The Widow's Bounce

You know that story in the bible (1 Kings 17:1-24) where the widow has enough cornmeal to make a 'cake' for the (prophet) stranger and then one for her son....even though there was only enough for one?
Well I've had a box of Bounce dryer sheets that keeps magically refilling...it never ends. Every time I get a new dryer sheet for laundry I think - surely this will have been the last one. But then the next time I do laundry...there is another! I have picked up other boxes of bounce when I've gone shopping...just to make sure that I'll have more when I finally run out. Yet, they sit unopened on the shelf, as the neverending bounce box fulfills it's miraculous duty of keeping me static free and touchably soft.

Snow Daze

This was our first little snow storm. Josie, like everyother kid in the neighborhood, loved to go outside and play. Soon after this I was lucky enough to find a pair of snow pants just her size so when the snow got deeper she was still able to play.



I LOVE the snow. I have had so much fun this december watching the snow fall, playing outside with the kids and hopping on sleds (but I didn't like the huge bruise I got on my knee when I ran into a rock.) But when the snow kept falling and falling and falling, all I could think about was building an igloo. Then after a phone call to one of my brother's in Utah....who himself had just finished building an igloo...I went to work.
Now however.....
igloo + three days of rain = giant pile of slush :(

Not a Christmas post

Driving around in the car, Reese takes off her boots.
"Feel or Smell my feet. They're really sweaty." She said.
"Gross." We ALL reply.
"Well they're hot." Then, she further explained, "well not hot like a boy would like them but just hot."

Thanksgiving with strings...

DON'T FORGET TO PAUSE MY PLAYLIST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.

So here's slideshow of me and my sisters modeling our aprons on Thanksgiving. It was so much fun. First we spent a day shopping for fabrics and then a day sewing them up.

It was tons of fun and I think new aprons will be a part of every Thanksgiving.

Sidebar

I know I promised more apron pics and I'll get to them. But first a little sidebar.

I'd like to mention a Christmas song I've hated. Dan Fogelberg's Same Old Lang Syne. This would be the boring song that lasts forever and you're stuck wondering why they play it at Christmas time. But ever since Wierd Al's Stuck at the Drive Thru parody of that Out of the Closet song....I have found I can enjoy Same Old Lang Syne....if I make it mine. And here's how you can love it too:

Just Sing Whatever The Crap You Are Doing

Here's a sample of what I sang tonight when the song came on XM Holly 81 :) (Just imagine it to that lame tune and make the words on the end very melodic)

It was time to start some dinner,
All I had was some ground beef.
So I'll make it into meatballs,
with some Pasta that's Penne.
Earlier my daughter Ashlynn,
tried to make up some Salt Dough
She must have spilled it on the floor
cuz now there's salt between my toes.
If I walk now on the carpet,
I could wipe it off my feet.
But then the salt will be inside of it.
I think it's better if I sweep.
I take the broom out of the pantry.
I wish it had a better home.
But it's a good thing that I'm sweeping
cuz on the floor there's Honeycombs.
Oh crap. Here comes little Josie.
She'll mess up my crumb pile.
Oh wait, she kissing baby Jesus.
She knows how to make me smile.

It works great in the car too.
;) YOU'RE WELCOME

I'm back...

from the edge of the world (Utah) and the brink of insanity (what does that even mean?)


Thanksgiving was a total blast.
Crowded as all get out,
noisier than a cat convention,
and better than ever. (This may be due to the fact that I ran around taking pictures and playing with nieces and nephews rather than cooking and cleaning.)



I'll make a slideshow of some of the pics soon. But for now this will have to suffice.

I'm happy to say my Apron Tradition really took off!

It's me along with 5 of my sisters and 2 sisters-in-law. (Each of our spouses had cameras with instructions to take great pictures of us....so none of us are looking in the same direction.)

Apron fever

Here are aprons I made for my girls, mine is just like it but I didn't get a picture of me.

Every year I want to start a tradition (one I read about in a magazine years ago) where the gals all wear new aprons to cook on Thanksgiving. So I decided the best place to start is with myself. :) This year, I'LL be wearing my new apron to Thanksgiving. And I've tried to spread the word to my sisters so that maybe someone else will wear their favorite apron and we can get some pics together.

She's craft-tay.

You might remember this post where the girls and I went out for a walk and collected leaves.

