Goin' Crazy and Lovin' It

May The Force Be With You

2010-05-14T17:03:00.001-07:00

Check it Out!

2010-04-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

I haven't made it a secret that I am a writer. An unpublished one--but an author just the same. I've started up a new blog solely for the love of writing. I will still keep this blog--for family and friends who want to know how adorable my children are and that we ate at Pirate Island over the weekend. But to know the secret ponderings of my soul (ie. things I want to complain about, rejoice in, and basically give a shout out to) you'll have to check out my other blog.

spinmewriteround.blogspot.com

I'm going to be having a contest in the next couple of weeks--so be watching and be ready to tell all your friends about it.

Happy Blogging!

'UP' date

2010-02-28T12:40:00.000-08:00

Here I am, back in the blogosphere, and sighing that I can't write about what I want to. My intention was to give everyone the 'down-low' on what's going on. However, with our country looking like its going to the crap-hole and everyone down-in-the-proverbial-dumps, I've decided to be a bit more upbeat...SO--dun dun dun, instead of the 'DOWN'-low, you are getting the 'UP'date.

All you want to know about Me!
1)First of all, I have been writing a book for the last year. It is the reason my blog has been so dismally employed of late. (Don't worry, that isn't the way I write in a book. :-) HOWEVER--I finally finished it...all of it. At least as much as I'm going to do until someone decides it is fabulous and pays me to publish it. I'm extremely proud of myself and never would have finished without some truly awesome people I call my "Writer's Group". I will definitely blog again when I actually acquire an agent and when it actually gets published, which it will, because it is an awesome story (cut me some slack--I'm trying to think positive thoughts and increase the positive energy around me.) These are some of my writing buds. You can tell that all we do is work,work,work...

2)Second of all, I have become a runner. Yes me, lover of greasy food, pastries, and lounging on the sofa. I actually just ran a 10K in my fastest time ever, one hour and fourteen minutes. I know that seems like it's slow. Frankly, it is. BUT--I did it! And today I can actually walk like a normal person, sort of. At least I can fake it until I'm all alone and can start limping again. It is also the farthest I've ever ran, (6.2miles) and it totally sucked! But I did it, and afterwards it didn't seem so suck-ish anymore, it felt good. My goal is to run a half-marathon this year. (Still can't bring myself to even want to consider a marathon.
3)And Third of all, I have had a new job this year being an Instructional Coach. Sounds sophisticated, but it really isn't. I'm at a turning point, because next year I could continue doing this or go back into the classroom. It's a toss up. I will be happy either way. I wouldn't mind hanging with my peeps (teacher friends) and my peepettes (students) again, but I also wouldn't mind never having to write a sub plan again. SO--yes, it's a conundrum. I'll let you know what happens.

All you wish you knew about TyGuy:
1)Ty is a kick-butt runner. Last year, he made it to the finals in the 100 meter run for the Hershey Track Meet in our region. Now he's set his sights higher. He ran the 10K I mentioned earlier in 52 minutes, basically making his mom look like a turtle on downers. After he finished, he cheered me on as I crossed the finish line. Not wanting to look like a lazy, I decided to sprint the rest of the way in true runner fashion. He came over to congratulate me and I said, "Did you see me sprint that last bit?". To which he answered, "That was sprinting? Oh, Okay. It didn't look like sprinting to me, but maybe it was for you. Good job, Mom." Wasn't he so nice as he crushed my hopes and dreams?
2)Basketball is one of Tyler's favorite sports to play. We lucked out this year, and Ty got a most excellent coach in little league basketball. This guy was amazing and taught Ty a ton of basketball-ish stuff. His team only lost one game the entire season, and they only lost that by 2 points. It was great kicking some butt for once, instead of walking away from every game saying "I know you lost by twenty points, but look how good you tried." (This is hard for me to do, the competetive person I am, but I do it if needs be. THANKFULLY, needs didn't need be this year)
3)Ty has never loved reading, BUT...this year he actually achieved it. I finally passed on my 'love-of-reading' gene to him. Whew, it was difficult handing over that trait after birth, but I did it. He is finally reading books 'just for fun'. I'm so proud of him. New Basketball!

All you thought you knew about Micks:
1) Micky is the consumate artist. During the winter she rolled some snowballs together, stuck twigs poking out all over them, and wound toilet paper through the branches--Her First Sculpture. Now our house is always abounding with markers, crayons, clay, tiny pieces of paper, and toys set up in an aestheticly pleasing way. She loves anything to do with art. Just look at her room and you'll be able to tell the paint runs deep in her veins. This creation is called 'Toys'

2)Another thing I love about Micks is how much she loves the outdoors. I swear if I bought her a tent she would willingly live in my backyard. Of course, she would still want her lipgloss, pink clothes, and jewelry, but she would do it. In the winter, she's building snowmen and snow sculptures, and in the summer, she's collecting pretty rocks and making sidewalk art. I have to threaten her to get her in the house everyday--Just like my mom had to when I was a little girl. :-)
3) The last tidbit about Micky is that she LOVES to sing. She is a good singer, but the only problem is that she can usually only remember 1 or 2 lines to an entire song. Because of this, we get to listen to the same things sung over and over and over again--Until, she thinks of a different song and sings two lines of that over and over. It is a cycle really, but I wouldn't trade it. That's how I know she's at home and not outside sleeping in the neighbor's tree (something she's actually asked about before).

The Indispensable AJ
1) AJ has been into this reading kick lately. He pulls out every book he can find and sits and flips through every single one. Then he runs off to play. It is great that he wants to expand his literary talent, but it leaves a huge mess a lot of the time. His favorite books to read are how-to and cooking books. Kind of funny, I know, but maybe he'll be the next 'Top Chef', and then I'll never have to cook dinner again. (something that will propell him to the top of my favorite child list). Reading a Halloween Cookbook

2) The other day, I couldn't find AJ. He had disappeared. Luckily, he's picked up a little bit on Micky's singing and I was able to locate him in the bathroom, sitting on the potty, and singing 'P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face'. He was right on key. As soon as I opened the door, he said, "Hey mom, you're here. Time to wipe me." SO--ta-dah, AJ is finally potty trained. It actually wasn't that hard. I know you all hate me for saying that, but it wasn't. Score one for me!...or I should say...him.
3)The last thing you should know about AJ is that you should never cross him. He has finally hit the 'temper tantrum' phase. Yay Me! Most of the time, the kid is just happy-go-lucky and hunky-dorry. EXCEPT--when you tease him, take his cars or trains, force him to ride in the cart at the grocery store, or make him come in the house at night. This means, he is still happy 25% of the time and yelling about something 75% of the time. Who am I kidding? He's even loud when he's happy. At least I will never lose him in a public place. I'll just stand still and hear, BEEP, BEEP, PHFFFT (that's spitting), P-P-P-POKER FACE, etc. He pretty much yells everything he speaks.

All about Jer--zzzzzzzz
1) Jerry has a job working graveyard shift now. He's actually been doing it for almost a year. I can honestly say I know why they call it 'graveyard' shift. After living with someone who is tired 90% of the time and grumpy the other 10%, you wish you could send the people who made up that shift 'TO-THE-GRAVEYARD'. It has been a major adjustment for us. Especially since AJ talks at 100 decibles. He's adjusting though, and someday soon, he might actually get a day job.
2) When not working or sleeping, Jerry has started a new hobby--Four Wheeling. He just got himself a four-wheeler. It is white and very nice looking. He takes it out and gets it filthy dirty, then comes home and washes it. This is a double-positive for him. If you don't know him, then you wouldn't know about his obsession with keeping the cars cleaned. Now, he has one more thing he can wash on Sunday afternoons. How Happy! (Hey, when you're a walking zombie, you take any happiness you can get) :-)
3) This is happy more for me, than for him...BUT--Jerry does the laundry now. I know, SHHHHHHHH...he would be so embarrassed if any of the guys at work knew. He does the laundry all the time now. He complains, but I have offered to trade him. I'll do the laundry and he can help the kids with homework, cook dinner, clean up the dinner mess, clean the rest of the house, etc. So far he hasn't taken me up on it. I don't want to sound ungrateful however. I HATE doing laundry and I'm so grateful he does it. (Is there anyone out there who likes it? Honestly, folding a load of different, but all-white socks should be what they make prisoners do in lockup.) THANKS BABE! I snapped this picture while Jerry was doing Laundry in his Sunday Clothes...Porn for women? Oh, yes!

And that's it. The UP-date on the Jordan family. Really I just never sent out Christmas Cards or Family Newsletters this year, so I had to catch up some way. :-) May your lives be as exciting as ours!

LOVE,
US

A Few of My Favorite Things

2009-12-07T19:53:00.000-08:00

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things?.?.?.?

Hum...I think if I were to make a list of favorites, kettles would not be on it--let alone bright, copper ones. Plus, I HATE brown paper packages. I prefer the bright patterned kind with fancy ribbon, not string. However, the song got me to thinking about the things I do love. AND lucky for you, I'm going to post ALL of them. So sit back and enjoy! (These appear in no particular order).

1. Sailing: I did this for the first time this year, and it is fabulous. The feel of the wind in your hair, the dolphins and flying fish cruising alongside the boat, sipping a nice Diet Coke. Nothing like it in the world. (By the way, the Pepsi in my hand is my husbands. Don't worry, my favorite diet soda--I would never cheat on you. :-)) 2. Sunsets on Turtle Bay: Pina Colada in hand, tiki torches, plastic poolside lounge chair. Ahhhhh...feel the relaxation.
3. Running: I NEVER thought I would say that. However, there is something wonderful when you hit your stride; breath becomes rythmic, feet turn to auto-pilot, and music blares in the headphones.
4. My kids laughing: I wish it happened more often. Usually it is the sound of squabbling that drifts up from the basement. But once in a while, when the moon is full, I hear all three laughing that deep-belly laugh that comes from true enjoyment--and they are actually doing it together. So Good! 5. A Completed Chapter: Writing is one of the most difficult, yet rewarding, things I've ever done. There is nothing better than putting the period at the end of the chapter that has been extremely hard to write. (Can't wait until I'm putting the period at the end of my completed book.)
6. My job: Working with kids is not the easiest of jobs, but it is definitely enlightening. Seeing a kid finally catch on to something they've never understood is priceless...AND...It never gets boring. So for someone with a short attention span like me, it is perfect. 7. A Clean Kitchen: This so seldom happens at my house, but when it does--magic is the only way to describe it. I love when the countertops are cleaned and the appliances shiny, the chairs pushed in and no crumbs on the carpet (yes, I have carpet in my kitchen--not my choice, but the people who built the house). It is the one room in my home that, when it is clean, the whole house feels clean.
8. Pajama Days: I truly adore days when I can stay in my pajamas from sun-up to sun-down. I enjoy staying in bed that long too. Usually my life is so busy, but every once in a blue moon, this happens, and I LOVE it!
9. Movies: Bad movies, stupid movies, funny movies, sad movies--it doesn't matter. I get excited even thinking about the smell of the popcorn, the sticky floor, the lights dimming, and the previews coming on the screen. I just relish sitting in a darkened movie theater. 10. Organizing: I know my house would never show this, BUT, I think organizing things is 'Da Bomb'. I make piles for each thing and then sort those into same colors, sizes, and shapes...and alphabetical order...sigh...alphabetical order is the best. I think I let things get messy again, just so I can organize it again. Very satisfying when something that was a jumbled wreck is finally laid out in order and function. Wish I had more time, because EVERYTHING, even my socks, would be color-coded.
11. Campfires: It is no secret to anyone who knows me that I hate camping. I don't like being dirty and I hate things not being convenient. However, I L-O-V-E sitting by a campfire. I like roasting marshmallows, hotdogs, and just the end of the stick. Even the smoke smell is kinda comforting (that is, until the fire is gone--then I don't want that smell around me anymore. I H-A-T-E smelling like a campfire.) 12. Good Friends: Every once in a while you get to meet someone who becomes someone truly special. Whenever, I get to spend time with someone like that, I get really excited. Doesn't matter if it's family, my high school buds, my teacher compadres, or my Writer's Group besties. I love them all! 13. An Awesome Book: Actually books should be higher on my list. I have had a love affair with books for decades (three to be exact). When I was younger, I would go to my friend's houses just to see what books they had. (Yes, I am a geek--check out my earlier posts about that). I wish they made a perfume room spray that smelled like an old book store. Ahhhh...the smell of wrinkly old pages and leather covers. Let me revel in it a moment.

Okay--done revelling.

14. Useless, but Interesting, Information: I have a penchant for 'Bathroom Readers'. No seriously, they have some really great info. in there. Little snippets on the edges of magazines or sides of cereal boxes. There are hidden facts all around us. I collect the facts and store it in a rarely used section of my brain entitled: "Things it probably doesn't matter if you ever remember again, but it's cool." 15. Conspiracy Theories: I like thinking that someone is always out to get someone else. Whenever I hear of a politician or a stock broker dieing, the first thing that pops into my head is "I wonder what they knew too much about." The guy who got pulled over and claimed he was an alien? Maybe he really is... Drug company virus creations, presidential cover-ups, you name it and I think it is interesting. The unique aside to this is, I don't believe in the major conspiracies. "Area 51?" pshaw. "JFK Assassination", maybe the Lee Harvey was just a wacko who wanted to be famous, so he killed the president.

...SO now you know a little bit more about me. If these don't stop you from returning to my site, then I don't know what will. I accept the fact that I am strange...I guess, you had just better accept it too.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow...Oh Who Am I Kidding?

2009-11-24T23:32:00.000-08:00

I've been absent from the blog-o-sphere of late and have been feeling a little guilty about it, worrying that all those billions of people who read my blog would be missing me, when lo and behold, I see that no one has been reading my blog.

It makes me feel, oh I don't know, like that 25 page research paper you are forced to write in high school. You know the teacher is never going to read it, but you still work so hard making it look good. However, you slip in that one little line...'and you are probably not even reading this paper so I'm just going to say that you suck'--when, sure as shootin', you get your paper back with a large 'EXCELLENT' on the front and nothing else written throughout the entire paper.

That...is my blog.

And you know what?

I am perfectly okay with that. Because I have been writing...and writing...and writing, and I am loving it! I am now up to almost 55,000 words. I'm on chapter 18 and I'm half way to finishing my first novel. (Well the first draft of it anyway) I feel so accomplished. I've also started my list of 'Top 20 people I want to be my Literary Agent'.

So...I'm feeling an ackward pause...like when you meet that person you were good friends with 10 years ago, but haven't spoken to since, and now you've just finished up your small talk with them and don't know how to say "I gotta go."

