Too many photo's to post....here's a slide show to give you a glimpse of our Christmas.
Check out the video of our Dance Dance Revolution Christmas Eve on You Tube.
Dec 28, 2007
Dec 20, 2007
~ Metalic taste in my mouth ~
I have this weird metalic taste in my mouth this week. What's that about? Maybe my bionic woman parts are rusting.
It's nearly 1 am and I'm awake. Why?...because I made the unfortunate decision to eat two pieces of almond roca when I got home at 10pm. So my brain is on a sugar rush. Rather than lay awake, which irritates me (shocking I know) I would rather be busy.
I'm browsing around all your facebooks pages...cause I'm snoopy. Got reading Amy Workman's (call out to Amy) blog and she had a fun Christmas questionaire...so guess what's your reading next.
1. WRAPPING PAPER OR GIFT BAGS? Wrapping paper for sure. For a couple years now I've done a wrapping present game with my kids. I'm locked in my room wrapping all of the presents in one night. As I get 3 or 4 of them done, I unlock the door and push them out. They coming squealing down the hallway to see who the presents are for, and then take them to the tree.
2. REAL OR FAKE TREE? Fake, fake, fake....
3. WHEN DO YOU PUT UP THE TREE? I try to have it up the first FHE in December. It was late this year as I was not in the country....I was walking on the beach. This year our tree is also only half dressed. The bottom half is Jack-proof, the top half is mommy pretty.
4. WHEN DO YOU TAKE THE TREE DOWN? New Years Day
5. DO YOU LIKE EGG NOG? Yes, but only a couple swallows. You could choke on that stuff. My dad used to water it down with milk for us.
6. FAVORITE GIFT RECEIVED AS A CHILD? Roller skates
7. DO YOU HAVE A NATIVITY SCENE? Yes...it's getting old and broken though. Didn't put it up this year, as I was already late decorating, and busy...so it's slim pickings. Joseph's hand is broken off and I think the sheep has lost his head.
8. HARDEST PERSON TO BUY FOR? Brian's dad...he has everything, or doesn't want anything, or buys whatever he does want.
10. WORST CHRISTMAS GIFT YOU EVER RECEIVED? Brian gave me exercise equipment one year. Um.....watcha tryin' to say Buddy?!!!!!
11. MAIL OR EMAIL CHRISTMAS CARDS? Yes....in January.
12. FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE? = ) Elf
13. WHEN DO YOU START SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS? In the summer. My goal is to always have all the shopping done by November 30th. However next year I'm going ot move that up even more. I find that if I'm done all the shopping and prep then I spend quality time with the kids.
14. HAVE YOU EVER RECYCLED A CHRISTMAS PRESENT? That depends on who's reading this blog.
15. FAVORITE THING TO EAT AT CHRISTMAS? My mom's caramels.
16. CLEAR LIGHTS OR COLORED LIGHTS ON THE TREE? Clear lights...and mommy puts those up by herself, and they have to be evenly spaced, and none hanging down...I have selective OCD....that's one of them.
17. FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG? O, Holy Night.
18. TRAVEL AT CHRISTMAS OR STAY HOME? While the kids are small we're going to stay home. But as they get bigger, I want to travel.
19. CAN YOU NAME ALL OF SANTA’S REINDEER? Mastercard, Visa, Debit, Cash.....
20. ANGEL OR STAR ON THE TREE TOP? Big lopsided bow. Waiting to find that perfect gold star.
21. OPEN THE PRESENTS CHRISTMAS EVE OR MORNING? Christmas morning. What would be left for Christmas morning if you opened them all on Christmas Eve??
22. MOST ANNOYING THING THIS TIME OF YEAR? I understand that my children are excited....I really do. But my kids get really......REALLY annoying when they get too excited. It's all I can do no to send them to their rooms until Christmas morning.
23. WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT CHRISTMAS? The magic of it....
24: FAVORITE CHRISTMAS TRADITION? Santa leaves the gifts, unwrapped, in front of the tree.
25. UP OR EARLY OR SLEEP IN? Early....but the rule is 7am. They have to stay in their rooms until then. Not that we're sound asleep...we're laying awake waiting for the time to pass as well. But I hate it when the presents are done....and it's 8:30. That's a lot of day left, and they're already tired and cranky.
26. DOES SANTA WRAP YOUR GIFTS? Nope...that's a mommy job.
27. DO YOU TELL THE CHRISTMAS STORY? Yes, we have a great book that we read, and we have the nativity in hand puppets that the kids like to act out. Though that usually ends in carnage...but acted and real.
Merry Christmas!!
It's nearly 1 am and I'm awake. Why?...because I made the unfortunate decision to eat two pieces of almond roca when I got home at 10pm. So my brain is on a sugar rush. Rather than lay awake, which irritates me (shocking I know) I would rather be busy.
I'm browsing around all your facebooks pages...cause I'm snoopy. Got reading Amy Workman's (call out to Amy) blog and she had a fun Christmas questionaire...so guess what's your reading next.
1. WRAPPING PAPER OR GIFT BAGS? Wrapping paper for sure. For a couple years now I've done a wrapping present game with my kids. I'm locked in my room wrapping all of the presents in one night. As I get 3 or 4 of them done, I unlock the door and push them out. They coming squealing down the hallway to see who the presents are for, and then take them to the tree.
2. REAL OR FAKE TREE? Fake, fake, fake....
3. WHEN DO YOU PUT UP THE TREE? I try to have it up the first FHE in December. It was late this year as I was not in the country....I was walking on the beach. This year our tree is also only half dressed. The bottom half is Jack-proof, the top half is mommy pretty.
4. WHEN DO YOU TAKE THE TREE DOWN? New Years Day
5. DO YOU LIKE EGG NOG? Yes, but only a couple swallows. You could choke on that stuff. My dad used to water it down with milk for us.
6. FAVORITE GIFT RECEIVED AS A CHILD? Roller skates
7. DO YOU HAVE A NATIVITY SCENE? Yes...it's getting old and broken though. Didn't put it up this year, as I was already late decorating, and busy...so it's slim pickings. Joseph's hand is broken off and I think the sheep has lost his head.
8. HARDEST PERSON TO BUY FOR? Brian's dad...he has everything, or doesn't want anything, or buys whatever he does want.
10. WORST CHRISTMAS GIFT YOU EVER RECEIVED? Brian gave me exercise equipment one year. Um.....watcha tryin' to say Buddy?!!!!!
11. MAIL OR EMAIL CHRISTMAS CARDS? Yes....in January.
12. FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE? = ) Elf
13. WHEN DO YOU START SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS? In the summer. My goal is to always have all the shopping done by November 30th. However next year I'm going ot move that up even more. I find that if I'm done all the shopping and prep then I spend quality time with the kids.
14. HAVE YOU EVER RECYCLED A CHRISTMAS PRESENT? That depends on who's reading this blog.
15. FAVORITE THING TO EAT AT CHRISTMAS? My mom's caramels.
16. CLEAR LIGHTS OR COLORED LIGHTS ON THE TREE? Clear lights...and mommy puts those up by herself, and they have to be evenly spaced, and none hanging down...I have selective OCD....that's one of them.
17. FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG? O, Holy Night.
18. TRAVEL AT CHRISTMAS OR STAY HOME? While the kids are small we're going to stay home. But as they get bigger, I want to travel.
19. CAN YOU NAME ALL OF SANTA’S REINDEER? Mastercard, Visa, Debit, Cash.....
20. ANGEL OR STAR ON THE TREE TOP? Big lopsided bow. Waiting to find that perfect gold star.
21. OPEN THE PRESENTS CHRISTMAS EVE OR MORNING? Christmas morning. What would be left for Christmas morning if you opened them all on Christmas Eve??
22. MOST ANNOYING THING THIS TIME OF YEAR? I understand that my children are excited....I really do. But my kids get really......REALLY annoying when they get too excited. It's all I can do no to send them to their rooms until Christmas morning.
23. WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT CHRISTMAS? The magic of it....
24: FAVORITE CHRISTMAS TRADITION? Santa leaves the gifts, unwrapped, in front of the tree.
25. UP OR EARLY OR SLEEP IN? Early....but the rule is 7am. They have to stay in their rooms until then. Not that we're sound asleep...we're laying awake waiting for the time to pass as well. But I hate it when the presents are done....and it's 8:30. That's a lot of day left, and they're already tired and cranky.
26. DOES SANTA WRAP YOUR GIFTS? Nope...that's a mommy job.
27. DO YOU TELL THE CHRISTMAS STORY? Yes, we have a great book that we read, and we have the nativity in hand puppets that the kids like to act out. Though that usually ends in carnage...but acted and real.
Merry Christmas!!
Dec 10, 2007
~ Mexico ~
What an amazing trip we had. The weather was perfect, the resort was fantastic, the sites were incredible. What more can you ask for....oh, maybe more leg room on the flight.
We went to the Paradisus Riviera Cancun Resort with 640 other people the qualified for a trip through NAPA. One of the cool things about being in Mexico is that everything is outside...most of the hotel is not enclosed. The front lobby has no walls...the hallways are little bridges over water. Parts that are enclosed only have a thatch roof. It very different to the concrete jungle that we call home.
The first thing we did was head to the beach. The sand is incredible. It's like white flour. The coast line is resort after resort. So you can walk a long time as the waves come in.
We had the perfect blend of downtime at the resort and hitting the sights. Our first tour was Tulum and Xel-ha (pronounced Shell-ha)
In Xel-ha we snorkeled down the river and experienced all the amazing salt water fish....and the disgusting salt water....it's really salty.
To snorkel down the river we had to walk along the path that literally goes through the jungle, and they didn't always cut down the trees. And while you're walking along you can jump out of your skin cause weren't expecting the 3 foot long Iguana to be sitting there minding his own business. Brian got to walk first after that.
The next night was a huge out door dinner theatre in Xcaret. It's all in Spanish but you get the jist that it's the evolution of the Mayan culture and the Europeans discovering the country. Then there is a big presentation of all the different regions of Mexico and their native dances and costumes.
Our next tour was to Chichen-Itza which wasn't as long as would have liked, as it was a pretty long drive to get there. It's amazing though.
And the last days...just hanging on the beach. We got up early to see the sunrise...
A couple things that I noticed on our trip....
1. I think there should be a weight limit on bikini's. If you are not 18 and 110 pounds you should not wear a bikini. The same goes for speedos. This is especially true if you are 70 and walking on the beach in one. I don't care how tanned you are. That just says to me that many many people have witnessed this dangling display you are putting on.
2. I really can't think of a single reason that someone needs to tan topless. And also, unless you are 18 and 110 pounds...it is just not pretty. Maybe a little warning would be nice to so that we don't have to be so shocked and puke in our mouth a little when we are innocently walking along the beach.
3. All you can eat buffet....need I say more.
4. Sunscreen...it was created for a reason. It is possible to go home with a tan by using it. But if you want to sleep in pain and shower in even more pain...that's your business. I choose to use sunscreen.
5. I don't think there is a word in Spanish for 'use your turning signal'. Cause none of them do.
6. If you are driving a mongonormous bus with 50 people in it...maybe you should go less than 130 km/h. This applies further when you're on a gravel road in the jungle.
7. The highways in Mexico have this huge speedbumps on them. Some are the big humps that we see around. The others are like four lines of huge metal bowls turned upside down. You'd think with this on the road that they would slow down....no no...we like to get air in the tour bus.
8. Doesn't matter how small the bottles of alcohol are....a group of Italians can get drunk on a flight from Calgary to Cancun.
9. Humidity is an enemy to naturally curly hair.
10. As amazing as the trip was, and as beautiful as the land and weather was....I'm happy to live where I do and have my life. I don't live in a hut with a thatch roof and have my children begging with no shoes.
Nov 23, 2007
~ Counting Down ~
Missed posting last week...sorry. This week has been yet another crazy one. I don't know that I'll ever begin a posting with...."Wow, so I sat around all week wondering what I was going to do with my time." It's just not really in my nature.
It's the count down to the big trip, and as expected the pressure is on to get a lot accomplished before taking off to paradise.
I've got work deadlines that have to be met, church activities to put on, a house to clean up....eternal lists to make for all those that are taking care of the monkeys...and regular life in between.
