Resolutions

I've been thinking about resolutions, and actually haven't come up with any good ones. Same ol' same ol'.

1. Get in shape

2. Feed my kids healthy food

3. Get my house together

4. Read more to my children

5. Save more money

6. Be less worldly

7. Read the scriptures (notice I didn't say "more" I said "read"---um yah)

8. Eat less treats

9. Be nicer to people

10. Do my visiting teaching

11. Quit whining

12. Swear less (even in my head)

13. Work harder

14. Hug more

15. Be more patient like my mother

16. Read more books

17. Do more fun things with my kids

18. Go on more trips

19. Be more creative with my photography

20. Have more parties/barbecues

21. Floss (again I didn't say "more")

22. Get to know my neighbors

23. Get to church on time

24. Read the Relief Society lessons

25. Dress more my age

26. Count my blessings more often


Wow, I sat down just to write a few and couldn't stop. I've come to and end now. So no woman in her right mind would try to do all of those things. So I plan on narrowing it down to a few. Maybe just focus on some categories or something. I do think however that everyone should have at least one fun resolution. Like--have more parties. Then it's not such a drag to make a list. I'll let you know what I decide.

The Loot

Christmas was a fat success, we didn't go overboard, and the kids have been so happy with their loot that they haven't spoken to us in days. Wo0-hoo. Hy and I got Sonicare toothbrushes. We've been wanting those for years, but always put them lower on our lists of wants, so that is a treat. We pooled our cash from both parents and returned some stuff and just ordered the Canon SD 870 I mentioned in a previous post. Stoked about that. I got Hy a knitting loom (he loves to knit) He got me the first season of 30 Rock which we already started watching and peeing our pants with laughter. By far the best show on television. Better than the Office? you ask, heck yes. He also got me a super cute shirt from Old Navy. It was nice because we decided to not really get each other things since we just got our house. It was all about the kids and I loved it. Anyhoodles, I hope you all had a great Christmas. The girls and I are off to my parents house in Heber, should be cold and fun.

xoxo!


One of my favorite Christmas tradition, new pajamas on Christmas Eve.



Santa came through. How cute is this? It matches their play room and happens to be Mrs. Clause' favorite color combination, pink and red. Santa sent me a message at Marshalls when I saw this gem just sitting in a corner. It's all wooden and made by the Brits. Santa had a heck of a time putting it together.





The inside of the lovely Dollhouse with all wooden furniture. I love it.



How great is it that it has a toilet? The Brittish think of everything. Red said that the Elves didn't do a very good job because the toilet seat isn't attached.



We were MAC people, now we're a MAC family. The girls went absolutely ape doodoo for this. It was the first thing they saw and all they said over and over was "We got our own computer!". Yes they are 5 and 3 and they have their own computer. But after the Juice knocked over our iMAC the day before (Yes I had a heart attack, but it's ok) the gift is none too soon. And as Red says "We're vanished from the big computer". And how cute is this little IKEA table. I love that Santa gets stuff from IKEA.



Red's loot --she's 5 (I make them do this so I don't have to write on the pictures)



The Juice's loot at age 3



Guess what the Juice got in her stocking?


Squoosh loves her giant stuffed animal horse ( I do not, but it makes her happy)



Santa brought a cute dress up for Squoosh

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Merry Christmas! This is our card this year. I knew we'd never get a family shot together. So I grabbed a few shots that I had already done and I took some shots just for the card. My friend Ashley took the photo of Hyrum and I. Thanks Ash. And I gave the pictures and the words to my uber talented friend Molly and this is what she sent back to me. It's great to have talented friends. I erased the girl's names, they were on the card like mine and Hyrums. Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Blogger's Court

Welcome to bloggers court. Where you the blogger jury will determine the outcome of this case. The Plantiff has charged the Defendant with a "littering offense". It is your duty to hear both sides, make an informed decision, and post your sentence and justification for sentencing in the comments section.

To create an impartial jury, the name of plantiff and defendant will be withheld.


Evidence:

One Wooden slightly minty flavored toothpick



Transcript of occurence:

Date: December 19, 2007

Approximate time: 6:37 p.m.

While both plantiff and defendant were driving down the road in 1994 White Chevy Suburban, the defendant having just used a toothpick for post dinner hygiene, tosses said toothpick out the window. The Plantiff informs the defendant that the action is considered "littering". The Defendant states that it is not considered littering because the item is made of wood.

Let it be known that both Plantiff and Defendant do not litter and both find it an offensive act.

Both parties have agreed to let the Blogger Court Decide.

