May 9, 2005

• Last weekend was Brians last few days of freedom before classes started up again so we took off on Thursday and headed to Vegas.  We left early enough that we avoided traffic all the way.  We made it in early enough to be able to sit and chat for a while before heading to our respective beds.  (Or couch in poor Amy Jo’s case whenever we come to visit)  A new casino had just opened the night before and was rumored to cost over 2 billion.  We thought we would go down and see what all the fuss was about.  We never really figured it out.  It just looked like a really high end hotel and casino that catered to the very wealthy in terms of the stores available to shop in.  You know the kind of store that has 4-5 items displayed with expensive art work and fancy displays.  You pay $1000 for a T-shirt because of the label.  Thanks, but I’ll stick to browsing the racks at Ross for the $3.50 deal.  As we were leaving, shortly after arriving, Serra announced that it stunk in there.  She was right.  Lot’s of smoke.  Anyway we made the trip worthwhile by stopping  by a local park and watching Amy Jo and Serra play.  It’s great to have young aunts and uncles to play with the kids.

  
  

  We spent the weekend relaxing and eating.  Brian and his Dad took some time to discuss some possible business ideas for the future.  Serra went shopping with her Grandma and Aunties on several occasions and never came home empty handed.  Her favorite thing now is the Barbie purse with Barbie accessories including, the cell phone, car key with remote, makeup, and credit cards.  She thinks she is pretty hot stuff with all the needed necessities.  Brian was in the bathroom with the door locked and she kept knocking at the door.  Then a light bulb appeared above her head.  She ran to her purse and grabbed her key.  She ran back to the door and started trying to unlock it with the key.  When that didn’t work she started pressing buttons on the key remote.  At that moment Brian walks out.  She got really excited and yelled, “It worked!”  The only downside with the phone is that after Barbie says a phrase she hangs up and it upsets Serra.  “Barbie hung up on me.”

  
  

  Serra received a fancy tricycle from Ethan Cianflone this week.  It has been a little rainy but she has had a few opportunities to ride it.  She calls it her bike.  She loves it.  It won’t be long until she figures out the pedals.  It’ s pretty heavy duty so I’m sure it will take abuse from several children and cousins to come.  Thanks Tracy and Ethan.

  
  

  Saturday Brian had to work but had purchased some pepper and tomatoe plants on Friday so I decided to tackle our poor neglected patio and get started on planting.  We have a small patch of dirt that was originally a rock bed.  It has rocks about 8 inched deep mixed with dirt.  I spent 3 hours shoveling and squating over the area removing rocks so there was mostly dirt.  Brian picked up some soil on the way home and while he took Serra to the park on a promised outing to ride her bike I mixed the dirt and planted half the tomatoes and peppers.  There is still a lot of work to be done out there but I made progress and hopefully will enjoy fresh tomatoes and peppers all summer.  I am amazed at how much Dad, Mom and Dallas accomplish in thier yard when I only got done such a small amount on our tiny patch.  I am still sore from bending over a shovel and getting up and down so much two days ago.

  
  

  Yesterday was Mothers Day.  I realized on Saturday that I was sharing time and when I sat down to do the lesson I tried to figure out something we could do for mothers.   Well, our ward doesn’t have the kids sing for anything so I decided that I would review/teach them 2 songs and we would go in at the end of Relief  Society and sing to the Moms and Grandmas, and then have the kids pass out a flower to each of the ladies.  The kids did such a great job; all six of them.  (7 with Serra)  I had a hard time containing myself when Serra sang the last few words of each verse in exaggerated vibrato.  She usually goes to primary with me because our nursery leader is rarely there.  Serra is the only other child beside the teachers kid.  Serra was there the whole time we were learning the song and picked up a few words.  It was very cute and she got several chuckles and it melted me.  As the kids finished, the bishop brought in a tray of huge pieces of chocolate cake.  The kids started drooling immediately and when we got them back to the primary room they started chanting, “CAKE, CAKE, CAKE.” Most of them got quite a bit from their mothers so all was well.  I was really proud of our primary kids.

