CRAZY Time of Year!

We (Isaac and I) always know this is the craziest time of year, it seems!  Sometimes I think this tops Christmas! What is "this"?  Well, there is ONE PTA event that I help coordinate each year.  It just happens to be the largest event of the year.....you know the one....the one with the food trucks, Carmen's ice, bounce arounds, games, crafts, cake walk, water balloon toss, ticket sales, silent auction, etc...! Yep, that one!  The May Fair!  When I quit teaching, I swore off PTA, but I figure coordinating one event per year isn't so bad.  The 2 of us coordinators started meeting in November!  Cray Cray!!
Now, what complicates matters more is that while May Fair is occurring at the elementary school, it's usually the beginning of dress rehearsals for the middle school musical (in which both my middle schooler and elementary schooler are cast in)! WAIT? So, I coordinate an event at the elementary school that my own elementary aged daughter doesn't even get to attend?  Ummm, yes, for the 3 years now.  LOL!  So, last Friday was May Fair.  Tomorrow night is opening night of All Shook Up (this year's musical)!
We almost had a small catastrophe when Erica got sick right around her birthday (13...how did that happen?).  It seemed to start out as allergies.  When she wasn't any better within a week (plus the director had her call me during one of the rehearsals and say they needed her voice...LOL), i gave in and took her to doctor to find out she had a sinus infection AND ear infection!  Of course, the doctor did not just whisper that to me, no, he said it aloud and Erica just looked at me and we kinda just laughed it off!!  But BOY did I feel bad!!
Now, I don't know if you've had a child in a school drama production before, but, our school does not take this lightly.  I mean the quality of these shows are like what I was doing in HIGH school.  It's remarkable really.  And it really takes the whole village.  This year has been a little different for me, because of some other requirements of my time, I haven't been at the school as much, but luckily the production staff knew that I would come through with my part of the production.  What is that, you may wonder?  I head up the candy grams and flower sales.  I really love it.  I love watching the kids get excited to spend $1.00 to buy something for their friends and write a sweet message....although this year it's been cute to see a few of them put hashtags and a word/phrase, i.e. #yourock, #love, #greatvoice .  So cute, right?  Anyway, I love watching the parents come in and buy CG's for their kids and their kids' friends as well.  Then there's usually grandparents that buy.  It's precious really.  Then there are people that come out and just purchase candy grams during intermission for their favorite cast character....without even knowing them!  One year I had an adult ask me if I knew of someone off hand that hadn't received a candy gram and they gave about 10 candy grams to those children from "anonymous"! So sweet!
I remember when I taught middle school how much I adored them.  They do make my heart swell.  There's still just a little bit of innocence left about them.  They're still curious about life and still excited to love life and give to others.  I honestly watched a boy write out about 14 candy grams last night for his friends.  I have my own children want to talk to me about how many they are allowed to purchase! LOL  I've never had one child approach me and ask if anyone has bought a candy gram for them!
So our first show is tomorrow night.  We have 4 shows, one Friday, 2 Saturday, and one Sunday.  Then Mikayla has her spring choir concert on Monday evening.  Jacob has his field trip to Philadelphia (that I get to go to as well) on Wed to Thursday, Erica has a field trip to Hershey on Friday (Isaac may be going on that).  Then Mikayla has her Girls on the Run 5k next weekend.
On a side note, the Scouts just did their fundraiser where they went door to door for their flag sales and I need to organize all that money, the paperwork, and such.
We just found out that the renters that have lived in our TX house for about 4 years are moving out in June.
We are headed to Disney in June, after Jacob gets back from Kirtland, Ohio (church youth conference).
Jacob is looking for a job.  The girls are enrolled in summer camp in July.  And that's about as far as I can look ahead right now! : )  Love love love to everyone!

My work bag

My work bag seems to stay full and heavy!  I seem to try to "lighten" it at least once a week, but it is still heavy and full of stuff!  The bag that I currently carry is by Thirty One.  It has 7 outside pockets.  So what is in this bag?
~my daily food
~my water cup
~papers i need to fill out for kids for school, i usually have time for this at work
~spare fruit
~umbrella
~Scentsy catalog
~daily vitamins
~extra gum
~currently I have catalogs that the kids "dog eared" Christmas ideas in
~chapstick (this is a staple in every bag and coat pocket for me)

What do you keep in your work bag?

