We're baaack...

Da da da dah...here we are again! It has been a while!! We've got a new and improved computer and I am ready to blog it up! So, I'll take care of some business first. I have been tagged by my sister-in-law up in Montana, so here goes. I hope you learn something interesting and/or that you didn't know about me.

What was I doing 10 years ago?

I was going to school at UVSC, living at home, working at the McKay Events Center and a little store, and planning a wedding. Aaugh! I can't believe that. Ryan and I had been dating for about 4 months, and I think he proposed to me on April 11th. So, yeah, that's what I was up to 10 years ago.


What are 5 Things on my To Do List?

1. Put away the clean clothes
2. Clean up the family room
3. Make two quilt holders out of wood. I might need some husband help on this one.
4. Make sure all is prepared for YW tomorrow night.
5. Make dinner


What are 5 Snacks I Enjoy?

1. Trail mix (the kind from Sam's Club with peanuts, almonds, raisins, and M&Ms)
2. Cookie Dough and cookies
3. Chips- it's a weakness...Cheetos, Doritos, chips and salsa, chips and guacamole- my Most favorite- whatever's around.
4. Brownies
5. Twix (I rarely eat these, but they are my favorite.)


What Would I Do if I Suddenly Had a Billion Dollars?

Let the dreaming begin. I would build a new house with all the upgrades, bells and whistles, etc. The kids rooms would be decorated all with Pottery Barn furniture and decor. We would have the yard professionally landscaped (no putting in sprinklers for us!). The back yard would have the trampoline set in the ground, a fire pit, nice loungy outdoor furniture and a great outdoor cooking area. We would plan lots of fun vacations for all over the world. What else? Ok I would probably donate some money to charities or to the Church missionary fund or education fund. I'm sure we'd invest lots of money. And, lastly, I would by a Gardunos Restaraunt franchise and put one up here in Utah.


5 Places I've Lived...

1. West Jordan, UT
2. Rio Rancho, NM
3. Highland, UT
4. Midvale, UT
5. West Jordan, UT


5 Jobs I've had...

1. I worked in this little dinky dollar store in American Fork. But, it was a good job while I was going to school.
2. The McKay Events Center. I worked in the ticket office and occasionally sold T-shirts at concerts.
3. Nextlink- a telecommunications company
4. CR England. I handled all the pallet acounts.
5. Mom


3 Things You Don't Know About Me...

1. I have a hard time sharing with people. I know this is kind of weird, but I have always been a little selfish with my stuff. Like, you know the kind of people that break out a pack of gum, grab a piece and then offer anyone in the vacinity a piece? I'm totally opposite. If I want some gum, I get it in private, so that I don't have to give anyone any. I know, it's a terrible trait. Even when some of my kid's friends are over and they ask for a snack I kind of cringe inside because I really don't want to share my snacks with all the neighbors. Now that I've typed this all out, I realize how crazy I am. Oh well...
2. I can throw things like popcorn and Goldfish crackers high up in the air and catch them in my mouth.
3. I am pretty afraid of water. I hate being in the ocean and lakes. I can barely even swim. It's too bad that my kids are little fishies.

There you go!! Okay, now I tag Melissa Clark!

Update

Okay, so I know it seems that we have fallen off the face of the earth. But, we haven't. Close, though...our computer has officially died. How did we ever survive without computers back in the old days? Anyway, we will be back soon. Hope all of you are doing well!

Just for Now

I LOVE this video and song by Imogen Heap, thanks Martha for showing me! She is the lead singer of Frou Frou, who if you look above you'll see that took a quote from her song on our blog header. Love how talented she is! Hope you like it, too. It may seem a little strange at first, but keep it going. You might also want to pause my music player below before you play this.

Self-proclaimed Titles

Just in the last few days I have overheard our kids playing with eachother and/or with friends and I've noticed that they like to give themselves new names. Well, these are the funniest ones that I've heard this week:

Zack: "They call me Mr. January!" (Where did he get that? It makes me think of some calendar with scantily clothed firefighters. I hope that is not where Zack was going with this.)

Maycee: "I am the Princess of All that is Pink!" (This one happens to be true. That is her color of choice for just about everything. Just the other day she was telling me how mad she was that her room was green, not pink.)

Avery: I told Avery to tell her Dad that she was a "big girl". She says instead, "NO, Baby!" (This also is true, kind of. She is getting to be a big girl- 21 months- but, she has us wrapped around her little finger!)

How Much is that Doggy in the Window...

