Today is my 31st birthday. Last year on this day, there was no way I was going to admit I was 30. This year doesn't seem nearly as difficult as last year - thank goodness!
I have no big plans for my birthday, which is just fine by me. Ben and I went to St. George on Friday for some shopping and we had fun. How could we not when we had ice cream at Cold Stone? Mmmmm.... Anyway, after renewing my driver's license this morning, I don't have anything else on my list today. Just hanging out with my family and playing games. After the hectic holidays that sounds just lovely to me.
I start school again on Monday. I'm such a big nerd - I'm excited to go back! I guess it's because I want to be there and I don't feel obligated to be there. I'm taking classes that qualify for my major coursework and that is exciting.
Well, I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year. And thank you to everyone who has wished me a happy birthday today!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
My Less Than Enthusiastic Attitude Toward Snow
That does not even begin to describe my feelings toward snow!
When I was a kid the snow was awesome! I built snow forts and had snowball fights. I made beautiful snow angels and tracks in the snow. Sledding was great fun, and so was writing my name in the snow on the big, grassy playground of East Elementary. Then there was coming inside from the cold and peeling off all the winter wear and toasting myself by my parents' wood-burning stove. And don't forget hot chocolate. Never forget hot chocolate.
Well, things have changed. Now there are crazy "other" drivers to worry about. Wet and muddy tracks on my floors, which leads to more mopping than I would like. There is also making sure the kids are warmly bundled on their way to the bus stop, (You know that part on A Christmas Story where the little boy, Randy, is all bundled up and he says, "I can't put my arms down!"? I TOTALLY get what that mom was thinking! Scary, I know.) Now there is no wood-burning stove with which to toast my buns. Thank goodness there is still hot chocolate or I would be seriously trying to convince Ben to move to Florida or Texas or any place where the only time the people who live there have seen snow has been on TV!
I really shouldn't drive when it's like this either because there are too many accidents just waiting to happen, and I don't have the luxury of 4-wheel drive. That would be fine except that I have Melanie's D.A.R.E. graduation today at 2:30. Thank heaven for a wonderful sister-in-law who volunteered to drive me there with her giant 4-wheel drive Suburban. Thanks, Tonia!
Sometimes I wish I could make life simpler - like just enjoying the snow and building a snowman. Dang it, I'm just too high strung!
When I was a kid the snow was awesome! I built snow forts and had snowball fights. I made beautiful snow angels and tracks in the snow. Sledding was great fun, and so was writing my name in the snow on the big, grassy playground of East Elementary. Then there was coming inside from the cold and peeling off all the winter wear and toasting myself by my parents' wood-burning stove. And don't forget hot chocolate. Never forget hot chocolate.
Well, things have changed. Now there are crazy "other" drivers to worry about. Wet and muddy tracks on my floors, which leads to more mopping than I would like. There is also making sure the kids are warmly bundled on their way to the bus stop, (You know that part on A Christmas Story where the little boy, Randy, is all bundled up and he says, "I can't put my arms down!"? I TOTALLY get what that mom was thinking! Scary, I know.) Now there is no wood-burning stove with which to toast my buns. Thank goodness there is still hot chocolate or I would be seriously trying to convince Ben to move to Florida or Texas or any place where the only time the people who live there have seen snow has been on TV!
I really shouldn't drive when it's like this either because there are too many accidents just waiting to happen, and I don't have the luxury of 4-wheel drive. That would be fine except that I have Melanie's D.A.R.E. graduation today at 2:30. Thank heaven for a wonderful sister-in-law who volunteered to drive me there with her giant 4-wheel drive Suburban. Thanks, Tonia!
Sometimes I wish I could make life simpler - like just enjoying the snow and building a snowman. Dang it, I'm just too high strung!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Goals For Christmas Break
It seems ironic that for Christmas break I have quite a to-do list. But that is life for a college student who is also a full-time mom.
First on my list (and the thing I am least looking forward to doing) is potty training Riley. He so needs to be out of diapers. I would have started sooner, but with me going to school, I didn't want to put that on my mom or my mother-in-law. Today is our first attempt at "big boy underwear" and so far we're 0 for 6. I know it will come along - it's just the first few days that are really trying. He's a hard boy to motivate, even with rewards. I think that is my biggest dilemma with this, is trying to figure out some way to motivate him. Any suggestions?
My next project is to organize my cook book. It has become out of control. During this summer I thought I would organize it, and I got it separated into two books - one with recipes I use frequently, and one with recipes I don't use often. That's about as far as I got. I'm tired of trying to find my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe in the meat section.