A few things we think about ourselves...

I started thinking and wondering what my kids think about themselves after my recent post about lists.  So a week or so ago, during dinner, and some family time, I asked everyone to tell me 3 things about themselves....as if they were talking to someone that they didn't know!  The results are as follows....I think I started with Isaac because the kids were little hesitant!
Hubster
~I'm a capricorn
~I have a huge drive to get things done
~Heavenly Father, my wife, and my kids mean the most to me

Oldest Child
~I like to sleep, especially in a car
~I'm creative
~I like to drink soda

Middle Child
~I'm very happy
~I'm hard working
~I'm musical

Youngest Child
~I like to ask questions
~I have one pet that is officially mine (Tubby, the guinea pig)
~I want to get my ears re-pierced

Me
~I have a strong personality
~I laugh really loud
~I enjoy reading romance novels

So there's a little about us that may not have known previously!

LISTS...

I am hoping that by posting this list of possible items to journal/list on my blog that I will post more frequently.  Have you ever seen the 30 Days of Lists?  Below is a free set!
I have been faithfully logging in but only to see if my sister (in-law) has posted about her family and their very ill baby. 
I need to be better about posting about ME and MY beautiful family.  If I've learned nothing else from Aria, it is to not take one single thing for granted.  Nothing is guaranteed, so I need to work harder to ensure even the smallest things don't go unnoticed or unsaid.  And when I've blogged or at least FB'd something, then I am more likely to remember and share.  One thing that we've noticed about our youngest is that she says that Isaac and I have more stories about Jacob and Erica than we do about her....so i have to be more diligent in spreading the wealth!  LOL

30 Days of Lists - complete collection

1. A few things about yourself
2. Things you are good at
3. I am looking forward to ...
4. Today's playlist
5. Weekend Goals
6. Least favorite words
7. Blog goals
8. In my bag
9. Favorite websites and blogs
10. On my wishlist
11. Date night ideas
12. Weekly rituals
13. DIYs I want to try
14. Things I love about _______
15. On my shopping list
16. Places to see in your town
17. Words that are hard to spell
18. Road trip must-haves
19. Recipes I want to try
20. Celebrity crushes
21. Things to do this Spring
22. Today I saw
23. Guilty pleasures
24. I make lists for
25. Things I'd rather be doing right now
26. Books I'd like to read this year
27. Lessons learned
28. Vacations to take
29. Favorite foods
30. Today's to-do list

Just an update...

Today I'm a proud wife!  My wonderful husband not only keeps up with all of us and supports us no matter the circumstance, but recently he's been a busy bee lengthening his resume.  He recently finished taking the Network+ boot camp then passed the certification exam, then did the same with Security+.  He has attended the A+ & CEH (certified ethical hacker) boot camps and still needs to take those exams.  Last week he attended the PMP (project management professional) boot camp and just received the email that he's approved to take the exam....so he'll be studying up for that as well.  Also, in case he hasn't been busy enough, last week he began his Master's degree...he'll be getting 2 master's degrees...MBA and MIS.  Those should keep him busy.
Anyway, I still try to workout as much as possible.  I don't really lose weight but I know I'm pretty fit since I've been hiking (should have it's own blog post) and bike riding and stuff with minimal difficulty. 
Erica and Mikayla are both in The Little Mermaid that the middle school is putting on this year and Mikayla starts back up soccer again tomorrow.  Erica is also auditioning for the solo in her DC Children's choir spring concert tonight after the regular choir practice.
Jacob is doing so well.  I can hardly wait to get the report card and reward him.  Although yesterday at church, he gave me a bit of a scare.  We got there early (around 12:30 for 1:00 church) because i needed to make copies of the YW girls camp fundraiser that we were putting in all of the bulletins.  So, the girls and i were in the library, Jacob went straight in to set up the sacrament table, isaac found us a seat and he started going over his lesson for the deacons.  Then someone approached Jacob to ask him if he had his talk ready.  Well, that answer to that was a shocking no!  Oh dear.  Once word traveled to me in the library, i quickly finished up with the bulletins, and went to see if i could help.  Walked in the chapel to see Isaac still sitting calmly.  WHAT???  Isaac very calmly told me that we were not helping Jacob with this one.  Jacob was in a classroom somewhere getting his talk together.  He was to speak on the Godhead.  He was the first speaker and actually did a really good job.  He didn't have his script written, but talked smoothly as if he were reading something.  It was in that moment that I realized that even though we've missed some FHE's and nightly scripture study, we are still doing the best we can to bring our children up to know that their Heavenly Father loves them and that the things that we do and say are only to help us be better people and be together eternally.

