tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40451839316215212952024-03-13T04:20:08.177-06:00Those special cloudy daysWho doesn't enjoy a cloudy day when it's a rarity?cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-74369802778376844612011-11-16T12:52:00.001-07:002011-11-16T14:03:49.897-07:00Vacation- everyone should have one<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We took a fun vacation last week. I feel so sad that it took Disneyland to get me back on my blog, because I have been thinking I want to blog about things like good stuff to buy and ice cream flavors and other important sticky notes in my mind. But my mind is where it all stays. Anyone want me to talk about ice cream flavors? Like how Dreyer's has a million varieties and that fact alone makes it hard to buy one kind, because you're afraid to buy the wrong one and have regrets? Regrets are lame.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We took our longest trip, which was 6 nights in a place that wasn't my bed, with a bed-hog that wasn't my husband (no, this isn't going that direction, I don't think). I got the privilege of sharing my bed from 1846 with my tossy-turny 18 month old. Now I have more of an appreciation for parents who go on vacations with their kids, because we all know: it ain't the same vacation for the kids as it is for the parents. Parents are so awesome. Next time I want someone to be feeding me endless snacks and and pushing me around in a stroller and making sure the waves don't swallow me whole. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Huntington Beach. We took most of our pictures at the beach and at the Wilderness Exploring Camp place in California Adventure. Better photo ops.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poinsettias! Christmas music started playing the week we were there. Fun...and snow on the castle. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The teacups weren't even bad, like I had thought from reading some Babysitters Club books. The ride that made me even feel a little nauseous was Space Mountain, because you can't see anything. What's the point of that?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cars Land coming next summer- very exciting. Olivia could have been in this picture too but she was in the stroller eating a can of Pringles. I think we ate our whole food storage supply of snacks, but no one could get through the box of Cheez-Its, even when in extreme hunger. Nastiness.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dude from Star Wars or something. Must be really steamy in that mask.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jungle Crusin' it. You know when it's a really busy day at Disneyland when even the line for Jungle Cruise is long. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Russell's dream came true- to see the Mickey man. Dylan didn't much care for such things.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think next vacation we need to offset the man-made, technological, surreal fantasy that is Disneyland and instead do a raw, rough, low-key, cheap, nature-appreciation style trip, but I already feel the pull back to California. Maybe we can just watch a movie about a family camping, make some indoor s'mores, and call it good. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yay for fun family times...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-69220084229723634282011-08-16T11:11:00.001-06:002011-08-16T11:13:31.776-06:00Summerlicious. Two posts in one.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8tskT5E568/TkmQmKcRJjI/AAAAAAAAD70/pytteNVbAU0/s1600/Collages1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8tskT5E568/TkmQmKcRJjI/AAAAAAAAD70/pytteNVbAU0/s400/Collages1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">click to enlarge</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here we go. Another collage to portray the most pivotal moments of our summer. We got our driveway re-done, lots of cousin-time, every parade at the south end of Utah County, our awesome family reunion filled with family-friendly fare. During the talent portion Anika and Olivia shared some favorite jokes including the funny, "why did the toilet paper roll down the hill? To get to the bottom". That was my fave. We enjoyed fireworks for the whole month of July-- from every neighbor in the city. I was cursing these so-called neighbors as they kept lighting the lame loud fireworks at midnight. Or honestly, any time past 10:30. Why do people have to be so fun? Why so much firework love? I mean, I understand fireworks on the actual holidays, and the ones that are up in the sky are amazing and beautiful...but to waste your money on all the cheap-o ones you light in the road and are loud and lame, well- maybe it's time to spend money on something else? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So back to summer events. We haven't had the busiest summer (that's okay) but we did do things here and there. My sister Diana came into town from NJ the first weeks of August and we did a whirlwind of activities. We did the Sweet's Candy Factory tour...how I wish they'd have let us take pictures in our hairnets! That was pretty fun. I love cinnamon bears even more now after I saw them coming to pass in their cute little molds at the factory. We did some rafting, some bbq-ing, some marshmallow shooting, some playing...good times. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Russell celebrated his 35th bday on the 9th, and Anika had her 10th birthday on the 13th. Her day was packed full and here are some pictures from that day, along with pictures of our new friend, Salem. Wherever we go, she is always ahead. ha ha hahh haha! The purpose of buying her was for Anika to be able to practice doing hair, but she has somehow become the head of household. Sorry-- can't help it! Come to our house for more funnies and perhaps you can even get a headshot with Salem. </span><br />
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</span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-18539513451920923422011-05-19T14:50:00.002-06:002011-05-19T14:53:27.845-06:00Not enjoying those cloudy days anymore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Df-YokCeZvw/TdV6pP7DuBI/AAAAAAAADsQ/SAAsoeXa9lc/s1600/Recently+Updated1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Df-YokCeZvw/TdV6pP7DuBI/AAAAAAAADsQ/SAAsoeXa9lc/s400/Recently+Updated1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(click on picture to enlarge)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I did enjoy my cloudy (and a few sunny) days back East! My parents are on a mission to Boston area, living in a quaint town a few hours away. They showed my sister and me a great time. Hiking in scenic woods, driving through the several colleges in the vicinity, going through Emily Dickinson's house, touring a chilly Boston, going out on a harbor cruise, eating gummies, enjoying my parents tilted floors in their antique home, driving some more...and do you know how driving can actually be a calming and enjoyable thing when kids aren't in the car (and when you're not the one stressing the city driving- thanks Dad). Same with flying, of course, though that can never be totally calming when you're always a little bit afraid you're going to die. But off track there. And what's with Southwest being the only airline offering us free snacks? Not lovin' the peanuts and pita chips, but at least they didn't charge money! Stinkin' Continental. Plus they were charging 8 dollars to watch tv. The nerve!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday was the day I was in four states. MA, CT, NY, and staying in NJ with my sister and her enthusiastic husband and irresistible kids. It sometimes is hard being their favorite aunt when Megan is around feeling a little left out of all the fun. We got to go to the Jersey Shore, though no one could call that day a beach day. It was pretty though! It is a fascinating culture out in the East. So many people want to live out there, not because of the people themselves, but because everyone else wants to? I don't know, but they just can't leave. They can't see what's out west. They are captive to the draws of the Big City....and I totally get that, but it is still amazing that people want to pay all the expenses to live there. It is costly! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, I had prayed that everyone would stay well so I could go on the trip and it all went smoothly, until BAM, Isabelle came home an hour before I had to leave. She had a high fever at school. I was sad to leave Isabelle, but she was in good hands. Her father's. Olivia fell sick a few hours later, then the two boys on Saturday night-Sunday. Russell's grand plans of bike training and bike-buying and family fun were thwarted somewhat, but they still had a great time. Thanks Russell- couldn't have had this good trip without you taking a "vacation" from work. So yeah..those prayers worked in a different way, but worked nonetheless because the trip happened, and I had a great time with my parents and sisters. Now back to the rain...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</div>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-75675200859890569952011-04-09T21:22:00.000-06:002011-04-09T21:22:57.312-06:00When you can't find your blog<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's true. I couldn't find my little blog! How very sad! My computer got a big re-wash because "it was making too much noise" and going "sooo slow" (according to computer dr. hubby). Because of these life-threatening ailments, the whole computer was wiped clean and reborn. And as I tried to remember what my blog was called - it has been a couple months you know--my computer had no memory of the address either! I am completely dependent on my computer's brain more than my own. Thankfully I was able to google "the most happenin' blog of 2011", and my blog showed up first on the list. We're now starting fresh again, just like the season now upon us. