displaced desert rat

Apparently...

2011-12-07T20:48:00.000-08:00

Apparently my last post was before the kids and I started school. Well, now this post is as I am finishing up this semester, man I am a slacker. Can I use the excuse that I am a mom, I'm a wife, I work, I am a full time student, and whatever else happens in life?

Let's see if I can do a quick recap of the time between the end of August and now.
School started (that was a given)
I applied for the teaching program and was accepted!!! Yay! Unfortunately, I cannot start the program until Fall Semester. I have a class that is mandatory..I have to have it prior to starting Level 1. So, guess what class I will be taking Spring semester? Water Aerobics! Yep, water aerobics, and and my mandatory class, Guidance (among others).
Madi had a birthday.
I had a birthday. I am 23. That is what my students guess usually. That is what the pushy sales girl guessed at a mall in California guessed last week...Oh,by the way, she was trying to sell me some incredibly expensive cleanser that contained gold for $200. It was two ounces. Then she said she could mark it down 50%. Wow! What a great deal! I still didn't buy it, too expensive. "But isn't my skin worth it and it would be a Christmas present for me?" she said. I walked out.
We have taken the Infiniti into the paint shop twice now to be painted. That is twice within the past two months. Thanks to someone hitting the front of the car the first time. The second time...there was this little thing that happened where we lived last week called a wind storm. Yeah, it raked shingles all across the car leaving scratches down to the metal.
I went with my friend to the mall at 2am. The only item I bought at the mall came from Victoria's Secret. It was lip gloss :)
Parker was in a District Band Concert. The music was awesome. They played a medley from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, it was fabulous.
We took the kids to Washington DC. I don't know why we haven't done this sooner. It was an awesome vacation and we definitely want to go back and see the things that we did not get to see. There is so much to see and do there that I think we could still spend another week and still not see everything.
Chased the 844 once again. This is the kids favorite train.
I tagged along with Brent on a couple of day trips. One to Bellingham, WA. The other to San Jose and San Francisco, CA. I have come to a conclusion, people watching at malls is almost as fun as people watching at Walmart.

I think that sort of sums up the past few months.

Back to school.....

2011-08-22T02:45:00.000-07:00

I am not sure that I am one of those moms that is happy to see her children heading back to school today. When Brent and I started having children we were told that cherish them while they are young and while you have them because they grow up quickly. At them time I would think, "Yeah, right." Well guess what, it is true. I look back on my children's lives, and yes, they are still young, but I look back on their years and wonder where did it all go?
Today in just a few hours my oldest will be starting 12th grade. WOW, 12th grade. I remember when I was a senior in high school, and honestly, it does not seem like it was that long ago. I remember the first time I took my 17 year old, who was then five at the time, to kindergarten. I remember thinking this is the first day of a whole lot of learning. I remember thinking ahead at the time to when he would be a senior and thinking that seemed like such a long ways away. Well, that day is finally here. The last year of his public education.
I cried the day he went to kindergarten, I cried the day he graduated from kindergarten. I was happy/sad at the time. My little boy was growing up. He was going to be in school all day from then on. I remember shedding tears when he left 6th grade. He was onto a new venture in his life. He was getting older and I could not stop that. No, I did not shed tears when he went to high school. That just seemed like a natural transition.
But here is the day he starts his Senior year of high school and here I am crying. Why? Because my little boy is getting older. Silly I know. I called my mom last night a cried to her. She listened and told me everyone goes through this. This I know. But why cry? Because I think I know the next steps in life that he will take (or hope that he will take). Graduate, get a job, go to school, go on a mission, come home go to school, and then get married.
But see, I am only looking from now to a couple years ahead....to the mission part. He hasn't even left my house yet and I am crying! I know, this is something we all must go through, and I am certainly happy for him. You just hope you have taught them the things that they are going to need to know to carry them throughout their lives.
I am not sure that I will be home to see him drive off to school when he leaves (because I too have a class...only mine is at the University) but I certainly hope that I am so that I can give him a hug and kiss goodbye and wish him luck on his first day of class.
I just hope that is gets easier with the following two. I am hoping that when they enter their first day of their Senior Year I will be better prepared for that day. But something tells me that it won't get any easier.
I have read this poem before, but right now, it just sort of seems to apply...except I could substitute he..but them again, it could apply to all three of my children so for one, it would still be she :).

First Day of School

She started school this morning,

And she seemed so very small.

As I walked there beside her

In the Kindergarten hall

And as she took her place beside

the others in the class,

I realized how all too soon

Those first few years can pass.

Remembering, I saw her as

She first learned how to walk.

The words that we alone made out

When she began to talk.

This little girl so much absorbed

In learning how to write.

It seems as though she must have grown

To girlhood overnight.

My eyes were blurred by hastily

I brushed the tears away

Lest by some word or sign of mine

I mar her first big day

Oh how I longed to stay with her

And keep her by the hand

To lead her through the places

That she couldn't understand.

And something closely kin to fear

Was mingled with my pride.

I knew she would no longer be

A baby by my side.

But she must have her chance to live,

To work her problems out,

The privilege to grow and learn

What life is all about.

And I must share my little girl

With friends and work and play;

She's not a baby anymore --

She's in Kindergarten today.

~author unknown

Home - Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros Acoustic Cover (Jorge & Alex...

2011-07-24T14:24:00.000-07:00

Trying to catch up

2011-07-23T13:47:00.000-07:00

I seriously am trying to catch up on this blog from the summer activities so far. All I can say is Wow! I am behind! Oh well, I guess, it will always be here for tomorrow. You know, that is my problem though. I am a procrastinator. Have I ever told you that? Haha!
Anyway, sorry if some of the pics on the last post don't show, I am not quite sure why. I even reposted the post hoping they would show. I used Picasa and loved it for the post on Vegas...yeah, not so much for the previous post on Denver/Nebraska. Anyway...I am just going to go the old fashioned way an upload some more photos. Captions will tell you what they are.

My friend Jenn...awesome.Awesome.AWESOME cake maker..she made this cake for Garrett...the fondant is the most delicious fondant..Marshmallow fondant..mmm

It's the birthday boy. This was the only pic I captured of him...and he wasn't even looking at the camera. He was clearly talking to someone. I am just going to say that it was not me who took this picture :)

Give you one hint at what he is doing...

Parker is in the Junior High Jazz Band and was able to play in the 4th of July parade.

He is basically sitting right in the middle of this pic...nest to the kid with the red hat.

I decided to do Madi's hair a little bit on the festive side for the 4th. She loved it!

Smile!

Madi and her cousins...Crezna and Kylie.

ps...I am still not caught up. I need to pull pics off the camera from Parker's birthday and the day trip we took to Twin Falls. Yes, I did say day trip to Twin Falls, Idaho.

2 weeks later....

2011-07-19T16:53:00.000-07:00

Two weeks after the quick trip to Vegas we decided meet Brent in Denver. He had a job that he was measuring that was going to take a few days to do, so the kids and I decided to drive and meet him in Denver. This trip, like the Vegas trip, was going to be a quick trip. We left on a Wednesday and came home, well technically it was Sunday, but we shall say late late late Saturday night, since we left on Saturday and took a slight detour on the way home....more on that in a minute.We met Brent on Wednesday night and decided that Thursday was going to be a just whatever happens day. Really, we didn't have much planned for the trip, it really was just a whatever happens happens type trip. Thursday we went to Bass Pro Shops...it is near the airport and Brent had to return a rental car. We also went to an American Girl store for Madi, a train store for the boys, and an REI Flagship store for Brent, as well as having some of the best burritos we have ever had for dinner! We drove around Denver for awhile and went to visit his old boss and his wife as well. A pretty laid back day if you ask me.

Friday, we were going to drive to Cheyenne, WY. and follow Garrett's favorite train back to the train yard, the 844. It had been on an excursion to Arkansas and was coming back into town. Cheyenne is about and hour and a half away from Denver so we figured we would just make a fun drive out of it and chase the train for a little bit and then head back to Denver and play it by ear as to what we did. Well, I checked my twitter account for an update on the train (I know, I am definitely a dork) and the train was not coming into town on Friday after all, it was delayed due to a mechanical issue, so it would be arriving in Cheyenne on Saturday...Garrett's birthday! So, we quickly changed our plans and decided to go to the train museum in Golden. We have taken the kids to this train museum before, but they were little.

The kids had a blast...we spent a few hours exploring all the trains they had outside, the basement with the HO scale trains, as well as watching the crew work the train out around the roundhouse.While we were at the train museum Brent noticed some men walking around with shirts that had the Amtrak logo. They also had on Amtrak lanyards. One of the men was near Garrett and Garrett glanced over and saw the shirt and asked the man if he worked for Amtrak, in which he replied he did. That was that. We sort of shadowed these gentlemen the rest of the time we were there, not on purpose, it was just the path that we each took.A little while later I noticed Parker talking to both of the Amtrak gentlemen and then proceed to shake their hands. Parker comes over to where I am sitting and tells me that one of the Amtrak guys he just spoke to is the President of Amtrak! He then proceeds to tell us the conversation that he had with the men. Garrett wanted to meet them as well, so Brent went over with the kids and met them...let's just say the kids were heaven after that!

The next day, well it was Saturday, Garrett's Birthday, and it was time to come home. Remember how I said the 844 was heading home to Cheyenne and that we were going to catch it there to see it? And remember how I am a dork and have a twitter account and follow the Steam engine and know where they are when they are traveling? Well, yeah, they were not getting into Cheyenne at noon like they planned...no, they were getting to Cheyenne at 5pm!!! Did I tell you it is about 6 1/2 hours from my house to Cheyenne, WY? So what would you naturally do...head home? Oh no, not us. We decided to head to Sidney, Nebraska!!! Yeah, that is about, oh 3 hours from Denver! It is only and hour and a half outside of Cheyenne! What is in Sidney, Nebraska you ask besides a train that was heading there? Cabelas Headquarters, of course. Can I tell you, NOT what I expected. It was sort of like a Sportsmans Warehouse. Nothing fancy like the Cabelas in Utah. So, if you ever have the desire to head to Cabelas in Sidney, Nebraska...save your time and go to the Cabelas in Lehi. Oh, so what time did we get home that late late late Saturday night....2:30am (Sunday morning)!

Oh, and if you are still reading this far, we did celebrate Garrett's birthday...he had a long birthday weekend. We chased a train for him to Sidney, Nebraska for his birthday. Let him choose whatever he wanted to eat in Cheyenne, WY. We let him drive from Cheyenne back home. We even gave him a birthday gift in the car...Lego's! (that was not his only gift, he of course got some train stuff :) ) All, in all, I think he had an incredibly fun Saturday!

A Quick Trip continued....(part 2)

2011-07-10T00:52:00.000-07:00

On our way back from Kingman we decided to take a walk across the bridge. Oh, I never mentioned that it was about 102 degrees that day.

Our third day, which was going to be our last day in Vegas, we decided to head to the Strip and go to New York New York, MGM, M&M World, and the Coke Place. Needless to say we spent A LOT of time in just those three places that by the end of the night we made the decision to stay another night.

Day 4, before we headed out of town we stopped at Ethel M.'s Chocolate Factory (hey, it was a free tour with free chocolate at the end :)) We made one last drive down the strip and stopped at Caesar's Palace. The boys found a cool model toy car store, and I .... I went into one clothing store, Betty Page Clothing Store. Cute, retro clothes. Madi wanted to go into the magic shop as well. Parker also wanted to hit up a hobby store as well before we left that was on our way out of town also, which we did. After all that, it was time to head home.

Even though it was a quick trip, we still managed to pack in quite a bit. It was nice to get away from the everyday routine at home and spend time as a family. Can't wait for the next trip.....(which came two weeks later, but more about that in another post)

A quick little road trip...part 1

2011-07-10T00:36:00.000-07:00

This past June we decided that since July was going to be filled with High Adventure Camp, Scout Camp, Band Practices (oh yeah, Parker made Jazz Band at the Junior High), swimming lessons, birthdays (quite a few of them I might add), and whatever else July may hold, we would take a quick little road trip to Vegas. We left on a Monday afternoon after we did baptisms with the youth in our ward, that was a neat experience all by itself. We decided that we were not going to take the freeway to get to Vegas. Basically, we took the back roads until we hit Cedar City (it was getting late by then). We went through Eureka, Delta, and Milford. My kids usually love taking the roads less traveled and reading the historical markers along the way and learning about the various cities and surroundings that they see.

The first few photos of the old, run down buildings are from Eureka, an old mining town. The kids want to go back and spend more time there.

This was on the corner in Milford, sort of as you are heading out of town. Brent and I liked the old sign on the hotel...Hotel Milford.

It was raining out west of where we were. The skies were really dark, but there was just a glimpse of sun peeking through. This pic was in the middle of now where...really. Somewhere between Milford and Cedar City.

As we drove a little further, seriously, maybe 5 minutes is all, the skies changed from the up above pic to this.

Right outside of Cedar City there are petroglyphs. We drove down the well maintained dirt road to get a glimpse of the drawings. There were hundreds of these drawings. It was pretty cool to see.

We decided to head to the Hoover Dam and take the kids to see the bridge. Brent and I had been days prior, but we knew the kids would love seeing the massive bridge that was just built. And no, we did not take the Dam Tour...it is freaking EXPENSIVE.

Hahaha....Brent is is Arizona and I am in Nevada. Corny I know :)

So, we decided since we didn't take the Dam Tour, we would take a ride to Kingman, Arizona. It was about an hour away. So we headed to Kingman not knowing what we would really do there, but ended up finding an awesome museum about Route 66. We spent a little over an hour there, drove down Route 66 for a while, and then ate dinner before returning to Vegas.

Of course, the boys did spot a train outside the museum that they had to watch for a minute.

.....more pics coming.....

Always good for a laugh...

2011-05-30T11:24:00.000-07:00

Let me start out by saying....I love my kids!!! They do things, like most children or teenagers do, that make me laugh. So what did they do?
Parker: a few nights ago, Parker and Madi got ready for bed (teeth brushed, pj's on) and we said the prayers with them (Garrett - he was working on a homework assignment). They went to bed and I assumed they fell asleep right away. Anyway, about 11:45pm (and yes, Garrett is still awake - he was just putting the finishing touches on his homework) Parker strolls out into the family room. I was on facebook and had the tv on in the background, Brent says hi to him and asks him what he wants to eat for breakfast. Parker just sort of makes a grunting sound to us. Now, just so you know, Parker is not one who is known for sleep walking or talking. Garrett is the one that we love to mess around with when he is sleep talking. Anyway, Parker sits on the couch and just stares at the tv. He then proceeds to get up, go to the bathroom, and then come right back out. All the while Garrett is laughing hysterically. Garrett and Parker pass each other in the hall, because now Parker is heading back to the family room and Garrett is heading towards to the bathroom to get ready for bed. Garrett has lost it, he is LAUGHING OUT LOUD!!! Parker, in his mean, tough, don't-bother-me-you-are-annoying-my voice tells Garrett to SHUT UP!!! Of course Garrett doesn't, he continues to laugh. Like I was saying, Parker was heading back to the family room, where I have lost it now, but me being the parent, or at least one of them, tried to contain my laughter...needless to say I had tears coming out of my eyes. Parker comes out to the family room, heads to the chair, kneels down and says he is ready to say his prayers. He was a little upset that me and Brent were not hurrying fast enough. I trying hard to contain my laughter. He is dead serious, he needs to say his prayers. Oh did I tell you, he had already said his prayers prior to going to bed the first time (the real time)? Yeah, I guess he was feeling quite spiritual that night. So we kneel down with him while he says his prayers. Garrett still in the bathroom getting ready was probably having a hard time standing up straight from laughing so hard. Which only made me laugh, but remember he is saying his prayer and I, being a responsible parent, need to set an example for my children on the importance of being reverent....even if they are talking in the sleep. Needless to say, there was a very contained laughter going on. Have you ever had to stifle a laugh, a full blown tears-coming-out-of-your-eyes-stomach-hurts kind of laugh...snot bubbles and everything (just kidding on the snot bubbles)? It was that kind. Sort of hard to do during a prayer, but I managed to hold it together the best I could until after the prayer and Parker was into his bedroom. Not Garrett, he laughed during the whole thing (in the other room of course) and then as Parker walked back to bed.
That was it. Nothing else. Parker just needed to say his prayers and then go to bed because he was tired. I love that kid. Especially if he is going to provide me that sort of entertainment :)

(Garrett shall be next.....just a warning)

U2!!! Oh and......

2011-05-25T23:23:00.000-07:00

Hello, my name is Heidi and I love to enter contests on Facebook. Seriously. I really do. I used to have a phone, a cell phone that is, that was my lucky phone. I was sad when I parted with it because I knew that my luck would probably change. It did. I never won anything big like a car, money, or trip. I usually won concert tickets. Then Facebook added a new way to enter contests, just like a page and leave a comment, or enter a contest and post that you entered to win such and such a contest.

Well, last year, my favorite radio station up and quit one day. Disappeared. I listened to them the day day before and the next day they were gone. That afternoon I had a message that someone wanted to be my friend. It was a new radio station. It was not really new, they were just changing their format. So I decided to like them. Right after I liked them, U2 announced that they were coming to Utah and 104.7 was giving away tickets to their concert. All you had to do was become friends with the radio station. Hello!?! I am not going to let a chance pass me by to enter a contest for tickets to see U2 :) Guess what? I was their first winner. YAY!!! But then Bono had to go and break his back, so I was left with tickets that I had to wait and use....a little over a year to be exact.

Fast forward to Monday the 23rd of May, 2011.

Brent entered a contest on Facebook (I have that boy trained...) for 103.5 to win tickets to the U2 concert. Winner was going to be announced on the news at 10pm. I saw a link for a contest and decided to enter. It was funny because a friend I went to high school with asked me on Facebook if I had won tickets last year to the concert. Which I replied yes and left it at that.

On Monday evening I was watching Hello Dolly with the kids and reading useless facts about the movie on IMDB when I look at my phone to see if the person I was playing Words with Friends had played their letters. They had, but I also noticed I had a message on my phone (it was about 10:15ish). It was a congratulations on winning tickets. At first I had not clue what they were talking about until it occurred to me that I entered a contest for U2 tickets. So I check Facebook and there were more congratulations from other people who saw my name flash up on the television (I missed it, darnit!). I check my email and sure enough there was a congratulations from the tv station I won them from! I won another pair of tickets to the U2 concert!!! Honestly, I never thought I would win. I have never, ever seen anybodies name that I recognize flash on the screen saying they won something. So now my dilemma was, "Who do I give these tickets to? Who do I take with me?" My boys wanted to go, but they had prior commitments. All I will say about that is that they were not very happy with me.

Brent had been planning on going with me all along to the concert. On Tuesday, as he was working, some things came up that would have made things a little more tricky to go so he said to take his ticket and offer it to a friend and make it a girls-night-out (I love that man.....he's the best). Oh, the two tickets I won, I offered them to two of my friends as well. So I took my three friends (yep, that is all I have is three friends :) ) and we had a Tuesday night Girls Night Out with 50,000 or so of our closest friends! It was an awesomely, splendid, fantastic night! Including getting a parking ticket! Which by the way, I am going to fight. Long story short...where I parked was a two hour parking lot (which I did not know when I parked there, and there was not a sign by the driveway where I came in stating that). Yes I did park there for longer then two hours..try six. But the ticket that I was given has a time stamp on it of 20:02 (8:02pm). When I arrived at the parking lot, we went straight to dinner, and walked straight up to the counter and placed my order for dinner (this was prior to the concert). There is a time stamp on my dinner receipt that says 6:21pm. This is clearly NOT two hours!!! I was not given two hours of parking before the ticket was written. Don't get me wrong, I know I parked there longer. But the fact that the ticket was written before the two hour mark is what bothers me. Besides....$50 for parking!?! Yeah, I am going to fight it. It is not something that would go on my flawless driving record ;) (I am being serious...knock on wood, I have never had a ticket). It is just a private company, but honestly, $50!?!

Oh well, it did not put a damper on the night. We had a good laugh about it. Besides, if I do have to pay the $50, it was still worth it, I had a great night with friends!

(oh, I did take pics...I just haven't taken them off my phone and the camera as well....I will edit this post later. In the meantime, just use your imagination. Rubios-Trax-UTA-Rice Eccles Stadium (E37, row 59, seat 16)-The Fray-U2-LOTS and LOTS of people-Walking down 4th South (didn't want to wait for Trax-ticket on windshield...you get the picture...that is what you should be picturing in your imagination :) )

Catching up? Maybe?

2011-05-24T00:02:00.000-07:00

I am sitting here listening to the rain...oh at 12:39am. I have the tv on, I am not really watching it, since it is Brent's show after all. Oh, did I mention that Brent is not even in the room with me, he is in the dungeon? Oh, and did I mention that it is raining hard and that the remote is right next to me on the couch? Yeah, I am to lazy to reach for it to turn over the car show that is on television. Actually, do you know what Brent did? Probably not, so I shall tell you. But first, do any of your husbands do this to you? Brent does it to me from time to time. He comes in, sees what I am watching (or not really watching, but just have the tv on in the background for noise - or because I am too lazy to turn it off). But he sees what I am (not really at times) watching and then takes the remote, flips through the channels, finds a show on tv (Speed channel or some car show, or some History Channel show), changes the channel, and then leaves the room (in his case, to go to the dungeon) to work. Yep, I love him :) Love You Honey...muwaha ;)
Honestly I really do. We celebrated our anniversary, 19 years to be exact, this past weekend. Sorry, no pictures...use your imagination :) We spent most of Saturday at home doing homey type things...sleeping in, mowing the lawn, doing laundry, doing the dishes/cleaning the kitchen...those sort of things. Then we took the kids to stay with Grandma and their cousin while we stayed in Salt Lake. We went to Log Haven for dinner. We wanted to try someplace we had never been to before and we had heard that the food was good. I wanted someplace romantic. Pricey, but that is what I expected, but the food was really good. Then we went to our hotel and do you want to know what we did ;)? Of course you do..wink wink.....We watched Spiderman! Not the first one, but one of the following Spiderman movies. It was okay, the first was better, but usually they are. Sunday, we woke up, had breakfast and went for a ride through Provo Canyon, then to Park City, and then home. It was fun just to get away, even if it was only 40 miles away from our house. It is always nice to get away from the chores and errands and everything else that pulls at you when you are at your own home.
Oh, by the way, I did reach for the remote control to change the channel. But know what? Of course you don't, once again. There is nothing really on tv right now. Let's see...here are some of my choices right now on tv...Pawn Stars, Best Bra Ever!, American Gangster, Overcoming Anxiety, Bowfinger, Disorder in the Court, Stargate Atlantis, Baggage (which by the way is really stupid - it's on GSN), Real Housewives of New Jersey, and much, much more. LOTS of paid commercials. LOTS! Maybe watching Top Gear on BBC is a decent option for this hour of the night. Wait....Good Eats is on...NOOOOoooo...it is almost over with. Maybe I should just head to bed since I do need to be to work in 8 hours. Alright, I am going to go take my eyes out and take my face off and clean the mouth. After that, I think I will crawl into bed and what? What is that you or I say? Sleep? Sleep did you say? Yeah right, I am going to continue my channel surfing in my bedroom. Have a good night!

What to write?

2011-05-11T14:30:00.000-07:00

What shall I talk about on my blog today? I think that is the reason why my blog gets neglected, I feel like I have nothing important to say or that nothing exciting really happened. Although, I do know I do things, I go to work, I go to school (when it is not summer break - if that is what you can call it right now when it is rainy, snowy, and cold), I have children, a husband, and a dog I could write about. Which reminds me....Duncan-Rufus-Xavier-Sasparilla-Stoop-Ed (yes that is his name, we keep adding to it when we find one that fits). Anyway, Duncan the Dork has his own Facebook page. Yep, a Facebook page dedicated to a dog. He even posts on it sometimes. Really deep thoughtful posts, like wondering why everyone just can't get along and how he just wants to be friends with the cats and wanting to lick them and kiss them and hold them and lick them and lick them and lick them and lick them. Yeah, I know, now you want to be friends with him to receive such deep inspiring posts on your wall.
Wow, I guess I did have something to talk about after all :) (I am a dork for just putting that smiley face on here, oh well, I did it and I am not removing it either). Just think, I was just going to post something totally random about googling a topic, but I ended up having a thought to share (if that is what you can even consider it). Okay, I am going to go fold laundry now (go ahead and laugh or roll your eyes or sigh a big heavy "yeah right"). Have a wonderful Wednesday afternoon. Oh, and go ahead and Eat What You Want since that is today's daily observance - Eat What You Want Day (May 11).

Mother's Day

2011-05-09T13:44:00.000-07:00

Can I tell you how much I love my family? They are AWESOME! I was spoiled this year for Mother's Day. Okay, they spoil me everyday, and every Mother's Day, so really, this wasn't any different from the past. But I am truly blessed to have each one of my children in my life. They bring so much joy, love, and happiness into my life and into our house. It amazed me how you can raise children in the same house, same rules, yet each of them are their own individuals and they each turn out so differently. Anyway, I love them for who they are. So, thank you to my kids and husband for making not only my Mother's Day special, but for making each and everyday special.