I have a moral dilema. Our 6 month old dog, Barkley, is driving us crazy. He is very cute, but I think that may be his only redeeming quality. Yesterday, he peed in the house 4 times- once on Zack's blanket, once on Maycee's newly washed comforter (newly washed because he had lifted his leg on it the day before), and twice on my bed (on our nice comforter and sham, and on the pile of newly washed sweaters I had just folded and set on my bed). Every time I let that dog in the house he would go and pee on something. And, every time he did this, I would make him smell it, in my angriest voice tell him that was naughty, and then put him outside in the freezing cold. I just don't get why he would still do it over and over. He has never mastered the outside potty task. It seems like at least once a day, I'm cleaning up some kind of doggy accident. Today he pooped in Zack's room. Aaugh! I am so tired of cleaning carpet and washing everything! This is not his only problem, however. He gets really riled up and kind of nips and scratches at the kids. I must say, the kids usually start this, but not every time. And then, there are tears shed and band-aids given. But, this is several times a day. I can't stand it anymore. And, I can't just leave him outside, it's too dang cold. So, this brings me back to my moral dilema. I feel terrible about this but, I think we are going to take him to the Humane Society or the Animal Shelter. I feel bad because I have had a dog in my house all my life and have never had problems like this before. I guess I just don't know how or have the patience to train dogs. I also feel bad because Ryan's brother and his wife gave us this dog and I don't want to hurt their feelings. More guilty feelings- I don't want Barkley to go anwhere but a happy, nice family that will love him and take care of him. And, I can't totally gaurantee that. But, even with all these reasons, I think he still really needs to go. I already have enough around here to take care of! He is adding stress to my life. So, am I just giving up, or what? Am I a loser because I can't handle it anymore? Or, is it OK to admit when you are defeated and you try to fix things the best that you know how? Any thoughts? Council me please!! Brett and Steph- don't hate us!! Animal lovers everywhere- I'm sorry! Do YOU want a new dog?

Well, I got a new church calling last Sunday...Boy Scouts Den Leader. I know, I know, you can stop laughing now. It is a little funny, I realize, but the member of the Bishopric was "inspired" to call me to this. Which I really do believe, but I'm sure that the reason for this is surely for ME to learn some lesson to better my life. I'm truly not sure what I'll be able to teach these 8 year old boys. I am not very handy dandy with tools, pinecones, or popscicle sticks. And, as I am going through the several different manuals and books given to me to help guide me through this wonderful challenge, I see ahead many crafty crafts in my future, but none involve ribbons, scrapbook paper, craft paint, or fingernail polish. Boo. I did actually attend my first Den meeting on Wednesday afternoon. There were only 5 boys present, but it was like 5 ADHD boys who just drank a whole can of grape soda jumping around a McDonald's Playland, which actually was my neighbor's living room. It was a little insane, needless to say. One boy constantly was poking another person and then would whine, "He hit me, he hit me," just to be annoying. Another boy would answer every question with, "To hurt someone?" Doesn't matter what the question was, that was the typical answer. One boy refused to say the prayer or play any of the games, even the fun one, not sure why. And, to my chagrin, my partner informed me that it was like this most of the time. Although, in the summer, it was a little better because they could go outside. Yahoo! And then, on Friday my partner came over to bring me manual, a Scout Magazine, a game book, a list of the clothing I need to buy, the list of meetings I need to attend, etc, etc. Aaugh! Overload. Overload. I am a little nervous about this. I don't want to not like any calling. I really don't. So, I'm begging any of you out there that have served in Scouts to assure me that it's not so bad. I know this deep in my heart, but like I said, overload. I know most of the boys and their parents pretty well, and they really are good kids. I was just a little shocked at their combined energy. Anyway, I will keep you updated on this wonderful challenge!

Aahhhh....Maycee

I was checking some of my favorite blogs when I overheard Maycee talking to Avery just now. I said "What are you doing?" because I can hear a little of what she is saying and it is not good. I'm hearing "Say pooh. Say bum." She says, "I'm teaching her naughty words so that she can use them when she's older." Words like stupid, pooh-pooh, etc...I think that's when I caught her. Thanks, Mayce. That's what a big sister is for, right? However, this is the same girl that hopped into bed with me this morning and noticed that Barkley (the dog) was snuggled up to me. She says, "Barkley loves you, huh?" I say, "Yeah, but I don't know why." She says, "Because, mommy, you are very nice and kind." Oohhh! You take the good with the bad, I guess. Actually, she is a lot like me. crap. I'm in for it.