I've been horribly negligent about updating my blog, but I haven't really felt like I've had all that much to share. There certainly isn't anything witty to write about and in any case my witticism died many years ago along with my creativity. Nonetheless, I feel the need to do a little writing and maybe just a little venting.
On Monday Mailee had her preschool Christmas concert. She goes to Bethel Baptist preschool on 291. It's a nice preschool, a little religious, of course, but not overly Baptisty and we really like it. She routinely brings home nativity pictures and sheets that say "God created Heaven and Earth," and the Bible verse for the month but she hasn't brought home any crosses, so its actually pretty nice. Anyway, the concert was awesome. It lasted for maybe 20 minutes, which is the perfect length for kids that age and it was only weird when they sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. Then yesterday they had their "Jesus Birthday Party" at school. She came home with a lot of stuff, including a slide whistle that says "Happy Birthday Jesus" on it and a jingle bell bracelet that says "Jingle for Jesus." I kid you not. Protestants are weird.
Not that our own ward doesn't get a little protestanty from time to time. They always want Mark to sing in church, which is great, but it is rarely just a straight up song from the hymn book, which bothers him because he prefers hymns. For the Christmas Sacrament Program they were trying to get approval from the stake for Mark to sing and play his classical guitar which he was a little uncomfortable with, but what can he do. Approval did not come through so now he is just singing (thankfully). Now lets just hope it is a nice song from the hymnbook and not a more protestant Christmas song like "Shepherd Boy" or "Mary did you know?" Not that there is anything wrong with that.
In other news, I'm pregnant (like any of you could forget) and I hate it. I complain enough that I don't think anyone could ever forget. I am enormously grateful to be pregnant, I just don't like it. I also feel so tricked. My pregnancy with Brick wasn't the greatest( I had those stomach muscle problems towards the end and then the slight preclampsia), but energy wise I felt like it was just fine. Then I spent the last two years eating right and exercising all in preparation for the next pregnancy. I figured if I really got healthy and strong the next pregnancy would be so much easier. Plus I lost all my extra weight. I had really high hopes. So I got pregnant. The first trimester was hard because I was nauseous and tired and then I thought it would get better. Well, now I'm not nauseous anymore, but I just don't have any energy. It's like my fibromyalgia has come back full strength. Walking across the house wears me out and forget shopping. The baby is already so heavy and I can feel the stress on my muscles. I'm completely useless to my family. Mark has to do literally everything when he gets home and he is so tired. I'm just wondering when it will end and I will be able to pull my weight again. I'm sorry to complain. It is just so emotionally overwhelming. I don't do well mentally when I don't feel well.
Anyway, that is the latest for us.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
My Son is Smart
Today is kind of a lazy day. It is cold and wet outside and Brick is congested so we are staying in. I'm trying to catch up on my internet stuff and teach Mailee to sew with a needle and thread. A pretty relaxed day.
Well, I was laying on the couch downstairs reading my book while Mailee sewed, when Brick came up and handed me two trains. "Stay there," he said, and walked off. "Ok. I'll stay here," I said. I thought he wanted me to watch his trains while he went to find more.
A minute later I heard a rustling noise. I sat up and looked into the kitchen and there was Brick with his hand in the Splenda bag! Smart little thing had handed me his trains to distract me while he went for the good stuff! All I could really do was laugh and clean up the mess.
It's when they do stuff like that that I'm reminded of how special they are. It make me love them more. Now, if Mailee had done the same thing I'm not sure I would have found it so funny, but there is a big difference between a two year old tricking you and a 4 and a half year old doing it. In any case, I do love my kids.
Well, I was laying on the couch downstairs reading my book while Mailee sewed, when Brick came up and handed me two trains. "Stay there," he said, and walked off. "Ok. I'll stay here," I said. I thought he wanted me to watch his trains while he went to find more.
A minute later I heard a rustling noise. I sat up and looked into the kitchen and there was Brick with his hand in the Splenda bag! Smart little thing had handed me his trains to distract me while he went for the good stuff! All I could really do was laugh and clean up the mess.
It's when they do stuff like that that I'm reminded of how special they are. It make me love them more. Now, if Mailee had done the same thing I'm not sure I would have found it so funny, but there is a big difference between a two year old tricking you and a 4 and a half year old doing it. In any case, I do love my kids.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Nobel Joke
I got up this morning and poured cereal for the kids then sat down in front of the computer with my own bowl to read Fark and catch up on the world "not news." Imagine my surprise and HORROR when I read that Obama has been awarded the Nobel Prize! For what, I ask. For his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." Are you freaking kidding me? I do this everyday when I pull my kids off each other and admonish them to be nice to each other and their friends. I absolutely cannot believe this sack of crap has been given the Nobel prize for incessantly running his gaping hole of a mouth.
The prize committee admits that they gave him the award in hopes that it would encourage him to achieve peace in the Middle East. Again, are you kidding me? Those people have been fighting for thousands of years. I seriously doubt an over-privileged socialist with a horse for a wife is going to achieve what millions of men have struggled for over the centuries. Again, I would like to mention that he has of yet accomplished nothing except for being adept with rhetoric.
The deadline to submit the nominations for the prize was February 1st, not even two weeks after Obama went into office. The committee began accepting nominations back in September of 08. This is completely absurd. The man had done NOTHING when he was nominated.
I think most will agree with me when I say this was the most undeserved award ever awarded. Except maybe for Taylor Swift's VMA because Beyonce had the best video of all time. All time.
The prize committee admits that they gave him the award in hopes that it would encourage him to achieve peace in the Middle East. Again, are you kidding me? Those people have been fighting for thousands of years. I seriously doubt an over-privileged socialist with a horse for a wife is going to achieve what millions of men have struggled for over the centuries. Again, I would like to mention that he has of yet accomplished nothing except for being adept with rhetoric.
The deadline to submit the nominations for the prize was February 1st, not even two weeks after Obama went into office. The committee began accepting nominations back in September of 08. This is completely absurd. The man had done NOTHING when he was nominated.
I think most will agree with me when I say this was the most undeserved award ever awarded. Except maybe for Taylor Swift's VMA because Beyonce had the best video of all time. All time.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Disney is responsible for PETA
Since the kids woke me up before the crack of dawn this morning and I needed to calm my rage, we are watching "Finding Nemo" while I blog. During the scene where they go to the Sharks Anonymous meeting I came to the conclusion that Disney should be held responsible for all the bleeding hearts out there who refuse to eat meat.
Disney takes animals, who in all actuality probably aren't that smart or self aware and gives them human personalities and traits. After 90 minutes of watching this we all get caught up in the poor animal and it's struggle to survive while evil humans everywhere are plotting to destroy it.
Case in point: "Finding Nemo." This has PETA written all over it. First of all, we are supposed to believe that fish live in little families and go to school and purchase real estate. Secondly, we are supposed to buy that it is in any way feasible that a group of sharks would decide to stop eating fish out of some kind of awareness that fish have thoughts and feelings and lives. 1. No they don't, and 2. what else are sharks supposed to eat? Thirdly, the evil human diver takes the fish away from his family and his environment thereby causing heartache. Again, it is a FISH! Some wacko scientists out there (http://www.fishinghurts.com/feat-hiddenfish.asp cut and paste it, okay) say that fish are highly intelligent and that they work well with others, but I just don't think that means they sit around all day analyzing their feelings. I mean, if you put certain ones in a tank with any others they start eating their tank mates!
Second case: "Bambi" PETA strikes again. I don't actually care too much for Bambi. I don't know why. Once again we have to watch a bunch of animals frolicking around and being human like. Then the big bad evil hunter who just likes to watch things bleed shoots Bambi's mom for no good reason. It certainly couldn't have been because he and his family were hungry! Now I feel bad because Bambi is an orphan and because I had a hamburger last night (which I know isn't deer meat, but that's not the point). I'm personally convinced that Bambi is responsible for all people who are vegetarians.
