What we've learned so far on our Florida Vacation

Lucky for us, the hotel has Internet access - so I can give you a quick update!

Here's what we've learned so far, traveling with two kids under THREE!

First, Megan does not like change, whatsoever. She was a nightmare on the plane. She screamed for at least 45 minutes straight. Thankfully, most people felt sorry for US instead of themselves! I have to say in her defense that the flight was right during nap time and since she was in a different environment, she just wouldn't sleep...until the last half hour of the flight, that is!

In addition to that, Megan just wouldn't stop crying and screaming in the hotel room. The result was that we ALL went to bed at 8:30. Meg was with me and Ryan was with Dad. Ryan and Ric whispered to each other for a while and I sang to Megan to TRY to get her to calm down. I don't think that the hotel is very full - and thankfully, it didn't sound like we had neighbors either. Every time she woke up last night, she screamed. *sigh*

Second, even if you go through the effort of reserving your rental car AND checking in online (with the email message to prove it) you still haven't done everything you need to get your car. Combine that with a debit card that was declined (after the LONGEST 2 1/2 hour flight EVER) and that makes Mommy quite upset, emotional, and pretty much miserable.

Third, we are SO GLAD that we don't live in a "battleground" state! Every other ad is for McCain or Obama on TV. It's annoying, depressing, and pretty much makes you want to turn it off. (But we didn't because when you are getting ready to go in the morning, there's nothing else in a hotel room to keep the kids entertained!)

Last, we've decided that until the kids are older, if you want to see them - you have to come see us! :)

Here's hoping for a better day! We're planning to spend the day with Sue, Thom, and their kids. Only Sue has seen Megan, and the rest saw Ryan when he was only 6 months old. It should be fun! Stay tuned!

Leavin' on a Jet Plane!

We're packed and ready to go! FINALLY! We're all VERY excited to travel to Florida and spend some time with family we haven't seen in a long time - AND - especially to enjoy DJ and Stacey's wedding!

By the way, since we won't have access to the Internet that we know of, I've set it up so that I can update my "Twitter" with my cell phone! So...if you want to see the latest "adventures" that's where you'll find it - on the right side of the blog. (Unless of course, we are able to steal some time on family or hotel PC's!) So if you follow us in a blog reader, you'll have to click through to see what's happening!

Oh...and just to make things a *little* more exciting right before we leave, Ric just had to "plunge" the toilet because Megan (we think) threw something down and flushed! What that something was, we'll never know. Hope it wasn't important! heh

If only it really worked!

The Fisher-Price vacuum that is!

Halloween Preview

I have to say - I'm quite pleased with how these costumes turned out! The best part? BOTH costumes together cost LESS than $10! Woo Hoo! I used pink, orange, and black felt, a little bit of fake fur, a foam hat (that was covered in felt), a plastic club (which Megan liked to hold), and a bag of bones!

Megan even kept her barrette in her hair all night and I was able to get a few cute pictures at the annual Ward "Trunk or Treat!"

Meg would have NOTHING to do with it at first. Don't you love this face? It was cold, windy, and a little drizzly. But the kids really had a great time. We probably had most, if not all of the Primary kids there who were in town. Those adults who were adventurous, decorated the trunks of their cars and everyone handed out candy. (Now...we just have to keep it away from them so it's not all gone in just a few minutes!)

When the kids were all done, they just hung out in the back of the van and played with all their loot! Ryan's little friend Michael joined them too!

It was fun for the kids - now on to Florida where we'll be able to trick or treat without coats! Yippeee!

Feel like your memory has been erased?

THIS is what's left of our perpetual calendar. Today, Ryan thought it would be a good idea to erase the red numbers...so he did.

Ric came into the office a few minutes ago and said: "I think we have a problem" and showed me this.

Ummm....I feel like my memory has been erased! Eeeeeeek! We put ALL appointments, my school schedule, party schedule, church schedule, etc. on this board!

Good thing I have a lot of it on paper - or we would be LOST!

Thanks Ryan...thanks a lot.

p.s. THIS is what it's SUPPOSED to look like! (Yep - we're WAY too busy!)