Here's picture of what we made with some of the leaves we collected.
The girls were so excited because they got to use the hot glue gun. I bought the twig wreaths at Joann's and found the swags of acorns there as well. The acorns were 70% off so all in all it was a fun, inexpensive craft. Reese and Ash each had their own book of pressed leaves so they glued them on the wreaths. I ended up walking away because I didn't want to tell them what leaf to glue where, but they asked me to come back to watch them :) Their wreaths are now hung proudly on our front doors.

It's ON!!!!

It's ON!
That's what we used to yell to eachother during t.v. programs back in the day. We'd all be enjoying a show together, such as Star Search or Simon and Simon. Then as soon as the commercial's would start everyone would scatter, getting snacks, cleaning chores, or maybe fixing hair if a date was coming to pick up one of the girls. But whatever you were doing, you would soon hear a melodically drawn out "IT's AAAWNNN!" and everyone would run back....claiming their crisscrossed-applesauced seat in the living room.

Now I own a DVR and rarely watch any live t.v. Many times someone will asked me if I've seen a certain commercial and the truth is....I haven't. I forward my commercials.

Also, I've been trying to go to bed earlier and so I've been saving my shows for the following day. Well there's only so much you can do in front of the t.v. withouth feeling guilty about spending all day in front of the t.v. (crochet, scrapbook, laundry, make Relief Society invitations etc.) When will I clean my kitchen? Or make beds in the other room? So I'm tryin' it 80's style. During commercial breaks.

Only during the day there's no one to yell, "it's on!" and I have to listen for Teri Hatcher's whiney voice on Desperate Housewives to know. But at least there's no one stealing my seat.

GOB baby....Get On Board.

Another of my New FAV shows is: KATH & KIM

With Molly Shannon and Selma Blair, 2 ladies each with 2 first names = 1 totally funny show!

Two things make a show a good show...excellent writing (like Fringe) and/or a sprinkling of awesome improv. Which is what K&K seems to have. It's an American version of an Australian show. Having never seen the original I can't compare the two. But NBC's is the type of show that I like to rewatch as I fold laundry because things get funnier and funnier. Like how the BBC Office was or the first couple seasons of NBC's Office.

With lines like: It's every girls dream to show up at her wedding in a horse drawn pumpkin carriage.

Or: The new sandwich Phil and Kath, it tastes like the love we make.

It'll keep ya laughin....so check it out so we can gab about it.

Happy Birthday MONA!

This post is to wish my sister HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I love ya Mona!


Me and You circa 92 could be 93, I'm not sure. I just know our boots are lookin' WAY COOL!

This is us with Lynnae, on my confirmation day, October 81. I remember I LOVED our shoes here too :)

HaPPy HaLLoWeEN!!!!

Happy Halloween Everyone!

As many know, I love October. I think Halloween decorations are so much fun and I always look forward to being able to wear glittery eye-lashes. And what I love the most - My family's Halloween Parties. But this year I didn't get to go :( boo-hoo. But you can check out some of the costumes on my sisters blog here.

So I'm throwin' my own party. While my kids go trick-or-treating with dad. I'm dressing up in my costume and handing out candy. (Before now, I've always been the one going out t&t'ing with the girls.) So here is the scene you'll see if you come trick-or-treating at my house.

Here's me with my Snow White :) Josie

"Have a Bite!"

The magic mirror.

I can't make this s&*t up!

I am NOT kidding about this. But I was standing at the bus stop today and ANOTHER bee flew down and tried to burrow into my HAIR!

Perhaps you haven't experienced this, but you can tell when a bee is getting close to your head. The buzzing is soft at first and you're not even sure you hear it. Then it gets louder and you think hey, I don't mess with bees so they don't mess with me. Then it's buzzing is so loud that your body is warm with adrenaline and you think, there's no way a bee will fly into my head!

Well, I've learned to think again.

Today a bee went through the buzzing cycle described above THREE times, trying to find a way into my ponytail. I was yelling NO-NO-NO! and swatting at it and running around. (I left poor Josie sitting in her stroller next to the tree with the demon hive.)

Finally, it left without stinging me. I look up and see one of the dad's on his way to the bus stop (up until now I was the only one there) and he's laughing.

"There was a bee!"

"Oh." He nods sarcastically and laughs.

And then.

I see the tiny black and yellow menace dive for him. He swipes frantically at his head. The bee had flown right into the guy's forehead! Luckily we all escape without injury.

Idiot bees.

When it's fun to be IT...

