Tender Mercies

We signed on our house in TN today!!!  We did it through the mail, so the fed ex package arrived this morning by 10.  I had to laugh and take a picture of the sticky notes attached through out the stack.  The blue ones say "sign here" the green ones say "initial here" and the yellow ones say "notarize".  The Title company called me yesterday and told me that the papers were on their way.  Me, not knowing the business at all said great... and I have to have them signed and back to you by when?  She said "Wednesday, and you are going to need a notary for some of it."  "oh, I'm glad you told me that, i wouldn't have known.  So do I have to Fed ex it before business hours are over tomorrow?"  "No, just get on line and find the latest place in your area."  "Oh, great. Then I don't have to worry about my husbands schedule. Thanks!"

So when it arrived today, I was in no hurry to get things done.  Luckily I was able to 'find' a notary really quickly.  (Thank you again Tracy)  And when Brent got home we took the papers over to her house to sign the notarized ones with her.  It only took a few minutes to do that and then we came home for dinner, baths, and putting kids to bed, oh yeah and mowing the lawn.  I tell you all this to drive home the fact that we were feeling NO pressure what so ever to hurry up with these papers.  The Kinkos/Fed Ex by me doesn't close till 10:00.  So kids in bed we sign papers..  reading through them etc.  Then i head out to Fed Ex at about 9:00.  Walk in and see a box that says "last pick up 6pm: completed."  I still don't get it, I take my envelope over to the guy at the desk: "I didn't know if I was supposed to put this in the box or give it to you."  "Either way." "oh good, so when will that go out" (it's in an over night package) "um, tomorrow, it'll arrive on Thursday"  (ALL THE PAPERS are dated!!)  "Oh dear... so they had to make that 6:OO pick up time?"  "Yup, the latest one in the city is 9:15 at BWI (the air port)"  We both look at our watches, it's 9:13.  I thank him as I run out the door.  I jump in the van, call Brent, tell him to look for a phone number to BWI's Fed Ex and see if they can hold it for just 15 minutes.  I drive like a mad woman to the airport, all the while listening to Brent look all over the internet for a phone number to this place, or directions of some sort.  As I approach the airport he said something about Building E and there was no phone number, but it says the close at 9:30.  I hung up with him and said a little prayer.  I needed inspiration, and I have to tell you... inspiration I got.  I truly believe that we are given "tender mercies", and this is a story of such:

Pull up to the Airport... 3 choices, Departing flights, Arriving Flights, Parking..... weigh pros and cons.... follow the prompting... Departures it is.   I am looking for a box... maybe there is a box, like there was at Kinkos.  Looking, looking, then prompting... ask someone that works there....  See a guy.... ah, there's a guy, prompting.... nope not that one, go to the next one.   Okay, but I'll keep looking for a box.  prompting that guy..  pull over jump out "excuse me, do you know where there's a Fed Ex drop off?"  realize that I've asked a pilot, how on earth would he know, he probably doesn't even live in this city.  "Sorry, I have no idea, all I can tell you is that the cargo planes park over there, maybe you can get back there, I'm not sure."  "Thank you so much."  Jump back in the car head out of the terminal come to fork, have no idea... Prompting Go right, stay towards where he said they pointed the planes.  Turn right, turn right again, and I see a sign that says "Cargo buildings A-E .3 miles right"  WHAT!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! I FOUND IT!! "   9:32.  I pull up to the door of this office right as the lady is taking her purse out from under the counter.  I jump out and run up, she flags me away... "sorry" she mouths, "too late".  I turned my back to her and stood on the stair discouraged. Prompting WAIT,  for what?  maybe some worker guy will come along and take it in for me??  waited, fully expecting that this woman would have to go out the back door, but she didn't she came out the front, and so I said "it's already paid for, can't you just throw it in?" Then out of the back room pops a man,  the woman ignores me and asks the man "are you going to lock this behind me?"  "Please" I plead.  The man looks at me standing there.... "are you done sorting?" She asks the guy.  "Nope."  "could you take this for her?"  "sure"  and the package slides between two little open cracks and makes it in... just barely under the wire!!!  Amazing!  You can not deny the divine intervention there!!!!  There was no way I should have found that place that quickly nor should I have gotten them to take it.  :-)  I am SO incredibly grateful today for those Tender Mercies.  

