Saturday, May 26, 2007

The 17 YEAR INVASION!!!!!!

The 17 YEAR INVASION!!!!!!

Every 17 years – the Cicadas come out in massive numbers after living in the ground for 16 years – this year happens to be the BIG 17!!!!! We have cicadas everywhere – to the delight of both Tyler AND Brooke. The climb out of the ground and onto trees so they can shed their old skin. After that their wings emerge and they drop to the ground and wait for their wings to dry so they can then fly around, make lots of noise, and hope to attract a mate. A Good Strategy in my experience. So – here they are now in the "Tree" Stage

(In all the pictures when you see bits of brown below, around and on the tree – those are the cicadas - you will see thousands of them. Just click on Picture to enlarge and see the 17 year Invasion in all its glory!)

If I were to place my foot in the grass right by the tree, I would literally step on about 50. When we are standing by this tree we get pegged with quite a few cicadas every minute falling with their new wet wings out of the tree when the wind blows slightly. ..and many times without and wind at all.. The trees are literally left with thousands of exoskeletons shed all over the tree. Its gross and fun!!!

Brooke has named them all “Charlie.” Each day, she and Tyler will fill up jars and bottles and large toy trucks FULL of these Cicadas.

I am told if you microwave them for 2 minutes in the microwave, they taste like almonds. I mentioned that to the head of the Recipe club in our ward as a theme suggestion for June. (Please note the facetious tone in my writing)

Earlier today I came outside to prune the flowers while Brian was mowing the lawn and I had just popped some corn chips in my mouth. Brian went to kiss me on the lips – and after a brief kiss – he immediately backed away and said, “That’s GROSS!” I was baffled, “What?” I said, “I thought you were eating a Cicada!” “What?!?!” I said. “Yeah, I went to kiss you after you have been doing something around the ground, and I just hear this crunching and see your mouth full, and I thought your curiousity got the better of you – and that you had a mouth full of cicadas” I assured him for the next full minute that I was NOT eating Cicadas.

The last time I enjoyed this I was 12 - next time I will be 46 - now THAT is scary!!!


Monday, May 21, 2007

100 things


I got this idea from Terica's website - I thought it was a cute idea. I defintiely learned a lot by doing this on myself!

1. I lived in Nauvoo, IL for 5 years – I used to go to the restored houses as a kid every day in the summertime – mostly then for the air conditioning and free gingerbread cookies.

2. I have lived in 6 different places in the past 6 years – 8 in 7 years if I include the last part of my mission.

3. I served a mission in Antofagasta, Chile. The driest place on earth – Calama, Chile was in my mission. In the morning it is 0 F, and by noon it is 110 F – and then by evening – back down to 0 F. There has never been recorded rainfall there. No missionary liked going to that city much.

4. I love 60 – 72% dark chocolate with a passion – much darker and its overwhelming, less dark and its to watered down.

5. I get super silly giggle attacks – still.

6. I love organization.

7. I love a good closet with lots of hooks, boxes, shelves, and compartments – AHHH!

8. I LOVE health food and anything and everything that is healthy.

9. The only temple I didn’t want to get married in was the Chicago Temple – but when I did I was ok with it.

10. I can play my nose like an instrument.

11. I went to Oprah 4 times in 3 months – it began to feel like a part time job – and it became exahausting. But it was AWESOME!! I got to shake Magic Johnson AND Oprah’s hand.

12. I went to BYU Young Ambassador’s camp as a junior in high school– it was hard for me to “belt” then and it is hard for me to “belt” now. I prefer classical or classical broadway style of singing for my voice.

13. I was in the City of Joseph Pageant for 4 or 5 years –two of them being on the dance team. I broke my foot dancing one year because I lost a contact and had no depth perception.

14. Brian and I were in the “Joseph Smith Movie” that is in all the visitor’s centers right now. I got to play “Lucy Mack Smith’s” body double in Alvin’s funeral the first day on set. After that I was two different background people. There is a not very cute Close-Up of me during a singing scene.