I LOVE tulips! Brent and the kids gave me Tulips for Mother's Day.

Coupon flowers Madi made for me. Cute, cute cute!

I LOVE these coupons that Madi made for me. She even put a coupon in to clean the toilet for me :)

I was not expecting these :) A gift certificate to get a pedicure (is that a hint that my toenails are looking ugly) and a gift card to Orson Gygi. I asked if I could use it on anything (within reason, since it does have a limit), but my family had the thought that maybe I could take a cooking class with it (is this another hint? I do know how to cook, I promise).

Mmmmmm, what you don't see are the 7 other chocolate covered strawberries that are missing. Just so you know, I did not eat those 7 strawberries by myself, I shared them with Brent and the kids.

Past Week and then some

2011-05-01T01:37:00.000-07:00

Now that I have a break from school, and the fact that it is technically Sunday morning - 1:32am - I thought I would play a little bit of catch up on my blog. Basically pictures that I took off the camera this afternoon.
First, last week (I guess nearly two weeks ago), while the boys were at Young Men's, we took Madi shooting at the shooting range. She has been asking Brent if we could go shooting sometime so that she could shoot her rifle. Let's just say the boys were not too happy when they found out what we did while they were away.

Madi, shooting her pink rifle.

At Madi's school, the 5th and 6th grade Spectrum kids put on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Holy Moley, these kids had some lines to learn. And yes, they did it Shakespeare style. The kids put on the entire production, including running the sound and lights. They had the students that play instruments do the orchestra portion. It was a full production put on 5th and 6th graders. Madi was a Fairy Dancer and she did an awesome job!

Garrett went to Prom! Here are a few photos we shot prior to him leaving. I had the main camera, Brent shot a pic on his phone...guess who he is looking at in this first photo..one guess, and it wasn't me :)

I asked him to come back to the house after he picked up his date. I wanted to get some pictures of the two of them. Hindsight, I should have shot the picture against the trees, not looking at the houses in the background. But I knew that he was in a hurry to meet the other couples, so I ran out of the house with the camera and snapped a few pictures and then let them go on their way for the evening.

And because I did not get a picture of Parker this past week and this post seems to have both Garrett and Madi, I figured I needed to balance things out and put some pictures of Parker up....to make it fair :) And because I love him as well.

The next few photos were taken a few weeks ago..okay maybe a month ago. They were taken at a train park and the snow had just melted. The kids wanted to go to the park and check out the train track and the water around the track from the melting snow/rain. Duncan was having a blast...as you can see in the photos.

Yes, they are holding their hands out towards Duncan and yelling, "STOP!!!"
He was barreling towards them at full speed!

Still yelling, "STOP DUNCAN!!! NO, STOP!!!!"

Madi checking out the water damage Duncan did do her. No one fell in, just a lot of water splashed all over them.

Duncan LOVES LOVES LOVES going down slides! He absolutely loves them. THIS is one of the many reasons why he thinks he is not a dog.

This gives me an idea....

2011-03-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

One of my absolute favorite authors is Shel Silverstein. I could read, read , read his books/poems all the time. I came across this poem as I was looking for something to update my facebook status with.

"If you have to dry the dishes
(Such an awful boring chore)
If you have to dry the dishes
('Stead of going to the store)
If you have to dry the dishes
And you drop one on the floor
Maybe they won't let you
Dry the dishes anymore"
— Shel Silverstein (A Light in the Attic)

I think I may just have to try this. Except, only while "trying" to put the dishes into the dishwasher.

Texas...hmmm

2011-03-18T23:38:00.000-07:00

This past week has been Spring Break at Weber, and can I tell you how much I have enjoyed having my evenings free? It has been sort of relaxing. Yes, I said sort of. The reason, I decided since I did not have my classes to go to, I would accompany Brent on one of his jobs to Texas. Can I tell you something else? Well it doesn't matter if you don't want to hear it because I am still going to tell you. I have no desire to ever move to Texas. Maybe I was tired when we arrived or yeah, maybe I was tired, but it was just hmmm. That is all I have to say about it. Not that we spent much time in Texas, because we didn't. 29 hours on Texas soil is all the time we spent there. We had an early morning flight, landed in Austin, drove to Killeen where Brent worked, drove back towards Austin, stopped at the Salt Lick in Round Rock (which was absolutely FABULOUS - and this would be the only reason why I would ever, EVER go back to Texas). Oh the Salt Lick was a bbq place that has been featured on many tv shows and it really lived up to the hype. I am not sure that we will ever enjoy any other bbq ever again. EVER. (Bbq pork ribs..mmmm..my mouth salivates just thinking about those delicious, tender, morsels of meat, falling off the bone right into my mouth..mmm)(yes, parentheses right in a row- you know pork must be good when I say it is good because normally I hate anything pork). Tuesday, caught another early morning flight, flew to Amarillo, Brent worked, I drove around the town (nothing but brown and tan color), had lunch at a Mexican Cafe/Tortilla factory, bought some Bitipies (little pies that have a following in Amarillo, and I can see why, they are exactly that, cute, tiny, yummy, little pies - oh, and the German Chocolate cake was out of this world), headed to the airport and flew home.
The next day I worked all day (okay 9-4), did that on Thursday as well, and worked on Friday. Can I just say I am incredibly tired and that I need a break from this Spring Break to catch up on sleep? Late nights and early mornings just don't mix (and no, it not because I am getting old).
So the point to this post...not really sure. Maybe that I need to go back to Texas to give it another chance? Maybe I need to go back to Texas just to get the bbq? Maybe I don't ever in my life want to move to Texas? If you can decide what the point to this post was, feel free to comment and let me know. But right now, it is 12:30am - Saturday morning, my eyes are dry and tired and I think I hear my bed yelling at me. That's right, YELLING!

Tights....

2011-02-27T15:23:00.000-08:00

Today I was getting ready for church when I went to put on "my" black tights. I took them off the chair, unrolled the band to find the tag so I could put them on the right way, when I noticed that they had a Children's Place tag on the back. "Hmmmm," I thought. I started examining them carefully and thinking to myself..."Did I....?" They were quite stretched out. I pulled on the legs and looked at them and thought that they certainly did not look like mine. They certainly did not look like....size 6-7. These were some big tights with long legs. I looked at the run on the leg and thought, "Interesting, the pair I wore this past week a few times and last Sunday had a run as well." I looked at them some more and thought. "Really, 6-7?"
Guess what, I had been wearing a pair of Madi's tights. Yes they still fit her. Apparently they fit me as well! I could not find my tights to wear today with my boots and skirt. I was also running out of time since we had to leave for church. I did offer them to Madi to wear, but she declined. So, I wore them to church. Size 6-7!!! I don't know whether that makes me feel awesome to know that I can fit into tights that small or stupid for wearing them...A FEW TIMES, and still wearing them today!!! Oh, and just so you know, I will be wearing them again tonight to my orchestra concert.
Oh, I am sure you are wondering, "would I not notice because the crotch area did not go up all the way to the crotch?" Oh, but that is where I say, they fit just like they were made for me, the crotch area went all the way up, the legs were just the right length, they fit perfectly just like my other pairs of black tights, thank you very much. Now you know where I'll be shopping for my cute girly tights :) (and NO, they WILL not have lace on the derriere!) You are welcome for sharing by the way!

Why didn't I become....

2011-02-23T12:21:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking.....a shock I know...but anyway, I am/was, whatever you want to call it or say it..."Why didn't I go to school to be a masseuse?"
When you are in hair school and out for that matter, you always do each others hair. Cut it, color it, style it, whatever. As long as you don't have clients, you practice on each other. Had I have been a masseuse, just think of all the massages I would have been able to get. Heavenly, I know.
Brent and I had went for a couples massage yesterday (and yes, I have had a massage a couple times prior to yesterday). I think I could get use to having a massage on a daily basis. In hair school, before you get out on the floor and people have to pay, you have to bring models in to show what you know. You show your skills and then the instructor critiques you. You know, I bet they have to do the same for massage school. Maybe I need to call one of the massage colleges and ask if they need a person to practice on. I would step up and assist those students that are learning.
All I can say right now is that I need a massage again. The bed was warm, the blankets were warm...maybe I need to get another job to fund this addiction.

Valentine's Day

2011-02-15T18:40:00.000-08:00

Nothing interesting I tell ya. Not that that is a bad thing. Really, I knew it was coming. So did Brent. But all of the sudden last week was busy. Really busy. Brent was out of town until late, late, late Friday evening. I hate it when he goes out of town for more than, oh one night. I know, I need to deal with it. Which I do. Anyway, we decided to celebrate Valentine's Day on Saturday. Oh, by the way. I really do not like Valentine's Day, just so you know. I don't know why. Well really I do. In the past I would always get my hopes up for things Brent should do for me, which he didn't because he is not a mind reader. Such as....make reservations at some place and take me to dinner. Nope..reservations did not happen. But really it was the stupid restaurants fault because this was when they were not doing the reservations thing, it was a first come first serve thing. I really, REALLY hate that. Who wants to go sit in a restaurant for an hour waiting to eat? Not me. So we would do Wendy's. Oh, and then it was flowers. I am not sure what it was, but I wanted flowers delivered to me at work. Well, he would have flowers waiting for me at the house or come home with flowers, but they were never delivered. I know, I am shallow. I have grown out of this. Really I have. I think I grew out of it when I worked in a restaurant playing my harp. Oh, have I mentioned that playing my harp with a symphony or wind ensemble is not my cup of tea? I am just throwing it out there in case I have not mentioned it before. Back on track....I really have grown out of this shallow phase. Or, Brent has caught on that I like having flowers delivered. No, I really don't care, just as long as he gets me flowers....which I absolutely loved.
But anyway, we decided to "celebrate" Valentine's day on Saturday. I called and made a reservation to go get a massage for the two of us. It was suppose to be Saturday night. Yes, I did say suppose to be. Garrett had a dance he was going to, so we wanted to see him off and get pictures. We were running about 5 minutes behind. What? Did I say 5 minutes late? Wow, that is sooooo not like us? Brent called the place and said that we were running about 5 minutes late. Guess what? Our name was not listed as having a massage that night. I was FURIOUS!!! Ok, not quite that mad, but I was upset. I seriously wanted to cry, but honestly, what good would crying do? So I didn't. Instead, I posted how mad I was with them on facebook...because this particular salon/spa is my friend on facebook. No I was not hoping for anything free....they did not even contact me about posting how upset I was with them. But, it was just a way to vent..and make me feel better. Oh, but the girl did tell Brent she did have us down for a massage on Tuesday..at 9am!!! Hello!!!! I did not make an appointment at that stupid hour. First I am at work. Secondly, I would have to get a sub to cover for me and I certainly would not make an appointment first and then get a sub. Third....if I did have a sub, I would be sleeping in and getting a massage done later in the day.
Ok, I am not off my soap box and we shall never discuss that subject again. BUT....we did go get dinner at The Sonora Grill in Ogden. It was DELICIOUS!!!! Brent had a tenderloin that nearly ranked up there with Ruth Chris Steakhouse. It was to die for. But first we had the tableside guacamole - it was wonderful. I had an Agua Fresca to drink....really tasty (and yes, non-alcoholic). I had Achiote Glazed Salmon....mmmm, very good. To finish the dinner, we had Mango Tres Leches. Which was awesome! I was stuffed. We did not feel rushed, nor did they rush us. Oh, and they bring the most awesome chips and salsa to your table. Not normal chips. No these are the size of tostadas . I definitely have to go back...it was that good.
An here is how Valentine's day went......work, lunch with Brent, run some errands, Acerplacer class (it's a class to help me test out of math...a very pricey class that is not done by Weber, but if it helps me test out..then it was worth it), my math class at Weber, Menchies with the kids and friends, out the kids to bed, and then a movie at our friends house at 10:30. That was my Valentine's Day. Oh, and Brent did send me flowers....he did try to have them delivered to me at work, but they never delivered them to my work, so they delivered them to the house. They are beautiful I might add. Sorry, no picture, it is on my phone and I am too lazy to upload it on here. That takes effort and right now...nope I don't feel like doing anything that require effort. Okay, off to practice the harp :) (I know, this takes effort, a lot of effort. A LOT!!!)

Blabbering - read at your own risk

2011-02-03T15:43:00.000-08:00

My blog is neglected. I intended for it to be a way of journaling...well if once a month or very sporadically is okay for journaling, well I am okay with it also. But...tomorrow I have the day off!!! Yes it is that exciting. Only because I have put in my 17 1/2 hours for the week. But that does not mean I have a day off from Wind Ensemble Rehersal, but one can hope. Most likely not since I have not had to go to practice the past two weeks with the Wind Ensemble, I figure eventually I will have to go sometime. Also, can I say, I do not have the desire or dream or wonder anymore of what it would be like to play with a symphony. Nope. I.Do.Not. Today though, what was going through my mind when I thought to myself (probably because I did not have symphony practice), "you know, maybe playing with a regular symphony might be fun, I think I kind of like playing with one." Someone should have knocked me over the head right then or slapped some sense into me. Seriously? What the crap was I thinking? Really I enjoy it, even though I say it is not for me. But I don't think one is suppose to feel inadequate or sick when heading to class. Seriously. Ill. Like I could worship the porcelain thunder mug. (No feeling sorry for me - I got a scholarship out of this). Oh well, one day, okay that day is everyday, I will look back on it and appreciate the experience I had. Oh, but there are perks that come with hauling such a large instrument around the halls of the performing arts building. Like having to buy ($25) my own key, more like rent my own key for the semester, to get the harp out of the harp room. So that gives me my own room that I can practice in whenever I want. I don't have to share a room like the others do. So there is the perk, if you can call it one :)
Okay, no more neglected blog....I updated it with something totally random.
Oh, by the way, if you want to celebrate on behalf of my family go ahead...we have great news ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................not I am not pregnant, I think I would cry .............................................................................................................................................................................................................the boys quit the paper!!!!! Okay, they gave notice a month ago, but this past Monday was their last day. I think they are enjoying being able to sleep in again...well sort of sleep in, sleep in for them at least :)

Guess what I should be doing...but I'm not?

2011-01-10T23:12:00.000-08:00

Wanna know why I am not doing my homework? Sure you do! I am dreaming about all the massive amount of money that is coming to me. Yep. I am a millionaire! My junk mail box says so. Lots of times! I am so excited, I am not sure what I am going to do with all my money. Maybe I can buy my way out of school by donating a huge chunk of the money that is coming my direction.
Robert Mueller of the FBI sent me an email. Yep he did. He personally is overseeing the ATM card payment that I am going to receive. Isn't that awesome? Our government IS watching out for us :). All I have to do is send a money gram of $200 and I will get my LOADED ATM card of $800,000.00! WOW, I think that is a great return! Oh, and I do get back that $200. Wow, what should I buy with all that money.
Oh, but that is not all! No sir-ree Bob. We seem to have some relatives, unbeknownst to us, that have left us some money. Yep. Lots of it. Millions! A.W.E.S.O.M.E! I just have to get in touch with the people and give them some information and then they will put the money in my account. Isn't that nice of them. People in London, and Nigeria...who would have thought we had relatives there? Wow!
But, Mrs. Cindy May is trying to take my money. I got an email stating that she said we were dead and that we left her as the beneficiary to (USD)$21.5million. I don't think I am dead since I am typing this? Look, I just come into a lot of money and what happens, people from out of nowhere start trying to take my money from me. Well, it is a good thing I have an FBI contact that I can call or email. I am sure he will help me out.
Not only am I the beneficiary to this massive amount of money, I seemed to have hit the jackpot lately. Let's see my junk mail box says I have won a Dell Laptop. SWEET, I would like a new laptop, how'd they know? Oh, there are new neighbors that live near me that somehow got a hold of my email address and would like to meet me. I wonder if they found out about my money and they are going to try to scam me? Hmmmm, I better not meet them after all. LOTS of cards from secret admirers. Could it be my new neighbor trying to hook up with me? Maybe he does not know I am married. I have a trip to Italy awaiting me.
Seriously, when did I get so lucky to have all these things come my way. It is a good thing I checked my junk email box or I might not get my money, my trip, my new laptop. I am also grateful to be made aware of those that are trying to scam me.

12 Days of Christmas

2010-12-21T19:50:00.000-08:00

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me.....and we know how the rest of the song goes. Each year, December 12 comes and goes and I always wish I would have done the 12 days of Christmas for my family. Each year I mention it to Brent, but that's as far as it goes and I always wish I would have done this. This year, I was facebooked by a friend and asked what I thought about doing the 12 days of Christmas. Well, of course I want to do this, I have always wanted to do it. So, we got together and made a plan as to what we were going to do. The twist on this 12 days of Christmas is that we are not giving material gifts to our children, we are planning activities to do with them. This too, I have wanted to do. It seems like the Christmas season comes and goes and I wish I would have done this or that, but the season gets so busy that I do not set aside time to do the fun activities that are offered this time of year. But this year was different, making this list has let us do some of the fun activities that are around. Some activities have been done with our friends, some just as a family.
So... (sung to 12 Days of Christmas..lol) On our twelve days of Christmas we did activities...
Day 1 - make cookies (yeah, this activity did not go quite as expected. Lets just say I ended up in tears, kids were required, yes I said REQUIRED, to write down 10 things about their siblings that they liked and then they picked a siblings name and had to do something nice for them the next day. Yeah, this activity did not go quite like I imagined. Cookies got made, but they never were frosted or decorated.
Day 2 - Parker had a Christmas Band concert and afterwards it was off to Arctic Circle for a shake. After the shake, we drove through the light display at the park.
Day 3 - Make teacher gifts.
Day 4 - Christmas movie and pizza with friends. The kids watched Elf while the moms made teacher gifts or worked on class gifts.
Day 5 - Candlelight Christmas at This is the Place Heritage Park. This was a fun night. Parker and Madi had fun dancing around the Christmas tree. We watched a puppet play, that I personally thought was incredibly cute, made a few crafts - icicle ornaments, bird feeders, and reindeer food. We drank hot chocolate, rode the "train," sat on Father Christmas' lap, pet the goats and sheep in the live nativity, wrote letters to Father Christmas and then threw the letter in the fire. This particular activity, the letter writing, was humorous, when you threw the letter in the fire the ashes were carried away magically to Father Christmas and that is how he received your letter. When the letter was thrown in, if it caught on fire it meant that you were on his good list, but if it did not catch on fire you were on his bad list. Parker's immediately caught on fire. Madi's took about 30 seconds to catch on fire. Garrett's, his did not catch on fire. It took minutes to get it to catch and that was with some help from the lady keeping watch over the fire. I wonder what Garrett has done that has put him on the naughty list. HAHA.
Day 6 - Make treats for neighbor gifts.
Day 7 - Make gingerbread houses with the neighbors. It ended up being decorate gingerbread cookies..(does it count if some are gingerbread Star Wars characters?) and make graham cracker "gingerbread" houses. The kids enjoyed decorating the cookies with LOTS of candy and making house that was, well, not quite square.
Day 8 - FHE at a neighbors house. This has been a tradition for our family for quite a few years now. We sing Christmas carols..LOTS of Christmas carols, each family that comes has to do some sort talent - either musical, reading a story or poem, or telling jokes - then the Christmas story is told using the children in the various parts of the story. Finally, it is time for snacks and visits with friends and neighbors.
Day 9 - The kids and I drove around to see Christmas lights and then it was off to get donuts.

The next few days have yet to happen, but here are the plans...

Day 10 - Game night and snacks with friends.
Day 11 - Temple Square and Hot Chocolate with friends (we figured we would wind it down on a more spiritual note to help us remember the reason for the season).
Day 12 - Christmas Eve will be time spent with our own extended families.

There you go, not the traditional give-a-present for the 12 days of Christmas, but it certainly has been a fun way to spend time with the family. I know my kids have looked forward to each night and have asked what are we doing tonight and are we doing anything with anyone.

FYI...the cost of the gifts in the song the 12 Days of Christmas rose this year. It increased by 9.2% from last year. Just in case you wanted to know, the cost for the 12 Days is $23,439.38. That is quite affordable don't you think? And I am sure you have always wanted to have 12 Drummers Drumming ($2,552.55) in your house.

To Do List...HA!

2010-12-05T22:50:00.000-08:00

My hope is that by putting my to do list on my blog, maybe I will get it done. Do you think that will happen with me? Probably not, but it is worth a shot so I am not held accountable to all my millions of readers..haha, that was funny.
1. DECORATE THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND HOUSE! I have storage totes piled up at the top of the stairs waiting to be unpacked. They have been there a few days now.
2. Do my homework for Music for Elementary Teachers and for Intro to Film. The bright side....this stuff has to be done by Friday, after that, no more school until January!
3. Do laundry. I think this should be number one, but it's not and I am not going to make it number one either. Don't want to, don't care to. Besides, I saw a t-shirt one day that said it was a same shirt new day. So, that makes the clothes clean and okay to wear, right?
4. Clean? Maybe this should be number one as well. Once again, no, because this will happen as I decorate. I know, weird thinking.
5. Maybe if I am lucky..haha...I could get Brent to put lights on the house as long as there is no snow on the roof!?! What's the possibility that lights on the house will happen? I think this should be number one! Priorities!
6. Pick up my portfolio from Weber so I can use it to take a test. Hmmm...I think this should be a little higher than 6...maybe number 3.
Nothing, I mean NOTHING is going to go above decorating the Christmas tree and the house. NOTHING!!! Before we went to church this morning, I looked at my Christmas tree, that only has lights on it and a star on the top, but no decorations, and I thought, "would it be bad if all we put up this year was just the tree with lights, a star, and no decorations?" But somehow, that just does not feel like Christmas to me. So, do you see why decorating the house and the tree has to be number one? Besides, once the storage containers are back downstairs maybe the house will feel and look clean again.

Sunday Concert and I should be asleep.....

2010-12-01T23:52:00.000-08:00

I really need to learn how to fall asleep when Brent is gone. It's not like I am not already a night owl, but when he is gone, I am up even later. I eventually fall asleep from pure exhaustion...and that is falling asleep while the tv is on. But that is not the purpose of this post, I just figured that since I was/am still awake I might as well post something on the blog.
So (love that word), it is funny how things work out in such a way that you can see the Lord's hand. Let me explain..I will try really hard to not make it very long.
Back on October I posted a story about auditioning for Weber's Wind Ensemble. I am also in the Symphony Orchestra at Weber as well and these classes do not start until January. This past Monday, while I am sitting in my Music for Elementary Teachers class I get a phone call from Weber, then a text, and an email. The text is from the Symphony teacher asking me about accompanying the Choir for a concert this Sunday. YES, this SUNDAY! After class, I head to the professors office, figured it was a good reason to meet him, and he showed me the music and I said sure I would love to do this. Once again, what in the crap am I thinking? This is my last week of classes, so final projects are due..blah, blah, blah. Anyway, the professor takes me to meet the choir teacher. They ask if I could stay and play with them right then..um, NO (okay I didn't yell it to them, I politely said I could not, I had to work). But I said Wednesday I would be able to. One problem, a small conflict called work. Oh, and they need me to come to the dress rehearsal on Friday..Friday afternoon when I am at work. Once again, Work. WORK. In my mind I think the teacher thinks I am the neediest person or very demanding or deserve to be accommodated at every request I make...I really try not to be this way. Anyway, I told her my predicament and that maybe I would just ask the other assistant to stay for me Wednesday until I got to work and on Friday maybe he could come in the last two hours and cover me. Well, he was not at work, so I called him. Basically (to spare you from reading) he and I switched our schedules and that leaves me with my afternoons free and I now work in the morning. He and I were planning on doing this come January...switching schedules that is..but the way it all worked out right now, well, I think it was meant to happen.
I know I keep somewhat complaining about playing. Not sure that complaining is the right word, whining maybe. But really, I am excited for this opportunity and the scholarship that it gives me. Okay...back to the Sunday thing. The way things worked out, it could not have worked out any better. Today I was able to practice with the choir. I was given three songs, two with the choir, one with the Symphony. The Symphony I basically ruled out since I just don't have the time to get it down super well. But I'll see. The two choir songs, well, now it will just be one that I will do with them. Since I only had Monday night to practice and some of yesterday, it was not down to perfection. Not sure what they were thinking when giving them to me on Monday and practicing with them less than 48 hours later, but still, I feel pretty good about being able to do one. I am going to try to do the Symphony one since I am now free...sort of..from the other song and from most of my homework.
Back to the beginning, I can see how the Lord has helped push me along in this new adventure in my life. He knew I needed to grow and develop this talent in a new area. He has helped make it possible for me to be able juggle my work schedule (as well as the other assistants - switching schedules is actually better for him and saves him money), juggle my school schedule, find classes that fit into the schedule without interfering with my job, and still be able to be home with my children in the evening.
I came across two thoughts, the first, “William George Jordan once said, ‘Man has two creators, his God and himself. The first creator furnishes him the raw materials of his life—the laws and conformity with which he can make that life what he will. The second creator—himself—has powers he rarely realizes. It is what a man makes of himself that counts.’” Marvin J. Ashton, Ensign Feb 1993, 64
"God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it." (unknown author) So, even though this new adventure scares me, I know that as long as I do my part, I will have the help I need to get through it and hopefully improve my talent.