Handsome Levett Boys!

Since we're going to a wedding when we go to Florida this weekend, Ryan needed an official "church-going" tie.

Here he it - with Dad - SO HANDSOME!

No Spirit, no Church

Well, no church for the kids this morning, just for Mom and then (later) Dad.  Ryan has been a real jerk this morning and gotten himself more than a few reprimands and time-outs. There's no way he's going to continue like this at church for 3 hours.  I went to my meeting, then came home for Marni to go and play piano and organ at church (especially since there's a children's recital today); then when she's done, I'll return later to teach our Young Men a their weekly lesson and plan an activity for Tuesday night.

Does anyone have a used tazer for loan or sale?

Ric

Question...

Does it burn more calories if while you are trying to "Turbo Sculpt" to the DVD if you are dodging two kids under 3 years old? What if they are using your "squats" as a "tunnel?" What if you are on the floor, trying to work your "obliques" and your kids think you are a jungle gym?

Hmmm....someone commission a study. Because if so ...BRING IT ON!

(Yes...I've come to the realization - with my doc's promptings - that I need to get in gear and take this post baby weight off! Note that I said POST baby! I'm one of the lucky ones who LOSES weight when I'm pregnant! And gains it when I'm not! Since that won't be happening anymore (snip!) I've got to try something else!)

Overheard from the kitchen...

Ryan: Mommy? Do you want some candy?

Mom: Nope

Ryan: OK, just checkin'

Kegels Anyone?

So I hardly ever get to watch "adult" TV in the mornings. It's usually PBS or Disney Channel these days. (Not that I have THAT much time to watch!)

Today was a rare day when I did get to steal a few minutes and I watched Live with Regis and Kelly. I LOVE Kelly Ripa. I think that she's hilarious, real, and down to earth! If you didn't get a chance to see it, you HAVE to see the first few minutes of the show. Howie Mandel is her co host this week and they were talking about all sorts of things - all over the map.

At one point, Kelly was talking about "deep breathing" or something like that, and then it moved into Kegel exercises. At which point she said, "OK, everyone let's do one together" as she stared into the camera. I can't do it justice by trying to describe it here, you just have to see it for yourself! (Howie trying to do one is just too funny!)

Here's the link to the video - and it starts at about 19 minutes in so you can fast forward or just watch the whole thing - it's pretty funny. Enjoy! :)

Our Good Luck Charm

THIS is the REAL reason the RedSox pulled out a miracle comeback last night!

Megan insisted that she wear the shirt that Ryan took off last night OVER her little frilly pink nightgown.

To top it off - this morning, she added shoes to the whole look.

You can bet we're not taking it off today!

GO SOX! :)

Bone Head!

First...can you believe that Megan FINALLY has enough hair to put in a barrette?

And, Second, can you guess what she's going to be for Halloween? :)

(Pay no attention to the messy face, complete with silver ink from one of my ink pads on the tip of her nose! *sigh*)

The Sweetest Prayer

As we were gathering for Family Prayer before Ric left for work today, Ryan said that he was going to say it. He's said it before, but just plays around. Today was different, he actually said his first prayer - by himself! It was the sweetest prayer - and I think both Mom and Dad were a little teary-eyed!

Because I don't want to forget it - I'm putting it here:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for today.
Please bless Daddy.
Please bless Mommy and Megan.
(Something we couldn't understand.)
Please bless GiGi.
Please bless Sister Keith because she teaches me about Jesus.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I guess we're doing *something* right!

PS - Sister Keith is the Nursery Leader at Church - she loves being in there with the little ones and they love her!

Bwog

Just overheard...

Ryan: Can I look at the "bwog?"

Wildlife

So it's about 9:45 pm. I'm in the dining room, stripping the paint off the windows. Listening to a CD and generally enjoying my "down time." (OK, maybe stripping paint isn't really down time, but when the kids are in bed, it's heaven! heh)

Anyway, Ric is at Priesthood meeting, and all of a sudden I hear the front screen rattling. (It's still nice enough at night that we leave it open until we go to bed.) First I thought that Ric was home a little early, but I didn't see his car. Then I thought that one of the cats was still outside. Of course that would be a BAD thing since I was just smelling skunk!