To Jury:

Jurors do not have to know either plantiff or defendant to weigh in. All lurkers and common guests are encouraged to contribute. The burden lies on you to solve this case. Is throwing a toothpick out the window considered littering?. Please use your best judgement. You are under oath.

Don't ask . . . EVER

So I searched all over You Tube to find the comedian Brian Regan's bit where he says

Don't ever ask a woman if she is pregnant. Ever, Ever, ever ,ever.

So I went to a Christmas party that an old coworker of mine "D" has every year (she's also an older coworker). I worked with her 5 almost 6 years ago. Every year she has a party and it's the same party with the same snacks and the same things. So I love to go. So I got the invite and called one of my good friends "T" who was my supervisor, and we decided to sync our arrival. Hy was working so it was me with the three kids.

So we walk in and I of course go to find her to say hello. I'm holding Squoosh, and the other two are right behind me. Directly behind them is my friend "T". So as I walk up to "D" she says

"Look at you with all of your kids" and then reaches and pats my stomach and says "and one on the way"

SSSSSCCCRRRRREEEEEEEEEECCCCCHHHHH (oh no she didn't)

So I say "No I'm not, but thanks" "I have recently joined a gym though"

And she just kind of chuckles and moves on to greet "T".

So "T", "T's" husband and I and my three kids (and one on the way) go outside (of course after I go to the snack table---I am eating for two you know) and discuss what a shocking thing that just happened and how one should. Never, ever under any circumstances suggest that someone is pregnant.

I do have to admit that I have a "beer" belly. That third kid did me in. And I think because I'm small people tend to think that it's ok, because the only weight I do have is in my stomach, so therefore I must be pregnant. But luckily I have an indesctructable self esteem and found it quite humorous. Although if I have more encounters like that, I just might vomit . . . on purpose.

Classifieds

Missing: One sweet little 5 year old who obeys, enjoys spending time with her mom and is nice to her sisters.

Coincidentally . . .

For Sale: One Sassy little 5 year old girl who talks back, says she's going to do whatever she wants, and screams and whines when told no.


sidenote: Why are lost and founds called lost and found? Shouldn't it just be called found?

What was I thinking Wednesday

This was actually a normal stage. I loved that shirt, I wish i still had it. These are my college friends. When we were 19 we hopped in a minivan and took a 3 week trip across the country. We went across the south up the east to Niagra and diagonally back to AZ. Super fun. This picture was taken when Tiffany's (the middle) aunt took us to a bar I think to see a band play. We had to have X's put on our hands to show we were under age. The girl on the left is Lisa, the one who I had previously with her hair caught in a tent. Still laughing about that one.

Santa sucks

So Santa prepared early this year for Christmas for my girls. But then on Monday, my girls told Santa that they no longer want a Barbie computer (or a used iMAC with a barbie sticker), now they both want a doll house.

Even when I suggested to them on their way up to sit on Santa's lap, that they ask for a computer. In tandem they responded "DOLL HOUSE!"

WHAT THE???

So what does Santa do? Santa has been looking all over Santa's shop to find a reasonable/not ugly doll house. Because the computer is already made by the elves there are little funds left in Santa's bank. The girls will be getting lots of other toys between the grandparents, so Santa also doesn't want to spoil.

Santa did find a one level Barbie dollhouse, which was pretty cool and only $30 elf dollars. But then they have no barbies. Almost naked barbies are cheap, clothed barbies are more expensive.

Santa thought, instead of a dollhouse, maybe a swing set, Santa has been wanting to get one. But apparently most Elf workshops only have swing sets during the spring. And Santa's cheapest and most ghetto workshop Elf-mart has a $125 swingset that Santa loves, but getting it from the NOrth Pole to here is $117.

So what does Santa do? Here are Santa's options:

#1 Screw it, give the little stinks what Santa has already prepared for them, possibly jeopardizing the oldest's belief in Santa (she's suspect already)

#2 Tell Santa that the Barbie idea is the cheapest/best bet, however it has millions of parts that might become annoying to Santa, and it's also smaller than what the oldest thinks may show up

#3 Have Santa find a swing set which would trump a doll house, and just spend the elf dollars.

#4 Have all the little elves who read this contribute ideas for doll house alternatives.


What to do?

10 a.m and I'm done

Have you ever had one of those days when you wake up and you're already done? By done I mean, done with kids, done with housework, done with interactions, done with people (poky little kids) touching you, done with getting snacks, done with your 3 year old sucking her thumb and playing with your ear(I swear it feels like needles), done with getting anything done, done with the annoying Cranberry song on your blog (but too annoyed with everything else to change it)

That's my today.