Now we just need one more... a buyer.  :-)

An opportunity

Anyone who knows me very well knows that I am fascinated with parenting strategies.  I love to read parenting books and magazines.  I've kind of slowed down on this exploration in the past 2 years because I have found that no one really wants to hear about my research (it's hard to talk parenting with your pals cuz it comes across as advice giving, which is not how it is intended)  Anyway...  I do so love a good parenting book, and books and materials from Richard and Linda Eyre are found on my shelves, so imagine my excitement when I saw today that they would be speaking at the Temple visitors center!!!  I quickly passed the word around, but had no takers so headed off to the lecture solo.  OH it was SO worth it.  I loved it!  I was told to take good notes, so here ya go.

They started off by saying that families need to be playing Offensively, not just defensively.  They spoke of families needing an infrastructure and related a family to a business.  They asked what you need to run a business, even the church is run this way.  

1)  Code of Conduct:  A "Law" if you will.  (pointing out that the word Law holds more respect then  the word rule)  Their family's laws  1. Peace 2. Respect 3. Asking 4. Order 5. Obedience

2)  Mission Statement:  Every family needs a mission statement... should be established by the whole family... have children bring their ideas, and try to incorporate everyones ideas in the statement.

3)  Authority:  You are not here to be your child's friend,  should the children have a say, sure, but parents have Veto power in all family decisions.  Children who are over disciplined and children who are under disciplined are the kids that end up in trouble, mediation in all things.

4)  Traditions:  Families need good strong traditions to hold on to.  Make a special book about the traditions in your family.  These bonds are what keep your kids connected to you, even as they grow to be teenagers.

5)  Incentive:  Economy.  Ownership is a prerequisite for Responsibility.  Teach your children how to earn and spend money.  They had a fun idea that is VERY similar to what I do with my kids to help with this concept.  It works and teaches children great responsibility.   

6)  Goals:  Have your children set their own goals, with out your ideas.  Set academic, Extra curricular and character goals.  Have then check in with their goals often, if they set the goal, they will own that goal.  Also give each child a special book for "Decisions I've Already Made"  Talk to your child about what decisions they have already made and then give them "case studies" as a way to assure that they are committed to them, for example, when the child says, "i will Never do drugs."  You say, "but what if you really like this boy, and your at a party and it's just a little white pill?  what are you going to do?"  After they have answered a few questions then say "I see that you are certainly committed to this decision, why don't you go ahead and write that in your book and sign it."  

7)  Meetings:  Family Home Evening, Family council.  Plan your week, open up the floor for discussions.  etc..

Other things they discussed

-teenagers talk late at night and in the car, this is where they open up, so be open to those moments.  

-parents need to talk about sex with their children younger and younger.  Check out www.valuesparenting.com for TONS of ideas.

-take a night every month to sit down with your spouse and to a 5 facet review on each child.  Write down their name and how they are doing Physically, Emotionally, Socially, Mentally, and Spiritually. Explore each child's issues and catch them early.  You are the ONLY expert on your children!  Every child is different and needs to be dealt with differently.  Pay attention.

F -  Fun, Fulfilling 

A -  Accept two Realities a) kids are unique b) they only live with you for 1/5th of your life.

M - Meetings and Mission Statement

I -  Infrastructure 

L - Love (and 11 other monthly values... this is from their book "Teaching your children Values"

Y -  YOU are the only Expert on your child!

Ask your children every day.... "what did you do today to become closer to Jesus."