Another blog post i will have to write will be when I find out if my children will need to be in school until July due to all the snow we got this year!

Snow Snow Go Away

The kids are officially out of snow days from school!  Actually they were out 3 less snow days from today!  Luckily today was only a delayed start.  Last Thursday, we got about 18 inches of snow!  The kids loved it....at first.  It is very pretty and fun to take a pictures....in the beginning!  Now...I'm so OVER SNOW!!!  We are still supposed to get 2-3 more inches tomorrow night as well.  YUCK! 

Saints vs Seahawks

Today we are having some friends over that are from Seattle!  This will be a fun time to be together and watch our 2 football teams in the NFL playoffs.  I'm sure Isaac will be a nervous wreck!  Erica and Isaac both have on their Saints jerseys so I probably need to find mine and put it on!  
We don't have people over a lot, so everyone gets excited when we do.  I tend to stress about the house, the dog smell, the dog hair, etc...  However, we do work hard to ensure people are comfortable when they come over and we always end up having a great time.
Isaac isn't sure if the Saints will win or not, but I'm hoping for a good, close game!!

My Family Makes Me Smile...

I was reading quotes from many different sites today and ran across this....

The family.
We are a strange band of characters
trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste
coveting one another’s desserts
hiding shampoo, borrowing money
locking each other out of our rooms,
inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant
laughing, loving, defending
and trying to figure out the common thread
that bound us all together!

Completely Overwhelmed!!

Today, when the alarm went off at 4:40, I slowly rolled over and pressed snooze.  10 minutes later, that crazy thing went off again and I managed to get up out of bed!  It's normally not that bad....however, as Isaac started asking me what was wrong I quickly realized how overwhelmed I am feeling right now.
Here are a few of the things that are causing me stress:

• the house is not picked up or clean
• the laundry is not done--it's barely even started
• there has been NO Christmas shopping to speak of
• there are no packing lists made for our trip to Arkansas - leaving Saturday
• the dog needs a bath BEFORE the road trip
• no arrangements are made for the guinea pig yet while we are away
• did i mention no shopping has been done?
• the Christmas cards were ordered and picked up, but nothing has been done with them since

So there you have it!  A little stress for my holiday season!!

Love to all!!!

My son keeps me humble

You may be wondering how in the world a 15 year old teenager could humble his mother, right?!

Let me start by saying that Isaac and I have always loved the 1.5-2 hours we get each evening when the kids are in bed and we are left in the house, and it's so still and quiet.  It is OUR time!  He usually rubs my feet, we talk about our days, watch a tv show that was DVR'd, catch some of a football game, sneak out for ice cream, or any number of things!
Recently, we had said our goodnights with the girls and gotten our night night kisses.  Jacob said goodnight and love you's as well!  About 10 minutes later, I heard something in the office area, someone was typing!  So instead of walking around the corner, I yelled, "who is still up?".  All I remember is hearing Jacob's voice, not even what he was going to say.  I started in on my ranting.... reminding him that he has to be up at 4:55 in the morning and that he needs his sleep, and he better not get sick from not being well rested, and that he still needs to wash his face and brush his teeth....  After about a full minute of my fit... he comes around the corner and proceeds to tell his dad and I how much he loves the story in the book of Luke of the prodigal son.  He was typing it up on his Facebook status and was excited to share it with his Seminary class the next morning.  I guess something had happened in seminary that morning where their teacher challenged them to read of the prodigal son and would allow 5-10 minutes for sharing the next day.  That's pretty cool of her, especially since this year they are in the Book of Mormon for studying.  
Anyway, after my ranting and raving, then him telling us how much he loved reading this passage in Luke, I did apologize to him and he headed up to bed.  He has his moments where I am humbled by who he is!  Love that boy!

Worst Mom Award!