Therefore, let me end with the classic..."I know, I know. We need to see each other more often. It's been too long. Yes, Yes, I'll call you." *kiss kiss hug hug* (Don't speak again for another 10 years)

*Really, I might post again soon, but if history repeats itself, it will probably just be with the classic 'Christmas pictures' no one else cares about but me. Oh, and certainly my list of things I'm thankful for in honor of Thanksgiving...you know, the usual. :-) Ta ta

Shingles, Power Tools, Cowboys, and Pirates

2009-10-24T19:55:00.000-07:00

My kids are at the perfect ages to mix up words and basically do the cutest darned things EVER! Here are a few of our latest:
Cute-ism#1
I'm sitting in the other room putting the binding on a quilt I'm making (yes, folks, that is no typo, I actually crafted something),when I hear Micky gasping and screaming out in fake pain. Then she yells in her 'irritated' voice. "I can't do it! I don't know how anyone does it!"
I answer her with, "What? What is wrong? What can't you do?"
She comes stalking in, "I can't do the shingles."
"The what now?" I ask.
"The shingles," she whines.
"What are the shingles?"
"This." And she goes down into the straddles on the ground.
Whew, I've never heard of anyone upset about not getting the shingles.

Cute-ism #2
I'm watching some t.v., just chillin with my two year old AJ, and Micky comes in with brush and hair dilly-dallies in hand. "Hey mom, want me to fix your hair?" she asks.
"Of course," I say. (because I love having my hair combed)
She climbs up next to me and starts brushing and coifing to her hearts delight. I notice AJ watching and taking it all in. Then he turns to me, "I fix hair mom?"
"Okay!"
He runs into his bedroom and I'm wondering what he could possibly be doing when he runs out with all of his play powertools, a huge smile on his face. "I fix."
He climbs up and starts sawing, hammering, and drilling my head.
Moral of the story: You're not a man's man until you 'fix' your hair with power tools.

Cute-ism #3
I had just picked AJ up from the babysitters and I'm in a hurry to get home, so I'm driving pretty fast. Suddenly I hit a huge pothole and the car bottoms out and scrapes on the pavement. I look in my rearview and see there are no car parts left on the road, so I figure it's all good. I'm worried though because I hear AJ whimpering in the back. To cheer him up, I yell "YEEEE HAAAAAW" as loud as I can.
He covers his ears and says. "Cowboys Yee Haw mom. You no cowboy. You no Yee Haw."

Last One
Over Fall Break Jerry and I took the kids to the new themed restaurant in Orem, Pirate Island. We had a lot of fun, making the menus into pirate hats, getting balloon animals, eating pizza and coconut shrimp, and playing lame arcade games to win enough tickets to buy a tootsie roll. Fast forward about five days.
I'm running late for work (as usual)so I run in and wake up AJ, trying to get him to hurry. He rolls over, stretches, and says something, but I don't catch it.
"Hurry, buddy, get up," I say as I bustle around his room.
He lays there, then says, "I go pirate ship now?"
"Pirate ship?"
"Yeeeeeep." (You have to hear him say this. He never says yeah or yes, it's always yeeeeeep.)
"Did you dream about pirates buddy?"
"Yeeeeeep"
"Were they mean pirates?"
"Nooooooo"
"So you dreamed about nice pirates?"
"Yeeeeeep"
"So you want to go to their pirate ship?"
"Yeeeeeeep, I need more cannie (candy)."

What Chew Talkin' Abou' Dan Brown or My Review of The Lost Symbol

2009-10-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

Let me just begin with an excerpt from the book:(if you can't get through it, don't worry I had to skip over half of it myself)
"So tell me, Kate," her brother had asked while she was home on vacation during her sophomore year at Yale. "What are Elis reading these days in theoretical physics?"
Katherine had stood in her family's book-filled library and recited her demanding reading list.
"Impressive," her brother replied. "Einstein, Bohr, and Hawking are modern geniuses. But are you reading anything older?"
Katherine scratched her head. "You mean like...Newton?"
He smiled. "Keep going." At twenty-seven, Peter had already made a name for himself in the academic world, and he and Ketherine had grown to savor this kind of playful intellectual sparring.

What follows after this is a rousing debate with a few words like...entanglement theory, Subatomic research, Dharmakaya, 'at-one-ment', polarity, Kybalion, binary systems, superstring theory, and multidimensional cosmological models.
Hahaha...what fun! I always love these kind of physiological debates about the origin of man with my brother too.

Okay, I'm not saying the book is wordy per-se, but frankly, the book is wordy. I have enjoyed Dan Brown novels in the past and have always felt a little awestruck by the amount of information I learned through reading them. However, subatomic theory is a little over my head, and no one told me I needed to hold a Doctorate degree in order to know all these scientific and religious texts and people it mentions off-hand. I usually feel like a fairly smart individual, but for the first time when reading a novel, I felt like a complete moron.
I started to get bugged by comments like "I am standing in the sublevel basement of the U.S. Capitol Building" or "The room felt like a tomb" from the main character. And comments like "I am perfect" by the 'bad guy' as he stared at himself naked in the mirror.
There were other minor inconsistencies as well. For instance, if you had just been knocked unconsious and drowned could you honestly "run" somewhere right after this? Is it possible to have an appendage cut off, be shaved head to toe, see a loved one die, and still want to explain the inner dimensions of the masonic order in a very casual way, even 'laughing' over the cute way a person doesn't undertand what you are saying? I didn't think so either.
My last complaint has to do with Robert Langdon himself. As far as I know, this book is supposed to have taken place after 'Angels and Demons' and 'Da Vinci Code', yet the main character acts like everything he sees is a 'shock' he just can't believe. Honestly, how many times does he have to be trapped in a deep, dark, tiny space before he just gets over is claustrophia for heavens sake? How many times does he have to see something that was considered legend be true before he just kind of starts to believe in things before he sees them? Langdon really sort of drove me nuts in this story.

All of this being said...I would still recommend this book to other people, and no, its not because I want other people to be miserable. I like the underlying message of the book. I love the idea of 'science' and 'religion' co-existing without wanting to tear each other's eyes out. The information about the Masonic Brotherhood was also very interesting, and I did want to go to the places it mentions that are right in downtown Washington D.C. and see them for myself. There is also a very interesting twist right there at the end that is almost a 'Sixth Sense' kind of moment.

Overall... I give it 3 1/2 stars. Three stars for the things in the paragraph prior to this and a half star for character development and dialogue.

P.S. It took me four times longer to read this than any of the other Dan Brown books, so leave yourself plenty of time if you happen to read this for a book club or something.

A Day Late and a Gazillion Pictures Short

2009-09-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

I'm a teacher. I know there is no such thing as 'a gazillion'. However, when I started looking at all the pictures I haven't uploaded yet, a billion or even a trillion just didn't seem to cut it. If you check out my blog (that is, you whole two people that ever look at it)you'll notice that my posting this summer was just plain pitiful. I can't write everything we did or I would be sitting here for a week, and frankly, I've got a book to write. So... here is my spewing of the basic facts of the Jordan Summer.
Micky and AJ working on their Model poses. Actually, when AJ saw Micky wearing this towel in this cool way, he had to be a part of it.
Ty and Jerry went on a Fathers and Sons campout with my dad's ward. Basically, the campout was off the charts lame, so this one picture just summarizes all the fun. :)
Andrew loves! trains. He has a borderline obsession. Here is he and Micky waiting their turn to ride the train.
On the train ride. We paid 3 bucks a piece for this. No wonder they had the train to themselves.
At least the train looks cute.
I was a little nervous about pools this year,H1N1 and all, so we bought a cheap pool. Ty and his friends still enjoyed it though.
Haha...Micky is more about the pose than what she is doing. She loves water, but she also likes looking cute in her swimsuit.
Andy wasn't sure if swimming was for him. His swim outfit was comfortable though. :)
Nothing fun to do this summer? Just plaster yourself with stickers. I actually love this picture because Andy is finally old enough to play with the kids.
He can play with them--that doesn't mean he should play with them. :)
Oh the joys of having a big brother. Ty and Andy in mid-wrestling match
Who will be triumphant? Probably the BIG brother. But at least they are BOTH smiling.
Proof that I am the coolest mom ever. I took my two older kids to the Jonas Brothers Concert in Vegas. This picture was taken at one o' clock in the morning.
A trip to Vegas is not complete without a trip to the Cheesecake Factory.
While Ty and I took our Vegas sign picture, this was McKayla. So...am I really a good parent? Or is it child abuse when your daughter falls asleep in the middle of a concert she's supposed to be enjoying?
After the Jo Bro Concert--All the kids...that were still awake. :)
We Love The Jonas Brothers. This was before the concert and they were all decked in their Jo Bro outfits. The concert was actually really fun. I knew all the songs and could sing along to every one. SHHHH, don't tell anyone though. Anyone over the age of 16 should not know Jonas Brothers songs.
After the concert Micky just had to have some Jonas PJ's. Doesn't she look awesome?
Once again, it ain't a picture if there ain't a pose.
Moore Family Reunion here again. This is my whole crazy, loveable family. My family was actually in charge this year. We had a BLAST!
One hit of the reunion was our skit bags. This is me in my acting debut. Don't ask me what our skit was actually about.
I was in charge of the crafts for the reunion. Being the completely lazy person that I am, I went with craft that could be created with what we found around us. This was a mask we made with paper plates, leaves, and a few babbles.
Another hit was the pet rocks all the kids got to paint. They are sooo enjoying themselves.
I LOVE this picture. This is my nephew, Ethan. He just accidentally ate a bubble. Isn't that picture priceless?
Best cousins. These kids are practically brothers and sisters yet they still love being together.
This is a random pic. Andy trying on Jerry's shoes. I think I have pictures of all of my children doing this. This pic is especially special because he happened to have stitches in his lip. (check my earlier post for that detail)
Every summer we go to Payson park on Sunday nights and 'watch' the band concert. Usually the grown ups just sit around chatting the whole time and don't hear a word of the music. The kids make their own fun. This week, one of the nice people sitting by us gave them free glow sticks. They thought it was fabulous!
Another kid band concert highlight? Hitting a stick on the trees. FUN!
Fourth of Jyly is always spent in Nephi. Every year Ty tries to do the grease pole. He hasn't made it to the top yet, but he's getting closer.
This is a classic Micky pic. Love it!
Waiting for their turn to climb the grease pole. Do they look nervous?
Daddy and Andy--Making their own fun in Nephi park.
End of Summer. First day of school. It's grade 5 for Ty and grade 2 for Mick.
Hogle Zoo Carousel--We actually did this before school started, but I was just too lazy to change it.
This picture is so cute. I wanted to post the one before it though. It actually captured the essense of what it is like to take photos of kids. The extra cute add-on is my pretend niece Jazzy. She is my cousin's daughter, but I just call her my niece.
Here is Andy's turn on the carousel. He LovEd It!
Ty petting a sting ray at the Living Planet Aquarium.
The awesome part of the Aquarium, the Amazon Rain Forest section. I could stay here for hours.
Isn't this pose to die for? He sat like this throughout the entire aquarium, like he was watching a TV show or something. I loved it.
My sista Teresa graduated with a Master's Degree in the Fall. I was so proud of her. She is an awesome sister and is almost too smart for me now. :)

Well, that's it. If you are reading this, GET A LIFE! Just kidding. Hope you enjoyed the summer exhale of pictures. Don't you wish your family was as cool as we? See ya!

Happy 14th

2009-09-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

Jerry and I celebrated our 14 year anniversary on September 15th. How can time go so quickly on some weeks and seem to have lasted an eternity on other weeks? It reminds me of one of my very favorite books; 'A Lantern in Her Hand' by: Bess Streeter Aldrich. When Abbie Deal's true love comes home from the Civil War and asks her to be his wife. The dialogue goes like this:

"I was afraid all the time, Will"
Will held her close, smoothed her red-brown hair.
Afraid of what, Abbie girl?
"I don't know. Just Afraid."
"You're not afraid with me?"
"Not with you, Will. Why is that?"
"Because I love you and you love me."
"Yes, that's it... and I'm not afraid."
"Of life with me, Abbie-girl?"
"Not of anything, Will, with you."
"And you'll always love me?"
"Always Will,...in this life and the next."

So you understand...this was my vision of what love was as a young teenage girl. Always thinking life held a fairy tale ending for any one who wanted one. Imagine my surprise, when I realized there is no ending and that sometimes you are afraid, and sometimes things go wrong. Maybe Jerry and I don't have a book-ending kind of marriage, but these are all the things I love about my husband.
-He let's me be me. Even when I'm being a bit of a Bee-otch.
-He has worked nights for nine years just so our children won't have to go to daycare.
-He is a hard worker and makes our home and yard look awesome.
-He still thinks I'm hot even though I look so much different than I did when we first got married.
-He is willing to sing really loud in car with me.
-He has given me a love of classic rock(something I didn't think I'd ever want, let alone appreciate)
-He is a wonderful dad.
-He takes me on FUN vacations.
-He still holds my hand even though I know he hates holding hands because he thinks he has sweaty palms.
-He does the laundry and the dishes, and only complains about it once in a while.
-He has a hilarious belly laugh (if you haven't heard it, you really should)
and last but most important...
-He loves me.
Thanks Jer, for fourteen great years. We've had our ups and downs, but I'm glad I've experienced those highs and lows with you.
LOVE YA!

Another Brilliant Idea

2009-08-15T08:39:00.000-07:00

I often sit around thinking that life is good, and how lucky I really am to be alive and have my wonderful family and great friends. However, being the true American I really am, I am never satisfied. What would make having a life of safety and cleaniless (something not attainable in a third world country) better you ask? Why a soundtrack from the sky of course.

I am an avid movie watcher. I love how, when something sad happens, the depressing music crescendos at just the right moment making you cry your eyes out. It's fabulous when the two lovers finally get together and a little bit of a love song floats in from the background. Best of all, in a scary movie, they let us know something bad is going to happen when a creepy tune starts playing right before the guy jumps out of the closet. Wouldn't life be that much more wonderful if this happened for us?

Imagine for a moment you are driving along the road and suddenly, out of nowhere, the Jaws Theme starts playing in your car. Sure enough, right when the music hits fever pitch a hidden policeman pulls out behind you and gives you a ticket. Or, your jerk of a boyfriend that you've given years of your life to suddenly breaks up with you. At the perfect moment, Alannis Morriset's Jagged Little Pill soundtrack rips over an intercom. Now picture yourself having the best hair and clothes day you've had in a long time, and as you walk out of the bathroom Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back comes blasting out. Be honest, wouldn't that be awesome!