Oh, one more thing, I am not going to proofread this post, so if it does not make sense....well, let's chalk it up to being-awake-when-I-should-be-in-bed-because-it's-late.
Oh, last thing, the title of this post...well, I had no idea what to title it. So if you have a better idea, go ahead and share it...but see if you can leave the word loopy out of it :) Goodnight.

Changed my mind...

2010-11-29T22:28:00.000-08:00

Yep...I am keeping the tree. We went to a couple of tree lots and I did not like what they had. I do not want a Noble Fir tree bush. Seriously, it looks like a bush..shaped in a nice triangular shape. I also want a tree that is about 10-11 feet tall. Bushes do not come in that size. I did find a tree lot with what I was looking for, but do you know what the problem was? The top of the tree! HA! It would have to be trimmed down just to look good. Seriously, there was at least a 12" long stick growing on top! I honestly, my $10 tree that Brent and Garrett chopped down is cute. So, it is staying. BUT, I still may try the bow idea or just ask those who look at the tree not to look at the top :)

Tradition and Memories...

2010-11-29T00:08:00.000-08:00

A few years ago my cousin invited me along to go cut a fresh Christmas tree in the Uintahs. We took them up on this offer and had a blast. Ever since..okay for the past couple of years, we have made it a tradition. The first year, we cut the cutest tree...evenly proportioned branches, not too much space between the branches but just enough, nice height....overall, it was just dang stinkin' cute.

Last year, well, we cut a tree. Let's just say we were in a hurry, which we really were. We got the tree home, brought it in the house after sawing some of the trunk, put lights on it....well, I just wasn't loving the tree. It was not so cute. SO, yep, we went and bought a tree at the tree lot.

SO, this year, we rented a Suburban. We figured we would want/need a four wheel drive vehicle assuming that the Uintahs had a lot of snow, which there was quite a bit. Well...not so a ton, but enough that we need a four wheel drive vehicle.

Can I tell you, I really am not a huge car/vehicle kind of gal. For those of you who know me, know that I did not even want a mini-van. It screams out MOM!!!! I know. I KNOW. Yes I am a mom, yes I need a vehicle to haul my giant banjo..harp...yes, the mini van is nice for the kids, but still..oh, and yes, I am grateful to have it, I really do love it, but still, I just never thought of me as owning a minivan. Okay, back to the topic...The SUBURBAN!!!! I have to say, it was quite nice, comfy, pretty much awesome! Did you know, it has heated back seats? We have had heated seats in vehicles before, but never heated back seats. I must say, the kids LOVED it!

Ok, back to the topic..the Christmas tree. So this year we parked and immediately had to hike up a hill. We looked and looked..probably for an hour and really did not find anything that we truly liked. We started looking at tall trees and looking at the upper portion of the tree. Finally we found a tree, not far from where we were parked that had a nice shape up on top. So down comes the tree. We hauled it home and Brent kept throwing out the idea that he may cut a little bit of the upper portion of the tree to leave some of the fullness on the bottom. Honestly, I didn't give this idea much thought. He measured the tree to see where he would make the cut..or cuts I should say. Well, he did it, he cut not only the bottom, but the top! He brought the tree in and looked at it and was a little bit disappointed that he cut more than he planned off the top. So, he suggested a tree topper. Last night we bought a tree topper, a store with a coiled base that is placed on the top of the tree. Well, we put it on today, well.......I am not quite impressed. It does not look so good. Brent's suggestion, cut some of the branches to make it taper...sort of give it a haircut, but this would be called a tree cut. HAHAHA! Ummm, I don't think so. So...I don't really want to, but I may end up going to the tree lot an buying a tree again. Really, this option does not sound so fun. I kind of like this tree, it is kind of cute, kind of sparse on branches, but it is still cute..it is just missing a top :( A friend offered a suggestion, put a bow at the bottom of the star. That is an option. But as I sit here looking at the tree, I look at the top and look at how the branches are longer on top, the tree sort of looks like...hmmm...like maybe it should continue out of my roof!?! There are just no smaller branches that taper to a top. UGH...it looks like I may be visiting a tree lot later in the day.

As for the tradition of cutting a tree....I think it will continue. It is a fun family activity; hot chocolate, sledding, and playing in the snow. I really do want to find that cute tree again. I don't want to keep killing trees. Okay, it is Brent and Garrett that killed this tree. Well, Brent really did once he cut the top of it off. Love you Brent :) xoxo...Next year, maybe we will try a totally different area..at least take the other road to a different location to look for our Christmas tree. I guess it is all about traditions and making memories that the kids will remember. I guess this will be one of those memories that they will remember.

here is the tree in is natural elements

Brent started the tree killing..I mean cutting

Garrett taking his turn (oh, and I was just a second late at taking the picture after a huge clump of snow fell on his head out of the tree)

3 trees on top of the Suburban...the tree that you can see the top, yea, that is my tree...that is what the top looked like before it was chopped off.

Oh, close up pics of the tree...well, maybe later, I just didn't have any to show you.

Opportunities

2010-10-31T14:09:00.000-07:00

The kids and I were watching Evan Almighty (yes we have seen the movie before) but I heard this quote and I remembered how much I liked it the first time I heard it. To set it up, this quote is God talking to Evan and he says, "Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?"
I know for me, I pray for patience and sometimes I expect to be more patient, when in reality it does not work that way. We are given the opportunities to be more patient. It is up to us to act upon them. Along with being closer to family, courage, or whatever it is we may ask for. We have to act upon those opportunities that God provides for us.
Okay...that's all. I had to put the quote on here and the reminder (the following words) to remind me that it is up to me. Anyway, since today is technically Halloween...Happy Halloween!

What am I thinking?

2010-10-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

(warning...this is a long post)

(pic of my harp..okay technically not MY harp, but the same harp as mine, same company, same style, same color, same decal, it could be mine, but this came off Venusharps.com website)

There are times in our life that we never prepare for or realize that what we are doing is preparing us for something totally out of our comfort zone. That has happened to me. I have played the harp for 26 years. I have never ever aspired to be the only harpist in any sort of ensemble. I have liked being the solo act (except in church). There was a time in my life that I loved the attention that playing the harp brought to me, and that was probably when I first started :).

My partriarchal blessing says I need to share my talent. I try to share my talent whenever I can. Sometimes I have to remind Brent that I was told to share my talent, and that means I need his help in moving the harp. There are also times I wonder how I can share my talent more. But lately, I also feel that I don't even have the time to practice. With school and work and a family when do I fit practicing my harp in? (no I am not asking anyone this question, that is just my thought).

Anyway, I am taking a class called Music for Elementary Teachers. I was warned that when the teacher passes around a paper and asks you to list what instrument(s) you play, be prepared to play in class. I listed the harp, because technically I do play it..haha! Little did I know, every Monday I would be playing it. Children's songs that is. In this class every Monday we have a jam session...harp, flute, guitar, cello, recorders, and singers. Yep, that is what I think of when I think of jam session.

So, about two weeks ago I was helping the professor haul the harp back to the room it came from (I use a harp the school has). As we are walking to the room my professor tells me he has told one of the other Professors about me and this professor would like to meet me. My instructor points to the room where this instructor is located and then says, "How about we stop in and see if he is in his office."

Well that 20 minutes in his office started something I never prepared for or ever thought I would do. This professor wanted to hear me play and also thought the orchestra teacher would like to hear me play as well. We set up a tentative time for me to come in and audition. AUDITION!?! I never thought I would do that. Well, maybe for a bride, but for an orchestra or band? Not in a million years did I want to be that harpist.

I left school that day and I told Brent what happened. I was in total shock. I didn't even have a chance to say no (well I guess I could have, but in a way, deep down, I really wanted to do this).

I have never considered myself to be a great harpist. I know I play well. I know my technique is good. But I have never desired to learn hard, fanciful songs, only because I hate how they usually sound. I like classical music, but I hate playing it on the harp. Where am I really going to use it, certainly not at a wedding? I usually try to take a blend of songs people know and mix it up with some classical pieces that people may have heard as well.

The professor called me and we set up a time this past Friday for me to come in and audition. Prior to Friday, I had practiced until my fingers were sore. Thursday night, like 11:00pm, I opened up my music book and decided just for fun to play some songs in it. Well, I played one of my songs that is nothing but glisses, it has lots of pedal changes, and has harmonics. Impressive song for technique. Well, Friday comes and the one song that I had practiced my heart out on, I didn't even play. Nope, I decided to play the one song I played at 11:00pm the night before. The only reason I went with that song was because the professor was watching over my shoulder watching me read music. This meant, I had to read my music and play it as written. Remember how I said I am a solo act? Well, I don't always play my music as it is written. So, I played that and another song, and he wanted to see me sight read some music that I had never seen before and he wanted to lead me as well (conduct).

To make my long story even longer (sorry if you have read this far and thought she loves to ramble, because...well, I do), he offered me a scholarship to be part of the band. The orchestra teacher could not hear me play, but he is sure the orchestra teacher will now use me, as well as the choral teacher. So, each of them have budgets and he said they will put together a package and potentially my schooling could be payed for. YAY!!!

So, to answer the title to my post, what am I thinking? I have no idea what I am thinking. I have never ever dreamed of being a harpist with a group or a symphony. But to tell you the truth, I am sort of excited about this opportunity. It will mean more homework (practicing my harp), but I really am excited to see where this will lead to. I guess this goes to show that the Lord knows our needs and that he gives us opportunities to help us grow and help us develop our talents.

What to blog about?

2010-10-20T23:43:00.000-07:00

I go through phases..okay, it's all the time, I just don't know what to blog about. Sure, I could blog about:
Garrett going on his first date (which was homecoming).
Garrett getting asked to a Halloween Dance and how he was asked/and how he answered.
Me auditioning against myself this Friday for the orchestra and band (why would you need a harp in band, I don't know, but oh well).
Madi going to her first Daddy/Daughter Dance (she was so excited!)
Parker and his love for animals and his newest pet...Salazar (I think that is his name) the Salamander.
Homework...homework...and more homework.
Brent and his travels (I had to include him since I had listed everyone else :) ).
But you know what? I just don't feel like blogging.
I think I know why. Yep, they say the first step is admitting you have an addiction. So with that said, I have an addiction. I am addicted to Facebook. Not only am I addicted to Facebook, but lately it has been Farmville! Okay, I don't spend every waking hour on farmville, but just think, the time I spend on Facebook and Farmville, well, I could probably be more useful doing other things. Oh, like....HOMEWORK!!! Now, who wants to do that?
Tonight I was watching Modern Family and I laughed. It reminded me so much of my family. They would admit it, but Madi was laughing with me. It started out that the son was playing his handheld video game player at the table while lapping his breakfast up like a dog. The mom pointed this out to her husband (who happened to be sitting next to his son) and the dad congratulated his son! The mom then said that they were going to go without electronics for a WEEK! Of course, the children complained. The oldest daughter asked what was in it for her, because heaven forbid you go without texting your friends..gasp! She asked for a car! The dad agreed to a car. The mom about died when he agreed, but he knew full well that she would not be able to last a week. Well, one by one the kids started to give up for various reasons...needed access to the internet to do homework and various other reasons. The mom (who had this brilliant idea of no electronics for a week) well, she was trying to get some help with some airline tickets she booked, but she was talking to a person over seas. The laptop was sitting right there, no one was around, no one would know if she went on it, right? So what does she do? Yep, she opens it up and the volume is turned up and says, "You've got mail!" Right then her husband walks in on her. She tried to defend her actions, but still she caved. This meant it left just the dad and the daughter....long story short, the dad nearly caved, but his wife would not let him since a car was at stake. Anyway, they hear the daughter on the phone and they rush up to her room to hear her saying she would send a text to her friend. The mom and dad rush in and proclaim that they knew she couldn't do it. The dad said he won and immediately sits down on the bed and opens the laptop. The daughter was quite disappointed in him because only seconds after winning he is on the laptop, and this is where the story turns. The daughter says she did not lose and tosses her parents her "phone." It is not a phone, it is a bar of soap she has carved into the shape of her phone and painted to look like her phone. She won! Of course, the parents can't live up to their agreement since they were not planning on purchasing her a new car. They tell her it should just be the shear satisfaction of knowing that she can do it, go without electronics for two day.
That was a long post for not really knowing what to blog about, but I guess I just found humor in this. Because I think so many families can relate to this. I look at my oldest and I am not sure he talks on his cell phone, I think he converses with his friends by texting. I know I am guilty of this as well, but I will talk on the phone. Parker would be the one sitting at the table lapping the cereal while playing on his iPod. Madi, she would probably cave as well because she had homework to do and it could only be done on the computer. I am not sure I could survive for a week..a day, yes, but a week?
Earlier this year our Stake President issued a challenge to use to go without electronics for a day. We did this challenge as a family (it helped that is was on a Sunday as well). But the mood in the home was more peaceful and the kids were...gasp...nice to each other (no really, they usually are, I promise). I don't know that forced is the word to use, but right now that is all that I can think of, but we were made to come together as a family and do things together. So we built a puzzle. It was a lot of fun and even the kids commented on how nice of a day it was.
I know that I cannot ban electronics, we depend on them far to much in our house. But maybe I can ban them on Sunday. (I will start out small...I'll take a lesson from the show :)).
So can you guess what I am going to go do now? Do you think I have learned my lesson after writing this post? Well yes, I did learn my lesson, but I am going to justify it..Brent is out of town, it is 12:45 and I am not in bed and I need something to keep me entertained...Well, so did you guess what I am going to go do? I am going to go harvest my pumpkins on Farmville and check updated statuses (because you know, those updated statuses help me to sleep better).

54, 5...no 38! Wait 29 and holding

2010-09-23T09:18:00.000-07:00

This was I came home to on Monday!
(compliments of my children, because my friends would never, ever do this to me...EVER.
No, they were trying to stop (wink, wink) the kids. Really, they were. At least that is the story they are going to stick with. Not sure that I believe them ;)
The house was polka-squared! How awesome is that?

No, I am not running for President, I was greeted with signs on the corner by my house that said to honk for Heidi!

Mmmmm, chocolate cupcakes, homemade buttercream frosting topped with cherries..MMMM!

TADA!!! I finally own one (I had to wait 18 years for it, but now it is mine)
Oh, and can I tell you, it makes delicious pumpkin chocolate chip cookies :)

Oh, the reason for 54, when I walked into class (work class - yes I worked on my birthday) one of the 6th graders asked how old I was and another responded 54? I said, "yep, 54!"

Then my kindergartners came in and one asked, "how many numbers are you?"

I asked her, "how many numbers do you think I am?"

She asked, "five?"

I said, "yep, I am five!"

(the teacher started laughing at this point)

Then the little girl had this perplexed look on her face and you could see the wheels turning and then all of the sudden she said, "I'm five, too!"

As well as all the other kindergarteners saying they were five!

So, yes, I am 54, five, 38, or really 29 years old and holding!

What do you think?

2010-09-21T08:58:00.000-07:00

For me, purse shopping is more painful than shopping for jeans. I love my purse when I find the right one. But, it has to be the right one. Stylish, pockets but not a lot of pockets, not mom or grandma looking, just the right size (but this one, I am still working on), and be a color. If it's green, lime green, not hunter or emerald green. Purple, not lavender, but more an eggplant color but not eggplant color. Orange, well, it has to be just the right shade, not pale orange and certainly not hunter safety orange either. A nice pumpkin orange is nice, but not quite so pumpkiny. Red, well I love red. I have had several red purses. I want red, but I want another color in a way, not my standby color. But if I do settle on red, it has to be just the right shade as well...a nice tomato red is good, but maybe not so bright as in a not so ripe red tomato. Am I making myself clear? That is just color, I didn't even discuss size,zippers, pockets, handle, material, and embellishments! Yes, these are all things I have to take into consideration when buying a purse. Needless to say, Brent loves to go purse shopping with me. Ask him, he will tell you how much fun he has, if he rolls his eyes...well that is just him looking back into the back of his head recalling all the fun he has purse shopping.
Okay, so here is what I am leading up to. The purse has to be just right. Girls,I think you understand this. Maybe it does not take you as long as it does me to find a purse, but still, you have to love it. Well, 3 years ago my brother in law called and told me that TJMaxx had a hot pink Dooney and Bourke purse. I LOVE Dooney and Bourke purses. This purse was hot pink with the DB logo all over the fabric. I bought it!! All $69.00 of the purse. That is the most I have ever spent on a purse. I have used this purse everyday as my purse (I do not switch my purse out - I buy it and use it until I get bored of it or I need a new one, such as the case this time). Well, for those of you who know, $69.00 is an awesome deal on a Dooney and Bourke purse. They sell for a whole lot more than that. So, fast forward three years, I need to replace my purse. I have used my purse until my kids are telling me I need a new purse. Even Brent is taking me to stores to shop for a new purse (see, I told you he enjoys purse shopping). Well, let me show you pics of this oh-so-loved-Dooney and Bourke purse. Just remember, it used to be cute and hot..as in hot pink.

It used to have a tassel on top to help pull the zipper open.

Nope, I don't think I need a bigger purse to hold all my crap..receipts mainly

There you go, the cute Dooney and Bourke purse, okay once was cute. I finally parted with, so much so that it is heading to the dump. If somebody out there wants it, let me know, it is in the garbage can until Friday :)
Well, Saturday this past Saturday that is, I went with Brent to Cabela's. I was NOT in a shopping mood. After Cabela's he asked if I wanted to stop at TJMaxx in Draper. I said sure. Nope, butt-stinkin ugly purses there. Seriously. Huge blingy things on them. Big emblems on them. NOT my style, nor were any the right color. They did have a Dooney and Bourke purse, but wrong shade of orange and I did not like the material it was made out of. So, off to JCPenney's. Back in April I saw a purse at Penney's that I thought was cute. Orange. Check. Just the right size. Check. Cute. Check. Cute handles. Check. Pockets. Check. Not mom looking. Check. Okay, surely they would still have it..haha..I knew they wouldn't but thought I would check and see if they had something cute. Well they had a similar one, in fact the same but bigger purse to one I have had. But, I did not want to buy it. Off to Macy's. HA, like they are going to have anything cheap.
Okay, so I head to the purse section. The annoying sales lady walks over and asks if I need any help in looking for a purse. "No thank you, I am just looking," I reply.
The woman would not give up. "What are you looking for?"
"I am just looking, thank you, I really don't know what I want."
Sales lady, "what sort of price do you want to pay?"
Me, "I really am just looking."
Oh, did I tell you I did not feel like shopping? Yeah, purse shopping especially!
Now Brent starts to answer her questions for me.
Brent, "She doesn't know what she wants."

"Is there a particular size you are looking for?"

Brent, "nope, she doesn't know what she wants - she wants big then little."

Lady, "what color do you want?"
Brent, "yep, she wants a color."
Lady, "do you like green?"
(I told you...it has to be the right shade, right..such as lime green!)
Well, by now, I had had it with Brent answering my questions and this lady not letting me just look, so I tell her yes I like green, but I did not tell her it had to be lime.
So she shows me some ugly hunter green shade. It was freaking (sorry for such harsh language) ugly.
I tell her, "Nope, I don't like that shade." I looked grandma-ish as well.
So she tells me to to hold on, she has a purse she wants to show me. She walks over and grabs a red purse. A muted red sort of. Cute handles. It's cute. Not sure it is what I would have picked out, but.....
She shows me the price...$109.00!!!! I have never spent that much on a purse and I was not about to spend that much now! She then tells me that she sold this purse on Friday and it rang up at $36.00. She said she would go double check the price with tax and tell me what the price would be....$30.00!!!
Guess what, I found me a purse! 75% off - can't pass that up, and it was not ugly. It was red..muted red, but oh well. Pockets. Cute style. LOVE IT (Brent just mocked me for posting that part)!!! Especially the price!!!
So, for this really long post, here are pictures of the purse!

Where did July and August go?

2010-08-09T21:45:00.000-07:00

I really do think about this blog thing, and I enjoy reading other peoples blogs more than taking care of mine. Maybe that is why I don't blog that often. No, I like my other excuse better...I am just lazy. But this past July I was not lazy. Okay, maybe the first half, maybe? Let me explain... (oh, I am sure I have pics to take of the camera to attach to the blog, but the camera is in the van - yep good place for it, might as well put a sign on the van and say - camera inside please steal me - oh, but wait, I am not going outside to get the camera right now, so no pics, just use your imagination, besides it is probably better than the pics anyway..haha)...sorry for the long explanation, but here is July in a nutshell (sort of)....

July 2

Garrett's 16th birthday (yes, I am old..I have another driver in the house) For the past 6 months he has had learners permit, but as of today he can officially get his drivers license. BUT, my child is not home this week, so he will have to wait. Where is he, you might ask? He is at NYLT. Okay, next week he will get it. Wrong. We will be out of town, so he will have to wait until after the first day of class. Yes I am going to make him take the big yellow taxi to school. I know, I am a mean mom.

I was called as the girl's camp assistant director so I had a meeting about every week until camp (which is coming up in a min...talking about it).

July 18

Parker's birthday - he is now officially a teenager, 13. All this kid wanted for his birthday was an iPod Touch. Not just any iPod touch, no he wanted a 32 or 64gb. With empahsis on the 64. HAHAHA, he was up in the night. I had a problem with getting 8 gb when I knew for a little bit more I could get a 32gb. I did some searching and found Walmart.com and Target.com sold them and they were $50 less than the store. But no, stores do not match .com prices. So with this in mind I started searching for an iPod touch on KSL and Craigslist (a few weeks prior we bought Garrett an iPod touch off of KSL and had good results with the way the transaction took place - I have used KSL many times prior to this as well). Can you see where this story is going, I will spare all the in between, but to make a long story short, we used Craigslist. We got what we wanted, but the guy who sold us the iPod tried to scam us. There were lessons we learned, but I think I will save this for another post.

July 18

Almost forgot this. I had to come back and insert this, how could I forget about an 8 hour day of grocery shopping. LOTS.OF.FUN. Costco, Winco, Sams Club, Target, and then Walmart. Yes, it was that much fun. Needless to say, I did not want to step into another grocery store for awhile. I actually did not step into a grocery store until today. I made Brent go to the store if we needed something.

July 19

Both Garrett and Parker leave for camp. Parker - Scout camp, Garrett - High Adventure. So guess what this meant. Madi was stuck delivering papers. She did get help though. We picked up a friend every morning and the two of them delivered the papers together. It was fun to watch them interact with each other. It was also fun to watch the enthusiasm at the beginning of the week turn to "I'm tired." Good times.

July 26 - 29

Girls Camp for me. It was in Idaho in Rupert at Sunrise P Ranch. Garrett had told me about this place and how much fun it was. It was awesome to be able to share this time with the girls in our ward and their leaders. Monday when I left, I left my kids home alone. Brent left about an hour before me to head to the airport for Los Angeles. I had made arrangements for the kids to go with Brent's mom, but that was still a few hours away. But still, when I kissed my kids goodbye, I had tears in my eyes. I have never been away from my kids for that many days. But I know my prayer was answered, the kids were taken care of (not that I didn't know that already) but I felt like a mom to each of the girls up there. They helped make that transition much easier. It was also fun playing "Uno" late at night as well with the other leaders. Being able to hear the girls share their testimonies and watch their testimonies grow over the few days we were there was a great experience as well. The girls in the ward made the experience worth while. Everyday, we chose a few girls to help with cleanup, not only did those girls willingly help, but many other girls would come, on their own, and ask what they could do to help. If you told them nothing they seemed quite devastated, so we would find something they could help.

August 2 - 6 (I know this is not part of July - but close enough)

I had a class. One week only. 8am-4pm. This is what it is going to feel like when I finally work full time. I took this class for one main reason, it gave me 3 credit hours by the end of the week. More classes should do this (if they could) one week class, a very intense class at that. Not only did I go to class, but I would come home and do homework until at least 1 am, a few night 2am. It was not that it was hard, but with cramming in a whole semester class into one week, the homework is piled on. In this class we sang children's songs, played the recorder, did art projects, colored, learned about artists, played instruments, danced. I am being quite serious. The class was an education class - Creative Processes. It was an awesome class, intense, but fun.

August (yes, another August date) 7

Took Garrett to NYLT to help staff. Oh, did I mention it is in Idaho. So this Saturday we will make the trek back up there to get him.

Next week - Sequim and Seattle, come back and the following week - start school. Where did the summer go?

Wow! It's been a while since I posted...

2010-05-13T21:50:00.000-07:00

It really has been a long time. I think the last post was the end of January. Wow. I am not even going to promise to try to post more often, because, well, it just won't happen. Not that I am busy, because really, I am not as busy as I was a month ago.

For the past two years I have been going to Weber (not like most of you didn't know that already), but I have not had a break. I have gone every semester, Spring, Summer, and Winter. Well, this year, I debated..do I go summer semester or do I not. Here is the problem, I put my math off until the very of my generals and support classes, and, well, let's just say after not having a math class for nearly 20 years, it was NOT a good idea to do. Hindsight...I would not put math off until the end. Actually, that was never my intention to do math classes at the end, I always intended to take them early on in case I struggled, but I just could not figure out where to put the class since I would be going to a different location (other than Weber) to take the class. I was also hoping that I was smart enough that I could test into a higher class and just be done...HAHAHAHA...who was I kidding, I just said I had not had a math class for almost 20 years.