I just eat up this kind of info... I love it.  This meeting was awesome and I am so glad that i got to attend.  :-)  Thanks to Brent for taking the bedtime craziness so I could go.  

Take your child to work day and some other stuffs...

Man, its been a long time.  And like every blogger out there, I have composed a million blogs in my head over the last 12 days!   

We'll start w/ today.  The kids were off school, it was "Take your child to work day" and the county takes a teacher prep day so kids can go w/o missing any school.  Brent asked around at work and found out that the hospital runs an all day ordeal for this very day!!!  We were ALL trilled.  Brent was excited to have the kids for the day, even if they didn't get to work with him, they got to go in w/ him, see where he parks, works, etc.  The kids were more then excited!!!  It is so good for them to go and see what he does every day.  (well kind of)  Anyway.  They had a blast.  They were served breakfast and lunch, they were shown  the casting room, and an operating room and all the equipment.  They were shown how they move 'sleeping' patients from one bed to the other.  They were shown how to wrap wounds etc.  They had fun getting dressed up.

It was seriously the coolest day for them.  They were so excited.  I sent Liza with a camera, and this is all she came home with... She said, it was all so cool that I forgot to get the camera out.  They kept them that busy!
Poor Tori and Katie were too young, so the consolation prize was to teach water aerobics with mommy.  Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of those two, but it would have been a really cute picture.  They were both in their suits w/ a life jacket over it.  Tori was really into it.  She showed the ladies how to march, and do jumping jacks and squats... it was cute.  She had a blast, and got to get out all the weights and noodles.  Then they got to stay after class and swim with mommy and one of my sweet participants (Susan).  She stayed for a half hour after class and played with Tori.  It was really sweet to see the joy that they brought each other.  Then I took the girls to Toys R Us, and out to lunch @ Taco Bell.  They had a good day I think.  It was good that Tori had a tale to tell daddy while the big kids told their story of their day.

Here is some Random Stuff.  I took this picture one day when I was driving with the kids.  It is a view that I see A LOT,  And there was this moment where I realized that some day, they won't look like that when I look back.  I know I'll miss these days.  For me this picture is priceless.
For General Conference we had some fun things for the kids to do to keep busy while listening. The kids favorite was a game where there were 6 bowls of "snack" foods, each one had a "buzz" word in front of it, and they got to collect their "snack" when ever they heard the word.  Now cuz I am a pretty smart mommy, so I put  the buzz word "Jesus Christ" with the popcorn, and a word like repentance with the M&Ms.  So they got more raisins, goldfish and popcorn then M&M's and Jellybeans.  So in the 3rd session,  the kids heard "Jesus Christ" and they grabbed some popcorn, except for Alex, and they said "Alex, you missed it, they said Jesus."  He said.. "naa, I don't want any more Jesus."  LOL!!  Then there was the talk on Repentance.... Alex stood by the M&M bowl and shoved them in and declared, "I Like THIS guy!"  

Here are a few "quotes" from around here lately.

Alex: (said shortly after grandma left) "Grandmas are just moms who forgot how to be parents, so they feed you ice cream and cookies for breakfast and give you treats all the time."

Alex: "I wish I could throw the toy downstairs and it would bounce into the right box."

Me:  "me too, do you know how many trips that would save me?"

Alex:  "I wish we could clone you, that would be cool!"

Me:  "me too."

Alex: " But I would want to know which one was really you, maybe there could be a sign or something... well no, cuz then they're just maids or something, and not clones."

So I can't decide, I think he wanted to know which one was the real me, so that he could still have a mommy, and not just a clone, but then decided that if he made that distinction, then the clones would be just maids if they weren't mommys?  I think it was a complement, but I am still not sure.

Tonight Brent threw out this one after listening to a story on the news about a lady giving her Kidney to a total stranger.

"My list of people I would give a Kidney to is really short.  I would give a kidney to you cuz I need you around for those 6 hours a week, dialysis takes a REALLY long time... (me laughing), seriously!"  Me laughing again.