I keep hearing all these conspiracy theories, true or fake, about how the Government has devices that can track us where ever we go. Via satelite they pretty much know when you are using the bathroom or blowing your nose. They can track you through your credit cards also, which is why they are trying to make credit card usage an infection that spreads to every person in America. Well, I have to say, that if they have this kind of technology, then why can't they also create the soundtrack tracker?

How it would work is that a music system/satellite would be launched into space for every person in the U.S., because lets face it, there are not enough satellites in space. Then they could just install some type of microchip in your brain that tracks your moods (There's no way some one could use this for evil, right?). Then when your mood changed, a song would play inside your head that was perfect for whichever situation you might be in. It would be SO GREAT!

So, just in case someone ever does get smart enough to create this and not destroy all of mankind with the technology, here is my list of songs I would want in 'Margie's Life Soundtrack'.

A Bad Day- 'You Found Me' by:The Fray or 'Survivor' by:Destiny's Child
A Fat day (don't we all have these?)- 'Big and Chunky' by: will.i.am or 'Paper Bag' by: Anna Nalick
Sporting a Sexy Outfit- 'Sexy Back' by: Justin Timberlake or 'Single Ladies' by: Beyonce
Fighting with someone- 'I Don't Care' by: Fall Out Boy or 'Bad Reputation' by: Half Cocked
A Hard day at work- 'Take Me Away' by: Plain White T's
Feeling Stressed Out- '4 Minutes' by: Madonna and Justin Timberlake
Watching my kids get along- 'Makes Me Happy' by: Drake Bell
Fight with Hubby- 'So What' by: Pink
Tender Moment w/Hubby- 'Your Call' by: Secondhand Serenade, 'No Other Love' by: Chuck Prophet, and 'Crash Into Me' by: Dave Matthews Band
Finding Time to actually go running-'Let It Rock' by: Kevin Rudolf or 'Dirty Little Secret' by:The All-American Rejects
Bidding Farewell- 'Say' by: John Mayer or 'Homeward Bound' by: Mormon Tabernacle Choir

These are just a few of the songs I would request in my micro-chip, brain-implanted soundtrack. I know I would HAVE to have some U2, Pearl Jam, Jewel, Queen, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, and Bing Crosby in there somewhere. Until that day comes, I guess I'll just have to keep my IPod handy and the radio blasting in my car.

A Formal Complaint to "The World"

2009-08-07T20:55:00.000-07:00

7 August 2009

Me
Fed Up Lane
My life

To Whom it May Concern:
I had the opportunity of visiting your "offices" this past week, and I have a few complaints to make you aware of.

First of all, you don't have to make so many cops with attitude problems. They shouldn't follow you for five miles waiting for you to make a mistake. They shouldn't pull you over for not signaling for two seconds before changing lanes. And most of all, they shouldn't treat you rudely just because you drive a ghetto car with duct tape on the bumper. Could you please look into that for me, or at least tell them they should be following the '3 second' rule instead of riding my butt while they wait for me to make a mistake.

Secondly, I would appreciate it if you could keep your winds to a slight breeze. One of your more gusty rebels picked up my tramp yesterday and flung it into a neighbors yard three houses down, completing mutilating it. Also explain to me why you would choose our brand new tramp to pick on when all the surrounding neighbors tramps that are older and dingier didn't even budge an inch. I will be expecting a check for $350.00, the cost of the trampoline.

Lastly, could you please keep your "offices" clean? Frankly, I'm tired of my kids coming in from playing at "your house", and getting their filthy, dirty feet and bodies all over my sheets and couch. I've had to wash my sheets every other day, and bath children who are grumpy because they are tired. You just seem to wear them out, and I need them awake and alert when they start school in a week and half. (Thank Goodness).

If you could just take care of those items for me, it would be greatly appreciated. Oh, and while you're at it, I would appreciate a fog-free brain, a self cleaning house, a car that doesn't require gas (or duct tape), and a reprieve from giving a talk in church on Sunday. Thank you for your prompt reply. I am eagerly awaiting your response.

Sincerely,
Me

Hawaii AND Bust...(my pants that is)

2009-06-27T22:13:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late posting this, but between BBQs, Trampoline set-ups, stitches, classroom moving, etc., I haven't had time.
My husband and I got back about a week ago from a thoroughly relaxing trip to Hawaii. Ahhhhh, was it blissful! We stayed up late, learned to be 'slumdog millin-aires', ate, woke up early, snorkeled, ate, lounged on the beach, ate, saw sea turtles, swam with sharks, ate, watched t.v. without having to get up once to break up fighting kids, ate, read books, solved People Magazine crossword puzzles, ate, drank pina coladas by the Turtle Bay pool, went on a sunset catamarran sail,ate... Are we seeing a common theme?
I think I spent two months trying to body prep myself for this trip. I ate less, exercised more, got a pedicure and gel toes (recommended), a spray-on tan (not recommended), got my hair cut and highlighted, and waxed,well we won't go into that (ouch!) I really wanted to look fabulous. I then spent the entire week of my vacation undoing all the hard work. My spray tan washed off in splotchy blotches after about one trip to the beach. My hair was, well, humidity-driven the entire time (aka frizzy), and I ate so much food I gained five pounds. Why do I do this myself? Because looking good is hard work and work frankly, SUCKS!
Now don't get me wrong. This trip is definitely in the Top 3 BEST vacations I've ever been on. Our friends we traveled with were awesome! We've always been good friends, but it was truly fun getting to know them better. I laughed more in that week than I think I have in the rest of the year combined. I discovered snorkeling and that I love it. I even want to get a Scuba License now. I became a beach bum (which if you've known me at all-you'll know I usually shun the sun). I learned to take life one moment at a time and just breath in the moments I am given. I came home a different, more relaxed kind of person.
So, to recap...With all my work and worry,I didn't look fabulous for even one moment of the trip. I couldn't even compare to the beautiful beach babes walking around Waiemaie Beach. BUT... for the first time in my life I didn't care. This trip taught me that there is more to life than how we look. It's about embracing life and having fun whenever you can. AND... that is a lesson I will keep with me always.
THANKS HAWAII! I'll be visiting you again soon.

KITTIES!

2009-06-22T19:48:00.000-07:00

My sister's cat had kittens a while ago, and ever since, my kids have been begging and begging to have one. I will admit that the kittens are stinkin' cute, but I also know they only stay that way for about two months. Therefore, instead of taking one home we just go over there and hold them until we get our fill of the cuddliness and then leave them there. Here are a couple of pictures of my kids soaking in the cuteness.

Jordan Family BBQ

2009-06-22T19:41:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was the annual Jordan family barbeque. We usually get together when my husband's sister, Jojo, is in town. This year we had almost everyone there. Fun was had by all, and it's always so good to see everyone. It was a great night.

Stitches

2009-06-22T19:28:00.000-07:00

Our poor little guy is very accident prone. He probably falls down, hits his head, and/or skins his knees at least three times a day. Last Friday, he decided to do all three at once. Our little neighbor was bringing him home from playing at their house when Andy decided to break away and run on his own. Sure enough, he face-planted it into our rock pile, sliding his hand and arm down a board that just happened to be sitting nearby. The end result? Stitches and several splinters in his hand and arms. It has been really gross because there is no way to keep it clean. Plus he has a little bit of a cold and blowing his nose has been interesting to say the least. Here are the "have-to" take disgusting pictures of the accident. Warning the pictures are not good, but hey, you got to capture it for posterity. Teeth through the lip?? OUCH!
Still being a sport even when he's in pain.

Kids Big Birthday

2009-06-22T19:17:00.000-07:00

My husband and I decided that this year we didn't want to buy the kids a bunch of toys which we would have to step on and pick up five times a day. So...
This year we bought a joint present for our kids and got them a trampoline. They begged us and begged us to set it up, but we were leaving for Hawaii the next day and didn't have time. When we got home, it was the first thing they asked about when we stepped out of the car. "Will you set up our tramp now?" So... without further ado. Here are the first pictures of the kids and their brand new Tramp. Cute Kids Enjoying Their Present
Toyota! (does anyone remember that commercial?)
Tyty's Tricks
Getting the Hang of It
The New Tramp

Side Note

2009-05-25T09:36:00.001-07:00

So my husband, being the sometimes cheapskate that he is, told me we should just make AJ's cake this year. Why pay $16-$20 dollars for a bakery made cake, when you can cheaply make one from home. Well here is my answer to this question... Would you rather eat this?or this? Yes folks, this is my pathetic excuse for a cake, and no a five year old did not make it. I would also like to thank the makers of You totally saved me on my busy day of baking. After using your entirely cement like frosting on my son's cake, I didn't have to squeeze in my weight lifting session for the day. Easy Squeeze? For who? Professional Body Builders? I have a new slogan for you... 'We Build Cakes, and Muscles' :)

Little Man Turns 2!

2009-05-25T09:05:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my little Andy has actually turned two. His birthday came in with quite a bang and a turn with the stomache flu. Because of this, we had to postpone his birthday party. I was tempted to go exchange his present for that bubble I talked about in an earlier post, but decided that his bike would have to do. We had a small party on Saturday (though his birthday was earlier in the week), and he got some cute clothes, oh sorry, totally manly clothes, and some cars.

Because it is his birthday and he is growing up so fast I wanted to reflect on those things he can do today that he couldn't do just one year ago. In no particular order:
1) Say "Mommy, I yant that"
2) Try to go potty (he actually went for the first time the day before his birthday, but he sort of missed- oh well, I wouldn't want to have to navigate those waters if I were a guy)
3) Talk on the phone
4) Clean up the milk he spills (of course he just spills it again, but at least he tries)
5) Throw a mean temper tantrum
6) Devise distraction methods when he really wants something (like make a mess in the bathroom and while you clean it up sneak his own fruit snacks in the kitchen)
7) Pull the kitchen chairs into any room he wants to in order to reach things up high.
8) Say he loves me and will see me later when I drop him off at the babysitter
9) Dance like there's no one watching, but of course we all are watching (it's cute)
10) Fake cry (the boy is destined for stardom, he can even squeeze out fake tears)
11) Sing songs he hears on the radio
12) Come home from the babysitter and say "Tyty, Kay-ya, I'm home!"
13) Say "Daddy go work now?" seventeen times, even after he just watched Jerry walk out the door to go to work
14) Play with cars for at least an hour (I can actually get things done once in a while)
15) Help daddy with yard work
16) Pretend to drive the car and say "Bye, bye mom, I go work now"
17) Watch at least half of a video without getting into trouble
18) Love Mickey Mouse (Yay, he takes after his mom)
19) Copy almost anything he hears you or anyone else on TV say
and finally...
20) Give me hugs and kisses (this is big for him- he is not a cuddly kind of guy)

We love you Andy... And let the Terrible Twos commence!

Here are some random pics of his birthday party. They are pretty much hideous, reminding me once again how badly I need a new camera, and that I need to be the photographer. Jerry never gets closeups.

Photo Op

2009-05-18T22:05:00.000-07:00

My awesome friend Jill took these adorable pictures of the family. I am truly amazed she could get anything this good. Andrew was a stinker times thirty and wouldn't sit still for three seconds. I can't believe how old my kids are getting, especially since I have just consistently stayed the same age for the last four years. Weird? Yes... But not impossible. :) Enjoy looking at my beautiful family and don't be jealous of my youthfulness. You can have this same georgeousness too, with not too many products. (If you are wondering if I am joking, just check out some of my earlier posts. :)

Staycation Spring Break

2009-05-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

Spring break happens around here in mid-April, not May. However, I have currently been trying to be as lazy as I possibly can and am now just posting what we did for Spring Break this year. My fingers are already cramping up from the use. Therefore, in as shortened version as possible, here are our break highlights.
-Wednesday sat around being bored, decided to have another part of my varicose veins fixed on Thursday in the hopes I would get some good painkillers, and be in a tired stupor the rest of the time.
-Thursday, alas, legs feel perfectly fine. No painkillers needed at all. *SIGH* have to actually plan something fun to do.
-Friday, trip to the Living Planet Aquarium near the point of the mountain. Turns out to be not as lame as I thought it might be. Bought a season pass since I could pretty much sit and watch fish in a tank all day. Very relaxing! That is until I lose my "almost" two year old for 20 minutes. Find him playing in a fake canoe, completely not worried at all that he hasn't seen us for while. (*Note: my husband took this photo. I actually try to get people's faces when I take pictures. :)
After aquarium go to the Mayan for dinner. Once again, food is, how do I put this politely...barfy. However, get best seats in the house, kids have a blast, ends up being a very fun night.

-Saturday, trip to the Ogden Dinosaur Park w/Grandpa and Grandma, cousins, and Mindi and Jason. Andy is a crazy 2 year old the whole time, until I make him "scared" of the dinosaurs, then good. Nice day, lots of sun, Grandpa tries driving a different way and takes an hour longer getting home than he needs to (my dad has done this since I was little, so not a surprise, unfortunately). Another fun day.

-Sunday, recover from all the greatness. Start planning my Staycation for next year.

Props to the British Lady

2009-04-17T21:15:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to do a shout-out to Susan Boyle. She might have caterpillar eyebrows, a two pillow body, and some frizzy hair, BUT...
The woman can sing!
I almost cried watching this because she was brave and lived her dreams. Check one off her bucket list. If you don't know who I'm talking about following this link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY-rXfy8U7w&feature=related

*Sorry, you'll have to copy and paste into the address window, but I'm still not technology savvy with this blogger stuff. Oh, and if anyone knows how you get the words that are bigger and a different font in your posts, let me know. I'm still learning.

The First Tiny Babystep

2009-03-27T21:27:00.000-07:00

If you read my bucket list post you know that one of the things I posted was to get a book published, so I just joined a Writer's Group and had my first meeting with other fellow wanna-be authors. I have to say...It...was...so...much...fun! (You were expecting a sarcastic comment weren't you?) I had one of those "Wow, I'm right where I should be" kind-of moments. Everyone was so funny and talented and gave such great feedback. I am really excited about it. For once in my life I said I am going to do something, and I am actually working to do it. I am currently working on my first YA novel and am loving it. I wish I had more time to concentrate without getting up to get drinks and break up fights every two seconds, but you know those are the dangers of doing stuff for yourself when you are a mom. Also, I am in charge of our meeting next month and have to come up with an agenda and things for us to do and work on in our writing. Anyone have any good suggestions?

