A little Monk in all of us

Last night we bought the seventh season of Monk, our favorite detective show. Although I’m not a huge TV watcher, I managed to make it through four episodes in that first evening.

Why am I drawn in by this show?

Well, the mysteries are usually interesting, and the characters are funny. But I think the real reason is that I secretly relate to Monk. Oh I don’t have to touch every light post in town or boil my toothbrush after every use. However, I do use Lysol wipes around the house in a sort of frenetic fashion. In fact, I’ve been known to stick my hand out and say, “Wipe!” Unfortunately, I have no assistant, and the kids just stare at me, so I’m forced to find a wipe on my own before attacking the montage of chocolate handprints and milk spills decorating the floor.

My kids also exhibit habits eerily similar to Mr. Monk’s. At Costco a few months back, Cooper, unthinkingly, touched every jar in the aisle until Weston grumped at him, “Cooper, you are Monk. Stop and come to the cart.” Monk has actually become a rather standard referent in our household for many activities (eating, cleaning, playing games, etc.).

Well, I’m off to watch another episode. You are welcome to join me, as long as you bring along some wipes.

Summer Daze

Our summer has flown past, and yesterday I registered Weston for kindergarten. The boys start back to school August 3rd. As I've been remiss in blogging this summer, I figured I better give you a "highlights video" post.

• I passed my comprehensive exams, only breaking one finger during the test (the pinky one I don't use much anyway).


• Grace noticed that the alphabet song and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" have the same tune, so she started exchanging the words at random. Her first mashup, I'm so proud.


• Weston caught his first fish--thanks, Aunt Julie. He also decided he prefers catching and touching the fish to eating them.


• Cooper had two girl friends move away and now has to start his "Casanova moves" (his words, not mine) all over again.


• Kimball read a record number of books and has become a permanent part of the sofa.


• Allen ate brats for a week straight without going into cardiac arrest.


• We obtained and managed to kill two goldfish: John Doe and Megatron.

All in all, a successful summer.

Weston and Grace at Thanksgiving Point

Weston feeding fish at Thanksgiving Point

The kids playing at the Church History Museum in the children's area


Kids playing at the park in Bear Lake

Cooper petting sheep at This Is The Place Heritage Park

I'm Gonna Start a Fight

Grace loves all styles of music. She sings along to Mozart or Led Zeppelin (shudder) with equal vigor. However, she has recently taken to singing her own version of the song "So What?" by P!nk.

Grace's version goes something like this: "Na, na, na, na, na, na, na. I'm gonna fight." Then she attacks someone, usually with weapons. Today, dressed in a ballet skirt, a princess tiara, and Weston's flip flops, she attacked all three brothers with a purple princess sceptor.




I know--she looks innocent and sweet--then she bites you.