Father & Sons Campout (a.k.a. Camping in the Cold)

Every May, our ward holds their annual Father & Sons Campout. And, every year, it is freezing cold. I have scratched my head several times as to why they always decide to hold this campout in *May* every year. Never in a million years would I plan a camping trip in northern Utah during the month of May....or even the first week of June for that matter.  The weather is way too fickle here this time of year. I thought it was just our ward that did this, but then I started realizing that other wards & stakes (quite a lot in fact) also held their Father & Sons Campout in May too. Hummmm...

At this point, I was baffled. Why on earth would they all hold these campouts in May when the lovely summer weather is right around the corner? Then a neighbor said, "Well, you'll have to take that up with John the Baptist." Whaaaaaaaaaa??? Okay, that was a little...random. When I inquired as to why I would need to bring up the subject of the timing of the Father & Sons Campout with the man that baptized Jesus 2000 years ago, he told me that the purpose of the Father & Sons Campout is to commemorate the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood to the earth. An event performed by none other than John the Baptist.  Guess which month it occurred in?  You got it--May--hence the reason this campout is always scheduled for this time of year.

Interesting, huh? I never knew that. I still think it's kind of dumb to hold a campout in May in northern Utah, but at least it has a purpose. I still think you could commemorate the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood just as well in June or July, but whatever. If the men want to freeze their tails off every year, they can be my guest. Vivvie & I will just hang at home and commemorate the invention of the furnace and hot water heater.

Despite the weather, the boys had a great time--as always.  They took Poppy along with them again this year.  He's not in any of the pictures however, because he was the photographer for the weekend.  Thank you Poppy for documenting my childrens' lives since their father always forgets to take pictures.

Since I wasn't there, I probably won't have a whole lot of commentary for each of these pictures, but I'll do my best with the little bit of info that I could squeeze out of my men.

On the way up to the campsite, the boys stopped at Blimpie (ummmm...Blimpie) and picked up some sandwiches for dinner.  Apparently, Connor downed an entire foot long by himself.  Yep, he's going to put me in the poor house just to pay for his food when he's a teenager...

After dinner, they set up camp...

And then did boy stuff--like throwing sticks & rocks in the river...

And hanging out with their friends...

And looking in prairie dog holes...

Then it was time to start a campfire...

And roast some marshmallows...

Then, later that night, it was off to bed.  I guess all the boys slept pretty good despite the fact that the temperatures probably dropped into the mid-30s that night.  Sounds...awesome, doesn't it?

In the morning...they bundled up and headed back out to the campfire...

Where they were served a pancake & egg breakfast...

After that, it was time to pack up and head home.  The boys decided to go through Provo Canyon on the way home and stop at the Homestead in Midway to see the volcano.  Here they are climbing to the top.  There are stairs to climb to the top, but apparently that wasn't manly enough for them or something because they hiked their way up the side...

After looking into it from the top, they were able to walk inside to the hot springs that are now inside the inactive volcano.  I bet that warm weather felt good after a cold night...

So, that was this years Father & Sons Campout...and the reason why it's always held during the month of May...and the reason I'm glad I'm neither a Father nor a Son. Now, where's my thermostat? --Lindsay

Crazy Crap My Kiddos Say

My kids have some pretty awesome one-liners from time-to-time.  They constantly keep my laughing & on my toes--because you never know what they're going to say.  Here are some of the latest gems...

Both Connor & Cohen filled out questionnaires in school about me for Mother's Day.  Here they are.  I love these things!  They are seriously one of the best Mother's Day presents out there.  So, for all you dads out there that are always trying to figure out something cute for your kids to do on Mother's Day, just ask your kids these questions & then print them out for your wife.  You wives could do the same thing for your hubs on Father's Day.  In fact, I think I may have to do that myself.  Anyway, you decide how well Connor & Cohen know me.  First up--Connor:

My mom likes to eat: Pizza
My mom's favorite hobby is: Do weather
If my mom had an afternoon all to herself, she would: Go take a nap!
If she could go anywhere on vacation, she would go to: St. George
My mom's favorite thing about me is: I am helpful
Something my mom does to help me is: Correct my homework
My favorite thing about my mom is: She is nice, helpful, fun & playful

Pretty sure the last one is my favorite answer since just a few days earlier I was "evil" and "the worst mom ever."