200 and Counting...Grey Hairs That Is

2009-03-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

My whole life I have always thought that I would grow old gracefully. As a 17 minus high school student I pretty much pictured myself looking like those old ladies on TV with pristine skin and white, perfectly manicured hair that could still do the splits in their sixties. I was looking forward to being old enough that I could say whatever I wanted, rude or otherwise, and people would just say, "Oh, she's just old...pay no attention to her". As this has begun to occur however, I want to go back to that young and totally unappreciative girl and slap her silly.
So about a year ago, I found my first grey hair. No big deal. I pulled it out and tossed it carelessly into the garbage. I didn't realize that this grey hair had friends and that they would be angry for the loss of their brother. (I assume that a grey hair would be male-I don't know why) The grey hair family has now launched an assault on my head in retaliation, and I have to admit I hate it! How can the rest of your hairs be so soft and pleasant and those grey hair ones so coarse and hard to pull out? Every time I take a shower there is all this hair in the drain, but strangely enough not even one is a grey hair. It's like they have a mind of their own and really strong grips, which is probably why I assume they are male. I also have not been able to make it into my hair dresser who has been on vacation, so I have a large landing strip down the middle of my head and the grey hairs are shining beacons of light down the sides of it. Truly Hideous!
As if the grey hair army is not enough, the wrinkles have also formed an alliance with the grey hair generals and are marching a frontal assault right between my eyes. Suddenly every time I look in the mirror I find a new little canyon forming. Can anyone say Botox? Or more importantly can anyone tell me where the free Botox fairy lives? I will admit that I never wanted Botox before, but that was when I naive, stupid, and still thinking that I would grow old gracefully. How is it that my morning beauty regime five years ago was this...And now my morning regime consists of this? Yep growing old is expensive.
The final old age problem is my legs. I have the most aweful, horrible, ugly legs you have ever seen. (No, a picture will not be included here) Varicose veins would be shouting a "We're not worthy" at the monstrosities on my legs. I will admit right now that I have not worn shorts in over five years because of this. (Yes, I am that woman wearing long pants at the swimming pool.) I even went to Vegas last year and wore jeans in 105 degree heat. So... finally I am doing something about it. I have an appointment in one week to start getting my legs fixed.
YAY ME! This summer might be my first summer in five years that I wear shorts. My daughter encouraged me even further by telling me, "Wow mom, you could actually buy a cute skirt for once." This was right after her comment of, "You're getting the purple lines fixed? What are you going to do about the fat?" So daughter...I am setting a wonderful example for you right now. The example being "Only try to change the things that you can pay to fix", oh and I might need to add Lipo to my list of fixables.

Celebrity my BEEP

2009-03-01T19:09:00.000-08:00

If you know me at all, you know I am a major celebrity gossip junkie. I buy People magazine on a regular basis (still can't commit myself to the $60 yearly rate though), I watch celebrity Extra all the time. I am usually minor obsessed with what they are up to and how their lives are going.

HOWEVER...

Lately I am a little disgusted with Celebrity Hype. How many awards shows do you have to have to pat yourself on the back?

I want an Educator Academy Award. And the award for the best comeback to a student comment goes to..., And the award for holding your pee the longest goes to..., And the award for executing with perfection a completely unplanned lesson goes to...
You see what I mean? NO ONE else has so many awards to congratulate themselves for doing...uh...THEIR JOB!

I am also a little angry that in these times, when the economy is horrible and we are all limiting our grocery shopping trips to Mac and Cheese and Raman Noodles, we get people dressing like this...

Now I know Miley is a teen idol, but what the _? And also what is up with this...
Did she clear out the total currency of a third world country for these monstrosities? I think these earrings are worth more than my house!

So celebrities, quit patting yourself on the back because you actually did what you are supposed to do, and quit flaunting your money to the world! I am now boycotting going out to the movies for at least the next week to show my distaste of the status quo. Honestly people quit giving your business to these people. Now I gotta go...Celebrity Apprentice starts in 2 minutes!

I'm NOT Saying That I Am a Slacker, But I Am a Slacker!

2009-02-13T17:55:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been so long since I posted anything. What can I say other than that I have always been sort of flaky and lazy. It's just that side of my personality coming out. No one should really be surprised about this. However, since I am, in general, such a flake, I do have a multitude of excuses up my sleeve ready to be used at a moments notice. These are my excuses for not posting for a while.
1) My one year old is currently being studied by scientists around the world because he is sooooo smart. I know, it seems crazy, but he is brilliant (and I am NOT being a bragging mom about this :)) They are considering giving me a plaque for my work with him. He is currently repeating everything you say to him. Why just the other day I swear he said "Damn". Haven't I taught him so well? Now if I could just get him to shout it out loud in church he would definitely be the savant I know he is. He is also potty training himself. He came to me just two days ago and asked to be put on the potty, which I did. However, I didn't take his pants off because I thought he was joking. He wasn't. Now if he could just teach his mom how to be smart too.
2) I am 'this close' to getting my first Newberry Medal. I am hard at work on my first YA novel. I've been taking this creative writing class that is just consuming my every moment. Well at least the moments from 8am to 10am on Saturdays. I now have approximately 25 words written already. Whew, it has just exhausted me!
3) I am being considered for the highest award possible in my neighborhood: Most Awesome Mom. I've been pushing my children to become the "popular kids" I always knew they were capable of. They bring friends home every day, and I feed them and let them play questionable video games. This, of course, makes me the "Best Mom" on the block. (jk about the video games being objectionable-I would never allow that)
4) My church calling has just been consuming huge amounts of my time. Especially on those 3 Sundays I have actually made it to church. I tell you, playing the piano for Primary is hard work. I have to really practice at least the 2 to 3 minutes before the kids come in to make it work. It just poops me out. When they come up with some type of honor for doing it, I'm sure it'll be worth it though.
5) My campaign for "Teacher of the Year" is currently underway. I've been trying to keep my sarcastic comments down to just 10 per day, have everything for my lessons ready at least 30 seconds before I start a lesson, and tutor students in my free time. Well, that last one hasn't happened yet because I have no free time, but it is in the works. I'm thinking I'll be ready to start it in just under 2-3 years. So far no awards, but one day, one day, I'll get what's due to me.
So as you can see, I can't help that I haven't posted for a month. My life is complicated and messy. I do vow to start posting more regulary again. Of course, I am a slacker, so you really shouldn't count on it. Blogger of the year just isn't on my agenda right now, what with all the other awards I'm trying for. Anyway...Cross your fingers for me! I'm sure my time is coming.

What I've Been Up To

2009-01-14T20:22:00.000-08:00

1 entire roll of unrolled toilet paper...$0.90
1 box of cereal emptied all over the kitchen floor...$3.95
1 tube of little girls lipgloss drawn on carpet...$2.95
1 entirely unraveled brand new package of dental floss...$1.88
1/2 bottle of hand santizer to clean the kitchen table...$2.50
3 children's books ripped to shreads...$24.00
An 18 mo. old being able to accomplish this in a one week period of time...priceless

A Couple of Bucket List Additions

2009-01-04T16:58:00.000-08:00

These little updates will be popping up here and there on how I'm doing so far in the bucket list. No cross offs yet, but a couple of additions.
21. Go through the temple with my husband...again. Confession time is that we haven't been back to the temple together since we got married. Hopefully we will go back one day.
22. Get a bigger, nicer, more fun house. (I know it is kind of worldly, but I would love to be able to fit a pool table or ping pong table in my house one day. This will never happen in my current house.)

Flu Fun!

2009-01-04T16:40:00.000-08:00

Today is the last day of Christmas Break. I can't say that I am especially sad to see it gone. We really didn't DO anything this break. We had the usual Christmas fanfare, and went to a movie...but that is about it. To round up the fun my youngest got the stomach flu on New Years night and is just recovering from it today. EWWWW...I swear that this kid has had more stomach flu than the whole rest of our family combined. The interesting thing with this is that the throw up scares me to death. I know, it's crazy, but it seriously doesn't gross me out, it freaks me out. I am truly afraid of this. I told my hubby that this is an honest to goodness phobia for me, and he laughed. However, I looked it up and it is an actual phobia, and is actually in the top 10 phobias that people have. So I am a weirdo, but not, if you know what I mean. This means, if you are ever around me and mention that you have had the pukes, I will back up about 10 steps aways from you, and I won't be joking. It won't be my fault that I treat you like a pariah, I just HATE THROW UP. I've decided that God has given me this little boy who throws up every other week as a way to overcome my fear. If I could just get my breathing under control and stop the anxiety, I would be great. Until then...I will just deal with this horror...and start looking for plastic bubbles on Ebay. The whole hamster wheel thing is starting to sound pretty good right now.
Don't laugh...This could soon be me! Bubble Boy's mom.

My Bucket List

2008-12-28T15:33:00.000-08:00

With the New Year approaching, everyone is talking about changing their lives, making resolutions, blah, blah, blah. I hate making resolutions...I'm ready to take on Calvin's New Year's philosophy. OR
Every year it seems I make this big plan to be different than I really am, and every year it just ends up not working out. I'm sure it's because it is really hard to change the person you actually are. Therefore, this year I resolve to just love myself the way that I am. I am NOT going to lose weight. I am NOT going to try to be "more religious". And I am definitely NOT going to try to cook more and like it. I'm going to be "Me" and I am going to like it. HOWEVER...
There are a few things that I do want to accomplish or at least try out in my life time. So here is my "Bucket List". There is no way I can accomplish these things in one year, but maybe within my short time on earth, I might get to it. Here's the list (in no particular order):
1. Travel and Tour Scotland and Ireland. If possible stay in a hotel that looks like this (I'd also like to see a rainbow while visiting Ireland, you know there is nothing more Irish than that.)
2. Take singing lessons and then belt out a solo in front of a crowd.
3. Talk to the President of the United States (on the phone, or in person).
4. Go skiing in Switzerland.
5. Visit Italy: ride in a gondola and see Rome.
6. Meet a HOT movie star for drinks at one of those Hollywood restaurants. Any of the following stars would do...
Viggo Mortensen:Who doesn't want a guy who could kill you an animal if you were starving? (Hopefully he would even wear his Aragorn costume when we met up)

Robert Pattinson: Definitely post haircut. It might be a little Demi Moore/Ashton Kutcher, but that is all right in L.A. :)

Christian Bale: Loved him since Newsies and Little Women.

Jude Law: The accent is what gets me here, not the hairline :)

Gerard Butler: He is unattached and can also sing like nobodies business. Maybe he would serenade me. You think?

(Looking at this, I realize that my "HOT STAR" list is kind of weird,huh, I wonder what that says about me?)

7. Teach high school or college instead of elementary school. Planning just a couple of lessons, having an hour of prep every day, and throwing really annoying students out of class would really be the life.
8. Have a book published (even if it only sells 2 copies)
9. Win a huge sum of money, and by huge I'm talking something over $500. I'm not picky or greedy, I just want to win!
10. Watch all of my kids graduate from college, get married, and be happy.
11. Be a cool grandma. Take my grand kids to concerts, movies, whatever, and have them be happy to hang out with me.
12. Drive a race car... doesn't even have to be in a race. I just want to do it.
13. Run a half marathon. I honestly have no desire to ever run a full marathon. Look at what happens to people who run marathons, and these people train for it. Insanity! But I would like to run a longer distance than a 10K.

14. Live outside of Utah. I have lived in Utah my whole life, never living further away than an hour or so drive from my parents house. I want to see what it is like living around people who won't freak out if I accidentally swear or buy a caffeinated beverage.
15. Swim with the dolphins, really just scuba dive. The ocean really freaks me out, so I want to conquer that fear and just do it.
16. Travel into space. I really wanted to work for NASA for a long time when I was growing up. That will obviously never happen, but I would still like to go up in a space craft and experience weightlessness.
17. Go shopping in Paris.
18. Spend Christmas in New York, staying at a really fabulous hotel of course.
19. Have one of my students do something great and attribute their success to their awesome fifth grade teacher.
20. Surgery for the sake of looking awesome; my preferences in order are: varicose vein removal, laser eye surgery, breast lift, botox, and last but not least lipo on my thighs. No, I don't consider myself vain, but I am not against doing things that make me look better than everyone else. :)
This short list is going to expand as I get older, and it will probably change every other second, but hopefully by publishing this I will be more likely to do these things. Now last but not least, I'm off to find a really old, rich person willing to fund my crazy adventures. Maybe I'll make that number 21...

Christmas Awesomeness!

2008-12-26T18:46:00.000-08:00

Christmas-Need we say more? However, it isn't Christmas without a bunch of grinning family pictures, and pictures of kids ripping open presents, and pictures of tired moms and dads. I have to say that I truly hate Christmas morning pictures. Just about the last thing I enjoy doing is taking pictures of myself first thing in the morning after about 3 hours of sleep. I mean, you'd look like a Diva idiot if you were in full makeup, with your hair done, but honestly I've never had a good Christmas morning picture of myself. The kids look cute and awesome though, so you gotta post those. Anyway, if you are as bored as I am with all this time out of school, you might enjoy wasting it watching a slide show of above mentioned pictures. Have a great time staring at us in full Christmas repose!

Best Bowling Party, Ever!

2008-12-26T17:32:00.000-08:00

The Whole Jordan Clan Oh Yes! I really am not a good bowler! I Maybe Can't Bowl, but I Sure Look Like a Model!
The Jordan family decided that instead of having the usual sit-on-Santa's-lap-gorge-yourself-on-food kind of Christmas parties, we would go out bowling instead. What a great idea! (Seriously Shirlene, nicely done). It was really fun, definitely not the usual cover-up-your-mouth-so-they-don't-notice-you're-yawning sort of get together. We bowled, we ate, we bowled some more, we lost my one-year-old, we ate, and we bowled some more. The Runaway before his escape
If Only He Would Stay This Interested the Whole Time!(Thanks to those kind BYU students who found Andy wandering the top floor of the building and thought to bring him back to the bowling alley, because of course, who else would lose their child but some idiot who was too into their bowling game!) I'm thinking we should make this a tradition. (the bowling party,not the losing children, of course). I beat my best score ever, but still have not caught my white whale (a game in which I score at least 100). I fully blame the machine which ate my ball on the last frame, forcing me to use some sub-par ball I wasn't used to, which made me completely choke. Therefore I scored a 97, so close to that ever elusive 100. Darn those cursed gutters, and that crappy ball with the too-small finger holes! Maybe next time, oh yes, bowling pins, your time is coming.
Anyway, thanks Jordan family for a totally fun, completely not feeling like the worst parent in the world, self-esteem boosting, party. You guys are awesome! See you next year, same lanes, same time (I hope). Merry Christmas!