15. I went on 50 dates my first semester at BYU…partly because of a challenge from my dad.

16. I took voice lessons after graduating BYU from an awesome vocal coach who played “Carlotta” in Phantom of the Oprah on Broadway for many years.

17. I always knew I would marry Brian once I met him.

18. I was engaged to someone else while Brian was on a mission. I had lots of “warning dreams” telling me not to marry that “other” guy – boy did THEY do the trick!!

19. I was a runner up for being a performing missionary in Nauvoo – I initially thought that would “count” as a mission that I felt I was supposed to serve. Nope.

20. I had “warning dreams” of what would happen if I drank or smoked or wasn’t good in other ways – they scared the living daylights out of me and those things were not ever a temptation for me when I was a teenager (or ever)

21. I love gourmet food.

22. I love to listen to Rush Limbaugh and Shaun Hannity – they are awesome!

23. I am totally mesmerized and fascinated by Mitt Romney – I totally want him to blow everyone away with the Presidential Debates coming up.

24. I was in the National and International Piano Guild Competitions for 10 years. The tenth year I was doing the international level where you had to memorize 15 songs and play them, and all scales and arpeggios in front of a judge. I was a junior in high school and I totally blanked because of the stress I was under. I never could remember the rest of the songs and I spent 20 minutes crying. My piano teacher wanted me to go back and continue playing for the judge because if I completed it I would be in some piano magazine. I kind of regret not going back in, but not that much.

25. I got to go to an American Medical Association Conference on Nutrition Last year in New Mexico – I learned SOOO much and LOVED it and wonder if I shouldn’t have been a nutritionist.

26. I seriously considered being a dental hygienist for awhile.

27. I have dental assisted almost every year, excluding my mission, since I was 12. That is 15 years.

28. I was told when I was 12 I would have to pay for my own clothes, with the exception of socks and underwear. It held mostly true.

29. I am mildly obsessed with “Lost.”

30. I really loved YW girls camp when I was younger – those are some of the fondest memories I have.

40. My senior year I want crazy with extracurricular activities since I was at a new school. I did Viking Television News Anchor, Choir, Special Senior Recital, Art Club, Student Government, and National Honor Society.

41. Sometimes I eat peanut butter out of the jar with a spoon.

42. My favorite cheese is called “Boursin.”

43. I figured that Brian and I roughly fight about 1 time per year…although I can only remember 2 fights specifically.

44. I can’t imagine Brian and I yelling at each other.

45. When I was 7 or 8, I would pray every day for curly hair. I watched too much of Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea. When I got curly hair when I was 12 I was really happy. Since I have been 24 I have straightened it almost every day.

46. My first non Disney movie in a movie theatre was “The Awakenings” when I was 14.

47. I have measured the diastisis of over 150 women so far upon teaching the Mommy Tummy class. I have learned that many women have a very thin rectus abdominus, and the majority have a 2 to 4 fingerwidth diastisis in at least one of the three possible places.

48. I am extremely entrepreneurial minded. I do about 6 business type things right now partly to bring in extra money, but mostly because its fun and I love the challenge. It’s a GREAT outlet for me. Right now I do Nutritional and Weight loss counseling with Herbalife, Surveys, the Mommy Tummy Class, Mini Day Care, sometimes Voice Lessons, Ebay, Amazon, and I in my spare moments I sometimes think about what I could invent – just for fun.

49. I graduated in Vocal Music from BYU.

50. I love to go on walks everyday.

51. I usually need to be doing something if I watch TV – my favorites are folding clothes, exercises, and eating.

52. I love painting and drawing.

53. I love mountain climbing and hiking. I really really wished I lived near mountains – there is nothing quite like being up in the mountains.

54. I had a really lucky year last year – I won a trip to Cancun, Brian won $890 on the radio – both, we won tickets to a movie screening, and to a Christmas Hor-Dervre things with Radio People. Brian says since he won something last, and now its my turn to win something. He would prefer a trip. I am working on it.