SIGNS OF SPRING:

Last night I was in my laundry room when I heard rustling in the corner... very frantic rustling.   Then I heard little screeches, very scared screeches.  I followed the sound to my window, and realized that something was stuck in my window box.  And it was very afraid.  I couldn't tell from inside what it was because it was dark outside.  So I got a flashlight and went out to take a look.  This is what I found:
Awww, poor babies (there's 2 in there)  They were so afraid.  I think their nest is under our deck cuz Chinook has been going crazy out there for the past week or so, sniffing and sniffing at the deck, in between the cracks.  I guess these two guys were out for a little hop at 1o :00 last night and didn't know that they were going to end up in a spot they  couldn't get out of.  And I arrived just in time, when I went to go see what it was there was a cat hunched over the window well ready for a snack, just licking his chops.   I scared off the cat, and went inside to figure out what I was going to use to rescue these little bunnies so they could go home to their mommy.  I found a lid to a broken storage container that I no longer needed, and an old rag.  I had Liza (yes, she was up, the nut!) come out and hold the flashlight while I coaxed the poor things one at a time up onto the lid and lifted them out.  RESCUE COMPLETION.  :-)   I saw one this afternoon, so I am pretty sure that they made it home.

Another sign of spring:  AHHH  Photography.  I got my camera out this week.  I haven't had a chance to go over all the pictures, but I thought I would share one.  :-)  HAPPY SPRING EVERY ONE!!!

Ward Talent Show

This was Liza's first Solo performance. She was extremely nervous, but got over it and played rather well. I was very proud of her. It is so fun to watch your child gain a love for music.

Oh Canada

Liza came home one day from school asking how to play O'Canada on the Flute. We down loaded free music, and then informed me that she would be playing it at the "International Festival" at school. "OKAY!!!" I was sure proud to be Canadian, and her mom. What a great moment.

Happy Easter!!

HAPPY EASTER!!!

So, the rest of the week played out something like this...  Thursday morning, I was back at the gym teaching again... man was I pooped.  It was fun tho, like it always is, I do SO love my job.  The kids seemed to have had a good time at the gym again, and we came home, me with many ideas in my mind of things that we could do, we did none of them.  I came down with a wicked cold.  I thought we were past cold and flu season, but nay...  That night I rushed out the door right before bed time to take library books back and run to buy some plants for "curb appeal".  Blew another nice wad of cash on a house that we don't intend to keep.  Rushed to Target and stayed under $100 yet again!!!   (I am getting good at resisting all the Target deals)  It's not nearly as fun tho. I had to get some nyquil so that I could sleep.  GRRR.  Then I hurried home to meet up with Terry to discuss what we are going to do to sell our home.  Now we have dropped the price $10,000.00 from our original asking price.  And he is suggesting we put in new floors. I would really like to know where people are getting the $$ to do this crap?!?!?  seriously.  I just lost 10 grand on my house, how's about I buy you all new flooring too!?!?!?  Man alive!  So that was a new stress to add to the pot.   