In Memorium: Hampster

2008-12-15T18:29:00.000-08:00

This is not an actual picture of "Hamster". Sadly we don't even have one photo of the original.
I am a killer of all things innocent and furry. I think it is a genetic trait passed down generation to generation in my family. It started when my dad was just a kid. He grew up in farm country, not a good place for family pets. All his dogs were executed by farmers for getting into their chickens. He couldn't even keep his stick horses alive, because his father would hide them never to be found again.
This curse continued in our family from the time we were little. My sister had a gerbil she put out in the sun to warm up, only to come back in the 100 degree heat to find it legs up in the glass bowl she kept it in. (See anything wrong with this picture?) Several goldfish followed with toilet burials. Next came our dog Macey which we had for about a week before the Avon lady accidentally ran him over.
Following this heartbreak, we adopted two twin dogs, which we lovingly named Thelma and Louis (Hello/?/). Thelma went for a hot night out out on the town and ended up "with child." Soon after, she disappeared. My dad said she had "ran away", but I knew better. After Thelma's mysterious disappearance, Louis was never the same. Her poor doggie heart couldn't take the separation and she hung herself on the back fence. There follow several other accounts which are too sad to re-describe. Let's just say pets = death in the Moore family household.
Because of this, I have never allowed a pet in my home. Reality is that I am just being merciful to the pets. I know what their fate will be if they come in contact with me. However, three months ago, I caved and allowed my school class to get a class pet. I thought this would be a good compromise. My own kids were begging for a pet, but I didn't want to take care of one, so I let my school class do it.
He was a cute, little, white hamster. We named him "Hamster" and he pretty much kept to himself...Up until one week ago. Starting Monday last, he began running in his green plastic hamster wheel, and running, and running, and running. I'm not kidding when I say he ran all day and most likely half the night. I know this because the Wednesday after was my work party and when I went into my room at 8 o' clock at night he was still running in that wheel. Thursday we cleaned his cage and refilled his food and water. He settled down, finally. Thank goodness, because I was starting to hear that spinning hamster wheel even in my sleep. Friday we left and his food and water were full. He was running around his cage, a happy hamster again.
Fast forward to today. I am giving the students their spelling pretest when I realize I haven't heard a peep from "Hamster" all day. I glance down at his cage and see him huddled "sleeping" in the corner of his cage. I try to be discreet as I nudge the cage, hoping he will pop up and start running. Nothing...I nudge harder. I shake. By this time the students have begun to realize something is amiss. I have to break the bad news that Hamster is dead. Chaos ensues... Should we bury him? (Yeah right, it's zero degrees outside), Should we throw him in the classroom garbage? (Uh, hello dead animal stink), Should we burn him and spread his ashes? (This idea is quickly squashed by me). So hamster is now in an unmarked grave in the dumpster behind the school. I am grateful it is cold enough that hopefully he won't start to stink before the garbage man comes.
I do have one question though... How did Hamster really die? We left Hamster with full food and water and in good spirits on Friday. Monday morning every drop of food is gone and there is not even one drop of water in its little water dispenser. Could Hamster have eaten that much food and drank that much water? It's doubtful. It usually takes him an entire week to consume the food and half of the water in his cage. I am starting to think there is a hamster murderer in our midst. There are several suspects in my investigation.
Suspect #1- Evil Sweeper/Cleaner Lady: She hated how we threw the old hamster bedding in the bottom of the garbage can each week. Maybe she off-ed him knowing she would never have to deal with that bedding again. Also she would have been the last one in the classroom on Friday with plenty of time to dump the food and water. Motive and no alibi.
Suspect #2- Cat-Sized Rat that roams the school at night: This rat has never been seen, but is rumored to occupy the attic of the school. He would be big and mean, just the type of bully to kill Hamster and then dump the food and water to make it look like an accident. How could a rat be this smart? Well he's survived in the school for this long; He just might have the guts and brains to pull off just such an operation.
Suspect #3- A Vindictive Student: (This is the scariest thought of all) Maybe one of my students who does not like our class, or our class mascot, Hamster, snuck into the school one night and dumped everything just so they could see the hurt/shocked/devastated looks on all the other children's faces. I currently have two students who are A-wall. It is possible that they might do this.
Regardless, Hamster is dead, and I am not getting another class pet. I mean, what if no one killed Hamster? What if Hamster committed suicide, just like Louis? And so the curse continues...
Fare Thee Well...Oh good and faithful hamster. May your cage be clean and your food be plentiful in heaven. Mrs. Jordan's class will miss you.

A Visit With St. Nick...In Poetry

2008-12-12T20:27:00.001-08:00

Took kids to the mall yesterday.
Didn't have to wait in line.
Couldn't pay the Kiddie Kandid lady...
Took my own pics instead.
Kids were awesome.
Santa never said Ho-Ho-Ho.
Kids told Christmas wishes.
Kids were happy.
No crying involved.
Ran out of the mall.
On to do more Christmas errands.
Whew!

Micky's Christmas Concert

2008-12-12T20:13:00.000-08:00

I don't know why, but Micky is doing the same pose in almost all of her pictures lately. It's her model pose.

On Tuesday, Micky had her first ever Christmas Concert. My mom, dad, sister and her husband, and some cousins were able to come. I need to figure out how to download video so I can show you how cute it is when Micks is singing, but none of the motions of her mouth are actually matching what is supposed to be sung in the song. On the choruses she was awesome, though. The concert would have went off perfectly if not for a certain 1 year old whose first name starts with an 'A'. I don't want to name any names, but Andy was a stinker with a capitol 'S'. What is up with toddlers and going exactly where they shouldn't? The whole time (and I am not exagerating when I say "whole time") he kept trying to run up on stage, so we took him in the hall, and sure enough, he kept trying to escape out the doors into the cool night air. I think all of us were exhausted my the time the concert ended. Once again, wish I could show the video of him throwing himself on the ground in front of the singing kids. Good times! Great Job Micky! I'm proud of you! Andy, all I have to say to you is "One day your kids will do the exact same thing to you..."

Christmas Cheer

2008-12-12T20:06:00.001-08:00

I basically have to redeem myself and prove that my house can actually be clean too. Don't faint, but I cleaned this myself. I will admit that it doesn't still look like this, which is why I had to take the pictures. Also, I can never remember how I decorate my house from year to year, so this might help me next year. It feels so much more Christmas-y when it's clean.

A Few of My Least Favorite Things

2008-12-01T18:05:00.000-08:00

This last weekend was spent in humongo preparations for setting up Christmas Decorations...aka I had to clean my house. I have realized something in the last couple of months that makes this very hard for me. I HATE CLEANING MY HOUSE. Now in all fairness, it isn't all bad. However, this post is a tribute to the things I truly despise when trying to clean my house. Here is the list, not in any particular order...

1. Clothes Left on the Bed and Bed not Made
Now I love my hubby with all the tender mercies of my heart, but he does this to me all the time. He decides that the sheets on the bed need to be cleaned (I mean, it's only been a month :) So he strips them off the bed and puts them in the wash. Next, he takes whatever was in the dryer and throws it on the bed. Last, he leaves for work. I come home and in my hustle and bustle do not notice this until it is time to go to bed. Thus, to finally lay my weary head on my pillow I have to wait for the sheets to dry, fold and put away a load of laundry, then make the bed when the sheets are done. Not pleasant. Sometimes I just get a blanket and throw the clean clothes in the corner. It is the only way I can rebel against this lot I have been given.

2. Human Road Blocks
Every time I try to vacuum my floor, my 1 year old decides to stage a sit-in strike against clean floors. It goes something like this... I turn on the vacuum, he dashes in from some other room in the house, he lays down in the middle of the floor, I turn off the vacuum, he stands up and goes back to playing, I turn on the vacuum, he comes running back in...and the cycle continues. I guess he doesn't want me to clean the floor so that he can eat the leftover crumbs underneath the table or something, but UGH! Drives me crazy.

3.Counters So Messy I Don't Where to Begin. Have your counters ever looked like this? Mine either. I mean, this is just a picture I found on the internet. (wink, wink) I can not stand so many things smooshed altogether like this. You pick one thing up to put it away and the others multiply and replenish while you're gone. It takes me forever to clean up when my counters get like this. I try to keep them sparkling, but sometimes I get so busy and the next thing I know it has degraded to...well...see above picture.

4. Bill Paying and Drawer Cleanouts 101 Okay, once again... Love my hubby. BUT...bill paying is a disaster. Whenever he pays the bills, he leaves everything out. I don't know his filing system or how he has it organized, so I just have to pile it into a pile and throw it on top of the fridge (picture of fridge afterward not included). The other thing he does is clean out what we lovingly refer to as "The Junk Drawer". The only problem with this is that he leaves the contents just sitting on the counter. Hello! I have shoved all those papers, knick knacks, old paper clips, broken pencils, and hotel matchbooks in there for a reason. The reason you ask? So they won't be on the counter. I seriously want to tear my hair out when he does this.

5. Old Wrappers Shoved into Heating Ducts.
Okay, I don't have a picture of this because I was so mad about it, I just had to yell at my kids and send them to their rooms when I discovered it. I found out that garbages are not the "in" thing in my house anymore. I mean, why go all the way to the garbage can in the other room, when there is a sweet and convenient place to store trash in every room. It is called a heating duct. You just lift up the grate, shove your undesirables in there, replace the grate, and voila,you have a secret hiding place for that fruit snack wrapper from the fruit snacks you gobbled down in two seconds. I was wondering what that weird smell was whenever the heater kicked on. DISGUSTING!

So if I ever become a saint,make it to the Celetial Kingdom, and become a Goddess, my worlds I create will never get dirty. Everything will be clean all the time. Cleaning will be banned. But! If I ever want to make it there, I better go give my kids a hug and apologize for my ranting and raving. Hoover vacuum...here I come! Wait, where is my one year old?

Thankfuls

2008-11-23T10:31:00.000-08:00

It's been while since I posted. Since the election and economy shut-down frantic-ness, life has pretty much evened out. It's like the post-Y2K sigh of relief when the world didn't explode, or even worse,;) all the computers shut down. We actually bought gas the other day...can you believe it... under $2. I know, I know, don't pass out!
It just goes to show that all the frenzied hype usually turns out okay, and people get all worked up for nothing. Not that we aren't still in a recession and money is still tight, but Obama won and we are still living.
I hate going along with the crowd, but I thought today would be a perfect day to count my blessings and be "Thankful". It will be kind of a new twist for me to be optimistic instead of pessimistic. So here goes my (*deep inhale)...spewing of the thankfulness...
1) My kids: My one year old has a cold and has only wiped his nose on me twice... pretty good since he has a consistent snot river running out of his nose, and (I Know) he could have wiped on me a lot. I'm grateful for his thoughtfulness. Also my other two have actually asked for a couple of things for Christmas that I can semi-afford. (I mean using a credit card of course :O)They are very patient with a forgetful mom who doesn't always remember to pack a lunch or take them to practices on time. I am a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of mom and they roll with it.
2)My husband, who actually wants to go see the new 'Twilight' movie with me. (As an aside, I think he's just hoping to get lucky afterwards, but still the 'thinking-only-of-his-lovely-wife is still there).
I also feel grateful that he still finds me attractive enough to still try these underhanded things to be with me. :)
3) Weight Watchers. They taught me how to balance my food intake and helped me lose 30 pounds in this last year. Without them I would still look like this...
Oh wait, I ripped up/burned/threw out those pictures. And I really didn't mind counting out those cashew, peas, kernels of corn, grains of rice...too much.
4)Student Teachers: I have an awesome student teacher right now, so I am getting paid and basically doing nothing. Heaven Bless great student teachers...Thanks Camille! Tomorrow I think I'll do some online Christmas shopping while you are teaching math.
5) We finally finished our basement this year and have an awesome place to store more of 'stuff we don't need'. Plus the flat screen t.v. isn't bad, and I have been able to decorate it the way I would decorate the rest of my house if it didn't have green pile carpet.
6)Having stuff we don't need. Now this seems crazy, but I feel grateful that every once in a while I can go to the Dollar Store and purchase things I don't need simply because they are a dollar. That is living the high life when you can buy things you don't need and still survive. :)
7)A Crazy family, that is still in the normal range. My family is quirky, opinionated, out-spoken, insert foot in mouth kind of people. BUT... they are loyal and stand by you no matter how big of an A** you make of yourself.
8)My church calling. I play the piano for the primary at my church. I love sitting back, watching the 'sweet spirits' (kids) yell, talk out, talk back, squirm, and poke, and I don't have to do anything about it. It's nice to not be in charge of the kids for once and just be able to watch others do it.
9)Great neighbors! They don't judge when I go out to get the Sunday morning paper or take out the garbage with my hair sticking out like Einstein and a hole in the behind of my favorite pajama pants. Or at least if they do judge, they are still nice to my face, which is all I really care about. :) (Also really awesome when they took my kids in after they were locked out of the house 2 different days this week when they got home from school)
10) Facebook,blogging,etc. After teaching kids all day and then coming home to hang out with only kids all night, it is nice to be able to "talk"/IM with some grownups once in a while. It is a sanity for me to pretend that I am chillin with adults, even if it is my cyber friends.
11) Kids Shows: I know it is wrong to do it, but I am grateful for those great shows through the years, like Barney, Teletubbies, PB &J Otter, Rolie Polie Olie, and Charlie and Lola that have kept my kids entertained when those summer days were seeming too long to fill (6 hours isn't that long to let your kids watch tv is it?) :)
12) Books-I have loved books my whole life. Even when I was younger, I would go to my friends house and want to read the books they had at their house. Reading is a wonderful escape. When I was younger, it was imagining that I could be magic, or find out I was a princess. Now it is reading depressing books that make me glad that I don't lead those people's lives (Thanks Jodi Picoult for always reminding me that life could suck so much worse than one would ever think).

13) I know I just said books, but I want to do a special shout out to Twilight. This book make it cool to have pale skin again. Being one who burns, peels, then freckles, this is very important to me. I still live in a fantasy that pale white skin will be all the rage again. I'm holding out putting on a swimsuit again until it happens. Thanks Twilight for taking us one step in the right direction. It also made me feel like a smitten teenager again, which I appreciate since my wrinkles have staged an all-out assault on my face recently.
14) My I-POD. I know it isn't right to be grateful for such "wordly" things, but I love my IPOD. I love that, instead of purchasing a whole CD and only listening to 3 songs on it, I can just buy the three songs. My IPOD has actually saved me a lot of money in not having to purchase CDs anymore. (Now if I could just get my husband on board. He is very anti-technology. I think I could post anything about him on here and he would never read it...not from the "Devil Computer". Just kiddin' babe. I luv ya)
15) Learning and Knowledge: Where would we be without it? I seriously love learning new things. I get a little obsessive when I have something new to conquer or puzzle out. I love taking the lessons I need to teach and finding a new way to teach it that is better. I love watching TV channels that make me learn something I didn't know before (thnx NatGeo, TLC, Discovery, Food Network, etc) I mean it really is fascinating to me to see how glass bottles are made, and watch as they discover the long lost wreck of famous pirates. This is my geeky side coming out.