The reason I love blog tag is because I have something to write about without straining my brain for knowledge or wit. So here's my new I got from my sis, Mona at www.samuelsfamilyfrenzy.blogspot.com

LIFE PICTURES
Post(without straightening or cleaning): Your Fridge, Your Laundry Room, Your Kitchen Sink, Your Bathroom, What Your Kids Are Doing Right Now (as your taking pics), and Your Self-portrait.

I'm happy when the top shelf is full :)

Some decorations waiting for Halloween Night.

Really boring, but so is most of my house because it's for sale!

Again, pretty boring....but for sale :)

Josie, happy I was destracted taking pictures. After I took this picture I was off to take more pics and forgot about cleaning up her mess. She made an even bigger one.

Ashlynn, didn't want to do her homework, nor did she want her picture taken.

Reese, creating a poster for her Cat Babysitting Business.

Me, wrapped in my half finished scarf with knotted yart waiting for me. My friend Daina said once she was a dabbler in many things a master of none (or something like that). That's how I feel...I love to try everything out...but I love change and motion so I tend to not stick to one thing very long. But don't worry...I will finish this scarf. I love to crochet :)











I had to add this one. As I was taking pics for this my daughter came up and poked me in the eye.

I'm not going to be specific and list names who I tag...because I don't want you to be pressured. But if you check my blog....I probably check yours, so do the tag cuz I'd love to see MORE of YOU!

Your MOM's offensive.....

Somewhere my daughters picked up the line, "no offense, but..."

I hate these types of phrases, including, "with all due respect..." When I hear these words in movies or t.v. shows it drives me batty.

So I explained to Ash that saying "no offense, but..." really means, "I'm going to say something rude to you but it's not my fault if your feelings get hurt." And being the sweetheart she is she stopped saying it...at least around me.

Well last night they were making puppets out of paper bags. Ash turns to me, "Mom, Reese keeps saying that the nose on my puppet looks wierd and ugly."

Then Reese tries desperately to explain, "I said NO DEFENSE! I said NO DEFENSE!"

This, That & The Other Thing

I know I need a new post but my head is as empty as the inside of a jellyfish. So I thought I'd give y'all the opportunity to say hiya and speak your mind about whatever you want to. There's no judgements here!

There Can Be Magic

One thing I've learned from having kids is that there can be magic anywhere. Things that become mundane as an adult are amazing once again when you see them with your child. Leaves falling, jumping in puddles, walking along a hidden trail.

This weekend we went for a walk to gather leaves to press in books. It was a rather well-traveled trail, but since we were the only ones there it became a secret and inspiring place for my daughters. Reese searched high and low, scanning tree tops and sifting through enormous fallen maple leaves, looking for fairies. Ashlynn told me stories of trolls and water monsters hiding amongst the underbrush. And I felt my heart growing even bigger as they explored, discovered and created.

Here's a slideshow of some of our pictures.

You know when it's quiet...

that something's going on.

There's never really quiet in my home. I say home because a house is only a house until the family is there...that's when it's home. So ya, I suppose my house is quiet. But my home is not.

UNLESS....
The three-year old finds a pair of scissors and is cutting her hair.
The one-year old finds a bag of marbles.
The halloween candy stash is found.
New Sharpie artwork is appearing on a wall in the hall.
The toddlers found the lotion. Then the powder. (This makes a sticky paste that covers all the clothes they had just pulled out of the drawers.)

What's happened during the quiet in your home?
(I can't write anymore...it's already too quiet downstairs...gotta go see what's happening.)

I'm brilliant and you can be too.

ANOTHER mention of my awesomeness.



Okay fine, it's my first. And I'm not sure if it's really mine. I copied it off my sisters blog when she tagged me. But look at it this way. If I tag you, you can copy my awesomeness.

Here are the rules: I have to answer the following questions with one word answers and one word only! Then I must pass it on to seven others!