Friday Morning I felt like I'd been hit by a train!  Oh it sucked.  The kids came in asking all the normal mommy questions, and I told them each to "go away, I don't feel good."  Liza, being the sweet hearted girl that she is, made me a lovely breakfast in bed.  Scrambled eggs, and toasted bagel with Orange Juice.  I was tickled, and boy did that OJ taste good.  not long after I was left to enjoy my Breakfast I heard a large crash.  I waited, no one cried, so I ate on.  Come to find out that my sweet hearted girl also showed her skills at balancing, and balanced the huge family sized OJ, in such a way that when Tori opened the fridge it "jumped" out at her.  There was OJ everywhere!!!  Seriously... by the time i got up and took over the clean up... my my my.. under the fridge, in the fridge..  everywhere, and the floor was SO sticky.   After the fiasco was over I went out and planted all the flowers that i purchased the night before, and made the front look beautiful.  And then we waited for the carpet cleaners who were coming at 12.... then called and said 1:00, and they didn't show till 2.  Yeah, have you a ever waited 2 hours with 4 kids trying to not allow them to make a mess on the carpet while you wait for someone, then to wait another 2 hours for him to clean the carpets?  i was just grateful that it was a beautiful day and we were able to play outside.  When he got to our house..  I took the kids up to the court.. with the dog to ride bikes.  Yeah, not such a good idea.  Alex ended up getting super mad about something... and threw Toris bike.  Yes, threw it!  And ripped up the seat.  You have to understand, that Tori has had this bike for almost a year, and she has babied this thing beyond belief.  It hardly has any rust on it, and we don't have a shed or garage.  She keeps it under a tarp, and if for some reason it gets wet, she takes a towel out and dries it off so it doesn't rust.  (Seriously folks! )  He was in some serious doo doo.  So that was the end of that fun.  Everyone was crying, Tori cuz of her bike, Alex cuz of his punishment, and Katie because she can't peddle her bike and it makes her mad.  UH, can't you just see us walking home from up the road.  OH BROTHER!  So we played in the yard and waited... then when he was done, it was time to wait for the carpets to dry... but we could do that somewhere else, so we packed up and took off.  The carpets do look better by the way.  :-)  It was worth it.  I took the kids to Michael's to buy stamps so that we could go  Letter Boxing  Liza picked a Mommy horse and baby, Alex picked a bunny bum that  says "the end",  Tori picked a baby Tiger, and Katie found a Tinkerbell.  Everyone was happy.  They each got a book to put stamps in and then we headed home where Brent was meeting with John to talk about getting flooring in, and renovating a bathroom.  I took the kids out on a letter box hunt.  The hunt started us out right in front of Aimee's house, so we took Alissa with us.  We were gone for over 90 mins, the dogs pad on his back right foot was worn down to flesh, Katie fell asleep on my shoulders on the way back, and everyone was pooped.  But it was a cool adventure!  We found the box, it was a fun hunt, and great scenery.  We even found a  "hitch hiker" which is a traveling letter box of sorts.  Anyway, it was fun!  And the kids were pooped, so I achieved my goal for the day.  Mean while... I'll remind you folks that I am still feeling like death.  Saturday we had a flooring guy coming at 9 am, a showing at 11 and Taxes in DC at 1.  Yes once again, a full day... no sleeping in.   We had a good day tho.  Taxes proved to be in the black, rather then the red.  We had a deal with the kids that if they did their part and earned their points that when Tax day came, we would take them to the mall and let them choose something.  So seeing as how every morning, these kids get up and "stage" their rooms, and when there is a showing, they pitch in and wash windows and carry out baskets of stuff, shoes and the dog crate, they got their prize.  Liza got some cute little black shoes, and a big stuffed bunny that was 40% off.  Alex is saving his bounty, for he wants to combine it with his birthday $ to get a DSi.  Tori has looked forward to this the most.  Early on this year, she spotted a puppy at Build A Bear.  It was a mommy dog with a baby dog in it's mouth.  (done with magnets) The mommy was dressed up with roller skates on.  Tori didn't have enough money in her "account" for the mommy, but she did have enough for the baby.  ($5.00)  So she bought the baby and has kept it around as her motivation to do good so that she could get the mommy one on the mall trip.  And that she did.  She was very pleased!  Katie when she heard that she would get to pick a prize immediately shouted "My sleeping Dora!!"  We saw this Dora in Wal mart weeks ago, but she kept talking about it... so we took her to get it.  Then she was upset the rest of the day cuz she wanted Tori's cool dog.  :-(  oh well.  Poor girl!  We took the kids out for dinner (like real sit down, waiter dinner) this is usually only for birthdays... they were excited!  It was a nice night, with only one pit stop at Target where I bought a box of the softest Kleenex available since I'd been using napkins all day.  (are you getting sick of me and my cold.  hehe... just think of poor Brent.. what a whiner!)   Anyway... if you can believe it.. at 9pm I ran to Childrens Place and bought the girls dresses for Easter.  Yes, i waited.... waited and waited for my favorite dresses to go on sale. :-(  I won't do it again.  They were gone.  The girls looked cute anyway, and I scored the perfect color shirt for Alex, so it was still good.