Fun, fun.....fun.
I've tried many times in the last couple weeks to think of my regular witty and distasteful comments...but I think I'm burned out. A week in Mexico should rev me up again.
Not to brag or anything...but here is where we're going.
¡Adiós!
It's the count down to the big trip, and as expected the pressure is on to get a lot accomplished before taking off to paradise.
I've got work deadlines that have to be met, church activities to put on, a house to clean up....eternal lists to make for all those that are taking care of the monkeys...and regular life in between.
Fun, fun.....fun.
I've tried many times in the last couple weeks to think of my regular witty and distasteful comments...but I think I'm burned out. A week in Mexico should rev me up again.
Not to brag or anything...but here is where we're going.
¡Adiós!
Nov 9, 2007
~ Catch-up ~
So first a little catching up....
Halloween -
We had a fun...and relatively warm Halloween. Lots of fun with friends and lots and lots of candy.
It's Friday already....where did the time go. I've had a busy week recuperating from last week...and getting ready for a great craft night last night. A record 11 girls were here, which is the limit for my kitchen. We painted, laughed, sprayed and glued. Lots of fun. No more crafts for a while...time to catch up on life, projects and work. I know I've been busy and the house has been neglected when Tyler says..."Mom how come the house is so nice...is someone coming over tonight?"
1. We had green beans for dinner the other night. Jessica Seinfeld's cookbook hasn't arrived yet, so there aren't any pureed veggies in my children's food yet. Just the old fashioned kind...sitting in the bowl waiting for someone to let down their defenses and take a bite. Brian and I love green beans...nice and simple. However our children predictably won't go near them. Maybe it's the color...if they were blue would that seem more appealing to them. I'm dishing Owen's plate and he's looking around the table telling me what he wants.... Yes mom I want salad....chicken and some rice. But I don't want the these weeds.
2. I dejunked a cupboard this week. Sounds like a small thing to report, but for me... it was big. I knew there was not a lot of room in that cupboard because of what was probably shoved behind and taking up the space. Everything we use regularly is at the front...stacked up and waiting to fall out at the first hint of the door opening. So now I have this big tote of retired items. Plastic containers with no apparent lids....a rice cooker that burns the rice....a mix master that I over heated.... So it's out of my cupboard and now sitting in the living room waiting for Brian to take to the 'As Is' section of the recycle depot. Maybe we should wear name tags that say "As Is". I'm not changing, accommodating or shifting myself in anyway for you....take me As Is. Husbands however do not get to wear those name tags. There name tag will say "Created". I am what my mother tried to mold...and my wife looked at the model and said....mmmmmm....close but no.
3. Programmable Thermostats are one of the greatest inventions ever. I tend to have a bit of chilly house....due to my previous mention of getting hot. (definition in previous post) So I've set it up according to my warmth preference. I know there are other people that live here...but whatever. So the heat turns on at 6...about 20 minutes before Brian gets up.....does some stuff during the day...then cools off at 11. I too have a programmable thermostat. Kinda follows the same schedule too....starts to warm up around 7...stays generally chilly all day and cools off around 11. My husband would like to reprogram me off course. Turns on around 6 and goes from dead to savoury hot within 2 minutes. Stays chilly all day anticipating the time when the occupants return at which time the temperature slowly rises through out evening to reach maximum around 11...then cools off for a comfortable night sleep. I'd like a say on his thermostat settings as well.
4. I tried my first Pomegranate this week. Not what I was expecting. I've seen them before, but have never been very inclined to buy one. But I'm trying to get more fruit and vegetables in my life. So I bought one...not one bag....one. I cut it open and see all the tangy little juicy pods inside. Looks okay.....pop a couple in.......ahhh...yuck...seeds. So disappointed. It's like when you buy grapes and thought they were the seedless kind only to discover....nope. So now I've been let down by this fruit. I had high hopes of adding it to my repertoire of enjoyment. I've seen Martha juice them.....funny how I can only mention her by first name and you all knew who I was talking about...like we're all going on girls night with her regularly. So no Pomegranates for me....what will be the new fruit next week.
5. I was standing in line at Michaels today...patiently waiting for my turn to return some items. And this girl behind me is whistling. Now I appreciate a good whistle...but this was not. She was maybe 13... I don't know what she was trying to do...but the shrill sound haphazardly coming from her lips was not whistling. So I'm trying to be friendly and all...but she keeps doing it. Not continuously mind you...she blows out a terrible noise a couple times...then stops. Just waiting long enough for me to relax my jaw from the intense pressure it is under to keep myself in control...and then she starts again. Seriously I was restraining myself from turning around and saying....."Do you have to do that? Cause it is seriously annoying and it's all I can do not to smack you".
6. I was also in Rona today (can you tell I was running errands in the city) and I'm waiting in line again....why did I go to the city on a Saturday?? Oh right...cause I could leave the kids home with Brian. So this nice gentleman in front of me is buying some stuff...and he's wanting to purchase a new electric saw of some kind. So he asks the girl if there is a plug behind the counter so he can turn it on and make sure it works. A little odd....but okay. So he goes back there and plugs it in...revs it up a couple times...looks it over...then decides to buy it. First of all, if something is going to malfunction I don't think it will happen in the 4 1/2 seconds that he was back there testing it out. I think we should be able to test out a lot of things right in the store before purchasing...exercise equipment for one. Take those weights out...pump it up a little in the aisle and then think..."Am I really going to use these...or will I sit on the couch and look at them on the floor and think....um ya....don't think so". Next juicers. I personally don't have one, they look pretty cool though. We should rip it right out of the box, head over to the produce section and see just how many oranges it's going to take for one full glass. I think there would be a decline in juicer sales. And finally....intimate apparel. Now most of you reading are the same religion as me, and intimate apparel is a no brainer. But I like to jazz it up a little, so I have extra stuff for special occasions....or regular occasions, whatever. However there should be a line of intimates put out by one very practical wife, with warning labels attached...in red bold lettering,
However there are some benefits to these items and those could be advertised as well.
Will encourage husband to wash kitchen floor and
Halloween -
We had a fun...and relatively warm Halloween. Lots of fun with friends and lots and lots of candy.
It's Friday already....where did the time go. I've had a busy week recuperating from last week...and getting ready for a great craft night last night. A record 11 girls were here, which is the limit for my kitchen. We painted, laughed, sprayed and glued. Lots of fun. No more crafts for a while...time to catch up on life, projects and work. I know I've been busy and the house has been neglected when Tyler says..."Mom how come the house is so nice...is someone coming over tonight?"
1. We had green beans for dinner the other night. Jessica Seinfeld's cookbook hasn't arrived yet, so there aren't any pureed veggies in my children's food yet. Just the old fashioned kind...sitting in the bowl waiting for someone to let down their defenses and take a bite. Brian and I love green beans...nice and simple. However our children predictably won't go near them. Maybe it's the color...if they were blue would that seem more appealing to them. I'm dishing Owen's plate and he's looking around the table telling me what he wants.... Yes mom I want salad....chicken and some rice. But I don't want the these weeds.
2. I dejunked a cupboard this week. Sounds like a small thing to report, but for me... it was big. I knew there was not a lot of room in that cupboard because of what was probably shoved behind and taking up the space. Everything we use regularly is at the front...stacked up and waiting to fall out at the first hint of the door opening. So now I have this big tote of retired items. Plastic containers with no apparent lids....a rice cooker that burns the rice....a mix master that I over heated.... So it's out of my cupboard and now sitting in the living room waiting for Brian to take to the 'As Is' section of the recycle depot. Maybe we should wear name tags that say "As Is". I'm not changing, accommodating or shifting myself in anyway for you....take me As Is. Husbands however do not get to wear those name tags. There name tag will say "Created". I am what my mother tried to mold...and my wife looked at the model and said....mmmmmm....close but no.
3. Programmable Thermostats are one of the greatest inventions ever. I tend to have a bit of chilly house....due to my previous mention of getting hot. (definition in previous post) So I've set it up according to my warmth preference. I know there are other people that live here...but whatever. So the heat turns on at 6...about 20 minutes before Brian gets up.....does some stuff during the day...then cools off at 11. I too have a programmable thermostat. Kinda follows the same schedule too....starts to warm up around 7...stays generally chilly all day and cools off around 11. My husband would like to reprogram me off course. Turns on around 6 and goes from dead to savoury hot within 2 minutes. Stays chilly all day anticipating the time when the occupants return at which time the temperature slowly rises through out evening to reach maximum around 11...then cools off for a comfortable night sleep. I'd like a say on his thermostat settings as well.
4. I tried my first Pomegranate this week. Not what I was expecting. I've seen them before, but have never been very inclined to buy one. But I'm trying to get more fruit and vegetables in my life. So I bought one...not one bag....one. I cut it open and see all the tangy little juicy pods inside. Looks okay.....pop a couple in.......ahhh...yuck...seeds. So disappointed. It's like when you buy grapes and thought they were the seedless kind only to discover....nope. So now I've been let down by this fruit. I had high hopes of adding it to my repertoire of enjoyment. I've seen Martha juice them.....funny how I can only mention her by first name and you all knew who I was talking about...like we're all going on girls night with her regularly. So no Pomegranates for me....what will be the new fruit next week.
5. I was standing in line at Michaels today...patiently waiting for my turn to return some items. And this girl behind me is whistling. Now I appreciate a good whistle...but this was not. She was maybe 13... I don't know what she was trying to do...but the shrill sound haphazardly coming from her lips was not whistling. So I'm trying to be friendly and all...but she keeps doing it. Not continuously mind you...she blows out a terrible noise a couple times...then stops. Just waiting long enough for me to relax my jaw from the intense pressure it is under to keep myself in control...and then she starts again. Seriously I was restraining myself from turning around and saying....."Do you have to do that? Cause it is seriously annoying and it's all I can do not to smack you".
6. I was also in Rona today (can you tell I was running errands in the city) and I'm waiting in line again....why did I go to the city on a Saturday?? Oh right...cause I could leave the kids home with Brian. So this nice gentleman in front of me is buying some stuff...and he's wanting to purchase a new electric saw of some kind. So he asks the girl if there is a plug behind the counter so he can turn it on and make sure it works. A little odd....but okay. So he goes back there and plugs it in...revs it up a couple times...looks it over...then decides to buy it. First of all, if something is going to malfunction I don't think it will happen in the 4 1/2 seconds that he was back there testing it out. I think we should be able to test out a lot of things right in the store before purchasing...exercise equipment for one. Take those weights out...pump it up a little in the aisle and then think..."Am I really going to use these...or will I sit on the couch and look at them on the floor and think....um ya....don't think so". Next juicers. I personally don't have one, they look pretty cool though. We should rip it right out of the box, head over to the produce section and see just how many oranges it's going to take for one full glass. I think there would be a decline in juicer sales. And finally....intimate apparel. Now most of you reading are the same religion as me, and intimate apparel is a no brainer. But I like to jazz it up a little, so I have extra stuff for special occasions....or regular occasions, whatever. However there should be a line of intimates put out by one very practical wife, with warning labels attached...in red bold lettering,
Will cause husband to drop whatever he's doing, and attack without warning.
However there are some benefits to these items and those could be advertised as well.
Will encourage husband to wash kitchen floor and
vacuum living room regularly.
Will encourage husband to bath four children,
Will encourage husband to bath four children,
read them stories and promptly put them to bed.
Will encourage husband to offer foot or back massages.
Will encourage husband to offer foot or back massages.
(However that never works they always are trying to massage in areas that I'm pretty sure do not get stiff or tired, contrary to his arguments)
Will cause husband to momentarily consider washing toilets, but then bargain to sweep out garage, change a week of poopy diapers and fold laundry.
Maybe the benefits out weigh the hazards.
7. Brian is currently in our family room taking a new amp out of the box. I don't really understand the purpose of an "Amp"...but he's pretty excited about it. It's interesting that he's commented before that I don't have to put "stuff" up on every wall of our home. That maybe a wall can be blank. I reminded him that he's not in charge of the decorating at our house. It's homey....but he doesn't know what that means. So I'm not supposed to put stuff on every wall...but he's allowed to put speakers up all over this room. Now those of you that have been in my family room know that it is not an overly large room. Big enough, but not a theatre by any means. We now have 6 speakers in this area, never named the ones that are actually on the TV itself. He enjoys movies and likes to watch them in surround sound. This situation has backfired on me a couple times as I'm watching a movie with him and jump out of my skin when the "I see dead people" jump out and I think they're behind me. Well at least now we can hear "I ain't exactly lactating you know" in mega sound. That is my favorite line of both of those movies. Or you know...the Backyardigans theme...aka...makes me want to end my life quickly song....blasted in perfect clarity.