This award comes with a list of questions:

1. Where is your cell phone? table

2. Where is your significant other? Puerto Rico

3. Your hair color? Darkbrown

4. Your mother? hair

5. Your father? whiskers

6. Your favorite thing? Chocolate

7. Your dream last night? Blackness

8. Your dream/goal? Ireland

9. The room you're in? no-name

10. Your hobby? writing

11. Your fear? strangers

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? running

13. Where were you last night? bed

14. What you're not? jerk

15. One of your wish-list items? home

16. Where you grew up? Utah

17. The last thing you did? laundry

18. What are you wearing? white

19. Your TV? action

20. Your pet(s)? gone

21. Your computer? quiet

22. Your mood? antsy

23. Missing someone? Heckya

24. Your car? Black

25. Something you're not wearing? Socks

26. Favorite store? Tai Pan

27. Your summer? fast

28. Love someone? fiercely

29. Your favorite color? pink

30. When is the last time you laughed? today

31. Last time you cried? yesterday

Basically if you read my blog you're awesome and brilliant. So copy the award (is that thing even in english?) and the questions and ANSWER them. Cuz I'll be checking, Niki, Sarah, Lynnae, Wendy, Debi, Jill, etc..... (and Lisa, I guess this means you need to make a blog to put the award on!)

I did it.

So I ran my 5k on Saturday. Okay. I ran/walked it. But I'm really glad I did it. My main goal was to finish before they started giving awards and they had that scheduled for 9:45. The race starting at 9:00. And I made it in just over 44 minutes. I had really hoped to get under 40 minutes. But there was a hill that TOTALLY kicked my booty. And then I had to stop about 3 times and stretch out the arch of my hobbit/princess foot. ( http://somedayiwillsoar.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-was-i-thinking.html )
That surprised me, cuz in my practice run/walks it didn't cramp up quite so much.

So anyways. I guess we're going to find another one to sign up for. We being the Washington Chapter of the SRC (sisters running club...those are two of my sissies in the pic with me.) And I figure it's a good thing to sign up for, because I may not be exercising at all otherwise.

Why I like it...

I like t.v. OK. I LOVE t.v. And I'm feeling a little deprived now that the new fall shows are starting up and I don't have enough DVR capabilities. (I used to have the ability to get 4 shows at once and now I'm down to 2!)

But today I'll write about my new favorite show: FRINGE.

It's named after the 'way out there' kind of science expirements that government would never acknowlege - Fringe Science. The show has conflicts that will span the series yet the episodes aired so far have been satisfying and not a bunch of unanswered questions like in Lost.

Fringe, by the way, is partly born from the black-smoke/polar bear/DARMA initiating creator THAT IS J.J. Abrams. So there's action, intensity and an impelling series storyline. Like the X-Files, only it doesn't focus on the paranormal, there is a team of government agents hoping to reel in the madness created from these fringe science expirements. It has cool effects and well cast actors. But my favorite thing about the show is the depth of the characters and the clever writing.

Olivia is pulled into the investigations because her previous partner/love was effected and involved.

She's good because she doesn't overact and even though she's pretty she's not sexed up in the shows. I like the way she talks. I saw an interview with her and she has an accent, but none in the show. I think that's why she talks so low, to cover it up.

Walter Bishop was institutionalized because he was found incompetent to stand trial for a death that occured in his lab. However, because he is the only scientist that can understand what is going on with Olivia's partner, he's pulled out of the institution. In his earlier years he developed and worked on what the investigators are now trying to uncover. AKA "The Pattern."

Walter is my favorite character. He seems lonely and regretful yet he's easy to like and has the best lines of the show.

Peter Bishop is cool. He's a guy with a past and he's not a federal agent. Olivia needs Peter's help to reign in Walter, his father. His character is also well written and the exchanges between father and son are fantastic. He's my QT pie in the show and although he's familiar I never watched him in other shows. (Dawson's Creek?)

Broyles is the agent who oversees Olivia's work investigating the pattern. He's cryptic and doesn't give her the information she needs for the job. Years ago this would have been a groundbreaking character, but with shows like Lost and Heroes, Broyle begins to seem more like a cookie cutter character and has less depth than the others. He makes for an interesting addition nontheless.

Astrid is like a cardboard character and frankly seems out of place in the show. She's supposedly an FBI agent put in the lab to assist but she's pretty much looking through files and running errands. She's the type of character that makes you think..."hey, I could work for the FBI!" Although in this last episode she was pretty mad at Walter and may not forgive him...will she be back in his lab? Me, I don't care if she is or not.

Fringe is on Tuesday nights on Fox, although it won't be airing next week. A new episode will be on October 14.

Maybe you'll enjoy it as much as I do :)

What was I thinking?

I wasn't. That's pretty much gotta be the answer. Why else would I sign up for a 5K when I don't even like walking to the bus stop? I just got done with a "practice" run and did better than I thought I would. But now I'm home icing my club foot. (This foot has also been known as my Hobbit foot and on occasion to send good energy to it, I call it my Princess Foot.)