And here's Cohen's questionnaire:

My mom looks prettiest when: She is on TV
My mom's favorite food is: Mac & Cheese
She is happy when: She gets decorations
My mom is: 4-years-old
If my mom could go anywhere, she would go: to Grandma & Grandpa's house
Her best friend is:  Daddy
Her job is: She cleans the house
I love my mom because: She's my mom!

First of all, I didn't even realize that Cohen knew I was on TV.  Second, I despise Mac & Cheese.  Third, as much as I like going to Grandma & Grandpa's house, if I could go anywhere I think I'd probably pick Hawaii.  But, he did get a few right...Mike *is* my best friend & decorations do bring joy to my heart.  :)

Okay, so there are the Mother's Day questionnaires.  Now onto some other random things my kids have said & done that have brought a smile to my face:

We have a trip to Disneyland planned that is coming up soon.  I made the mistake of telling my kids about it.  Now every time I ask Cohen to put on his shoes & get ready to go in the car, he yells, "Yay!  It's time to go to Disneyland!!!"  You can imagine his disappointment when I tell him we're just going to the grocery store or to the elementary school to pick up his brother.

Aiden informed me the other day that he thinks the name Vivienne is a dumb name and that we should have named Vivvie a better name--like Maria.

Connor was walking home from school the other day with a bunch of neighbor kids and one of the neighborhood moms.  The kids were complaining about it being so hot outside.  It was a whopping 87 degrees.  That's when Connor said, "I'd rather take my clothes off and be nude than feel this hot!"  Nude??  Really?  Who says that?  Nude?!?  What happened to a simple "naked?"  Nude?!?

Speaking of Connor, he wrote a poem at school the other day which he titled "I Wish I Wasn't So Handsome."  It was all about the woes of having girls think you're cute & chasing you at recess.  Ahhh, the problems of a 3rd Grade boy.  Well, at least I don't have to worry about his self esteem.  Humility on the other hand...

The other day, we were trying to quickly get out the door to go to one of Connor's Little League games.  I asked Aiden if he could run upstairs to my closet & grab my gold flats.  He came down the stairs with 4" black heels.  Yep, he's a man!

Yesterday, I told Cohen he only had four days left of school until summer break.  He got a puzzled look on his face and then said, "And then I go get a job?"

Aiden came up to me about a month ago & asked, "Mom, am I cool or stupid?"  I replied with, "Of course you're cool."  Then he said, "That answer is correct!"  Oh, I didn't realize I was on a game show.  Glad I got it right!

About a week ago, Connor & Aiden were talking at the dinner table about all their "battle wounds" they had received while playing in the neighborhood that day.  Connor kept going on & on about everything that had happened to him, "I got a scrape on my leg. I rolled my ankle. I somehow ended up with a bruise on this shin. I bent my thumb backwards..."  That's when Aiden jumped in with, "That's nothing Connor...I got kicked in the wiener!"  I guess that "battle wound" trumps all others.

And, last but certainly not least (and probably a little sacrilegious)...I was putting a picture of Christ up in our front room.  Cohen walked in the room & said, "Mom, that's Jesus!  He died for us."  I said, "You're right Cohen.  He did die for us!"  I was having a proud parent moment--until Cohen continued, "Yep...someone shot him."  Ummmmmmm, apparently we need another lesson about Jesus Christ's death?!?  What the...