So, definitely NOT a good idea to put those math classes off until the end. Had I completed them before now, well, let's just say I could be starting the teaching program. Oh well, I guess that is all I can say now, but right now, I get to enjoy the summer with my kids. This will be a first in two years...YAY!!! (I really am that excited when I use three exclamation marks)

But if you ask Brent, he will tell you that I am bored; I have nothing to do. Hmmm, interesting. Let's see, I am not seeking sympathy, this is just to see how bored I am or if I am really bored like Brent says. So, I work, then I come home and clean, go on facebook and take care of my farm because I would hate for my crops to go bad or for the animals hair to get matted because I did not brush them, or the cows milk to dry up because I did not milk them. THEN after I have farmed and played Bejeweled..haha (I am being quite serious, seriously), I will do laundry, dishes, clean the kitchen, you know, that sort of stuff, all the fun stuff. Then, some days after work I need lunch so my evil lunch buddies make me eat lunch with them...yes you know who you are....I really do not think we go to lunch all that often, but somehow my sweet spouse seemed to get it in his head that it was not fair that I went to Rubio's without him. So, he decided to call the husband of this said friend I had lunch with this particular day and the day before and say we - meaning me and my said lunch friend - that we needed to be put on an allowance. SERIOUSLY?!!! Are you kidding?!!! Look at all I have had to do so far in the sentences before this. You know, taking care of those animals is not an easy job - oh, and by the way, my dog was picked up by the pound on my farm and they want me to pay money to rescue him! NO WAY!!!! Basil was too high maintenance, maybe some other family will enjoy her more..haha. Ok, let's get back on topic, so then there are other days that, well, since it is Utah and we have had some weird weather and during the winter there is not much vitamin D to partake of, well I have to seek it from other areas, so I go tanning. (I don't want to hear it....At least I will die with sun kissed skin).

In between all of that other stuff I have mentioned, I do run the kids around after school to the places they need to go. Not to mention letting Garrett practice his driving skills. Oh the fun. And since this post seemed to start out about school, I will end it about school, I still have my share of homework, even though I am not in school this semester. I have the AWESOME privilege (if that is what you call it), responsibility maybe? Anyway, of helping my kids with their homework. Quite often, it is math. Yep, math. I am being forced into loving it. I really am trying, just when I start to love it, I soon realize why I hate it.

I am going to end now, and guess what? I am not going to even proofread this post. I am just going to post it as is. Since I am posting it As Is, I cannot guarantee that any of this post made sense. Therefore, you cannot come back and seek back those minutes you wasted reading this post. Sorry, that is all I can give you - As Is.

Thank you

2010-01-27T21:57:00.000-08:00

Can I start out by saying how grateful I am to have friends that will help me out without being asked? Today started out normal, well with the exception of Brent going out of town. After I got Madi out the door and on the bus I finished getting ready and then left for work. I was running on time, but whenever I am running on time and leave at a decent time wouldn't you know it, I get behind the slow drivers. Yep - gotta love them. I have just given up on being to work on time, quite often I am a couple minutes late. I like to say it is the other drivers fault, but maybe if I left five minutes earlier I might be on time. I know, before you agree with me, let me say I have tried that as well. Even ten minutes early (work is only three miles from my house). But that is not what I am blogging about, although, that is a good thought for another blog - stupid drivers and why I am late...hmmmm. HAHA, it just may work.
So, I love that word, anyway, I leave work early like I normally do on Wednesdays so I can make it to my 11:30 class. I get to the lot, drive around a few times looking for a spot, finally a car pulls out and I park. No big deal, even though the school feels the need to block off half of the paid lot for some unknown reason. Leave class a couple hours later. Head home to study for my math test. I have given myself one hour to cram for this test before I go take it. I was completely engrossed in my studying, really I was - I know you may have a hard time believing it, but I was. I even contemplated studying longer and missing tonight's class so I could cram some more. But I decided I better not do that. I left my house about 3:15 to head to take my test. Since Brent is out of town I decided that I should probably take my stuff for my class tonight instead of heading home to only head back to class. That just did not make sense. So, I told Garrett he was in charge and to make Parker and Madi dinner when they got hungry. I get to school, find a spot to park - I am early enough that I am not parking out on the road practically, I am near the doors. This is a good day I think already. I grab my bag, head up the elevator to the floor I need, get off, walk to the testing center all the time going over different things I studied. I give the lady my number, what test I need to take and the teachers name, she then asks to see ID. What? ID? You mean I need to be ID'd for a test? Okay, it's not like I have not been through this before, I should have known that I needed my ID. I have only been taking tests for two years at the testing center and it is always the same protocol. So yes, I should have had my id, but it was in the car. Okay, I was a little upset as I was walking out of the testing center check-in room to get my ID, how could I have been so forgetful and how dare she ask for my id..haha, just kidding on the last part, but I was mad at myself for not remembering to bring it with me. Well, on my way out I glace at my phone and notice that Madi's school had tried calling. Hmmm, interesting. Oh well, I guess if they need something they will leave a message, I think to myself. Well, my phone rings, more like buzzes, it is the school again. I guess it must be important and at that moment I am free, well just walking to the car to get my id. I answer it and I hear on the other end,
"Mom?" OH NO...
(sound of doom...dum dum dum)
I say, "Madi (and notice the time it is) did you miss the bus?"
She says, "yes, can you come pick me up?"
To which I reply (like she should have known ahead of time where I was), "Madi, I am at school heading in to take a test, I can't pick you up." I then tell her that I will call a friend and see if she can pick her up. I am really going to try my friendship out with this friend..haha.
Really, at that moment though I wanted to cry. My heart broke for Madi that she was at school, Brent was not in town, and I could not do anything about picking her up at that moment. I also thought about how had I have had my ID with me, I would not have been able to answer my phone and get that message that she had missed the bus. I realized then that the Lord knew what had happened and he was watching out for Madi and for me. He knew that I needed to be on the other end of the phone for her when she made that call to me. Had I have had my ID I would not have been able to answer the phone. And it really was moments later that I had left that testing center that I received that phone call. So, I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for watching out for Madi and for me and knowing what we need. It is truly awesome when you can see his hand in things and how he helps you.
So, it does not end there. Like I said, I told Garrett to make dinner for his brother and sister if they got hungry because I would not be home until later, since I had class after I was done taking my test. I called Garrett when I finished my test, checked on him and the kids. I asked if they had had dinner yet, to which he replied no. I said make dinner for them if they get hungry, and of course he knew that he said. Well, I leave class about an hour and 14 minutes later. Class was ending early! YAY!!!! Well, I call Brent as soon as I am walking out, tell him about the test, about class, about what happened earlier. He says that Madi is eating at the neighbors. She had called him to ask for permission. I said ok. Well I get home, I can hear the tv on so I ring the doorbell rather then pulling out my house key. No answer. I ring it again, and again, and again, again, again, again, over and over again right in a row. Sort of like an impatient two year old ringing the doorbell. Still no answer. Weird, but oh well. I am thinking I hope those boys are not on their computers arguing over who should go answer the door. Well, I walk in, and nobody is home except the Duncan. hmmm, interesting. I call Garrett's phone, no answer. It is on the table. But of course I let it ring and ring and ring....haha. Go figure. I call Parker's phone, he answers. I ask him where they are and he says they are at the neighbors eating dinner and that they were invited over for dinner.
Can I tell you how awesome it is to have friends that bail me out? I have some terrific friends that helped me out today more than they know. It really is times like this I know the Lord is watching out for me and my family. Thank you.

A Touching, Poignant, & Insightful Verse

2010-01-04T19:55:00.000-08:00

' WINTER '

by Abigail Elizabeth McIntyre

Crap....It's Cold

The End

The Signs of Fall in East Canyon

2009-09-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

Fall is one of my very favorite seasons! The mountains are vibrant & on fire with color. The air is crisp. There is nothing better than waking up with the windows open and being warm under the covers. Anyway, enough of that sappiness - we decided to take a drive, actually it was suppose to be a drive up to Snowbird to Oktoberfest, but it did not happen thanks to some friends and their evil ways of texting only one word, "Rancheritos." Yes friends, you know who you are...hahaha. Seriously, it was fun at Rancheritos with them and Oktoberfest will wait another week or so.
But we still managed to get in a ride to see the leaves as they are starting to change.

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn." ~Elizabeth Lawrence

Birthday Holiday

2009-09-19T00:15:00.001-07:00

No this is not an all about me post. I just decided, well not really that I decided just now because I know that I have neglected this poor blog for quite some time, I just really have not had anything to write about. I guess maybe I have had stuff, but I can say that I was busy, which was true. I can use the excuse that I am a college student and have lots of homework, which is true. I can say that I am a mom with a job as well, which is true. But that stuff could be excuses for blogging, but really, I just have not felt like it. So here I sit on a bed in Sequim with nothing to do, when really I do have stuff to do - such as sleep, but who wants to do that? So I thought that maybe, just maybe I would update my blog! YAY!!! to that I say - what-ever - haha.
So what is a birthday blog. Since it was Mad's birthday this past week and mine the start of the week (tomorrow) I decided to find holiday's or observances in the month of September that we just may not know about. Maybe it is time we start a movement and petitioning we have these days off. So here it goes:

National Observance Month
National Shameless Promotion Month (good to know)
Pleasure Your Mate Month (I am NOT making this one up here's the link to see for yourself http://www.brownielocks.com/september.html)
Update Your Resume Month
Subliminal Communications Month (can you subliminally communicate to someone and let them know that your resume needs updating and therefore you can kill two things with one stone?)

National Weekly Observances
September 14-19: Line Dance Week (who doesn't want to do the Achy Breaky Heart?hehe)
September 13-19: Balance Awareness Week (practice standing like a flamingo with a book on top of your head)
September 20-26: National Clean Hands Week (finally, we can wash our hands!)

National Holiday (don't you think if you have more than one holiday on your bday it should really be a holiday - it must mean it's a pretty special day..haha)
September 17: Citizenship Day; Constitution Day; VFW Ladies Auxiliary Day
September 20: Women's Friendship Day

But here are a few funny holidays that I think we MUST observe (seriously, who made these holidays? These people were smoking something)
September 19 (it has some great holidays) Talk Like a Pirate Day; Big Whopper Liar Day (please explain this one to me)
September 12: Video Games Day (what kid, or adult, would not like to have a day off work or school to play video games? I think this one MUST be made into law - when I'm president...)
September 9: How Much longer (seriously, how much longer is this post going to be..hehe)
September 8: Another Look Unlimited Day (huh?)
September 9: Wonderful Weirdos Day (technically, couldn't we all be weirdoes and all get the day off work or school because it is our day?)
September 25: Hug a Vegetarian Day (what about the meat lovers); National One-Hit Wonder Day (that way we will never forget their song)

The Sad Passing of a Friend...

2009-07-14T14:17:00.000-07:00

Statue of Thomas Paine writing "Common Sense" Morristown New Jersey

(disclaimer...this is not who this wrote the article below - just thought I would throw a picture in)

(my words)
Sorry if you have read this before, I (not me personally) but I am having a hard time with others who seem to lack Common Sense. I was talking to my mom and telling her about some of the things that have happened where I just thought others should know better then to do that - it is just common sense. So I searched the internet for this email that I read long ago to post as a reminder. Not to you the reader, but as a reminder to me, to my kids. I could go on and on about how I agree with everything written and why - really breaking it down, but I won't. So here is:

The Obituary for our Friend - Common Sense

(author unknown)

Today we mourn the passing of an old friend, by the name of "Common Sense".
Common Sense lived a long life but died in the
United States from heart failure on the brink of the new millennium. No one
really knows how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in
bureaucratic red tape.

He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals, homes, and
factories helping folks get jobs done without fanfare and
foolishness. For decades, petty rules, silly laws, and frivolous lawsuits
held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with
cultivating such valued lessons as to know when to come in out of the rain,
why the early bird gets the worm, and that life isn't
always fair.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more
than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the
adults are in charge, not the kids), and it's okay to come in second. A
veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great
Depression, and the Technological Revolution, Common Sense survived cultural
and educational trends including body piercing,
whole language, and "new math." But his health declined when he became
infected with the "If-it-only-helps-one-person-it's-worth- it" virus.

In recent decades his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of
well intentioned but overbearing regulations. He
watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers. His
health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly
implemented zero-tolerance policies. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged
with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, a
teen suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher
fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened
his condition.

It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to
administer aspirin to a student, but could not inform the
parent when a female student was pregnant or wanted an abortion.

Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments became
contraband, churches became businesses,
criminals received better treatment than victims, and federal judges stuck
their noses in everything from the Boy Scouts to
professional sports.

Finally, when a woman, too stupid to realize that a steaming cup of coffee
was hot, was awarded a huge settlement, Common Sense threw in the towel. As
the end neared, Common Sense drifted in and out of logic but was kept
informed of developments regarding questionable regulations such as those
for low flow toilets, rocking chairs, and stepladders.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his
wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and
his son, Reason. He is survived by two stepbrothers: My Rights, and Ima
Whiner. Not many attended his funeral because so few
realized he was gone.

~Author Unknown

So Where Were the Parents?

2009-07-11T23:08:00.000-07:00

obviously not in the same room as the kids, because had they been, the following would NEVER had taken place. With that said....
never, Never, NEVER let your kids go on eBay!!! haha. Totally kidding of course, but seriously, they have basically anything you want. Obviously it is other people selling the stuff, but still, if you are looking for something, chances are you may find it on eBay. With that said, let me get to my point.
Tuesday, I am leaving for my 7:30am class at Weber. As I am walking out the front door I notice that both of the boys are still awake after their paper route (normally they come back home and go to bed). No big deal that they are awake, but Parker has his laptop on his lap, while reclined on the couch and Garrett is kneeling at the end of the couch near Parker's head and saying, "Put in 250, 250 quick!"
Okay, before I left for class I gave Brent a kiss goodbye and asked him if he needed to get up so he could start getting ready for the day since we had a busy day.
(You will see where I am going with that part)
So, I am walking out the door and Garrett is coaxing Parker on 250, put in 250!!! Ah-ha! I now know why they were up and Parker's computer was on his lap! He is wanting to buy some train track on eBay.
Oh, and that 250 is not $2.50, nor is it $25.00. No, we are talking $250.00!!!! What sort of kid has that money? Wait my kids do, only because they have this stupid thing called a paper route in which they now have financial freedom and they are free to purchase what ever they want. Oh, wouldn't that be grand if that were the case? Needless to say, I keep their ATM cards for that very purpose.
Ok, sorry, off of the soapbox now...recap...I am walking out the door, Garrett is egging Parker on to put in $250.00 while Parker has his laptop on his lap while reclined on the couch. (There, we are caught up)
So, as I am slipping my flip-flops on in the entry way getting ready to walk out the door and I hear Garrett say "250.00" to Parker, I quickly say, "BEFORE you order anything on eBay, you need to go talk to your father!"
Brent, who was still laying in bed, trying to find the will-power to drag himself out of bed heard the words that I said to the kids about talking to him prior to placing an order.
Well, I am driving to Weber when my phone rings, it is Brent. I answer it. He is sooo MAD!!!! I could hear Parker in the background crying, Brent would interrupt our conversation to have a very heated talk with the kids and tell them that they are grounded and that they needed to get to their rooms. Can you guess what my kids did? Yep, you guessed it, they ordered the train track. All 70 feet of track. $235.00 for the track and $35.00 for shipping and handling. Sweet huh? So I ask to talk to the kids, first Parker, he is crying when he gets on the phone. I proceed to rail on him, I guess. I did not yell, but I was not a happy mom (it did not help that I was heading to class to take a test as well). I then ask to talk to Garrett, and proceed to tell Garrett what a DUMB mistake they just made and how they have screwed up our eBay rating that we have tried to maintain as being good buyers/sellers. He was surprised that there were ratings. I told him he knew NOTHING about this buyer, let alone his rating (what others thought of him) and how much shipping was going to be. Oh I was MAD as well!!!
Garrett was trying to tell me that he did not buy it and that Parker bought it. Well, let's see....Garrett sat there, egged Parker on - even though it was Parker's computer - and told Parker how to place a bid. Hmmmm, I think Garrett played an equal part in it. What he was tyring to say is that once I told them to talk to their father, he told Parker they should not place the bid, but Parker went ahead and hit the CONFIRM bid button instead. Still, Garrett played an equal part.
So I get Brent back on the phone and he tells me that he has told them that this probably won't be the end of it, they will still have to talk to me when I get home (why do I always have to be the bad parent?).
Class gets over and I head home knowing what I have to come home to. I walk in the door, did not make any word about what they did. THEN, I decided to bring it back up. I was a much nicer mommy this time. We had (at least that is what I want to thing we did) a very good discussion on why they are not allowed to place bids on eBay (I told them it was illegal for kids their age to do that and to falsely do it under someone else's account). I then told them that this discussion was over and there was no point in rehashing it anymore. Although, I will not let them here the end of it, I am sure one day it will be one of those funny stories - well maybe not so funny, humorous, not sure, but I still will bring it up when the time is right, just not get mad.
Well, we emailed the buyer and informed him of what happened. He was very nice and said that he would contact the second highest bidder and see if he would still be interested in the track, but if not we had to pay for them. We knew we could put the track to good use outside, but we just did not need that much, but if we had to, the boys were going to make good on the mistake that they made and buy the track.
Well, we heard back from the buyer later that evening and he said that the other bidder still wanted to track and that we were off the hook. WHEW!!!
Needless to say, I have two boys that are grounded from their computers for at least two weeks, maybe longer. They are no longer allowed to go on eBay, and I have told them I can check what sites they visit, so they better not even try it. I am also going to change my eBay password, yet again, so they cannot get into mine and Brent's account.
So there you have it, never, Never, NEVER let your kids go on eBay! (at least unsupervised)

Are you kidding?!?

2009-06-19T09:52:00.001-07:00

Sorry, you are going to first need to turn off my music to hear the sound on the video. If you have not seen the video, well then it is new to you, if you have seen the video, you have not seen the Ninja Remix!After the video, read the news article. ARE. YOU. SERIOUS????

Peta Miffed at President

Animal rights activists have lashed out at President Barack Obama - after he was photographed swatting away a rogue fly during a TV interview.
The president has been getting lots of kudos for a lightning-fast, Mr.Miyagi-worthy swipe he employed to slay a pesky house fly that was buzzing him in mid-interview during a taping with CNBC that aired Wednesday.
But now People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, calling it an"execution," wants the commander-in-chief to show a little more compassion to even "the least sympathetic animals."
The group has sent Obama a device that traps a fly so it can then be released outside.
Copyright WENN.com. Reuters contributed to this report.
http://www.kutv.com/content/news/watercooler/story/PETA-miffed-at-President-Obama/7MaL-N9050OeafzsBMpdhA.cspx

ABC'ing the past month

2009-06-15T22:12:00.000-07:00

It is not that I do not want to blog, it is just that I feel like I have nothing to say or to blog about, when in reality I do.
I was looking at the date on my last blog, May 14th. WOW!!! That was over a month ago. At the time, I was really excited that 8 days later I REALLY would have something to blog about, my anniversary. 17 years!!! Has it really been that long? I know it has, but seriously (I seem to use seriously in almost every single post - hmmm, guess I must like that word) it does not seem like I have been married that long. How time flies when you are having fun :) But with that post I thought it would be a good reason to scan pictures of my wedding day and make fun of the 90's dress and how you we looked. I do not think I have changed though - I still think I look not a day over 18 (haha).
So, I know this is kind of cheesy, but I am going to see if I can sum up my last month by going through the alphabet with what has happened. Here goes - some things may be a stretch...

A: Anniversary -17 years. Air Show - AWESOME weather!
B: Brent had a birthday. I won't say his age, but I will say he is now 11 months away from being Over the Hill...hehe
C: Chased the 844 Steam Engine from Ogden to Rock Springs. (This obsession is CRAZY!)
D: Dinner at Shabu. mmmmm - DELICIOUS!!!
E: Errands, chores, errands, chores. Fun. Just ask my kids.
F: Friends. Friends calling. Friends coming over. Friends hanging out. Oh, and how could I forget, Facebook. Way, way, to addicting.
G: Garrett is on his way to ...
H: HIGH SCHOOL!!! (Wow - that worked out perfectly!! G and H together.)
I: Ice Road Truckers. Yes, I watch this show and a new season just started - they even added a girl this season.
J: Junior High here we come, again (see "P").
K: Kelton. Took a ride to a very old cemetery in the town of Kelton on Mother's Day after going to the Golden Spike Re-enactment.
L: Laundry. Laundry. Laundry. Need I say more.
M: Madisyn is going to 4th grade! Waiting for an opening in Spectrum.
N: Newspaper Route. Have I ever said how much I HATE the paper route?
O: Overdue cd's that need to go back to the library. Just saw them sitting on the computer last night - Oops. Sorry people if you wanted to check out Nora Jones, Green Day, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, ZZ Top, Miley Cyrus, Survivor, or the Grateful Dead.
P: Parker graduated from 6th grade. Onto a new journey and dress standards.
Q: Quit Working, my computer that is. Actually the fan needed to be replaced.
R: Rain. Rain, Rain. Need I say more.
S: Spoon Me! No I am not asking you to Spoon Me - get your mind out of the gutter. It opened in Harrisville - Yummy! (and yes I went on grand opening day :) )
T: Tacos on the street corner in Salt Lake. Cheap and Oh So Good!!!
U: Union Station. It is where all the train stuff happens. 1st the 844 Steam Engine. 2nd, Disney's Christmas Carol Train Tour. Heading up there bright and early in the morning..Oh, and not to mention, an AWESOME place to take pictures.
V: VERY horrible allergies this past month. (sorry, it was a stretch.)
W: Wildcat Bookstore. Books, books, books. Oh, how I love spending $100+ on one book.
X: Xi. Did you know that you can use this letter combination on Scrabble? "XI" scores big points if used wisely and strategically.
Y: Year '08-'09 school year done. Summer Break is here and then onto a new school year!
Z: Zzzz's I will not get much of the next couple of days. Brent is with Parker at Scout Camp.

Reason to Avoid a Family Pic.

2009-05-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

This website needs to be checked out before EVER having another family photo taken. After seeing some of these photos, I think it is reason enough to avoid the family photo all together. Just kidding about avoiding it, but seriously, there are some great ones on here. Be sure to check out The Dribbler.
http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

just be sure to read the captions. They are HYSTERICAL!!!

HAHAHAHAHA

2009-05-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

Sorry, that had to be the title on this. So, tonight I was in the bathroom washing my hands and Madi was in the bathroom brushing her hair. Oh, by the way, we have only one bathroom in the house and sorry in advance if this is TMI. Anyway, Duncan the dog comes into the bathroom to get a drink. Yes, he likes to drink out of the toilet. I just cleaned the toilet last night if that is any consolation, and yes he does have a dog bowl to drink out of but if there is no water in it then he resorts to the toilet, I know I am a bad dog owner or that is plain gross for letting him do that. Anywho, he comes into the bathroom to get a drink, and right behind him Garrett comes in. This is how the conversation went...

Duncan: (walk in door and proceed to toilet to get drink. Bend head down into toilet and open mouth, but do not quite reach water when suddenly interrupted...)

Garrett: DUNCAN! NO! MOVE, I NEED A DRINK BEFORE YOU PEE!

Apparently, from the conversation above, which IS true by the way, I do not let my son drink out of cups and the dog is REALLY potty trained.

San Diego

2009-04-08T16:28:00.000-07:00

Sometimes just to be able to get away for a day is all one needs. A couple of weeks ago I went with Brent to Seattle and yesterday, San Diego. Unfortunately, I did not take my digital with me to Seattle. I did take my film camera with black and white film. So, as soon as those pics are developed, I will scan them and post them - but only after I finish or more like start and finish my final.
Anywho, I decided I would take the digital to San Diego. I WAS going to be adventurous and go sight seeing by myself, but I did not. We had a fun rental vehicle, a Nissan Rogue, but there was only one MAJOR problem with it. When I drove it, all I could adjust on the seat was back and forth. Ok, I know I have a height deficiency and this vehicle only made it worse. Brent saw me drive away and thought I looked a bit funny. I just was not comfortable driving or more like parking this vehicle. Call me sill, but I guess I like to be able to see over the dashboard. So how else should I spend the next three hours? Shopping, or more like walking through stores. Still fun though.
Once Brent was done we drove to Carlsbad and then down the coast through Encinitas, La Jolla, and then to San Diego. Short trip, but still fun. The best part...the warm weather, well in the upper 60's, the humidity, the breeze, the BLUE SKY, the ocean, the drive down the ocean, FRESH. ENORMOUS. JUST PICKED STRAWBERRIES - yummy, the shrimp cocktail, and lunch on the beach! It was a great way to spend a day!