However

I still have 4 loads of laundry to fold, and more on the way, Christmas card pictures to send off to my sweet friend Molly (or should I say sucka?) who agreed to do my Christmas card, photos to take for my Christmas card (thanks Ash), Doctor appointment (including shots I think) to one of my kids, photo editing to do, and a super crusty floor to clean. Oh and did I forget the dishes? Lots and lots of nasty dishes. And I was hoping to be in the Christmas spirit and go shopping (Be real)

May the force be with me.

Or possibly . . .

someone may die.

Over Chicken Noodle Soup

Mine and the girls conversation at lunch over chicken noodle soup:

Red(to the Juice): Did you know that Heavenly Father is brighter than the sun?

Juice: No

**Red singing a familiar primary tune**

Red: You know, that song about Moses?

Me: Sing it

Red: I only know the end part

Me: Ok, then sing it and I'll help you with the rest

Red: He is brighter than the sun . . . . .Hear him.

(Me--covering my mouth and huge smile, trying not to make her feel embarassed)

Red: You know, when Moses saw Heavenly Father and he was bright like the sun.

Me: That was Joseph Smith, he asked which church was true and he saw Heavenly Father and Jesus

Me: That's the song, it says **me singing** This is my beloved son, Hear him. He said this is my son who I love, hear him, meaning listen to him

Red: Oh

Juice: Listen to Jesus Yo

What I'd buy for Christmas

I've had a few people ask me what point and shoot I would buy for Christmas. Being that I am SO knowledgeable about photo gear, I thought I'd tell you. The Canon Powershot SD 800 series is the camera I want and I'll tell you why. This photographer couple recommended it here. You can check out their website and they have taken many, very cool pictures with it. They researched the crap out of it, so you don't have to. What's great is that it has a fast shutter speed (none of that click and wait nonsense) and you can use a low aperture (more cool blur). And it has a wide angle lens (you can acutally fit all the people in the picture and not have to stand far back). So there are two that you can duke it out between. I see only one main difference between them:




This picture is of the SD 850, but they both look the same, so I just used this one.

Difference

SD850
35-140mm focal length
Price at Circuit City 299.99

SD870 (New Model)
28-105mm focal length
Price at Circuit City 322.99

So what that means is that the SD850 will has a farther zoom (if people are far away)
SD 870 has a wider angle (if people are closer to you, you can fit more in)

So it's up to you. Read what the photographers above said about it. They know more than I do.

I personally would probably pick the SD870, because I take more pictures close up than I do far away. But if my girls were in Soccer I might want the other one.

Hope this was helpful!

What was I thinking Wednesday

Somehow, every picture I pick has Darcy in overalls. I think we're in Utah. The one in the middle is our other roomate, Staci.

First tooth

Red lost her first tooth last Tuesday. Her tooth was wiggling and so I got my camera out just to take a picture. And as she was wiggling it --it came out. I barely missed her surprise face, and got a kind of droopy eyed shocked look. Not good. Anyhow, here it is documented. She's stoked about it. Now the one next to it is loose. The tooth fairy came and brought her 4 quarters. We also know the tooth fairy came because she left pink fairy dust on her pillow. And she left dust on The Juice's pillow, just to keep things happy. What a clever tooth fairy.

BEFORE



DURING



AFTER



SHE'S FIVE




SHE LOVES TO LOOK AT HER TOOTH

Ashley and I

I told you in the previous post that I would show you video chat. Well this is what Ashley and I do, we stay up late editing photos, meanwhile talking to one another through our screens.

Ashley not REALLY blue. That's just the reflection of her screen.





We can simultaneously Text chat. We do that as well. Mostly because we can drop in images we find--to show one another. You can see them here:




Anyhow, it's super fun. And it's nice to have company, even if they bail at midnight.

Just kidding Ash. I'm off to bed now 1:21 am is a bad idea. I really need a curfew.

Late nights

Sometimes people wonder what I do on my computer that keeps me up late. I've talked about iChat before, here is an example of our text chats.

I'm chatting with Molly It's fun because we have little bubbles coming out of our mouths like we're cartoons. I'm the pink bubble




This is how I knew she was on. Her name was highlighted. You'll see underneath her there are two of my friends who weren't on their computer, or at least logged on to iChat. Ashley is usually on, but her and I usually video chat. I'll take a picture of that next time it happens.





Then I stay up so late, I need a snack. Calli and Michael brought us by some cookies. Procrastinating Home Teachers rock. Mostly procrastinating home teachers that have wives who bake---rock. Thanks guys!