8. My Mr. Jack is a happy guy. I always thought all those mothers that said they had babies that were happy and content were nuts-o-rama. But he's happy all the times. I appreciate those people that are always happy and bubbly. It's a little irritating...but I'm happy they're positive about life. There are only a few people in my life that I've know, who always have the perma-grin and are nearly skipping all the time. I have a scowl on my face most of the time, so I'm told. It's my thinking face. I'm not giving you a dirty look, I'm thinking...get over yourself.
Will cause husband to momentarily consider washing toilets, but then bargain to sweep out garage, change a week of poopy diapers and fold laundry.
Maybe the benefits out weigh the hazards.
7. Brian is currently in our family room taking a new amp out of the box. I don't really understand the purpose of an "Amp"...but he's pretty excited about it. It's interesting that he's commented before that I don't have to put "stuff" up on every wall of our home. That maybe a wall can be blank. I reminded him that he's not in charge of the decorating at our house. It's homey....but he doesn't know what that means. So I'm not supposed to put stuff on every wall...but he's allowed to put speakers up all over this room. Now those of you that have been in my family room know that it is not an overly large room. Big enough, but not a theatre by any means. We now have 6 speakers in this area, never named the ones that are actually on the TV itself. He enjoys movies and likes to watch them in surround sound. This situation has backfired on me a couple times as I'm watching a movie with him and jump out of my skin when the "I see dead people" jump out and I think they're behind me. Well at least now we can hear "I ain't exactly lactating you know" in mega sound. That is my favorite line of both of those movies. Or you know...the Backyardigans theme...aka...makes me want to end my life quickly song....blasted in perfect clarity.
8. My Mr. Jack is a happy guy. I always thought all those mothers that said they had babies that were happy and content were nuts-o-rama. But he's happy all the times. I appreciate those people that are always happy and bubbly. It's a little irritating...but I'm happy they're positive about life. There are only a few people in my life that I've know, who always have the perma-grin and are nearly skipping all the time. I have a scowl on my face most of the time, so I'm told. It's my thinking face. I'm not giving you a dirty look, I'm thinking...get over yourself.
9. Last post I mentioned that I was recently told to turn up my filter. I've had quite a few comments suggesting that I made this up. It's true...it really happened. It was done in the nicest way of course...as nice as anyone can say....close your mouth you're offending people. Whatever. So I think there should be filters on a lot of things. Take the pulpit for an example. I think the bishopbric should use the up/down switch on the pulpit more. Speaker starting to drone on and on...or starting to get off topic very badly...the pulpit slowly starts getting lower and lower. Three year old up there yelling into the microphone and we can't understand a single thing....pulpit gets higher and higher. I've also decided that I should be the one to hold the pulpit remote control = )
10. For those speakers that find it necessary to ignore the clock....a small electric current. Your time is up....zap....sit down. This would also work for those organists that are playing the song way too slow. Just a little jolt from the organ bench. Or you know how people come up behind you and push the back of you knee in so you fall a little. "So we will now be moving on....he apparently bonked his head a little when he fell...and is slightly unconscious...but we'll finishing on time today."
Nov 3, 2007
~ Breathe in.....breath out ~
It's the end of a crazy busy week. Last weekend was the Ward Halloween Party which I put the food on, and then the Primary Presentation. So I was burning my candle at both ends...I was also sick. In fact I went to the Halloween party in pajamas and slippers and said I was dressed up as "Sick and Tired". They all thought that was funny....I did not.
1. I started a craft club....mostly for myself. I like cute stuff...and to give away cute stuff. So I made up an excuse to be crafty. Of course it may also be my need to seriously cram my life full of so much stuff that nothing ever really gets finished. Whatever...it's who I am...why fight it. It's been fun being creative this week. I actually taped a Martha Stewart show to get some ideas. Martha Stewart irritates me....shocking I know...it's her voice I think. She was making candles out of gourdes. Who came up with the name Gourd. It must be a Latin word translated that actually means "Squash with lepracy".
2. We were Trick 'r Treating on Wednesday...along with the rest of Western Civilization. I saw this couple dressed to the nines, with their 6 months old baby. Really?...you're taking the 6 months old trick or treating? It was obviously their first child, you're always so gung ho with the first. You're only going to eat organic, you'll never have a soother, you'll never take a bottle to bed, you'll read at 3 months and do calculus at 9 months. Whereas the last child...the milk is in the fridge is you want some, here is a tooth brush...you figure it out.
3. The Honeymoon after four children is coming in 28 days...but I'm not counting down or anything. I've decided the thing I'm looking forward to the most is doing nothing with Brian. We never get to do nothing together. One of us may be doing nothing, but the other one will have all the kids....it's rare for us to be simultaneously doing nothing. This time we're going to do nothing on the beach.....that's the best place to do nothing.
4. This girl at Michael's yesterday had a stud in her nose and then two more...one on each side of her lower lip. I'm looking at her and thinking "huh?". She was a pretty girl and wasn't Goth or anything...at least not while working at the craft wonderland. But what the heck...the nose stud was fine, but why put two more on your bottom lip. Doesn't that feel like you've got a full zit all the time. I don't understand multiple piercings anyway....what is it supposed to say? I can take a lot of pain....I'm cool cause I have holes in me....your grocery list will be on my ear with a magnet if you're looking for it. I don't get it.
5. Is the style right now for boys to wear tight jeans? Like tight to the ankle jeans. I saw these two yesterday that were not only wearing matching outfits ( I thought only girls did that) but their jeans were bright red and tight. I noticed that only the skinny leg boys were wearing them...you don't see the linebacker in ankle tight jeans...however that is something I'd like to see. "Ya so I got up to the line of scrimmage and I'm looking at this guy like I'm doing to pull his brains from his eye sockets and....blah blah smack talk blah bla...." But no one hears him cause their looking at his tight red jeans thinking...um buddy....what the heck?
6. There are some interesting children's names out there these days. S has a girl in her class named London and I've heard others like Ireland, Coco, Apple...k those were all in People Magazine while waiting at the dentist. Do people look at their brand new beautiful baby and think "I would like you to be beat up everyday of your learning years...so your name is now Winnipeg" Like really...I'm all for unique and nontraditional...but weird is a whole other thing. Here are my suggestions...cause everyone always wants to hear my opinion... Warsaw, Acapulco, Arkansas, Nunavut....if you're going to do it....go all the way.
7. Have you seen the new Viagra commercials...the guys speaking their own language. Someone pitched this idea....thought it was good...hired actors (Hey mom I got a gig finally...I'm the new spokesman for Viagra....Oh son I'm so proud...I've waited for this day...) practised this whole thing....paid for it....pitched it to TV people. Everyone said "yes that's great" (shaking my head confused...huh?)
8. I like Grey's Anatomy. I watch it...I PVR it. I want to be Christina when I grow up. How come I can't talk like that to people and they smile and walk away. No one every smiles when I say what I want...they walk away right to the Bishop's office and tell on me. My bishopbric councellor told me this week that I might consider turning up my filter. You know the filter I have in my head where I don't actually say everything that I'm thinking. I told him I do have a filter..he was surprised (he'd really be surprised if my filter wasn't on....hey...maybe I could get released...hmmmmm) He suggested maybe I could turn up my filter...oh fine....but if that kid spits at me one more time I'm gonna spank him.
9. I have four people in my life that I don't have to turn the filter on for. They know me..they "get" me. You always need friends like that. You don't have to put on the face, the act or the role. Just be my bitter, sarcastic, judgemental self. Don't get me wrong I'm happy....I'm happily bitter. I'm not bitter about my life...just about people who do ridiculous things that I wish I could cuff them and say "what is wrong with you" Parents don't like it when you do that to the Primary children....just FYI. Thanks D,K, J and B...you guys are my bitter babes.
10. I get hot really easily. And before your mind wonders too much...I mean overly warm...not "Hey Brian come home early".... = ) I go barefoot most of the time because I get too hot. I can't have my hair on my neck when it's warm out. My housecoat is too hot. I finally found what I've been looking for yesterday. A housecoat with no collar in T-shirt material. Oh happy day..... I could make one but I don't have time. There's nothing witty about this point...just reporting that I've checked another item off my eternal list. Find a new housecoat - check.
11. Speaking of my eternal list;
Clean the house = (
Finish laundry = (
Fold laundry and put away = ( = (
Find new housecoat - check!
Find new husband....no he can stay this week
Plural marriage - maybe that will be the problem solver - you can clean, wash and cook....I get the rest - oh and I'm bossy and easily irritated, deal with it.
Grocery shop - man these kids eat a lot - our budget would be so much better if food was not such a constant draw on the resources.
Teach Owen to wash toilets - just a thought.
Teach Jack to wash floors - I'm going to put rags on his knees - might as well be useful while you're speed crawling everywhere.
Eat more of the kids candy - double check!
1. I started a craft club....mostly for myself. I like cute stuff...and to give away cute stuff. So I made up an excuse to be crafty. Of course it may also be my need to seriously cram my life full of so much stuff that nothing ever really gets finished. Whatever...it's who I am...why fight it. It's been fun being creative this week. I actually taped a Martha Stewart show to get some ideas. Martha Stewart irritates me....shocking I know...it's her voice I think. She was making candles out of gourdes. Who came up with the name Gourd. It must be a Latin word translated that actually means "Squash with lepracy".
2. We were Trick 'r Treating on Wednesday...along with the rest of Western Civilization. I saw this couple dressed to the nines, with their 6 months old baby. Really?...you're taking the 6 months old trick or treating? It was obviously their first child, you're always so gung ho with the first. You're only going to eat organic, you'll never have a soother, you'll never take a bottle to bed, you'll read at 3 months and do calculus at 9 months. Whereas the last child...the milk is in the fridge is you want some, here is a tooth brush...you figure it out.
3. The Honeymoon after four children is coming in 28 days...but I'm not counting down or anything. I've decided the thing I'm looking forward to the most is doing nothing with Brian. We never get to do nothing together. One of us may be doing nothing, but the other one will have all the kids....it's rare for us to be simultaneously doing nothing. This time we're going to do nothing on the beach.....that's the best place to do nothing.
4. This girl at Michael's yesterday had a stud in her nose and then two more...one on each side of her lower lip. I'm looking at her and thinking "huh?". She was a pretty girl and wasn't Goth or anything...at least not while working at the craft wonderland. But what the heck...the nose stud was fine, but why put two more on your bottom lip. Doesn't that feel like you've got a full zit all the time. I don't understand multiple piercings anyway....what is it supposed to say? I can take a lot of pain....I'm cool cause I have holes in me....your grocery list will be on my ear with a magnet if you're looking for it. I don't get it.
5. Is the style right now for boys to wear tight jeans? Like tight to the ankle jeans. I saw these two yesterday that were not only wearing matching outfits ( I thought only girls did that) but their jeans were bright red and tight. I noticed that only the skinny leg boys were wearing them...you don't see the linebacker in ankle tight jeans...however that is something I'd like to see. "Ya so I got up to the line of scrimmage and I'm looking at this guy like I'm doing to pull his brains from his eye sockets and....blah blah smack talk blah bla...." But no one hears him cause their looking at his tight red jeans thinking...um buddy....what the heck?
6. There are some interesting children's names out there these days. S has a girl in her class named London and I've heard others like Ireland, Coco, Apple...k those were all in People Magazine while waiting at the dentist. Do people look at their brand new beautiful baby and think "I would like you to be beat up everyday of your learning years...so your name is now Winnipeg" Like really...I'm all for unique and nontraditional...but weird is a whole other thing. Here are my suggestions...cause everyone always wants to hear my opinion... Warsaw, Acapulco, Arkansas, Nunavut....if you're going to do it....go all the way.