Yes, most of you probably don't know but I did have to wear special shoes with a bar attaching my feet together when I was a child. (I just tried to find a picture of said shoes on the internet and the only sites I saw were for HORSES.?.? ) If it were up to my dr. I'd be wearing the z-coil shoes which have a SPRING on the heel, every morning, noon and night. (Although it might help with my vertical jump for volleyball. I saw something similar on a Scooby-Doo episode.)

So anyway, my 5k is next week. Wish me luck. And if you see me running through the neighborhood and I have a smile on my face, just know that secretly I wish you would sneak up and stab me.

The Phantom of the Opera

Here are the girls with Rich, getting ready to go in the theater. They were so excited and didn't want me to waste time with pictures. When Reese saw the flashing Paramount sign she kept saying, "It's just like we're in Paris!"

This was such a fun night. We talked a lot about the special effects. Reese's favorite part was when Christine went through the mirror to the Phantom. Ashlynn's favorite part was when Christine and the Phantom were in the boat.

This was my third time at a theater to see Phantom and I've seen the movie at least five times, probably closer to ten. So I found myself comparing this cast to the others I'd seen. And unlike other productions before, this one didn't move me to tears at the end. I think the reason was that I had been pulled out of the action to explain to Reese how the chandelier could fall without hurting anyone or by Ashlynn who wanted me to look more closely at a specific costume during Masquerade...etc... This produced in me an amazement for the technicalities rather than an emotional response. Also, I was focused more on my daughters' reactions than mine. It was awesome to see the wonder and magic that I feel from live theater come to life on their faces and in their eyes.

To make you smile :)

Here's a clip of a video my sisters made. I thought I'd put it on to make my sis smile. With a death in her (husband's) family I wanted to cheer her up.

If my playlist is going, you may want to go to the bottom of my page and pause the music so you can hear this video. :)

Enjoy Mona!

The times they r'a' changin' but the games stay the same.

Yesterday as I was getting my daughters ready for bed, Reese exclaims that SHE WILL NOT SLEEP ALONE in her room. When I asked her why, she explained that Ashlynn had looked up BLOODY MARY on the internet, and now she's scared. It turns out, Ashlynn was a bit scared too and more than happy to have Reese sleep in her room with her. And have the lamp on.

They have tried to play Bloody Mary with their friends before - by chanting Bloody Mary in the mirror 3 times. But they always run out of the room too scared to finish.

Oh, it takes me back. Way back to the nights when we'd set up a mirror in the dark sauna in the basement. I'd chant Bloody Mary and nearly wet myself trying to get out of the room. Someone would usually be on the other side of the door, holding it closed so I couldn't get out. And that sauna room was freakin' dark. Think of the darkest room in your house and quadruple the darkness. That's what this room was like. AND the lightswitch was on the outside, not inside, where you were trapped with a ghost in a mirror. The chills would crawl up my spine and make the hair on my neck prickle.

So I remember the fear.

I gave them their lecture on not playing on the computer at friends' houses. I don't know what site they were on. I'm sure there are plenty to choose from. In truth, it makes me laugh. When I was young we had World Book Encyclopedias. And there were two things I loved to look at. One was a picture of a baby with herpes sores all over it's face. And the other was the picture of Queen Mary...who in my mind...was and always will be BLOODY MARY!!!!!

WHATEVER Nature...it is ON!

WTCrap?!!!!
Today I was at the bus-stop, talking with the other mom, basically minding my own business. When a bee or a hornet swoops down at full speed, dives right into my hair and stings my freakin' head!

It totally hurt and I can hear it buzzzzzzzzing around in my hair and I'm trying to wiggle it out without getting bit again. Finally it flies away and the other mom, who doesn't really know me that well, now thinks I'm some sort of freak because I was yelling at a bee.

I always tell my kids don't bother them and they won't bother you. Well OMgosh there goes that agreement. I'm getting my squashin' shoes on now. (Honeybee or not!)

Crap, I think the venom is staying in the thin layer of skin just above the skull bone. I can practically picture it oozing down from the point of origin like syrup on a stack of pancakes. Oh no...am I losing sight in my right eye?!?!?!?!?!
J/K
But I might go find some old percocet I have lying around the house.
J/K!!!
bye ---------------------->

Deep Thoughts

Many days I feel like blogging, but when I sit down at the computer my thoughts jump around like a bag of microwave popcorn. I try to find the most interesting kernel of info....but everything I do and think seems to be white fluff. And I don't want to write fluff. I want to dazzle you with my life and deep thoughts. I'm reminded of Pride and Prejudice when Lizzie and (hunky) Darcy are FINALLY dancing together and she remarks:

"-- We are each of an unsocial, taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to posterity with all the eclat of a proverb.''