This applies to nearly all Disney movies. Even the ones with human main characters follow the formula of giving said human an animal sidekick who acts human. Examples: Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White. And what is the result of all this personification of animals. No kid, after realizing that he is actually eating one of Nemo's friends will ever eat fish again. And they are FISH!
Mission accomplished, PETA.
Disney takes animals, who in all actuality probably aren't that smart or self aware and gives them human personalities and traits. After 90 minutes of watching this we all get caught up in the poor animal and it's struggle to survive while evil humans everywhere are plotting to destroy it.
Case in point: "Finding Nemo." This has PETA written all over it. First of all, we are supposed to believe that fish live in little families and go to school and purchase real estate. Secondly, we are supposed to buy that it is in any way feasible that a group of sharks would decide to stop eating fish out of some kind of awareness that fish have thoughts and feelings and lives. 1. No they don't, and 2. what else are sharks supposed to eat? Thirdly, the evil human diver takes the fish away from his family and his environment thereby causing heartache. Again, it is a FISH! Some wacko scientists out there (http://www.fishinghurts.com/feat-hiddenfish.asp cut and paste it, okay) say that fish are highly intelligent and that they work well with others, but I just don't think that means they sit around all day analyzing their feelings. I mean, if you put certain ones in a tank with any others they start eating their tank mates!
Second case: "Bambi" PETA strikes again. I don't actually care too much for Bambi. I don't know why. Once again we have to watch a bunch of animals frolicking around and being human like. Then the big bad evil hunter who just likes to watch things bleed shoots Bambi's mom for no good reason. It certainly couldn't have been because he and his family were hungry! Now I feel bad because Bambi is an orphan and because I had a hamburger last night (which I know isn't deer meat, but that's not the point). I'm personally convinced that Bambi is responsible for all people who are vegetarians.
This applies to nearly all Disney movies. Even the ones with human main characters follow the formula of giving said human an animal sidekick who acts human. Examples: Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White. And what is the result of all this personification of animals. No kid, after realizing that he is actually eating one of Nemo's friends will ever eat fish again. And they are FISH!
Mission accomplished, PETA.
Mommy Drinks Because of You!
Korynn and I were talking about this the other day after Glenn Beck said it and it is so true.
I don't consider myself a bad person. At least, people keep telling me I'm not a bad person. I try really hard to be a good mom. I love my kids. I want them to be happy. I worry constantly about whether or not I am damaging them psychologically. I really really try.
So, that's why when the kids climbed into my bed at 6:30 this morning and started wrestling I wondered if I was being tested or just punished. If I was being tested I think I failed. No one got beat (yet) so that's good, but I wonder if they will ever recover from the psychological damage inflicted after being told that they were going to have the worst day ever for waking me up.
If I am being punished, I wonder what for. Is it for spanking Mailee yesterday after she woke Brick up early from his nap. I think she totally deserved that.
If I am being tested, then why the constant tests? One of these days I am going to fail miserably and completely destroy the childrens' psyches and then I will really be punished, presumably by never being allowed to sleep again. In any case, I've already popped open a Dr. Pepper, cause you know, that's why mommy drinks.
I don't consider myself a bad person. At least, people keep telling me I'm not a bad person. I try really hard to be a good mom. I love my kids. I want them to be happy. I worry constantly about whether or not I am damaging them psychologically. I really really try.
So, that's why when the kids climbed into my bed at 6:30 this morning and started wrestling I wondered if I was being tested or just punished. If I was being tested I think I failed. No one got beat (yet) so that's good, but I wonder if they will ever recover from the psychological damage inflicted after being told that they were going to have the worst day ever for waking me up.
If I am being punished, I wonder what for. Is it for spanking Mailee yesterday after she woke Brick up early from his nap. I think she totally deserved that.
If I am being tested, then why the constant tests? One of these days I am going to fail miserably and completely destroy the childrens' psyches and then I will really be punished, presumably by never being allowed to sleep again. In any case, I've already popped open a Dr. Pepper, cause you know, that's why mommy drinks.
Monday, August 17, 2009
"Knowing." Dumbest. Movie. Ever.
Mark and I did the redbox thing the other night for the first time and we picked up "Knowing." I knew this was risky since half of Nicholas Cage's movies are good and the other half make starving children in Africa weep at their awfulness. Nonetheless, we got it and settled in for a nice evening of movie watching.
SPOILER ALERT (although, really, if any of you go see this movie after I finish telling you how awful it is than I am going to have to punch you in the face):
The movie starts out in 1959 at an elementary school dedication. This creepy little girl named Lucinda comes up with the idea to bury a time capsule and all the children are supposed to draw a picture of what they think the future will look like. Instead of drawing a picture, Lucinda covers a page with a sequence of numbers and the teacher has to take the page away from her before she is finished. Then Lucinda gets lost and the teacher finds her in a closet at the school scratching numbers on the back of the door. So far so good.
Fast forward 50 years and Nic Cage's kid gets Lucinda's page when they open the time capsule and he starts hearing people whispering. Kinda creepy. Nic Cage is conveniently an astrophysicist who teaches at MIT and doesn't believe that anything happens for a reason. He thinks everything is random, and conveniently, does not believe in God. Also, conveniently, his father is a pastor and they are estranged. He figures out the numbers are dates of a disaster, number of people killed and latitude and longitude of said disaster. There are only 3 disasters left.
He spends the next half hour trying to stop the disasters and it is actually pretty cool. A plane crashes and people stumble around on fire screaming. A train derails and we get to watch it crush a hundred people. Very entertaining. It seems like the rest of the movie will be fairly promising. Nic's son keeps being visited by these creepy guys dressed in black and he starts having visions of things on fire. Cool, right. So wrong.
Turns out, the last date on the list is the end of the world and everyone is going to die. The sun is going to vaporize everything. They start talking about Bible prophesies and Ezekial. Here it starts to get less cool. 1. Nobody knows when the end of the world will be. 2. Isn't this a little convenient since Nic Cage's character doesn't believe in God.
The rest of the movie consists of Nic Cage and this woman he picked up (cause you have to have a love interest even if they don't get to any loving) trying to figure out where they can go to escape the burning of the earth. In the end he gets his son and her daughter to this place that is supposed to be safe and the men dressed in black show up. Here is where it gets really stupid. The creepy guys are aliens. Not angels. Not demons. Not the four horseman of the Apocalypse. Aliens. They take the two kids up in their space ship and deposit them on a new world along with a pair of bunnies so they can start all over. Nic Cage and the rest of the world, including his pastor father are incinerated by the rays of the sun.
Now I want my dollar and the last two hours of my life back.
Peace. 90210 is on and Brandon and Donna are just about to blow the whistle on a sweatshop Steve's father is involved with!
SPOILER ALERT (although, really, if any of you go see this movie after I finish telling you how awful it is than I am going to have to punch you in the face):
The movie starts out in 1959 at an elementary school dedication. This creepy little girl named Lucinda comes up with the idea to bury a time capsule and all the children are supposed to draw a picture of what they think the future will look like. Instead of drawing a picture, Lucinda covers a page with a sequence of numbers and the teacher has to take the page away from her before she is finished. Then Lucinda gets lost and the teacher finds her in a closet at the school scratching numbers on the back of the door. So far so good.
Fast forward 50 years and Nic Cage's kid gets Lucinda's page when they open the time capsule and he starts hearing people whispering. Kinda creepy. Nic Cage is conveniently an astrophysicist who teaches at MIT and doesn't believe that anything happens for a reason. He thinks everything is random, and conveniently, does not believe in God. Also, conveniently, his father is a pastor and they are estranged. He figures out the numbers are dates of a disaster, number of people killed and latitude and longitude of said disaster. There are only 3 disasters left.