7. Have you seen the new Viagra commercials...the guys speaking their own language. Someone pitched this idea....thought it was good...hired actors (Hey mom I got a gig finally...I'm the new spokesman for Viagra....Oh son I'm so proud...I've waited for this day...) practised this whole thing....paid for it....pitched it to TV people. Everyone said "yes that's great" (shaking my head confused...huh?)
8. I like Grey's Anatomy. I watch it...I PVR it. I want to be Christina when I grow up. How come I can't talk like that to people and they smile and walk away. No one every smiles when I say what I want...they walk away right to the Bishop's office and tell on me. My bishopbric councellor told me this week that I might consider turning up my filter. You know the filter I have in my head where I don't actually say everything that I'm thinking. I told him I do have a filter..he was surprised (he'd really be surprised if my filter wasn't on....hey...maybe I could get released...hmmmmm) He suggested maybe I could turn up my filter...oh fine....but if that kid spits at me one more time I'm gonna spank him.
9. I have four people in my life that I don't have to turn the filter on for. They know me..they "get" me. You always need friends like that. You don't have to put on the face, the act or the role. Just be my bitter, sarcastic, judgemental self. Don't get me wrong I'm happy....I'm happily bitter. I'm not bitter about my life...just about people who do ridiculous things that I wish I could cuff them and say "what is wrong with you" Parents don't like it when you do that to the Primary children....just FYI. Thanks D,K, J and B...you guys are my bitter babes.
10. I get hot really easily. And before your mind wonders too much...I mean overly warm...not "Hey Brian come home early".... = ) I go barefoot most of the time because I get too hot. I can't have my hair on my neck when it's warm out. My housecoat is too hot. I finally found what I've been looking for yesterday. A housecoat with no collar in T-shirt material. Oh happy day..... I could make one but I don't have time. There's nothing witty about this point...just reporting that I've checked another item off my eternal list. Find a new housecoat - check.
11. Speaking of my eternal list;
Clean the house = (
Finish laundry = (
Fold laundry and put away = ( = (
Find new housecoat - check!
Find new husband....no he can stay this week
Plural marriage - maybe that will be the problem solver - you can clean, wash and cook....I get the rest - oh and I'm bossy and easily irritated, deal with it.
Grocery shop - man these kids eat a lot - our budget would be so much better if food was not such a constant draw on the resources.
Teach Owen to wash toilets - just a thought.
Teach Jack to wash floors - I'm going to put rags on his knees - might as well be useful while you're speed crawling everywhere.
Eat more of the kids candy - double check!
Run - next week I'm not quite over my cold
Christmas gifts - half done
Lose 10 more pounds before Mexico - um ya, that's not happening
Ask Brian to get ripped before Mexico - I'll put a sticky note in his lunch box.
Oct 26, 2007
~ Insomnia ~
So it's late...again...and I'm still awake...again. This has been, and continues to be a stressful busy week. There's a lot happening...a lot I'm in charge of, and so of course I can't sleep because I over think everything and lay awake at night making lists in my head, and as a result of the lack of sleep, I'm also getting sick.
It's after midnight and I'm up. I can't stand to lay awake restless...so in an effort to completely exhaust myself...I'm hitting the blogging a little early. Doesn't help that I can literally feel myself getting sicker as I type...but I can't take anything to 'help' me sleep, because they baby sometimes wakes up in the night. So, I'll get sicker and maybe the Primary Presentation will run itself on Sunday....here's hoping.
You may be disappointed by this weeks blog...I'm not at my usual level of bitterness, sarcasm and general rolling my eyes at life....sorry.
1. The trip that Brian and I are taking is getting closer. We've received a brochure from the company organizing it with the daily events that we can choose from for tours. One of them had snorkeling and such. Cool...not a lot of snorkeling here on the prairies. So we're signed up to do that. Snorkeling makes me nervous though. Never done it before but I always think that if you're in the water and marine life is available, which apparently happens a lot in the water...that the shark is going to get you. So I'm 12 and laying in the water at Sylvan Lake at that huge girls camp that Sis. Kapp came too...remember that old ladies...anyway, laying in the water waiting to take my first attempt ever at water skiing. You know how you lay there with the skis on...trying to keep your balance in the water and all I can hear in my head is....dum dum........dum dum......the Jaws theme. First of all we're in Sylvan Lake...not too many shark attacks have been reported there in recent years, but hey I was 12. Second of all there are like 4000 girls screaming and jumping in the water, but I know that shark is coming for me.
2. Back to the snorkeling...so the other part that makes me nervous is the actual fish. I don't like things jumping out at me. Granted fish don't do a lot of jumping under water...but you don't always know when one is gone take the opportunity to test your adrenaline level. I get enough of that at home....nothing like cooking something hot and Mr. Handy Man comes up behind me and positions his hands just so....apparently I need a little more 'support' if you get my drift. He got to wipe the spaghetti sauce off the wall as I practised my well rehearsed Kung Foo moves on him.
3. I was thinking the other day of some of the items I used to think were to die for. Leg warmers for example....I had ones with threads of silver in them. I was pretty hot. I'm not sure when they went from Flash Dance to 'wear them over your jeans in Junior High'. I took it that extra step...I'm an overachiever always have been. I'd wear two or three pair socks that alternated whatever minute color I had represented in my shirt and then the leg warmers on top of that. Proved for some pretty tight Keds. But I was somethin' to look at in those Junior High halls...with the banana clip and the Mickey Mouse Timex....watch out.
4. Next the scrunchie. I've always had long hair...except for an unfortunate incident in high school. Now the purpose of the scrunchie was not to actually hold your hair in the pony tail. You couldn't actually wind it tight enough for that. You had elastics under the scrunchie and then wound more things around your hair to accessorize. I have always had very thick hair. So not only were there about 4 elastics to hold my ponytail in place, there was also the scrunchie. And very likely I had put my hair up wet in the morning, and at night when I took it out, it was still wet in the entombed part under the elastics. I, of course, generally matchie matchied the alternating colors of my socks to the scrunchies. I may have caused some reckless driving accidents as people drove by and temporarily were blinded by the alternating colors that gave them a seizure.
5. Now the neon colors I can appreciate. Nothing says "Hey Boys" like lime green and fuchsia together. Their eyes are involuntarily drawn. So I had my fair share of the neon colors.
6. I was in a grocery store the other day and witnessed my first "Guy trying to become a Girl". Little disturbing. That should be kept on reality TV. Not only was he wearing girls clothes but was also taking the hormone therapy. Mostly he was just a very unpleasant looking girl. I must have caught him mid cycle....he hadn't taken all the drugs yet. He didn't hide that he was trying to be a her. The voice hadn't changed. I'm wondering where the desire to become female comes from....which of the following seems like fun.
a. Monthly Moon Cycles (I've been calling it that lately like I'm woman of the earth or something)
b. Frantic mood swings and homicidal feelings and behavior.
c. Standing in front of the mirror every morning and thinking "Ah Crap...this is gonna take a lot of work"
d. Being able to recognize the millisecond "the look" in your husbands eyes that immediately puts you in a fowl mood and makes you roll your eyes and think " Are you kidding me you -----" (Insert favorite not nice name) This can apply to many many different situations.
e. Having to visit many different kinds of doctors that make you ask the same question every time... " You want to put what....where??!!"
f. The layers....why so many layers. The first layer, the tight/nylons, the slip, the skirt. Nothing ever stays where it should...something is always rolling down when you're trying to tell the Bishop that life is going fine. And even with the cool Shade shirts...it's still so many layers. It can take me 20 full minutes to actually get down to my skin. And then the ever constant question of what is really needing to go into the laundry. This layer didn't actually see the light of day, but it was next to my skin as I was trying to lift the double stroller out of the van while holding the baby on my hip and keeping the 3 year old out of traffic with my leg. Where as this shirt didn't actually get drenched in sweat but has baby snot and something else unidentifiable on it. So many decisions.
Sign me up to be a girl...sounds like a non stop Par--tay.
7. I don't really understand Professional Sports. My husband is a very big fan...yells at the TV like he's being paid to coach the game. None of you believe me since you've never actually heard more than 7 consecutive words out of him in one sitting....he's a maniac, really. So we pay these "athletes" gazillions of dollars to do what? Hit a ball with a stick, throw a ball into the hoop, smash your opponent even if he's nowhere near the actual ball and stand out in a big field hoping the ball will come your way. I would rather pay money to put a mud pit in beside the church and let the Bishop pick who gets to fight. That could be the best "issue solver' anywhere.
8. ---------
9. I love watching parents in Sacrament meeting finally lose it with their children and drag them out. They have the fake smile on...but that kid is not really moving his feet and his arm is getting longer as his full weight is being permeated into the floor to hold back his seething mother. I have one friend D who is the best at it. She not only is walking 89 km/hour to get that kid our of there, she's marching while she does it. It's all you can do not to say out loud....nice knowin ya. Don't think I'm not included in this...I've marched my children out of there plenty of times. It would be so much nicer if it was like Star Trek and you could just morph out of the meeting. Granted, then no one would actually be in the meeting.
10. I don't think the noodle is being used to its full capacity. You know...that thing kids do when they don't want to do or go somewhere. It's like their bones instantly turn to jello and they gain 150 pounds. It's impossible to get that kid up. I'm going to start using it when I get asked to do something I don't want to. Just do the noodle on the floor. "If you can move me to that room, I will handle the situation..if not, well tough luck for you"
That's it...I'm out. Not up to par this week....maybe next week.
It's after midnight and I'm up. I can't stand to lay awake restless...so in an effort to completely exhaust myself...I'm hitting the blogging a little early. Doesn't help that I can literally feel myself getting sicker as I type...but I can't take anything to 'help' me sleep, because they baby sometimes wakes up in the night. So, I'll get sicker and maybe the Primary Presentation will run itself on Sunday....here's hoping.
You may be disappointed by this weeks blog...I'm not at my usual level of bitterness, sarcasm and general rolling my eyes at life....sorry.
1. The trip that Brian and I are taking is getting closer. We've received a brochure from the company organizing it with the daily events that we can choose from for tours. One of them had snorkeling and such. Cool...not a lot of snorkeling here on the prairies. So we're signed up to do that. Snorkeling makes me nervous though. Never done it before but I always think that if you're in the water and marine life is available, which apparently happens a lot in the water...that the shark is going to get you. So I'm 12 and laying in the water at Sylvan Lake at that huge girls camp that Sis. Kapp came too...remember that old ladies...anyway, laying in the water waiting to take my first attempt ever at water skiing. You know how you lay there with the skis on...trying to keep your balance in the water and all I can hear in my head is....dum dum........dum dum......the Jaws theme. First of all we're in Sylvan Lake...not too many shark attacks have been reported there in recent years, but hey I was 12. Second of all there are like 4000 girls screaming and jumping in the water, but I know that shark is coming for me.
2. Back to the snorkeling...so the other part that makes me nervous is the actual fish. I don't like things jumping out at me. Granted fish don't do a lot of jumping under water...but you don't always know when one is gone take the opportunity to test your adrenaline level. I get enough of that at home....nothing like cooking something hot and Mr. Handy Man comes up behind me and positions his hands just so....apparently I need a little more 'support' if you get my drift. He got to wipe the spaghetti sauce off the wall as I practised my well rehearsed Kung Foo moves on him.
3. I was thinking the other day of some of the items I used to think were to die for. Leg warmers for example....I had ones with threads of silver in them. I was pretty hot. I'm not sure when they went from Flash Dance to 'wear them over your jeans in Junior High'. I took it that extra step...I'm an overachiever always have been. I'd wear two or three pair socks that alternated whatever minute color I had represented in my shirt and then the leg warmers on top of that. Proved for some pretty tight Keds. But I was somethin' to look at in those Junior High halls...with the banana clip and the Mickey Mouse Timex....watch out.
4. Next the scrunchie. I've always had long hair...except for an unfortunate incident in high school. Now the purpose of the scrunchie was not to actually hold your hair in the pony tail. You couldn't actually wind it tight enough for that. You had elastics under the scrunchie and then wound more things around your hair to accessorize. I have always had very thick hair. So not only were there about 4 elastics to hold my ponytail in place, there was also the scrunchie. And very likely I had put my hair up wet in the morning, and at night when I took it out, it was still wet in the entombed part under the elastics. I, of course, generally matchie matchied the alternating colors of my socks to the scrunchies. I may have caused some reckless driving accidents as people drove by and temporarily were blinded by the alternating colors that gave them a seizure.