I forgot to take pictures of my children on actual Halloween night!  What is wrong with me??  I cannot believe it really!  Jacob got home late from school, due to drama practice.  So we were running out the door, got about a mile or two away from our house and I realized I didn't have my phone OR my camera!  Isaac had his phone and we did talk about him taking a picture or two, but then we both forgot!  I did get a few pics of them during Trunk or Treat and Isaac got some of Mikayla at school, since he went to her school Halloween parade and class party.  Anyway...it was a first and NOT one I am happy about.  :(

Halloween...a day to remember

I've always like Halloween, never really had any reason to dislike it!  I think it has to do with how much I love to just watch people....and on a day when a lot of people are dressed up in costumes, it's just a fun day for me!
I love looking back at old pictures to see what my kids dressed up as when they were younger.  But today I'm especially reminiscent because one year today, I found out that a rare bacteria infection that had set up shop in my abdomen was officially gone.  
In June, 2012 I went in for what was deemed as a simple surgery, and what wound up happening was a 2.5 inch open hole was left on my stomach and was given oral antibiotics.  My blood work showed that after 10 days of the antibiotics and evidence of high fevers, I was sent to an infectious disease doctor.  She explained to me that my rare bacteria had a name, Burkholderia Cepacia.  It's a pretty bad bacteria that is really hard for humans to get rid of, since it is mainly found on plants.  It really liked me and began to colonize instead of die.  So I had a mid-line IV for some IV antibiotics, along with which I was assigned a home health nurse.  Mid Lines are for short term use.  So my doctor had them remove it after my second surgery which was in August.  About 3 weeks later, I found myself in the ER with a high fever and really bad abdominal pains.  One of the colonies had hidden and the bacteria was back in full force.  This got me a real quick admittance into the hospital.  While I was there, I got my PICC line.  The IV that threads to just outside your heart and is used for long term use.  Luckily I got my same home health nurse, and now i was on the "last resort" antibiotic.  After 7 weeks of this treatment and one more surgery, my blood levels finally proved that the infection was gone!  Whew!  
So Happy Halloween and here's to a another year of healthy living!!  : )

Cycling

Yesterday, Isaac, Mikayla, and I found ourselves at home.  Erica was at a DC Children's Choir retreat and Jacob was helping with one of his buddies' Eagle Scout project.  So after Mikayla's soccer game, we were all 3 here at home with no particular plans.  We decided to go on a bike ride.  We went down to the Needwood Park trail a short distance from our house.  Mikayla used Erica's bike since that one has gears.  We had a good time.  We rode for close to 9 miles.  That's pretty good, I think.  Mikayla was trooper and worked the gears pretty well with it being her first time to use them.
Today I woke up with a "great idea"!  With it being General Conference weekend, church was not going to start until later than usual (east coast living).  I thought it would be nice for Isaac and I to go on a bike ride again.  We went back to Needwood Park, this time with camelpaks on and runkeeper keeping our distance.  We rode for 13.6 miles today.  It was quite difficult actually.  I was thinking it would be pretty easy since i didn't feel too sore from the ride yesterday.  So we pressed start on our program and then i hopped up on the bike and as soon as my butt hit the seat.....OH....MY.....GOODNESS!!!  I mean, OOUUUCCCHHHH!!!  LOL
Today, Isaac let me lead the way.  It was awesome.  We rode 7 miles down the trail, turned around, and rode 7 miles back.  We aren't sure why our program didn't say 14 miles total, but it's fine.  Success.  I only wanted to quit once, but when you're out in the center of a trail, you have to keep going to get back to your car!  
All in all, a great weekend, and a couple sore bottoms! : )

October 1st, 2013

I was hoping for a normal first day of the month, but it was far from the norm.  How shocking to realize that "they" actually went through with it!  This day was the beginning of the government shut down...or furlough if you're in mine and Isaac's line of work.  Being contractors for the government is a high risk job.  We knew that going into it, however, this really stinks.  Actually, it isn't as bad as it could be.  Isaac is not getting to work right now.  However, I am.  His building is completely closed for non-emergency personnel.  He falls into that category.  My contract or funds for my contract had been already been paid, so that is why i can continue working for the time being.  It could be short lived, but for now, we are grateful that I am able to log some hours at work.  I have faith that our family will be fine and we will pull through.  I just hate that this happens so close to the holiday season.  I pray the government leaders can come to some sort of resolution quickly.

