A newly discovered talent

Do you ever get wrangled into doing something you totally don't want to do? That was me tonight. Our ward had a talent show. I should just stop there before things get to painful...hahaha. Anyways, this morning I made the mistake of answering the phone. Bro. S called and asked if we were going to the ward talent show. I said "yes" (thinking he was calling for the purpose of recruiting people to go). Then he asked if we were performing. I said "no" and explained that we might put something on display...but we weren't planning on performing. Then he asked me if I would help him out with his....which was telling jokes....oh no I thought....how do I get out of this one? I was skeptical, but I couldn't think of an excuse so I grudgingly agreed to it.

I arrived at the show right when the dinner part started and we went in a room and read over the script. It was a lot of corney jokes....so kind of cute...but mostly corney. The kind that have the "dadum ching" after them. I felt unusually calm about this and decided that it was going to be kind of fun to do. By the way, there was a guy on the drums doing all the "dadum chings" for us. I figured I would have nothing to loose...so here it goes and I waited for the curtain to open. (we were the first act).

They had the lights out and the spot light on us....as soon as they opened the curtain...I looked out and the first thing I saw was Jack just beaming and looking up at me as if I was the coolest person in the whole world...Then I saw Charly with the same look on her face...smiling at me and so excited. At that moment I just thought to myself...."I am SO glad I am doing this" no matter how this goes I am so glad that I am doing this for them and no one else matters. We start telling the jokes...and all I can really hear is Jack and Charly cracking up (i don't think they really even understand the jokes) but they are laughing after every joke. I loved it. Of course the bit would have been a lot better if it were cut in half (i tried to get bro. S to do that but he didn't want to)......but I must say there was an accordion break in the middle of it.....awesome. Anyways, I heard a few laughs from the audience but mostly I will just always remember Jack and Charly's face looking up at me smiling and laughing like I was their hero. And afterwards, they told me I was their favorite act.

Did I want to do this? a resounding "no" But I am SO glad I did. I am so glad that bro. S called me and asked me to. Some people might think I am stupid or lame....but my kids think I am cool and that is all that matters to me. So as for a newly discovered talent.....Is it my great acting abilities or comedic timing? Nay, I say...but I realized my talent is going along with things and being a good sport about it. Now that's talent ;) dadum ching.

We LOVE Daddy!

Jim had a bad day a work and so I told the kids that and asked them what we could do to make him feel better and feel happy. They decided that they wanted to decorate the house and put streamers up and make him a cake. In my mind the streamer idea was a little lofty, I was just thinking maybe clean up! So here are some pictures of the cake we made....it actually broke and didn't all come out of the pan, so we imporvised and called it the "donut cake." The kids were really excited because I got out my special cake decorating caddy and let them go crazy decorating it. They also drew him pictures and I thought it was extra sweet because Jack drew a picture of a baseball field (shocker) and put the final score as the Blue Jays beating the Yankees. Charly colored a my little pony picture. Anyways, Jim loved it and felt appreciated. :)

***by the way...we did this on the last day of summer sometime in the last week of August. I just now getting around to blogging about it.****

butternut squash and artichokes

Tonight I was making dinner and thinking to myself..."nancy, what are you doing? Another dinner where the only person you had in mind was yourself." I tend to make dinners to please me. Well, not always...but a lot of time half way through I think....you made that for yourself no one else is going to eat this. Or so I thought tonight! I made butternut squash ravioli and an artichoke for the family to share. I first could not believe that Jack actually tried it...and secondly he liked it! He gobbled up a good portion of the artichoke and then when I got to the heart I was skeptical, but he tried it and liked it! He also ate his ravioli. Charly tried the artichoke but was stuck on the edimame that I had also made and wouldn't stop eating that. (I am tickled pink that she liked it). We have made a rule with our kids that you have to try something once. If you don't like it you don't have to eat it..but at least a bite.

Do you ever have days where you feel like you nailed it? That was today. I got up early..made lunch for the boys, cleaned the kitchen...fed violet and then got ready and met my friend at the park to go walking. We had a great time chating, and then met up with the playgroup. Played for a while and then left home to make it in time for a friend to come over or lunch. Charly LOVES her daughter and they played so well together. Her mom and I had a great chat and ate yummy paninis. Then I left to go pick up jack and we came home...did homework then I spent some quality time with violet. Made a really easy dinner (see above), took the kids on a walk and let Jack practice riding his scooter. Came home had pumpkin cookies and then charly and I cleaned her room and they went to bed. The kids were so good and extra cute for some reason. I just love them. Today I feel like I am making a difference and doing good in the world. (i don't always feel like that). I feel truely happy. It was a great day....a simple but great day :)