5. Now the neon colors I can appreciate. Nothing says "Hey Boys" like lime green and fuchsia together. Their eyes are involuntarily drawn. So I had my fair share of the neon colors.
6. I was in a grocery store the other day and witnessed my first "Guy trying to become a Girl". Little disturbing. That should be kept on reality TV. Not only was he wearing girls clothes but was also taking the hormone therapy. Mostly he was just a very unpleasant looking girl. I must have caught him mid cycle....he hadn't taken all the drugs yet. He didn't hide that he was trying to be a her. The voice hadn't changed. I'm wondering where the desire to become female comes from....which of the following seems like fun.
a. Monthly Moon Cycles (I've been calling it that lately like I'm woman of the earth or something)
b. Frantic mood swings and homicidal feelings and behavior.
c. Standing in front of the mirror every morning and thinking "Ah Crap...this is gonna take a lot of work"
d. Being able to recognize the millisecond "the look" in your husbands eyes that immediately puts you in a fowl mood and makes you roll your eyes and think " Are you kidding me you -----" (Insert favorite not nice name) This can apply to many many different situations.
e. Having to visit many different kinds of doctors that make you ask the same question every time... " You want to put what....where??!!"
f. The layers....why so many layers. The first layer, the tight/nylons, the slip, the skirt. Nothing ever stays where it should...something is always rolling down when you're trying to tell the Bishop that life is going fine. And even with the cool Shade shirts...it's still so many layers. It can take me 20 full minutes to actually get down to my skin. And then the ever constant question of what is really needing to go into the laundry. This layer didn't actually see the light of day, but it was next to my skin as I was trying to lift the double stroller out of the van while holding the baby on my hip and keeping the 3 year old out of traffic with my leg. Where as this shirt didn't actually get drenched in sweat but has baby snot and something else unidentifiable on it. So many decisions.
Sign me up to be a girl...sounds like a non stop Par--tay.
7. I don't really understand Professional Sports. My husband is a very big fan...yells at the TV like he's being paid to coach the game. None of you believe me since you've never actually heard more than 7 consecutive words out of him in one sitting....he's a maniac, really. So we pay these "athletes" gazillions of dollars to do what? Hit a ball with a stick, throw a ball into the hoop, smash your opponent even if he's nowhere near the actual ball and stand out in a big field hoping the ball will come your way. I would rather pay money to put a mud pit in beside the church and let the Bishop pick who gets to fight. That could be the best "issue solver' anywhere.
8. ---------
9. I love watching parents in Sacrament meeting finally lose it with their children and drag them out. They have the fake smile on...but that kid is not really moving his feet and his arm is getting longer as his full weight is being permeated into the floor to hold back his seething mother. I have one friend D who is the best at it. She not only is walking 89 km/hour to get that kid our of there, she's marching while she does it. It's all you can do not to say out loud....nice knowin ya. Don't think I'm not included in this...I've marched my children out of there plenty of times. It would be so much nicer if it was like Star Trek and you could just morph out of the meeting. Granted, then no one would actually be in the meeting.
10. I don't think the noodle is being used to its full capacity. You know...that thing kids do when they don't want to do or go somewhere. It's like their bones instantly turn to jello and they gain 150 pounds. It's impossible to get that kid up. I'm going to start using it when I get asked to do something I don't want to. Just do the noodle on the floor. "If you can move me to that room, I will handle the situation..if not, well tough luck for you"
That's it...I'm out. Not up to par this week....maybe next week.
Oct 19, 2007
~ Warrior Priestess of the Aztec People ~
So lots of you have been sending me comments on my blog and emailing saying how much you love my weekly comments...I'm a little surprised by how many people are reading my rants about life....maybe I should rein it in a little? But then you wouldn't love it so much...so nope..it will stay candid, surprising and maybe a bit offensive at times. That's only when I tell you about the commericals that I shake my head at....who pays for those?
1. I've been slackin' in the running a little lately. It's easy to talk yourself out of running when it's getting chilly outside. But I want to take off some more weight so I've been getting serious. As a result my knees are acting up again. So I tried this Active Release Therapy today. It's basically really deep stretching to help the muscles cope with the strain of constant beating on the pavement. So the guy has my foot on his shoulder and he stretching out my hamstrings...and I'm trying to be all tough and not tell him that he's about to break my leg off. So he says...just tell me when you're at your pain limit. Pain limit.....I've had four babies....have you ever tried to push a St. Bernard out your butt? I didn't say that to him.....but I thought it. I think they should say that at the hospital. "Now Mrs. Boyd when you're at your pain limit just let us know and we'll ease off a bit....." Okay...after I sign my name on the labour room check in register I would like you to ease off a little for the rest of my stay at your nice facility"
2. I was watching that Oprah that had Jessica Seinfeld on it showing how she purees vegetables and puts them in her kids food. Such a great idea, I'm going to do that....in Brian's food too. So I'm thinking what else I can puree and sneak into my children's lives....fibre, bran, flak seed....manners. I'm going to start sneaking many things in when they don't know it. So don't call me at night, I'll be kneeling beside my children's beds as they sleep talking in their ears. They can hear me subconsciously....."Your mother is perfect in every way....you will no longer scream that you hate her when we're in Costco....you will set the table without being asked...and not put your dirty laundry on top of the clean laundry that you haven't taken out of the basket yet...you will tell your mother daily that she certainly is looking thin lately...and not point out that her butt is big when she's trying to put Owen's seat belt on in the back seat....
3. Even better I'm going to start sneaking things into Brian's life/mind... chanting them when he's asleep...."I don't need help going up the stairs thank you anyway, your hand does not need to be on my butt. You don't need to look over at me in the van....when the kids are in the back...and say under your breath " You should take your shirt off"....oh right, what was I thinking I should do that now....so sorry that I forgot dear..... (idiot). You will stop thinking that if the floor can be vacuumed then the house is clean...um...have you noticed that no one can sit on the couch now....picking things up and re-locating them to higher ground is not putting them away.
4. I go to Costco every two weeks or so. You can get really carried away at Costco...they have some pretty fun stuff. I'm always amazed at the people that seem to be doing their major grocery shopping there though. Like their carts are four miles high with stuff...but then you look at what they're buying....mega size Doritos's.....gazillion packs of chocolate bars....six thousand of those muffins...those aren't muffins those are small cakes....wow...and they wonder why it's a little tight when they're trying to get behind the wheel of their cars.
5. So I'm slightly addicted to technology....if you want to get a hold of me..the best way is by email...I check it a lot. My job is on a computer...so I spend a lot of time in this very spot. Anyway...as addicted as I am it's not as much as those of you that your Facebook hooked up to your cell phones.....holy macaroni... Ring Ring....you have been Poked. Oh good...glad I didn't miss that one.
6. I'm a bookkeeper...and I see a lot of paper. I have some pretty interesting clients. Some think that everything can be considered a business write off. Here's a few that I've seen...no joke. On a pink sticky note "Tiff...can you please make sure that this receipt is entered as an expense, we use them for business dinners and client entertainment" The receipt was for a boob job. "Tiffany Boyild. (I've done this guys books for 5 years and he always spells my last name wrong...it's a pretty hard name after all (eye roll) Please see that attached business receipt that I would like included in this years personal taxes.... The receipt was for hair plugs.
7. The following are not considered legitimate business expenses.....liquor store purchases, unless you are actually running a bar. Adult Entertainment venues...unless you are actually running one of those and are scouting for new talent. Baby Gap...when you run an oil service company. Poker.net subscription....I can't think of any that you could write that off for. Liposuction.....again....what legitimate business could that be an expense for. A trip to Hawaii...with a note that said they had done business meetings and scouted out new company locations while there, they were a snow removal company. I wish I was joking about these...nope, seen them all. They're very expensive too..no wonder they put them through on the company visa.
8. Why is it that office supplies are so fun. People are taking loads of them home in their pockets from work. What exactly are they doing with them all at home. Running an underground black market organizing and categorizing scam. I, like many, enjoy office supplies. The kids are starving, dirty and don't have their homework done. But I have a nifty staple remover, highlighters and fourteen colors of sticky notes. I can also white out anything faster than anyone else I know and staple through many different page quantities.
9. My children watch those terrible kids shows in the morning...like all of yours. I would like to be in a room alone with the following people....the guy that wrote the theme song for Backyardigans....the guy that designed the costumes for Toy Castle....the banker of the Wiggles...Barnie....they guy who thought up Wonder Pets...
10. Mom....mom.........mooooooommmmm........MOOOOOOOMMMMM...
I'm sorry there is no one by that name here.....I am Whatsi Baloooo, Warrior Priestess of the Aztec people. Your mother will not be returning until this house is cleaned up, the groceries are taken OUT of the totes and put IN the cupboard...not piled up on the floor in the kitchen and you "grocery shop" every morning in them for your breakfast. When you hit the toilet. And please flush after you hit the toilet, the baby puts his hands in the water sometimes. When you can walk in the door after school with a quiet voice and skip to your room to clean it. Rather than crashing through the door, your brother chasing you with murder in his eyes and you're both screaming at each other (oh, could that be my darling children returning from their day of learning and enlightenment...I'm so glad they have returned to our humble home).
Okay I had already posted this and then Brian came home and shared this little gem.
11. Picking up pizza on at Domino's. He hands over his American Express and the brain child on the till says....
Girl "Cool credit card"
B "It's just an American Express...haven't you even seen one before"
Girl "No...are you american?"
B "What...no"
Girl "Don't you have to be an American to have an American Express card."
B " Ahhh...no"
Girl "Oh...I thought you have to be american to have one...my parents told me I couldn't have one because I have to be american."
Wow...........
1. I've been slackin' in the running a little lately. It's easy to talk yourself out of running when it's getting chilly outside. But I want to take off some more weight so I've been getting serious. As a result my knees are acting up again. So I tried this Active Release Therapy today. It's basically really deep stretching to help the muscles cope with the strain of constant beating on the pavement. So the guy has my foot on his shoulder and he stretching out my hamstrings...and I'm trying to be all tough and not tell him that he's about to break my leg off. So he says...just tell me when you're at your pain limit. Pain limit.....I've had four babies....have you ever tried to push a St. Bernard out your butt? I didn't say that to him.....but I thought it. I think they should say that at the hospital. "Now Mrs. Boyd when you're at your pain limit just let us know and we'll ease off a bit....." Okay...after I sign my name on the labour room check in register I would like you to ease off a little for the rest of my stay at your nice facility"
2. I was watching that Oprah that had Jessica Seinfeld on it showing how she purees vegetables and puts them in her kids food. Such a great idea, I'm going to do that....in Brian's food too. So I'm thinking what else I can puree and sneak into my children's lives....fibre, bran, flak seed....manners. I'm going to start sneaking many things in when they don't know it. So don't call me at night, I'll be kneeling beside my children's beds as they sleep talking in their ears. They can hear me subconsciously....."Your mother is perfect in every way....you will no longer scream that you hate her when we're in Costco....you will set the table without being asked...and not put your dirty laundry on top of the clean laundry that you haven't taken out of the basket yet...you will tell your mother daily that she certainly is looking thin lately...and not point out that her butt is big when she's trying to put Owen's seat belt on in the back seat....
3. Even better I'm going to start sneaking things into Brian's life/mind... chanting them when he's asleep...."I don't need help going up the stairs thank you anyway, your hand does not need to be on my butt. You don't need to look over at me in the van....when the kids are in the back...and say under your breath " You should take your shirt off"....oh right, what was I thinking I should do that now....so sorry that I forgot dear..... (idiot). You will stop thinking that if the floor can be vacuumed then the house is clean...um...have you noticed that no one can sit on the couch now....picking things up and re-locating them to higher ground is not putting them away.
4. I go to Costco every two weeks or so. You can get really carried away at Costco...they have some pretty fun stuff. I'm always amazed at the people that seem to be doing their major grocery shopping there though. Like their carts are four miles high with stuff...but then you look at what they're buying....mega size Doritos's.....gazillion packs of chocolate bars....six thousand of those muffins...those aren't muffins those are small cakes....wow...and they wonder why it's a little tight when they're trying to get behind the wheel of their cars.