Tooth of Steel

June 5, 2013 -- This day was a normal day.  Isaac and I got ready and left for work.  The kids got ready and left for school.  The workday was progressing nicely and the only thing we had after work/school was piano & guitar lessons for the kiddos.
Around 12:15 or so my work phone rang and it was Isaac telling me to log out and he was on his way to get me.  I asked why since we didn't have our 8 hours in yet.  He quickly said the school (Mill Creek Towne Elementary) had just called him and said that Mikayla was being taken to the hospital by ambulance and we should meet her there.  I hung up with him and called the school myself.  As soon as I heard a voice on the other end, I quickly announced who I was and before I knew it there was a different voice on the phone who introduced himself as the paramedic.  He was very nice and calm.  He explained that 2 children were going, one with a head injury and one with a mouth injury and that my daughter was the mouth injury.  He must've known that I was about to say there was no reason to go to the hospital, when he said "the hospital has great plastic surgeons that work well with children"....or something to affect.  I can only truly recall hearing "plastic surgeon" and before I knew it, I was crying and thanked him and quickly got off the phone (after ensuring he take her to the hospital of my choice--you know, the one that accepts our insurance).
Isaac is a great driver.  I let him drive us there and I never once complained about squealing tires or quick turns, because I was sidetracked with making arrangements for Erica and Jacob after school.  Since i didn't know what happened, I had to ensure they were taken care of after school....but possibly through the night.  I quickly called a sister I visit teach who helped me calm down by letting me know that someone will ride with Mikayla in the ambulance and she is not alone.  I hung up with her and called my own visiting teacher (who thankfully has a son in Mikayla's class), so I told her that Bryce would have a great story when she picked him up from school.  As I was explaining, she was telling me that she would just pick up Erica and go to my house and pick up Jacob and take them both to her house.  So that was taken care of and we were pulling into the hospital.
So Isaac dropped me off (did I mention I was only 2.5 weeks out from having knee surgery at the same hospital) to quickly go in (notice I didn't say "run" in)!  I didn't even have to stop walking.  As I was walking in, I was announcing my name and that my daughter was brought by ambulance, so they pointed me to a door that they automatically opened for me where I was greeted by a desk of nurses.  I was walking toward them announcing who i was and that my daughter was brought in and a nice nurse said "oh room 6" so I never stopped.  I think she was attempting to show me to the room, but there was no need, I was already in the room by the time she stood up.  
I was so happy to see Mikayla's classroom teacher, Mrs. Glossup, whom she adores!  Mikayla was laying with a huge gauze over the left side of her face.  The nurse explained to me that she was not allowed to talk.  So there she lay staring at me with her wide blue eyes and didn't say a word.  I bent down to kiss her on the forehead and then the doctor asked to speak to me in the hall.  Perfect timing on Isaac's part, who rounded the corner just as the doctor started.  The doctor was a pediatric surgeon who was waiting on us to arrive so she could begin the stitching up of the lip.  She explained that everyone would need to stay seated while she numbed and stitched the lip.  She said it could take her up to an hour to complete.  She said we would need to leave the hospital when she finished and take Mikayla to the dentist to have her teeth checked and she recommended the plastic surgeon that we needed to see.  
Then we went in and she pulled back the gauze and i was the one sitting on the bed beside Mikayla.  As the doctor pulled the gauze back, Mikayla was watching my face.  This is where my high school days of being in drama came in handy.  I sat there and just kept talking to her and smiling and telling her it was going to be fine.....all the while my heart was racing and my hands started shaking.  There's something about seeing a section of your 8 year old's top lip hanging below her bottom lip that suddenly had me scared.  No wonder the doctor said we had to stay seated.  But my face never would've shown to Mikayla how my heart was feeling.
The lidocaine hurts and burns so much.  I knew it was hurting her.  My heart was breaking for her, but i just kept my voice as calm as possible and she remained very still as tears streaked down toward her ears.  The doctor was right, it took her about 52 minutes to complete the stitches.  She made one complete top lip again.  It was swollen, but we left there and headed for the dentist.

So I started this post several weeks ago....the plastic surgeon re stitched the lip a week later and then a week later, removed them! We keep sunscreen on the scar and go back in a few months to see him so he can check the healing!!

Sum Sum Summer Time!!

School's out for Summer!!  