Well, that's it. It's all I got. I could keep going and going, but if I don't stop now, I'll miss Thanksgiving altogether. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Just Like My Mom...(Did I just say that?)

2008-11-11T17:30:00.001-08:00

Following in his mothers footsteps, Ty went and got glasses today. Sniff, Sniff, my little guy is growing up. It seems like I was about his age when I got my first pair of glasses. Of course my glasses were not as cool. They took up half my face and were pink (think the early 80's here people). I did everything I could to lose, smash, hide, or scratch them, but they endured...and thus I became a...gasp... "GEEK".Tyler looks so good in his glasses. Like he was born to wear them, not unlike Bella being born to become a vampire:). I'm kinda jealous of his ability to still be cool and be a four eyes. Now he will be able to play basketball and football and see the board. So he'll become a double whammy...smart and a jock!

Tyler's New Glasses...What a hottie!

Myself, on the other hand, has never quite "grown into" my glasses. They still sit there on my face as an atrocity. This latest pair I call my "Pam" glasses. I spent as little amount as possible on them and they definitely look like it. I can just imagine Michael saying to me..."Oh Margie, ugh, ew, you look so...ugh...ugly". But oh well...what can you do? Once you turn 30, it's pretty much downhill from there.

Lovin' the "Geek" glasses

On the up side...my daughter, Micky, is also following in my footsteps with becoming a dancer. She can bust a move and strike a pose just as well as I can. She sings and dances all over the house. Sigh, I've taught her so well. Someday she will be able to become as cool of a mom as I am. That is when she decides she loves me again. Right now she currently "Hates" me. Also like me, she yells really loud when she gets mad, stomps around so that the house shakes, and slams a door like she really means it. Unfortunately, this is also how I was as a child. (Of course, I never do those things anymore :) Oh why can't we choose the traits we pass on to our children?
Dancing Queen...She's that girl...

Andy, so far, has inherited two of my very best traits; my cheesy smile and my thoroughly upbeat, totally not sarcastic, very, times infinity, positive attitude:) Actually he is much cuter than I ever hoped to be, but I guess you have to take at least something from your dad,Right?
Cheeser

For those of you out there considering ever being a mom,take this from me: Your kids will drive you crazy. (Mostly because they act exactly like you:) They will "hate" you and ask you for money and complain how you are the "meanest" mom in the world. BUT...For some reason (maybe I'm a masochist) you will love them more than anything else in the whole world. So bring on the following in my footsteps. There are worse things in this world than becoming like your mother. Did I just say that again?

The End is Near!

2008-11-05T19:47:00.000-08:00

You gotta love being a teacher during election season. Today was a great day for gossip of the 'National Enquirer'-kind. According to my fifth graders, because Obama won the election, the following things are GOING to happen:
-All illegal aliens are going to be rounded up in a gigantic sting and sent back to their home countries
-World War III is starting tomorrow and it is going to be a nuclear war
-All the troops are coming home from every country they are currently stationed at (this is going to be the cause of the nuclear war)
-No one is going to have any health insurance anymore, except illegal aliens (interesting since all illegal aliens are being sent back to their home countries)
-Obama killed McCain
-Obama is a terrorist and is planning on bombing the White House as soon as he moves in (this seems like a strange move to bomb your place of residence, but he is crazy right :))
-Obama is going to be assassinated in exactly 17 days (don't ask me how this student knows this- Should I be afraid of said student?)
-Obama is changing the name of the United States (they didn't know what he was changing it to though)
-Obama is going to burn all U.S. Flags
-Obama is inviting terrorists to stay at the White House where they will murder the senate and John McCain
and my #1 favorite rumor of the day is... (drum roll please)
-Barack Obama was flying one of the planes that hit into the World Trade Center Towers. (Here is the proof...) :) They were caught a little off guard when I asked how he was still alive today, if he was on one of the planes, but of course that just started more rumors of "magic" and "ghosts".

Now my wonder in all of this is where in the world are they getting this information? At first I just had to laugh as the stories became more and more ridiculous, but after a while, I felt mass hysteria building. I hate these crazy emails that get sent around about the candidates. What was being talked about in elementary school today shows that some people actually believe these crazy things.

So in honor of the crazy political emails, I am starting one of my own. You'll have to let me know if you actually get it. It is going to mention that McCain and Palin are robots which Obama programmed himself just so he would win the election. He got the money for building the robots from the Russians who he is in a secret plot with to destroy the potato crop in Idaho, thus making millions of Americans perish from starvation. I think if I attach a 'God will hate and destroy you' or 'If you love America...' message at the bottom it might actually get sent to every person in America.

Seriously though, I think everyone who is so worried about Obama being President just needs to calm down. All through history we've had good Presidents and bad Presidents and yet the nation has still managed to survive somehow. We have checks and balances in place so that a dictatorship doesn't happen. Everyone take a deep breath and chill.

As for me, I am going to do what I always do when something stresses me out or makes me depressed. I am going to pop in my old episodes of 'The Office' and just be happy that I don't work for Michael Scott or have a desk next to Dwight. Although I would love to hear what Dwight would have to say about all this Obama stuff...

Halloween 2008

2008-11-02T10:52:00.000-08:00

We just got back from our trip to Disneyland on Halloween day, so the whole Trick or Treating thing was not quite as exciting as it usually is. We decided to go and hang out at Teresa's house for the night because I wasn't quite ready to be home from vacation yet. The whole family met up at Teresa's and all the kids went Trick or Treating together. Andy loved it! He wouldn't let go of his treat bucket the second he realized all these people were giving him free candy. He didn't complain once as he ran from house to house. Ty and Micks had just had a lot of walking practice from being at Disneyland, so they were all ready to walk miles to get more candy. There was delicious food, great company, and good conversation. It was a perfect way to end a wonderful vacation. Now to load you down with some cute Halloween pics.
Ty and Andy playing on Teresa's Porch

Andy's Light Fascination

All the Cousins costumes

Grim Reaper/Zombie Tyler

Tinkerbell McKayla

I love Halloween candy and costumes!

Our little 'Squirt'

Disney Recap

2008-11-02T08:38:00.000-08:00

My only Disney complaint...My Hair is Hideous!

Although it seemed as if I had disappeared off the face of the earth,(truthfully it did seem weird to look at my blog and see that it was so long since my last post)I was not kidnapped by aliens! (Weird coincidence that my last post was about aliens and then I disappeared :)) I have instead been on a family vacation.
Jerry and I have had this Disneyland trip planned since summer, which seems kind of pathetic when other people seem to just have a whim and go. We left Andy with my mom and dad and just took Ty and Micky. It was kind of nice to not have to worry about a stroller or diapers for a few days, even though every little kid I saw that was Andy's age made me miss him. This is all you need to know if you don't want to be bored stiff. Fair warning, I am going to go into a lot of detail because I am using this kind of like my journal, so just know that it is going to be long and boring! If you want, skip ahead, to my slide show with some of our fun Disney Pics.
We left on Saturday, Oct. 25th, not early in the morning, because that is just not our style. We borrowed Jerrys dad's car, so we had to stop and pick it up in Monroe. It added about an hour to our drive, but was worth it when we figured out that we traveled the entire trip on what would have be one tank fill up in our car. The first day we just went as far as Buffalo Bills Casino, which is on the Nevada/California border. Needless to say, we couldn't gamble with the kids, so we ended up renting, 'Get Smart' and watching it that night in our hotel room.
The next day, Sunday, we traveled the rest of the way. We had decided to splurge this trip and stayed at the Disneyland Hotel (no regrets, the service was awesome, the room was clean, and the park convenience was amazing. Kayla fell down and skinned her knees and I went to the front desk to get her a bandaid. Not only did they fix her up, but they gave her balloons too, which I didn't even have to pay for. Now that's service!- I seriously think Disney owes me some money for this free advertising on my completely popular blog :0)) We went into the parks that day. It was busy, but not crazy, and we watched the Fireworks show. I have to say at this point that I love Disneyland at night. It does seem kind of magical with all the twinkling lights and yummy smells and music playing. We were also able to walk on to a few of the Disney must-rides (Dumbo, Tea Cups, etc.) that night.
On Monday, we woke up a little late, so we decided to go into the California Adventure park first since it was just opening. We made two mistakes this day. Mistake #1- Ate 2 doughnuts for breakfast. Mistake #2- Rode California Screaming two times in a row. Enough said, except that Jerry got sick enough that he had to spend a few hour in our hotel room. The kids and I were gung ho (I don't even know how to spell that) and decided to stay and ride what we could. We went on the new Toy Story Mania ride and then explored places that are kind of hidden in Disneyland. We had a blast going to Turtle Talk with Crush. Crush actually picked Tyler out of the audience to talk to (I knew that red hair would help him in some way in his lifetime) which meant he also had to talk to me. Embarassing! I always sound like such a dork on a microphone. Afterwards we found the 'Beasts Library' and took a quiz to see which Disney character we were most like. Kayla was being grouchy, so the quiz told her she was most like Malificent, the evil queen on Sleeping Beauty. We laughed about that one, because she really is evil when she gets hungry. Not so funny though when the character I was most like was 'Lady' from 'Lady and the Tramp'. Yes, I am most like a dog. Then we went to Ursula's lair, where she steals your voice and puts it into a cartoon. We played on that for a while and had some good laughs when we figured out you could say whatever you wanted and it would dub it in. Jerry was better by then and met up with us for lunch. At this point, I must give a shout out to Disneyland food. It is expensive, but so worth it. I didn't eat a yucky meal the whole time I was there. This was something else we decided to splurge on also. I didn't want to have to sit eating a peanut butter sandwich again while other people walked around with churros. We ate pretty much every meal in the park, and it was so worth the 5 pounds I gained. Anyway, the rest of the day was spent in Disneyland park. It looked busy, but we ended up walking on to every ride. Our longest wait was like a half hour, so not bad at all. That night we watched the 'Parade of Dreams' and the kids loved it. Ty, Kayla, and I had spent the entire day in the park from opening to closing, so we were exhausted, but happy.
Tuesday morning, when I woke up, I felt like I had run a marathon. Every muscle in my body hurt. It was a major wake up call that I am no longer young. I felt a little better when Ty and Micks also said their legs hurt from the day before. (Aren't I a mean mom?) We spent that day riding rides (walking on again). I saw so many kids freaking out or having to be forced on to rides, and I felt so grateful for my little daredevils. Micks and Ty rode every ride. They loved the scary rides the most (California Screamin' was their favorite ride). It was also a highlight to meet Jack Skellington and Sally from 'Nightmare before Christmas'. The actors sounded just like the characters and spent about 5 minutes talking to the kids, which is a lot when there is a huge line of people waiting behind you. Jack was horrified (a thing he loves) when he found out humans eat something called 'scrambled eggs' for breakfast, and Sally was fascinated by the swinging jewel on Micks pen.
That night we met Jerry's sister, Joelle, and her family for dinner. We were going to meet somewhere else, but ended up running into them in Downtown Disney. We ate at the Rain Forest Cafe and then played in the Lego Store. It was nice meeting up with them. Their twin girls are darling. Every time a "thunderstorm" hit it the restaurant and then ended they would say, "Whew, I made it". Afterwards, we decided to take the kids to see High School Musical 3. It was ten o'clock at night, so Kayla fell asleep during the opening credits, but Ty loved it. (And okay, I've already admitted to being a geek, so I guess it won't hurt, I kind of enjoyed the dancing and singing too). We had to pack Kayla back to the hotel afterward, so it was a good thing our hotel was right next door to the movie theater.
By Wednesday we had rode everything, so we just recapped our favorite rides. That morning we decided to do a Character Breakfast. It was also a major highlight of the trip. The kids thought eating with the characters roaming around and teasing them was great. Ty got this vendetta going with Captain Hook. Hook took Ty's hat and threw it across the restaurant and made him go get it. One of the workers told Ty that you only had to say 'Tick Tock' and Hook would run away. Ty decided to try it, and it worked. The second he said 'tick tock' Hook took off running and hid behind a counter. Every time he would peek over Ty would say 'tick tock' and he would hide again. I have to give a shout out to whoever was in that costume because it made Ty's day. Plus, it was really entertaining for us. We met up with one of my old friends that I used to work with that day. She taught with me last year, but quit at the end of the year to work at Disneyland. I wish I had those kind of guts. Her and her husband went around the park with us, and gave us the inside scoop on things. It was really great to see her again. We watched the Pixar Play parade that day and got wet. The kids went swimming in the NeverLand pool that night. (which Kayla claims was the best part of the entire trip). They had tried to go swimming the day before, but one of the other guests at the hotel had left a little present in the pool and it had to be evacuated (all I can say is EWWWW).
I have to say that I was really sad to walk out of the park on our last night and leave the twinkling lights, the yummy churros, and the Jiminy Cricket music behind. My friend told me that she smiles every day as she walks into work in the park, and I have to say that I would too. I love Disneyland. It is seriously the happiest place on earth for me. I can't wait to take Andy back when he is big enough to ride everything. Our kids were the perfect age. They could ride everything, but they were still mesmerized by the characters and the magic.
Anyway, sorry for the novel, but you didn't have to read the whole thing :) Maybe I wouldn't be all that sad to have been abducted by aliens, if their home planet was a gigantic Disneyland. I would go back tomorrow if I could.

Disneyland Pics

2008-11-02T08:37:00.001-08:00

Presidents and Aliens

2008-10-15T19:32:00.000-07:00

Should I Vote For...

THIS GUY?

THIS GUY?

OR THIS GUY?...

Wow! I just watched an entire show about all the technologies the world has achieved because of the Roswell UFO crash. Did you know we got fiber optic cable, lasers, cell phones, personal computers, and bullet proof vests from information that was gleaned from an alien space ship? It has to be true because of the head of the UFO society proved it. Did you also know that Barrack Obama's campaign was supported by terrorists in Pakistan, and John McCain is going to take away all types of Health Care for Americans? It has to be true because someone sent me an email that said it was true. What are the similarities between the two? Information with an opinion attached.
I am getting so tired of sorting out what is true and what is fake when it comes to our Presidential Candidates. I feel like I've been eating, sleeping, breathing political fodder for, like, 2 years! Enough is enough! Let's just vote and be done with it. I'm sick of politics. Give me a good Brangelina story, or a Brittany melt down. These are things that I can choose to gossip about without offending anyone.
What unites us as U.S. Citizens? Complaining and making fun of people of course. I want to stop debating about Democrats and Republicans, Obama and McCain, and start making fun of the true Hollywood idiots again. I want to stand in line at the grocery store and complain about the slowness of the line or the price of the milk I'm buying, and not discuss the economic crisis. I want to walk into the gas station and exchange a look with someone about the crazy weirdo using the pay phone outside, and not exchange an "I can't believe I just sold my soul for a full tank of gas" look. I am ready to walk into the polls on Election Day and vote for Elmo, because at least he would be cute as he ruined the economy, fueled the energy crisis, opened 7,000 Charter schools, put in school vouchers, and took away my health care. So I am done with the debates, the news stories, and the commercials telling me to vote for one candidate or another. Let's just do it already!
At least we can take comfort in the fact that the aliens are watching us from above, ready to bestowe a technology that will save us all in the end. Right?