He spends the next half hour trying to stop the disasters and it is actually pretty cool. A plane crashes and people stumble around on fire screaming. A train derails and we get to watch it crush a hundred people. Very entertaining. It seems like the rest of the movie will be fairly promising. Nic's son keeps being visited by these creepy guys dressed in black and he starts having visions of things on fire. Cool, right. So wrong.
Turns out, the last date on the list is the end of the world and everyone is going to die. The sun is going to vaporize everything. They start talking about Bible prophesies and Ezekial. Here it starts to get less cool. 1. Nobody knows when the end of the world will be. 2. Isn't this a little convenient since Nic Cage's character doesn't believe in God.
The rest of the movie consists of Nic Cage and this woman he picked up (cause you have to have a love interest even if they don't get to any loving) trying to figure out where they can go to escape the burning of the earth. In the end he gets his son and her daughter to this place that is supposed to be safe and the men dressed in black show up. Here is where it gets really stupid. The creepy guys are aliens. Not angels. Not demons. Not the four horseman of the Apocalypse. Aliens. They take the two kids up in their space ship and deposit them on a new world along with a pair of bunnies so they can start all over. Nic Cage and the rest of the world, including his pastor father are incinerated by the rays of the sun.
Now I want my dollar and the last two hours of my life back.
Peace. 90210 is on and Brandon and Donna are just about to blow the whistle on a sweatshop Steve's father is involved with!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
An Open Letter
Dear Cyclists on Necessary and RD Mize Rds,
I've been searching my soul for awhile and I have come to a decision. I hate you. I hate your shiny little outfits that you zip half way down in front so I can see your sweaty chests. I hate your tight shiny pants (to be fair, some of you actually have nice legs, but some of you should not be wearing them). I hate your helmets with rear view mirror attached, your built in fanny packs and your fancy bicycles. But most of all, I hate that you insist on riding in packs of twenty down a two lane road with no shoulder.
You are always making me late for ballet as I am forced to crawl behind you at 15 miles per hour until I can safely pass you. I think I hate you more than that idiot who drives the Smartcar and refuses to accelerate past 25. I hate the smug looks you give me as you cycle by, secure in the belief that you have reduced your carbon footprint by parking your car at the Methodist church and cycling to the hallowed ground of Casey's General Store where your friends will give you a lift back to your SUV. If you are exceptionally self-righteous you will cycle all the way to the new golf course and the Blue Springs city limit. You look at me with disdain in your eyes, but I would like to see you transport 65 lbs worth of children with just your bicycle.
Bravo! Your recreational cycling is saving the fragile environment while I drive by glibly in my gas guzzling earth killer. Good for you! Your $1000 hobby puts the hardcore hippies of San Francisco to shame. You should all be given medals for your selfless examples.
You may be training for some sort of marathon, but you would not dream of cycling down the fine gravel path of the 11 mile Little Blue Trace. That would be an insult to the great sport of cycling.
In short, I hate you. I've tried to be civil and share the road with you, but after 12 months of co-existing with you I have had enough. Please DIAF, or at least find a road with a bike path to cycle on.
Sincerely,
Merilee
I've been searching my soul for awhile and I have come to a decision. I hate you. I hate your shiny little outfits that you zip half way down in front so I can see your sweaty chests. I hate your tight shiny pants (to be fair, some of you actually have nice legs, but some of you should not be wearing them). I hate your helmets with rear view mirror attached, your built in fanny packs and your fancy bicycles. But most of all, I hate that you insist on riding in packs of twenty down a two lane road with no shoulder.
You are always making me late for ballet as I am forced to crawl behind you at 15 miles per hour until I can safely pass you. I think I hate you more than that idiot who drives the Smartcar and refuses to accelerate past 25. I hate the smug looks you give me as you cycle by, secure in the belief that you have reduced your carbon footprint by parking your car at the Methodist church and cycling to the hallowed ground of Casey's General Store where your friends will give you a lift back to your SUV. If you are exceptionally self-righteous you will cycle all the way to the new golf course and the Blue Springs city limit. You look at me with disdain in your eyes, but I would like to see you transport 65 lbs worth of children with just your bicycle.
Bravo! Your recreational cycling is saving the fragile environment while I drive by glibly in my gas guzzling earth killer. Good for you! Your $1000 hobby puts the hardcore hippies of San Francisco to shame. You should all be given medals for your selfless examples.
You may be training for some sort of marathon, but you would not dream of cycling down the fine gravel path of the 11 mile Little Blue Trace. That would be an insult to the great sport of cycling.
In short, I hate you. I've tried to be civil and share the road with you, but after 12 months of co-existing with you I have had enough. Please DIAF, or at least find a road with a bike path to cycle on.
Sincerely,
Merilee
Friday, June 26, 2009
Whenever I lick myself...
So we are looking out the window and a bird flies by and Mailee says, "Is that a hawk?"
Me: "I don't know."
Mailee: "I think it was. Hawks just eat little kids but they don't eat mommies and daddies."
Okay. Me: "What do little kids taste like?"
Mailee: "Sour."
Me: "Sour?"
Mailee: "Yeah, whenever I lick myself I taste sour. Just lick yourself." Then she starts licking herself.
Me: "I don't know."
Mailee: "I think it was. Hawks just eat little kids but they don't eat mommies and daddies."
Okay. Me: "What do little kids taste like?"
Mailee: "Sour."
Me: "Sour?"
Mailee: "Yeah, whenever I lick myself I taste sour. Just lick yourself." Then she starts licking herself.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Rantings
So, I have recently been sucked into the world of facebook and have been sharing all my stupid thoughts there. However, this morning I was up at an unholy hour after almost no sleep and therefore feel like ranting where there is a little more privacy.
First up, I haven't slept well in weeks and I am pissed off. I need sleep, and a lot of it, to function like a regular person, and I haven't been getting it. No sleep turns me into a homicidal maniac. I'm so sleep deprived that I can't even think of anything clever to say.
Secondly, I can't stand watching the news anymore because it is pissing me off. I know I should become informed like a responsible citizen and then go out and protest or something but I'm too ticked off. I can't even listen to Glenn Beck for more than five minutes. Everything is so messed up.
Thirdly, I am trying to save money to send Mailee to preschool by not eating out, but I think today is a day for comfort eating. I need a big plate of greasy, cheesy Mexican food that can only be found down at Rainbow and Southwest. But, if we go out for lunch then that will be less money I can save toward preschool. Mailee has to go to preschool for several reasons, like she and I need some time apart during the day and I think I will lose my mind if we don't get it.
In short, I am in a bad mood and if anyone wants to take my kids today then they are welcome to them.
First up, I haven't slept well in weeks and I am pissed off. I need sleep, and a lot of it, to function like a regular person, and I haven't been getting it. No sleep turns me into a homicidal maniac. I'm so sleep deprived that I can't even think of anything clever to say.
Secondly, I can't stand watching the news anymore because it is pissing me off. I know I should become informed like a responsible citizen and then go out and protest or something but I'm too ticked off. I can't even listen to Glenn Beck for more than five minutes. Everything is so messed up.
Thirdly, I am trying to save money to send Mailee to preschool by not eating out, but I think today is a day for comfort eating. I need a big plate of greasy, cheesy Mexican food that can only be found down at Rainbow and Southwest. But, if we go out for lunch then that will be less money I can save toward preschool. Mailee has to go to preschool for several reasons, like she and I need some time apart during the day and I think I will lose my mind if we don't get it.
In short, I am in a bad mood and if anyone wants to take my kids today then they are welcome to them.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Thoughts and Facebook
Sometimes I can hardly believe Mark is married to such a tech- idiot. I never post pictures here because it takes me like 10 minutes to post a picture.