55. I really really love shoes – especially tall shoes.

56. I am thankful each day that I married Brian.

57. Brian and I think 4 – 5 kids would be just about right.

58. I love “The Cheesecake Factory” “Grand Lux” and ESPECIALLY “The Melting Pot” Restaurants if I REALLY REALLY have a good excuse to treat myself to an exquisite meal and date night.

59. I am growing “Chocolate Mint” in my garden – it’s the best ever.

60. I love chocolate –which is partially why I put cocoa bean mulch all over my garden. It makes everything smell like chocolate, apart from being great for the plants. It also helps that my brother-in-law works for Blommers Chocolate and they produce that kind of mulch.

61. It would be really hard for me to live without my sister nearby.

62. It would be really hard for me not to live by one of the kids grandparents –they LOVE it and WE love it!

63. I have two reoccurring dreams – 1) that I am in a tornado 2) that I am back on my mission. (Brian’s BYU Climatology teacher said his two reoccurring dreams were EXACTLY the same as mine. I thought it was kind of freaky, but I was also glad to know I’m not alone).

64. My favorite ice cream is REAL guava ice cream.

65. I gained a lot of weight on my mission. I never knew how much because it was in kilos. I never really wanted to compute it.

66. Being in Chile ruined me on eating bread and rice and pasta – I had them all everyday, and they made me gain a ton of weight – and I was always given huge portions and expected to eat all of it so as not to offend. I have revulsions to them – which I am fine with.

67. I LOVE decorating the house. I would love to be a “Nate Berkus” type of person – but I bet it would be exhausting.

68. I hate going to bed with the house a mess…or coming back from a trip with the house a mess..

69. If red peppers are on sale, I buy between 20 and 25 and then figure out what I am going to do with them.

70. I love to eat Quinoa – the most amazing and healthy and easy to make grain there is.

71. I am fascinated by crazy things – human oddities (like Ripley believe it or not), Hollow Earth Theory (as mentioned by a couple BYU profs), Politics (they can get a little crazy) and Omega 3 fatty acids (they are SO important),etc, Large Spiders, Tornadoes and Hurricanes, Highly Classified Mysteries, the 7 Wonders of the World, Macchu Piccu, Mayan Ruins, Greenland, Volcanoes, Magnetic Anomolies on the Earth, Astronomy, Ancient Egypt stuff, etc.

72. I am amused by my kids at least 30 times a day.

73. I love watching Brooke during Sharing Time – she cracks me up.

74. I love being a mom.

75. I can only play one video game well – Guitar Hero.

76. I can’t drink milk plain – it gives me bad chills.

77. I have a skin disease called gutate psoriasis – which affects 2% of the 2% that have psoriasis–little bumps everywear. My junior year of college it was so bad it covered every inch of my body except for my face, oddly enough. The thing that cures it – UVA rays. Since my mission to the driest desert on earth I have been virtually cured of psoriasis. If they pop up – I am supposed to go tanning to “zap” them. I haven't needed to go in 5 years.

78. I can’t watch people brushing their teeth – it gives me the shivers.

79. I have been to the highest lake in the world – Lago Chungara.

80. I hiked Timp - it was awesome.

81. When I was 4 I fell off monkey bars and got gravel in my forehead – and many stitches. It took 20 years for my scar to fade.

82. My sister is the only person who has ever punched me.

83. I was famous my sophomore year for slapping a football player bully jerk who went off on me for something or other.

84. I LOVE BYU Football games.

85. I often times miss Utah – I really loved it there.

86. I worked as an early morning custodian for BYU - I learned that waking up at 4 am is not my favorite thing to do. My classmates wondered how I ever learned anything as they saw me sleeping in every single class, including Women’s Chorus sometimes.