So there you go!  Crazy crap my kiddos say!  Love, love, LOVE them to pieces for being the comic relief in my life!  They are the best!  --Lindsay

The Problem with Pintrest

I love Pintrest! Let me rephrase that--I love, love, LOVE Pintrest!  I only got on a few months ago, but I have been hooked since I first laid eyes on it.  There are so many great ideas for anything & everything you can think of.  I actually have to give myself a time limit & force myself to get off when my time is up.  If I don't give myself a time limit, I could probably spend my entire day on there looking & repinning all the great ideas.  Along with all the great ideas, there are also tons of recipes on Pintrest.  Tons of scrumptious looking recipes.  When you click on the link, you always find the recipe (complete with step-by-step instructions & pictures).  They always make it look so easy.  So easy, in fact, that even a kitchen klutz like me could do it!  And there in lies the problem with Pintrest.  This website makes me think that I can do & make things that I actually can't.  Case in point:  A few weeks ago, I saw this delightful little recipe for cookie dough peanut butter cup brownies.  Yes folks...as the name suggests, they include my three favorite things in the entire world--cookie dough, Reese's peanut butter cups, and brownies.  And they looked so easy!  All you do is spray a muffin tin with cooking spray.  Then mash pre-bought cookie dough into the bottom of well...

Once that step is done, you place a Reese's peanut butter cup on top of the cookie dough...

Then whip up some brownie mix from a box & plop some on top of each well...

Throw it in the oven at 350 degrees for 18 minutes.  Voila!  Deliciousness!  Simple, right?  Any dummy could do it!  Wrong! Wrong!  WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY wrong!  This dummy could not do it!  After 18 minutes, my little creations looked like this...

It was basically cookie dough peanut butter brownie SOUP with a slight crust on top.  I threw them back in the oven for a few more minutes.  After that...still soup.  A few more minutes later...you guessed it--hot, steamy (yet delicious) soup!  I ended up baking them for a total of 32 minutes!  At that point, they were semi-set up.  I let them sit in the pan (because I had no other choice--there was no way to get them out) for a little while.  After that, they firmed up enough to almost get them out of the pan, but they were still just a gooey mess...

I should mention that there were a few that did turn out.  They are the square ones on the left plate.  After I filled up the muffin tin, I had extra of everything so I threw the extra stuff in a brownie pan that my mom gave me for Christmas.  It's supposed to be the best brownie pan in the world, and now I believe it really *has* to be the best brownie pan in the world because they were the only ones that turned out okay.  Here's how they looked from the side where you can see all three layers...

They did end up tasting delicious (How could they not?) even though most of them were a crumpled, gooey mess.

So that's the problem with Pintrest.  I am not a baker, and I never will be...despite what my mind tells me when I'm looking at these recipes.  We are all born with different gifts & talents.  Baking is NOT one of mine...neither is patience.  I would rather scrub toilets all day long than bake a batch of brownies.  That's how much I hate it.

So Pintrest, please stop tempting me with your lovely little links of baked goods that make me believe I have the abilities to make them.  I don't.  End of story.  I still love you & all your wonderful ideas and recipes.  I'll even still repin them from time-to-time, I'm sure.  Maybe I'll just have Mike make them for me from now on.  Hummmm...that's not a bad idea.  "Oh honey!!!"  --Lindsay

Movie Reviews by the Storrs Family

We took the kiddos to see "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" a little over a week ago on its opening night.  The kids have been waiting to see this movie for months now.  We saw the first preview for it in February or early-March, and we knew it was on our must-see list.  The reason we were so excited to see it was because it's from the makers of "Wallace & Gromit" and "Chicken Run."  My kiddos love, love, LOVE "Wallace & Gromit," and they were big fans of "Chicken Run."  It's clay animation & is always very witty & funny.  We figured that if this movie was all about pirates, and was made by the same folks that made Wallace & Gromit--then it *had* to be good.  Plus, we were promised by the previews that we would "laugh our booties off."  My kids hit the floor in laughter every time they heard that sentence on the previews.  Yep, this was a movie worthy of seeing on opening night...and that's not an honor we bestow lightly.  Do you know how much it costs to take our ginormous family to the movies ($40 in tickets, $7 for a large popcorn & a drink, $6 for treats, $3 for an additional drink...do you see how it adds up?!?)  So we don't go often.  We're more of a Redbox & Netflix kind of family...maybe the dollar theatre if we're feeling generous.  We don't go see movies on opening night much at all.  But, "The Pirates!  Band of Misfits" would be worth it, right?