I just signed up for facebook because someone convinced me that it would be a good way to stay in touch with people who live far away. I have this blog, but I guess there are certain people who I just don't want to see it. The thing is that I don't really know how to use facebook and I haven't put any pictures up yet, because as I said, it takes me forever to do it and Mark always has to walk me through. So frustrating.
Anyway, the kids are fine, even though Brick locked himself in the van last week and Mark had to come home from work to unlock it. That was fun. We switched him to a toddler bed last week and that has been okay, except that he keeps climbing into Mailee's very small bed with her and waking her up.
Ummm...Mark and I are starting to lose our vacation weight. Pants are fitting again.
That's about it for us right now.
I just signed up for facebook because someone convinced me that it would be a good way to stay in touch with people who live far away. I have this blog, but I guess there are certain people who I just don't want to see it. The thing is that I don't really know how to use facebook and I haven't put any pictures up yet, because as I said, it takes me forever to do it and Mark always has to walk me through. So frustrating.
Anyway, the kids are fine, even though Brick locked himself in the van last week and Mark had to come home from work to unlock it. That was fun. We switched him to a toddler bed last week and that has been okay, except that he keeps climbing into Mailee's very small bed with her and waking her up.
Ummm...Mark and I are starting to lose our vacation weight. Pants are fitting again.
That's about it for us right now.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Nothing Exciting Part Deux
1. Mark and I saw Star Trek while we were in St. George. I liked it, but admit that may be because I am too cool to know any Star Trek background. The new Kirk is hot.
2. Mark discovered the D.I. while we were in Utah and fell in love. He's already drawn up divorce papers and as soon as we can work out a custody arrangement he is moving back to shack up with his new lover.
3. I gained so much weight on our trip that I can't get the top button buttoned on most of my pants. Tonight I plan on turning to that good old stand-by, bulimia, to drop those extra pounds. Kidneys be damned! I want to be thin.
4. I am out of Dr. Pepper and don't feel like going to the store, so it looks like I am trying to quit again.
5. Korynn has been admitted to the hospital. I really hope they can keep the baby in for at least another week.
6. Uncle Scott actually seems kind of mellow. He might even be a nice guy now. And I think he is going deaf.
7. Mailee can swim all by herself if she wears her water wings. She's getting so big.
2. Mark discovered the D.I. while we were in Utah and fell in love. He's already drawn up divorce papers and as soon as we can work out a custody arrangement he is moving back to shack up with his new lover.
3. I gained so much weight on our trip that I can't get the top button buttoned on most of my pants. Tonight I plan on turning to that good old stand-by, bulimia, to drop those extra pounds. Kidneys be damned! I want to be thin.
4. I am out of Dr. Pepper and don't feel like going to the store, so it looks like I am trying to quit again.
5. Korynn has been admitted to the hospital. I really hope they can keep the baby in for at least another week.
6. Uncle Scott actually seems kind of mellow. He might even be a nice guy now. And I think he is going deaf.
7. Mailee can swim all by herself if she wears her water wings. She's getting so big.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Nothing Exciting
I was just sitting here thinking that my life is pretty boring and that nothing exciting ever happens to me and then I realized that isn't really true. Following is a list of 10 things that are either exciting or just out of the normal routine.
1. I got to perform in my first ballet show last Saturday and Sunday and although I am 27 years old and recovering from fibromyalgia I don't hurt any more than I do after a normal workout session in which my sister-in-law and I try to kill each other with squats, lunges, dips and pushups.
2. The strap on my leotard broke Sunday while I was getting dressed at the Civic Center and one of the moms had to sew it up for me while I sat there partially dressed.
3. Mark broke a tooth yesterday and he had a root canal this morning. The tooth has been bothering him for awhile. That's pretty exciting.
4. I got new luggage for Mother's Day. I've been carrying around my old carry-on suitcase for 12 years now and it is pretty beat up. Now I have a nice 4 piece set. I feel so grown up.
5. We are leaving tomorrow for a 10 day vacation to Utah and California. It will be the first time the kids have ever flown. I hope everything works out ok.
6. I have no idea how we are going to pay the sales tax on our new van and get it licensed. We planned the trip and bought our plane tickets before we decided to buy the van. Not sure how we are going to swing that but I'm sure it will be an adventurous process.
7. Our mortgage went up $150. We now pay an unholy amount of money to live and I have to stop eating out. My jacuzzi tub makes it totally worth it.
8. Brick said, "Book of Mormon" yesterday. Actually he sang it. We've been listening to a primary cd in the car and I am really getting tired of it.
9. I took the kids to the Health Department yesterday to get their birth certificates and they behaved the whole time. No screaming or fighting at all. I was so proud.
10. I've been mom-sitting Korynn while she is on bed rest. The kids and I are trying to go over everyday around lunch time to feed her. Brick and Sally have become best friends. They love chasing each other around.
Some of that is pretty lame.
1. I got to perform in my first ballet show last Saturday and Sunday and although I am 27 years old and recovering from fibromyalgia I don't hurt any more than I do after a normal workout session in which my sister-in-law and I try to kill each other with squats, lunges, dips and pushups.
2. The strap on my leotard broke Sunday while I was getting dressed at the Civic Center and one of the moms had to sew it up for me while I sat there partially dressed.
3. Mark broke a tooth yesterday and he had a root canal this morning. The tooth has been bothering him for awhile. That's pretty exciting.
4. I got new luggage for Mother's Day. I've been carrying around my old carry-on suitcase for 12 years now and it is pretty beat up. Now I have a nice 4 piece set. I feel so grown up.
5. We are leaving tomorrow for a 10 day vacation to Utah and California. It will be the first time the kids have ever flown. I hope everything works out ok.
6. I have no idea how we are going to pay the sales tax on our new van and get it licensed. We planned the trip and bought our plane tickets before we decided to buy the van. Not sure how we are going to swing that but I'm sure it will be an adventurous process.
7. Our mortgage went up $150. We now pay an unholy amount of money to live and I have to stop eating out. My jacuzzi tub makes it totally worth it.
8. Brick said, "Book of Mormon" yesterday. Actually he sang it. We've been listening to a primary cd in the car and I am really getting tired of it.
9. I took the kids to the Health Department yesterday to get their birth certificates and they behaved the whole time. No screaming or fighting at all. I was so proud.
10. I've been mom-sitting Korynn while she is on bed rest. The kids and I are trying to go over everyday around lunch time to feed her. Brick and Sally have become best friends. They love chasing each other around.
Some of that is pretty lame.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
I May Have Made a Mistake
In 10 days I will be on stage in my first ever ballet performance. As the time nears I realize I may have made a mistake. What made me think I could do this? I am a 27 year old woman dancing at an 11 year old level with a bunch of 11 year olds and by the end of the dance I just can't seem to keep up with their energy level. Sure my breathing is fine, but my legs are like jelly. I fear I have set myself up for ultimate humiliation. On the other hand, you have all met my mother in law, so a case could be made for having already experienced ultimate humiliation at her hands.
Anyway, wish me luck, because I am terrified and I feel like an over the hill moron.
Anyway, wish me luck, because I am terrified and I feel like an over the hill moron.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Today I Buried My Youth
Mark and I bought our first minivan today. It's a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country Touring with 50k miles on it. It has stow and go seating and electric doors. We shopped around and got it for the same price as we were quoted elsewhere for a Dodge SXT. I'm pretty jazzed about it, but I can't help but mourn for the loss of my hipness, my mojo, my coolness. As I drove it off the lot I had mixed feelings. It's a pretty nice vehicle, way better than our Malibu. It's newer, has less miles, more features, the brakes don't squeak, etc. But, it's a minivan and I am now officially on my way to becoming the stereotypical Mormon mom complete with 12 kids (one for each tribe) and a permanently stained shirt.
Maybe we should have waited until we were older to have kids.
Sigh.