Holy Halloween Batman!

2008-10-14T18:16:00.000-07:00

I've gotten into this bad and somewhat weird habit of wanting to play Lego Playstation games. My oldest and I have enjoyed hours of Lego Batman of late. Those Lego people are ingenious with mixing humor and downright fun gaming. The other night however, I got way too into the game and completely forgot that I had a one year old I should be checking on often. He kept coming in and out of the room, so I didn't think anything of it until he came in with chocolate all over his face and a mile wide smile from ear to ear. So I take the rest of the candy bar away, wash him up, and pick up the playstation paddle just in time to fight cat woman. It is only about a minute later when, lo and behold there is Andy with another candy bar. Check out the pics of how Andy was acquiring his candy bar stash. I had forgotten I had filled up our candy holder entirely. I guess I better wait to put out the candy until it is actually Halloween. Oh, and I should also quit playing video games.

Chocolate Face

More Candy Mommy?

He, he, he...Mommy will never know :0)

Andy is getting so smart! He is also saying so many words and speaking his own language lately. The other night he kept saying "I yunt Bamba" and we thought it was so cute that he was asking for his grandpa. He kept saying it and saying it until it wasn't so cute anymore, but still I was so proud that he liked grandpa so much. Pretty soon Ty comes in and flips on the TV right when the 'SpongeBob' theme song is playing. Andrew comes running in with his cheesy smile on his face, points to the TV and says "BamBa!" Yeah, my son loves SpongeBob and not his grandpa. Oh well, sorry Grandpa!

The Ageless Jordan Family

2008-10-14T17:55:00.000-07:00

I've seen this website on other blogs and thought I would check it out myself. It's www.yearbookyourself.com. This site provided hours (well, hour anyway)of enjoyment for my family. The kids were laughing so loudly that Jerry had to check it out himself. These our some of the fun pics we made.

This was the family favorite! Ty is McFly!

Micky looks WAY to old for this 1950's photo

Wow, what a stud! Jerry looks great with 70's hair :)

My Personal Favorite Straight from the 80's

Seventies Hottie

If I were a sixties babe!

New Twilight Movie Trailer

2008-10-11T19:06:00.000-07:00

Not to sound too Mormon Mom-ish, but there is a new Twilight Movie Trailer out that has me wanting to add a movie countdown to my blog. There is something just hot about dating a vampire. Anyway, check it out at:

http://www.twilightthemovie.com/ecard_widget/

(I know there is a way to make it a direct link, but alas, I don't know how without making it an html link. So copy, paste in the address box, and enjoy!)

Speed Demon

2008-10-10T19:20:00.000-07:00

I guess I will never learn my lesson. What can I say? I like to drive fast. I listen to music and push on my gas pedal a little too hard and I like it. I love to roll down the windows on a cool night and feel the wind whip through my hair. I love watching the signs fly past and the telephone poles zip by. I should have been a race car driver, but we all can't be Danica Patrick, so every once in a while I pretend.
My only problem with this addiction are the many tickets I have received with this passion. It just doesn't seem fair. Now some of these tickets are well deserved, and frankly I lucked out that the policeman was nice enough to say I was only going ten over, when really it was more like 15 or 20. However, a few have totally not been my fault. For instance the time when my husband 'inherited' his grandma's "Ghetto Car", as we so lovingly nick-named it. I had to go somewhere and our other car was broken, so my hubby tells me to just take it. My brother-in-law has been driving it for a year with an expired registration. What is the harm, right? Wrong! I was on the road for a total of 5 minutes before I got pulled over and threatened to have my car impounded as my children cried in the back seat that mommy was being sent to prison. Now these things are not my fault. It is just my bad luck.
I must admit right now that my latest ticket, however, is totally and utterly my fault. I'm on my way to pick up my youngest who is being babysat at the 'Snack Shack' at a football game(long story). In my defense, I am stressed out because it is cold and he doesn't have a jacket, so I am driving a little over the speed limit to go pick him up. Now most people would know that the new police station is right across the street from the High School,but I am oblivious to this fact, so I speed. Sure enough, I spot the cop a bit late, slam on my brakes (making me look not guilty at all, right?), and swerve. So not only am I a speeder, but a reckless driver as well. I pull over even before he turns his lights on and watch as he walks to my car. 'Are you okay, maam?' he asks. And I am thinking this is a strange question until I realize that he thinks I am drunk. I don't know what it is, but even thinking that someone thinks I am guilty makes me feel guilty. I am wondering if maybe I am drunk and just don't know it. So I say, 'I think so?' as I shakily try to get my driver's license out of the stupid tiny pockets they make in wallets for your license. It takes me about two minutes to get it out, and I try not to curse so I look like a nice,frazzled, mormon mom. Finally I hand it over and rifle through the bazillion papers in my glove box looking for the registration information and hand it over as well. I am acting like such an idiot that I am sure he is going to have me walking the line any moment. But I luck out. This has got to be one of the nicest policemen of all time. (I would say 'the nicest' if he hadn't given me a ticket). He asks, "So were you late to pick someone up, or having a bad day, or what?" I tell him my story about the babysitter (and remember that it is a long one), and he nicely lets me off with writing the ticket as if I was only going 10 over. He explains to me that I can go to traffic school 'right over there' and points to a building only about 50 yards away. 'That's the new police station' he smirks. So I have won the right to go to traffic school and the right to wear a stamp on my forehead that says, "I am an idiot".
Oh well, lesson learned, and the lesson is this: It is okay to speed, but it is not okay to speed 50 yards from the new police station.

The Police Station under construction. This is about where I was when I got pulled over. BOO HOO, ME!

Horrors!

2008-10-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

I came to a gross realization today. I...Am...A...Geek. I truly am. I am the band geek that never joined the band. That is exactly how I feel today. These are my conclusive reasons for being a geek
A) I listen to and love weird music. I sometimes crank Ella Fitzgerald and Doris Day in my car. I actually love putting on my headphones and turning up "Ballads"; Meatloaf, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi: the really great Hair Band love songs of the eighties. I also don't mind listening to the bubble gum pop my kids listen to. I actually like listening to it, but say I had to download it off of itunes for them.
B) I like to watch Disney Channel sitcoms. I think 'The Suite Life' and 'Wizards of Waverly Place' are funny TV shows. I don't watch cartoons because of my children. I truly like watching cartoons. It's really pathetic.
C) I wear the ugliest glasses ever made. They are like a cross between "the fifties" working man and some eighties couture model. I've worn glasses since I was in third grade, and I have tried to convince myself that it makes me look smart, but I am sorely mistaken. They definitely make me look like a geek.
D) I like to dance. I pretend I am good at it and that I'm a cool mom for dancing with my kids. However, as I was "trying" to dance the other day with a couple of students, I realized that I looked like my mom when she would try to dance with us. I'm getting to be an older person who should never embarrass my children by trying to show of my "awesome" dance moves. (As a matter of fact, I think even using the word "awesome" makes me a geek.)
E)I sing really loud in my car, and I am sure that other people have noticed it. I groove and get into it and don't even think about it. Today I passed someone on the road doing the same thing, and thought to myself, "What a weirdo", of course it took me a minutes to realize that I had to stop singing myself to notice this. I have now taken a vow to never do it again, and to be honest, it makes me sad. I like doing it and will probably still practice in the safety of my own home.
and Last but not least F) I used to get really mad that when my best friend in high school and I would double date, I always got the ugly, dorky one. "Why do I always get stuck with him?" I would ask myself. Then I realized recently that they were thinking the same thing. I was the ugly, geeky friend they were getting stuck with. GASP! What goes around comes around I guess.
Therefore, I am taking an oath today to try to stop being geeky. I am doing it in the name of my children, who I will undoubtedly embarrass if I keep up my antics. However, no one can stop me from putting on my full nerdy bravado when in private. So if you're going to visit, please call first, and I will hide my black rim glasses, stash my meatloaf CD at the back of my closet, and quickly flip over to "Dancing with the Star". After all, I have my reputation to protect. :0)

The Office

2008-10-02T20:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I just posted something, and as quick as I could, by the way, so I wouldn't miss 'The Office', my whole reason for loving Thursday Nights. When what do I see, but the Vice-Presidential debate. Oh Snap! I mean, what does the Vice-President really do, but wait for the President to kick the bucket? I do have to say that I was impressed with Palin. She is my kind of woman! I can't help it, I like her. However, I don't like her enough to miss seeing my favorite show! To ease my sadness I popped in my season four DVD (which I haven't seen every episode of yet). There is something about the theme music to this sitcom that just makes my heart happy. I love it. Don't ask me why! I think if I ever fell into a deep, dark, prozac-needing kind of depression they wouldn't have to put me on meds. I could just put the theme music to 'The Office' on a little CD player and have it run every half hour. I think this comes from my pregnancy and having a baby. I didn't get into 'The Office' until a couple of years ago. When I was sick and basically not wanting to leave my bed, I watched all the episodes starting from season one. And in the midst of breast-feeding hell (How do people call that natural?) I would watch episodes. They would always cheer me up and make me laugh until I almost peeped my pants (something easy to do when pregnant). I think, when I hear the theme music, its like an unopened present that I know has something great inside. I just can't wait to turn it on and get lost in Scranton for a little while. Well, I gotta run, I'm re-watching the 'Run for Rabies' Episode.

Grateful for the Little Things

2008-10-02T19:10:00.000-07:00

I came home from work yesterday to a semi-clean house. I hired a housekeeper, which lasted for about two weeks before my husband just about had a heart attack over the cost of housekeeping. He said he would vacuum the house for eighty dollars every two weeks. Ah yeah, we'll see about that. Anyway, needless to say, my house is recovering itself to its normal, chaotic, craziness, and I am on strike. I really want to see my hubby actually clean the whole house all at once. Then I will pay him eighty dollars. So imagine my surprise to come home to a minimally clean house. I was just about to call and thank him when my six year old, Micky, comes walking out of her bedroom, apron around the waste. "I cleaned the kitchen, the basement, Andy's bedroom, and I'm working on my room." I'm thinking to myself, "Okay, what did she do, that she is trying to make up for?" But I look at her huge grin and the pride she has when pointing out all of her cleaning, and I don't care. My little Micky seriously made my entire day, all by herself. So I gave her a gigantic hug, and about 50 cents (a lot cheaper than eighty dollars), and honestly smiled as I made dinner, something I haven't done in a long time. (Dinner and I are not good friends.) I can say that her one little act of kindness made the whole night great for everyone in my house. I gotta love her! Of course, it wasn't until I was going to bed that night that I found the empty Pringles canister that she had eaten ALL BY HERSELF, but hey, you can't have it all, can you?

Whew! The Big 1-3

2008-09-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

Jerry and I just went to St. George to celebrate our thirteen year anniversary. I can't believe it has been so long and that we can still stand being around each other. Maybe it's because we so seldom see each other with our opposite shifts, but sometimes when we finally go out on a "date" it feels like we really are dating again. I had so much fun with him and realize that he really can still make me laugh my head off. Our original plan was to have a romantic weekend, but when we accidentally heard the couple in the next room over being "romantic" or as Jerry and I code-worded it "talking really loud", we sorta changed our minds. YIKES! They actually woke us up with their "loud talk". Anyway, the rest of the weekend we went shopping and went to Les Miserables at the Tuacahn Ampitheater. (Wow that's quite a few words that I really don't know how to spell) The play was Wow! The singers were Amazing! It is so great to be married to someone for this long and still have so much to talk about and laugh about together. Sorry for the corniness, but it is about time I tell everyone how great my hubby really is. I guess thirteen is not such an unlucky number after all.

Tagged and Confused

2008-09-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

So I've been tagged to tell everyone six things about myself. My problem with this is that I think my 'secrets' will scared everyone about the kind of person I am. I seem so pure and innocent and I have done some pretty wild and crazy things in my day. I will try to keep this as "G" rated as possible.

1. I am the polar opposite of my sister Teresa. I HATE, HATE, HATE to cook. For me cooking ranks right up there with doing the dishes and the laundry. It's just one more thing that you do and then you just have to do it again 5 seconds later. This summer I tried to make a food calendar and make breakfast, lunch, AND dinner. I don't know how people do this. I felt like all I did all day was cook and clean up the cooking mess. I only lasted two weeks. A new record for me.

2. I am a singer to my core. I am singing in my head all day long. Almost anything anyone says sparks a song in my mind. I sing in the shower, the car, while I'm cleaning my house, just about everywhere. I can sing along with almost any song on the radio.

3. I am a really smart student and have always gotten excellent grades in school and scored really high on national tests, but I have almost zero common sense. Things that are very simple, I make difficult. I sometimes can't comprehend small easy tasks, but can do complex algebra problems. There is something definitely not wired correctly in my brain.

4. I went to Snow College for one year when I first got out of High school. For my last final, I skipped out of studying and went on a four day camping vacation with my best friend and two boys that were also my friends. I survived the entire trip on $23 dollars. We camped illegally in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. It was one of the most fun trips I've ever been on.

5. I love to write. I am currently writing my first book, which no one will probably ever read. I hate letting people read what I've writen. I want to be a famous author one day, but have a great fear of writing badly. So right now I am writing for me and loving every second of it.

6. My favorite part of teaching is the organizing and planning of it. I actually love to pour over curriculum and search for new teaching ideas. I would be a great curriculum specialist or some kind of planner. I wish teachers got paid more because I would start a business where I planned all their lessons for them and made the visuals and everything. I think it is the most fun part of teaching. I've been teaching for 8 going on 9 years and every year I teach everything pretty differently each time. I don't know how people get stagnet and teach the same thing all the time. I think the planning part is the best.

I tag Joelle, Megan, and Melissa.

Kids 1st Day

2008-08-31T20:45:00.000-07:00

As you can probably tell from my lack of posts, school started! The kids are loving their new school. Tyler has girls that as he says 'actually like him' and McKayla is singing songs every day that she learned in 1st grade. Tyler has a boy teacher this year, Mr. Crockett, whose theme is Harry Potter. Ty can't wait until their Hogwarts Feast they get to go to if they turn in their homework. Micky's teacher has a camping theme and they are earning a banana split party. Both are making friends and doing so well. I am also liking my new position and loving how relaxed my new team is. The school has such a great atmosphere, and all the teachers are so nice. We are looking forward to a fabulous year.