5. So I'm slightly addicted to technology....if you want to get a hold of me..the best way is by email...I check it a lot. My job is on a computer...so I spend a lot of time in this very spot. Anyway...as addicted as I am it's not as much as those of you that your Facebook hooked up to your cell phones.....holy macaroni... Ring Ring....you have been Poked. Oh good...glad I didn't miss that one.
6. I'm a bookkeeper...and I see a lot of paper. I have some pretty interesting clients. Some think that everything can be considered a business write off. Here's a few that I've seen...no joke. On a pink sticky note "Tiff...can you please make sure that this receipt is entered as an expense, we use them for business dinners and client entertainment" The receipt was for a boob job. "Tiffany Boyild. (I've done this guys books for 5 years and he always spells my last name wrong...it's a pretty hard name after all (eye roll) Please see that attached business receipt that I would like included in this years personal taxes.... The receipt was for hair plugs.
7. The following are not considered legitimate business expenses.....liquor store purchases, unless you are actually running a bar. Adult Entertainment venues...unless you are actually running one of those and are scouting for new talent. Baby Gap...when you run an oil service company. Poker.net subscription....I can't think of any that you could write that off for. Liposuction.....again....what legitimate business could that be an expense for. A trip to Hawaii...with a note that said they had done business meetings and scouted out new company locations while there, they were a snow removal company. I wish I was joking about these...nope, seen them all. They're very expensive too..no wonder they put them through on the company visa.
8. Why is it that office supplies are so fun. People are taking loads of them home in their pockets from work. What exactly are they doing with them all at home. Running an underground black market organizing and categorizing scam. I, like many, enjoy office supplies. The kids are starving, dirty and don't have their homework done. But I have a nifty staple remover, highlighters and fourteen colors of sticky notes. I can also white out anything faster than anyone else I know and staple through many different page quantities.
9. My children watch those terrible kids shows in the morning...like all of yours. I would like to be in a room alone with the following people....the guy that wrote the theme song for Backyardigans....the guy that designed the costumes for Toy Castle....the banker of the Wiggles...Barnie....they guy who thought up Wonder Pets...
10. Mom....mom.........mooooooommmmm........MOOOOOOOMMMMM...
I'm sorry there is no one by that name here.....I am Whatsi Baloooo, Warrior Priestess of the Aztec people. Your mother will not be returning until this house is cleaned up, the groceries are taken OUT of the totes and put IN the cupboard...not piled up on the floor in the kitchen and you "grocery shop" every morning in them for your breakfast. When you hit the toilet. And please flush after you hit the toilet, the baby puts his hands in the water sometimes. When you can walk in the door after school with a quiet voice and skip to your room to clean it. Rather than crashing through the door, your brother chasing you with murder in his eyes and you're both screaming at each other (oh, could that be my darling children returning from their day of learning and enlightenment...I'm so glad they have returned to our humble home).
Okay I had already posted this and then Brian came home and shared this little gem.
11. Picking up pizza on at Domino's. He hands over his American Express and the brain child on the till says....
Girl "Cool credit card"
B "It's just an American Express...haven't you even seen one before"
Girl "No...are you american?"
B "What...no"
Girl "Don't you have to be an American to have an American Express card."
B " Ahhh...no"
Girl "Oh...I thought you have to be american to have one...my parents told me I couldn't have one because I have to be american."
Wow...........
Oct 14, 2007
Oct 12, 2007
~ To the point.... ~
1. If I could change something about myself, it would be my tendency to think negative before positive....keep that fault in my personality in mind as you read.
2. I always need my life SUPER full....like unbelievably busy at all time. Why? I don't know. I never have a moment that there isn't something I need to do. If I sit and read a book it is because I'm neglecting something else.
3. I just spent a couple days writing the Primary Presentation for our ward....we have 130 kids. So as I'm meticulously giving every child a part, and making sure it all flows...I'm thinking. No one cares what any of these kids say.... really. Parents want to see and hear their children sing the songs and be a part. And usually you can't understand what the kids say anyway...the microphone is passed to them too quickly and then wrenched out of their hands by the next kid. So I think we should change it. They'll sing the songs and in between we'll just introduce each child....drum roll and then the child stands up.......Michael Smith.....sits down. Done. No line he doesn't remember, and we can't understand. His parents saw him, he did his obligatory wave to them like as if he hasn't seen them in a life time....and it's the best Presentation ever.
4. Why is it that the women have to be pregnant, have the babies, raise the babies and also be expected to lose the weight and look fantastic while they're doing it. That's a lot of pressure. What is my husband expected to do? Get me pregnant...give me the baby when he cries, ask me HOW to raise the children...expect me to look good...for HIM of course. I'm thinking the balance is a little off here. (Everyone knows that this is just me talking....Brian is fantastic)
5. So Brian and I are taking a trip in December...just the two of us. There was a promo at work that he qualified for...and we're taking the fantastic honeymoon...13 years late. So we're going to a tropical place...and he wants me to get a bikini. WHAT!!!?!??? First of all, as if I'm wearing anything in front of others that screams....look at my stretch marks...I've had four babies. Second of all....I don't see him buffing up to be super ripped to walk on the beach....third...WHAT a bikini. Whatever buddy, keep on dreamin'
6. Brussel Sprouts - What the heck? First of all who picked up the hard green ball that tasted like death and said "Hey these would be good to eat"
7. Why do we buy candy and give it to other children dressed in bad costumes? And also take our children to take candy from other people. I'm going to buy a box of candy...put the kids to bed and eat the candy myself.
8. I tape General Conference on my PVR. Partly because I don't always get organized enough to be sitting down at 10. But also because I like to be able to rewind if I missed something. However, I also fast forward through the singing...Brian thinks that might be sac religious. I think it's just being time efficient.
9. Speaking of my PVR. It's the best invention ever, and the best gift Brian ever gave me. I never miss a show again. Last year when I got it, my brother's in law were all laughing at me because I'd tape so much stuff. They thought I taped stuff....just to tape it....and never actually watched it. Now they have their own PVR's and are as addicted as I am....and are calling me to find out how to work it. Who's laughing now... I'm going to tell them how to tape the shows but then put in a little part that stops recording 18 minutes in....hahaha....
My blog's are taking on a bit of a nasty feel lately....I lived a stressed out life...I need to vent...maybe because of point #2...deal with it.
10. So one of my bestest buds ever is Doug. We've known each other a long long time. We also have a mutual lovey dovey for each other. = ) So one of my best memories growing up is on a winter day. Brain children that we were...we thought it would be a good idea to go tobogganing....with Doug. For those that don't know him....the legs don't work that well. So we put him on the toboggan...send him flying down the hill. Get to the bottom and we're all sort of looking at each other...like...now what. How the heck is Doug going to get back up the hill? So us, in our exemplary friend mode look at him and say...Well you got down here on your own, I guess you're getting back up on your own. He huffed it up that hill with his crutches. Sorry Doug, I feel bad about that still. Oh wait...no I don't. Because when he got to the top he got on the toboggan with me and we went down again. Okay, I felt bad the first time, but not the next 12 times. Love ya buddy.
2. I always need my life SUPER full....like unbelievably busy at all time. Why? I don't know. I never have a moment that there isn't something I need to do. If I sit and read a book it is because I'm neglecting something else.
3. I just spent a couple days writing the Primary Presentation for our ward....we have 130 kids. So as I'm meticulously giving every child a part, and making sure it all flows...I'm thinking. No one cares what any of these kids say.... really. Parents want to see and hear their children sing the songs and be a part. And usually you can't understand what the kids say anyway...the microphone is passed to them too quickly and then wrenched out of their hands by the next kid. So I think we should change it. They'll sing the songs and in between we'll just introduce each child....drum roll and then the child stands up.......Michael Smith.....sits down. Done. No line he doesn't remember, and we can't understand. His parents saw him, he did his obligatory wave to them like as if he hasn't seen them in a life time....and it's the best Presentation ever.
4. Why is it that the women have to be pregnant, have the babies, raise the babies and also be expected to lose the weight and look fantastic while they're doing it. That's a lot of pressure. What is my husband expected to do? Get me pregnant...give me the baby when he cries, ask me HOW to raise the children...expect me to look good...for HIM of course. I'm thinking the balance is a little off here. (Everyone knows that this is just me talking....Brian is fantastic)
5. So Brian and I are taking a trip in December...just the two of us. There was a promo at work that he qualified for...and we're taking the fantastic honeymoon...13 years late. So we're going to a tropical place...and he wants me to get a bikini. WHAT!!!?!??? First of all, as if I'm wearing anything in front of others that screams....look at my stretch marks...I've had four babies. Second of all....I don't see him buffing up to be super ripped to walk on the beach....third...WHAT a bikini. Whatever buddy, keep on dreamin'
6. Brussel Sprouts - What the heck? First of all who picked up the hard green ball that tasted like death and said "Hey these would be good to eat"
7. Why do we buy candy and give it to other children dressed in bad costumes? And also take our children to take candy from other people. I'm going to buy a box of candy...put the kids to bed and eat the candy myself.
8. I tape General Conference on my PVR. Partly because I don't always get organized enough to be sitting down at 10. But also because I like to be able to rewind if I missed something. However, I also fast forward through the singing...Brian thinks that might be sac religious. I think it's just being time efficient.
9. Speaking of my PVR. It's the best invention ever, and the best gift Brian ever gave me. I never miss a show again. Last year when I got it, my brother's in law were all laughing at me because I'd tape so much stuff. They thought I taped stuff....just to tape it....and never actually watched it. Now they have their own PVR's and are as addicted as I am....and are calling me to find out how to work it. Who's laughing now... I'm going to tell them how to tape the shows but then put in a little part that stops recording 18 minutes in....hahaha....
My blog's are taking on a bit of a nasty feel lately....I lived a stressed out life...I need to vent...maybe because of point #2...deal with it.
10. So one of my bestest buds ever is Doug. We've known each other a long long time. We also have a mutual lovey dovey for each other. = ) So one of my best memories growing up is on a winter day. Brain children that we were...we thought it would be a good idea to go tobogganing....with Doug. For those that don't know him....the legs don't work that well. So we put him on the toboggan...send him flying down the hill. Get to the bottom and we're all sort of looking at each other...like...now what. How the heck is Doug going to get back up the hill? So us, in our exemplary friend mode look at him and say...Well you got down here on your own, I guess you're getting back up on your own. He huffed it up that hill with his crutches. Sorry Doug, I feel bad about that still. Oh wait...no I don't. Because when he got to the top he got on the toboggan with me and we went down again. Okay, I felt bad the first time, but not the next 12 times. Love ya buddy.
Oct 11, 2007
~ Talented Girl ~
Thanksgiving Day I put on the huge dinner for all my family...minus my parents who were gone Conference. It was a huge job...one that I don't know I'll do again.
Anyway, we were done and cleaning up and Bobbi was looking outside and commenting on how great the lighting was. We had talked about having her take our family pictures, but then decided against it as the day was going to be crazy enough. However she thought it would be okay...so we got ready and packed everyone up and headed to the park.
My sister in law is so amazing...and usually she doesn't know it. So many things about her I admire. For one she's an amazing photographer. I'd love to learn this talent from her. I love the pictures she takes and would love to have so many great shots of my kids.
Here are a sampling of her talent....and maybe a bit of mine and Brian's DNA helping a little.
Anyway, we were done and cleaning up and Bobbi was looking outside and commenting on how great the lighting was. We had talked about having her take our family pictures, but then decided against it as the day was going to be crazy enough. However she thought it would be okay...so we got ready and packed everyone up and headed to the park.
My sister in law is so amazing...and usually she doesn't know it. So many things about her I admire. For one she's an amazing photographer. I'd love to learn this talent from her. I love the pictures she takes and would love to have so many great shots of my kids.
Here are a sampling of her talent....and maybe a bit of mine and Brian's DNA helping a little.
Oct 6, 2007
~ One Year Already?!! ~
So Mr Jack is one year old. That's crazy. He started taking his first steps right on his birthday.... pictures later.
On to the list....why do you guys get such a kick out of my lists......? = )
1. I love hot drinks....I would be a serious coffee addict if given the chance. Hot drinks calm my nerves....Brian often find me making dinner with a hot chocolate in hand. It's that or kill the kids....