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is what has happened the last few months: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Home improvements. We had a window seat put in our kitchen for more seats and more space. We can now fit about 10 kids around the table...wahoo!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">minor irritations upon youngest child:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dylan has had a rough go of things here in 2011. He has had an ear infection going on about 3 months now that antibiotics just don't treat! It retreats, only to come back and give us all pain. To add to that already constant pain in his life, he grabbed my curling iron, held on to it longer than instincts would tell you, and as a consequence had to have his hand wrapped for 3 weeks because of a burn on four of his fingers. The poor kid! Not to mention the guilt I felt. But I paid for my sin by having to wrap his hand sometimes 4 times a day (with 2 layers! and ointment!) because the darn thing kept coming off his squirmy and curious little hands. Not easy, I tell you. Not easy a'tall. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a bonus picture of Sam for cousin Sydney. Well, I guess Sam should make the blog anyway because of his toilet skills he's recently acquired. We also now have about 20 more hot wheels cars as a result of his new inclinations, including an ice cream truck and the less popular daycare bus. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, Dyls. How cute is a little almost 1-year old who wants to climb into the dishwasher?</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next post I'll throw some pictures of the rest of us in the family. We've got a week of Spring Break now- weather looks awesome for it- so I'll have to take some pictures of us doing some crafts and making a snowman, maybe even sipping some hot cocoa. Anyone have any fun suggestions for some inside fun? </span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-62133983696729742512011-02-14T17:13:00.000-07:002011-02-14T17:13:34.479-07:00L.O.V.E.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Valentine's Day! Valentine's candy sure has come a long way. I didn't even buy one bag of those gross Necco conversation hearts. We upgraded to SweetTart hearts. Dejavu. Did I talk about this last year? I swear I only have gone off on Easter candy before. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nerds are the perfect candy for 10 month olds! Sorry guys, just had to do it. Sometimes you need a few minutes to do your own thing, and this buys me the time I need. For any of you disgusted at my early introduction to sweets in baby Dylan's diet, take comfort in knowing that most of those little nerdies get stuck forever in between his fingers. And the cookies and cake that he gets bites of here and there? Nothing compared to how many jars of baby food he partakes of in one day. He's definitely the healthiest eater in the house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam turned 3 a few weeks ago. He had an ear infection on his birthday that made him downright miserable so we celebrated the next day as well. Sam is a mother's dream. He likes to cuddle, he tells me I'm his best friend and that he misses me all the time. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For V-day we got upgraded cell phones. They were used from Russell's co-workers and it took a lot of trading/buying/reselling/under-the-table deal-making until we had two phones that would work with our plan, but we are now good to go! The kids got their book and candy. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See below: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anika's book and plate sans a bit of candy, Russell's book- I believe in giving clear messages to people in my life if they want to remain so- (actually this was on his amazon wish list so go check it out), and my phone. What's for dinner? Spinach artichoke dip for me, I'm not thinkin' the kids are going to be that hungry from their candy binge, and Russell is working late. Next coloring pages we'll be printing out starting tomorrow for the next 2 1/2 months: Easter!</span><br />
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</span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-36327217228089091982011-01-04T16:16:00.000-07:002011-01-04T16:16:31.705-07:00Winter wonders<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">December was a great month. It was filled with parties, family, meaning, good health, and contentment. My birthday was in the middle of the month as well. Can I admit that I like to get presents I want for my birthday and Christmas? Is that greedy and self-indulgent? Maybe a little, but I don't claim to be a selfless saint. If I'm going to be getting presents, then let's make sure the ones I've been pining for all year make the cut! I not only enjoy shopping, but I have a little insight on what are the best presents for myself. Surprises are fine, if you know me well enough. Thoughtful gifts have their place, but it's usually in a Nicholas Sparks or Anita Stansfield book and therefore might be a little gag-inducing. Don't over-think it. Just give me some cold, hard cash or a gift card- I'm happy! Hedonist? Perhaps. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am simple, though. I did tell Russell a few months before my birthday that "a purse filled with candy" would always be a good gift. See? I'm not about cartier watches or prada jumpsuits or diamond rings. I have a budget. And he did get that as a surprise, which I was happy about! Along with that, was his win at his work party. He won an iPad, which he gave to me! How awesome is that? I've never pictured myself with an iPad, because of its trendy nature and novelty. However, it is pretty fun to have. I like to pretend that it won't be a huge time-waster because I can email on it, and I can read the Bible on there, just haven't yet, and I can brush up my French with it- and I also can use it as a book reader. I don't think I've done much with it but play with it yet though. I feel like such a modern woman. It makes me forget that my shoulder is always covered with food from cute faces and that my auto-van needs a huge deep-cleaning to remove honey-mustard drips and chewed-up and spit-out apple peel pieces (Sam!) from its insides (who wants to clean the car in the cold of winter??). So with all of those capabilities, it's really wonderful! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some misc. pics from the month:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TSOaUbjBRMI/AAAAAAAACzY/pmq-cEwr-MY/s1600/DSC01070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TSOaUbjBRMI/AAAAAAAACzY/pmq-cEwr-MY/s320/DSC01070.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dance concert</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TSOaxMWwxQI/AAAAAAAACzc/5xoESrTuFoM/s1600/DSC01092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TSOaxMWwxQI/AAAAAAAACzc/5xoESrTuFoM/s320/DSC01092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam was the happiest boy Christmas morning with his garbage trucks</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great snow makes for a perfect December. The girls made this patriotic snowman with their Dad.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New Year's Goals:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">enjoy even more guilty pleasures- live each day to the fullest, right!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">read more brainy books</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">use less close to cuss cuss words or make up more creative ones</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">write that bestseller that is going to make me some big bucks</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">eat more veggies</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">eat more cadbury mini-eggs</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">find something to fill the LOST hole that's inside of me</span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll let you know how that goes by the end of this year. Happy 2011! </span></div><br />
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</div>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-17670838733692387232010-11-27T17:03:00.001-07:002010-11-27T17:06:02.993-07:00Back with a festive vengeance<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow, I didn't even recognize my blog it has been so long! Did I mention we had a baby in April? I guess I covered that one. It just seems like right when I have the urge to write in my blog, someone calls me to wipe or I decide I want to make cookies instead or look on amazon.com for stuff...you know I am doing the amazon prime free trial for the 3rd time in a year now? You'd think they'd stop offering me free trials but as long as that's an option, I'm not committing to a full membership! Plus I spend a lot of money on amazon so I should almost have that free 2-day shipping automatically anyway! I do like them. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TPGRWUkkIiI/AAAAAAAACs4/620pmZ3QrZc/s1600/DSC00937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TPGRWUkkIiI/AAAAAAAACs4/620pmZ3QrZc/s320/DSC00937.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TPGRrd1kLfI/AAAAAAAACs8/SG6dDPBj1Hw/s1600/DSC00938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TPGRrd1kLfI/AAAAAAAACs8/SG6dDPBj1Hw/s320/DSC00938.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well- the kids are back in school, of course, a couple of birthdays have been had- Anika is 9, Olivia now 5. They were as fun as ever. August is a pretty good month to have a birthday. Outdoor parties rock. Halloween was a rainy-snowy blast but we still got treats so all was well. Sam went as Sam, which still got him treats so why would he do it any other way?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TPGS5G_aWTI/AAAAAAAACtE/7PnFxwZRMKk/s1600/DSC00875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TPGS5G_aWTI/AAAAAAAACtE/7PnFxwZRMKk/s320/DSC00875.