87. I felt the gift of tongues while on my mission and at the MTC as promised.

88. My ancestors on Both sides were pioneers – Brigham Young is my great great great great Uncle. Trumann Angell is also my great great great great uncle. My great grandfather’s stories – Orlando Barrus – are in my church books – his story on how he INSTANTLY got the gift of tongues is amazing – as are other miracles that happened to him.

89. In the end I really love girly chic-flick movies.

90. I don’t know what I would do without a Chi Straightener – even though it has damaged my hair a little.

91. I love growing a garden – but I don’t know why I plant so many tomatoes

92. I sang for President Hinckly several times while at BYU- including General Conference, Dedication of the HBL Library at BYU, and a couple BYU Devotionals while in BYU Women's Chorus. During the Dedication – he was sitting 4 feet away from me – I was intimidated but sang my heart out.

93. I had the same companion 2 different times during my mission.

94. When I worked at the BYU Creamery I unknowlingly served Russel M. Nelson and Ice cream Sundae and asked him in front of a line of many people “How I knew him” and told him that “he seemed very familiar.” He looked embarrassed and said awkwardly and softly, “I’m Brother Nelson.” I always thought that was such a humble response.

95. I was almost named “Leah.”

96. Brian and I decided against doing all B names for our kids, but oddly, the B names are usually the ones I like the best.

97. I would never be able NOT to find out the gender of a baby – I have to mentally be prepared so I can get the nursery made and decorated.

98. I LOVE thunderstorms during the day, but not at night.

99. It was always important to me to marry a tall man so our kids would have a chance at height.

100. I love not having neighbors wall to wall with us – I love having our own home, painting and decorating how we want, planting what we want, and all that stuff.

101. Brian and I got engaged 4 days after I got home from my mission – TOTALLY unplanned and NEVER mentioned EVER in letters. I felt like no time had ever passed by when we saw each other.

102. Brian and I picked 50 lbs of blueberries last year – which lasted us roughly 8 months.

103. I was in a local commercial for Formal Wear and Prom Dresses and also modeled dresses from the same company in a couple of shows when I was 15.

104. I formed a singing ensemble with two of my really good friends growing up – Rachel Moore and Nancy Schofield – we gave a personal concert to Kenneth Cope when we were 16.

Monday, May 14, 2007

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!



My husband is SO GREAT!!!!!
I had to laugh - we woke up at 8:30 (with 9:30 am church - building 15 minutes away) - Brian says to me with a yawn, "I was going to make you breakfast in bed, but I woke up too late."


And with good reason - Saturday night/ Sunday Morning he came home at 12:30 midnight from working at Texas Roadhouse. In his hand he had some cute flowers - and some (YUM) Dark Chocolate Lindt Truffles!!!! He knows me SO well!!!!


Then later on, while we spend the day at his parents house (along with Chris and Kami, Tami and Kevin, and Mark - since he just got home from Utah State).

I told myself I did not need anything else for mother's day - it had been a GREAT day. We got homemade chocolate covered pretzels at church (all the moms, that is), and a cute note from Brooke - actually it was a picture of a violin - by Brooke. It was made in Primary, and put into a cute foam fortune cookie.

We had a GREAT meal After Church - steak, salads, watermelon, FABULOUS chocolate cheescake cupcakes - it was awesome.


Then Brian suprised me with a VERY sweet note (my favorite) and the DVD Dreamgirls!!!!! I had been wanting that forever!!!

Well - I have to hand it too him. This is my 5th OFFICIAL mother's Day - and Brian has come through and been soo thoughtful for ALL OF THEM. I couldn't have asked for a better day - OR a better husband!

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

the narrowest back yard EVER!!!!



So here is our backyard – probably one of the NARROWEST and smallest ever!!! …. at least in Homewood. We do actually have a garden growing in the “uninhabited” looking area by the fence that loops around. I have liked doing the garden around a perimeter (already there – thank you previous owners) rather than a big huge gargantum rectangle in the middle of the yard. Also – it keeps the kids off. And there is no "middle" of the garden that is a weeding nightmare - weeding without getting muddy is MY kind of weeding!