When I get to the door, two little black eyes stare back at me with a little mask on it's face. It's the CUTEST little raccoon. NO, there are TWO raccoons! On my porch! The first thing I think is that I HAVE to get my camera.

While I run into the back room to get it, one starts climbing up the metal post thingy, the other one just sits at the door wondering when I'm going to let it in. Of course by now, both cats are curious as to why I'm taking pictures out the screen door! (I'm sure my neighbors were too!)

The problem was... the camera would only focus on the screen! So I'm making a racket trying to get it off in time to get pictures! (I wasn't going to open the door - those little guys were definitely not invited inside!) This is what I got! Cute - but they won't get anything from me - the little bandits!

All I can say now is that I'm REALLY grateful that what I found wasn't the SKUNK I smelled just 15 minutes earlier! Eeeeek!

Our Guitar Hero

And this...is what Ryan learns from the Young Men in the Ward! :)

Saaaa-Weeet!

YAY! For General Conference this year, the Church is offering a new media player. What does this mean for us? It means that we don't have to use Windows Media Player, which bogs down our PC's AND cuts out all the time!

FANTASTIC! :)

If you're listening/watching it via the Internet, make sure you download and install it - took only 2 seconds and it's SOOOOO worth it!

(Marni's doing the 'happy dance')

I don't think it's your shade

Last night I was on the phone in the office with my new friend (and downline) Tanya. Usually, Ric makes sure that the door is closed so that kids aren't wreaking havoc while I'm trying to get things done.

All of a sudden, Ric comes in holding Ryan's hand - dragging him in too. This is what I saw and here's what Tanya heard next: (BTW - Hi Tanya!)

Mom: What's all over his face?

Dad: Your lipstick.

Mom: How did he get that?

Dad: You must have left it somewhere. (Yep, I must have...)

Mom: Hang on Tanya, I have to take a picture.

Fun stuff at the Levett house! :) No Ryan, it's not your shade! (Not mine anymore either!)

More Cow Bell

So there's a story behind these pictures. But I'm afraid it might only be funny to us. (One of those "geographical" jokes - you had to be there? You know?) Here it is anyway!

Anyway... a while ago as we were driving to Church, we were stopped at a stoplight. The car in front of us had a bumper sticker that said "More Cow Bell." Ric and I laughed because we know it refers to one of the best SNL sketches with Will Farrell and Christopher Walken.

Ryan, not wanting to be left out from his car seat behind us asked what was so funny. I just told him that the sign on the car in front of us said "More Cow Bell" and that we thought it was funny.

So we turn the corner on to Warwick Avenue and drive a little. On the left side of the street there's a seafood market. Out on the sidewalk, was this life size cow with a sign on it advertising that they had milk inside the store!

As we drove past, Ryan said "Look Mommy, more cow bell!" It couldn't have been more perfect! (OK, yes, you did have to be there.) We laughed all the way until we got to Church. Anyway... that darn cow is outside every Sunday, and guess what Ryan says? Yep. Every Sunday. :)

Labor Day - a Month Late!

I just realized that I didn't put these pictures up! So here go you - Labor Day Festivities, one month late. (Also known as "How dirty can these kids get?)

Two cute kids in a little wagon - it didn't last long though!

Megan enjoys her ice cream cake...a little too much!

At this point, we didn't care. She was headed straight for the tub as soon as the mosquitoes came out!

Ryan decided to move piles of dirt from the garden to other places in the yard.

His hands and feet were filthy! But he had a ball!

Charity Auction Info!

In case you aren't a frequent visitor to my StampMonkeys Website (and why aren't you?) I'm having a Charity Auction for the next couple of days. This auction benefits Stephanie and Christian Nielson and their recovery fund. Every little bit helps!

You can see all the details at http://www.stampmonkeys.com. Please check it out! :)

(Oh...and please pass this info on to anyone you think might be interested. I'd love to be able to donate TONS to these special people!)