"Excuse me while I kiss the sky." Jimi Hendrix

A person should go out on the water on a fine day to a small distance from a beautiful coast, if he would see Nature really smile. Never does she look so delightful, as when the sun is brightly reflected by the water, while the waves are gently rippling, and the prospect receives life and animation from the glancing transit of an occasional row-boat, and the quieter motion of a few small vessels. But the land must be well in sight; not only for its own sake, but because the immensity and awfulness of a mere sea-view would ill accord with the other parts of the glittering and joyous scene. ~Augustus William Hare and Julius Charles Hare, Guesses at Truth, by Two Brothers, 1827

follow-up: Quick and easy sort of recipe, really there is no preparation involved, but, take a strawberry, dip it in sour cream, then roll it in brown sugar, and eat! If you have never tried this, you must! It is delicious!

Yummy!!!

2009-03-29T10:13:00.000-07:00

I hate, Hate, HATE, HATE with a passion Macaroni and Cheese in a box!!! I cannot express how much I detest that stuff - except if you put a can of chili in it it is actually palatable. Anyway, I really do not like the stuff in the box. Which translated to, if I hate that Macaroni and Cheese of course I would hate all other Macaroni and Cheeses.
Well, I received in the mail my Real Simple Magazine - awesome magazine by the way. But on the front cover was a picture of what else? Macaroni and Cheese. Except, there is a twist, it contains cauliflower and has a bread crumb topping. This looked good and I had to try it. So I decided a few weeks ago that I was going to try this. This macaroni and cheese had to be better than that other stuff, right? Well, it was, it was delicious! So I am going to share the recipe, I did do some of my own tweaking in which I will put in parentheses.
Oh, and if you kids are like mine, when they saw me cutting the cauliflower they did not want any part of this, it automatically looked and sounded disgusting - and my kids normally love veggies. But when it was done cooking, they of course ate it and could not tell the difference from the cauliflower and the noodles, so it IS kid approved!

Macaroni and Cheese with Cauliflower

12 ounces multigrain elbow macaroni (I used a bag of regular elbow macaroni)
1 head cauliflower, roughly chopped (I chopped it in small pieces - only to disguise it)
4 slices multigrain bread, torn
1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
kosher salt and black pepper
1 onion, finely chopped (I caramelized my onion after chopping it)
1 1/2 cups grated extra-sharp Cheddar (6 ounces) (grate your own cheese - it melts better, is not gritty, and has better flavor. AND - you must use Extra Sharp, better flavor)
1 1/2 cups reduced-fat sour cream (no low fat stuff - lacks the flavor)
1/2 cup 1 percent milk (skim works as well)
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (I used regular mustard, next time I would leave it out all together)

Heat oven to 400° F. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, adding the cauliflower during the last 3 minutes of cooking time; drain.
Meanwhile, pulse the bread in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. Add the parsley, 2 tablespoons of the oil, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper and pulse to combine; set aside.
Return the pasta pot to medium heat and add the remaining tablespoon of oil. Add the onion, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, just until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Mix in the pasta, cauliflower, cheese, sour cream, milk, and mustard.
Transfer to a shallow 3-quart baking dish, sprinkle with the bread crumbs, and bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/macaroni-cheese-cauliflower-00000000008063/index.html#

Seattle in a Day

2009-03-26T21:55:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, Brent had to go out of town to work. Seattle in fact. What would be more fun then to tag along with him and call up my brother and hang out with him? So when Brent found out there was a job in Seattle I started to brainstorm. I immediately called up my brother, who by the way lives two hours outside of Seattle - I should say it takes two hours to get to Seattle because he has to take the ferry into Seattle. So I call up Doug and proceed to tell him that Brent has a job in Union Gap (two hours the south of Seattle) to do and that maybe we can tag along if I come in town. Few complications though, I needed to get a sub at school (work). I also needed to make sure I could use a ticket to fly with Brent.
My brother called me on Monday and said that the stage was "set" ; he and Mateo were "sick." Now I had to follow through on my end, I still had yet to find a sub and hope that I could catch a flight with Brent.
Found a sub for my group of kids - now I am free to go!!! But there was a slight problem - not really a problem, just hmmm, I could not use the free ticket on Delta to fly with Brent; the plane was booked, in fact overbooked. Easy solution, I fly up on Southwest and use one of the other tickets. That was easy. Only problem, if that is what you want to call it - the reason I was going with Brent was to drive the two + hours with him and my flight arrived about an hour and a half after Brent's. Oh well, guess he is traveling to Union Gap by himself, I will catch up with him later, on the plane home.
I get the kids out the door and off and their way to school, drop my time card by at the school I work at and head for the airport. Get on the plane - arrive in Seattle - and the AWESOME day begins. Seriously, it was so nice just to get away, even if it was for a day.
Doug and Mateo and the pugs - Chucho and Apple met me at the airport and off we went. They asked what I wanted to do and I was game for anything. I was along for the ride.
First thing, we were hungry so they took me to one of their favorite soup places. Pho (pronounced F-uh). I told Brent it is like Ramen Noodles - only better - on steroids. A small bowl was freakin huge, but I ate it all. The soup had chicken, green onions, and lots of noodles. Then you could put in sprouts, jalapenos, basil, and lime, plus a few different kinds of sauces. It was delicious!
We then drove around a very old cemetery looking for Bruce Lee's grave - never found it, sure we saw it and did not realize it, but it was an awesome cemetery. Went to the arboretum. Beautiful, blew a whole roll of black and white film in here (for my Photography class - otherwise I would normally use a digital). Went to Theo's chocolate - a Fair Trade Certified, Organic chocolate place. They have the BEST chocolate!!!! My brother bought me a chocolate hotcake to bring home and bake - holy cow - that thing was so rich! Brent loved it, I could only have a couple of bites before needing a drink of milk.
we then drove around downtown Seattle, drove past where Doug and Mateo have lived, drove past a very cute Disneyland like house - would have taken pics, but honestly, black and white would not have done this house justice. Went to a small, eclectic market and bought a few snacks and went to Kerry Park (I believe that is what it is called) it overlooked Seattle and sat there and ate our snacks. I did take a few pics, I will have to see how they turn out.
Lastly, we went and had dinner - this is where we met up with Brent. Thai Tom's. If you ever head to Seattle this place is a MUST!!! It is very similar to Tepanyaki or Benihana's, but prices are much cheaper, the place is much smaller, service is quick, and the food is AWESOME!!! Brent had Swimming Rama with a heat of four and I had Thai noodles with chicken and veggies - heat of three. Doug and Mateo had a Coconut soup with chicken (heat of three) and this soup was to die for. It was sooo good.
After all this fun, Brent and I headed for the airport. The day was awesome. Just to be able to get away and not have to worry about work or school. It was short, but fun, one that needs to be repeated again.

Wow!

2009-03-23T21:07:00.001-07:00

(mute the music to hear the comment - sorry)

Would you dare say what Kroft said to the PoTUS?
For me, with the President, I have had a hard time with him acting so casual with issues - like they're no big deal. Sure you have to be able to laugh things off, but he's the President. For me, he should not take some of these issues so lightly - they are a big deal, they are not a laughing matter. You do need to have humor in life no matter who you are, but seriously, humor about the state of the economy, the war? Oh well. I heard about this clip and had to see if it was true (true what the reporter said "Punch-drunk"- which it was. It was the other night when the President was on 60 minutes - here is the link as well to read the article... http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/20339.html

Not in the mood

2009-03-15T21:33:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I have not been in the mood to blog. I guess it shows when the last time that I blogged was nearly a month ago! Oh well. It is not that I have not thought about blogging, because I have, but nothing has jumped out to blog about. I was and still will, post the recipe for the YUMMY homemade mac-n-cheese I made. Or the DELICIOUS bar-b-que beef sandwiches that I made. But really, I have not felt like blogging. I guess I could blog about how wonderful it was not to have school - Weber - this past week, because it was Spring Break, but that came to an end yesterday. Yes, Saturday class. I could blog about Ward Conference, which was wonderful. I could blog about the crappy economy and how job hunting really sucks (sorry for the language). But I won't. I could blog about the warm weather that is supposedly coming this week. Woohoo!!! But I am not going to do those either.
I am just not in the blogging mood. I guess I need to overcome it, because it is a great way for me to journal.
Anyway, I thought I would post a poem from my favorite poet, Shel Silverstein. It is from A Light in the Attic.
This is great reminder of the reason why we have Christ in our lives to help guide us back to him. Without him, we would be lost.

God's Wheel
Shel Silverstein

God says to me with a kind of smile,
"Hey how would you like to be God awhile
And steer the world?"
"Okay," says I, "I'll give it a try.
Where do I set?
How much do I get?
What time is lunch?
When can I quit?"
"Gimme back that wheel," says God.
"I don't think you're quite ready yet."

Pay it Forward

2009-02-17T21:39:00.000-08:00

The first five people to respond to this post will receive something made by me to you. My choice. Made especially for you.
Of coarse there are some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees you will like what I make.
2.What I create will be just for you.
3. It will be done sometime this year.
4. You have no clue what it will be. I promise it will be made with love!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch is you must post this on your blog and offer the same to the first five people who post it on their blog. The first five people to do so and leave a comment letting me know they did will receive a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift from me!! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win.

Betcha didn't get one of these...

2009-02-16T20:41:00.001-08:00

Brent had to work on Saturday, Valentine's Day. So we celebrated Friday night and then sort of Saturday morning. Friday night we went to Biaggi's for dinner. Prior to leaving he gave me this necklace, which I really like.

Then he gave me these earrings (and yes, these are real, real something.)
Well,on our way down Brent looked at me and asked if I wanted my present for Valentine's Day. I was shocked, I had know idea what he was talking about. I would have been happy with just the necklace and earrings. He then proceeds to tell me that it is something that I can wear.
I ask him if he bought me (sorry - do not read further if you do not like risque things) lingerie.
He said no.
I then ask him if he bought me a bra (sorry - I need a new one and this is one thing I really hate spending money on).
He said no. But then he tells me that I am going to kill him (not meaning this literally). He pulls something out of his pocket.
Now girls - maybe guys - if you are reading this. What is your thought when a man reaches into his pocket to pull something out? Jewelry? I am thinking that maybe he bought me some sort of jewelry. HAHA!
Nope, he hands me a .32 bullet!!! What? What the crap!?! Still I had not idea what this meant. Weird gift, but oh well, a bullet.
He then proceeds to ask whether he should give me my gift or wait until Valentine's Day. I could tell that he was WAYYYY excited. Kind of like a kid on Christmas day. Oh, and by the way, we are still driving to Salt Lake when this is all taking place.
So he could not contain himself and he reaches down and picks up my gift and hands it to me.....
This is what he gave me....

So, I betcha never got one of these for Valentine's Day. Nothing says I Love You more than a handgun as a gift. I guess Brent was following the advice of the Beatles when they said, "Happiness is a warm gun."

Oh, and by the way, flowers came on Saturday - Valentine's Day!

Kids Say the Darndest Things

2009-02-11T19:14:00.000-08:00

On Monday I went and had my haircut. Not just a little bit removed, but a lot - oh, about seven inches!!! Earlier in the day I at school (work school) the kids in one of my groups had asked if they could write paragraphs and they were coming up with their ideas of what they would write. I explained that if we had time I would let them but in the meantime they had to do their DOL. I then said, "Well, maybe if you write a paragraph you can write about how I should cut my hair." Instantly, after I said that, they started drawing pictures of what my hair should look like. Apparently, they thought my the hair on the top of my head should be cone shaped and then, well basically that was the tip of the triangle and the back was the bottom of the triangle. I know, NICE!!! THAT is not what I ended up with or looking like.
(Sorry, I have not taken a picture of it yet - maybe sometime soon)
So, yesterday I get to school and of course they notice it is cut. One girl asks why I did it and is just staring at me wide eyed. (These kids are either fourth or fifth graders by the way)
The next girl says that I look panicked with my haircut - interesting way to describe a person.
The next girl says that I look like a Hot Sexy Mama!!! - I like this description!
The boy sitting next to her says, "I agree with what she says." Pointing to this little girl. Oh, and my little girl that said I looked panicked did not sway from her panic description of me.
I had to laugh at their descriptions of me!

Today, I was sitting in with another group of kids, second graders today. Well, one little girl told another girl that they need to learn and know how to read. She continued to say that they need to know how to read really good.
I agree with her and then she says that they need to know how to read really good and go to college when they are older and then they can chew gum!
So I guess that once you go to college you have the privilege to chew gum whenever you want.

I love kids! They say such funny stuff!

Hahaha

2009-02-02T12:50:00.001-08:00

I admit it, I am a reality tv junkie. Well, not every reality tv show, just a few; American Idol, Amazing Race, Don't Forget the Lyrics. I am not sure how I did not hear about this show, Game Show In My Head, but after watching a few of the clips from it, it looks funny. This clip is great. Happy Monday!

And that is why...

2009-01-31T21:56:00.000-08:00

Digital Cameras were invented. What? What am I talking about? Okay, let me explain. You see, I needed a class to take. I really wanted to take Photography (I should have paid more attention to my dad who is a Professional Photographer and was the State Forensic Photographer, up until he retired. He taught the cops/highway patrol how to shoot pictures and develop them - but no, I get to pay hundreds of dollars for my class when I could have learned for free....nice).
In the beginning I was not going to take this class, but it was only when I went to buy my books - two days before school started - that I saw how big one of my books were - Introduction to English Literature. Seriously, when I signed up for this class I asked Brent what he thought this class would be. What I wanted was a class that I could take online and this class filled that bill, and besides, I had had the teacher for another English class and I liked her. But honestly, the book was huge!!!!! Kind of like some of the medical books one would use if they were going into the medical profession. But no this was an English book and I just did not have time for this book. Besides that, the font appeared to be an eight point font - that is small - or my eyes are already going bad, so bad that I may need the magnifying glasses. I really think it is the first though, small font. Small font and huge book do not make for a good combination.
What did I do? I put the book back, walk up to the computer, log in, go to the register screen and drop my Into. to Literature class. Yay for me!!!! One problem now, I need another class to satisfy that student loan that says I am going full time. Crap. My sister, Holly, who is buying her books as well says maybe I should take Photography with her. Problem there, I cannot take any of the night classes because I already have one night class - not that that is a problem, the photography class was filled, and I really do not want to be gone all week morning to night. So I am looking for a class to take, preferably one that I can take online. But the thing that was awful about this is now I am paying for two classes that would not help fulfil my end result - going toward my elementary education.
Well, the Saturday class of Photography has an opening. I guess I will take it. Every Saturday from 9am to 2:30pm. Really, do you think I will be in class the entire day or do you think he would send us out to go shoot photos? Nope, we are in class the ENTIRE day!!!!
So, not entirely knowing what to expect I buy my supplies, because I had now registered for this class. In the bag there is film. FILM. Black and white film. Not only that, there is paper to develop your pictures on. Well, I thought, this might be fun. I have not shot on a film camera for many years, and I have never developed my own photos.
First day of class we are told that we need an SLR 35mm camera. Do I have one of those? No. So my brother loans me his. Thanks Doug! Do I know how to work it? No.
I am not good. My first roll of film was way under exposed because I thought I was smarter than the camera. HA - not quite. Out of a 36 exposure roll, I have about 12 photos on there. My next roll, not too bad, some are over exposed though, some are a little bit blurry, some are, well, lets just say it didn't turn out quite as I expected.
I find myself wanting to look at the back of the camera as well to see what that shot looks like, but it is not there. I have to remind myself that this is a film camera, not digital.
So, today in class we had a lab day. Developing film and photos. I had my negatives developed and so I was just going to print the pictures. I had decided I was going to use a photo of Madi sitting at my harp playing it (the first assignment is hands). So I get the negative set up, focused, and centered. Cut my test strips, lay it out on the enlarger and now I expose one section, slide my gray board and expose another section of the strip and repeat this one more time. Take the test strip to the developer, it sits there for two minutes. After the developer it goes into the stop for one minute. From the stop over to the fixer for four minutes, from fixer to the water bath for two minutes, then place photo in tray, walk out to the light examine the photo, decide what part of the test strip has good exposure - which is too dark/light, and then repeat with another test strip until desired color is achieved. This can go on several times. Many times. Over and over again. Finally print the picture. One edge is too light - paper white. Not what we want. Burn that edge (photography term for exposing that edge to light longer). Repeat the step of developing to water bath again (the final step after examining photo is a water bath for ten minutes). I repeated this step many times today. Four hours to print one photo. So much for leaving early and it being an easy day. Oh, and I forgot to say, I went through at least, AT LEAST, 15 pages of paper on one picture. 15!!!! Crazy!!!! Oh well, I guess that is why I am learning.
So you know what I am going to do on Tuesday? I am bringing my dad with me to the darkroom to help me. I do not think it is cheating - only extra help. I can use all the expertise I can get, and maybe this time I will pay attention to him.
But seriously, this is going to be very expensive, fun, but expensive. It was fun to finally have a photo turn out just right, as well as exciting to see four hours of work finally pay off. But honestly - I think I will do most of my shooting on a digital. Quick and easy.
But I guess being able to take the picture, develop the negative, develop the picture can be very rewarding in the end.
Now to figure out how not to waste so much paper and time on one picture. Any suggestions?

OK - time for a new post

2009-01-26T21:58:00.000-08:00

Lets go with something not quite so down for starters. How about....I skipped class tonight. Not that I am saying that is a good thing, but it was. I spent time with my kids while Brent was working. It was just such a crazy night that I honestly could not make it to class.
So I stayed home from church yesterday - Mad was not feeling well, well....okay, see the kids each got their own computer for Christmas. Basically, that was all that they received. They have each had their own emails/screen names and yes they do have parental controls on them, actually Madi was the first to have parental controls placed on her account. When she was 5, she would tag along with me to volunteer at the school, I was volunteering in the Computer Lab. She would sit there and play on the computer - educational games of course. But then she would come home and go on the computer at the house. Somehow she figured out the computer at a very young age, much younger than the age of five. The stuff they did in kindergarten was below her. She was ahead of her game.
Anyway, the girl knows her way around a computer. In fact, all three of my kids know their way around a computer. You realize, kids now days are not going to know what it was like to not know a life without a computer. They do not realize how much it can make you life easier.
So back to my story. I do from time to time check to see what websites my kids have visited - not that I do not trust them, but, I just want to make sure that they are safe. They are also aware that I can check and do check.
Well, the other day I saw a blog that was on one of the kids computers that they had visited. It looked innocent enough, but what blog are my kids visiting? So I thought I would check this blog out. Well, I tried to pull up the blog but the screen froze - gotta love computers. I close my windows and open it up again. Hmmmm, interesting blog. I glanced at it, but there was not much to it. So I closed it down.
Okay, now here is the part that had to do with yesterday and staying home. Madi and I are sitting on my bed and she says, "Hey let's go to G. and M's blog (she used their names of course - but since M is a friend I will not put her name on here and since they do not refer to their names on the blog I am not going to put them on here.) Some of you may already know who M is anyway.
I looked at Mad (Madi's nickname Parker gave her when she was small) and said, "Huh? G has a blog?" Totally shocked, this is so unlike this child. If he is on the computer it is for train stuff, eBay, train stuff...
Mad said, "Yeah, he and M have a blog, let's go to it."
So she proceeds to tell me the address. Now I recognize this address from being the snoopy parent a few days before tyring to figure out who in the heck's blog they are visiting. Surprise! They are visiting their own blog.
So I proceed to read this blog. It is freakin funny. I called Brent into the room, because he had not left for church yet, and I asked him if he knew about this blog that G and M had?
To which he replied, "No, they have a blog? G and M?"
"HAHAHAHA, yep, and listen to this," I tell him. I start reading the blog entries. Seriously, maybe I find the blog entries funny because I guess I find the whole thing that they need a blog funny.
I confronted, I guess, made an off hand comment to G at church (I went for the last hour - bad parent left Mad home alone - G was being set apart as a Counselor in the Teachers quorum) and I asked him about it. G basically blew me off, said it was no big deal and that M did most of the writing - to which I would totally agree with - but occasionally he contributes with an off hand comment or two.
Anyway, to that really long drawn out explanation, teenagers are much smarter than they let on. Seriously. But it is not only teenagers, kids in general that use computers.
One more to prove my point. So, like I said, the kids each have their own laptops. Well, the other day Mad's is out on the table, as well as Parker's being there. Brent was using Parker's laptop and I needed to finish some homework. My computer was shut down and did not want to sit and wait for it to come to life, so I decided to use Mad's computer. I did my homework and submitted it to the teacher, but I wanted to have a copy for myself. I copied and pasted my homework into an email, using Madi's email account.
I paste it into a new email and notice at the bottom of the email there is a signature. It is Madi's signature. At first I did not think anything of it. I thought maybe I was using a previous open new email box and that maybe Madi put it there when she was messing around. But being the Mrs. Cravitt (Brent's affectionate nickname for me...haha -haha being said sarcastically) I am, I decide that I need to open another email and see if the signature is there again, "surely it has to be a mistake and it would only be on the first one, the one that I put my assignment on," I thought.
"Holy freakin cow!!" (sorry about the language - I love the word freakin for some reason and I am not using it in a bad way - at least to me it is not being used that way - sorry if it is offensive) I said. Remember, Brent is on the other computer, he is sitting across the table from me.
He asks what is going on. To which I reply, "Madi has a signature on her email!"
"What!?!" he says.
This girl can get around on the computer. She is the one I have to really watch because she will just type something into the address bar and see what it brings up. Most of the time it brings up the desired website that she is looking for, sometimes it brings up businesses, nothing bad so far. When we found out that this is how she was surfing, and this was when she was five, that is when I gave her her own screen name/email with parental controls. She had tried typing in her name followed by .com. Yeah, a little too smart for her own good.
So, back to the signature. I know you can add a signature, and I know that I have seen where to add the signature, but it is not something I could tell you how to do and where to go to do this. I would have to mess around in the email until I located the whereabouts for the email signature.
Now her email signature is not just her name in black. No, it is Time New Roman font (nothing special about that) but then it is bolded and made extra big, it is also italicised. Her signature lays on top of on orange rectangle, and at the end of her name she has a smiley face that is winking. I do not mean the :) . No, it is an actual smiley winking face.
I asked her about this when she woke up the next morning and she she just smiled and said that she found the spot where she could make a signature and if I wanted she would show me how to do it on my screen name. Nice. Just what I need, an eight yr. old teaching me how to do things on the computer.
"No thank you," was my response. Not to be outdone, I found the spot the night before where I could add a signature - not that I did, but if I wanted to.

Nicotine, a Death Warrant

2009-01-23T14:55:00.000-08:00

Let me preface this post with an article my uncle had written about his daughter and it was ran in the Standard Examiner. I started this post a few weeks ago, but I never posted it, but tonight I am going to. Since I seem to be like so many that use their blogs as a way of journaling, I have decided to copy and paste this article onto my blog. This article, about his daughter, my cousin, was about a choice that she made in her life many many years ago.

Nicotine a death warrant for my daughter

Saturday, December 27, 2008 By KENNETH L. FARR Guest commentary

It was in April 2008, that Michele noticed quite a large lump forming in her neck by her collar bone. She went to her family doctor who ordered a biopsy taken and the results were not good. Michele was diagnosed has having small cell carcinoma (cancer) in her left lung. The cause? Smoking! The damnable addiction to nicotine -- the killer of men, women and children.
The day she was diagnosed with cancer, the received in the mail, a card from the Camel cigarette company, congratulating her on her use of their products and requesting she fill out a survey regarding the positive aspects of their products, and reward her with a free pack of smokes.
I took the survey card and wrote a very short message on it, and placed it in the mail box. I basically thanked them for giving my little girl a death warrant. There is nothing as cruel as learning your child has cancer.
The days and weeks following were occupied with tests, trips to the doctors, trips to the hospitals and a sense of complete despair. Though we dried to keep our spirits up, there is a constant sense of impending gloom, and urgency to try to get the answers we so hoped, and prayed for, that this too might pass.

She was administered too, following the religious rites and tenets of our religion. She was given Father's blessings and priesthood blessings. Her name is kept on the prayer roll at the temple.
Following the discovery of cancer, she was treated with chemo and radiation. This went on for some time. Then it went into remission, but the doctors told us it could travel into the brain, so they used radiation on her head.
The results of all the chemo and radiation caused her to be very ill; she suffers from bouts of vomiting and diarrhea, depression, many tears and anguish, and total feelings of malaise.
In November 2008, Michele's cancer had spread to her bones: spine, pelvis and hips. The pain is bad. Her doctor called in hospice to help with her care. They come to the home and deliver intravenous pain medication, set up scheduled care and relief for Michele. Her pain is uncontrollable and she, for the most part, is under the influence of strong pain control medication, including narcotics. When her medication is not able to control the pain she tries not to cry, but that is nearly impossible. On Dec. 21, we called Sandy, one of the hospice nurses and she came up to the house and increased the medication and slowly the pain became more manageable.
It is unbearable to see one of your children in so much pain and to realize that this was brought on because of the nasty addiction to nicotine. Surely there is a way to cause the cigarette people some semblance of pain their product has caused the "victims" and their families to suffer. This pain, created by the insidious, perverse control this drug has over the body, should be under the control of the FDA because of the deadly damage and harm that is implemented into the body and soul. There is no viable benefit that can excuse the damage done.
Michele has always had a desire to see her children grow into adulthood, to see her grandchildren -- she does not wish to leave her family. She is not ready to leave this life, but she cries out in pain that she can take no more and begs Heavenly Father to please release her from this cruelty.
It is so hard to see her in so much discomfort, yet it will be hard to lose her. She is part of our lives, she is our baby, she is part of our family and everything we have done or been involved in, has somehow centered around our family
When her time on earth is over and she returns to Father, she will be so missed. How do you say "good-bye?"
Kenneth L. Farr is a resident of Mountain Green.