(This last one is looking the other way - from the swingset)


Brooke’s item to take care of is her pet flower – she has to water it to get it to dance. The downside – it SERIOUSLY does NOT have an on/off button – and it only shuts off after 20 minutes of darkeness. Which means we hear weird noises coming out of that thing EVERY second. Sometimes Brian hides it - I have found it behind the piano, on windowsills, behind curtains. He is obviously not around it enough to become immune – if that can ever truly happen....

Here is Tyler “folding his arms.” To me it is the funniest thing ever. I have been vowing to take a picture of it before he learns to do it “right.” I think it is so adorable!!! I giggle just looking at it! Also - he is seriously a CAR FANATIC!!!

Friday, May 04, 2007

Republican Presidential Debate


So the Republican Presidential Debate was pretty much how I would have predicted last night.


Mitt Romney, of COURSE, was awesome. The way he was positioned he was the first to answer all the group questions with no time to process or take into account the other answers – but he was, to his credit, VERY quick on his feet, and had a very smooth, eloquent, articulate presence. I knew he would – I have been very impressed with the various radio interviews I have heard with Shaun Hannity and others. Some people perceive his smoothness as a "used car salesman" quality - but I think those people are just trying to find something NOT good about him - and its hard because he is so likeable and polished.

Rudy Guilianni was repetivitely talking about 9-11 - most of his answers would relate back to that, with a couple exceptions. Yes that was his moment to shine, but politically that makes him look like a one trick pony. And yes, I do think it’s a little weird he married his FIRST cousin in his 1st marriage. I saw in the live vote his numbers went in the red for approval for the first time that I have seen.

John McCain – he reminds me a cute awkward Teddy Bear. He had an awkward precense with some of his answers and they didn’t flow compared to most of the others. He was more passionate than he has been in the past…but not articulate. I almost feel a little sorry for him for not having performed better.

OTHERS in a nutshell: Many people were impressed with Ron Paul on the boards – I thought he did a great job. He didn’t have a formidable presence, but he was well spoken and seemed like a good guy. Sam Brownback had very concise clear answers – and came right to the point. The others just blended back their lackluster performances.

Most people thought that Mitt had swept. Here is a quote from MSNBC (a liberal network) that sums it up:

"And Romney did seem to come up with the smoothest, most seamless extemporaneous answers of the 10 rivals for the nomination.

Confronted with an out-of-left-field question about what he disliked most about America, Romney answered, “Gosh, I love America. I’m afraid I’m going to be at a loss for words….” But of course he wasn’t, and he went on to give a paean to America’s natural and spiritual beauties.

Romney’s reply was worthy of Reagan himself as he and the other contenders tried to summon up the spirit of the former president.

“He looked like a president of the United States,” said Weber. “He was comfortable and familiar and in command of every issue and every question put in front of him…. He looked good, he sounded good.”

Weber said Romney had met the test of introducing himself to those viewers who didn’t know him and coming across as the person a typical American would want to have in his living room for the next four years."

Republican Presidential Debate


So the Republican Presidential Debate was pretty much how I would have predicted last night.


Mitt Romney, of COURSE, was awesome. The was he was positioned he was the first to answer all the group questions with no time to process or take into account the other answers – but he was, to he credit, VERY quick on his feet, and a very smooth, eloquent, articulate presence. I knew he would be – I have been very impressed with the various radio interviews I have heard with Shaun Hannity and others.

Rudy Guilianni was repetivitely talking about 9-11 - most of his answers would relate back to that, with a couple exceptions. Yes that was his moment to shine, but politically that makes him look like a one trick pony. And yes, I do think it’s a little weird he married his FIRST cousin in his 1st marriage. I saw in the live vote his numbers went in the red for approval for the first time that I have seen.

John McCain – he reminds me a cute awkward Teddy Bear. He had an awkward precense with some of his answers and they didn’t flow compared to most of the others. He was more passionate than he has been in the past…but not articulate. I almost feel a little sorry for him for not having performed better.