Wrong, wrong, totally wrong.  Maybe our expectations were set too high with this one or something, because none of us were all that impressed with it.  Cohen got bored, Vivvie had to be taken out several times, and Connor & Aiden kept fighting over the popcorn during the non-action parts of the movie that seemed to drag on & on.  My kids gave it 2 1/2 stars.  I think that's being generous.  Now, I don't want to totally dis the poor movie. I can honestly tell you it wasn't the worst movie we've ever seen either.  It did have some pretty funny parts, and some scenes with some fun action, but then it had a lot of sloooooooooooow parts as well.  There were a few characters that we really liked, but most of them were just so-so.  The story line was just kind of...meh.  Here's a brief synopsis I found online that doesn't ruin it for those of you who still want to waste your money see it:

In The Pirates! Band of Misfits, the luxuriantly bearded Pirate Captain is joined by a rag-tag crew. Seemingly blind to the impossible odds stacked against him, the Captain has one dream: to beat his bitter rivals Black Bellamy and Cutlass Liz to the much coveted Pirate Of The Year Award. It's a quest that takes our heroes from the shores of exotic Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London. Along the way they do battle with the pirate-hating Queen Victoria and team up with a young Charles Darwin, but never lose sight of what a pirate loves best: adventure!

Yep, those are the highlights...and the only highlights.  It's just okay.  It's Redbox worthy, but not $56-at-the-nice-movie-theater-worthy.  So, there you go...movie reviews from the Storrs Family.   We're just here to serve folks like you.  Next maybe we'll pick up restaurant reviews (but only kid-friendly ones of course.)  --Lindsay

April Dates

We're still going strong with our one-on-one dates & loving every second of it. Okay, *almost* every second of it.  Do you remember a few months ago when I told you about my bowling date with Connor?  Remember, the one where he had a major meltdown?  Well, he wanted to go bowling again to prove to me that he could bowl & not freak out.  I reluctantly agreed, but demanded that we get a bumper bowling lane...even if it meant we had to wait.  Off we went.  Here's Connor getting ready to bowl...

What a stance!!!

He was doing great & loving every minute of it!  He had all sorts of funny little victory moves & dances he would do when he hit a bunch of pins down...

I love this one because it looks like his arms are wings or something.  My camera was on a funny setting, so some of the pictures turned out a little funny...

Not only was he cheering when he did good, but he was cheering me on when I would do well too.  We were having a great time...

But, that was on our first game.  As soon as our second game started, Connor started doing horribly.  It didn't matter what he did, his ball always went to the right corner & would only knock down a pin or two.  As soon as he started doing poorly, the bad attitude came out to rear it's ugly head.  What?!?  Wasn't the whole reason for going bowling to *prove* to me that he could bowl without losing his temper???  I reminded him of that fact, but it didn't matter.  Once again, everything was my fault & he hated me.  He was acting ridiculous.  So, I did what any super awesome mom would do in that situation.  I started taking pictures of him so he could see how silly he looked...

Mom of the year, right?  I suggested that maybe his arm was getting tired & that he should use the ramp for a few tries.  Nope, that didn't work either...

No matter what he did, that ball kept going to the right corner.  It was actually kind of comical (to me, not to him) to watch.  He could do everything in his power to try to make that ball go anywhere but that right corner, and it would still find its way there every time.  I think he finished with a score of 28, as compared to his score of 95 the first game.  And this is what he looked like...

Awesome!  Perfect!  Wonderful!  Just how I was hoping this date would go.  Connor and I are 0-2 on good dates so far this year, but both those dates have been to the bowling alley.  We pinky swore each other that we would never go bowling as one of our dates again.  And then he spent the next day being grounded to his room.  Sigh...maybe the third date will be the charm?

Aiden went on a date with Mike this month.  He wanted to go back to the fun center by our house because, since the temperatures have started warming up, they've opened some of their outdoor rides.  When they got there, they were met by this fella...

Aiden was in Star Wars heaven, as you can tell by his silly, cheesy grin.  I have no clue why Chewbacca was there...neither does Mike...but Aiden didn't care.  He just thought it was awesome to meet one of his favorite Star Wars characters. 