Tagged

I don't think I've ever responded to a tag before, but since I had nothing to blog about, I had been wanting to list some random things. So here goes:

1. I have to eat in equal portions. Say, for example, I have turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce. I have to eat a bit of each with every bite. I can't have two bites of turkey, or stuffing, and then move on. No, it must be one of each. Then if I get to the end of the meal and I have only one bite of everything and 3 bites of mashed potatoes, I get up and get enough of each of the other foods to make it even.

2. I feel embarrassed for people who get plastic bags melted to their muffler or car undercarriage. I remember the first time it happened to me. I came home horrified and informed Hy that today I became "one of those people". Seriously, I feel the most bad for people who are driving cars like BMW's or Jaguars. It's like all of a sudden I'm embarrassed for them. It's like having toilet paper stuck to your shoe.

3. One time my daughter, the Juice, told me that she couldn't fly. I told her it was because she wasn't trying hard enough. Then I sat and laughed while she flapped away and made grunting noises trying to get airborne. This went on for a while.

4. I'd rather poke forks in my eyes than go bra shopping

5. I don't see size. Sometimes people will say--she's a big girl. And I say "really?" I didn't notice. I think it's because I'm so small. So growing up, everyone was bigger than me. By bigger I mean taller or heavier. So unless a person is obviously obese, I really don't notice. I just think--that's their size. Everyone is just built different.

6. Country music depresses me. Or makes me sick to my stomach.

What was I thinking Wednesday

I was a blonde for a while. Not a good choice being that I have super dark eyebrows. But it was fun.

Oh and that is Darcy next to me in the overalls. Be sure to make fun of her next time you see her.

Congrats to the Squoosh

I am a proud mama. The squoosh finally figured out how to crawl out of her crib. When Red was 9 or 10 months, she showed up downstairs when she should have been taking a nap. So we took her upstairs and put her in her crib and watched from behind a wall. Sure enough she monkeyed over the edge, dropped down and crawled down the stairs. She couldn't even walk yet.

The Juice climbed out at about a year or so.

The squoosh just couldn't do it. We thought it was because she has more junk her trunk than the others. The others have no junk. For the last few months she would balance on the corner with her arms on the long side of the crib, and her ankles on the edge of the short side. She would just hover there, but didn't quite make the next step. Then tonight she was supposed to be in her crib and she kept showing up in the office where I was working. I though Hy got her out. Nope. SHE DID IT!! She finally did it.

So proud.

but then again . .

Crap---naps are a new battle.

What was I thinking Wednesday

Okay, this is my freshman year in college so it's either Fall '93, Spring '94. I bought this hat at a yard sale or thrift store. It's actually kind of a cool hat. But then again, not really. I was almost too embarassed to post this. But what fun would Wednesdays be if I didn't humiliate myself. Enjoy.

Photobooth Tuesday

Today I have a guest photoboother.

Who is it?

kids are funny

Kids have been super fun lately.


We had a barbecue here the other night and Squoosh's pants kept falling down. So everyone would pull them up for her and send her on her way. But we'd turn around and they would be around her ankles. Until someone caught her--pulling them down.

Apparently this is the way she prefers it.






We had "girl's night" when Hy was at work the other night. It was Red's idea. They loved the masks. Don't let Squoosh fool you--she was enjoying it. She would just look at Red and laugh.



Funnies around the house this week:

The Juice: "I know how to speak English"

Red: "Prove it"


The other day I was listening to a c.d. that my friend made me. Red jumped up on the counter and started putting in c.d.s and then taking them out. Finally I said--what are you looking for?

Her reply in a "isn't it obvious" kind of tone: Rock n' Roll

mid night snack

If you haven't had Trader Joe's Greek Style yogurt, you're missing out. Super yummy.

Yes it's 1:35 am, and now I'm going to bed.

Check it out

I linked to Jon's blog from Kristy's blog and found this. I too love Daft Punk, I was glued, now I want to recreate it.


Anyone want to put on a sport bra and come over? I have markers.

What was I thinking Wednesday

Circa 1989

A couple of my pictures duked it out for todays post, but this one won. It beat out my eighth grade graduation picture. Oh, don't worry, you'll see it someday.

Wow--eighth grade. Ok--perm, dark makeup, layered buttoned up shirts? cold sore (I have one in almost every picture of my childhood) PERM, MMMMM bangs, and you can't see but my sides are flared out. You know, when you take a brush and hold your sides out and hair spray and then blow it dry. I really hope that comes back in, because it was great.

Oh and this is a picture of my best friend with her hair caught in the zipper at Girls Camp. I think she did it two years in a row--I'm still laughing about it.
That's what she gets for never reading my blog. Her name was Lisa Rogers--now it's Lisa Mattison. I have many more funny pictures of her. HMMM maybe it can be Lisa funny photo Fridays.