Oh, well, at least there is room in the floor to stow all the bodies. If you cut them up first, of course.
Maybe we should have waited until we were older to have kids.
Sigh.
Oh, well, at least there is room in the floor to stow all the bodies. If you cut them up first, of course.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Back in the Land of the Sane
So, I have been M.I.A for awhile, partly because when I sit down at the computer little people start crawling on me and partly because I have been obsessively focused on the tornado.
I now feel like I have been liberated at least from my tornado obsession. Brick is downstairs playing, but I know that any minute he is going to come up and start crawling and banging around.
The trip down to Tennessee with mom and dad and Danny was nice and I feel like we got a lot done down there, but it also feels like we barely scratched the surface. We were able to get Spencer and Roxann moved into the new house with some of the basic necessities. We got the kids' beds assembled and shelf paper in the kitchen and were able to start unpacking and washing some of their dishes.
Almost nothing can be just moved into the house. Everything is covered in glass and wood splinters and puffs of fluffy white fiberglass that looks like cotton and so it all has to be washed down first. I wish I could have stayed longer to help Roxann deal with all of that.
Going down there was very therapeutic for me. I feel really selfish for even feeling like I had anything to heal from since I am not the one who lost their house and many belongings. Still, I spent the last week trying to put myself in there places and feel what they must have been feeling and I felt so useless being up here and unable to help. I think it is really true that when we serve others it often benefits us as much as or more than it benefits them. I know that the situation must have been very difficult and traumatic for the people who were there to help clean up and I am grateful to all of them for being there for Spencer and Roxann who felt the most and felt it the hardest.
Mostly I am so so grateful that everyone is okay. I don't know if I will ever be able to express in words how thankful I am to our Heavenly Father for keeping them safe. I am so grateful that Spencer and Roxann (whether they realize it or not) listened to the promptings of the Spirit and left town that morning. I know we are all so blessed for our relationships with our Heavenly Father and for the Gospel and for having each other as family. I love all you guys.
Okay. I'm sorry for being so serious. When I get a chance I will try to post pictures or a link to pictures that I took of Spencer and Roxann's new house and the kids and maybe some of what is left of the old neighborhood.
For now I am just glad to be back to working on being sane.
I now feel like I have been liberated at least from my tornado obsession. Brick is downstairs playing, but I know that any minute he is going to come up and start crawling and banging around.
The trip down to Tennessee with mom and dad and Danny was nice and I feel like we got a lot done down there, but it also feels like we barely scratched the surface. We were able to get Spencer and Roxann moved into the new house with some of the basic necessities. We got the kids' beds assembled and shelf paper in the kitchen and were able to start unpacking and washing some of their dishes.
Almost nothing can be just moved into the house. Everything is covered in glass and wood splinters and puffs of fluffy white fiberglass that looks like cotton and so it all has to be washed down first. I wish I could have stayed longer to help Roxann deal with all of that.
Going down there was very therapeutic for me. I feel really selfish for even feeling like I had anything to heal from since I am not the one who lost their house and many belongings. Still, I spent the last week trying to put myself in there places and feel what they must have been feeling and I felt so useless being up here and unable to help. I think it is really true that when we serve others it often benefits us as much as or more than it benefits them. I know that the situation must have been very difficult and traumatic for the people who were there to help clean up and I am grateful to all of them for being there for Spencer and Roxann who felt the most and felt it the hardest.
Mostly I am so so grateful that everyone is okay. I don't know if I will ever be able to express in words how thankful I am to our Heavenly Father for keeping them safe. I am so grateful that Spencer and Roxann (whether they realize it or not) listened to the promptings of the Spirit and left town that morning. I know we are all so blessed for our relationships with our Heavenly Father and for the Gospel and for having each other as family. I love all you guys.
Okay. I'm sorry for being so serious. When I get a chance I will try to post pictures or a link to pictures that I took of Spencer and Roxann's new house and the kids and maybe some of what is left of the old neighborhood.
For now I am just glad to be back to working on being sane.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Where Does She Come Up With This Stuff
I've been so upset lately by the events in our country that I have been purposefully ignoring them. Hence, no political wisdom from me. Instead I will share a very funny story from Mailee, everyone's favorite lady.
Last Saturday was a busy day for us. Mailee and I had ballet class in the morning and then Mark had rehearsal. After that we ran home and quickly ate lunch and then it was off to Mark's sister's house for a 1pm birthday party for their 4 year old. It was great. The kids ran around like crazy people and played with toys and ate cake and candy. Very laid back and awesome.
Then we rushed home to pick up the truck and it was off to birthday party number 2 which started at 3pm. This party, also for a 4 year old, was held at GAGE gymnastics, a HUGE indoor gymnastics gym. Essentially, what we had was 13 kids under the age of four, including 2 just barely under 2 running around on mats and trampolines designed for kids over the age of 8. Total chaos. It was especially difficult to keep track of Brick who seems to have inherited the curse of the Olsen short legs and kept getting lost in the depths of the foam pit. After about 30 minutes Mark had to leave (hence picking up the truck) to go to a welfare training meeting so I was on my own.
Somewhere in the middle of all of this Mailee had to go to the bathroom, so I took her to the gym's unisex bathroom and she hopped up. While in there she started pooping, and just like Rachel she also feels the need to pep talk her poops. Not wanting to be disturbed, I locked the door.
"Mom, why did you lock the door?"
"So no one will come in while you are going potty."
"Oh. They might come in and not see me and sit on me and squish me down into the potty and then I'd be all dirty." I'm holding back the laughter.
"I'm sure they'd see you if they came in honey."
"Oh." And then she laid it on me. "They might see me and see that I'm so beautiful and then they'd sit on me and it would make their butt beautiful."
Priceless.
Last Saturday was a busy day for us. Mailee and I had ballet class in the morning and then Mark had rehearsal. After that we ran home and quickly ate lunch and then it was off to Mark's sister's house for a 1pm birthday party for their 4 year old. It was great. The kids ran around like crazy people and played with toys and ate cake and candy. Very laid back and awesome.
Then we rushed home to pick up the truck and it was off to birthday party number 2 which started at 3pm. This party, also for a 4 year old, was held at GAGE gymnastics, a HUGE indoor gymnastics gym. Essentially, what we had was 13 kids under the age of four, including 2 just barely under 2 running around on mats and trampolines designed for kids over the age of 8. Total chaos. It was especially difficult to keep track of Brick who seems to have inherited the curse of the Olsen short legs and kept getting lost in the depths of the foam pit. After about 30 minutes Mark had to leave (hence picking up the truck) to go to a welfare training meeting so I was on my own.
Somewhere in the middle of all of this Mailee had to go to the bathroom, so I took her to the gym's unisex bathroom and she hopped up. While in there she started pooping, and just like Rachel she also feels the need to pep talk her poops. Not wanting to be disturbed, I locked the door.
"Mom, why did you lock the door?"
"So no one will come in while you are going potty."
"Oh. They might come in and not see me and sit on me and squish me down into the potty and then I'd be all dirty." I'm holding back the laughter.
"I'm sure they'd see you if they came in honey."
"Oh." And then she laid it on me. "They might see me and see that I'm so beautiful and then they'd sit on me and it would make their butt beautiful."
Priceless.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Pictures
Here are some pictures we have taken recently.
First up: San Francisco pictures.
We climbed a whole bunch of stairs like these to the top of Telegraph Hill where Coit Tower sits.
This is Coit Tower. We got some really great shots of the city and of Alcatraz from up here.
A great one of Mark in the shade of the foliage on Telegraph Hill.
Mark and this really funny street performer we saw on Pier 39.
Me on the pier with Alcatraz in the background.
Mark got too close to the binocular thingies and bumped his nose.
On the ferry to Alcatraz. I like this one because I am in so much awe that it looks like I might crap my pants any minute.