Organizing my house is next. It's really not too bad. Downstairs is fairly well organized - mostly because that is all people see of my house and so I need to have it look nice. My bedroom and the upstairs hall closet are the places I have been stuffing things when I didn't have time to, or didn't want to, find the proper home for things. I would really like for my bedroom not to become a storage room.
Other than those three things, I'm going to try and take it easy until next semester. There are a few concerts and such that I want to go to, but nothing I have to go to. I'm basically done with Christmas shopping. The only thing I have left to do in that area is take the kids shopping for Ben's presents. We haven't wrapped anything yet, because I KNOW Riley (not to mention Pumpkin and Freckles) will unwrap everything. It will be quite a change waking up on Christmas morning and suddenly finding lovely wrapped packages under the tree, where there were no presents there Christmas Eve.
First on my list (and the thing I am least looking forward to doing) is potty training Riley. He so needs to be out of diapers. I would have started sooner, but with me going to school, I didn't want to put that on my mom or my mother-in-law. Today is our first attempt at "big boy underwear" and so far we're 0 for 6. I know it will come along - it's just the first few days that are really trying. He's a hard boy to motivate, even with rewards. I think that is my biggest dilemma with this, is trying to figure out some way to motivate him. Any suggestions?
My next project is to organize my cook book. It has become out of control. During this summer I thought I would organize it, and I got it separated into two books - one with recipes I use frequently, and one with recipes I don't use often. That's about as far as I got. I'm tired of trying to find my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe in the meat section.
Organizing my house is next. It's really not too bad. Downstairs is fairly well organized - mostly because that is all people see of my house and so I need to have it look nice. My bedroom and the upstairs hall closet are the places I have been stuffing things when I didn't have time to, or didn't want to, find the proper home for things. I would really like for my bedroom not to become a storage room.
Other than those three things, I'm going to try and take it easy until next semester. There are a few concerts and such that I want to go to, but nothing I have to go to. I'm basically done with Christmas shopping. The only thing I have left to do in that area is take the kids shopping for Ben's presents. We haven't wrapped anything yet, because I KNOW Riley (not to mention Pumpkin and Freckles) will unwrap everything. It will be quite a change waking up on Christmas morning and suddenly finding lovely wrapped packages under the tree, where there were no presents there Christmas Eve.
Friday, December 12, 2008
I Am Done With Finals!
I am done with finals, hey! I am done with finals, hey! (Imagine me celebrating while dancing in a Conga line and singing, "I am done with finals, hey.")
Now I just have to wait for the grades, which I'm not too worried about. One teacher already posted the results for the final, and I got 97% on the final, so that's a relief - and that is the final I was worried about. My history and math finals should both be fine. Don't even ask about the final for Professor Dendrite (thank you, Abe, for coming up with such a great name for her). We put all this time during the semester to fill out all this paperwork, attend FASSST Week and get stamps showing we had, and attend the Majors' Fair, and they DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE STINKING BOOK. I was so annoyed. Not to mention the fact that she said, "Just because you're a Child of God and you have been born, doesn't mean you're special. You have to do something else." OK, a little angry with people of the LDS faith are you, Professor Dendrite? I am just EXTREMELY GLAD I don't have to deal with her EVER AGAIN.
And now, I don't have any homework for the next few weeks. I plan on opening my own Nothing Box multiple times.
Now I just have to wait for the grades, which I'm not too worried about. One teacher already posted the results for the final, and I got 97% on the final, so that's a relief - and that is the final I was worried about. My history and math finals should both be fine. Don't even ask about the final for Professor Dendrite (thank you, Abe, for coming up with such a great name for her). We put all this time during the semester to fill out all this paperwork, attend FASSST Week and get stamps showing we had, and attend the Majors' Fair, and they DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE STINKING BOOK. I was so annoyed. Not to mention the fact that she said, "Just because you're a Child of God and you have been born, doesn't mean you're special. You have to do something else." OK, a little angry with people of the LDS faith are you, Professor Dendrite? I am just EXTREMELY GLAD I don't have to deal with her EVER AGAIN.
And now, I don't have any homework for the next few weeks. I plan on opening my own Nothing Box multiple times.
Monday, December 8, 2008
25 Christmas Questions
My sister-in-law sent this to my email, but I thought it would be fun for a post.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial, but I would love a real tree once in a while.
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? The day after Christmas. I hate the tree up for my birthday.
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A play stove my dad made for me. It was so cute. I have no idea where it is now.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Ben and Kristina
8. Easiest person to buy for? Riley
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No. How wrong is that?