OTHERS in a nutshell: Many people were impressed with Ron Paul on the boards – I thought he did a great job. He didn’t have a formidable presence, but he was well spoken and seemed like a good guy. Sam Brownback had very concise clear answers – and came right to the point. The others just blended back their lackluster performances.

Most people thought that Mitt had swept. Here is a quote from MSNBC (a liberal network) that sums it up:

"And Romney did seem to come up with the smoothest, most seamless extemporaneous answers of the 10 rivals for the nomination.

Confronted with an out-of-left-field question about what he disliked most about America, Romney answered, “Gosh, I love America. I’m afraid I’m going to be at a loss for words….” But of course he wasn’t, and he went on to give a paean to America’s natural and spiritual beauties.

Romney’s reply was worthy of Reagan himself as he and the other contenders tried to summon up the spirit of the former president.

“He looked like a president of the United States,” said Weber. “He was comfortable and familiar and in command of every issue and every question put in front of him…. He looked good, he sounded good.”

Weber said Romney had met the test of introducing himself to those viewers who didn’t know him and coming across as the person a typical American would want to have in his living room for the next four years."

Monday, April 30, 2007

My take on Part I of the “PBS Special on Mormons.”



My take on Part I of the “PBS Special on Mormons.”

First of all, here is my post to PBS:

I did have hopes for this documentary...I was hoping the director would get us "right." I felt especially after the Polygamist section, that a person looking in would be really confused. You made it seem as if we socialize, know "Mormon Fundamentalists" as you mistakenly call them, are normal and common. I adamently dissagree with the way the edits made it seem as if this were something you would meet with on occasion. Mormons do not associate with people proclaiming Polygamy. We feel sorry for them, and feel that they are misguided. The people that practice Polygamy would not dare associate with normal everyday Mormons. They are not Mormons or Mormon Fundamentalists, they are simply called "Polygamists." You missed the mark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is also helpful when doing a documentary if you get a little more balance than dominating commentary by "dissadent or estranged or excommunicated" members of the church could give. OBVIOUSLY their slant will be met with synacism and condescention. I REALLY HAD TO LAUGH at the remark made by one of these "dissadent ex-members" of the church gave, remarking that Utah was a "blood red land" "fiery and hot" and other nonsense, when talking (a little to long windedly) about the MMM. That was a little over the top, don't you think. I hope tommorow will be a little more balanced and CORRECT!!!!!!!

*That being said – I also noticed they did not talk about our belief in the HOLY BIBLE, (Hello!)

*They did not mention the other “witnesses of the book of Mormon”

*They did not mention the Aaronic and Melchizadec priesthood and how its “restoration” is a key element (a fraction of a sentenced mention it was “created”)

*They spent and inordinate amount of time on the Mountain Meadow Massacre and Polygamy

*They played some very creepy music giving things and eerie mood

*They made it sound like baptism of the dead uses “dead bodies” – I shouted at the TV *“PLEASE CLARIFY THAT ONE!” GOOD GRIEF!

*My dad is an EXPERT on the Zions Camp – and there is not one mention of the *Mormons burning down Missourians homes

*Can we please erase the term ‘Mormon Fundamentalist” from the Media’s vocabulary!

Hoping tomorrow can at least PARTLY redeem itself!!!

Thursday, April 26, 2007

STUNNED AT A GARAGE SALE


So its the time of year when I map out my Friday and Saturday plan every Thursday night.
I mapquest the addresses I don't know and make a route of where I am going first, second, and so on.

The goal? To find stuff to sell on Amazon and Ebay, and a few things here and there for the kids and the yard.

So last week was really my first official garage sale week. Since we had book club on Saturday (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close was the book - very interesting) I only had time to make it to one this week.

I had the host of book club, Tracy, help me find the location. I had the kids with me since Brian was working - and they were NOT in a good mood. BUTI decided it will be worth the effort and I was off - VERY out of the way from my house, I might add.