The requisite "I'm in jail!" pictures. Whereas I am relatively at ease with being behind bars, Mark looks a little more apprehensive, perhaps because he knows what happens to good looking guys like him in prison.
It seemed like nothing was free in San Francisco, so we were pleased to find that the Cable Car Museum was.
This is the cable car we rode from the Cable Car Museum down to Fisherman's Wharf.
Here is the submarine we got to tour: the Pampanito. Very very cool.
This guy was a crazy homeless man (or street performer) we saw on two separate occasions. He liked to hide behind branches and jump out at people as they walked by. Totally hilarious.
That's all I have time for for now. Stay tuned for more pictures and more posts.
First up: San Francisco pictures.
We climbed a whole bunch of stairs like these to the top of Telegraph Hill where Coit Tower sits.
This is Coit Tower. We got some really great shots of the city and of Alcatraz from up here.
A great one of Mark in the shade of the foliage on Telegraph Hill.
Mark and this really funny street performer we saw on Pier 39.
Me on the pier with Alcatraz in the background.
Mark got too close to the binocular thingies and bumped his nose.
On the ferry to Alcatraz. I like this one because I am in so much awe that it looks like I might crap my pants any minute.
The requisite "I'm in jail!" pictures. Whereas I am relatively at ease with being behind bars, Mark looks a little more apprehensive, perhaps because he knows what happens to good looking guys like him in prison.
It seemed like nothing was free in San Francisco, so we were pleased to find that the Cable Car Museum was.
This is the cable car we rode from the Cable Car Museum down to Fisherman's Wharf.
Here is the submarine we got to tour: the Pampanito. Very very cool.
This guy was a crazy homeless man (or street performer) we saw on two separate occasions. He liked to hide behind branches and jump out at people as they walked by. Totally hilarious.
That's all I have time for for now. Stay tuned for more pictures and more posts.
Gay TV Shows
Hey, Spence. I don't watch "Life on Mars" and so for that I owe you nothing. In fact, I am so superior that I don't even watch tv on a regular basis. What do I do? I read fluffy bubblegum novels that require no thought. Cause I am so cool.
P.S. Cheating is cheating. It doesn't matter who (or what) you are doing it with.
P.S. Cheating is cheating. It doesn't matter who (or what) you are doing it with.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Adventures in Single Motherhood
Mark is in San Francisco this week at a VS Live Conference. For those of you who aren't familiar this is where geeks and techies and software developers of all kinds get together and salivate over number sequences (Just kidding. No one programs in binary anymore). Seriously though, it is a bunch of "techie geeks" talking about software development and technology. And they do salivate.
Anyhoo, since Mark is gone I am playing single mother and I do not like it one bit. I absolutely don't know how Roxann does this with Spencer gone all the time. I asked my mom how she did it when dad used to work on the road and she said she didn't. She literally went crazy and had to be heavily medicated. Now, I love my kids and I try to be pretty laid back with them, but I also have never been known for my patience or sanity and I can go from fine to overwhelmed and on the edge of a breakdown in about 3 seconds.
Mark and I have a pretty good routine down. He goes to work and I stay home all day with the kids. When he gets home instead of flipping on the sports channel or the Xbox360 like a lot of dads we know he actually engages with the children and often takes over their care. If I have had an especially rough day he sends me to my room for some alone time. We do all the shopping together since it is hard for me to go to the store with the kids. Mark gives them their baths and tells them stories and I help him put them to bed. Three times a week instead of complaining about how he never gets time to play golf or WoW he takes the kids while I go to ballet. And almost every week he tries to get a babysitter and take me out.
You see, Mark gets it. He absolutely gets that being with kids 24/7 with no time to yourself, no matter how much you love them, is hard. He gets that they are his kids too and just because he goes to work doesn't mean he has done his job and now he may go and do whatever he wants. He gets that his number one priority is his family and building a strong relationship with his children. He gets that I didn't stop being a human being with my own needs and wants the minute I became a mother.
Maybe if he was a less hands on parent and he and I were less obsessed with spending every waking moment together this would be easier for me. But you know, I'm glad I'm so dependent on him. I'm glad that he is so much a part of my life that 4 days without him has been agony.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Tomorrow I am flying out to San Francisco to join him for the weekend. Our families have pitched in to take care of the kids for us and I am looking forward to 3 days together (thank you to everyone).
Mark rocks.
Anyhoo, since Mark is gone I am playing single mother and I do not like it one bit. I absolutely don't know how Roxann does this with Spencer gone all the time. I asked my mom how she did it when dad used to work on the road and she said she didn't. She literally went crazy and had to be heavily medicated. Now, I love my kids and I try to be pretty laid back with them, but I also have never been known for my patience or sanity and I can go from fine to overwhelmed and on the edge of a breakdown in about 3 seconds.
Mark and I have a pretty good routine down. He goes to work and I stay home all day with the kids. When he gets home instead of flipping on the sports channel or the Xbox360 like a lot of dads we know he actually engages with the children and often takes over their care. If I have had an especially rough day he sends me to my room for some alone time. We do all the shopping together since it is hard for me to go to the store with the kids. Mark gives them their baths and tells them stories and I help him put them to bed. Three times a week instead of complaining about how he never gets time to play golf or WoW he takes the kids while I go to ballet. And almost every week he tries to get a babysitter and take me out.
You see, Mark gets it. He absolutely gets that being with kids 24/7 with no time to yourself, no matter how much you love them, is hard. He gets that they are his kids too and just because he goes to work doesn't mean he has done his job and now he may go and do whatever he wants. He gets that his number one priority is his family and building a strong relationship with his children. He gets that I didn't stop being a human being with my own needs and wants the minute I became a mother.
Maybe if he was a less hands on parent and he and I were less obsessed with spending every waking moment together this would be easier for me. But you know, I'm glad I'm so dependent on him. I'm glad that he is so much a part of my life that 4 days without him has been agony.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Tomorrow I am flying out to San Francisco to join him for the weekend. Our families have pitched in to take care of the kids for us and I am looking forward to 3 days together (thank you to everyone).
Mark rocks.
Monday, February 9, 2009
In the Spirit of Births
The other night while we were having prayer Mailee prayed for Grandma and Papa, but she didn't stop there like she usually does. You see, Mailee seems to only like Grandma and Papa and so she never prays for anyone else no matter how much we prompt her. She doesn't even pray for Mark and I or Brick. Well, this night was different. She also prayed for her new cousin Maggie (ahh, that is so sweet). Then she prayed that Heavenly Father would give her a new "PJ Sparkles" toy for her birthday (not until April). Then she prayed for a baby sister.
It went from sweet to cute to What the Heck! You can't just let your kid go around praying for siblings. What if Heavenly Father decides to give them one? Or worse yet, what if they don't get one and it shakes their whole belief system? So, Mark explained to her that we can ask for things but that doesn't mean we will get them. Then he told her to stop praying for toys. She hasn't prayed for any toys since then, and she has only prayed for a new sister once since then, but she continues to pray for baby Maggie every night. I think she is branching out.
To be fair, Mailee is only obsessed with babies because 4 of her 7 married aunts are either pregnant or have just delivered a baby. She has babies on the brain. I've been thinking a lot about babies myself and eventually I do want another one. We just aren't ready yet.
Speaking of babies, my friend Rachel just had a baby (congratulations) and apparently it was one of those really difficult births where things wouldn't have turned out well without medical intervention. She had a C-section and it was probably the only way both of them would have made it out alive. I mentioned to her my mother-in-law's views on home births and she asked me if I had done home births. Let me state here for all the world to see that I have never nor will I ever have a home birth. I love epidurals. I think they are one of the greatest creations known to man. I love having nurses to take your baby to the nursery for you if you need some sleep. I love how they pamper you and give you pain medication and sleeping pills and cable tv to watch. I love having my babies in the hospital. I don't mean to be overly dramatic about Rachel's situation, but I feel really strongly about maternal safety. I think a good percentage of home births are reckless and stupid and selfish and put either the mother or the baby in danger. I am completely biased, and I base that bias on the women I know who have gone through with a home birth. I consider it nothing short of divine intervention that these babies survived.
