Random LONG tangent to a funny SHORT story

I dont especially love to play games, but when I do play - I am always changing the rules and making up knew ones in hopes of winning . . . Just ask my dad, I dont think he is super fond of playing games with me. I lOVE to win (there is something great about a little competition) and my inventive rules usually get me there:)

So back in the day when me and my sisters lived in the same casa, we unsuccessfully started to run in the mornings. The worst thing about running in the morning isnt the actually running, but the initial task of dragging your butt out of bed and putting on those shoes. It was super easy to talk each other out of running as the snooze button was hit and we all rolled over and went back to sleep. I honestly dont really remember who came up with the successful method of getting us up - but its my blog and I like making rules, so I'm going to take the credit here . . . I came up with this rotation, and on your given day you were responsible for getting the other 2 out of bed. You did whatever it took (blanket stealing and cold water all fair game), and if for some reason you failed, and the 3 of us didnt run on your morning - you paid a fine to your "fine Jar!" At the end of a given number of weeks, the person with the least amount of money in their jar acquired the money in the other jars. The method worked like magic and we were successful early morning runners. Over time - our running fine jars have become our "break all our bad habits jar" and occasionally (you may have been a part of one of our "fine jar competitions" at one point or another) we start up month long competitions with all sorts of rules and regulations (it can get complicated. . . we have rules and exceptions for all sorts of situations. . . diets, eating out, running, sit ups, sweets consumed, cleaning the bathroom, etc) and pay fines for breaking our personal rules.

I swear this is about to tie together. . . .

So I am making dinner the other night . . . shocking I know, Bonnie cooking dinner? Yeah yeah, I am cooking partly because it is National Lasagna Day (but that's for another blog) and partly because it is one of my rules for our current competition-in a desperate measure to eat out less, my sisters have insisted I cook dinner twice a week (its all about the baby steps)- anyways, back to the cooking. . . this whole cooking thing is still new to my kids - we have only been doing the rules for a couple of weeks and if you take a look at my jar (above)- i have obviously paid a few fines. . . so I'm cooking and Cayden comes wandering in the kitchen, observing the dinner making process and makes a request that went something like this . . .

Hey mom, tomorrow (yeah right, I for sure dont cook 2 days in a row) can you make that stuff - you know, like they show on tv. . . when you get all the stuff out of the fridge and put it on the table and you get to pick what to eat, or mix it up - - - whats it called?? he is thinking. . . .

LEFTOVERS honey??

Yeah mom - LEFTOVERS!! (like its the coolest meal on the planet)

My kid is requesting leftovers? Shawna was in the kitchen with me and we both laugh! Little does Cayden know - his mom has to cook more than every 3 weeks to build up enough food in the fridge to give him his awesome leftover night! Kids are so funny! And that's the abrupt end to my long story :)

I ♥ Twilight

Okay so maybe a bit immature for my old age but I admit, since reading the series, I am infatuated with Twilight and living the life of a vampire (with Edward of course) . . . Lucky for me . . . we accidentally stumbled across the opportunity to get tickets to the rescreening of the movie with live cast introductions! Super excited, my sister Shawna and I decided it would be fun to get all decked out for the event and made a trip to Hot Topic to do just that. After spending way to much money on 6 unmatching, not super cute shirts, we decided last minute to create our own. i wont venture too much farther into this process . . . lets just say, I was so so crabby, we stayed up way too late, and my sister was super wonderful when I sent her home and then called her at midnight begging her to come back to help me . . . in the end, we looked pretty dang adorable!!





When we picked the tickets up at the theatre the day before the event the guy laughed at me when I asked if our tickets were a "for sure" thing. He assured me the ticket of course guaranteed our admittance. So I suppose I didn't give it any second thought, or worried about the crowd, and was pretty much shocked (to say the least) when we arrived and attempted to find the end of the longest line in the history of my eyes (okay so maybe a bit of a stretch, but it was pretty dang long)!! We weaved our matching group of kiddos through the blocks of people and finally found the end. We settled for just a short moment, and made a quick phone call to some friends who arrived an hour or so before us, and then ventured to move a few blocks up and slip into line with them. Here we finally parked and spent the next couple of hours! The time passed quickly - there were many funny and strange people to watch, and activities/advertising tactics moving through the line. I haven't quite figured it out yet - I'm either the cool mom or the bad mom for letting my kids see Twilight because we didn't see any other kids in line. Because of this, my kids got lots of attention from all these advertisers moving through the lines. . . and overall, they had loads of fun and were pretty well behaved!!

