Reflections of what?

Warning: the following is a satirical piece I have written. I may have "blown up" or "exaggerated" a few details to make them seem more funny.

I think PTA sucks. I might go all postal on cute little moms who inspire their childrens' creativity to dream, to draw, to paint. I am not one of those moms. The only thing I really want to inspire my children to do is read their books and go to bed. I know a lot of you are those moms; I know you love the PTA and show up to meetings -- on time even -- good on ya mates. But I am not one of those moms.

Maybe my PTA miserhood began when I taught at a high school. Teacher appreciation? No. There was no love for the high school teachers on teacher appreciation. I never even knew that such an event existed until I had kids in elementary school. Now, while I am grinchishly humming, I take salads, desserts, and well-thought out gifts to the school in honor of teacher appreciation as a room mother. Maybe the parents of high schoolers got burnt out on PTA during the elementary years, or it could be perhaps that the parents of high schoolers did not want to even think about their "lovely teenagers" during school hours. Whatever the reason the heart or the shoes, woops that's the wrong story.

So, the PTA, in all their glory, with all their structured, perfectly blue-personalitied mother volunteers, hosts this reflections contest. My kids sort of wanted to enter but didn't want to do any of the work. That might be a reflection on what a bad mom I am. We, as parents, are not supposed to alter the outcome of the drawing or painting or photograph or story. How is that possible? Our kids are not creative (maybe yours are) they don't know the first thing about what beauty is... I wanted their work to be great. I wanted them to practice, think, and spend time on the piece. That's not the way my kids envisioned it.

So, we went to the canyon to take photos. We point out interesting bits of fall beauty, and the kids snap it. We're done right? OH, so not right. We put the photos on the computer, we look for the best ones, I taught Quinton to make a collage on photoshop, we get the prints printed. We're done right?

No. We have to look for a mat, look up the guidelines on the website, print off the entry forms, have the kids fill out their own entry forms (way more painful than doing it myself), look up the guidelines again for the fortieth time because we forgot how to submit the stuff, run to Walgreens to get a manila file folder and masking tape and sheet protectors so we can submit their entries correctly, run to Rite Aid to buy a manila file folder because Walgreens only sells them in packs of 48 for $7 (when I only need 1)! Run to the school, assemble the correct forms in the correct page protectors, attach them with said masking tape, and turn them into the secretary. After all that, we should be done right? NO, the school calls, and some PTA cutesy volunteer tells me I didn't sign the entry forms. AAHHH! I signed the media release waivers, but not the actual entry forms.
So, I have determined, this contest is actually a reflection on how crazy I am to enter it! Correction: "help" my kids enter it. Now my kids' pieces will be judged along with the other parents who "helped" their kids enter. Don't worry PTA: I hear science fairs are even worse.

Cheesy cliche fall stuff

Trip to St. George! We just got back from our fall break trip to St. George! It was so fun. Awesome weather. We got hot, really hot, on this hike in Snow Canyon. Quinton especially likes to climb on rocks and stuff, but the girls are good too. We also had a great time swimming on our trip. Our hotel's pool was heated just perfectly, and it was really fun to swim and play.

Trip to the pumpkin patch! What Utah county blog would be complete without some decent pumpkin patch pictures in October? We did a very cliche LDS thing and took kids to the pumpkin patch on Monday night for FHE.

Q and his posse.

brown tights and white shoes are still in style and cute if you're 2.

He's not wimpy -- it's just a big pumpkin. Okay, maybe his arm strength is lacking slightly. They charge by the pound now too. Turned out more expensive than last year -- maybe we should have put Q on the scale instead of the pumpkin -- or at least Jacey; she would have been cheap!

Kira and Keanna. They had to sit apart from the group on the tractor-driven wagon ride. They wanted to be up front. On the way back, they even sat separately from each other to get their prime seats. Too funny.

Kira lost a tooth! She wasn't too much of a lady about it. I had to sort of force my way into the mouth to yank it out, but she was happy I did!

What's it called?

What's it called when a certain blogger hasn't updated her blog in a long time? Would it be blogger's block or picture-slinging slacking? Maybe Lacking Lori's stories, or Couch Slouch with no blogs in the Pouch? Not sure. I actually have been digitally scrapbooking the year of 08; I'm up to May -- is that good? Not really. So, I wanted to share a classic 08 picture that captures the essence of Jacey. Comet. Comet on the floor -- and I have to say it wasn't too difficult to figure out who the culprit was -- we just simply collected some forensic evidence and sent it to the lab and in the mean time interrogated the children with a harsh lamp shining in their eyes. Looking back on the pictures, I suppose we could have dusted for footprints and had all the childrens toe prints analyzed. We got it all straightened out -- and we couldn't even punish the perpetrator; she's too young for time out to work. She doesn't even care!

We went up the canyon here in Payson and let the kids take pictures for their Reflections contest. These are the ones Kira ended up with. Hopefully, the publishing of these photos does not rule them out for an amateur contest.

First day of school. It was only 2 months ago!

Hiking in the good weather -- after school in Payson canyon. Sticks very important.