The Great Escape

No, this isn't a post about how my children sucessfully got by their parents bedroom to raid the treats downstairs, although I suppose my children do share some of the same clever characteristics of the stars of this great film.

To be brief, if you haven't seen the movie "The Great Escape," then it is time. Whether you are a fan of classic war films, or just Steve Mcqueen, then this film is for you. Alisa and I stayed up late last night watching it again, and laughed that it had been almost a year, yes a year, since we had watched it last. Far to long for our liking.

The basic premise of the show: Several hundred prisoners of war are being held in a German camp. These prisoners of war decide they can still "cause trouble" by creating elaborate escapes, thus drawing more and more men to "guard" them. The more men guarding the camp, means less men fighting the war. The writing is superb, the acting is fantastic. I can make assurances that if you have not seen this film, that you will certainly enjoy it. If you haven't seen it in awhile (a year or so) then it is time to see it again.

Have you seen the movie? Have a favorite scene or quote? Any comments from first time viewers?

The things I love most...in no particular order

CASSIDY

• Cassidy is my sweetie. Every morning when she wakes up and comes downstairs I say, "Good Morning Sweetie" She climbs in my lap and will cuddle for about a minute. Some days it is the only cuddling that I get from my independent daughter. I love my morning hugs and kisses.
• Cassidy is thoughtful. Three times a week she goes to preschool. She typically earns smarties for writing her name. She always saves half the pack to share with her brother on the ride home. She won't get her seat belt on until she knows what colors Mckay wants and she has fished them out of the bag.
• Cassidy is creative. She is always coming up with new games to entertain her brother with. This week I went into their bedroom, she had tipped the rocking chair on its side, tied jump ropes from the bed to the chair, and swung blankets over it to make a new house. She and Mckay played in the new fort for hours. They just laughed and laughed.
• Cassidy loves to sing and dance. Several times a week Cassidy will put a show on for us. Last week I was driving the kids to my mom's. It was early evening and I was afriad that Cassidy would fall asleep in the car and then stay up late that night. As we were driving it began to rain. For 30 she sang songs she wrote about the rain. "Rain....Rain....Rain....you are wet. You make rainbows.....Rain...Rain...Rain." Lucky for me, she didn't go to sleep.

MCKAY

• Mckay is my cuddle-er. He loves hugs and kisses and rubbing my arm and patting my face. He is also my early bird. I don't like waking up early, but I love the one on one time I get with my little man in the mornings. Many a days have been spent watching cartoons before sunrise with Mckay hugging me and leaning his cheek against mine. His newest move is to sit on my lap facing forward. He then reaches both arms up and pulls my head even to his. He pushes his cheek hard against mine to tell me he loves me.
• Mckay loves his apple juice!!! If I would let him, that kid would drink all day and never eat except the occasional candy. He reminds me of his Dad who loves to drink beverages (non-alcoholic!) This week he asked me for some juice, and wanted to make sure that I added the water because that is how he likes it. (We always water it down or we would be broke from buying apple juice.
• Mckay is sensitive to other's feelings. Recently I was having a challenging day trying to balance work and feeling like a good mom. We were playing on the floor in his room. He climbed on my lap and asked, "Mom, why are you sad?" Then he gave me a big hug and kiss and just sat there. Some how he knew that I didn't want to talk about it, I just needed a love.
• Mckay loves garbage trucks! Last week while Cassidy was at school I spent two hours outside with Mckay waiting for the garbage truck to come. He was so excited as it pulled into our circle. He gave me a play by play description as it emptied every garbage can. The best part was he sat on my lap the whole time.