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All my kids want pillow pets for Christmas, but Sam already knows how to use his woofy as his pillow. Nothing like sleeping on a nice hard floor with the warm sun beating down on you. Anybody got a sing-a-ma-jig? I didn't know I wanted one until they all sold out and are supposedly the hot toy of the season. I want the hot toy! I think! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TPGTYz6lclI/AAAAAAAACtI/JtSl-TW94qI/s1600/DSC01004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TPGTYz6lclI/AAAAAAAACtI/JtSl-TW94qI/s320/DSC01004.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dyl reaching out to grab our beautiful tree. Isn't it awesome? We got it after Christmas last year and it is a tall beauty! We decorate the day after Thanksgiving. I wouldn't mind decorating as soon as the first snow hits, though, as long it's after Halloween. The longer the Christmas feeling is here, the better, right? I felt bad that as we were getting out all the Christmas stuff I was thinking about how soon we would have to put it away and how that stinks big-time. One of the best days of the year: putting up Christmas. One of the worst: taking it down. We got to make December last longer, or put up the tree in September. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TPGWc3SCGLI/AAAAAAAACtM/gmGN40INTfw/s1600/DSC00888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TPGWc3SCGLI/AAAAAAAACtM/gmGN40INTfw/s320/DSC00888.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My good parents are on a mission in Boston, MA. We miss them and hope they are adopting that Boston accent. I'd love that!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TPGXVQz1v9I/AAAAAAAACtQ/STeVLmYBWzs/s1600/DSC00997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TPGXVQz1v9I/AAAAAAAACtQ/STeVLmYBWzs/s320/DSC00997.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanksgiving was fun. The best foods are: stuffing, cranberry sauce, and sweet potatoes, all on your fork at once. Every year we do a thankful jar where we all write what we're thankful for. Like Megz mentioned in her blog yesterday, the kids can come up with awesome spellings for stuff. Like Isabelle (6) wrote above, she is thankful for "lecktrisity". </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TPGYpZX1qbI/AAAAAAAACtU/QD7tBJGC3pE/s1600/DSC01005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TPGYpZX1qbI/AAAAAAAACtU/QD7tBJGC3pE/s320/DSC01005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isabelle wants to document her smile void of many teeth. There it is! Her birthday is coming up and maybe considering how often I blog now I should just write how much fun we had Christmas and that Santa brought the best toys. Sam turned 3 on Groundhog Day and successfully potty-trained himself with his McQueen potty. Everyone loved the green pancakes on St. Patty's..but don't worry about all that- go enjoy some John Denver Christmas music and some fudge!</span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-37968809850373299292010-07-23T18:52:00.000-06:002010-07-23T18:52:15.399-06:00Exotic vacations and other Hampton-like experiences<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TEn52BVoCyI/AAAAAAAACgY/0UZs-AS6I2U/s1600/DSC00581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TEn52BVoCyI/AAAAAAAACgY/0UZs-AS6I2U/s320/DSC00581.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh my. What haven't we done this summer?! Holy cow....it's been AMAZING. May. First we needed to get the baby blessed before our world travels, so we had to dress up. Kind of a hardship, but we managed. A picture wouldn't be quite as true to life if someone wasn't in tears. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dining with the beautiful blonde European cousins Memorial Day and feasting on exotic beef sliders, some bunless..</span>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rock-climbing the Himalayas..a decent workout I s'pose.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TEn9Qzp865I/AAAAAAAAChg/uwh7HzbFFBc/s1600/DSC00635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TEn9Qzp865I/AAAAAAAAChg/uwh7HzbFFBc/s320/DSC00635.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The babe having his first modesty lesson. Sometimes you get unwanted modesty lessons in your homeland. Who cares if my kid has a sleeveless shirt or dress on? As they get older they'll figure things out for themselves (and I'll help them along if they have skanky tendencies) but for now, it isn't a huge deal to me. I won't do bellies; I think that is something the mother wants to show more than the kid, but a little shoulder or leg doesn't hurt nobody and it doesn't scream showgirl to me either. So CHILLS OUT you Mormon Modesty Nazis!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ---back to lighter issues--</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our trip to the Hamptons. Oh yeah.....that's what we like. Who doesn't want to take the whole summer off as a family and go stay in your beach retreat? Well, after much convincing (because I wish I could just spend the afternoon in a hammock- but I am too busy planning all my dinner parties) I got A and I out there with their books and pillows and lemonade. That's the life. The summer life. Oh, and look closely at that huge, flourishing garden that boasts maybe 2 tomatoes and 3 zukes. Poor suckers ferociously trying to survive despite their greatest obstacle in life: me.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer isn't complete without swimming in the pure blue ocean. Look closely and you might see a dolphin or two.</span> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TEn6R7d7iaI/AAAAAAAACg4/5KRyG7U1AiY/s1600/DSC00644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TEn6R7d7iaI/AAAAAAAACg4/5KRyG7U1AiY/s320/DSC00644.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teaching the kids to make the big bucks was something on my educational summer agenda in-between travels, along with workbooks that are slooowly getting themselves done. Look at Anika and her friend workin' the system. You should try this! Mix 1 koolaid package with 1 cup sugar, and then funnel into straws, stapling the bottom first. Homemade Pixi Stix! You can easily scrounge at least 25 cents per stix from the 6 and up crowd, and maybe a dollar from the under 6 group who are most unsuspecting and sugar-hungry. Just make sure they don't tell their parents where their allowance is going. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TEn6YdxM5XI/AAAAAAAAChA/34SxjJNWhDo/s1600/DSC00649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/TEn6YdxM5XI/AAAAAAAAChA/34SxjJNWhDo/s320/DSC00649.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And last but not least, when travelling the world you may see some sights that might leave you feeling a little uncomfortable, and the kids feeling confused. Like this cross-dresser. What can you say other than maybe everyone wants to look pretty once in a while? Who doesn't want to wear a fancy sparkly skirt or don fun flowing hair at least once before they die?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Besides all this non-stop action and culture we also met up with the well-bred Northeastern family for a few fun weeks in July. We also enjoyed a family reunion full of good folks and quality fun and now are enjoying the idea of the recently hyped "staycation" after all that crazy summer fun. Dang, it's good to be home!!!!</span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-34159649143310159192010-04-26T13:48:00.004-06:002010-04-26T14:24:44.315-06:00Infrequent blogger<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I don't really want to become one of *those* bloggers, you know the kind that only post once every two months? There are gaps in my life that you won't ever know now, and I'm sorry about that.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Truth be told you haven't missed much. The last month or so I've just been whining about being 8-9 months prego and trying to scrounge up enough sympathy from Russell and the kids so I could have excuses to lay around at night and watch tv and eat the rest of my cadbury mini-eggs (I only have about 10 left, sadly, but they are still selling them on ebay if I feel the urge).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">But now that the babe has emerged into this world, I must introduce him.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S9XwrCBAgsI/AAAAAAAAB9A/q7EsjLpQh5k/s1600/DSC00410.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S9XwrCBAgsI/AAAAAAAAB9A/q7EsjLpQh5k/s320/DSC00410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464538344950104770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Baby Dylan</span><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">He is a sweet boy born on April 17. He was 6 lbs 10 oz, but at the rate he's eating he should be a few pounds more by now. It's kind of interesting what his body decided to focus on development-wise in the womb. It was important to his genetic code to grow a head full of muppet hair, yet his code didn't worry that it forgot to send hair to the eyes for lashes and brows. And why not pad the bum a little bit if there's time during those 9 months? But hey- don't get me wrong; I'm not dissing the cute boy. His body rocks and so does mine for housing him. His brows can grow out here in the open air just fine. And I've got eyes- I just need to take a look at the male family tree and realize a tush is not in the future for this little guy. </span></span><br /></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S9XwsCUfBsI/AAAAAAAAB9I/uVbvGSlGg68/s1600/DSC00414.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S9XwsCUfBsI/AAAAAAAAB9I/uVbvGSlGg68/s320/DSC00414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464538362211665602" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm shielding baby D from the unrelenting paparazzi that are always hounding my family and me. Leave us alone! I know we're adorable and super-exciting, but you gotta know when to let kids be kids. <br /><br />Isn't it great that we all can fit on a bed and watch shows on the laptop? It's Kipper the Dog. I have never seen that show before, but it seemed to please. That, or the mesmerizing glow of any children's brainless programming.