I mean, I AM putting something down in writing...something anyone could read. Shouldn't it be amazing? Shouldn't it make the reader pause and think?

Well, the other day I was pushing my baby in the swing, as she watched her shadow on the ground going back and forth along with her - she reached out to it. It was so sweet, reaching her chubby little arm as far as she could. And I thought...that should mean something. If I were profound I could find some philosophical meaning in that: Reaching for a shadow or not grasping what she reaches out for or and when she finally reached etc....

But I couldn't. So I took her out of the swing and let her slide.

Luv'n U Luv'n Me

Here's the scoop. (I know you've been waiting on pins and needles to find out what happened.) On my b-day eve, which was Saturday we decided it would be a good idea to open my presents. This is because we are still trying to sell our house (I SCREAM to the universe "MY HOUSE IS SOLD!") and were having an open house on Sunday and opening up presents would take up too much time ;)

Reese got me a bouquet of flowers. She was so proud of them and they are beautiful. I've always been a sucker for flowers. Ashlynn got me a gift-cert to itunes. How fun, and she's so excited to see what songs I buy. Josie got me a jogging stroller. Totally fun for me cuz I'm trying to get back to running and awesome for her cuz it has a built in ipod deck so she can listen to music. Rich got me a handsfree thing for my phone so I can finally talk in the car without worrying about getting in trouble!

Then Rich's surprise was that he got everything we needed for a picnic and took us up to Mt. Rainier to go for a little hike. It was a great day!!!

And also fun...the gifts that are still coming from the 14 days of Shannon....our night out at Phantom and also I thought I deserved a real haircut-so I scheduled a hair apt with my favorite stylist ever....but also the most $$$ one I've been to. So she's a real treat.

I know I make a huge deal about the things I got but I'm not all materialistic. I KNOW it's really a privilege to have the life I have. A caring husband, healthy children, the opportunity to stay at home with my kiddies, an amazingly loving family of bro's and sissies. And I appreciate all I have.

Thanks for the LUV everyone! :)

Oh ya....

It's my b-day tomorrow. :) (:
My hubby took my little ones out shopping. Reese is so adorable, she keeps telling me there's a surprise she can't tell me about.
I LOVE surprises ;)

So, I'll have to catch up later, my baby just woke up from her nap and is not too happy.

9-11

Isn't this so cool! This is what my niece did in her high school. She's co-founded a group called the Student's Conservative Club. And to remember 9-11 each of these flags has a victim's name hand written on it. There are nearly 3000 flags throughout the school. Each flag and name hanging by a thread.

YOU TOTALLY ROCK ARIANNE!

Days 9 & 10

We got our Phantom of the Opera tickets!!! I LOVE this show. And to make it even more exciting, we're bringing Ash and Reese along with us-- They both love the movie and also love to go to a theater so HOORAY! It's going to be so fun :) (I'll count this gift for both 9 & 10 cuz I'm so freakin' excited about going.)

Getting Tagged

I was tagged by RAMSAM at http://samuelsfamilyfrenzy.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-am-offically-tagged.html

This tag is for 6 random and perhaps little known facts about me:


1. I don't think baths are all that relaxing. So I like to take 10-15 minutes after my bath, curled up on my bed.


2. I once went to Sea World and wearing sunglasses, pretended I was blind. It worked because I had a friend who helped me along. (Thanks Marnae!) In one shop I 'accidentally' knocked over a pencil display and felt so bad because the cashier was so apologetic to me.


3. I sometimes like to turn my ipod up as loud as it goes and jump on the trampoline singing songs (not singing outloud...just mouthing) And wondering if a neighbor watched me close enough if they could tell what song I was listening to. (But please don't watch me that close.)


4. I like trashy romance novels cuz I love the romance (especially ones about Historical Scotland or Ireland) but skip over the graphic sex cuz that just wierds me out.


5. About 4 times a year I have a dream about the boy I crushed on all through highschool. Usually in the dream I'm still too shy to talk to him, but sometimes not ;)

6. I DO drink all my Diet Coke. The 1/2 drunk cans people find lying around are not mine, but people just blame it on me cuz they know everyone else will believe them.