2. I like to watch 'So you think you can dance'. But only the first few shows when all those people that stood in line for a kazillion hours, because they are convinced they're a dancer, get up there and show their moves. Then they either fall on their face (a guy really did that one time....smacked his face right on the floor) or they shake their booty and they're so big that the booty keeps shaking after they are long done dancing.
3. My favorite snack lately is Special K Vanilla cereal, dry....just pour some in a cup and keep reading your book. It's yummy and low fat.....that's the best combination.
4. I think there should be a weight limit on spandex clothing. On the tag should say 120 pounds or less. Why is it that the people who would look good in spandex avoid it, and those that make us puke in our mouths a little....wear it to Walmart.
5. 25 degrees is my perfect outdoor temperature. Warm enough to go to the beach...but not so warm that your clothes stick to you.
6. When I was 8 or so...my dad gave me this big talk about not letting boys put their arm around me. Apparantly that was the biggest sin he could think of at the time.....however now that I think of it, he was on the right track. Everything can be attributed to that boy putting his arm around you.
7. Have you ever considered that 'Organic' is probably latin for 'using more cow poop'. Just a thought.
8. What is with those commercials for the drugs for 'dysfunction'. You know what I mean....all of the sudden people are skipping and ball room dancing just because everything is now preforming. I think they should make those more realistic. Show the wife holding the big knife while she's making dinner....considering her options of elminating her husband...and then remembering that the drugs have helped out with their 'dysfunction' and put the knife down. Then she could have the voice over say... "Viagra...helps him live one more day" Maybe I should go into advertising.
9. But my favorite commercials are the ones for seemingly innocent drugs. Liver or something.....BUT...side effects may include....losing your left arm, dry mouth until your tongue falls out, heart palpitations so you're bed ridden, your hair falls out, your dog dies, you can no long 'preform' (unless you're taking the above mentioned). Your lungs shut down, your brain explodes and your hearing is a little iffy....but your liver is now working.....
10. Don't you hate it when you go to someones blog to read their witty comments for the week....only to find out they are having a bit of a fiesty day and you're feeling the uncontrollable need to back away from the screen. All the while thinking your glad you don't live in THAT house today.... = )
11. So you come to a four way stop and it is beyond obvious that you came to a complete stop 10 minutes ahead of that other guy....but please....you first....I'm sure that kid on my back seat can hold it a little longer.
12. I've decided that my van can be my 72 hour kit. No need for backpacks at my house. It has food, blankets, water and DVD's with built in stereo. That's all you really need anyway. Plus, why put it away, just throw it on the floor....easy access that way.
Okay that's it for this week. I'm out of things to be critical about....I do feel better though.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Oct 1, 2007
~ No Catchy title....sorry. ~
I'm at a loss for a catchy title today....sorry.
So I have yet to actually post my Friday list....on Friday. Here goes...I think I'm slowly running out of things to say.
1. I love raw tomoatoes, but hate cooked ones.
2. My left foot is smaller than my right.
3. All hair on the right side of my head is thinner than on the left...including my eye lashes and eye brows. (K I'm really grasping for something to put on the list this week)
4. E.T. was the first movie I saw in a theatre. I went with my Aunt Marilee and it scared the crapola out of me...I had nightmares for a long time.
5. However the scarriest movie is still 'Watcher in the Woods". I wonder if it's really still scary or if the 12 year old part of my brain just thinks so.
6. I'm only human, I make mistakes and sometime people are hurt by those mistakes. Lesson learned, I'll try harder.
7. I hate the taste of water. Isn't that stupid. Water doesn't really have a taste. Okay, I hate the absence of taste of water.
8. I didn't get my driver's license until the third try.
9. I love the smell of coffee.
10. I was interested in Kevin before Brian. Apparantly Kevin wasn't the grand master plan....
11. When I was 7 I had to walk to school by myself because my mom had too many little kids at home. There was this big dog that was always loose. I thought if I stood really still beside the telephone pole by the alley he wouldn't see me. So there's Tiffany standing like a statue beside the pole hoping the dog will walk by and not kill me. The dog was likely rolling his eyes.
12. I can wiggle my ears. In fact I can wiggle one ear then the other. It's a talent...I know...I'm amazing.
13. And the last big major revelation about myself this week....(drum roll)
I refer sweet over salty.
That was a sad list this week....sorry. I'll try to think of juicer things next week. Though I can't always shock and amaze you. I did however get quite the reaction from the whole "told my parents I went to work and actually flew to Vanvouver to meet a boyfriend" revelation. What, none of you thought to do that one on your own....such boring lives.... = (
So I have yet to actually post my Friday list....on Friday. Here goes...I think I'm slowly running out of things to say.
1. I love raw tomoatoes, but hate cooked ones.
2. My left foot is smaller than my right.
3. All hair on the right side of my head is thinner than on the left...including my eye lashes and eye brows. (K I'm really grasping for something to put on the list this week)
4. E.T. was the first movie I saw in a theatre. I went with my Aunt Marilee and it scared the crapola out of me...I had nightmares for a long time.
5. However the scarriest movie is still 'Watcher in the Woods". I wonder if it's really still scary or if the 12 year old part of my brain just thinks so.
6. I'm only human, I make mistakes and sometime people are hurt by those mistakes. Lesson learned, I'll try harder.
7. I hate the taste of water. Isn't that stupid. Water doesn't really have a taste. Okay, I hate the absence of taste of water.
8. I didn't get my driver's license until the third try.
9. I love the smell of coffee.
10. I was interested in Kevin before Brian. Apparantly Kevin wasn't the grand master plan....
11. When I was 7 I had to walk to school by myself because my mom had too many little kids at home. There was this big dog that was always loose. I thought if I stood really still beside the telephone pole by the alley he wouldn't see me. So there's Tiffany standing like a statue beside the pole hoping the dog will walk by and not kill me. The dog was likely rolling his eyes.
12. I can wiggle my ears. In fact I can wiggle one ear then the other. It's a talent...I know...I'm amazing.
13. And the last big major revelation about myself this week....(drum roll)
I refer sweet over salty.
That was a sad list this week....sorry. I'll try to think of juicer things next week. Though I can't always shock and amaze you. I did however get quite the reaction from the whole "told my parents I went to work and actually flew to Vanvouver to meet a boyfriend" revelation. What, none of you thought to do that one on your own....such boring lives.... = (
Sep 22, 2007
~ Another week ~
So it's not Friday....but whatever.
Here's my list this week.
1. I'm allergic to banana's....an odd thing to be allergic to, but it's true.
2. I brush my teeth the exact same way every day. If I get distracted I start again...
3. Lately I've turned off my TV and opened some great books. Not that I watched a mad amount of TV before...but sometimes I decompress from my day by watching whatever is on. Over the summer I read 10 books...I've read 4 this month. Some great, some good...some okay. It might be harder lately as new seasons start for the shows I enjoy...but night time is my time...so I like to read.
4. I like darkness. Once the kids are down and the house is quiet I like to be in the dark (makes it hard to read though). When I'm in the dark then my world is smaller and more manageable. Brian is always telling me...turn on the lights, why are you sitting in the dark. Cause my stress is less in the dark.
5. Brian has a side smirky smile that I love.
6. Jack is going to be one in less than two weeks. That's crazy. I was saying my prayers on October 4th last year, it was late...around 11 and I said "October 5 would be a good birthday" My water broke two hours later, which has never happened on its own...I had him by 3 am. Maybe I should have pointed this out to the Lord in my morning prayers. Jack almost had his place of birth... Trans Canada Highway, Langdon Corner.
7. Joanne and I wrote endless letters to each other growing up. I have them all.
8. I had a few boyfriends growing up....some of you are rolling your eyes, stop it. ANYWAY...most meant nothing to me. A few meant a great deal to me. They impacted my life. Brian is everything that they weren't...which is why I chose him. Why he chose me, well that's another story and one I tease him about. He didn't know what he was getting himself into...silly man. He should have asked Doug.
9. I love camping. Brian hates camping. So I take the kids camping myself. What I love about camping is sitting around and doing nothing....generally by a fire. My life does not allow me to sit around...when I'm camping there's no email, no fax, no piled high desk....my job provides the extra we need, but most days I would walk away from it.
10. Why is it when you have straight hair you want it curly and when it's curly you spend a lot of time straightening it out. I don't think guys have this problem.
11. I like driving fast, the photo radar man likes it too.
12. If Jack had been a girl his middle name would have been after my Grandma Grunewald. She was not very nice to me growing up...but I understand why now. She's been gone since I was pregnant with Tyler...it took me years to miss her. I wish I could have gotten to know her better. One day....
13. What else, I'm sitting in the dark as I type. I did 13 last week....hmmmm. Ahhh...here's a good one. When I was 19 I told my parents I was going to work, but I really flew to Vancouver, ferried to Nanaimo and met up with a boyfriend. Beat that!! Yes my mother knows....though I only confessed a couple years ago.
Have a good week!
Here's my list this week.
1. I'm allergic to banana's....an odd thing to be allergic to, but it's true.
2. I brush my teeth the exact same way every day. If I get distracted I start again...
3. Lately I've turned off my TV and opened some great books. Not that I watched a mad amount of TV before...but sometimes I decompress from my day by watching whatever is on. Over the summer I read 10 books...I've read 4 this month. Some great, some good...some okay. It might be harder lately as new seasons start for the shows I enjoy...but night time is my time...so I like to read.
4. I like darkness. Once the kids are down and the house is quiet I like to be in the dark (makes it hard to read though). When I'm in the dark then my world is smaller and more manageable. Brian is always telling me...turn on the lights, why are you sitting in the dark. Cause my stress is less in the dark.
5. Brian has a side smirky smile that I love.
6. Jack is going to be one in less than two weeks. That's crazy. I was saying my prayers on October 4th last year, it was late...around 11 and I said "October 5 would be a good birthday" My water broke two hours later, which has never happened on its own...I had him by 3 am. Maybe I should have pointed this out to the Lord in my morning prayers. Jack almost had his place of birth... Trans Canada Highway, Langdon Corner.
7. Joanne and I wrote endless letters to each other growing up. I have them all.
8. I had a few boyfriends growing up....some of you are rolling your eyes, stop it. ANYWAY...most meant nothing to me. A few meant a great deal to me. They impacted my life. Brian is everything that they weren't...which is why I chose him. Why he chose me, well that's another story and one I tease him about. He didn't know what he was getting himself into...silly man. He should have asked Doug.
9. I love camping. Brian hates camping. So I take the kids camping myself. What I love about camping is sitting around and doing nothing....generally by a fire. My life does not allow me to sit around...when I'm camping there's no email, no fax, no piled high desk....my job provides the extra we need, but most days I would walk away from it.
10. Why is it when you have straight hair you want it curly and when it's curly you spend a lot of time straightening it out. I don't think guys have this problem.
11. I like driving fast, the photo radar man likes it too.
12. If Jack had been a girl his middle name would have been after my Grandma Grunewald. She was not very nice to me growing up...but I understand why now. She's been gone since I was pregnant with Tyler...it took me years to miss her. I wish I could have gotten to know her better. One day....
13. What else, I'm sitting in the dark as I type. I did 13 last week....hmmmm. Ahhh...here's a good one. When I was 19 I told my parents I was going to work, but I really flew to Vancouver, ferried to Nanaimo and met up with a boyfriend. Beat that!! Yes my mother knows....though I only confessed a couple years ago.
Have a good week!
Sep 19, 2007
~ New Recipes ~
In my last post I said I like to cook. So I've already tried three of the recipes from the Kraft Kitchen magazine, and they were a big hit. They're easy and yummy....try them out. Click the title to take you to the Kraft site that has the pictures.....trying more new ones this week...will let you know.
Layered Enchilada Bake
Prep: 15 min
Ready In: 1 hr 35 min
Serves: 8
1 lb. (500 g) lean ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2 cups chunky salsa
1 can (19 fl oz/540 mL) black beans, drained, rinsed
1/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
2 Tbsp. chili powder
6 flour tortillas (9 inch)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup KRAFT Tex Mex Shredded Cheese
PREHEAT oven to 400ºF. Line 13x9-inch baking dish with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of dish; set aside. Brown meat with onions in large skillet on medium-high heat; drain. Add salsa, beans, dressing and chili powder; mix well.