Okay. I'm done ranting. In the spirit of trying to be tolerant and loving, if any of you decide to have a home birth I will try to support you. But, please, for the love of all that is holy, educate yourself as much as you can about the birthing process, get prenatal care, and please, please at least get a mid-wife. Birth is a natural process and women use to do it all the time without medical help, but they also use to die all the time.
It went from sweet to cute to What the Heck! You can't just let your kid go around praying for siblings. What if Heavenly Father decides to give them one? Or worse yet, what if they don't get one and it shakes their whole belief system? So, Mark explained to her that we can ask for things but that doesn't mean we will get them. Then he told her to stop praying for toys. She hasn't prayed for any toys since then, and she has only prayed for a new sister once since then, but she continues to pray for baby Maggie every night. I think she is branching out.
To be fair, Mailee is only obsessed with babies because 4 of her 7 married aunts are either pregnant or have just delivered a baby. She has babies on the brain. I've been thinking a lot about babies myself and eventually I do want another one. We just aren't ready yet.
Speaking of babies, my friend Rachel just had a baby (congratulations) and apparently it was one of those really difficult births where things wouldn't have turned out well without medical intervention. She had a C-section and it was probably the only way both of them would have made it out alive. I mentioned to her my mother-in-law's views on home births and she asked me if I had done home births. Let me state here for all the world to see that I have never nor will I ever have a home birth. I love epidurals. I think they are one of the greatest creations known to man. I love having nurses to take your baby to the nursery for you if you need some sleep. I love how they pamper you and give you pain medication and sleeping pills and cable tv to watch. I love having my babies in the hospital. I don't mean to be overly dramatic about Rachel's situation, but I feel really strongly about maternal safety. I think a good percentage of home births are reckless and stupid and selfish and put either the mother or the baby in danger. I am completely biased, and I base that bias on the women I know who have gone through with a home birth. I consider it nothing short of divine intervention that these babies survived.
Okay. I'm done ranting. In the spirit of trying to be tolerant and loving, if any of you decide to have a home birth I will try to support you. But, please, for the love of all that is holy, educate yourself as much as you can about the birthing process, get prenatal care, and please, please at least get a mid-wife. Birth is a natural process and women use to do it all the time without medical help, but they also use to die all the time.
Birthday Shouts
First off, Sharel and Andrea- Happy Late Birthdays. I'm sorry I didn't get to posting about them, but I am excited about them none the less.
Second-
Happy Birthday to Roxann, yesterday, Korynn, today and Me, tomorrow. I won't make any jokes about getting old, since I am starting to feel a little old myself. And, since I am older than my husband I will always feel old and I will die a little inside every time I have a birthday and he stays the same age. I am completely positive that at 40 he will be a stunning fox with salt and pepper hair and all of Mailee's friends will think he is so hot. At 40 I will be frumpy and look so much like a mom that I might as well walk around with a sign that says "Mom."
Third-
In case I don't get around to it- Happy Birthday to Eryn (who is 6 years old and won't be reading this anyway) and my friend Rachel who share a birthday on Valentine's Day.
Yeah for Birthdays!
Second-
Happy Birthday to Roxann, yesterday, Korynn, today and Me, tomorrow. I won't make any jokes about getting old, since I am starting to feel a little old myself. And, since I am older than my husband I will always feel old and I will die a little inside every time I have a birthday and he stays the same age. I am completely positive that at 40 he will be a stunning fox with salt and pepper hair and all of Mailee's friends will think he is so hot. At 40 I will be frumpy and look so much like a mom that I might as well walk around with a sign that says "Mom."
Third-
In case I don't get around to it- Happy Birthday to Eryn (who is 6 years old and won't be reading this anyway) and my friend Rachel who share a birthday on Valentine's Day.
Yeah for Birthdays!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
A Quickie (And not the fun kind)
First off, Congratulations to Bo and Andrea. I have many beautiful pictures of your new daughter and you may see them for the low low price of $39.95. You can paypal Mark.
No really, congratulations. She is beautiful.
Second, thanks to everyone who posted as requested. Roxann, what happened to you?
Third, John Huntsman is going to be on Glenn Beck tomorrow night. Is he the same one Grandma and Grandpa knew?
Ok. Gotta go to ballet.
No really, congratulations. She is beautiful.
Second, thanks to everyone who posted as requested. Roxann, what happened to you?
Third, John Huntsman is going to be on Glenn Beck tomorrow night. Is he the same one Grandma and Grandpa knew?
Ok. Gotta go to ballet.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
An Open Letter
To: Bo & Andrea, Korynn & Bryan, Sharel, and Roxann,
Post something.
Bo & Andrea and Sharel: Yeah, I know you guys are pregnant and one of you is ready to explode any minute. It will make the time go faster. I promise.
Roxann: I miss hearing about what the kids are doing to you now.
Korynn & Bryan: What up? Your fingers aren't broken. Get to it.
P.S. to Bo & Andrea: you should do it now, because you aren't going to be doing much of anything for at least 2 weeks after the baby comes.
Thank you. That is all.
Post something.
Bo & Andrea and Sharel: Yeah, I know you guys are pregnant and one of you is ready to explode any minute. It will make the time go faster. I promise.
Roxann: I miss hearing about what the kids are doing to you now.
Korynn & Bryan: What up? Your fingers aren't broken. Get to it.
P.S. to Bo & Andrea: you should do it now, because you aren't going to be doing much of anything for at least 2 weeks after the baby comes.
Thank you. That is all.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
I Got Sucked In
Despite all my previous assertions to the contrary I got sucked in this morning and actually watched the inauguration proceedings (I think "inauguration" needs more u's and a's in it), or rather I watched the pre-game show. I saw the exciting, thrill-a-minute, limo ride featuring The Great Chosen One and that other guy, whatshisname. I was on the edge of my seat as they flew along at an impressive 8 miles an hour en route to the Capitol. I literally gripped my chair as they slowed to a stop and parked under the Capitol stairs. I almost crapped my pants in joy when Sandra Day O'Connor walked out and down the red carpet. Jimmy and Rosalind Carter got a similar reaction out of me. And when I saw the great wife of our chosen leader, a woman greater than Mother Theresa and the Dalai Lama put together, in all her gold brocade glory, I actually burst into tears and thought, "Now I can die." I watched old lady whatsherface introduce Obama and then I could watch no more.
Really, though, let's talk about Obama and his choice to "model" his self after Abraham Lincoln. Because we were all lied to in elementary school, most Americans live under the mistaken notion that Lincoln was a benevolent abolitionist who believed in equal rights for all. In fact, Lincoln did NOT believe that the black man was equal to the white man. He thought of them almost as helpless and simple folk who were far less intelligent than the average white man. Lincoln's decision to free the slaves was not motivated by an overwhelming sense of humanity, but by the knowledge that freeing the slaves would not only cripple the south's economy, but tear apart their social structures and greatly weaken their armies. It was almost a last resort. Let me also point out that the Emancipation Proclamation only freed the slaves living in the Confederate States. It didn't even free slaves in southern states which were already under Union control. All African-Americans were not officially freed from enslavement until the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified, nearly three years later.
Now, I'm not saying that the Emancipation Proclamation wasn't a great thing. It was a good first step in the long battle for equal rights. I'm not saying Lincoln didn't play a great part in the battle. He did. I'm just saying, that he was no Mahatma Gandhi. His motives were not pure. Therefore, I think it is a bit laughable that Obama is choosing to identify so much with Lincoln. It is almost universally accepted among historians that Lincoln, although a very enlightened man, was a racist.
