel right at home in Europe!)

The balcony over his head is where General Patton gave one of his famous speeches during World War II. General Patton's troops liberated the city of Ettelbruck for good on December 25, 1944.

Blast From the Past

Yesterday was a half day at school, and half days usually have a theme. When it's Wacky Hair Day or Wacky Sock Day, Sammie won't participate (afraid she might look weird!), but she decided Blast From the Past Day might be kind of fun.

The darling poodle skirt was courtesy of Aunt Shari and Susie. Kalia dressed up in her poodle skirt as well, but I wasn't fast enough to get a picture of them both together.

She's Coming Home

Yeah! Today I will get my little Toots back.

However, I don't think she is too excited to come home--I'm afraid there will be many tears at the airport when she has to say goodbye to Grandma and her precious Utah. She has had sleepovers with cousins on both sides, lunches out w/ Grandma and Papa, lunch with Aunt Ann, shopping, a trip to Park City, a trip to to the movie theater, and a tour of Temple Square and the Conference Center (and I probably missed some).

How can boring old Mom compete with that? Ah, to be a kid again . . .

Same Old, Same Old

I think Grandma will be happy to know that Tommy's "normal" hair-do is back. For a few days we tried to shake things up a bit and do some cool spikes.

However, thanks to his mom and his dad, his hair has too much curl. The spikes would turn to curls, and he looked a little too wild for my liking. So, we're back to square one (where we'll stay).

Caught Him!

You know that Tasmanian Devil I mentioned earlier? Well, it took some effort, but I caught him.

I placed him in a box and now I'll wait patiently until Animal Control arrives.

Tip of the Day

Remember to lock your filing cabinet! I believe there is a Tasmanian Devil on the loose in my house.

Just Me and My Boy

That's all you'll find around here this week. Daddy has been from Amsterdam to Dubai and on to Hong Kong; Sammie has been spending quality time in Utah with Grandma, Papa, and cousins; Matt and Shari are in Las Vegas; and Tommy and I have been home, home, and you guessed it, home .

It's very quiet (as quiet as it can be w/ a toddler), and dare might I say, a little lonely. Maybe it's because he notices everyone is gone, but he has turned into quite a cling-on in the past few days. At least I have someone to snuggle with!

Tom's Newest Addition to the Fleet

And when I say fleet, that is no joke; he is quickly running out of space to store them all. I usually don't appreciate his hobby as much as I should, but the Tomahawk has been a work in progress for the past year, from the day he started drafting it on the computer.

And since I nicely let him work on it for two solid days [well, at least that's my version], he spent his last two days at home helping me do a complete organization overall of the food storage, pantry, bedroom closet, and office closet. It was a lot of work, but we both feel so much better now.

Airport Day, Take Two

So today was another airport day at our house; however, this time it was Sammie leaving. This girl pines away for Utah, and since the prices were more reasonable now as compared to spring break, Tom agreed to buy her a ticket.

I initially thought it would be a nice break for a few days (without the nagging and whining girls are famous for!), but as I packed her suitcase last night, I started feeling a little clingy. As we got to the airport, apparently so did she.

I put her on the plane with tears in her eyes, and it was so sad watching the 737 taxi away. However, we both survived, and she arrived safely in Utah with Grandma, Carly and Quincy to greet her. (Let's just say her homesick feeling seems to have gone away very quickly!)

Tommy, on the other hand, will have a very strange week with no sister to torment. His routine was the same on the way home. He sat in his car seat in the back, left thumb in his mouth, blankey clutched in his right fist, and repeated every once in a while, "Bye-bye Sammie." (Sounds more like bye-bye Sa-ee). He's still saying it now we're back home.

I must admit that for the most part he was well-behaved at the airport. He didn't stray too far away, and even sat on my lap from time to time. However, all good things come to an end, right? Once Sister couldn't be seen on the jet way anymore, he took off running as fast as his little legs could carry him. I couldn't catch up with him until he wiped out, landing on his stomach and face, at the end of the jet way. I carried him back to the gate kicking and screaming, "Sammie, Sammie!" I had visions of security escorting us out of the airport, but they were all laughing about Tommy's little attempt at a security breech.