My cousin passed away last night. I was there with her and saw the pain that she was in in that last and final hour. Cancer is a cruel way to die.
A few weeks ago we went to Body Worlds 3, and what an awesome experience that was to see inside the body. But what was really sad was to see the lungs of a smoker. If smokers could see what their lungs looked like would they continue to smoke? At Body Worlds, right next to the smokers lungs (and yes, they were real lungs of a smoker) they had a pledge box where you could make a pledge to quit smoking as well as placing your cigarettes into this same plexiglass container. I hope that those people who made pledges follow through with the pledge they made the day they signed a card to quit smoking. No family deserves to watch a loved one die from a cancer that could have been prevented.
I posed this question to Brent last night after I got home. Years ago, the tobacco industry glamorized the cigarette. Celebrities smoked, not only did you see pictures of them but they smoked publicly on television - talk shows, game shows... Well, fast foward to now and the tobacco industry is in trouble for knowing that cigarettes were harmful to your health and not doing anything about it to warn the public. Well, if we go back to that time when cigarettes were glamorized, if we were to go to, say Phillip Morris or any of the others who make or made cigarettes, and if we were to go to the Executive Officers of their companies, would we find that these Upper Level Management people smoked, or did they know the effects that cigarettes had on their health? Interesting question - if only one could be a fly on the wall to know the answer to that question.

Hahaha...If only my husband knew...

2009-01-12T21:18:00.000-08:00

Seriously, did you think I was going to post something bad? No, not quite. Here I sit at 10:18pm on my bed, surfing other peoples blogs and finally updating my blog..WooHoo!!!! "But why the title of your blog?" you might ask.
Well, Brent thinks I am doing my homework; he left to go downstairs into the dungeon and do whatever he was doing down there, and left me upstairs on our bed thinking that I was going to work on my homework. Well, he is wrong, that is not what I am doing.
I know, I am only a week into school, but really, I am not very happy with one class. It is my only online class this semester and the teacher - well...hmmm...I thought I was going to enjoy this class but I can already tell that I do not think that is going to be the case.
Now, you would think Interior Design would be a fun class to take. Seriously, I thought it would be, and I still hold out that glimmer of hope that it might end up being that way 16 weeks from now, but honestly, that glimmer is starting to fade after I took my first test today. Oh, wait, that glimmer faded after last week after I read the syllabus and it made absolutely no sense in the world.
Now don't get me wrong, she may be a nice person and may be good at what she does, the teacher that is, and designing and decorating are what I am referring to, but teaching, I do not really think this is her strong point. But, like I said, I am holding out hope - although, not much.
So I should be working on my homework, like I said, but really, I do not feel like doing it. I should, but after my day (everyone get out that little violin for me and start playing it) I just want to be lazy. Here is how it went:
7:00 - Alarm goes off (this was the second time it has gone off this morning - but I am not including the paper route). Get ready for work. Get Parker and Madi up and get them ready for school and out the door.
9:00 - Work at Elementary School
11:30 - Leave work and head to Weber for Science class.
12:00 - Get to Weber and head to class
12:50 - Class is over - head home for a small break.
1:05 - Get home, let the dog out, have lunch, study for the test that I need to take at 4pm. Oh, also get caught up on GTU (It was today's show and I fast forwarded through most of it - sometimes, I just get bugged) but it was on while I was studying and eating (multi-tasking).
1:45 - Head back to Elementary to work for one hour ***side note**** Now, I used to think that teaching kindergarten would be a blast, maybe even first grade, BUT, I do not think that is going to happen. I made my mind up about that 10 years ago after volunteering for the first time in Garrett's kindergarten class. Seriously, they are adorable children, but oh my work, I am not sure I have the patience to teach 20+ children that age. I admire those teachers that do that. I had three children in my afternoon group today, a kindergartner, a first grader, and a second grader and they were a handful! Not bad, just needing my undivided attention.
2:00 - work at Elementary for one hour
3:15 - Ended up being a little big longer - like I said, undivided attention: math, reading, and handwriting.
3:30 - Get home
3:55 - Head to Weber to take a test (that class I was telling you about earlier - random questions on the test that I took)
4:00-4:20 Take test
4:20 - Head home
4:30 - Be a Mom for a half hour before I leave again
5:00 - Leave for Weber, again - in Ogden
5:30 - ASL class. Okay, I abandoned the idea that I was going to speak Spanish. It is just not going to happen. But ASL - you can think in English. This was my second night of class and the teacher picked on, I mean called on me - okay really it was me and another girl, but then he had her sit, (he had the class playing a command game) but now I am standing up in front of the class and he has me pick someone in the class and he had me start giving them instruction!!!! Okay. I know how to fingerspell, but that is not what I did, I actually gave a few commands in Sign!!!
7:30 - Class is over, time to head home for the day!
7:45 - Eat dinner.
8:30 - Put kids to bed.
9:00 - Brent thinks I am going to work on my homework - he was wrong!
10:18 - Start my blog posting
10:42 - Glare at my husband for giving me a hard time - guess where he is going to sleep tonight..hahaha, just kidding Brent.

So, not that I am looking for sympathy, because I am not. That is why I am not doing my homework - I just do not feel like it. Therefore, I will do it tomorrow.

Incredibly Random Thoughts

2008-12-22T10:42:00.000-08:00

So I am officially no longer a freshman! Woohoo! My class standing now says that I am a sophomore! I know, silly things make me happy.
My kids are out of school for the next two weeks - but you know - so far they are getting along remarkably well.
Brent and I really really (and yes, I did know that I used two really's, but I think I could use more to describe what I am going to say) REALLY hate the paper route this time of year. We, okay I should say Brent does 95% of the time - drive the kids around to deliver papers at 5am an WE do not get any money out of it. I know - what is up with that?
It is wonderful to have boys as your first children. Why? Because you can get, okay make them do all the nasty chores, such as mowing the lawn, shoveling the snow, shoveling the snow in the neighbors yards.
I hate driving in the snow!!!
But I think the snow is pretty on the side of the road.
I hate the cold.
But I think the snow is pretty on the side of the road - I will keep telling myself that.
I watched Mama Mia with my family the other night - LOVE IT!!! They think I am nuts because I knew every song and said that we needed to watch it again, but this time in the sing along version.
I still cannot figure out why I procrastinate so much - you'd think I'd learn....hahahaha!!!
I am excited to have two weeks off!!!
Madi thinks I am going to write on here what she is getting for Christmas - fat chance that will happen silly girl!!!
I am watching it snow a ton - and probably literally - and listening to the boys reaction as they headed outside saying, "The deck does not show how much snow has really fallen! There is too much snow!"
I know I am a little bit behind, but I am now on book three of the Twilight books. I am now getting ready to start Eclipse. I think I need to have them all read within the next two weeks otherwise it will not happen or school (college) will suffer - my grades that is. I now know why I did not start these earlier - they are addicting, or as Brent would say as he is sitting next to me singing, "Procrastination!!!!"

Okay, I told you that this was going to be incredibly random. I know it really did not make any sense, but oh well. I needed to blog about something.

Oh, and here are some of my favorite pics of either our Charlie Brown Christmas tree (not really) and from seeing the lights at Temple Square. (We cut down our own tree right after Thanksgiving up in the Uintahs - it was a blast - but they certainly are not the same full trees you can buy at the tree lot - but there smell lasts forever and it was the fun that was had that day that counts! Oh, and I think that started a new tradition as well!)

Have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Not sure what to title this.....

2008-11-25T21:15:00.001-08:00

Let me start out by saying, no I am not mad. You always hear about spouses that forget their anniversary, and no that did not happen here. But....and that is a big but...hahahaha, I nearly typed the kind that is on your backside, but not, that is not the one I am talking about.
Okay, you probably wonder where I am going with this, so do I, because none of the above really made or makes any sense. Let me clue you in.
I was on my Facebook account and then I headed over to Brent's to see something. Well, I am there and I am looking on the left hand side of his page where he has put some information about himself - how many kids and ages, and that he was married in.....THIS is where it gets good......1991!!!!!
What, did I miss an anniversary or something? I could swear that we were married on 1992!!!!
So I yell to Brent, not the mean yell like you are in trouble or anything like that, because I actually find this quite amusing that he had the wrong year we were married.
He comes up from the dungeon and I ask him, okay well first tell him that I was on his Facebook page, and then I ask, what year were we married?
He gets this goofy smile like maybe this must be a trick question, but I explain to him why I am asking.
He says 1991. HAHAHAHAHA. He says wasn't it. So now the wheels are spinning. Well, let's see, I was turning 21 and you were still 19. Actually, he was turning 22 five days after we got married and I was going to be 20 in September.
So then he says was it 1990? HAHAHAHAHA -I just graduated from High School silly! He had no clue as to when we were married.
So, I go get our marriage certificate and then call his mom because surely she will know the year. She knew the year. He had to look at the marriage certificate for the answer.
So now his Facebook account says that we were married in 1992. Darnit! I was hoping to cash in on that extra missing anniversary gift!

Gratitude

2008-11-24T15:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Brent and I took the kids to Music and the Spoken Word before going to church. I love to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing - especially when they are accompanied by the Orchestra on Temple Square. We almost decided not to go yesterday since we had a late night the night before, but it was a fun night. So yesterday when the alarm clock went off - we never heard it and needless to say - it was turned off. 8:00am rolls around and Garrett and Parker and getting back home from their paper route and ask if we are still going to SLC. We wanted to leave at 8:25, this meant that we would have to skip showers. Brent and I contemplated back and forth as to whether or not to go, can we get ready in time, maybe we should go. Finally I decided that we should go since I have four concerts to get in for my music class within the next two weeks. So we quickly get out of bed and get ready. We were out of the house by 8:35.
Okay, so let me go back a few days ago. My mom had asked me to go with her and my dad to the Dr. in SLC. I went to pick them up, but prior to leaving my mom took my dad's blood pressure. The blood pressure was sky high yet the pulse was only 30. The Dr. he was going to go see in SLC said that maybe he should go to the ER and get that looked at. We, my mom and I, along with my dad, head to the ER. Long story short - my dad had a pacemaker in by the end of that night. The Dr. had said, along with his eye Dr. had said that had he waited to go to the ER and had this shot that he needed first the shot could have had adverse effects on him. This shot he was going to get can lower the pulse - that would not have been good.
It is funny how the Lord works. He is always watching out for us - even at times when we don't think he is. Sometimes we wonder why he does the things in the order he does, but it is only when we have gotten through our trial and look back can we see why he did the things he did and created the stepping blocks for us along the way.
At this time of year, the season of thanksgiving and gratitude, not only am I thankful for my family, but I am truly grateful for the Lord and for his loving guidance he gives us; for his protection.
Okay - so back to yesterday (sorry to jump around) - back to Music and the Spoken Word. I am so glad that we made the decision to attend. The Spirit was so strong and the message of gratitude was powerful - which I will share below. But it is amazing how music can bring the Spirit into our lives and touch our hearts.
I will admit that there are some weeks in which I do not like all the songs that they, the Tabernacle Choir, are singing. But yesterday was not that day. Each song dealt with gratitude and thanksgiving. But to top off the half hour my favorite hymn was sung, accompanied by the Orchestra on Temple Square. Combine those to get a very powerful and emotional Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.
I am thinking, maybe each Sunday should be like this Sunday!
Anyway, I have included a copy of the message that was given by Lloyd Newell - who does that hosting for Music and the Spoken Word. I found the message to be a great reminder for not only this holiday season but for every day.
I have been told that I can be too optimistic, too Pollyannaish, but you know, I think it is far better to be that way than the alternative. When you are down and look at the glass half empty that is how you will see life. You will lose that feeling of gratitude and thankfulness; you lose that feeling of love.
I hope we can always view the glass as half full and keep that feeling of gratitude, thanks, and love in our hearts each and every day.

Daily Gratitude and Thanksgiving
Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell
A few years ago, two researchers conducted what they called the Research Project on Gratitude and Thankfulness. They found through science what most of us know intuitively: gratitude makes people happy.
For the study, several hundred people were divided into three groups and asked to keep diaries. The first group listed the day’s events in their diaries, the second group recorded any unpleasant experiences they had during the day, and the last group made a daily list of things they were grateful for.
The researchers found that the simple act of taking time each day to count your blessings makes a person more enthusiastic, determined, optimistic, and energetic. Those who expressed gratitude experienced less depression and stress, exercised more regularly, and made more progress toward personal goals. Researchers even noted a relationship between feeling grateful and feeling loved, and they observed how gratitude inspires acts of kindness and compassion.1
Remarkable, isn’t it? All this from daily gratitude and thanksgiving.
Of course, the best way to discover the benefits of gratitude is not by observing them in an academic study but by experiencing the miracle for ourselves: When we daily count our blessings, we feel better about life, even in the midst of adversity; we garner a strength of character and largeness of soul that will help us through hard times; and we see life as basically good, despite its challenges and heartaches.
Gratitude does not need to be reserved for holidays and special events. Every day is filled with miracles and blessings. If we open our hearts and look, we’ll find reasons for gratitude and thanksgiving each day, all around us.

I think I'm getting old...

2008-11-18T13:00:00.000-08:00

I really do. Not that I am that old, or at least I do not feel that old. People never guess my correct age - not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. I am told that it is a good thing, so I will go along with that. Although, I do like that I do not look my age.
But seriously, I am getting old. More like, I need a nap!!!! I just do not have time for a nap. Doesn't a nap sound wonderful, though? I think it does. Although, I have never been able to take a nap. If I do take a nap I might as well kiss the night goodbye. Seriously (I like that word - it makes me sound like I know what I am talking about - hahahaha - seriously though, that is what the people in my speech class said - hahaha - funny people), oh sorry, do you have a ladder to help me get off my soap box? If I take a nap though, I am up all night long. It is not uncommon for me to still be awake at four and five in the morning, if I have a nap. It does not have to be a long nap, even thirty minutes kills my bed time -not that we go to bed early, that we certainly do not do.
But I am dreaming of a nap; picturing what a nap would feel like; thinking a nap would feel truly fantastic right now.
Is it sad when it is Sunday and you can not wait until the weekend because then you can sleep in. But then the weekend - Saturday - comes and you find out that you cannot sleep in because you have obligations that have to be met, or because you kids come in and wake you up, say six in the morning? Yea, love it!!!! (that is being said very sarcastically by the way)
So here I am, dreaming of the weekend when I am able to sleep in and get that much needed sleep that I would love to have. ZZZZzzzzzzz, but I know it probably will not happen since there are many much needed projects to finish around the house before next week. Oh well, I guess there is next week that I can start planning that nap for.
Maybe I will start scheduling a nap, a weekly nap, into my life, into my Palm (palm pilot that is - not my hand - that would be weird).

Was this how your interview went?

2008-11-12T13:40:00.001-08:00

So the other night I came across this Monty Python skit on YouTube. Turn the music off on my music player when you watch this.
All I can say is I am glad the job interview I have had have not gone like this......

Just give me the address!!!

2008-11-08T09:56:00.000-08:00

Let me first set up this conversation. But to do that I need to rewind to Thursday. I was at school (work) and one of the students, who has an interpreter, the interpreter and I were talking. I needed a phone number so I had called my sister and asked her to look it up, since I was at work. She sent me a test with the phone number that I was looking for. This interpreter had said that she likes to Cha-cha information. I am behind I guess, I did not understand, so she said send a text to chacha with the information you are looking for and they will send the info back to you.
Later that night I was telling my sister this and she said that they like to text google and do the same thing.
Okay, fast forward to last night, Friday. I had won tickets to Pink on the Rink, the Grizzlies Hockey Game, so Brent and I made a date of this. Which was totally fun and awesome and the game was fabulous!!! Too bad for the season ticket holder sitting behind us that left early - I guess it shows how much faith he has in his team :)
We left the game and we were driving down Redwood Road and passed a Maverick and then a 7-11. Brent asked if I wanted to stop and get a snack - a Slurpee or Frozen Yogurt. I then proceeded to say that if we are going to get something cold we should go to one of two ice cream places in Salt Lake that I have wanted to try. I had a vague idea as to where one was located, but not the other. So I said lets chacha the information. (I had tried texting google earlier for some different information, but it was not successful in returning any results).
So here I go, texting CHACHA - 242242 just in case you are wondering.
Now the following is the actual conversation - text transcription - that I had with CHACHA, which leads me to believe, I was conversing with an actual person. (I am going to leave out business phone numbers)

Me (11/7 10:18pm): Scoopology utah
242242 (11/7 10:18): ChaCha's working on your answer - keep an eye on your phone! *AMEX Blue Sky apply today
Me (11/7 10:19pm): Spoon me utah
242242 (11/7 10:20pm): Scoopology is located at 7710 So. Union Park Avenue, Midvale, UT 84047. Ph:801562****Thanks for asking ChaCha!*Reply RTONES for Ringtones
Me(11/7 10:21pm): Spoon me utah
242242 (11/7 10:21pm): I know this could be an interesting conversation...but let's talk about something else. New question? Keep on ChaCha-ing!
Me (11/7 10:22pm): Spoon me utah is an ice cream place
242242 (11/7 10:24pm): Spoon me means to engage in the act of Spooning. ChaCha On http://chacha.com/
Me (11/7 10:26pm): It is the name of an ice cream parlor in salt lake city utah, I just would like the address please. I am not a weirdo, I want to try their ice cream. Trust me
242242 ((11/7 10:26pm): ChaCha's working on your answer - keep an eye on your phone!
*Get the best channels w/ Dish Net
242242 (11/7 10:27pm): Spoon Me located at 1846 E 9400 S Sandy, UT 84093, phone number is (801)576***
Me(11/7 10:31pm): Found it. different address from what I was given, thank you though. 400 s. 532 e Salt Lake City.

***Side note - there is a Spoon Me located at the address I was given - it was just that it was out of my way - wrong direction***

Okay, I really wanted to go to Spoon Me in the first place and it was sort of on the way home - at least not that far out of the way, the one in downtown SLC, that is, and I also had a a vague idea as to its location. But oh my word!! Either it was a very smart computer that I was arguing with or a person that was not going to help me because they thought I was sending a ridiculous request! Seriously, if I could have crawled through the phone and rang their neck I would have!!! Then, if they could accept pic. messages, I would have taken a picture of the Spoon Me sign, a picture of the employees, a picture of the ice cream and a pic of us eating the ice cream and I would have sent it to the CHACHA employee that did not believe me and that made me sit there and text him/her for over 10 minutes - 13 minutes I believe to be exact!!!
So, next time you decide to get information through texting - specifically CHACHA -good luck, I think you will find it faster on your own rather than texting them.

Another side note ***it appears ChaCha must monitor for any comments, because there is a helpful comment left on how to ask the question next time. Just for the record, if they are reading, I still ChaCha after my experience, and I receive an answer quicker than google.****

A Record

2008-10-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

Wow!! Nearly three weeks since my last post. Don't think that I have not thought about posting, because I have, it is just that....well there are a few reasons why I have not posted yet. First, and really this is the main reason and still is the reason, my laptop is having issues. Not really the laptop itself, because it is great, when it has power going to is. I brought the laptop out from my bedroom into the family room and plugged it in. All was well, and then I unplugged it. When I went to plug it in, and this has happened before, it would not get power into the power supply plug thing a mig-jigger (I know, not the official name). This has happened before like I said, but this time it flat out does not want to work. So then my next problem is that my laptop has started to not recognize my battery - or its battery I should say. So, Brent took the battery down to his laptop (his laptop is housed in the dungeon - I mean the basement) and tried charging it on his computer. Same thing, it is not recognized. So I guess the battery is shot as well.
So when I want to use the computer I have to use the main computer. The keyboard, well the keys are stiff, so I feel like I do a lot of backspacing to correct words that are missing letters. The computer itself -- it has issues, major issues. It likes to restart, all the time! So for this reason I prefer my laptop.
I have pictures that I have wanted to post of our very fast trip to Denver for UEA (we tagged along with Brent) but hence, because the laptop does not want to work, or the power supplies, I have not done it.
Oh, and when I do get the chance to use my laptop it is usually for about two hours and that is when Brent is home and his battery is charged. I use his battery on my laptop but it usually ends up that I am doing homework.
So I need to call Dell and find out if in the extended warranty or upgraded warranty that we purchased if the power supplies are covered, I do not think they are, but I need to contact before I drop a bucket load of money on these two things.
Which brings me to my next complaint - I cannot figure out how in the world to contact them about my warranty. I was using my laptop last night, thanks to Brent's battery, and I was waiting in line to speak to tech support (some guy in India) and my computer had some updates it needed to reboot for. I told it to postpone on the rebooting part. All of the sudden my laptop decides that it needs to reboot! Hello!?! What was it thinking? I am in the que waiting to talk to some guy that will not understand me nor I understand him on the computer (been there done that many times). Oh well, I had to take Brent to the airport.
So here I am, back to needing to contact Dell about my warranty or placing an order for the power supply unit and the battery.
Wow! I honestly did not think I had a whole lot to write about, and I thought I would end up writing about Madisyn and Garrett. Kids, the things they say. Madi, after saying her prayers last night out of the blue says, and in a very dramatic fashion I might add, "Oh purple pillow, how will thou comfort me tonight?"

What? Where did that come from? That girl and the things she says.

Off to say the prayers with Garrett. Okay let me set this scene up first. Brent, lets just say that he had something to eat that was now making him drop stink bombs. You know, the kind that are the silent and deadly kind. The kind that kills people. The kind that when it hits you in the face you want to run the opposite direction, and when this gets dropped NOBODY wants to take the blame and say excuse me. This was the kind.
Okay, so earlier I said that I took Brent to the airport. He had a red eye flight to Philadelphia. So we, Brent and I, go in and say the prayer with the kids. It is Garrett't turn. The kid is fourteen years old, so we expect him to be reverent - no funny stuff - during his prayers. Brent had just let a bomb drop prior to Garrett saying his prayer and shelter was not taking care of the smell. So after letting the smell die down for a minute Garrett proceeds to say his prayer. All is going well, until...."bless dad that he can quit farting and that he will not kill people with his farts on the plane."
HAHAHAHAHA. We all tried to contain our laughter. Garrett proceeded with his prayer as normal, the kid kept a straight face. Once he concluded the prayer there were giggles - including Brent, but him saying, "Garrett we need to be reverent during the prayer."
I tried to defend Garrett saying that he made a good point and was only looking out for Brent's best interest and those on the plane and not wanting them to suffer and untimely death.
But in hindsight (no pun intended) I think the prayer worked. I made it to and from the the airport alive because I was not killed by the silent-but-deadly stink bomb!!!

Madi's Special Day...

2008-10-12T16:36:00.000-07:00

It is official, Madi is now a member of the Sun Hills Ward. Yesterday, Saturday, October 11th she was baptized. She had a great program. First, she was the only one from our ward being baptized, so we, meaning Madi, planned the program. She had her Grandpa Farr talk on Baptism and her Grandma Christensen talked on on Confirmation/Holy Ghost. She also chose the songs she wanted to sing (only with a little bit of guidance). The first was When I am Baptized and the last song was I Feel My Saviors Love. She had her Grandpa Christensen say a prayer, as well as Garrett saying a prayer. Ashlee played the piano and I led the music. Most importantly her Dad baptized and confirmed her. It was a great day. She told me how she felt different after getting baptized and how the water was deeper than she thought it would be and how warm it was. I am so proud of her for making such a wonderful decision. She is a great daughter and always wants to do what is right, and I know that her Heavenly Father is proud of her for making this big, important decision. I hope that she will always remember her baptism day and remember the way she felt.

This is one happy girl

Madi I love you and you are growing into such a beautiful young lady. Remember where you come from and always stand up for what you believe in and most importantly, remember you are a Daughter of your Heavenly Father as well as our earthly daughter. Remember why you have been sent here; remember that you have rich blessings in store for you when you return to live with you Heavenly Father if you do what's right. Also, remember your brother, Jesus, and remember that through him he made the atonement possible for us to return to live with him and our families.
Madi, when times get tough, Christ is there to help lift our burden if we turn to him and seek his help - and he wants to help you, just like your dad and I want to help you. Madi you are a very special girl and I hope you always remember that. ~Mom

Brent & Madi

Not long after her baptism & still glowing

What you cannot see if me squishing Garrett's hand and Brent poking Garrett

Grandma & Grandpa Farr

Grandma Christensen

Grandpa Christensen

Aunt, Uncle, & Cousins

Grandma, Aunt, Uncles, Cousins

Cousins

Cousins & Friend

And now a lesson....