Ready for School

2008-08-19T18:09:00.000-07:00

So summer has come and gone and a new school year starts tomorrow. I have spent so many hours in my classroom this summer that it hardly seems like I left. I am feeling a little nervous being at a new school and not knowing what to do. I'm sure it'll come easy, but I still feel scared; like the first day on a new job. The kids are ready to go and excited though. Ty has a boy teacher for the first time, and Micky thinks her teacher is, and I quote, "so cute". Andrew is going to a new babysitter also, and seems to really like them. It is interesting because they are both deaf and use hearing aids. He especially likes the babysitter's husband for some reason. We are crossing our fingers for a great babysitting and school year. I'm posting some pictures of my room that I worked so hard on. My theme is Pirates: Sailing into Learning.

15 Seconds of Fame

2008-08-18T21:44:00.000-07:00

Jerry took Tyler and McKayla to a Michael Kelsey concert. For anyone who doesn't know who that is, you are missing out. I unfortunately wasn't there because Andy was sick, however my family had a ball. The best part of the evening was when Kelsey came down off the stage and made up a song about McKayla right then and there. She thought that was so cool! She's pretty sure she is famous now, and I'm just going to let her believe it. Jerry bought her a CD, which she had signed, and has packed around ever since. To hear the song live, follow the link on my page to Kelly and Melissa's page and there is a video there. Check out Micky's 15 seconds of fame.

Cramming in Summer

2008-08-08T21:15:00.000-07:00

Well summer is grinding to a halt with me having to go back to school next week. YUCK! I'm feeling the pinch of losing my freedom, so we are doing as much as we can in this last week. Yesterday we decided to go on a picnic at Bridal Veil Falls. So we called up my sister mindi and her family, my cousin Heather and her daughter, and my cousin Holly and her 3 kids. We packed a lunch for the kids,loaded up the cars with car seats (stupid new car seat laws mean everyone pretty much needs one),and stopped at Zupas for food for the grown-ups. I love Zupas 'Nuts About Berries' salad. After about an hour we finally headed up the canyon only to find out that Bridal Veil Falls is closed off because of a huge fire blazing there. Supposedly this was all over the news, but I hate to watch the news. Unfortunately I'm one of those people who prefer to remain ignorant and believe the world can be a happy place. Anyway, luckily we found a different park, Nunn's Park, very close by. We were able to picnic in the shade and while we ate the kids played on a cement slab close by, reminding me that kids find fun things to do no matter where you are. They eventually gravitated toward a water spout where Andrew of course fell into the muddy water underneath the spout. (You'll notice he's wearing different clothes in the pictures.) We talking the kids into playing on the actual playground they had there and then they waded in the Provo river. It turned out to be a fun day even though it seemed to take forever to get to the actual picnic. I've found that taking more than one child under the age of 3 is harder than I remembered it, and we had 9 under the age of 7. It was crazy, but memorable. Sometimes the best times come when you least expect it. Hopefully I can cram a couple of more memorable moments in before I head back to the grind.

Dino Museum

2008-08-08T21:03:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday we decided to take a trip to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving point. During the month of August everything is $2 on Tuesdays. We took my cousin and her daughter along with my nieces and nephew. The kids had fun and it was only slightly busy (as in packed). I tried to keep Andy corraled in the stroller, but finally decided to let him free. The second I set in on the ground he starting shouting and running all over the place. He was like a dog when you let it off its leash after about a week. The kids especially liked digging for dinosaur bones and going to the candy store afterwards to pick out a treat. It was a fun afternoon. Check out our pics below!

Celebrating Breaking Dawn

2008-08-04T10:23:00.000-07:00

Freaky Me

Kaycie is the Winner of the Night!

Vampire Babes

I Vant to Suck your Frosting

Just in case you didn't notice, the countdown is done and Breaking Dawn is here to stay! I still haven't gotten my book yet because I ordered it off the internet. I'm still biting my nails in anticipation. I did have a chance to go to a Breaking Dawn Party with my mom, my sisters and my neice. They gave out T-shirts and plastic teeth, and we played Twilight Jeopardy. I realized at this point that there are a lot of people who have a lot of time on their hands. I mean, who knows what Jacob's great, great grandfather's name was? Not me. However, it does make me feel good knowing there are crazier people out there than me. Of course, I still am a geek about it because I was able to answer many of the questions. My neice was a winner that night and got her own free copy of the book right then. I'm so jelous! Well, I got to go stare at my mailbox until it produces my copy of Breaking Dawn.

Duh...Camera... Idiot!

2008-07-24T22:28:00.000-07:00

Today my family had the most fun and I, of course, did not have camera in hand to record it. So you get a boring update until I can figure out how to get the grainy, hard-to-see pictures off of my cell phone. (Why do they even have cameras on cell phones when you can barely even make out the pictures anyway?) Anyhoo...
We went and visited one of my school friends, and then went for a gourmet lunch at where else? Carls Jr. Okay, so not the best food, but my kids had fun playing on the playland. Andrew is even getting old enough that he was able to climb half-way up the slide and slide down again.
Next we headed to Nunn's park and the kids waded in Bridal Veil falls. McKayla's exact words were, "Wow mom, this park is so beautiful". And she was right, it was a nicely kept park and the falls are, as always, georgeous. We definitely want to head up there again with our swimsuits and a picnic lunch.
After that, we decided to go bowling at FatCats in Provo. I don't know if it was the strobe lights or what, but I bowled my best game ever... a whopping 95. I also only had 3 gutter balls for two games, which, if you ask my sisters, is very awesome for me. I am the champion of gutter balls. Ty beat everyone and was very proud, Micky got a glow necklace and was very proud, and Andy got to drive an arcade race car the whole time and that made him very proud. We had a great time together just hanging out as a family.
When we got home, our very best neighbors in the entire world (everyone should have these kind of neighbors) invited us over for a barbeque, and since we love them we couldn't say no. We were having a good old time when someone said, "Hey, look at that." So I turned to see Andy just having a good old time fully clothed in their kiddy pool (thank goodness he didn't drown). He was just smiling and splashing away (once again a Kodak moment with no Kodak to mark the occasion). So we took him home and changed his clothes, and we weren't back 5 minutes before he grabbed a full cup of pop and dumped it all over himself. Oh well, brown matched that outfit, right? At this point we had had a very long day, but our neighbors invited the kids to go watch the fireworks and they were off again. Whew... what a day. But if every day could be this fun filled life would be great. You gotta appreciate the good times! However, next time...I better have my camera!

Family Reunion Time

2008-07-14T17:21:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday was my side of the family's reunion, The Moore Family Reunion. We started with a picnic in Liberty Park, and then my cousins had made up an Amazing Race that took us to some important church places around Salt Lake City. They split us into teams and sent us on our way. First, we went to this really cool Canyons of Utah water area where Ty and Mick couldn't resist getting wet. After, we went to President Hinckley's grave site and several others at the Salt Lake City cemetary. Then we were off to the Brigham Young Memorial park which was quite pretty. Next we had to go check out the rooftop garden at Salt Lake City Library and lastly back to Liberty Park for a picture by Tracy Aviary. We had our pictures taken in that exact spot when I was just a little kid, so it was fun to take one with the cousins in that same spot again. It was a really fun day, and we found many places we want to go back and explore some more. What a great idea for introducing people to a new area. We had a BLAST!

Twilight Obsession

2008-07-13T19:53:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I am terribly embarassed to admit that I am in love with a vampire. I have developed this new obsession with the twilight books and read the first three books in one week. Now I have preordered and am waiting in desperation for the 4th and final installment, Breaking Dawn. I also can't wait for the movie to come out in December and have already made plans with my niece and my sister to go see it. I'm even contemplating buying a "Bite Me...I love Edward Cullen" t-shirt. It is pure craziness I know, but I have to have something to fill up my summer with. I guess it is a good thing that school starts in a month and a half. 'SIGH'... Well I better go back to looking at pictures of some vampire actor who is half my age. What a whacko I am.:0)

I've Figured It Out!

2008-07-09T21:27:00.000-07:00

So I've finally figured out this blogging thing (sort of). I'm actually proud of what it looks like now. Yeah Me! Check out some of my favorite pics along the edge. As I was going through them I wanted to write about every one, but alas, that would be a lot of blogging and I've got real life to worry about. Hope you enjoy my new blogging site. By the way, thanks Mindi and Teresa for all the help!

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-07-09T21:01:00.001-07:00

2008-07-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

We have been tagged, so I guess we are it. These questions were answered by McKayla with a little help from Tyler. (Okay, a lot of help from Tyler. McKayla was in one of her "moods" when we wrote this. I should have fed her first :0)
1.. What is something mom always says to you? No
2. What makes mom happy? Playing on the computer, going shopping
3. What makes mom sad? Not obeying and when we fight.
4. How does mom make you laugh? Telling funny jokes and doing funny dances.
5. What was mom like as a child? She was adventurous and good.
6. How old is your mom? I don't know, 33
7. How tall is your mom? About like 5 somethin', or maybe 10 somethin'.
8. What is your mommy's favorite thing to do? Play with us, play Lego Indiana Jones, watch movies with us.
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Go shopping, read a book, play with Andrew
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Singing or Reading
11. What is your mom really good at? Reading, picking out clothes for us to wear.
12. What is your mom not very good at? Cooking and skiing.
13. What does your mom do for her job? Teaches
14. What is your mom's favorite food? Bajio salad, Sonic drinks, chicken enchiladas.
15. What makes you proud of your mom? That she takes care of us and she is so good at free cell.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Mickey Mouse or Little LuLu
17. What do you and your mom do together? We go running, watch fireworks at your dad's, we see movies together, we do crazy dances.
18. How are you and your mom the same? We have the same pajama pants.
19. How are you and your mom different? Her hair is shorter than mine.
20. How do you know your mom loves you? Cause she's my mom and she always helps me with my problems.

Moving Woes

2008-06-13T21:11:00.000-07:00

I am changing schools for this next 2008-2009 school year, and I have to say moving is a pain. I finally got my class packed up and ready to go, so Jerry and I went and moved all my stuff to Spanish Oaks (my new school). Imagine my delight when I arrive and there is another teacher's stuff all over my classroom. I walked down to the office to ask the principal if the old teacher wasn't done moving yet, but she was done. She moved all the way to Texas and left everything for me. Wasn't she nice? So now I have to clean out the classroom before I can move my stuff in. What a pain:( However, I was pleasantly surprised to see 7 computers in my classroom. I have my own mini-lab and it works! I guess with a little sweet you usually have to have a little sour.
I am excited to move, but the crazy teacher dreams have already begun; the one where I show up late to school on the first day and I am teaching with a smile on my face until I look down and realize I forgot to put pants on. I'm thinking in the back of my mind that maybe the students haven't noticed yet, but they will any minute so I better do something. The rest of the dream consists of me trying to get home but getting lost with every turn I take. My other favorite teacher dream is when I am sleeping peacefully and get a call from the school. It is the first day and why am I not at school yet. I rush to my classroom, burst through the door and there are so many desks that I can't walk through the classroom. I have to climb through the maze of desks until I reach the front of the room (which is weird because the door was at the front of the room). While I'm stumbling there the students are jumping off the counters and yelling and screaming and I can't control anything. Honestly, you have to love Teacher Anxiety. Hopefully as the summer proceeds I will sleep peacefully again.

Birthday Mania at my House

2008-06-07T21:47:00.000-07:00

I did not plan for my three children very well. They all have their birthdays within 2 weeks of each other. My 1 year old's b-day and May 20th, my 9 year old's is June 4th, and my 6 year old's is June 5th. Needless to say "Birthday Mania" is just ending at my house. We had a small family party for the baby. My 9 year old didn't get a party this year (It is just too darn hard to do 2 birthdays back to back every year, so they only get a party every other year). Since he didn't get a party, we still had to do something fun to celebrate. We ended up inviting cousins and going to a bounce place called Jumping Jacks and having a sleepover.
My daughter is the one who had the full-blown B-Day Party. We planned for a water party, but the weather cancelled it out. Instead we had all her friends wear their PJs and bring a pillow and we did a pretend slumber party. The girls were all actually very good, and we had a blast playing games, dressing up in silly outfits, having a dance party, painting fingernails, and unfortunately for the girl's parents, painting our faces with pink frosting from the cupcakes (that dye they put in bakery frosting is pretty much permanent). I did not give them permission for that last part, but expect the unexpected when it comes to 6 year olds. Tomorrow, Sunday, we are having all the family over for a big BBQ to wrap it all up. Then (*sigh*) we are all done for one more year. Once birthday season is over my summer really begins. Whew!

Schools Out For Summer!

2008-06-07T21:41:00.000-07:00

So school just let out last week and I have to say "WooHoo" with a small mixture of "BooHoo". Every year I fall in love with my school class and right when we are really clicking and know each other in and out, school ends. Then you have to start all over again the next year. That is the worst part about being a teacher. Well that and grading papers all the time. The upside is that now I have the whole summer to spend with my own children. I get to play Lego Indiana Jones with my 9 year old, create art work worthy for the refridgerator with my 6 year old, and play peek-a-boo and the "no-no" game with my 1 year old. Does it get any better than this?

Sick Kids Are a Bummer

2008-04-24T21:43:00.000-07:00

I have an 8 year old, a 5 year old, and an 11 month old and between them all I feel like I am constantly dealing with sick children. In the latest Sick-Kid saga my 11 month old got the stomach flu, which turned into massive diarrhea and vomiting. Needless to say, my husband and I ended up having to take him into the hospital for dehydration. No one there could get a vein to put the IV in, so they just sat and tortured him for about a half hour. Finally they called the Pediatric Life Flight Crew to come in. Can I just say, that they were wonderful! I have never met anyone so kind and sympathic to my child. They finally got the IV going and after 3 doses of fluids he was sent home. He is stumbling (I say that because he is still learning to walk) around again and smiling his cheesy smile, so I think we are on the road to recovery. It is so sad to see your own children sick, but then such a blessing when they start acting like themselves again. It's interesting how you wish they would just settle down, and when they do because they're sick you wish they would be hyper again. Sometimes being a mom you find yourself laughing and crying within minutes of each other. Oh, the joys of Motherhood.

WELCOME!

2008-04-24T21:26:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm pretty new at this, but it sounded fun and I'm trying it. As I do with everything, I pretty much jump in and then see how it goes. Welcome to my site. I hope you'll visit often to see what is happening in my classroom and at my house.