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Christmas cards? What are those?
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of one.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Carol, but only the one with Alastor Sims, and A Christmas Story. The dad on that movie is the spitting image of my father, especially when is he yelling profanities at the furnace. Ah, family memories.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? For my kids, October. Everyone else, when I have money.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, for an Anderson Lumber Christmas party. It was a horrible candle set.
15. Favorite things to eat at Christmas? Tonia's fudge, cheese ball, and homemade rolls.
16. Lights on the tree? Multi-colored, unfortunately. One day I'll have a grown-up tree with pretty, white lights, where the ornaments are evenly dispersed among the branches, not grouped together making the tree lean to one side.
17. Favorite Christmas song? What Child Is This? and Sleigh Ride. We played both of those my junior year in Symphonic Band and I have loved them ever since.
24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Whatever yumminess is concocted by my family. Except for Tonia's scary "fruit salads." Any food with the word "eye" in the title is not going to be consumed by me. Sorry, Tonia! :)
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Hmmmm.....a new cell phone with a keypad for texting and, as always, clothes, clothes, clothes.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial, but I would love a real tree once in a while.
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? The day after Christmas. I hate the tree up for my birthday.
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A play stove my dad made for me. It was so cute. I have no idea where it is now.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Ben and Kristina
8. Easiest person to buy for? Riley
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No. How wrong is that?
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Christmas cards? What are those?
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of one.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Carol, but only the one with Alastor Sims, and A Christmas Story. The dad on that movie is the spitting image of my father, especially when is he yelling profanities at the furnace. Ah, family memories.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? For my kids, October. Everyone else, when I have money.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, for an Anderson Lumber Christmas party. It was a horrible candle set.
15. Favorite things to eat at Christmas? Tonia's fudge, cheese ball, and homemade rolls.
16. Lights on the tree? Multi-colored, unfortunately. One day I'll have a grown-up tree with pretty, white lights, where the ornaments are evenly dispersed among the branches, not grouped together making the tree lean to one side.
17. Favorite Christmas song? What Child Is This? and Sleigh Ride. We played both of those my junior year in Symphonic Band and I have loved them ever since.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We stay home because that is where family is, but when we were away we traveled to our family.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Sure, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and, of course, Rudolph. (I admit I sang the song in my head)
20. Angel on the tree-top or a star? We have an angel (that's really ugly), but I want a star one day.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Pajamas on Christmas Eve, everything else on Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Going to Wal-Mart.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love snowmen, and I love both red and green, so I'm good at Christmas time.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Sure, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and, of course, Rudolph. (I admit I sang the song in my head)
20. Angel on the tree-top or a star? We have an angel (that's really ugly), but I want a star one day.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Pajamas on Christmas Eve, everything else on Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Going to Wal-Mart.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love snowmen, and I love both red and green, so I'm good at Christmas time.
24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Whatever yumminess is concocted by my family. Except for Tonia's scary "fruit salads." Any food with the word "eye" in the title is not going to be consumed by me. Sorry, Tonia! :)
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Hmmmm.....a new cell phone with a keypad for texting and, as always, clothes, clothes, clothes.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Twilight: The Movie
First of all, this is spoiler free so if you haven't seen the movie I won't spoil it for you. Secondly, I'm lucky because my best friend, Ben, read the books and went with me to see the movie. How fun is that to take your best friend to a good movie? Maybe I'm a dork, but it was just fun.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the movie. I was REALLY having a hard time with the casting of Edward's character. I did not think he was good-looking enough for Edward, (Sorry, Robert Pattinson). But throughout the movie his performance was very Edward-like, and except for the fact that for a vampire I didn't think he should have a 5 o'clock shadow, I settled into liking him. Everyone else that was cast was just right in my mind. Charlie was great as the protective dad, Rosalie was just as nasty as in the book, and both Ben and I loved Alice. How can you not love Alice?
It's obvious the budget for the movie wasn't huge, and I'm the girl who wouldn't mind sitting in the theater for four hours so the movie can be more like the book, but they didn't have that idea in mind. I think they did the best they could with what they had. Did anyone else notice a certain cameo appearance in the diner?