ARRANGE 3 of the tortillas in single layer on bottom of prepared baking dish; cover with layers of half each of the meat mixture, sour cream and cheese. Repeat all layers. Cover with foil.
BAKE, covered, 30 min. Remove foil. Bake an additional 10 min. or until casserole is heated through and cheese is melted. Let stand 5 min. before cutting to serve.
Speedy Chicken Stir-Fry
Prep: 10 min
Ready In: 25 min
Serves: 4
300 g (1/3 of 900-g pkg.) angel hair pasta (capellini), uncooked
2 cups small broccoli florets
1 lb. (500 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
1/4 cup KRAFT SIGNATURE Asian Sesame Dressing
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. each: ground ginger, garlic powder, crushed red pepper
1/3 cup chopped dry-roasted peanuts
COOK pasta as directed on package, adding broccoli to the boiling water for the last 3 min. of the pasta cooking time.
MEANWHILE, spray large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 6 to 8 min. or until cooked through, stirring occasionally. Stir in dressing, soy sauce, ginger, garlic and crushed red pepper; cook 1 min., stirring occasionally.
DRAIN pasta mixture; place in large bowl. Add chicken mixture; mix lightly. Spoon evenly into four serving bowls; sprinkle with the peanuts.
Layered Pumpkin Loaf
Prep: 20 min
Ready In: 1 hr 25 min
Serves: 16
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar, divided
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
4 egg whites, divided (I used whole eggs...it worked fine.)
1/2 cup skim milk
1/4 cup canola oil
2 cups flour
2-1/2 tsp. MAGIC Baking Powder
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (if you don't have this use equal parts of Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Ginger)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 pkg. (250 g) PHILADELPHIA Light Brick Cream Cheese Spread, softened
PREHEAT oven to 350ºF. Grease a nonstick 9x5-inch loaf pan; set aside. Mix pumpkin, 1 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, 3 of the egg whites, milk and oil in large bowl. Add flour, baking powder, pie spice and salt; stir just until moistened. Set aside. Beat cream cheese spread, remaining 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar and the remaining egg white with wire whisk until well blended.
SPOON half of the pumpkin batter into prepared pan; spoon cream cheese mixture evenly over the batter. Cover with remaining pumpkin batter.
BAKE 1 hour to 1 hour 5 min. or until wooden toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. Run knife or thin spatula around edges of pan to loosen bread; cool in pan on wire rack 10 min. Remove bread from pan to wire rack; cool completely.
Layered Enchilada Bake
Prep: 15 min
Ready In: 1 hr 35 min
Serves: 8
1 lb. (500 g) lean ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2 cups chunky salsa
1 can (19 fl oz/540 mL) black beans, drained, rinsed
1/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
2 Tbsp. chili powder
6 flour tortillas (9 inch)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup KRAFT Tex Mex Shredded Cheese
PREHEAT oven to 400ºF. Line 13x9-inch baking dish with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of dish; set aside. Brown meat with onions in large skillet on medium-high heat; drain. Add salsa, beans, dressing and chili powder; mix well.
ARRANGE 3 of the tortillas in single layer on bottom of prepared baking dish; cover with layers of half each of the meat mixture, sour cream and cheese. Repeat all layers. Cover with foil.
BAKE, covered, 30 min. Remove foil. Bake an additional 10 min. or until casserole is heated through and cheese is melted. Let stand 5 min. before cutting to serve.
Speedy Chicken Stir-Fry
Prep: 10 min
Ready In: 25 min
Serves: 4
300 g (1/3 of 900-g pkg.) angel hair pasta (capellini), uncooked
2 cups small broccoli florets
1 lb. (500 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
1/4 cup KRAFT SIGNATURE Asian Sesame Dressing
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. each: ground ginger, garlic powder, crushed red pepper
1/3 cup chopped dry-roasted peanuts
COOK pasta as directed on package, adding broccoli to the boiling water for the last 3 min. of the pasta cooking time.
MEANWHILE, spray large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 6 to 8 min. or until cooked through, stirring occasionally. Stir in dressing, soy sauce, ginger, garlic and crushed red pepper; cook 1 min., stirring occasionally.
DRAIN pasta mixture; place in large bowl. Add chicken mixture; mix lightly. Spoon evenly into four serving bowls; sprinkle with the peanuts.
Layered Pumpkin Loaf
Prep: 20 min
Ready In: 1 hr 25 min
Serves: 16
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar, divided
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
4 egg whites, divided (I used whole eggs...it worked fine.)
1/2 cup skim milk
1/4 cup canola oil
2 cups flour
2-1/2 tsp. MAGIC Baking Powder
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (if you don't have this use equal parts of Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Ginger)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 pkg. (250 g) PHILADELPHIA Light Brick Cream Cheese Spread, softened
PREHEAT oven to 350ºF. Grease a nonstick 9x5-inch loaf pan; set aside. Mix pumpkin, 1 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, 3 of the egg whites, milk and oil in large bowl. Add flour, baking powder, pie spice and salt; stir just until moistened. Set aside. Beat cream cheese spread, remaining 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar and the remaining egg white with wire whisk until well blended.
SPOON half of the pumpkin batter into prepared pan; spoon cream cheese mixture evenly over the batter. Cover with remaining pumpkin batter.
BAKE 1 hour to 1 hour 5 min. or until wooden toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. Run knife or thin spatula around edges of pan to loosen bread; cool in pan on wire rack 10 min. Remove bread from pan to wire rack; cool completely.
Sep 14, 2007
~ Friday Smack Down ~
So it's been a crazy week. The kids have all been sick at one time or another. Which means they've been home from school, which means I haven't gotten a lot done. This isn't the best week for that as I'm pretty swamped with work. Plus, as many of you know, I've not had the best mommy week. I don't consider myself the greatest mother ever, but this week has been particularly bad. A combination of sleep deprivation from those sick kids, and other stresses in my life all hitting me at one time. There have been some apologies as I try to not scar them for life.
So I was reading Joanne's blog, my super fab cousin that I mega love....and she wrote some great stuff this week....so I'm following suit. She wrote 13 things, I'll be happy to come up with half that.
I have the greatest friends. I laugh with them, cry with them and generally act stupid when we need a little break from our lives. So my one friend D had a big let down yesterday and was in the dumps. After talking to her for a while and letting her vent it out....I just thought she needed a little more. It was already after 9 at night...but who cares. So I called up another friend K, we picked up a couple treats and headed over. The tears in her eyes when she saw us at the door....that was the best.
- Running is becoming an addiction.....I don't get out every day, sometimes not even every other day, but when I do I love it. For me it does so much. Gets me out of the house, pounds my stresses out on the pavement, causing the scale to show smaller numbers and lets me know every time that if you set a goal, you can achieve it. I have another race this weekend. I don't race to win, I race to finish. No one cares what my time is, no one cares what it took to get me at the starting line. But I know that it's taken a lot to be able to complete a 5k race...post 4 babies, post 5 pregnancies, post 1 traumatic birth, post everything. The body is not what is used to be....will never be what it used to be...but the jeans are fitting and the abs are tighter. My mom has always looked good and worked hard to look good, I guess I just want to be like that. I'll embarass my kids enough with everything else I do, I don't want them to be embarassed by how I look.
- Raising my children is the biggest challenge of my life. I am not a patient person. I get frustrated and irritated easily. I want things to be my way, I want well behaved children. That pretty well never happens. Not that I don't have great kids....I have really great kids. But day to day is a challenge for me as I try and be the mom I think they deserve.
- I wish I had more time to be crafty. I like to make things, and give them away. I'm going to set aside a time per week to make some of the gifts I have in mind. Maybe, if I have time, perhaps when I catch up on work, or on my scripture study, maybe at night when they're in bed. Hmmmm...
- I love where I live. We've been here for 3 years now. We don't have a fancy house, but it's our home. We're home-bodies. We just like to be at home. My kids walk to school and I never worry about them. They play out on our street and it's no problem. The school is close, the church is close, everything and everyone is close.
- I love to wake board. When we were out for a fun day with a bunch of friends a couple weeks ago I was riding in the boat. Not to do anything, just going for the ride and watching everyone ski. The one guy was done and they looked at me and said, " You want to try wake boarding". I was holding Jack who had fallen asleep in the boat (on the water in the sun is the best baby sleeping machine ever). No no, I don't need to...you guys keep going. They wouldn't take no for an answer. So they take Jack and say, you get in or we throw you in....it's your choice. So I strapped on the board and was rolling my eyes that it was going to take forever for me to get up, and they shouldn't waste their time. Well it seems that wake boarding is not as hard and water skiing...you pop up pretty fast. So later in the day when I jumped on the chance to go out one more time...they teased me that I was honing my skills for the Pro Waking Boarding Tour....mommy version.
- My Mr. O says funny things. Some of his words are a little mixed up, but we don't correct him because we think it's cute.For example...he says lasterday. Which can mean today or yesterday, it's interchangable."Mom did we go to the park lasterday"Lately he's been using 'seven years ago'. I don't know where this came from, but it's applicable to anything he says.
Dad: Hey buddy did you have Preschool today?
O: No dad, Preschool was seven years ago.
Dad: Oh, well do you have preschool again this week.
O: (rolling eyes) Daaaaaaad, preschool is on Thursday seven years ago.
Dad looks at me and walks away very confused.
- If I had to pick one thing about myself that I like, it would be my hands. Weird I know...but I like them.
- I love little stinky feet. From the minute they're born until they won't let me do it anymore, I kiss the bottom's of my kids feet. Sometimes it's just kisses, sometimes it's a big production of how stinky they are...even if they're not
- The other morning I was changing Jack and, of course, kissing his feet. I wasn't making any sounds just kissing them and looking at him. He's started being vocal...he's got Mamama, and Dadadaaada down...he also has something that sort of sounds like Hi. So I'm kissing away and playing with him and he says.... 'Ewwwww'. Which is usually what I do when I'm making a big deal about the stinkyness.
- Brian is a pretty good guy and I think I'll let him stick around : )
Sometimes I wonder why the guy keeps coming home everyday...as I said I'm easily irritated and stressed out. But everyday he walks in the door. Everyday he's a phenomanal Daddy, everyday he still looks at me at says I'm pretty cute.
- I love clothes. I love to buy clothes for me and for my family. I have to watch this otherwise my children end up with way more than they need, especially Miss S. I don't necassarily have the best wardrobe ever, combination of availble funds and losing weight. No use in buying a bunch of stuff that will be too big in a couple months. So I keep wearing the same old stuff as I trim down to the size that I'd like and then hope to get a couple cute things. One of my top favorite things to do....shop with Terra. Hope to go to take my annual trip to her house again next year and stock up on my wardrobe.
- Cooking is pretty fun and I enjoy it. It stresses me out when there isn't any food in our house. Which is ridiculous because there is always plenty of food in our house. So I guess is stresses me when the fresh stuff is low. I get this free Kraft Kitchen magazine every couple months. It has great receips and I pour over it and put sticky tabs on all the pages of the ones I want to try. I don't have to make pretty dishes, like those people on TV. I just like yummy ones.
- I love to travel, thanks to parents who took us places. Between now and next summer I'll be on four different trips. Some with kids, some without...one all on my own. Yippee!!
Wow...that's 13...guess I did have a couple things to say. So just because I'm a major over achiever, I'll beat Joanne at her game. = ) Love ya Jo.
- I'm messy. Hi my name is Tiffany and I'm a terrible housekeeper. I know it, and it's for sure that anyone that comes to my house unannounced knows it. So why is that? It's not that I don't like my house clean, and not that I'm not capable of keeping it clean...I just don't make it a priority every day. I get busy with my life and stuff piles up. Plus I have so much going on in my head, that if I'm not looking at it then I forget about it. So the kids homework and school papers have to be out on the counter, my calendar is constantly open with the long list of things I need to do. My office has piles of stuff...don't touch it I know where everything is that I need. So don't judge me, just love me. The house isn't dirty it's messy. It does get cleaned right down to the bones every week...but within an hour stuff starts piling up...whatever. It's not life ending, I'll pick it up tomorrow.
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