I'm new to the blogging world and don't know if these bloggers have been tagged before...but I'll tag Lynnae, Adrienne, Jill, Wendi, Debi, and Sarah.

Gimme a 7, Gimme an 8

Hey, as it get closer to my actual b-day...shouldn't the celebrations be getting bigger? I think both my 14th and my 15th birthdays went by without anyone wishing me a happy day until the next day. (And yes that includes my parents!!!) And we all know that sometimes, if you want something done right you have to do it yourself.

Sunday was great. Rich did the last minute cleaning for our open house AND made me a delicious dinner. Yum ;)

Today...well, I really don't know what's going to happen today! I haven't been shopping and I don't think Rich has either. Although, I did get some really cute cards in the mail today. MERCI LISA! (She's in Paris right now lucky duck.)

Oh, wait. I just read my post and realized I did go shopping. I bought some make-up and a hair accessory. Man, I really know how to keep the surprises coming! Happy Birthday to ME.

Ramona, regarding the ANTM comment from my last post. I still have a copy of one of me laying on "the cube" I don't know where the photograph is but I had a copy of it on the fridge once and Ashlynn's friend saw it and said...man your mom was skinny.

Cinco y Seis dias de Shannon

I picked up a couple things that I need/want and will count them to

~The 14 Days of Shannon~

For yesterday I picked up a photo album. I'm going to try my hand at scrapping the 4x6 way. And on a related note...I have actually already used some of the new supplies I bought the other day. I made three pages from when mi familia (Lisa included) took a trip on the Seattle Water Taxi and went to the aquarium. While doing this I watched a couple episodes of Tabitha's Salon Takeover on Bravo. I need to add getting my hair done to my 14 day fiesta.

Today I picked up an arm band for my ipod nano. I'm really wanting to join the SRC (sisters running club) but have to do it here while they run in Utah. Any WA sisses wanna join me?

Okay.... Have a great weekend and GO BYU!

The Fourth

The fourth day...and Rich finally played along. Although, I don't think he knows it. :) I'm feeling crabby, crappy, and crampy and will for 4-6 days. And last night after the girls were all in bed and we were watching TV, Rich gave me some chocolate and a foot massage. Whadda Sweetie.

Okay and for Ramona...the memory it made me think of was exchanging wrist and hand massages during Sacrament Meeting. I mean, man, those giant dot games would wear us out!

On the third day....

My fun-filled fourteen day event hasn't quite caught on yet. So unless Rich comes home with something other than a smile, I bought my own surprise for today as well.

I was at Target getting pants for my baby who grew 3 inches in 3 months and her 'grow into' clothes from her sisters are packed in A POD! }:-( Well, I saw some scrapbook paper on sale. So I picked it up. SURPRISE! I knew I wanted it but wasn't sure if I was getting it :)

I'm thinking that while half my house is packed up and I have only one kid at home during school time; scrapbooking oughtta be a great activity.

But, Ramona, I really liked your idea of sharing the memories too; so here's mine for today (and it goes great with my scrapbook surprise).

Before the days of vellum and ribbons and brads and texture, our scrapbooking supplies consisted of solid colored paper, a sharpie, maybe some zig-zag scissors if we were lucky, and very plain, very 1-demensional stickers. So... Orange paper, a picture of me at Moab with a black dotted border and some hiking boot 'footprint' stickers made a page that was the shizzette-fo'-shizzle. But mostly I remember Ramona labeling a Las Vegas picture as: CESEARS PALANCE.

Brilliant and smart...what a combo!

Am I really a little crazy like my husband thinks? Or am I so brilliant, that it blows his mind, that I'm trying to figure out a way to keep everyone happy as I turn the big THREE-FIVE? Yes, that's right. I'm (seriously so blessed to be) turning 35 in 14 days. Honestly...it's freakin' me out a bit. So, back to the am I crazy or sane part. I thought it would be a great idea to honor me, with the 14 Days of Shannon. It even looks cool seeing it all-official looking:

The 14 Days of Shannon

So when we went school shopping for the girls I kicked off this great and really fun event by buying a watch and a wallet/purse from the Fossil outlet. Totally cute and helpful to my family. I'll need to be to the bus stop on time = watch. And my credit cards were falling out of my old wallet and once I found them lying on the floor at target = wallet/purse. Also helpful, the fact that I will count these as the first and second Days of Shannon and my family won't be scrambling to find me something.