<br /><br />So that is our happy news. Spring has sprung and so has my baby. <br /><br /><br /></span></span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-24731707356735290172010-02-23T13:44:00.003-07:002010-02-23T14:19:39.870-07:00Goings and Comings and candy reviews<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S4Q_KmVYeBI/AAAAAAAAB2c/Ta2dJX4rqHQ/s1600-h/kisses.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 80px; height: 80px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S4Q_KmVYeBI/AAAAAAAAB2c/Ta2dJX4rqHQ/s320/kisses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441543701091874834" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S4Q_J_6QahI/AAAAAAAAB2U/xR4TLCcT24g/s1600-h/jellybeans.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 122px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S4Q_J_6QahI/AAAAAAAAB2U/xR4TLCcT24g/s320/jellybeans.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441543690777553426" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We made it through January, and now February is almost over. Hallelujah! Once we got Valentine's Day out of the way, the stores really got down to business. And here we go, once again. Easter candy joys. I already blogged about Cadbury Mini-Eggs and Reese's PB Eggs last year, so I guess I have to come up with some new material. Coconut Hershey's Kisses are really quite good! And in a fun bright blue wrapper! I know they have come out with coconut M&M's but I haven't seen them yet. I'm excited. As for non-chocolate treats, these jelly beans by SweeTarts are the only way to go. I am not a jelly bean person, mostly because the flavor on the inside doesn't go very far. But with SweeTarts, they give satisfying flavor the whole way through. And the flavors are tasty. None of that generic lime and cherry nastiness from other jelly bean brands. <br /><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S4Q_AX86wyI/AAAAAAAAB2M/bc9xZ6TR9j4/s1600-h/DSC00232.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S4Q_AX86wyI/AAAAAAAAB2M/bc9xZ6TR9j4/s320/DSC00232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441543525432476450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Happy Birthday on Groundhog Day, Sam! Out of all his real birthday pictures, I just had to go with this one, because it is so true to him. Don't you just want to kiss his smoothie-laden face? Ok, maybe just me. And don't you wonder when he's going to finally eat that macaroni on his chest? You know I wasn't going to take it off, because it brought me great satisfaction every time I saw it still there.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S4Q-_1UM9uI/AAAAAAAAB2E/4SjcHYCboo8/s1600-h/DSC00245.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S4Q-_1UM9uI/AAAAAAAAB2E/4SjcHYCboo8/s320/DSC00245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441543516134897378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh Isabelle....she wore that diaper (don't worry, unsoiled and remaining unsoiled) for a few hours just to be fun. I encourage my kids to be creative and regress every once in a while back to babyhood.<br /><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S4Q-_T0zMUI/AAAAAAAAB18/TpTkatzFDU4/s1600-h/DSC00266.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S4Q-_T0zMUI/AAAAAAAAB18/TpTkatzFDU4/s320/DSC00266.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441543507144814914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And part of regression that we need to fix...oh well. He gives more than he takes, which is the balance we all strive for in our relationships, right? <br />Thanks to Sam I am learning a lot of things I never knew or cared to know. Like all the kinds of building equipment. Trains. Tractors. Cars. YouTube has some awesome excavator and garbage truck clips. Thanks to you Samuel, I am becoming truly well-rounded. <br /><br />Now on to March! <br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><br /></div>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-11433295040133005892010-01-08T11:58:00.000-07:002010-01-08T13:28:10.953-07:00Why Christmas should be Jan. 25<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have been doing a lot of thinking this new year. I was reading a You book, and one of the suggestions to ward off Alzheimer's is thinking of things in a new way. For example, when you take a shower don't turn off your brain; think of the individual trickles of water beading on your leg. Keep that mind activated! Even though the ability to numb your brain seems like quite a talent in its own right. Moving on.<br /><br />So during my deep thinking, I really decided I don't like January, and so many people don't, yet we rush December like it's on perpetual stimulants and need it be?? No! Therefore, I motion to move Christmas to January 25~! If there is one thing that government can actually accomplish, maybe it could be this easy switchover? Here are my reasons:<br /></span></span> <ul><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">not enough time between Thanksgiving and Christmas! Let's actually enjoy our decorations for more than a few weeks. Also, more time for all dem eggnog parties and maybe caroling will come back into vogue if we have time for such frivolities. <br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Valentine's Day will get the time it deserves, which is no more than 2 weeks.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Christmas spirit will have time to be earned, not faked</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">time to listen to all those good carols, watch all those Christmas videos</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">more time to make all those holiday goodies!</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">January will be more enjoyable, having Christmas marked on its 25th day, and December will begin slowly and surely. <br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">No more Black Friday taking the steam away from Thanksgiving.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Greater likeliness of a white Christmas in January than December</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I will have a little more time to refresh my wishlist between my December birthday and Christmas<br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">once Christmas is over the end of January, it will feel like we only have a little bit of winter left before Spring!<br /></span></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" >So aren't those great reasons? I thought so. Here are some of my highlights during the fun month, yet somewhat rushed month of December 2009:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S0dnt8sPLFI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/VWAN1eKw2UA/s1600-h/DSC00116.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S0dnt8sPLFI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/VWAN1eKw2UA/s320/DSC00116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424418315274497106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> Above- celebrating my Dad's big 7-0. He totally looks and acts 40. <br />Below- Sam loves brushing his teeth...sometimes I'm negligent and I just stay out of the bathroom and hope one of his sisters is brushing for him. As it usually goes, he takes care of himself. Independence isn't bad for an almost 2 year old, right? I'm sure he is brushing very thoroughly.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S0dltLB7JGI/AAAAAAAAB0I/0nPvJek-SL4/s1600-h/DSC00140.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S0dltLB7JGI/AAAAAAAAB0I/0nPvJek-SL4/s320/DSC00140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424416102920430690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">We celebrated Isabelle's 6th birthday on the 22nd. It was a fun day! </span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S0dlsyXNJjI/AAAAAAAAB0A/BfOOV_AYeFA/s1600-h/DSC00141.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S0dlsyXNJjI/AAAAAAAAB0A/BfOOV_AYeFA/s320/DSC00141.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424416096298804786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S0drpjZy2EI/AAAAAAAAB0g/nEYwldUV04c/s1600-h/DSC00148.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S0drpjZy2EI/AAAAAAAAB0g/nEYwldUV04c/s320/DSC00148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424422637813291074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Megz tried to take over the party by initiating charades while I was still shoveling lil smokies into a few of the more hungry party-goers mouths. </span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S0dlsjW9OrI/AAAAAAAABz4/eRyz4Eb3Hyo/s1600-h/DSC00137.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S0dlsjW9OrI/AAAAAAAABz4/eRyz4Eb3Hyo/s320/DSC00137.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424416092271229618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Making marshmallow pops...who knew white and chocolate covered marshmallows with sprinkles could taste so good?</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S0dlsE66y7I/AAAAAAAABzw/sHyI-sZf9uY/s1600-h/DSC00159.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/S0dlsE66y7I/AAAAAAAABzw/sHyI-sZf9uY/s320/DSC00159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424416084100565938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Christmas day was great. The kids enjoyed their apparel and toys. <br /><br /><br />So with all this, how do we make January a redeemable month? I have just one idea, and that is to go out and enjoy my Easter candy for this month and the following 3 months? <br /></span></span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-79453988748429521012009-12-09T14:10:00.000-07:002009-12-09T14:24:08.151-07:00Tidings of great boy<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SyAJYire3HI/AAAAAAAAByc/VzBVRvQMFAo/s1600-h/DSC00087.