Then it was on to the rides.  Here's Aiden waiting to ride the airplane ride, with that same cheesy smile that was on his face during his picture with Chewy...

Riding the ride, cheesy smile still in tact...

Then it was on the Merry-Go-Round.  No cheesy smile this time, just plain cheese...

After that, they did some rock climbing...

And then played some laser tag.  Here's Aiden all suited up in the light...

And in the dark...

They still had time left after that, so they took a ride of the Frog Hopper & apparently flirted with a girl the entire time...

They had a great time!  I was so impressed with everything they were able to squeeze into an hour & a half...

Cohen went on a date with me this month.  Once again, he wanted to go on his "froggy ride."  I don't know what it is about that ride, but this kiddo loves it...

After riding the froggy ride several times, I was able to coax him off of it and get him to head outside to some of the outdoor rides.  He loved the Merry-Go-Round.  I sat on the horse next to him.  At first, he wanted to hold hands "so he didn't slip off his horse."  Our horses were going opposite of each other.  Every time his horse would go up, mine would go down, and vice versa.  When he was higher than me, he'd scream, "Mom!  My horse is higher than yours!  I'm winning!!!"  Nothing was said, however, about me winning when my horse was higher.  Love this kiddo...

After the Merry-Go-Round, we headed over the airplanes...

Cohen had a great time driving the plane & shooting the gun that was attached to it.  Boys, airplanes, and guns.  Perfect combo...

After the airplanes, we headed over to the Go Cart Track.  Cohen saw that there was a Batman car & he was determined to get it.  For those of you who don't know, Cohen is slightly obsessed with Batman.  He loves the cartoon, and has even watched most the movies (yep, again...mother of the year.  I blame his Poppy for that one.)  He was so excited about the Batman car, that he had to have his picture taken with it...

As I glanced at the line ahead of us & counted the number of people and the number of cars.  I figured out we would be the last people to make it on the next turn.  I assumed that the Batman car would be chosen by that point, so I started to tell Cohen that we might not get the Batman car & that they were all cool cars--no matter which one we got.  He insisted that he *was* going in the Batman car.  "Oh great!  Here comes another meltdown moment on one of my dates," I thought.  But, as luck would have it, all the people in line in front of us were together & were waiting for another member of their party that had run to the bathroom, so they allowed us to go to the front of line.  And Cohen got to sit in his beloved Batman car...

After we were done there, Cohen wanted to go on the "boat ride."  And, by boat ride, I mean the Bumper Boats.  These aren't just normal Bumper Boats.  These are Bumper Boats that have mega super soaker squirt guns attached to them, and there are little waterfalls in the middle of the pond that get you even wetter if your boat goes anywhere near them.  Those of you who know me know that I don't do "wet" very well.  Some people look good even when they are wet.  I hate those people!  I look like a drown rat when I get wet.  No scratch that--I look like a drown rat with raccoon eyes when I get wet.  It's not pretty!  But, how could I say no to a boy that was "this excited" to go on his boat ride...

So we went.  I steered the boat, and put Cohen in charge of the water gun.  I figured if I was steering, I could steer us away from a lot of the action.  Did it work?  Absolutely not!  We were soaked to the bone...and then some...by the time we got off.  I somehow managed to get us caught in a traffic jam.  And that traffic jam just happened to be right by the waterfall.  And Cohen just happened to squirt some kid right in the face, so he had it out for us the rest of the time.  We were drenched!  But, Cohen loved it & was giggling up a storm the entire time.  It was the cutest thing I've ever seen!  We had the best time laughing & ducking for cover & screaming our guts out as the cold water hit us smack in the face.  It was a blast, even for me.  I did look like a drown rat with raccoon eyes by the time we were done, but we had a great time!

Then, since we were wet & cold, we decided to head home.  Why can't I look this cute when I'm drenched?

So those were our April dates.  They were awesome...well, most of them were awesome.  But, despite Connor's meltdown, I'm still so happy that we are doing these dates with our boys.  I can see & feel it bringing us all closer together, even during the not-so-good dates, and I love that!  --Lindsay