TAYLOR

• My favorite tv show is The Office. Taylor has bought me every season on DVD. This month season 5 came out on DVD. In two weeks we had watched all 26 episodes. He is always thinking about what I like and what I want to do. Thank goodness for DVR. We will get to watch season 6 before it comes out on DVD!
• Taylor is obsessed with the Utah Jazz. I love the Jazz too! 5 days until the pre-season starts. Last night I pulled out our video camera. I rewound the tape that was in, just to see what was on it. Taylor and I sat and watched it. There was a clip of Taylor and Cassidy playing outside in the snow when Cassidy had just turned two. He asked her who her favorite Jazz player was. "k-linko" was her immediate answer. It is so fun to have something that our whole family loves to do together. (It is also great that every game will be in High Def this year!)
• Taylor is creative and funny. Many a nights Taylor puts the kids to bed. I love to sit in our room and listen as he tells the kids stories that he makes up. The kids just laugh and laugh. Occasionally I will have to remind him that we are trying to put them to sleep, not get the to wake up. Taylor went through a phase that the stories were always about animals. One animal would be in danger and the other animal would scare the danger away. (or something like that) One night as I was taking a turn, the kids really wanted me to make up a story. Taylor gave me some ideas and an outline. I tried my best to be funny. About one minute into the story, Cassidy looked at me with big, bored eyes and said, "Mom, can you just read us a story?" So Dad is the good story teller and I am the good story reader.
• Taylor coming home from work is always the best part of the day. The kids always ask me when Daddy is coming home. When we hear the garage open up, their big eyes light up and the run to the door, yelling to me to come and take the child proof lock off. It is so fun for me to see their excitement. I love the hug and kiss as he walks through the door. We always try and sit down and talk about the day. It never happens because the kids are too excited to tell Dad all about their day and perform a new dance or song.
  
  
  I love my family. They are the most important things in my life. I am so blessed to have such a great husband and kids. We are all so happy together.

(The pictures of the kids are during a dress up show that they put on while my parents came to dinner for FHE this week)

Mckay's Art Work

Cassidy loves to color and color. Every once in a while, Mckay will join in. Last week I was cleaning out a bin in the basement and Mckay found a permanent marker and snuck upstairs. He was very proud of his drawing. :)

I quickly grabbed the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. I knew I could depend on it.

The first week we were in the house Cassidy made a master piece on the wall with Sharpie and it instantly came off.

Who knew, the cheap kind of permanent marker doesn't come off with

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

I guess it is good we have left over paint in the garage or we would have a permanent reminder of Mckay on our newly painted walls.

Circus is in Town

11 Elephants on parade
The Circus Ringmaster was a magician this year and performed many impressive illusions. This year my younger sister and brother went along with us. Thanks to Camille for holding Cassidy for much of the first half. Thanks also to the Salt Lake Tribune for letting me steal these photos (our camera was having issues.) If you have an opportunity to go to the circus this weekend, then I would recommend it. It was enjoyable for all ages.

Brothers Golfing Trip

Spent last weekend with three of my brothers in Grand Junction, Colorado playing golf. Had a wonderful time, and am hopeful that we could all do it again sometime soon.

Tanner, Taylor, Mckay and Grant

Isn't it about time

Before

After

Staining the deck has been on my to-do list for too long. I think it turned out well.

New Cassidyisms

MOM: Cassidy, are we all children of God?

Cassidy: No, some people are adults.

DAD: Cassidy, why haven't you put all of your toys away?

Cassidy: Dad, you are not the judge. Jesus is the judge. Are you Jesus? I don't think so.

2010 World Cup Qualifier

United States vs. El Salvador at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Final Score U.S. 2 - El Salvador 1

Kyle Beckerman is a member of Salt Lake City's Major League Soccer club, Real Salt Lake. This was his first opportunity to play with the United States National team in a World Cup Qualifying event.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Growing up I loved sleeping in.

I remember summer mornings when my mom would make

me wake up before 11am.

How rude.

Now I can't even imagine sleeping in past 7:30.

This past weekend I was away from work, I could have slept in,

it just physically wasn't possible.

I don't know what Taylor and I were thinking when we had a son that is a morning person. :) Many a mornings I do everything I can to make Mckay think that it is still the middle of the night and get him back to sleep.

Today was no where near a success.

I arrived home from work and the kids were happily playing. About an hour later, Cassidy and Mckay were BOTH showing signs of being tired.

I had a mental pep rally. Go Lisi Go.