This picture makes me laugh cuz this is how Tori perceives the world.  :-)  See how she is the center, and all in focus and the others are just her backdrop.. LOL, she seriously kept moving closer and closer to the camera until the other kids were not even in the picture.  She thought this was the best picture when we looked at them on the computer after wards.  LOL!!  She is so funny.  Taking pictures of the 4 of them is really something else.  One day, I am going to get a really good shot, and I am going to hang it proudly!!   

Easter was great this year.  Liza's Achievement days leaders did the easter egg/ scripture thing... anyway... it was nice to spend the 12 days before easter preparing for it and hearing the story of the savior.  The kids got a little taste of it every night as we headed off to bed.  Even with that in mind however, Alex was still more then excited about the Easter Bunny!  The Easter Bunny not only leaves us baskets, but also leaves us a hunt for foil wrapped eggs.  All over the house.  It is quite fun.  
If you look closely you can see about 6 eggs hidden there around him.  SO much fun.  I used to  love doing this when I was a girl.  I remember once, waking up in the middle of the night and finding my dad with a bag of eggs in his hand and placing them around the living room.  I said "dad!  What are you doing?"  Quick on his toes, he said "The easter bunny was in a hurry and asked me to finish up for him."  I took that answer and went to bed.  :-)  Funny.
Here is the excitement of the baskets.  The kids checked out their baskets, did their hunt, and then headed down stairs to watch their new movie Bolt.  While eating disgusting amounts of Chocolate.  By 9 am, they were packing it in, and I was back in bed... finally a sleep in.  Followed by church preps,  wonderful meetings today, that made me so grateful for the Savior and his sacrifice.  Dinner, made by Brent (thanks babe) and a nice evening of reading books on my bed with the little girls.  Tori is trying to read now.  And does pretty well.  She gets frustrated quickly.. but I am trying to keep it light.  She took 2 different reading sessions to do it, but she worked her way through GO DOG GO.  I am sure that this was just the first of many times through this book.  :-)  Brent brought me flowers on friday, and they are stunning.  Maybe tomorrow I will take some photos.  We have a showing scheduled for tomorrow, I  better get to bed, so that I can get up early enough to stage the house before we leave for the gym.  :-)  YIPEE!!   The new house Settlement is supposed to take place on Friday...  I am excited and apprehensive.  

Spring Break

So, since Brent is working thru Spring Break, and we're trying not to spend $$, I've been trying to keep the kids busy in less expensive ways.  And considering that I am entertaining 4 kids whilst trying to keep my house clean and ready to show at any time.  I think I am doing a bang up job.  Monday,  I taught at the gym, so the kids got to have a gym and swim.