Different Day, Same Routine

So I haven't been a very good blogger the past few days. Yesterday was another airport day. Not the fun kind, where we pick Tom up and know he'll be home for two weeks. Nope, this was the bummer kind.

This time we pulled up to Terminal 2 (rather than Terminal 4), Tom gathered his luggage, gave us hugs and kisses, and off he went again. Tommy still doesn't understand the whole concept that Dad will be gone for a while. As we pulled away, his left thumb was in his mouth, his right hand clutched blankey, and he repeated over and over, "Bye-bye Daddy, love you." (Actually sounds more like "bye-bye Da-ee, wuv u," but you get the idea. The little rascal nearly breaks my heart sometimes.

Tip of the Day

If you find your toilet paper seems to have difficulty unrolling, check inside the cardboard tube--you just might find a little red corvette inside there. Once the car has been removed, the toilet paper will unwind easily once again.

Bet you can't guess who did that one . . .

Mom's Directions vs. Dad's Interpretation

This morning I was upstairs on the computer. Tom hollered that Tommy was in the pantry climbing on boxes trying to reach something up high. I told him he was trying to get the Golden Grahams cereal, and would he get Tommy some in a plastic bowl.

Here's what I asked for . . .

And here's what I/Tommy got. Tommy didn't eat them, but at least they had the word "graham" in them, right?

More Zoo Pics

Sam on the old tractor

Tommy on the little tractor

Fun at the barn

Tommy ridin' the goat

Start of our day at the zoo
I've resigned myself to the fact that this is as close as I'll get to Australia again for a little while.

Swinging Sam

Tommy on the old tractor

Happiness at the Zoo

Let's just say that we had our fair share of pouting and tantrums . . . enough said.

Do Over

Do you ever have those kind of days that you wish you could have a "do over?" Or better yet, forget the whole thing happened? Today was one of those.

It started off rough and continued on from there. We thought we'd try to salvage the afternoon with a quick trip to the zoo, but that turned out disastrous since our little monkey hadn't had a nap. There were also other little mishaps, like Tom splitting his shorts wide open, and Tommy's tinkle episode in the laundry room.

But there's always tomorrow, right?

That's My Girl

I have to take a minute to toot Sam's little horn for her.

This week she brought home a report card with all A's, and her artwork was chosen out of her second-grade class to be displayed at the district art show.

Way to go, Toots!

Gotta Love the Snowbirds!

Today I had to go to the Post Office for Compass. As we (living in Arizona) all know, it hasn't yet gotten hot enough for all the snowbirds to head back to Montana, Minnesota, British Columbia, yada, yada, yada, and they LOVE to go to the Post Office.

After I pulled into my parking spot, I sat in the car for a minute while I was finishing up a phone call. While I was talking, I noticed an older gentleman exit the building and walk towards my car. He was staring off at something in the distance, and I didn't think much of it until he walked right up to my door, opened it, and was about to climb in. I kid you not, he almost sat on me, and I said a loud "Hello." It startled him, he got very embarrassed, and said he was sorry and closed my door.

I was a little shocked and looked over to my right. Next to my car was another car, also white (but much, much bigger than my little Accord). He hadn't been paying attention and had mistaken my car for his, I guess. His poor little wife was more embarrassed than he was!

Golf: It's a Tricky Sport

Tom's newest obsession with the Wii is playing golf, so we rented a Tiger Woods Tour 07 game from the video store. Sam and Tommy took a swing at it as well.

See the welt on his forehead? That's what happens when you accidentally cross paths with Sister while she's swinging! Ouch!

What A Kid

Here's Tommy sporting a fresh haircut (courtesy of Grandma) and shades (courtesy of Mom).

Bubba-proof

Apparently "lift-the-flap" books aren't Bubba-proof (they're more like rip-the-flap). Come to think of it, not many things are Tommy-proof--like laundry soap, toilets, grocery stores, purses . . . need I go on?