OK, here comes the biggest complaint and it's not about the movie, but the previews before it. OH MY WORD! There were girls at Twilight who were Melanie's age and younger, (unless they were extremely short teenagers). Yes, the movie is PG-13, but it wasn't as gory and scary as they could have made it, and it was very short on bad language. However, the two previews were terrible! They were so laden with sexuality I wanted to cover the eyes of those babes in the theater, let alone my own eyes! Melanie isn't allowed to read Twilight yet, or to see the movie, but if I had to make a choice between the two, I would rather her read the books than watch the movie because with the movie she would view those horrible previews. (No Melanie, you are still not allowed to read the books, yet. Sorry)
Both the previews are aimed at a teenage target. I get that they want to encourage having fun. But, Ben said it best last night, "When did we come to expect so little from that age group?"
I just hate it because they do that to so many movies. They throw a bit of sex into an otherwise good movie, and that little bit ruins it. The garbage wasn't thrown into the movie, but it was still there for all to see and remember.
And another thought: don't you think this reflects negatively about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? I think most readers of Twilight know Stephanie Meyer is LDS, and most people who watched the movie have read the book, at least that is my assumption. Do you think they correlate what was in the previews with LDS peoples' beliefs or values? Just a thought.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the movie. I was REALLY having a hard time with the casting of Edward's character. I did not think he was good-looking enough for Edward, (Sorry, Robert Pattinson). But throughout the movie his performance was very Edward-like, and except for the fact that for a vampire I didn't think he should have a 5 o'clock shadow, I settled into liking him. Everyone else that was cast was just right in my mind. Charlie was great as the protective dad, Rosalie was just as nasty as in the book, and both Ben and I loved Alice. How can you not love Alice?
It's obvious the budget for the movie wasn't huge, and I'm the girl who wouldn't mind sitting in the theater for four hours so the movie can be more like the book, but they didn't have that idea in mind. I think they did the best they could with what they had. Did anyone else notice a certain cameo appearance in the diner?
OK, here comes the biggest complaint and it's not about the movie, but the previews before it. OH MY WORD! There were girls at Twilight who were Melanie's age and younger, (unless they were extremely short teenagers). Yes, the movie is PG-13, but it wasn't as gory and scary as they could have made it, and it was very short on bad language. However, the two previews were terrible! They were so laden with sexuality I wanted to cover the eyes of those babes in the theater, let alone my own eyes! Melanie isn't allowed to read Twilight yet, or to see the movie, but if I had to make a choice between the two, I would rather her read the books than watch the movie because with the movie she would view those horrible previews. (No Melanie, you are still not allowed to read the books, yet. Sorry)
Both the previews are aimed at a teenage target. I get that they want to encourage having fun. But, Ben said it best last night, "When did we come to expect so little from that age group?"
I just hate it because they do that to so many movies. They throw a bit of sex into an otherwise good movie, and that little bit ruins it. The garbage wasn't thrown into the movie, but it was still there for all to see and remember.
And another thought: don't you think this reflects negatively about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? I think most readers of Twilight know Stephanie Meyer is LDS, and most people who watched the movie have read the book, at least that is my assumption. Do you think they correlate what was in the previews with LDS peoples' beliefs or values? Just a thought.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Funny Kids
After a day like today, (Riley was seriously on one), I needed to blog about the funny things my kids say, so I can remember than even though they occasionally make me want to pull all my hair out, I still love them.
Riley and Carter were watching me make Carter a fried egg yesterday morning. Riley told me he wanted an egg, and when I asked him if he wanted a fried egg like Carter or a scrambled egg with cheese he replied, "Scrambled eggs with cheese," and then he added, "Sir," and he saluted me like a soldier. Too bad I can't get that reaction more often from him. I also have to try not to laugh when he is sitting in time out just sobbing, "Don't leave me! It's not my fault! I didn't mean to!" Have any of you read that book No, David or David Gets In Trouble? Yeah, that's SO Riley.
Carter was snuggling with me on my lap this evening and I was rubbing his back and saying how nice it is to snuggle with him. He said to me, "Mom, don't you wish I could snuggle on your lap all the time?" Yes, Carter, I do.
Riley and Carter were watching me make Carter a fried egg yesterday morning. Riley told me he wanted an egg, and when I asked him if he wanted a fried egg like Carter or a scrambled egg with cheese he replied, "Scrambled eggs with cheese," and then he added, "Sir," and he saluted me like a soldier. Too bad I can't get that reaction more often from him. I also have to try not to laugh when he is sitting in time out just sobbing, "Don't leave me! It's not my fault! I didn't mean to!" Have any of you read that book No, David or David Gets In Trouble? Yeah, that's SO Riley.
Carter was snuggling with me on my lap this evening and I was rubbing his back and saying how nice it is to snuggle with him. He said to me, "Mom, don't you wish I could snuggle on your lap all the time?" Yes, Carter, I do.
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