No, this little guy wasn't at the gym, but I thought it was a good place to stick his picture... (:he is from the National Zoo in DC.  Anyway, back to monday.  The kids had a blast at the pool with their pals.  Then we came home and had lunch and hung out here at home waiting for dad to get off work.  Well, then we had a showing, and frantically evacuated the house.  Then dinner and Bed.  On Tuesday we took an easy morning, then met up with the Tidwells @ Chuck E Cheese, where Jeri had an AWESOME Coupon and the kids had a blast eating and playing for hours all for $23!  Then Today was the Zoo in DC.  Now the Zoo admission is free, but we did have to park at the Metro, and pay to take the kids on the Metro, but what fun!
Here is Alex in some animal skull.  He really thought this was Cool.  On Tuesday night, Alex said in his prayer, "We thank thee that we get to go on the Metro tomorrow."  That's right, not that we get to go to the zoo, but that we get to take the cool train there.  That is why I don't drive, the ride on the train is 1/2 the fun!
This Lovely Tiger was VERY HUNGRY!  It kept going down to the door and scratching at it, and looking through the windows!  And Growling.  :-)  Too Cool.  The animals were quite active today, since the temperatures were lower, they were pretty spry, even the panda was moving around a lot.  (Which I've never seen)
My sweet Katie... Oh poor baby.. you know, Liza was at the zoo, 2-3 times a month when she was katies age.  Katie was absolutely enthralled with this day!  She loved seeing EVERY animal with the Monkeys and the Elephants seeming to be favorites.  She was so happy all day.. well except near the end.  I was sure glad I brought a stroller though.
Tori and her pal Natalia.  Oh the horror when these two are separated in July.  They LOVE LOVE LOVE to be together.  Two peas in a pod!  Look they even have the same cheesy pose, and they work it together...  I'm tellin' you, these girls......  Oh it makes me want to cry just thinking about it.  They had a fabulous time running about the zoo, but only made it to the train station by way of Jelly Bean Bribes.... they were pretty tuckered out.
They fed the Elephants while we were watching, it was amazing to see them take a big huge stalk of Bamboo, and break it up with their trunks and feet.  And the way they just shove it in there, you would think it would cut their mouths!  It was fun to watch, as feeding times always are.
Here is Liza and her cute friend Lindsay.  I was glad that we took a pal for Liza this time.  Lindsay has been a great friend to liza, and I am sure that they will miss each other too.  I love how the Elephant posed for this one.   What a treat.
And Alex and Wyatt.  Oh these boys.  They have a Love/ Hate relationship.  Really they were just fine till all the moving business started... now I think they are making sure that they don't miss each other too much, but fighting a little more often.  That's okay.  I think that is how boys work anyway... see when a girl fights with her friend, it is big and takes quite some time to get over.... but boys, they can punch each other in the face one minute and be playing robots the next... figure that!  They too are peas in a pod.  They are both crazy for Star wars, and X Box.  They both love to pretend crazy fighting adventures, and they are both emotional and sensitive.  Funny guys I tell ya.  Alex will miss Wyatt SOOO much.  :-(
Tori and Katie on a Sloth Bear.  This is what my girls look like for reals... no primping this time.  A little ragamuffin ish....But I think they are cute as a button anyway.  
The otters are some of my favorites, and this pair have a FANTASTIC exhibit at the National Zoo.  Lucky critters.  They were so playful today.  What fun to watch.  I think that they are SO cute!
Katie and Tori Hugging the only Otters they are going to hug.  :-)  A good time was had by all.  Alex told me on the train that if I sat down and shook my feet that it helps them from hurting.  :-)  I think we wore him out.  We came home at 5:50 and there was a message telling me that I had a showing scheduled for 6:30- 8:00.  Brent wasn't home from work yet and I was supposed to be at the gym to teach by 7:15!  Now I not only have 4 kids, I also have a dog, who shouldn't be left in the car for 2 hours while i am at the gym..... What to do?  So I have to feed them right?  So we go through Taco Bell drive thru...  Park after I get food, and start dealing it out.  Poor Chinook is back in his crate after a whole day in there.  He is whining, Tori is insisting that he is thirsty, which I am sure he was.  I open the crate to fill his drink, and he BOLTS over my arm and out of the Van.  Oh GEEZE!  Anyone who knows us very well, knows that Chinook will NOT come if he feels the wind in his hair.  Oh brother!  After 10 minutes and threatening to drive away w/0 him, he finally came to me after being lured with a piece of taco!  Little BRAT!   Then it was off to the gym again.  Met Brent, he took the dog, I took the kids (they wanted to got to the kids place)  and taught my class.  PHEWF  What a day.  I think I am going to go and lay on the sofa. :-)