So I get there and I could IMMEDIATELY see that I could only hope for a couple of things for the kids, at best - mostly clothes - a couple of very used toys. There was a table with some cute, good quality clothes - they were about $2-garage-sale-clothes-apiece clothes. (THAT IS THE HIGH END AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED - I CAN GET $2 CLOTHES AT KOHLS ON CLEARaNCE ALL THE TIME).

So I made the round at the different tables. There was NO ONE to consult on anything so I waited around a couple minutes even though the kids were not too happy. I started thinking - OK...is ANYONE going to notice there is a potential buyer at their garage sale. If I was so inclined, I could have easily ....but I am NOT so inclined. So anyway - finally a boy appeared at the door - maybe 11. He was obviously the one manning the garage sale, hence the not-so-prompt entrance. I asked vaguely - pointing to the table of the nicer clothes - "How much are these?"

He said, "TEN DOLLARS." I thought he was joking...or misunderstood. "I mean for just ONE piece of clothing" I said. (They were kids clothes)
"Yeah," he said, "TEN DOLLARS."

I WAS STUNNED. Literally STUNNED!!!! I choked out, "I've never heard of THAT before."
"TEN DOLLARS PER CLOTHING ITEM !?!?!??!, " I thought to myself in stunned amazement, "No wonder, nothing looked touched at that garage sale, even though it is 7 pm on the last day!"

There are certain rules of pricing etiquette at garage sales, and this one was GROSSLY overpriced. Still shaking from the SHOCK I drove home in silence. I have only one work to say.....WOW!

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

STRAWBERRIES

So - this is my current FAVORITE DESSERT - YUM!! Cut up strawberries and whip cream and sprinkled very lightly - brown sugar. Talk about divine - and it doesn't take much of the other stuff to make those strawberries heavenly. YUM!!!










On another note - I am getting really excited for these last episodes of LOST. If you can bear it - check out the 'Lost spoilers" link on the blog. PRETTY COOL!!!! Also - this is pretty common knowedge - so I hope I am not ruining it for anyone - but I am most looking forward to the BEN flashback episode - they also cast a young Ben, a "Roger Linus" and a blonde "Mrs. Linus" - and a little girl - last name Linus. Should be GREAT!!!

Friday, April 20, 2007

OUCH! I HATE applesauce!





So - I hate applesauce FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonite as I was in the middle of making dinner, I went to put some food away and a jar of applesauce from a high up shelf landed right smack on me middle finger that was resting on the counter. Then, the applesauce jar broke as my finger broke out in a weird combination of pain and that weird numb tingly feeling tyou get whenyou bump your funny bone very hard. When I looked at the finger I noticed it looked very strange. I looked at it a minute later and it was looking deformed. "Man!" I thought, "There goes volleyball tonite!"

(we play everyFriday with friends)

So - we took a fun trip to the emergency room. Everyone that looked at it said ""EW!" including the docs. After x-rays - the verdict is that I might make people made with my splint being on an unfortunate finger, but its a bad bone bruise and sprain - but no break. But the Dr. reminded me that bone bruises can take awhile to heal.

Chris and Kami were nice enough to take Brooke and Tyler while Brian went with me. Thanks guys!

So, I guess THAT was our "date night"............... Fun!..........

My regrets:
*no volleyball for several weeks
*no guitar hero
*typing one handed (Luckily my right hand is great)
*no more applesauce without rage
*no playing the piano for a few weeks
*no putting the patio stones over the nasty dog run area for several weeks...unless I just supervise....
Refraining from doing half of the routine for the mommy
tummy class I teach (the arm workouts with resistance bands are all yours, Tami!)

Enjoy the pics!

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Did they get that from me?