Our shirts proved to be a hit and we posed for many photos for impressed Twilight fans!


Look for us on Fandango.com under comic-con 2009


Before our turn to enter the theatre we were interviewed for the extra section of the New Moon DVD. My question and answer interview pretty much sucked but we are hoping the kids get on for being totally cute :)


We finally made it into the theatre at about 8PM. At this point, there was talk and rumors that the entire cast had already left. Seriously like 5 people behind us listened to this total stranger and got out of line and left - just steps from the entrance. We decided there was no way everyone left and would leave their fans sad. We were escorted to the silver theatre (all 15 theatres were color coded and you were only allowed into the one with your matching wrist band) where we got 2nd row seats, and left to wait a few more minutes in suspense. A women finally came in and one by one introduced our theatres cast members.
Anna Kendrick, Michael Welch, Elizabeth Reaser, and Peter Facinelle were our theatre's hosts. . .
AKA Jessica, Mike, Esme, and Carlisle






I must admit - I was super disappointed at first but quickly discovered Carlisle was a good Edward replacement. Awwww!! The group answered questions for about 10 minutes! It was super cool to watch the movie right after and see how different their personalities were on screen, as compared to in person. We had a super great time and may even suck it up and go to Comic-Con with all the super crazy people next year :)

Just call me Tiger Woods

OR NOT . . .

Cayd and I randomly ended up at the driving range with friends last weekend and had SO MUCH FUN!! I was horrible and dont have a clue how you get the ball to go where you want, and guess I have a new respect for those who do, but I am totally excited to attempt and figure it out!

Love to my "Nanny!"

Near the end of each school year I get all stressed out and wonder what I am going to do with my kids all summer long! My sister Shawna is a school teacher with summers off and once again came to my rescue this summer. She offered to move home and watch my pests (oops Kids) for FREE!! I have the BESTEST family ever (and know Molly would do the same if she was able)! My kids are super lucky!! Aunt Shawna . . . AKA "My Nanny" (thats what I like to call her) is the GREATEST!! She has everyday day scheduled, and my kids are having a blast! Legoland Mondays, free movie Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Beach Thursday, and Swimming pool Fridays. She also takes care of piano lessons, daily piano practice, teaching Aubrey all her states and capitals (hoping to be ahead of the game for 5th grade), enforcing 60 minute reading time, practicing math facts with Cayden, afternoons at the library, occasionally meeting mommy for Lunch, orthodontist appointments, sick duty, chuck e cheese time, a visit to the wave, and even takes care of Aubrey's sleepover friends! She does it all, with a smile on her face, and captures all the events I miss with pictures! She is also my 5am marathon training partner (I wouldnt get up without her) and my Bachelorette watching buddy! I have been lucky to sneak away from work every so often and join in their fun! Thanks for sharing the Summer with us Shawn!!

Sorry for the long absence friends. . . I learned to read!

Unlike their mother, my kiddos have always LOVED to read (I believe it is the only thing that can calm Caydens active little body) but during the Summer, even with good intentions, it is super easy to let the daily reading slip through the cracks. So in the hopes of keeping their little minds active, I made a deal with them that if they read 60 minute every day of summer they would each get $50 on their first day back at school. With summer about half way over, I am happy to report they have done awesome and haven't missed a single day (with the exception of their day with the stomach flu this week- I figured that deserved a by) Their books go everywhere they go. They are required to read before spending the night anywhere and when friends sleep over, they too have to spend the hour reading. I'm pretty sure I will be out $100 dollars in September


I on the other hand, have never been much of a reader. . . imagine that, a school teacher who doesnt like to read? Dont tell any of my students! So with me guilting the kids to read, I thought it only fair that I attempt the reading task with them. Because of the movie, I started with the book My Sisters Keeper and immediately became enthralled and have read book after book. My family laughs at me for being a reading fool (hense, the lack of posts this summer - you'll just have to trust me that we have had an amazing summer)!! I finally joined the bandwagon and just finished the Twilight series! I LOVED them! So Bonnie is no longer searching for just a husband . . . Mr. Perfect will also need to be a vampire :)