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SyAJYire3HI/AAAAAAAAByc/VzBVRvQMFAo/s320/DSC00087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413337069330029682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Poor Olivia and Sam weren't quite as excited about playing<br />outside Monday as I'd thought they'd be. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Isn't this a happy, great time of year? The only time in the winter season where people might actually like snow for the Christmas-y ambiance it provides. Me personally, I could have it in Jan-Feb for a while as long as the temps stay in the 30's and 40's so we can play in it comfortably. And everyone has to go sledding at least once a season! But by March, snow needs to be on the way out.<br /></span></span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SyAJYJO-P9I/AAAAAAAAByU/7rhRB-mUM8I/s1600-h/DSC00058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SyAJYJO-P9I/AAAAAAAAByU/7rhRB-mUM8I/s320/DSC00058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413337062499565522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We love going to the Christmas Parade every year! I think we could use the same picture every year, as well...we are going on 3 years with the girls' coats. It's awesome. I'm not sure about Russell's pea-colored Shrek hat, though it was free with some Kellogg's proof of purchases. </span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SyAJXhCKdoI/AAAAAAAAByM/xKb7enw3r2s/s1600-h/DSC00048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SyAJXhCKdoI/AAAAAAAAByM/xKb7enw3r2s/s320/DSC00048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413337051708421762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Me and my little reindeer! So if you can't see my pregnant belly in this picture, then you are missing out. We found out today what we're having and we're excited things are going well in there for the little boy. Sam is pumped to have a little brother. Don't feel bad if you didn't know- sometimes I'm not sure how to fit my reproduction into conversation. Any which way, the lines are open for discussion now! </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-73935674784271837202009-11-18T10:27:00.005-07:002009-11-18T12:14:29.772-07:00Out with the old, in with the new<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SwRGkUjXGaI/AAAAAAAABx8/h3HYYl61JJg/s1600/wife.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 295px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SwRGkUjXGaI/AAAAAAAABx8/h3HYYl61JJg/s320/wife.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405523042557696418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I love MS days. You know, when the MS truck comes and gets the pile of stuff you've wanted to take to DI forever but who has time to drop stuff off at DI? So when I get that phone call from MS I am more than happy to scour my house for more goodies to donate to make their trip out here worth it, and to make me feel like I just deep-cleaned my house, one of my favorite feelings in the world (don't we all love it?). </span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Here's how I do it, because this is something any person with a home needs to do to de-junkify:<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><ul><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">First, numb yourself. That's right...don't do this when you're sad, solemn, nostalgic, loving, etc. This is much easier if you go through this process as unbiased and indifferent as possible.</span></span></li><li style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Look through all your board and card games. Look again, because 1/3 of those babies you have not played this year, or the last. Time to give it up. Don't have it "just to have it". If you were lucky and it still has its shrink-wrap on, you can re-gift it this Christmas.<br /></span></li><li style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Go through all your kids' stuffed animals. There are a few there from teachers and from dollar stores and from Easter baskets that aren't getting the love more than a couple times a year. Your kids won't notice their absence. Ok...they will, but just for a screaming short-moment. Don't tell me they don't have 10 other stand-bys in line for lovin'.</span></li><li style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Look through your kitchen. Pots and pans, plates...drawers of measuring cups...how many do you really need? It is so nice to have LESS STUFF in the kitchen, because it is the place that is constantly increasing with stuff.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Look through old books/dvds. Time to give away the vhs. Time to give away those books by Nicholas Sparks and Richard Paul Evans. How many times do you want to re-live a doomed romance or a sappy plot?</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Clothes. This is my favorite part. The more you get rid of, the more empty your closet is and needs a re-fill. Justified shopping!<br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The husband's stuff. This is the hard part, because they are more difficult than the kids when they find out you got rid of their stuff. Who knew? Even if they never use it or never will. Beware of sentimental attachments they have with "stuff" (I can't mention item(s) to protect husband's identity). I still don't get it. Item is in back of storage gathering dust and mites and rendering itself even more useless, yet husband refuses to let item go. I feel angered that I can't win this battle, but won't give up just yet. MS comes every few months. </span></span></li></ul><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">So, that's where I am with all of this. What a joy losing excess baggage around the homestead. No one can see the difference but me, but I can FEEL it too!<br /><br />Can't wait to go shopping. Need some new shoes, new jeans, and maybe a few new books...<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"></span></span><br /></span></span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-56553505546037149002009-10-21T15:40:00.002-06:002009-10-21T21:12:14.600-06:00vacationing Utah style<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/St-BerVhITI/AAAAAAAABw8/_nKQGWF4sic/s1600-h/DSCN4351.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/St-BerVhITI/AAAAAAAABw8/_nKQGWF4sic/s400/DSCN4351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395173242642178354" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Well...what a nice Fall Break we had in CA! Now I am getting why people seem to go there all the time around here. The car ride isn't horrendous, though I can't believe I'm saying that. And if you live in St. George or even Las Vegas, then Disneyland is a mere few hours away! <br /><br />Russell really discourages me taking nudie shots of our children, but little bums don't count! Especially little toddler boy bums. They make me smile, and in a purely innocent way.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/St-BeRTszDI/AAAAAAAABw0/32xgGZHUdmM/s1600-h/DSCN4355.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/St-BeRTszDI/AAAAAAAABw0/32xgGZHUdmM/s400/DSCN4355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395173235655232562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Laguna Beach is a beautiful beach! We were a bit disappointed there weren't any famous people strutting around in their bikinis and shorts, but we did see several mid-life crisis males trying really hard to look hot in their speedos and super-dark tans.</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/St-BeH4cpoI/AAAAAAAABws/UcpUVwHnPMk/s1600-h/DSCN4321.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/St-BeH4cpoI/AAAAAAAABws/UcpUVwHnPMk/s400/DSCN4321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395173233125009026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/St-A0R100LI/AAAAAAAABwc/nxdC6xMU7r0/s1600-h/DSCN4282.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/St-A0R100LI/AAAAAAAABwc/nxdC6xMU7r0/s400/DSCN4282.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395172514243858610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Disneyland Street Parade. Ani and Is got to go dance. I was sure proud of them, because I don't imagine I would have had the nerve to do that when I was young. Or now.</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/St-A0LiKFgI/AAAAAAAABwU/yqqVtf9nSAI/s1600-h/DSCN4270.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/St-A0LiKFgI/AAAAAAAABwU/yqqVtf9nSAI/s400/DSCN4270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395172512550753794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We convinced my mom and dad that what they really wanted to do was to take a Disneyland trip and my powers of persuasion worked! They had a good time and we enjoyed the perks of having the ratio of 1 adult per child. It was great having them with us.</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/St-Az-mo-gI/AAAAAAAABwM/YUSlXFB3IUc/s1600-h/DSCN4252.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/St-Az-mo-gI/AAAAAAAABwM/YUSlXFB3IUc/s400/DSCN4252.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395172509079894530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/St-AzeIKKXI/AAAAAAAABwE/CgioUPpV1xM/s1600-h/DSCN4245.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/St-AzeIKKXI/AAAAAAAABwE/CgioUPpV1xM/s400/DSCN4245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395172500362111346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Disneyland, thanks for the good time and only minimal long waits in lines. We'll be back...</span></span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-73156631834165011842009-09-30T11:56:00.001-06:002009-09-30T11:58:24.125-06:00Last of picture stuff. Pure Fall Beauty!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SsOb2M55DEI/AAAAAAAABu4/Ue8I1h4f6ZM/s1600-h/DSCN4212.JPG"><br /></a> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SsOb2QNifII/AAAAAAAABvA/q0Euzx_xkE0/s1600-h/mid-late+20091.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SsOb2QNifII/AAAAAAAABvA/q0Euzx_xkE0/s400/mid-late+20091.