Creepy Photobooth Tuesday

Ok--How frickin' creepy is this???? That middle thing is the juice. The girls got in and had some fun. I love it, it is like a surprise for me. Check me out--I even waited until it was officially Tuesday to Post.

Um---Ash--missed you tonight. I'll be back tomorrow, and would love some company.

Bunco frickin rocks

Everybody has their opinions about bunco groups. But let me tell you--mine frickin rocks. We stopped playing bunco about a year ago, because it just got a little stale after having been together for like 3 or 4 years or something. Someone correct me--my memory stinks. So anyhow, now we just get together and do whatever the hosts wants to do, but we all still go home with gifts.

So of course, Super fun and cool Cicily, got us going on a Photo Scavenger Hunt. Holy cow, haven't done one since mutual. Her list was great, I was going to have her e-mail it to me, but I haven't yet so I'll just post the ones I know. We split up into 3 groups and had 1 hour to get back with our list. It was hi-lar-i-ous. Try to explain to random strangers why a group of thirty-something (and some younger) moms are trying to squish into a Target shopping cart. Here is our groups interpretation of the list. The only other blogger in this group is Ashley.


#7 Recreate a piece of Modern Art.
(It's actually the Target symbol because we were originally going to use it for another list item)



#9 I don't believe we all fit in that!




#12 Group with a person in uniform



#4 A team member making a phone call in a phone booth.



#15 Entire team sharing a soda.



#19 A catalog pose



#13 Perspective. Must involve team members


#17 Spell something with your bodies

Scrubs

As I was driving today I saw a girl in scrubs walking down the street. Which caused me to think. When I see people in scrubs I usually imagine them doing something important. Perhaps open hearts surgery, or changing I.V.'s or stitching a wound.

Then I noticed she was walking to a dentist's office. She's probably a dental assistant. No offense to any dental assistants (my sister is one) but really---scrubs? You suck spit out of my mouth and hand the dentist tools.

So I've decided there needs to be a hierarchy of colors established so that I can determine whether or not the lady in front of me in line at Fry's is a surgeon or a receptionist at at a pet hospital.

For example, at Hy's hosptial all of the doctors wear blue. Then everyone else wears tan. So then you know blue=life saver. Tan=helper. Although I think the nurses should get their own color, a slightly less nobler color than doctors---but a harder working type color. Doctor's get all the glory when we all know that nurses do most of the work. Then people who have Hy's job should get another color. he's a patient care tech. Those are the people in the hospital that always come in your room or are always around and are not nurses or doctors. Then the colors just keep filtering down

Dental people should have a whole color scheme or pattern assigned. Like the green. Dentist could wear dark green, hygenists could wear avocado green, dental assistants could wear light green and the office people could wear lime.

If i saw that girl walking down the street under my plan. My mind would go GREEN=DENTAL OFFICE.

Then pediatric places should have to wear care bear print tops, or something like that

Pet Health care people should have to wear those super tacky ones that have cats. Pet people like cats


Who's with me on this one?

What was I thinking Wednesday

Circa 1994


Auh---come on. Nobody wants to admit it, but we all did it. Legit. Birks and socks.

I'm not sure which is more embarassing. My birks, or my best friend being covered head to toe in denim

Kelly Clarkson singing GNR-----that rocks

Photobooth Tuesday

Does anyone know who this is??????




I took this last week. I brushed my teeth at 8:30 so I wouldn't eat anything afterwards. Trying to curb my sweets intake. Around 10pm or so I got hungry, but vowed not to get a snack. Then i stayed up until 2:30 a.m. checking out photography websites. I finally fell. This is what my 2a.m. snack was.

OH and YES . ... that is Kelly Clarkson singing GNR. What the crap?

Anyone going to IKEA?

Is anyone going to IKEA either Tuesday or Wednesday??? I need a favor. I am doing a research study and I need to take pictures of IKEA--the things I like about it. I will make it out there if I have to, but I thought one of you guys may be going. If so, will you take some digital pics for me? Let me know.

Halloweeeeeen

Check these out. Red wanted to be pippi again. Nothing sound better to a mom at Halloween than--Mom can I be what I was last year? DONE. Then the juice wanted to be Belle. However, her Belle dress up was in shreds, so my mother bought her a new one at Target. Then she borrowed a wig from her older cousin. The wig was hi-lar-i-ous. Then I put mascara on her ridiculously long eyelashes. She looked like a creepy pageant kid. Then check out Red at the end. That is one tuckered kid.