2008-10-07T23:25:00.000-07:00

So what kind of lesson am I going to teach you? Well, why words that teenages speak of course. No, this is not what I leared in my English class, or Public Speaking class. These would be words that Garrett - the teenager has said. This is the kind of education he is receiving...lol

Funjucation - as in, I am getting a funjcation. Funjucation.
Conpuzzled - as in, I am conpuzzled. Conpuzzled.

Nice to see he is expanding his vocabulary with newm not to mention, bigger words.

Then on Monday he and I were talking. I proceeded to tell him some "good" news. I told him that by this weekend there was going to be a chance of snow...Thank you Sterling Poulson for the heads up :) So, I tell him this oh-so-wonderful news. First, let me tell you, if you do not know, Garrett and Parker have a paper route, so that means that they get up incredibly early - way before the sun rises, long before most people are out on the street, even before the rooster crows. So, now that it is getting chilly in the morning, you can imagine how happy he was to hear this news. So I told him this wonderful news, that there may be snow. Garrett then told me I ruined his "happy day." Okay. Did not realize his day was happy, but then again I guess that could explain the attitude the rest of the day after that - no kidding. Guess it was my fault. No, maybe I will blame the weather people (sorry Lindsay) just don't say the word SNOW and you will not ruin Happy Days for teenagers.

While the boys are away the girl will play

2008-10-04T20:45:00.000-07:00

What do you do when the boys (your spouses and male children) are gone to Preisthood session? Well, this started a few years ago for us, not sure why it did not start sooner, but, my cousins, aunt, mom, and sister head for dinner then the mall.
Did I remember to take my camera? Actually, yea.
Do you think I used it to take any pictures? Nope. It occured to me a couple of times to take it out of my purse and take some pictures, but I did not.
Do you know what is funny though? Well, okay there are a bunch of things that are funny. First, we have quite a few of us that go. We take our kids that do not go to Preisthood session, so we end up hooking table together. But, we are not the only ones that have a table full and a huge table.
Now, why do ask did we need such a big table? I have not told you how many of us there are. First let's start with the adults. There are my 3 cousins and their mom - so that make four. Next, there is my sister and my mom - so far we are up to six adults. Then there is me - seven adults. But here is where it gets great - we are out numbered by children that go with us. There were 13 children!
But you know what? It is such a great night. We share laughs, and all the second cousins get to visit and have fun. Not to mention that they are all close in age - which is great.
After dinner we usually end up at the mall. This is where the fun goes out of control. Tonight we made a quick stop at the mall - but it was still crazy. Purple curtains - sheer curtains - with ruffles all over them - my cousins said that I needed them for my room. I agreed ( not ) - they reminded me of a certain something I had after Brent and I were married (need I say more). They were butt-freaking (pardon the language) ugly. I would love to see the persons room that has them in it. We laughed when I said what they reminded me of. After our quick stop at the mall to look at curtains, we came back to my messy house and had fun. Thanks guys for the chocolate - lots of chocolate - all my favorite candies!
It always ends up being such a fun night, and I am not sure about them, but I think that they would agree, we or I at least look forward to each Priesthood session because I know that we are going to get together - all the girls - and just have a fun girls night out. They guys come back spiritually uplifted so that soften the blow when we tell them all the money has been spent at the mall - totally kidding - we do not spend all the money, we usually leave a dollar or so.

Fun in Little Cottonwood Canyon

2008-09-29T23:42:00.001-07:00

What's new?

2008-09-29T11:47:00.000-07:00

Not a lot is new. I just have not felt like blogging. Or I guess I have not had much to blog about. I am sure you do not want to hear about my EXCITING (not) birthday....okay so you do, well. It was a little over a week ago and this is how my day went....

I woke up, practiced my harp with a young woman in my ward because that evening the two of us were playing our harps at a Stake Talent show. I practiced with her for about an hour and then I studied. I had a test that I had to go take for Anthropology later in the day (I really need to quit procrastinating). Then, Brent and I, along with Parker and Madi (Garrett went on Frontrunner to Salt Lake with a friend) went to Noodles & Company for lunch. After we went to the fabric store so I could buy fabric for the quilt I am making and then came home so that I could get ready to head to the Stake Center to play my harp.

About eight that evening we finally came home and had cake and ice cream. Brent bought me the mirror that I have wanted ever since I saw it at Ikea, along with a lamp. Trust me, these are what I wanted - not thrilling gifts, but really my walls are bare and my home needs some decorating.

Lets see, we have hit Oktoberfest as well. The weather was wonderful up at Snowbird and the food was good. Brent went to the north eastern part of Canada - Toronto and Ottawa last week. Garrett went to a Scout Camporee. Madi had her baptism interview. Parker is grounded from Roblox for a month (don't ask). Actually, Parker lost a tooth so the tooth fairy paid (literally) him a visit. I am learning to make a quilt. That has been our week wrapped up really quickly.

Happy Birthday Madi

2008-09-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Madi's birthday, and my, how time flies. She is eight years old and at times I think she thinks she is at least twelve.
For her birthday she wanted only one thing. What is that thing you might ask? Well, she wanted her very own iPod Nano with Skull Candy earphones. No, she is not picky is she?
So did she get it? Yes. Did we get a picture of her opening it? Nope. Not sure why we didn't, we took pictures of everything else. Not that she received much beyond that, just what her relatives gave her for her birthday.
But all in all, I think she had a great birthday. Brent and I met her at school for lunch and then we went outside to play at recess with her. She took a birthday treat to share with her class - Ding Dongs - yummy! Then the rest of her day was crazy once she came home from school.
You see, she had dance practice for her Polynesian class. We let her miss this class because her schedule was packed. After that, she had dance practice to dance at the High School Football Halftime this Friday. So, we decided to have a very early dinner before she headed off to that dance practice and I headed to Spanish class to take a test. By eight that evening everyone was home and we were finally able to celebrate her birthday!

Happy Birthday Madisyn!

Why not me?

2008-09-14T22:09:00.000-07:00

Ever since I heard this song (it is below on the youtube video) on Music and the Spoken Word it has remained one of my favorites. I love the message that this song has to share about being able to "go on through the storm, through the rain; how facing one more day and lifting up our head and seeing a ray of light. How going on against the tide, against the odds, we can win."
What a positive message this has for those trials that we face in life; knowing that once we get out of the storm there is going to be light.

In the November 2006 Ensign, David Baxter says, ""Discipleship does not guarantee freedom from the storms of life. Even as we are wending our way carefully and faithfully along the strait and narrow path, we encounter obstacle and challenge. There are days, perhaps even months and years, when life is just hard. We experience our fair share of adversity, heartache, loneliness, pain, grief--sometimes; it seems more than our fair share.

"What to do when adversity strikes? There is only one thing to do. Stand steady and see it through. Stay steadfast, constant, and true. The real tragedy in the whirlwinds of life comes only when we allow them to blow us off our true course."

How many times do we feel pity for ourselves because we are facing adversity? Last week I had to give a speech, among others, for my Public Speaking class. This was our first speech, among many that we are going to give this semester, but this speech was our Self-Introduction. We had to choose a moment in our life and talk about it - describe how it made us who we are. One girl talked about how she was became paralyzed from the waist down. She was told it could be one of two things, one being MS. But the tests came back negative for MS. Well, flash forward a year or so and she is having more tests for various symptoms and this time the MS test comes back positive. Prior to her test results she was helping a lady in her ward, and this woman she was helping had MS. This woman with MS did not have the attitude of "why me," but rather the attitude of "why not me?"
When this gal received confirmation that she did indeed have MS, she decided then and there that day that she was going to have that same sort of attitude of "why not me?"
I think when we are thrown a curve ball this is the attitude that we need to have, "why not me?" I think this attitude would help us gain some insight on the trial that we are facing; it might even help ease the trial if we took a different approach on it.

President Monson said, ""Whenever we are inclined to feel burdened down with the blows of life, let us remember that others have passed the same way, have endured, and then have overcome. When we have done all that we are able, we can rely on God's promised help.

"You have access to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no mariner so lost, no gale so strong as to render useless the lighthouse of the Lord. It beckons through the storms of life. It seems to call, 'This way to safety; this way to home."

We need to remember that others have passed the same roads that we are going down and that they have endured and have overcome. But the Lord is always there for us, he will guide us through those tough times. He wants to see us succeed.

(turn off my music before listening to this song, hopefully you enjoy it as much as I do)

I do not understand...

2008-09-03T21:32:00.000-07:00

Weird title opening for my post on this blog. But maybe, just maybe, by the end you will completely understand why I do not understand.

Flashback first.....(weird music as we go back in time - you know the kind that they do on tv....80's music starts to come into focus, Howard Jones, Erasure, Thompson Twins, New Order, OMD...you get the picture). So in Junior High I decided that I was not going to be like everyone else and take Spanish, I am going to speak French. Besides, each language is used just as often and I am "for sure" that I will use French a lot! Okay, 8th grade, 9th grad, 10th grade, oh and 11th grade, I am speaking French. I have four years of French (not that I remember it now or use it, you know I was going to use it all the time).

(Weird music again---we are going into the future, okay the present) So I decide I am going to pursue a Bachelors in Arts degree, and from what I understood this to mean, I had to have a language.

Ding, Ding Ding...light bulb goes off in my head! I am going to take SPANISH!!!! You know, remember I had said that French was used just as much as Spanish and that I would speak to lots of people in French? Yeah, right, that really happened...lol. I became older (although people do not think I am nearly 36 years old. Okay 35 and 3/4. Maybe a little bit closer than that, but I hate math so I am not going to figure it out. September 20th if you want to figure it out.

Sorry, I am not trying to confuse you also, let me get back to the subject.....Spanish. So when I was registering for classes for the Fall semester I decided I would start taking Spanish. Spanish 1010 (beginning Spanish). A week ago this past Monday, August 25th, I take my seat in class (my only class where I have to actually go to a classroom, all other classes are online). The teacher walks in, she looks like she is in her early 30's, and "Holy cow, what in the heck is that coming out of her mouth!!!" No I am not talking anything gross....she is speaking in SPANISH!!! I am looking around the class "do other people understand what she is saying?" I am wondering. The appear as though they do.

She is going on and on and on and "Yo no hablo espanol." I did not say this out loud, but I am thinking it.

"What is she thinking, this is supposed to be Spanish 1010. Okay, maybe I am in the wrong class." Then, she hands out the syllabus. Nope, I am in the right class, it says it there on the top of the syllabus paper, Spanish 1010.

"What have I gotten myself into?" "Oh my word, is this really how this class is going to be ALL semester?" "Crap, how am I going to do this?"

Every now and then, she would speak English, but by the middle of the class, it turned into about half English and half Spanish. Okay, this I can handle.

Wednesday, a repeat of Monday. Tonight, 80% Spanish, 20% English. Not sure if I am getting it, but I do know how to say:

Hola! Me llamo Heidi. Como te llamas?

Y, de donde eres? Yo soy de Utah.

Que pasa?

Me gusta la comida mexicana y italiano. Te gusta la comida?

Hasta manana.

So when I said in the title, I do not understand, I do not understand Spanish. I am trying to learn to understand. My ultimate goal is to understand what they are saying at ________________ (won't name any fast food joints, but we have all been to them) I would like to know what bad things they are saying about me. Just kidding, that really is not my ultimate goal, although it could be a great one to reach for, but I think it is a vital skill/language to know. Not to mention if I get upset I can start speaking Spanish and no one will understand what I am saying. Wait, maybe that is not a good thing, people might think that I am crazy (I cannot let Brent read this last line - so don't tell him :) )

Tener una buena noche. Adios.

For all those with children in school...

2008-08-24T21:22:00.000-07:00

The other night I went to Garrett's Back to School Night. One of the classes that we, meaning Garrett and I, went to was his science class. His science teacher is a woman - not that that matters, but she shared one of her favorite poems with us - the parents and students that were there that night. I had to share it or at least put it here on the blog since I know that I will lose it if it is not stored on the computer (since the mess in the house keeps going from room to room - at least it is just contained to the kitchen and dining room now).
As I have volunteered in my children's classes and worked in a school as well as going to school and taking an Exploring Education class, I have come to realize what a vital role both parents and teachers together play in a child's education. I have always known this, but last year it really made an impression on me when I was aiding in a fifth grade class. It was sad to see the children who knew that their parents did not care about their education. These kids would ask for help on homework because they did not have the help or support at home.
But I think beyond school, I think that this poem can apply to us and our Heavenly Father. I think that we need to have our Heavenly Father on one side and us on the other when we are raising these sweet spirits. With his hand and his guidance we are led and guided when molding our children. We know that we have someone helping us when we look to our Father in Heaven for help in teaching and raising our children. Without our Father in Heavens help the job of raising our children becomes hard. I am grateful that I have a Heavenly Father that I can turn to in my time of need and when I need his love and guidance while raising my children. I am grateful that he has helped me to mold them into becoming the sweet, wonderful children that they are. I am grateful that my kids have this knowledge that they have a loving Heavenly Father that wants to see them succeed and do well and that they know that they can turn to him for guidance whenever they need it.
So as this new school year begins, I am going to miss spending time with my kids. They probably would say that they have not done anything fun this summer and that they have had to sleep on the floor and get a house ready for carpet (honestly, I think it might have been easier to move). But I hope my kids know that not only will Brent and I be there to help them with their education, their teachers will be there and so will their Heavenly Father.

Here's how a conversation might go at my house....

2008-08-18T21:02:00.000-07:00

So if you are familiar with High School Musical it will help.

Madisyn: "Hey Garrett, We're All in This Together."
Garrett: "Stick to the Status Quo."
Madisyn: "Bet on it."
Garrett: "Swing Your Bat."
Madisyn; "The Seven Things I Hate About You."
Garrett: "Your hair."
Madisyn: "Your eyes, you made me cry."
Parker: "Just Take It Easy, Take it Easy."
Madisyn: "Fabulous."
Garrett: "I want Fabulous."
Madisyn: "That is my simple request."
Garrett: "Just stick to the status quo."
Madisyn: "Humuhumunukunukuapua'a"

It kind of went downhill from there. Into Dream Police and Story of my Life (in case you cannot tell, they were now playing Guitar Hero).
Did you follow that conversation though? If so, I can give you a referral to get help, because unfortunately Brent and I are going through the process right now.

Quick Update

2008-08-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

I have another week to wait for carpet....but it's all good. What I realized is that our Heavenly Father knows us and knows our needs and he makes things work out the way they are suppose to.
So, Tuesday, early afternoon, we get a phone call from the carpet company and they have our carpet, except, they were sent the wrong color from the manufacturer. They were calling to find out if we would like to come in and pick out new carpet or just wait a week. I chose the week. Brent had to go out of town last week and has three jobs scheduled this week out of town as well, yet he still had two drawings left to draw by today before he left for Canada/Seattle.
So the Lord knew what was best for us and managed to lighten our load, which I am incredibly grateful for.
What we were really trying to get done by yesterday, Wednesday, was the floor in the kitchen. The kitchen was where we would or will be moving all of the furniture, what is left of the furniture that is. However, while the kitchen floor was being installed we realized that we did not have enough of the threshold strip, the piece that transitions from the kitchen to the carpet. Here's the catch though, we bought the floor at Ikea, not very close to where we live, not far either, about four gallons for gas away from our house. Last night we realized that not only did we not plan enough for the kitchen, we needed to have some for the bathroom doors, and the entry way by the stairs. We knew we would have to head to Ikea, so off we head to Draper to go to Ikea, but not that it was a bad thing. I love going to Ikea, so any chance I get, I will take it. But this brings me to an item we, meaning Brent, the kids, and myself, saw in the chair area of the store. This is what we saw - except this picture does not quite do it justice.

What the heck is the hole doing where your rear end goes?

I don't get this chair. Both Brent and I saw this chair at the same time, the Ange chair. This chair has a hole where your, um, rear end, tush, honker, target, fanny, rump, derriere, or just plain old bottom goes. So Brent heads to this chair and says, "Look, it has a fart hole!" Which is what I was thinking, he just beat me to saying it. Then Parker comes over and sits in it and says, "Look, it is a toilet chair, it is made so you can use the bathroom in it and it will fall right out." Then Garrett does the same thing as Parker and says the almost the same thing as Parker.

So my question is why? Why would you want a chair that provokes these thoughts in people?

Oh, and by the way, I translated the word (using an online translator) ANGE from Swedish, since Ikea is a Swedish company, I translated ANGE from Swedish to English and it means "indicate." So, are they trying to indicate something? Did the person who designed this chair, was he/she trying to indicate that they have IBS? It would be a perfect chair for it if they did. Gotta love it!!! The chair that is.

What I Have Learned....

2008-08-11T22:29:00.000-07:00

No this is not things I have learned in school....college or 5th grade (the grade that I was an aide for last year). No, this is what I have learned over the past two months, more specifically the last three weeks.
The big week is finally here, carpet it coming on Wednesday!!!!! I am excited. After 14 years and having the same carpet, and yes it was nice when we moved in - and for about 4 years afterwards, it is time to replace it.
But back on to what I have learned. As Brent and I have have tackled this overwhelming little project - paint the house; replace the subfloor in the bathroom; pull up carpet in every room of the house; paint the bathroom; tack off every piece of molding; spackle the holes; put down I wanna be wood floor, but I am not quite wood (Ikea laminate); that we thought we could complete relatively quickly.
It has become quite apparent to me that Trading Spaces and other design shows similar to it have to have more people then they show; more behind the scenes people that help out. There is no way in the world that two people, sometimes three - meaning the designer - could tackle a project and have it completed in 48 hours, if that. Now granted I have taken on a whole house, but still, there is no way. Now if you have done it - that is tackle two rooms, paint them, make new furniture or design it, painted or made what is going to go on the wall, and then if you're a girl, look pretty the next day, and you have accomplished this in two days - then my hat is off to you. I am impressed, but let me know how you did it.
Okay next thing that I have learned in this little adventure of a remodel....if they say to add at least an extra 10% for the little incidentals - believe them. Lets see...new toilet, not that I am complaining because it is much prettier then the last toilet - but still, I was not planning on spending money on a toilet. Subfloor for the dining room - that is to raise the new floor to the height of the kitchen floor. More spackle; sanding pole to reach the high areas (good investment - makes sanding go much quicker); paint sprayer; and paintmate paint roller - there may be more, I probably lost track somewhere along the way to Lowes, Home Depot, or Ace.
But seriously, I used to think that how can you not plan for things and I seriously thought that we had planned through this and had everything, but I guess not. But then again, who plans on having a toilet break - or who thought that a toilet could break? Not me.
Next thing, don't try doing a remodel while going to school full time. Not a wise idea. I use to think that people who used the I am going to school excuse were lame and that they were just trying to get out of doing things. But now I have joined that club - so I guess you can call me lame.
Another thing that I have learned, and this is a big one.....don't wait until the last minute to do stuff. A year and eight months ago I purchased paint to paint my house. Five gallons of paint. Did I paint it when I bought it? Nope. Am I a procrastinator? Yep. I started my cabinets a year and a half ago, but never finished them. So, when I started this project three weeks ago, I had completely changed my mind from how I wanted them to look.
Lets see, what else I have learned? My kids hate sleeping on the floor. I have a big screen tv - well sort of. Since I have no couch and we painted to the walls a week ago, everything, well just the entertainment stand that has the tv in it and the cuddle bag are in the middle of the family room. Well the cuddle bag is right next to the tv, so you are sitting inches away from the television - so it can appear, since you cannot see all the tv in one glance, that I have a big screen tv - as long as you are seated directly in front of it. Prepare others for the fact that you have no furniture to sit on - and that may include your Home Teachers or childrens friends. Step out of your comfort zone - you may be pleasantly surprised with the results (this is for the paint I chose in the bathroom). It is easy to get distracted and side tracked, but DON'T. You think you are getting on top of the mess, but you're not. Really, it is moving from room to room - or just spreading out. I think I could go on and on and on, but I think I will stop boring you.
I think my kids will need to see a chiropractor for their backs for the rest of their life, but it will be worth it - just kidding. I told them today that after packing up their rooms they may never want to move since they know how it feels to pack. Not that we are moving or have plans to move - I am just saying...it is a pain to pack. I was hoping though that they would weed out a bunch of their junk though, and that did not happen. Oh well. Maybe they wil forget what they boxed and eventually it can find its way to the D.I.....I am just thinking....
So I guess I am good for another 14 years. I think it will be like pregnancy, except I enjoyed being pregnant, but still it is sort of like that. I think by the time 14 years comes around I will have forgotten how much fun we had tackling our little endeavor that I will want to do it again....Yea right I think not. We will be much older and wiser by then so we will have our children do it for us because they have already done this once.....hahaha!!!!

Finally, I am catching up.....

2008-08-07T19:14:00.001-07:00

There have been many things that I have been meaning to post about, but I have not or I have just put it off. My "I need to blog about this" seriously goes back about three weeks, but because I have been slightly busy (school, homework) and too lazy I just have not done it, so here goes.

Lets see, I think I am going to start a day before Parker's birthday (July 17 - so I guess we are talking nearly a month). This is the very last pack night that Brent and I will be attending, as parents, that is. Parker received his Webelos and Arrow of Light Badges. They also had a Raingutter Regatta, which the scouts love.

Parker's Birthday

2008-08-07T19:13:00.001-07:00

Now on to Parker's birthday. One of the things he wanted to do was go to Lagoon-a-Beach. We endulged him and went there for about two and a half hours. Then he wanted, of all places, to go to Chuch-a-Rama for dinner. How many people do you know that ask for a buffet for their birthday dinner? My child does. This is the second time he has done this. The first time it was at Hometown Buffet. Who said Parker was normal? To prove he is "normal" he did not have a traditional birthday cake. But, first you might think I was to cheap to buy a birthday cake, that is not it. Parker wanted doughnuts the night before. He thought that we needed to celebrate his birthday for like 24 hours prior to his birthday and 24 hours after his birthday. He had all these grand and glorious plans, which we as parents put a halt to very quickly. Not because we were trying to be rude or mean, just money starts to come in to play. Oh well. Back to the doughnuts, he wanted to doughnuts, but nobody was hungry, this was the night before, so we decided that we would use doughnuts as his birthday cake (I ran out of time, but I was going to arrange them to look like a cake - but oh well, next time). There are a couple pictures, about 1/8 of his birthday present(s). He had been eyeing a Star Wars collection on KSLclassifieds. It took us, his grandparents, and an aunt and uncle to buy it for him, but when he opened it he was thrilled. All that you can see is a box being open, but the gift consisted of about 8 big boxes.

What Island Are You From?

2008-08-07T19:12:00.001-07:00

Onto the next night, July 19th. Madi had her annual dance recital/fund raiser. It was great! Her group had very cute costumes. Tea Leaf skirts, plumeria headband and lei, and a purple top. Sorry there is not video, but there are pictures, and you see a guys head in most of them - sorry. We forgot to bring the better lens for the camera and we were sitting on the back row.

Who had more fun on the 24th?

2008-08-07T19:11:00.003-07:00

Brent thought he would go on vacation on the 24th of July, so I spent most of the day with the kids. We had fun though. The kids gave Grandpa and Jill a tour at the Ogden Train Museum earlier in the day and then we all met up at Paradise Bakery for lunch, which was fabulous and yummy! We went to see Kung Fu Panda and then went to Lagoon that night to watch the fireworks. Just in case you were wondering where Brent took himself on vacation to, he took a red eye to Jacksonville, North Carolina. From there he drove over three hours to Nags Head, North Carolina. That evening he drove to Norfolk, Virginia and stayed there over night. He flew out of Norfolk in the morning and flew to Detroit. Then he came home that night, the 25th. This is what he calls fun....lol!

Remodel & Rambo in Training

2008-08-07T19:11:00.001-07:00

Okay, now onto the much anticipated home improvement projects that have been going on in my house. Let's see.....I have sold the kids bed, so they sleep on the floor right now. I sold my table, so we eat at the bar, or sitting indian style on the floor. My neighbor offered her table she has that the Japanese use....lol. Then I sold my couch and love seat. So we sit on the cuddle bag - like a love sac. Right now, though, everything is piled in the middle of the family room, the cuddle bag is in from of the tv - so it'skind of like having a big screen tv. Who said I need a big screen tv? LOL!!!
Please, please, please, do not think that my house looks like the pictures you are about to see. I mean looking like a bomb hit it, all the time!!!! The house is far from finished. The cabinets are done, most of the painting is done - kitchen and family room are done. The entry way and hall need another coat and a few areas need to be touched up. The bathroom is getting painted today - after I finish my blog - it is a blue color. The floor around the new toilet (hehehehe) is done. That is another story...lol!!!! At least Walmart has clean bathrooms....