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-31408286306395921932009-09-29T13:52:00.002-06:002009-09-29T14:02:17.591-06:00August Collage<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SsJlcZT3GMI/AAAAAAAABug/MDcoI3weS9U/s1600-h/mid-late+2009.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SsJlcZT3GMI/AAAAAAAABug/MDcoI3weS9U/s400/mid-late+2009.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Click to see bigger pictures, if you'd like, if you love my kids that much. So just a quick catch-up...August was Anika turning 8 and getting baptized. Big event. We went to Color Me Mine for her birthday party and that was a really fun crafty thing to do. Great for all ages...paint your own ceramic things! Who doesn't love using creative juices every once and a while?<br /><br />Isabelle started Kindergarten, which she enjoys. She had some awesome hair for crazy hair day! I miss Kindergarten, too. It was just a chill time with all the kids and treats and games.<br /><br />Olivia started preschool and enjoys fighting with her friend over who gets to open the door every preschool morning. She had her 4th birthday and as you can tell, it was the perfect day.<br /><br />Sam loves his woof from Ikea and will just lay on him whenever the mood strikes.<br /><br />We hit Lagoon in Sept, which was a very great time to go weather-wise, especially since it was evening. Great times.<br /><br />Soon I will post our Sundance collage. It was true beauty up there! We made it up Saturday, because we had to say we did it. There is still plenty of time to go; maybe 30 percent of the leaves had changed.<br />Yay! </span></span><br /></div></div>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-21101252302770243242009-09-25T18:01:00.008-06:002009-09-25T19:03:05.309-06:00What makes a bad day for me and my big BOoHoO<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sr1k2YdUuPI/AAAAAAAABt4/wQFi3ncqHdc/s1600-h/pretty+fall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sr1k2YdUuPI/AAAAAAAABt4/wQFi3ncqHdc/s400/pretty+fall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385571614846138610" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">So I shouldn't even be blogging about today because I have August to catch up on, which was a pretty big month at our house. However, I really have to digest this day as to purge it from my system and process it out of my life!<br /><br />So it starts off with great potential. A day off from school that coincides with the Friday off Russell has from work. Another plus: it's Fall and the temperatures are great. Sounds like the perfect opportunity to have a fun family day, right? Well, right. But oh so wrong, thanks to poor planning and even worse execution. Our first plan was to hit Park City, which we like to do every Fall to see the leaves, but because I didn't really know *what* exactly we'd be doing up there and it seemed too sunny for Park City in the Fall (just a very specific personal preference) I changed the plan to going to Sundance, riding the ski lift, and doing a little hiking. We had to be back in Provo by 4 for dance class. Russell used most of the morning to do a little side work at home, and we didn't leave until 11:30. I thought we were still good, though I had errands to run in Orem before we got to the hiking part. Well, Russell took two kids to RCWilley because he is a bed-baby and really wants a new mattress, though ours is still soft (I'm no bed connoisseur), but he says it's not good if you wake up in the morning with a backache from your bed. I took the other 2 to Michael's to look at some Halloween stuff. I buy 3 bucks worth of stuff, Russell buys the salesman's pitch and we're out 40 minutes.<br /><br />Next dealy- eat lunch. 1st problem: we told the kids McD's. 2nd problem: it's the McD's by the Orem Target, which is horrific, both in locale and quality. Okay, truth be told, when you go to McD's you know you're most likely not getting a stellar experience, but aim for sub-par and you'll be content. Anyway, not only was the order wrong (which is very usual) but the food was even more nasty than usual, even the apple dippers! Sad, McD's, very sad. And I like their cheeseburgers and fries as a rule...I'm not a snob. Anyway...Russell and I left feeling money was wasted and bellies were still hungry.<br /><br />One more stop before the much anticipated nature event at Sundance: a "quick" stop into Target to get something I left there last time, and to briefly look at some kid clothes. Well, anyone and everyone knows you can't get out of Target in less than half an hour, and you most definitely won't leave without spending a big sum of money. This was no exception, and by the time we got out of there, it was 3:00. Oops! Russell and I are explaining to the kids that we don't have time to do what we actually PLANNED to do! How sad is that? We both felt pitiful and lame.<br /><br />We got to dance class a bit late, because of traffic and one other errand we decided to run, and then took the kids out early (which is hard for me) to make it to Anika's last soccer game and party, which made it a big deal for her to go. Sadly, she left ONE shoe and ONE shin guard at home, and we had to run home and we ended up at the soccer game at half-time. Yuckety yuckety yuk. So how's that for a day that just leaves you feeling like UGH! I really needed a personal assistant today to help me with my planning, to check kid's bags, and to pack a lunch for us all, because dang, it looks like my fail to plan really caused my plan to fail. Cliched but true. It could have been a satisfying nature appreciation day! You'd be seeing pictures of me dancing in fall wonder....all of us laughing joyously and making memories, having intellectual discussions about seasons ...or maybe we would have fallen off the ski lift, so maybe this is the best day ever since we avoided a near-catastrophe? Is that how I should look at it? My gut tells me I should have cut out all the extra-curricular consumer errands. Story of my life guys, story of my life.<br /><br />Anyway, if I could just do today over again...</span><br /></span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-72433080689164443512009-09-01T15:55:00.006-06:002009-09-01T18:16:11.953-06:00Happy Birthday Di!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sp22hH9q8JI/AAAAAAAABro/1ZCQ7HxXCAc/s1600-h/DSCN1911.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sp22hH9q8JI/AAAAAAAABro/1ZCQ7HxXCAc/s200/DSCN1911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376654210339893394" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">l-r<br />di, me, meg in PA<br />Di and I are pregnant in this pic- I got to hide behind the candy bar<br />(we miss Diana all the time while she lives in NJ)<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sp2xWWklkrI/AAAAAAAABrY/8wyVb9V56dw/s1600-h/InChair.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sp2xWWklkrI/AAAAAAAABrY/8wyVb9V56dw/s400/InChair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376648527724516018" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Well, it was just 8 months ago this day I wrote a birthday post for my older sister and promised I'd be back for another post of emotional sentiment for my younger sister, whose birthday is today. Well, since I really don't have that much sap in me to cover any more years down the road, this might have to be the first and last year I do this for my beloved sisters. So I will make this time a really special experience for everyone involved.<br /><br />So a few words about Diana. She's just a good true person with smarts, patience, and creativity. I can't go into our growing up years as they had a lot of turmoil, thanks to myself, but I do like to focus on the times I was a good sister. We've had lots of great times!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sp2xWLKjOfI/AAAAAAAABrQ/XjbI05H98hA/s1600-h/ThreeReadingBook.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sp2xWLKjOfI/AAAAAAAABrQ/XjbI05H98hA/s400/ThreeReadingBook.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376648524662520306" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sp2yRnla5rI/AAAAAAAABrg/yGk3ls6U7wM/s1600-h/Hut.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sp2yRnla5rI/AAAAAAAABrg/yGk3ls6U7wM/s400/Hut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376649545903695538" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">We got creative with our huts in the field during the summer. I'd like to say that girl with the permy big bangs is Diana, but sadly, that was me. Diana's in her house- she's hard to find, but if you're good at ISpy..</span> </div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sp2xVXiqwMI/AAAAAAAABrA/XgLuI31MOQc/s1600-h/DianaErinInHall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sp2xVXiqwMI/AAAAAAAABrA/XgLuI31MOQc/s400/DianaErinInHall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376648510805033154" border="0" /></a><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Anyway, Happy Birthday Diana! I'm excited for the day when you live a lot closer and we can celebrate your big day with a night of clubbin' and mocktails.</span><br /></div>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-70104392193071244142009-08-16T21:56:00.007-06:002009-08-17T09:41:23.038-06:00In memory of post #2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SojWWXeu8xI/AAAAAAAABqA/l1lW3_Loaps/s1600-h/secret.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 280px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SojWWXeu8xI/AAAAAAAABqA/l1lW3_Loaps/s320/secret.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370778235387704082" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Back in the old days of 2008 when I started my blog, I had issues to discuss. I am a little sad I have departed from my insightful commentaries on various consumer products, or politics, or world news. Well, with the exception of the last two mentioned, my blog was a source of strength for my many reader. Her name being Megz. Going back I realized how succinct I was, how I didn't just go on and on for paragraphs. I miss the old me. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">With that <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://specialcloudydays.blogspot.com/2008/01/secret-messed-up-big-time.html">old post</a> in mind, I wanted to give an update. Secret </span><span style="font-family:arial;">deodorant being the issue at hand. I didn't even post a picture back in those days of newbieness, so I made sure to not be lacking in that area today. <span style="font-family:arial;">If I were one of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >those</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"> bloggers, I would even show my armpit, perhaps with a little stubble <span style="font-size:100%;">(of course I don't have stubble ever!)</span> as I apply the Secret. But I'm not going to do that for you.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">So here's what happened. Secret did some random consumer research online, found my blog, saw my dismay at their change in formula, and after a year switched it back! So now I am finally back to wearing Secret Unscented. I tried several other flavors of deodorant, and I have been disgusted from the smells emanating from my armpits ever since. I am not a smelly person <span style="font-size:85%;">(i'm pretty sure)</span>, and I don't sweat excessively. So with that in mind, how can any sane person desire a wet-sweat-tainted version of Watermelon Sunset coming from the top two corners of their body? I don't want to smell my pits at any point in the day. No Baby Powder Unfresh, no Fusty Flamingo, and please no Tropical Breaking Wind. Not only do people get a whiff of you as you walk by, but you have to smell yourself all day long. And that is just something I can't handle. I love me a good perfume or lotion or spray, but mixed with body sweat just doesn't quite have the right zest, you know? </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">So my question is, how do you people out there that wear scented versions of deodorant defend yourselves? I am almost of the mind that you should go au-naturel- body-smell before you go scented.<br /><br />But credit where credit is due. Thank you Secret, for taking the scent out of your Unscented once again. You heard my voice and I will once again pay 10 bucks a year to your company. Gracias. </span><br /></span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-38907555824221453562009-07-31T20:33:00.000-06:002009-07-31T21:59:37.101-06:00Everyone loves a before and after<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Whether it be a dramatic body before and after photo or a little less exciting home improvement before and after, who doesn't love seeing changes? And hopefully changes for the better?? It's like getting to take both roads in your journey and not just one with befores and afters. Think about it. We could have kept this kitchen as is and be pretty darn content with it, or we could change it up and see how it can change our lives. And let me tell you, my life is SO MUCH better now. My house is so pleased to experience a little plastic surgery. I am so much happier I now walk with a bounce in my step. My kids are singing all day and never a sassy mouth doth spout. </span> </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">BEFORE<br />(so brown and sad)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SnOUuJtMkvI/AAAAAAAABoc/Nvusj6I8Ol8/s1600-h/DSCN4100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SnOUuJtMkvI/AAAAAAAABoc/Nvusj6I8Ol8/s320/DSCN4100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364795101728772850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:arial;" >AFTER</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">(light, airy and bubbly)</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SnOUufFDarI/AAAAAAAABok/Nfs8uuQc6Cw/s1600-h/DSCN4137.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SnOUufFDarI/AAAAAAAABok/Nfs8uuQc6Cw/s320/DSCN4137.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364795107465980594" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(our painted and glazed island)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SnOUuqDPVAI/AAAAAAAABos/6uAsZZbUnQo/s1600-h/DSCN4127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SnOUuqDPVAI/AAAAAAAABos/6uAsZZbUnQo/s320/DSCN4127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364795110411162626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">You could call us lazy painters but I just call us smart and not wasting time with unimportant roadblocks. Here's the thing- we removed the hardware but didn't remove the cabinets, didn't take out the drawers or the stuff in them ( just threw a newspaper page on them if we remembered), didn't sand (but primed with Valspar sander primer) and about 16 hours and three coats we finished. How great is that? I know some people think it's sacrilegious to paint over wood, but we didn't burn it or anything. It's still in our kitchen, just covered with a nice coat of paint to keep it toasty.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;">Di, Ani and Is<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SnO6AWSCw4I/AAAAAAAABo8/ScSWuun5iJw/s1600-h/DSCN4124.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SnO6AWSCw4I/AAAAAAAABo8/ScSWuun5iJw/s320/DSCN4124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364836096272417666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Moving on.... summer has flown by with its softball, swim lessons, 4th and 24th celebrations, parades, family reunion, and good times of that sort. It has been great to have my sister Diana and her family come down for their yearly visit from NJ. We braved the stinky and algae-ful Salem Pond water last week (how did I ever swim in that pond?!) and enjoyed a little paddle-boat ride. This is a beautiful place though. I am always in awe.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SnO6ABW-IUI/AAAAAAAABo0/BfnnqIK7csI/s1600-h/DSCN4123.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SnO6ABW-IUI/AAAAAAAABo0/BfnnqIK7csI/s320/DSCN4123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364836090655940930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SnO7i0VfknI/AAAAAAAABpE/R13zrNHsbbw/s1600-h/DSCN4122.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SnO7i0VfknI/AAAAAAAABpE/R13zrNHsbbw/s320/DSCN4122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364837787967132274" border="0" /></a>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-90410697038037096312009-07-02T20:46:00.004-06:002009-07-02T22:43:14.364-06:00Car bonding<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sk1lB4e21vI/AAAAAAAABmc/OKLE20HId-Q/s1600-h/DSCN4043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sk1lB4e21vI/AAAAAAAABmc/OKLE20HId-Q/s320/DSCN4043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354046615029470962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">yup, a real live picture<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Well, this was it! Our first family vacation out of state in a looooong time. I wasn't super-excited about packing the kids in the car for 14 hours but with the help of a dvd player (I know- weak!) we eliminated any fun family singathons and alphabet car travel games and instead sedated the kids with Barbie, Elmo, and other equally numbing entertainment. And you know what? Bless it all.<br /><br />Above is Snoqualmie Falls in Washington state. I thought the kids would be speechless at nature's death-fall but they didn't seem too captivated. Shucks. Took me back to "The Fugitive" with Harri Ford, my ol' buddy. Great movie.<br /><br /></span></div></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sk1kdOwIZ4I/AAAAAAAABmU/gQ8K838sHAM/s1600-h/040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sk1kdOwIZ4I/AAAAAAAABmU/gQ8K838sHAM/s400/040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354045985352345474" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><br />On a ferry with R's parents to Lopez Island, one of the San Juan Islands. Some people actually live there, which came as a surprise to me! I always thought those little specks on the map outside WA were just for looks. Goes to show...<br /><br />The pictures below were from a beautiful beach there on Lopez. We saw sea life--some starfish, a washed up jellyfish, and crabs.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sk1kczuMMHI/AAAAAAAABmM/klffDf9ICeQ/s1600-h/032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sk1kczuMMHI/AAAAAAAABmM/klffDf9ICeQ/s400/032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354045978096447602" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Burying Isabelle's legs in the sand. Good wholesome sand fun.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sk1kcjBCc7I/AAAAAAAABmE/ViBED3D5G0s/s1600-h/019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sk1kcjBCc7I/AAAAAAAABmE/ViBED3D5G0s/s400/019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354045973612098482" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><br />Cute Liv. The girls brought home about 10 lbs of seashells. I walk into their rooms and am blown over by the smell of sea air and dearly departed fishies. We did bring the beach home with us!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sk1kcQ5yq7I/AAAAAAAABl8/f03_LaB2KrE/s1600-h/017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sk1kcQ5yq7I/AAAAAAAABl8/f03_LaB2KrE/s400/017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354045968749865906" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Best hats ever.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sk1kb1hRHhI/AAAAAAAABl0/so3B2SvI4rY/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sk1kb1hRHhI/AAAAAAAABl0/so3B2SvI4rY/s400/008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354045961399246354" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Be assured that Sam had his fun too. How can sand +water+boy not equal true bliss? Things did go a little too far when his naughty big sister Iz dumped a handful of sand down his diaper. Poor Bud! That is a place where one needs no exfoliation.</span><br /><br />Well, we had a good time visiting R's parents and family on our trip. Now back to figuring out how to hook myself up with a comfy hammock, an icy drink, and an uninterrupted reading hour in that hammock for the remaining days of summer...