  
  

  After church we came home.  Brian and Serra had me sit down so I could open up thier MD present.  They got me the Work and Glory DVD.  We saw it in the theatre a few months ago and I really enjoyed it.  Brian figured I would eventually like the whole set when they finish all the movies.  How right he was and I am excited to watch it again soon.  Brian always puts a lot of thought into gifts and I appreciate that.  We needed to get ready to go so Brian put the finishing touches on his seven layer dip. (Mexican train wreck as Aunt Karen likes to call it)  He made most of it last night and wouldn’t let me help at all.  We Mo proofed the house.  Which basically means we tidied “up”  so he couldn’t get into anything.  Brian loaded the mandarin trees to be givien to the folks and Gary and Liesl, loaded the kid and we were off to Calabasas.  We arrived at about 2pm and sat out on the deck and enjoyed the sunshine and Brian’s delicious dip.  I’m afraid by the time the cousin contingency arrived it was nearly finished.  Luckily by that time dinner was ready and they didn’t have time to notice too much.  Hamburgers, hotdogs, salad, white corn on the cob, folks and fun.  Immediately after the blessing Serra grabbed a bun just like Grandpa had instructed us and went and got a burger slapped on it.  I didn’t notice and I asked Brian if he would get her set up with some food.  He pointed to her and informed me she had taken care of it herself.  There she sat on the swing with the cousins munching on a plain hamburger happy as can be.  Alrighty then.  Latter as we moved the party inside Dallas brought out his portion of the meal.  DESSERT.  What a creation that was.  Remember the Bob’s Big boy hot fudge cake?  It was like that only not with cake.  Ghirradelli  Triple chocolate brownies.  It was the size of a small roast as Gary said.  I am ashamed to admit that as an Arnell I only made it through about half.  Great job to all the men.  It was a great day. 

  
  

  About the time dinner was getting finished Elder David called to wish Momma a happy mothers day.  We all got to listen and talk a bit.  We sure miss having him around.  The kids especially.  Dallas does a good job of filling in the empty spot but we still miss him.  We are proud though that he is doing what he should be doing right now.

  
  

  When we got home a little after 9pm Serra was cuddling me on the recliner after finishing a full cup of milk when suddenly the gates of her belly opened up and spewed forth the first offering.  Brian just looked at us not sure what had just happened when the second offering projectiled a full 12 inches from her face.  What do you want me to do Brian asked me.  I asked him to take her to the tub quick and I would assess the damage at the scene.  He rushed her up the stairs dripping all the way and into the tub just in time for the 3rd great offering.  I had no idea such a small stomach could hold such and huge amount.  The new recliner was absolutely covered along with my clothes, Brian’s and Serras, and a blanket we had on us.  Luckily the carpet escaped harm.  I am so glad the chair is leather.  It cleaned up like a dream with no residue.  A cloth chair would have been destroyed.  She declared teary eyed from the tub, “I’n sick, I frowed up.  I need medicine.”  Everything went into the washer, the downstairs floor got mopped, Serra got a serious bath, and we settled down again with poor little Serra sipping her “medicine”  which in cases like this is Peppermint tea with honey.  She is a little on the tired side today and is nearly asleep on the couch as I write at 12pm, after waking up at 10am.  I think she may have a touch of something, or it may have been too much food and fun yesterday.  She says she feels fine and held down breakfast fine.  We will take it easy today. 

  
  

  I had a dream last night that I had my baby and it could talk at a week old.  I was also mortified to realize that I had forgotten to feed it yet and I hadn’t named it because Brian was out of town and I wasn’t sure if it was a boy or a girl.  Hopefully not a vision of the future.

  
  

  I have a few picutes to post but it will have to wait until Xanga is finished doing something or other.

  • 2:07 pm
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