To end this very long post, I came across some pictures that I almost included in my home disaster show, but realized that they have their own story. Did I ever do a post on our target, I mean our next meal, I mean squirrel living in our yard? He was really cute the first couple of years. Oh really sweet - he is so dead now - when Brent and the kids get a hold of him. I mean a BB - sorry for that. He was cute until last year we went to pick some plums to eat...AND THERE WEREN'T ANY!!!! The squirrel had taken/eaten every single one. The tree was bare of any fruit!!! We watched him pick the squirrels that were on the very top of the tree. Well, we never caught him last year, and Brent and the kids are trying incredibly hard this year to catch him. I met get him. We have watched him pick the plums, drop them on the ground - those that are bad, and take the good ones. UUURRRGGGHHHH!!!! So, here are the boys playing Rambo in the house - it is a BB gun that they are using, we have even tried slingshots - to hard to aim. Just in case you are wondering, they did hit him this day, but the squirrel is not dead - he is very much alive depleting my plum tree. I also know that he hate pears - he wont touch them.

I have a serious post coming....

2008-07-31T23:12:00.000-07:00

I feel really bad that I have not posted for a week, but I have a serious post that I need to do. Not serious, like we have something serious to discuss, but more like I have a lot of catching up to do. Seriously. I started my post but I could not bring myself to finish it because I have homework that is due. Serious amounts of homework. It is finals week. 13 page paper in Child Family Development. 8 page paper due in English. Both of these are due Friday by 11:59pm. I also have a finals exam for my Exploring Education class to take on Friday and I need to visit an art museum so that I can do a journal write up/entry for my Art class. Saturday I have another test that I need to take for Child Family Development. I have serious catch up work on online art galleries that are due on Sunday. Monday, my very last test to take for this semester and that is my Art test. YEA!!!! So I was looking forward to Saturday being done, which for the most part I will be, but come late Monday morning I will be totally done - for three weeks. So no- please no pity, I brought it upon myself - I am a procrastinator - my big down fall.

Oh - but in a week and a half - new carpet!!!!!! So, between homework this past week, I have been painting. So, really, there is a catch up post from the past two weeks coming.

Anyway, here is one pic that Brent took of Duncan in his favorite new t-shirt and the kids wanted to make sure that he looked tough, so they put on his silver choke collar (we use it when we walk him, but he does not care, he still pulls). Oh, and if you are wondering he weighs in at 78.4lbs. He is our lap dog. Oh, and ignore the mess in the background and ignore the junk on the carpet, kind of hard to keep a house clean when you are painting, sanding, all that fun stuff - playing the Wii - you know priorities.....

Ray of Sunshine

2008-07-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

The other night we are driving to Wal-mart - my favorite store....not. I find myself there quite a bit though. Anywho, we are driving there, Brent, myself, and the kids. A couple of miles from my house is a flower shop. Almost everyday, this flower shop posts a name on their sign. Well, it says if your name is _________, and they put the name in, come in for a free flower. Usually they are some off the wall name, not all of the time, but quite often. So on this trip to Wal-mart we drive past the flower shop and it the sign says if your name is Ray come in for a free flower. Well, like normal we ask the kids, "do you know anyone with the name of Ray?"
My lovely, wonderful, son says (and this would be Garrett), "yea, my name, Ray of Sunshine!"
He was dead, freakin' serious. Brent and I started laughing, and said, "are you serious? You said that with a straight face. Bet you can't say it again that way, saying it five times fast." Which he did.
So, henceforth, Garrett is now known as RAY of SUNSHINE!!!! We threatened to tell his scout leaders, I still think we will do it. He is never going to live this one down.

This is Your Song

2008-07-21T19:36:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite favorite song. Just thought I would share it. If you want to listen to it, pause my music player down below.

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Allow me to introduce my Brother and Sister..Practicing for Dancing with the Stars

2008-07-17T10:52:00.001-07:00

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Sleep Walking - Sleep Talking

2008-07-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

I have kids, especially one in general, that are notorious for talking in their sleep and at times walking in their sleep. We, meaning Brent and I, are usually able to coax many things out of them. I guess what I am trying to say, we can carry on conversations with them when they start talking. The minute we hear them talking in their sleep, Brent, but sometimes I, will rush back into their bedroom and try to find out what is going on and then will egg the conversation on even further.

But, not only are the conversations great that we can get out of them, but when they start walking, it is even better. Let me give you some examples, they do come from a while ago, but still they are some of our favorites. Brent and I are night owls, but one night we are sitting on the couch when Parker stumbles out into the family room. He was clearly asleep by his look. We looked over at him, and now he is heading into the kitchen. Brent and I look at each other and ask, "Hey pal where are you going? Do you need something?"

There was no reply, so Brent gets off the couch and heads into the kitchen to see what he is doing and Parker is proceeding to pull his pants down, he says, "I need to go to the bathroom."

You see, he thought the pantry was the bathroom. "Wait a second, wrong room, this way," Brent says. He turns him around, they walk out of the kitchen and back to the bathroom.

We had a laugh that night.

"I'm not asleep... but that doesn't mean I'm awake."

~Author Unknown

Okay, but it does not stop there. Garrett talks a lot in his sleep. He is notorious for this. But sleep walking as well. Like I said, we, Brent and I are night owls. Brent is downstairs doing his work one night and I up upstairs watching tv. Garrett proceeds to walk out of his room. I ask if he needs something, and he said that he needed to use the bathroom. "Okay," I say.
But then, he is starting to head down the stairs. Could he be asleep? I realized he was, and now I was a little bit concerned as he walked down the stairs, since that is now where he is heading. So I am following him. As I reach or catch up to him, he is proceeding to open the door that heads into the garage. He did make it out into the garage, which is dark by the way. "Where are you going?" I ask.
"To the bathroom," he said.
"Wait, wait wait, this is the wrong way. Come with me, let's go back upstairs," I said. So I lead him up the stairs trying incredibly hard not to laugh.
I go back downstairs and tell Brent what just happened. It was the funniest thing. I still wonder if the two of them would have ever come if we would have let them do their thing, but I doubt it.
So, last night, Brent went to close the boys window when he hears Garrett mumbling. "What was that?" Brent asked.
Blah, muh, blah, da,bluh, ring, bluh, blah, muh," Garrett said.
"Oh, the ring, where is it?" Brent asked.
"Adam and Jacob (these are his friends) they have it," he said.
Well, this went on. Garrett is heading into the family room now, with Brent following and asking questions about this ring that Adam and Jacob have. Garrett is now looking around the family room for this ring. Finally he heads back to his room and heads to bed, but still going on about this ring that Adam and Jacob had, and now with Alex (another friend) involved.
I have noticed, when Garrett comes back from camp, he really starts telling the stories during his sleep.
Last year he sat up in his bed and was feeling around his bed for something. Once again we were in there to see what was needed. Brent asks Garrett, "what are you looking for?"
"For, for, that thing," Garrett said.
Brent started naming off "things." After naming off about a dozen "things" and they were not that Garrett was looking for, Brent asks Garrett if he is looking for the broom and the dustpan to clean the tent.
Garrett says, "yes." So Brent said here you go. He pretended to hand him something, but all it was was air.
Garrett starts sweeping his bed, when in reality he was still just feeling around his bed, going through the motions.
We have realized when the kids start talking in their sleep, as long as we do not laugh we can keep them going and going.
Madi is not much of a talker during her sleep, nor a sleep walker. She is just a very, very deep sleeper.
Oh, nights are so worth it at our house when we catch them talking! Then when we can retell the kids the story, it makes it so worth it. Now we just need to keep a video camera handy when they start talking and walking in their sleep.

Have You Ever Seen....

2008-07-11T23:40:00.000-07:00

So I drop really subtle hints to Brent about what I want to do. Last week I received an email from jonschmidt.com, a newsletter I get. Well, he will give away free tickets to upcoming concerts, and no I did not win them. But I told Brent (here is my really subtle hint) that I have always - well for quite a few years now, ever since I did win tickets once and was not able to use them and gave them to my parents - but, subtle hint remember, that I have wanted to see him in concert. He, Jon Schmidt, has only been in concert a gabillion times ever since I won those tickets that I could not use. So, hint, hint, subtleness (I know probably not a word, but I am still going to use it) it always works, we have not been on a real date (it is not like we don't go places without the kids, but I do not call Walmart a date. Lowes maybe, if I want to go there, no, still not a date).
(remember I am giving Brent a very subtle hint, he has told me he cannot read minds because men are not mind readers) "So, I got an email from Jon Schmidt and I think you should buy tickets for me to go see him, well for both of us, we can do that for a date, because we do not go on many planned dates." (how was that for subtle - I don't think he has caught the hint for Coldplay yet, not sure, but I am not sure about seeing them in concert now, after hearing them on youtube from some of their recent live performances, Chris Martin just was all over the place, sounded okay, but nothing like the cd, but if he did get me tickets, you know caught onto the subtle hints, I still would not mind seeing them in concert.)
Okay, sorry, I get on little rants. Subtle hint, that is right. So, I drop a subtle hint about wanting to see Jon Schmidt and that he is going to be at the Sandy City Amphitheater. So guess what? Brent bought tickets for us to see him. Not only did he buy tickets, but they were reserved seating, I was just hoping to get in and I was willing to take lawn seating. They were awesome seats. I think there though, lawn still would be great. Can I say how beautiful that place is? Oh my word, the sun was setting and he was playing the piano, the sunset was beautiful, the city lights were twinkling.
It was beautiful. What an awesome night. The music was incredible. He had a guy named Jon Troast open for him. He was really good as well. He sang and even involved the audience. It was just a fun night. I think we will take the kids to see him, Jon Schmidt, in a few weeks at Wolf Mountain. If you have never seen him in concert, he is very entertaining. He is an incredible piano player and composer.
About half way through the concert we get a call though, "Dad I am going to be home somewhere between 11pm and midnight." So we skipped out on the encore of the concert. Arrived home just after 11pm to find Garrett home and he found his present that I ordered for him earlier in the week while he was away on High Adventure. He paid for it, but did not know I was ordering his Blueline HO Big Boy. He was excited to see it. He honestly did not know if he was ever going to get it since they are always out of stock. He has worked hard to save his money up for it and when he was finally able to order it, it was sold out. He was quite bummed, but I found a place that had two in stock. I emailed the guy in Florida and quickly ordered it and it arrived today. YEA!!!! Parker's Amtrak trains came as well - so both kids had things to open...YEA!!!!
It was a good day all around. I put the finishing touches, okay completed a major assignment for my Exploring Education class and turned that in. Whew - 1 down, 5 to go that are due by Sunday (different classes).
So this concert was a great way to relax and unwind and just enjoy a romantic night with Brent. Brent, thank you for taking me to the concert. You are awesome!!! I really enjoyed spending the evening with you under the stars listening to great music. Thank you for putting up with my "subtle hints." You truly are a terrific husband! I love you.

The Argument Letter

2008-07-09T10:28:00.000-07:00

I am taking an English 2010 class this semester. I am slightly out of my comfort zone, since it is on argument. Brent will say that this is the perfect class for me since I like to argue, which I would agree, but for some reason when I am told I need to write an argument of some sort I have a hard time.
The first assignment in the class was to write a letter to someone (the part on sending it, I am not sure, but it had to be a letter) that we felt strongly about. We had to state our reasons that we do not like what they do, state the opposing side and then try to find a solution, all in a letter, and it had to be three pages. We had two weeks, what do I write about? It was quite funny because as I was thinking what I should write about, Kirby Heyworth was on tv, well the news. He is the LDS actor that did a beer commercial. Justifying it that he has a family to support. Sorry, I am not buying it dude. So I told Brent, maybe I would write a letter to him (not like he was not going to receive a million). I disagree with his reasoning that he needed to make money and advertising beer was the only way to do it. Then I decided, nah, that starts to cross the politics and religion issue that we were warned about - not taking them on as a topic to write about for this assignment.
Crap, back to thinking what to write about it. I have already told you I was a procrastinator, yet the topic was was what I was thinking about days before it was due, but it does not mean that I did my paper ahead of time though. "I got it!" I told Brent, while we were driving in the car. "What is it that I am always complaining about and really hate and it really, really bothers me?" I asked.
"The animals at Lagoon," he replied.
So I have my topic. I cannot believe that I did not think of it earlier. So first, if I offend anyone, these are my feelings, I am sorry, but I really do not like the Wild Kingdom at Lagoon. Yes, I ride the train, but when we get to the animals I am not shy about telling my kids or Brent or those with us how I feel about the animals and the way that they are treated - enclosures that are to small, habitats that do not suit the animals, a bear does not live on concrete and in fear of his life every time a train rolls around. You see, one time a train driver blew the hot steam on the bear as it drove past, ever since then the bear will run next to the door to get into the building. - Okay, sorry for that rant.
Well the teacher was impressed with a couple of letters, mine being one of them, as she posted it for the other students in my class to read. Here is the letter if you would like to read it. (Just so you know, I am not a member of PETA, I do like to go to the circus, I think if you can afford a fur coat then more power to ya - but there are some issues on animals that I would support).

To Whom It May Concern,
What would it be like to spend time in a room for 24 hours a day with very little to do to occupy your time? Imagine this room not being very large in size, possibly eight by eight feet and not having any privacy. What would you do to solve this problem; to find more spacious quarters, find something that could entertain you when you wanted to play, also an area to escape to be able to free yourself from the public eye, and most importantly, some place that is always clean? One question that arises and can be a follow-up to these questions is what makes a good zoo? First, I think it depends on how you look at a zoo, are you pro-zoo or are you anti-zoo? I think the answer lies in the treatment of the animals. Is there adequate food? Are the animals allowed to live in conditions that are unsanitary and unclean? Do they live in and sleep on concrete? Do the animals have a place to roam that is adequate for their size? I feel as though the animals in captivity in your Wild Animal Kingdom are forced to live in substandard conditions, in areas that are not clean, cages that are too small, cages that do not allow the animal to escape from the peering eyes of the public.
“Captivity can be hell for animals meant to roam free. Kept in small, barren cages, forced to sleep on concrete slabs behind iron bars, animals often suffer from malnutrition, loneliness, loss of independence, and even lack of veterinary care. Attracting customers is the first consideration, and the animals' welfare is often the last (www.wildlifepimps.com).” Animals were not meant to be kept in changes that are unclean, too small, or sleeping on concrete; areas that do not represent their natural habitat.
I understand the appeal of the Wild Animal Kingdom and other small zoo attractions such as yours. I can see where parents and children would be enthralled to be able to see a bear less than ten feet away, as well as zebras, camels, elk, buffalo, tigers, and cougars. I, too, have been through this exhibit many times bringing my own children to see the wild animals. It breaks my heart to see the animals living in conditions that are not up to par; conditions not designed for them.
There has been much debate on whether animals have rights and for which organisms do we, as humans, decide what their rights will be, and if they are going to be the same for each animal or different? One widely accepted idea is, “The capacity to suffer and enjoy is a right conferring characteristic.” (B. Scarlett, 1979. www.zoo.org.au pg. 5). Animals do suffer, they do feel. Have you ever swatted your dog on his nose or rear end to reprimand him for bad behavior? Through this we can see that an animal feels, the dog will usually let out a yelp; we are able to tell that they have suffered some sort of pain.
I realize many say that zoos play an important and vital part in helping to rehabilitate animals and well as helping increase the population of animals which may be are the endangered species list. I know that this is the positive aspect of many zoos. These zoos, I believe, are also the ones trying to make the animals have a better life. They are trying to let the animals live in an environment closer to their own with larger cages and more space to roam. Many times there are additional animals of the same species allowing those animals the ability to learn how to behave with animals of their own kind. Zoos also play an important role in educating the public, they usually provide information on the animal to let you get to know it better; where it came from, what it eats, longevity, and how big it can get. These zoos are the zoos that are following the laws that were made under the Animal Welfare Act that was established in 1966, laws that were written to protect animals from harsh and cruel environments. Laws that help give animals their own voice, their own rights.
In doing some research, I was able to locate numerous violations that Lagoon Corporation has received. I am sure that I do not need to point out what they were since you are well aware of them, but these violations stemmed from failing to meet minimal federal standards for the care of the animals that are displayed. The USDA has sighted you numerous times for failing to provide veterinary care to animals when they were sick or dying. You have been cited for filthy enclosures that were filled with feces in which animals food was placed upon the ground for them to eat. You were cited as well for employees that were inadequately trained. Lastly, you were cited by the USDA for failure to provide animals with minimum space to move around. Which brings me to the point that was made earlier, how would you like to live in a small enclosure for 24 hours that was not clean?
I understand that it can be a daunting task to know what to do with these animals, because they are not able to be released back into the wild, and would an animal sanctuary take them? But as I thought about it, I wondered if you have ever considered expanding your Wild Animal Kingdom? No I do not mean add more animals, what I mean is expand the animals cages, land of the Wild Animal Kingdom into space extra space that you currently have? Also, this would allow you to provide more shelter for them, and provide them an area to roam. I also wonder, if an answer to the violations and citations that you have had would be to partner with the Hogle Zoo and enlist their help in taking care of the animals. This would be a win-win situation for you. You would get to maintain your Wild Animal Kingdom but you would be able to have experienced animal handlers taking care of your animals, and you would have access to veterinarians that specialize in dealing with wildlife, so they would know what to look for and how to take care of these animals when they became ill. There would not be that responsibility lying upon Lagoon to hire and train teenagers in how to handle the animals and care for them. Lagoon would benefit from those that have the expertise of handling wildlife.
I am not a member of any animal rights activist groups, but as a concerned citizen and visitor to your park, it concerns me when I see animals living in such deplorable conditions. I would hope that someday you would be able to correct the conditions that these animals are forced to live in and make their environment more suitable for living.
Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Heidi

I am downsizing

2008-07-07T19:26:00.000-07:00

So I was talking to my brother tonight, when he called I answered, "oh, so you want to buy my couch and the daybed and you want to pay more than I am asking?" His reply was, "What?"
So I repeated myself and explained that I was selling these items. I told him that I have them on KSL classifieds. He asked what I was asking for them and I told him.
Really, I am not asking that much for them. He then asked if I had "had any calls on them?"
To which I replied, "I had."
I told him I was surprised that nobody wants the couches, they are about 10 years old but overall in pretty good condition. But I said maybe it was because of the color or style.
So then I told him about the bed, Madi's bed. I told him that it was about 20+ years old, same mattresses that I had on when I used the bed. The bed has a trundle, but the bed is in good condition, better than what some people are selling theirs for, which are similar. Yada, yada, yada....So he asked what I was selling it for, and I told him. We made a bet that - no money involved, at least not that I know of, but he thinks it will be less and I think it will be close to what I am asking. He does not think a person buys the bed for the frame, but because of the mattress...we shall see. We will see who is right.
But I tell him that I need to list these items on craigslist.org as well, and if that fails, then they go on freecycle. I just want them gone so I can get carpet.
Okay, to let you know, our plan is to get rid of the major furniture and buy new furniture as soon as the carpet gets put in.
So, I tell him that I have already gotten rid of the boys bunkbed. To which he laughs and asks what they are doing for sleeping arrangements. I tell him sleeping on the floor. Now Garrett and Parker were all for this when we told them what we were doing. IKEA has the beds that I want to get for the boys, but first I want carpet. I have the carpet purchased, I just need to paint. Everything is waiting on the paint. The boys that this would be great. They were excited, until Thursday when the beds disappeared and they slept on the floor. It is not like they have never slept on the floor before, either. They do it quite often. Except now, they are being forced to sleep there. Garrett wakes up the next morning, "I had a horrible night sleep." Here is how caring I am, "get a grip, you guys were all for this when we told you what we were doing." Next night, Parker's turn to complain, I guess Garrett realized he was not getting any where with me, so Parker says, "When are we buying beds?" Once again, caring mom to the rescue (not), "We told you the plan, as soon as your bedroom is cleaned we can paint and then when we have carpet you get a bed." Honestly, we have no idea when this is going to be completed, like I said it all depends on the paint.
So, my brother laughs and then I tell him later that day I sold our kitchen table. Brent listed it for $100. Who in their right mind would pay that much for that table. So, earlier that day I lowered the price to $25.00. Someone got a screaming deal. I just wanted it gone. Seriously. When we bought this table it was brand new, we put it in the kitchen, well the house we were renting did not have any sort of air conditioning or swamp cooler, that was until the landlord put in a swamp cooler in the window next to the table. Well, it warped the top of the table. Things we down hill from there. Slowly, this table has collect paint on the table top, it has had hot pans set on it and discolored the table top. So I have kept a table cloth on this very attractive table...lol. So, Thursday afternoon a lady calls me and is on her way to look at the table and buy it. I sold the table. The boys bed disappeared earlier that day, the kitchen table disappeared that evening, along with the chair - oh they were scratched and one did not even match.
So, now I have Madi's bed left to sell and my love seat and sofa. I want to get rid of the cuddlebag (a love sac thing) but nobody else will let me. At first Brent wanted to get rid of it and I would not let him, now it is reversed. The kids want to keep it. It is huge. Takes up a lot of room. Oh well, I guess it is staying. When the couches are gone, I guess it will give us something comfortable to sit on.
So, if you are planning on coming over to visit, either do it soon, while I still have a couch and love seat or it is going to be BYOC (bring you own chairs) or BYOTT (bring your own t.v. tray).
The goal is new furniture.
So my brother asks, after hearing this story and laughing at everything I have sold or intend to sell, if I have money for furniture. "Well, yea, I guess."
To which he replies while he laughs, "you guess!?!"
"I am hoping, there is money, and I am shopping around to make sure I get a good deal on what I want, but we will see, if I run out, I guess I am saving money for what I want."
But you know, my kitchen seems bigger without a table. The boys room is messier without a bed and they sure do have a lot of crap, I mean stuff. When my couch and love seat are gone the family room will feel larger and so will Madi's room when her bed is gone. I guess I am liking this downsizing othing.
So he, my brother, told me that I need to blog about this because how many people sell most of their furniture to paint and carpet? I am not sure, but I know I am, with Brent's approval. And maybe, just maybe, this will motivate me to paint.
Gotta go. Will post more on the progress. Oh -windows were put in, we went with no grids in the windows, and I really like them. Will post pictures of this later.

10 & 5 Counting Back - Tag

2008-07-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

So I am tagged!!!! Yeah! I like to be tagged, gives me something to blog about and a reason to blog. So thank you to Ashlee to blogging me!

10 years ago...1998. Parker was going to be one in July. I was still in my 20's, 25 to be exact. Brent lost his job at Auto Trader. We purchased our Volvo - I needed to have something that was big enough to carry my harp and I had always wanted a Volvo, so that is what we bought - used though. I was also in Young Women's.
5 years ago...2003. Hmmm, I was working at Wee Care Pediatrics in the evening. Parker had just finished kindergarten. Brent was working at Basics Etc. I was in Primary.
5 months ago...February. I was going to school - my bery first semester. I was also working at South Clearfield Elem. as a teacher's aide. I was trying to decide what to get Brent for Valentine's Day. Doing homework. Helping kids with homework. I was still in scouts.
5 things on my to do list tomorrow...1. Celebrate Garrett's birthday 2. Start journaling to remember things that happened 10 years ago, 5 years ago, and 5 months ago....you never know when you are going to need them...:) 3. Clean my house. 4. Take crap...oh I mean the stuff I stuck on top of my cupboard because that was the thing to do years ago, and no not 10, 5 or 5 months ago, I need to throw this stuff away. 5. Start painting - you think getting windows next week and having carpet waiting on me and the floor for the kitchen waiting on me would motivate me. But....well there are always excuses....
5 bad habits...1. I PROCRASTINATE!!!!! Always have and I am sure I always will - I try to change but I procrastinate on when I am going to change, seriously. 2. I bite me nails. I make excuses for it too, which are true, but I say, "well they have to be short because I play the harp..." Not a good habit, I wonder where Garrett picked it up from? 3. I get distracted easily and I let Brent help me and assist me and fall for his traps in trying to distract me, get your minds out of the gutter. Sheesh. He will come up with errands to run, or I will come up with errands to run, hence the reason the house is not painted yet.... Why do something today when I can do it tomorrow....okay so procrastinating again...Okay, so I have put off writing this for a few days - the tagged blog that is....see, I told you I procrastinate. 4. Waiting until the last minute to get ready to go somewhere - okay procrastinating again, I am starting to notice a trend here - I count backwards as to how much time I have and then try to get myself ready and do things inbetween. Go figure, it never quite works the way it should. 5. Hating to do laundry - okay I will wash it, but folding it and putting it away is another story. I hate it!
5 places I've lived... Here is how exciting my life has been, I have not even lived five places, how pathetic is that and two are in the same town....1. Morgan 2. Layton 3. Kaysville 4. Layton 5. well, there is not a fifth place yet.
5 things people don't know about me... 1. I was born with clubfeet and wore casts and braces on both feet until I was almost fives years old. 2. I would love to go to Russia. It has always been a dream of mine. I love the colors that they use on their buildings, I love the arctitecture. I think when i was little I was fascinated by seeing these people in their black and gray clothes - almost depressed looking - and yet the buildings tell a different story - they are bright. Big and powerful. But they have character. 3. At one point in school I wanted to be a psychologist or an Interior Designer - I know they are closely related...lol. 4. I want a Thing. I have always wanted a Thing, and someday I will own a Thing - it is a VW if you have no idea what I am talking about. 5. I never went to Prom. Okay feel sorry for me.....I don't. I went to the other dances, just not that one.

Okay, so I am going to tag, Doug, Holly, Judy, Megan, and Lindsay