I attempted the impossible, putting both kids to nap at the same time.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!!!!!!

Yahtzee!

Giddy Up!

Bingo!

Sweet Success!

I quickly climbed into my bed and got a full hour of fantastic sleep.

This was a marvelous Monday.

It is offical

The new baby is now a part of our family. The adoption papers are all signed. We are so excited to have a new member of the family.

Another new cousin???

My oldest sister, Valerie, and her family have been on a list waiting to adopt a baby. Yesterday she found out she was matched with a woman, and today the baby was born. Nothing is official until the adoption papers are signed, but for now it is fun to think that we have a new cousin. Below are a bunch of pictures of the evening in the hospital. If the birth mom goes through with the adoption, there is no better and loving family than my sisters. Plus, I like to think that I can be a pretty good aunt and have some fun cousins for the new little guy.

Valerie's youngest, Bracken and the new brother.

Everyone wanted a turn to hold the baby. All the cousins kept washing their hands so they could have a turn. In this picture his eyes are just opening up.

Possibly the newest picture of the Warburton family.

Proud Parents

The aunts. We miss you Ashlee. Wish you were here today.

He was born at 8:46 am on 09-09-09. What a great birthday! It was funny, due to a miscommunication we all thought that he was born at 9:09 on 9-09-09. Turns out he was ready to come out and birth time was 8:46. :)

6 pounds and 14 ounces. 19 inches long.

The 3rd first day of school

Today Cassidy starts her third year of preschool. She is going back to Polka Dot Preschool with Ms. Jen. She was very excited this morning. When I woke her up and told her it was time to get ready she said, "Mom, I was just trying to sleep in so that I won't be tired at school today. I couldn't go to sleep very fast last night."

This is Cassidy and her friend Caleb. In a class of 13, Caleb is the only friend that she knows. She is excited to have class with Caleb and to meet new friends this year.

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo

The Historic Heber Valley Railroad

We had the fun opportunity this past weekend to spend an evening up in Heber and take our kids on the old "Heber Creeper." This old railroad is truly an antique and so much fun to ride. The kids enjoyed looking out at the beautiful scenery, looking for animals, and watching the train conductor work. (video 1). However, Cassidy eventually got bored and she decided to do what she does best. (video 2).

Video 1 above, Video 2 below

Sleepy Mckay

Mckay has been without his "pluggy" for over a month now. Mom and Dad have been happy to see him look like a big boy and not a big baby. The only down side to the pluggy being gone is Mckay struggles to go to sleep without it. He loves to cuddle with Mom or Dad while he is going to sleep, however, we don't cuddle every night.

When we don't cuddle, sometimes we pay the price. Mckay will come out of bed over and over again. This particular night he had come out many times and he knew that we were serious and he needed to go to sleep. I guess we didn't specify well enough that we wanted him to sleep in his bed.

A weekend away for mom

For those that don't know, I am a Sign Language Interpreter. I love my job and that variety that it brings to my life. I love working in a field that is continually changing and growing. I have a goal to become a Professional Level Interpreter. Currently I am state Novice Certified and have national Education Certifications. This year I have joined a mentor program that will help me achieve my goal. Three times this year I attend weekend retreats that are full of workshops, activities and lots of fun. While Taylor was home bailing water out of the flooded basement, I was spending a lovely evening in Park City. Above is the picture of the million dollar cabin we stayed at. A special thanks to my sweet husband Taylor, thank you for supporting me in my goals and dealing with the kids (who have more fun with Dad) while I am away from the family.

Cassidy and Mckay have new bunk beds in their rooms. I was excited to tell Cassidy that Mom got to sleep on the top bunk in the room I was sleeping in.

On my weekends away, all communication is in American Sign Language. I enjoyed several meals with this view. The meals were mostly quiet and peaceful. Typically all you would hear was laughter. There were humming birds that lived on the trees to the left. I don't think that I have ever seen so many hummingbirds in my life.

This is the awesome group that I lived with for 4 days. We all have a blast and learn a lot.