It seems as though the school year has flown by!  Jacob finished 8th grade and will be in high school next year (or in 10 short weeks).  Erica will now be in middle school and Mikayla will have her first taste of being the only Ralston in her school!  WOW! They are all so big and so grown up!
Last week, we got to attend "graduation ceremonies" for both Jacob and Erica.  I hope those don't take away from the excitement of their actual high school graduation.  Isaac and I agree that we enjoyed Erica's a little more than Jacob's.  Erica's ceremony was only 45 minutes long.  While Jacob's was 3 hours long, it still had great speakers....and yes, I cried!  

Also, this summer celebrates my 20 year high school reunion.  At first, I really wanted to attend.  However, with my recent knee surgery (today marks 4 weeks out), I opted not to go.  It also helps make more time for us to go to Chicago in a couple weeks!  I'm so so so excited to see Maureen and family.  Once a year is not enough, but while our kids are young, it's the best we can do!

I've been reading up on some other blogs recently and actually used something I read yesterday on Erica's hair for church!  I'm usually quite envious of one of my sister-in-law's and the precious things she does with my nieces' hair.  However, yesterday, Erica's hair looked darling!  Did I get a picture?  Not a one! LOL

I have a full long story on Mikayla and stitches and plastic surgeons, but it deserves its own post! :)

Love to all!!

SGMS performs Peter Pan

We had a fabulous time watching our 3 children in the SGMS production of Peter Pan.  Jacob was Captain Hook, Erica was an Indian/dancer, and Mikayla was a Lost Child.  They were all 3 wonderful.  Here is a picture with Jacob and Elizabeth (Peter Pan).  Can you tell they had fun?

Hard to believe he's so much taller than I am!!

 

 

 

I was the super proud mom!

Some Time with Jacob

Yesterday, I woke up with a crazy swollen knee that kept popping with every step (yes, my doctor knows all about this).  Anyway, Isaac took the kids to church, but then he and Erica were leaving early to go to her softball tournament, so Isaac found a ride home for Mikayla and Jacob so they could stay the whole time.
Jacob and I have been trying to find time when Isaac would not have to make himself scarce, so we could enjoy watching Lincoln (2012 movie) together.  Yesterday was the perfect day!  Mikayla was playing with the next door neighbor, so Jacob and I hibernated in front of the television to watch this fabulous movie.  It really was amazing and deserved each and every award it won.
I enjoyed watching it with him also.  We paused every now and then so he could tell me what he thought was about to happen (usually he was correct).  He's such a history kind of young man.  People are either bored to death with history or they love it.  I am the first and Jacob is the second.  However, even though I'm not much on history, I LOVED this movie! 

I could never find the words....

I've been asked before what I wish for my kids...I finally found someone who could put words to my exact thoughts....
I expect them to contribute to the world they've been brought into. It is my hope that they will give more than they take. 
I expect that they will become educated adults. It is my hope that they will use the education that they have been given to serve and educate others. 
I expect them to love well. I hope that they might each experience what it's like to have someone fall in love with them, and marry, if they choose. 
But above all, my hope and prayer is that they choose to live crazy strong lives in the Gospel, love each other to death, and include Isaac and I in their plans more often than not.

An "Erica Funny"

An "Erica Funny"

Erica said something really funny a week or so ago and I almost forgot to blog about it!! This was one of those moments that we DO NOT want to forget because we were laughing for a while about this one!

Erica recently had a Softball Slumber Party. Yes, we invited all 15 girls to our house! YIKES! It was actually a lot of fun. Prior to the party, we created some really cute invitations. Of course we had a section for RSVP'ing. One night leading up to the party, we were all 5 at the dinner table, and Erica asks how many people were coming to the party. So Isaac followed that by asking me how many people had RSVP'ed. I wasn't sure but Erica chimes in with "What does RSVP mean?". So we explained it to her while saying that RSVP'ing is always a good thing to do.
I guess the four letter abbreviation sparked Isaac's thoughts and then he said "you always want to RSVP, but never to a BYOB party". Mikayla quickly wants to know what BYOB means. Jacob says "Bring Your Own Beer". So I tried to explain that sometimes people try to make it mean "Bring Your Own Bananas" for an Ice Cream sundae party.
We all went back to eating, then suddenly Erica says "So I guess we could've put BYO....PNS on the invitations. Isaac and Jacob froze immediately. Just read that aloud real fast and see what it sounds like. "Bring your own penis?" No, surely not!
I quickly asked "What did you say?" She said, "BYOPNS, you know, Bring Your Own Pillow N Sleepingbag".
To which we all died laughing!!!!