Somethings I would like for the 14 Days: Journals (but I want to pick these out...covers are a deciding factor), Sweatshirt (I need a good comfy one that fits well. I'll have to pick it out too), books (I LOVE reading book jackets to decide which to buy), Phantom of the Opera tickets (which I'll probably need a new dress, or at least a new jacket to wear over the dress I bought a few days ago), chocolate, gym membership.... I'll think of more later.

Today I got a pedicure with my little girls. It was fun, yet a little stressful because there was only one pedi place open! Labor day :( So it was crowded and we waited a while. But it was great and our toes all look so cute. Although, I don't think I'll count this on the 14 Days of Shannon because it was more of a back to school thing than a birthday thing.

Well, off to bed. The girlies have their 1st day of school in the morning :)!!!!!!

Disneyland 2002

This ALWAYS makes me smile :)

Back when I had the time to put something like this together. Now, I'm trying to figure out our new camera and new editing software. So hopefully I can get creative again.

Seriously,

I want to point out the addition to my friends and family link.... Seriously, so blessed. It's a reminder for me to not take myself to serious!

And here's a picture of Reese, at about 3 years old, after she'd gotten into my mascara. Man, if I even blink while putting on mascara my eyes sting and water. She didn't seem to have any problems!

It's the Final Countdown

School is almost here. Hooorrrraaaayyyyy!
I don't have much to say here. I just felt the need to express my excitement for school starting.

:)BYE

Sisters

Can I say....I LOVE my sisters!

I am blessed to have so many sisters.....8 to be precise and then 4 amazing Sisters-in-law as well!

Yesterday I got sidetracked by the Retro movie channel. There's one scene in Dirty Dancing that always makes me cry and it happened again yesterday.

Johnny Castle has left Baby at the resort (don't laugh). And Baby's getting ready for the final night. Her sister, who has been such a snob through the show, comes to her. She says she'll help her do her hair. But then tells her she looks beautiful when she does it her own way. And my favorite part...she holds her while she cries. (I think 'She's like the wind' music may still be playing gently in the background, okay that you can laugh at.) That has always been my favorite scene of the show.

So thank you! To all my sisters for loving me, helping me, caring for me and making me feel special! I LOVE YOU!

(And take some pictures with me so I can put more on my blog! :)

New addition to the Burton Bunch

We just got back from a trip to Utah. It was much needed fun and catching up with family. High on the list of coolness was being able to see my new nephew on the day he was born. Being almost 1000 miles away from half of the family means we usually don't see new additions until their at least a couple months old. But we got to meet Zachary Adam Burton just a few hours after he was born. My girls were in love with him and didn't want to let go of him.

Monse, you're an awesome mom and a wonderful person! Keep up the good work :)

Getting Personal

I am really going to start trying to remember (and find the time) to update my blog regularly. So here's my start....trying to personalize my template a little bit. I love the pic of Josie I set as the background. But now it makes me not want to post pics in the main body. I'll have to figure something out.

Thanks to tips-for-new-bloggers.blogspot.com for helping me figure stuff out. And squidfingers.com for the colored pattern in my title.

Personality Quiz

You Are An INFJ

The Protector You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity. Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is. You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience. You have complex, deep feelings, and you take great care to express them. In love, you truly see relationships as an opportunity to connect and grow. You enjoy relationships as long as they are improving and changing. You can't stand stagnation. At work, you stay motivated and happy... as long as you are working toward a dream you support. You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher. How you see yourself: Hardworking, ethical, and helpful When other people don't get you, they see you as: Manipulative, weak, and unstable

What's Your Personality Type?

Photos

I am loving to learn about my camera. Check out my photoblog at takeoneofme.blogspot.com

Here are some photos I took today that I liked.

Memories

I love looking through my pictures taken in Puerto Rico. We spent the summer of 2006 there. It was amazing. When I think back to it, I can still smell the delicious ocean air, feel the sun browning my skin and the humidity curling my hair.

greetings

Well, obviously my blogging hasn't been quite up to par yet. Hopefully I'll update more soon. And I'll let you know about why my blog is named what it is.
Until then, I added my shelf from shelfari.com one of my new favorite websites. There I list what I'm reading and what I think about what I read.

Goings on....

Lately I've been trying to keep my head above the laundry. Life's been a little crazy.
Now that the holidays are over, hopefully I can get things on track. Tackling the laundry is first on my list. And I also need to finish my baby's room!