All that said, at the risk of being totally flamed, I would like to say that I like ONE and only ONE thing about Obama. Actually, it isn't really about Obama, but about what Obama may represent. I hope that having him in office will do something to change the self-esteem of young black kids everywhere. Maybe there will be less of a sense of oppression within the African-American community. Obama himself is still the spawn of Satan and a dirty, lying socialist. If he does something I like I hope that I can put my total and complete hatred for the commie aside and admit it. I'm not holding my breath, though.
That's my two cents.
Really, though, let's talk about Obama and his choice to "model" his self after Abraham Lincoln. Because we were all lied to in elementary school, most Americans live under the mistaken notion that Lincoln was a benevolent abolitionist who believed in equal rights for all. In fact, Lincoln did NOT believe that the black man was equal to the white man. He thought of them almost as helpless and simple folk who were far less intelligent than the average white man. Lincoln's decision to free the slaves was not motivated by an overwhelming sense of humanity, but by the knowledge that freeing the slaves would not only cripple the south's economy, but tear apart their social structures and greatly weaken their armies. It was almost a last resort. Let me also point out that the Emancipation Proclamation only freed the slaves living in the Confederate States. It didn't even free slaves in southern states which were already under Union control. All African-Americans were not officially freed from enslavement until the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified, nearly three years later.
Now, I'm not saying that the Emancipation Proclamation wasn't a great thing. It was a good first step in the long battle for equal rights. I'm not saying Lincoln didn't play a great part in the battle. He did. I'm just saying, that he was no Mahatma Gandhi. His motives were not pure. Therefore, I think it is a bit laughable that Obama is choosing to identify so much with Lincoln. It is almost universally accepted among historians that Lincoln, although a very enlightened man, was a racist.
All that said, at the risk of being totally flamed, I would like to say that I like ONE and only ONE thing about Obama. Actually, it isn't really about Obama, but about what Obama may represent. I hope that having him in office will do something to change the self-esteem of young black kids everywhere. Maybe there will be less of a sense of oppression within the African-American community. Obama himself is still the spawn of Satan and a dirty, lying socialist. If he does something I like I hope that I can put my total and complete hatred for the commie aside and admit it. I'm not holding my breath, though.
That's my two cents.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Goals
So, I was reading the blog of one of my friends and she had listed her goals for the new year. Now, I don't normally make New Year's resolutions, cause I figure they are just one more thing to break. Also, it is really trendy to make them, and I don't like doing what everyone else does. That being said, I started to think about some goals for the immediate future and decided to share some of them with you guys.
1. Serve others more. This one is a goal that Mark and I have both set. We feel like we have been so blessed, and one of the best ways to show our thanks is to serve others. So far, we have been doing pretty good with it. Mark is amazing. He has really been diligent about looking for ways to serve. I am not as good. I tend to be a little more selfish with my time and energy, mostly because I think I am afraid of wearing myself out. To begin with, I need to look for little opportunities and get out of the mindset that I have to do something really physically draining in order to serve.
2. Magnify our callings. I don't have a calling right now, so I figure my calling is to help Mark magnify his. He is really awesome and wants to work really hard as the Elder's Quorum President. Sometimes all he needs is for me to tell him that it is okay to leave me and visit members of the quorum who need help. So, I am working on being okay with the kids by myself while he goes out and takes care of things.
3. Do my visiting teaching. This is a hard one for me. I'm not very motivated and I am afraid to use the phone, so that puts a damper on my visiting teaching. Mostly, I think I am afraid to reach out. But, I really need to be more diligent, so I am going to try to make visiting teaching a priority.
4. Read our scriptures. This shouldn't be a hard one, but it is. President Medina has set a reading schedule for the stake and Mark and I are about 10 days behind, but we are working to catch up. Last night, Mailee said she wasn't tired and that she wanted to stay up for a little bit. We told her she could, but she had to sit and listen to us read the D&C. By the time we were finished she was pretty relaxed (and bored) and ready to go to bed. So, there you go. Scripture reading can be like Benadryl for kids.
That's all for now, because I can smell that Brick has a very exciting surprise in his pants for me.
Peace.
1. Serve others more. This one is a goal that Mark and I have both set. We feel like we have been so blessed, and one of the best ways to show our thanks is to serve others. So far, we have been doing pretty good with it. Mark is amazing. He has really been diligent about looking for ways to serve. I am not as good. I tend to be a little more selfish with my time and energy, mostly because I think I am afraid of wearing myself out. To begin with, I need to look for little opportunities and get out of the mindset that I have to do something really physically draining in order to serve.
2. Magnify our callings. I don't have a calling right now, so I figure my calling is to help Mark magnify his. He is really awesome and wants to work really hard as the Elder's Quorum President. Sometimes all he needs is for me to tell him that it is okay to leave me and visit members of the quorum who need help. So, I am working on being okay with the kids by myself while he goes out and takes care of things.
3. Do my visiting teaching. This is a hard one for me. I'm not very motivated and I am afraid to use the phone, so that puts a damper on my visiting teaching. Mostly, I think I am afraid to reach out. But, I really need to be more diligent, so I am going to try to make visiting teaching a priority.
4. Read our scriptures. This shouldn't be a hard one, but it is. President Medina has set a reading schedule for the stake and Mark and I are about 10 days behind, but we are working to catch up. Last night, Mailee said she wasn't tired and that she wanted to stay up for a little bit. We told her she could, but she had to sit and listen to us read the D&C. By the time we were finished she was pretty relaxed (and bored) and ready to go to bed. So, there you go. Scripture reading can be like Benadryl for kids.
That's all for now, because I can smell that Brick has a very exciting surprise in his pants for me.
Peace.
Monday, January 12, 2009
To Smoke...or Not
So, I was reading an article on Fark the other day and the basic gist of it was, "We all know smoking is bad for you, so who still smokes?" (I'm too lazy to find the article for you. Deal with it.) The article rather ambiguously mentioned that dictator-elect Obama may or may not smoke and may or may not have been trying to quit or already have quit.
First off, that's some hard-hitting reporting right there. Way to find out your facts and take a stand.
Secondly, I feel deceived. Through all those months of the campaign I never saw any pictures of Obama smoking. He is such a fine upstanding man who keeps company with some of the finest people in the nation. I'm shocked that he would conceal anything so important about himself. Surely it was just a mistake that he was never photographed with a cigarette. It just doesn't seem likely that someone as honest as he would take any measures at all to not be photographed while smoking. It must have been some sort of conspiracy against Obama to make him seem more or less approachable or more or less like the average American or more or less...smart?
Seriously, though. He smokes? What a dumbass. I'd ask, "Doesn't he know that's bad for him?" but I think his college days as a drug dealer speak volumes on that subject. I just don't think I could ever take anyone seriously who voluntarily sucks tar into their lungs. Seem petty and judgmental? Yeah, well that's me.
First off, that's some hard-hitting reporting right there. Way to find out your facts and take a stand.
Secondly, I feel deceived. Through all those months of the campaign I never saw any pictures of Obama smoking. He is such a fine upstanding man who keeps company with some of the finest people in the nation. I'm shocked that he would conceal anything so important about himself. Surely it was just a mistake that he was never photographed with a cigarette. It just doesn't seem likely that someone as honest as he would take any measures at all to not be photographed while smoking. It must have been some sort of conspiracy against Obama to make him seem more or less approachable or more or less like the average American or more or less...smart?
Seriously, though. He smokes? What a dumbass. I'd ask, "Doesn't he know that's bad for him?" but I think his college days as a drug dealer speak volumes on that subject. I just don't think I could ever take anyone seriously who voluntarily sucks tar into their lungs. Seem petty and judgmental? Yeah, well that's me.
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