</span>.</span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-91044853811693503782009-05-24T15:01:00.002-06:002009-05-24T16:20:22.296-06:00Have I gone too far in my teachings?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Shm14hcYJkI/AAAAAAAABg4/jhDQ2-POX3A/s1600-h/DSCN3958.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Shm14hcYJkI/AAAAAAAABg4/jhDQ2-POX3A/s400/DSCN3958.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339498815879128642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is the Friend. You know- the LDS kid's mag. Anika (7 1/2) came up to me last week, asking me a question about this particular game. The idea is to put a smiley or frowney face on each picture, depending on whether the kids in them were doing good/happy things or naughty/sad things. So Anika was stumped on the picture of the kids sharing an ice cream cone in the lower left corner. She asked me "is it a happy face because they are eating ice cream or is it a frowny because they are sharing each other's ice cream and getting germs?" I laughed inside but secretly felt proud that she knew sharing licks with friends is a big no-no in our home. I've been doing a good job in my germ awareness teachings! But I also felt a little sad that the editors at Friend magazine are not germ-correct. I mean, really- this is 2009! With herpes and swine flu and scabies and mrsa who <span style="font-style: italic;">dares</span> swap spit with buddies anymore??</span></span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-50563022641030747692009-05-15T14:23:00.000-06:002009-05-15T14:55:56.653-06:00What I've learned about marriage<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sg3QNwRj9oI/AAAAAAAABgQ/Tje_rLyelhk/s1600-h/DSCN3900.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sg3QNwRj9oI/AAAAAAAABgQ/Tje_rLyelhk/s320/DSCN3900.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336150068219344514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sg3P2MMQNTI/AAAAAAAABgI/KzJmEH2bjzo/s1600-h/DSCN3918.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sg3P2MMQNTI/AAAAAAAABgI/KzJmEH2bjzo/s320/DSCN3918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336149663396410674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sg3P10QsuyI/AAAAAAAABgA/WmTgSqbJr9U/s1600-h/DSCN3902.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sg3P10QsuyI/AAAAAAAABgA/WmTgSqbJr9U/s320/DSCN3902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336149656972606242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sg3P1sdYyuI/AAAAAAAABf4/L2KlvldMMqs/s1600-h/DSCN3915.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sg3P1sdYyuI/AAAAAAAABf4/L2KlvldMMqs/s320/DSCN3915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336149654878341858" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I knew I'd get everyone's attention with that title.<br /><br />We celebrated our 10th anniversary in a whirlwind 28 hours. Who says that isn't long enough? It was like 10 regular dates right in a row.<br /><br />Though I put that picture of me at Anthropologie to look cool, we did our best shopping at tried and true Old Navy and Target. It just feels easier to spend $$ at places where the overall prices are lower. Even if you end up spending more. Tricky Target.<br /><br />The kids had fun with my good parents and R and I had a nice escape from It All. Of course we still had to watch the Lost season finale and it only made the trip even better. What a show...but just one more year of it, darn it!<br /><br />Oh yeah- back to the anniversary. We'll have more than one season left of our marriage, I think. Kind of like tv- some seasons are better than others. But it's the whole storyline that counts, and if the characters are real and likable. Man, I'm good with waxing philosophical about tv and marriage! Parallels in everything guys...you just gotta look.<br />Keep thinking those deep thoughts.<br />Happy 10, R and Me!<br /><br /></span></span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-77227407129940001882009-05-03T20:45:00.000-06:002009-05-03T21:58:31.359-06:00Just enjoying my Spring<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">It has been an awesome Spring. We get the run of the gamut this time of year. Flying kites in the wind, washing the car with the rain, one last (hopefully) jaunt in the snow, being outside all day in perfect temperatures only to endure frigid cold the next day, it's all a part of moody Spring. And I like it. I have weather ADD. If it's rainy for too long, sunny for too long, or snowy for too long, I get a little bored. I'm one of those people who actually like talking about weather, not just because it's a safe small-talk topic. How I'd love sitting down with Mark and Kevin Eubank. If you don't know who those cool guys are, then you need to google them. Mysteries are so easy to solve with Google. Speaking of mysteries, I have always wanted to do one of those group Mystery Murder Nights. Has anyone done that? It'd have to be with people I know really well, though. If we did it with a random group I think I'd be afraid that someone in the party really was a psycho-in-waiting and just using the guise of the game to finally play out their murderous desires.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sfp4fwJ8xrI/AAAAAAAABfg/4ZIGS4uRXqI/s1600-h/DSCN3879.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/Sfp4fwJ8xrI/AAAAAAAABfg/4ZIGS4uRXqI/s320/DSCN3879.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330705595844314802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I took this picture with Sam in the baby bjorn as an admirable reference to the Best Buy commercial with the guy holding the man-dude in his baby carrier. I thought that commercial was funny. Just the idea of that hairy man being held like that walking down the grocery aisle is right up my humor alley. Plus I relate well- I use the BB faithfully the first 4 months of my children's lives. I'm like a kangaroo. So it was a fond moment to pull out the carrier and try it on Big Grumpy Clingy Boy (ear infection strikes again!). Sam is 15 months and 20 lbs, and yeah, it wasn't quite as comfortable as the days when he was half this size. Plus, if you can see, he didn't quite take to it.</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></span></span>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045183931621521295.post-37702969151840970732009-04-12T14:58:00.000-06:002009-04-13T22:10:58.444-06:00A slight dash of hypochondria and loving healthy days<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SeJRkOSg5EI/AAAAAAAABd0/dXR2yc_1MlU/s1600-h/DSCN3835.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SeJRkOSg5EI/AAAAAAAABd0/dXR2yc_1MlU/s400/DSCN3835.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323907392258237506" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">First things first. Happy Easter everyone! Hope everyone is enjoying some religious happiness and some ham today. And mini-eggs and pb eggs.<br /><br />You want to know what desperation is? Trying to find Cadbury Mini-Eggs the week of Easter. Holy cow....I looked far and wide for them in 5+ stores. Not for the kids (might as well give them stale chocolate chips- they can't tell the difference!) but for myself, for the long months ahead when Cadbury doesn't produce these delightful mini-drugs. I'm a little selfish this way. Always looking out for numero uno...but what can I say? Good candy makes me a better person. It really does! So I looked on ebay, and there they were...40 oz. and all. I won't tell you if I bought them at double (ok, almost triple) their value but hey- someone's got to woman the house. And if it's going to be me, I've got to have premium gasoline to keep goin'.<br /><br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Aren't big sisters the best? Bangin' some music<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SeJSI0aoRwI/AAAAAAAABd8/3WM2JrHqVno/s1600-h/DSCN3816.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SeJSI0aoRwI/AAAAAAAABd8/3WM2JrHqVno/s400/DSCN3816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323908020968113922" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Finally getting to wear his cool moto jacket!</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SeJNtoANC4I/AAAAAAAABdk/A9D6A1lObKc/s1600-h/DSCN3821.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SeJNtoANC4I/AAAAAAAABdk/A9D6A1lObKc/s320/DSCN3821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323903155733072770" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I just can't seem to master my health imagination. I know I've talked about this before, but it is a recurring theme in my life (as are mini-eggs). It's been a week of sick kids. Stomach flu, then some other weird things....then I'll get a line of thinking that goes this way: "hmm...he has spots on his belly that don't look like the other ones (drool rash)...aren't liver spots due to weakened kidneys? What if the reason he's been so moody and clingy is because he hurts, and has organ problems we didn't diagnose??" And then I'll hit the internet, looking up all the things that could possibly fit any given symptom. The same with Anika's cough that followed her flu. She wasn't getting better fast enough so I wondered if she had pneumonia, or meningitis... good thing about all of this is that I am learning a lot more about illnesses and I almost could diagnose a patient. Well, I'd probably over-diagnose the patient, but better to over-do than under-do, right? </span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SeJNtZjeG4I/AAAAAAAABdc/YXx0FxdOj94/s1600-h/DSCN3831.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qiIwYEWfAo4/SeJNtZjeG4I/AAAAAAAABdc/YXx0FxdOj94/s320/DSCN3831.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323903151854459778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">humbled by the calming goodness of an oreo</span></span></div></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div>cold cocoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07214140693565850681noreply@blogger.com12