Brooke’s Idiosyncrasies

*Lately – her big thing is playing with 18 inch ribbons I cut for a 3 legged race. She ties up her favorite stuffed animal – lamby- and has him pulling a large toy bus. She also ties the table against the wall and attached the other end of the string to the rocking chair – with several ribbons. Many people have tripped over these – including Tyler. After a large noise I came into the room to find the large table and two end tables and the lamp had fallen on top of both of them. Only Brooke’s pride was damagaed….and even then not so much.

*On the way to preschool yesterday,” Mommy, I was talking to Evvy. Don’t interrupt – that’s RUDE!”

*Early yesterday morning after I said, “OK, Brooke, jump out of bed!” Brookes reply is, “Mommy, we don’t jump out of bed. That’s not safe.”

*Brooke’s silly interpretation when you ask her to name the planets is, Mercury, Venus, and TRAPATUNE! HAHAHAHAHAHAH.” (Giggling incessantly)

*During Family Home Evening, Brian and were using the commitment pattern on Brooke to share. “So, how do you think Tyler will feel when you share? “So will you share?” Her consistent response to every question was a diplomatic, “Tyler can have a different toy to play with.”

*If I miss a step with the time out process, Brooke will become concerned and explain to me the order.

*When Brooke watches me play Guitar Hero from time to time, she will say, “Mommy, you messed up! You missed the yellow and blue!” (Guitar hero fans will know what that means).

You gotta love what comes out of their mouths!!!

Tyler’s idiosyncrasies:

*Tyler will sign “All done” not only when He is done, but he will frantically sign it when he wants Brian or I to be done with whatever it is WE are doing.

*If Brian and I are not paying enough attention to what he is saying, or if we don’t understand him, he will sign AND say it – again – its all about emphasizing with him.

*Tyler LOVES to wake Brooke up in the morning. He will sometimes watch her from his crib (they share a room) and he will call out her name which sound like, “Bladdy” or something like that, for up to an hour. If he is out of bed, he will run up to her and pat her and prod her and laugh incessantly until she stirs. I think she is immune to him in instances like this.

*Tyler loves to be roughhoused by both Brian and I. He is MUCH more rough with Brian though – he will pull his lips, ears, violently kiss his nose. With me I am the one that roughhouses – I will tickle him. I think he is more afraid of my wrath than Brian’s in general.

*He is supremely affectionate – gives fantastic hugs and kisses all the time.

Kids – you gotta love’em!!!

Thursday, April 12, 2007

HAPPY EASTER!!!


In case your wondering - that is my dad. He likes to explore his many....facets.

Well, We had a GLORIOUS Easter!!! We went down to Jacksonville, where my parents are and hung out for a few days. Brian happened to have Spring Break from School, without any school obligations like coaching or meetings, so we thought we would take a very slight extended stay.

The first night we had a ping-pong, foozeball, and guitar hero marathon, and then we played this REALLY cool game called "Bubble Brain." If you REALLY want to play a group game that will make you laugh - THIS one has got to take the cake!!

We watched "The Testaments" on Easter that my parents gave us. Even though I am NOT a cryer - I almost envy people that can cry - I do cry EVERY TIME at the testaments near the end. I LOVE IT!!

Here are some fun Easter Egg pics, family pics, and Tyler discovering Strawberries dipped in dark chocolate fondue. Oh how he takes after his mother that way!!!! YUM!

Tuesday, April 03, 2007



THE MANY FACES OF EVELYN WAYNE- my niece

Evelyn is Brooke's best friend and cousin - and lives right down the street from us. I was taking pictures of the kids at the Easter Egg Hunt the kids went to - and I noticed that in EVERY SINGLE shot, Evelyn was making some pretty brilliant facial expressions.

It was UNCANNY - Every single frame had such a distinct expression that I had to edit them and show them - they are pretty cool! I really have not met any person that has such a varied array of different VERY DISTINCTIVE faces that she can just pull out of that hat of hers at any time and any place. A person that invariably is able to show so many different and VERY UNIQUE facial expressions is deemed to have a future in the dramatic arts - or at least a hand in it.
CHECK IT OUT!!!!