Pumpkin patch and mysterious matching rashes

Spiderman's preschool went to the pumpkin patch today.

Hulk and I tagged along at the last minute.

Really last minute. I didn't realize they were going to the pumpkin patch

till about 30 minutes before preschool started. I got myself and Hulkster ready really fast

then just asked the teacher if I could drive. I have some pumpkin patch scrapbook pages

already completed and really wanted pictures! That's the main reason I went.

Note: I have absolutely no editing on this computer. No cropping or coloring....maybe someday.

Spiderman was trying to take the camera from me and got a little close.

And doesn't the Hulk look like he's 16?

The driver couldn't get the tracker started at first, so we had some doughnuts.

They were delicious! Like an apple cinnamon or some kind of spice flavor.


Spiderman enjoyed the tractor ride.

A lot.

The Hulk's learning to pose.

I think this is my favorite of Spiderman.

He was a BIG FAN of getting a pumpkin. So was I! This one was only a dollar!

The Hulk got a bit preoccupied.

I just love Spiderman's face here. The Hulk.....didn't want to hold his pumpkin anymore.

I'm glad he had so much fun.

It turned into kind of a crazy day after that. On the way home, I noticed the boys were getting some kind of rash on their faces. Just really small, pin-prick like red bumps. I assumed they were having some kind of allergic reaction. We went home and I gave them some benadryl and changed their shirts. We were already a few minutes late to playgroup.

I got to the park and my friends looked at my boys, and said maybe I should get them checked out because it didn't look like a normal allergic reaction. They weren't hives. I've never had a severe reaction like that, so I didn't know.

I called the doctor's office, and the nurse told me to bring them in. The doctor examined them. He agreed that it didn't look like an allergic reaction, but maybe a strep throat rash. Spiderman's throat was a little sore, so he went ahead and swabbed him. It came back negative, but they're going to watch it over the next 24 hours. He said it was probably a viral rash, and meant that they were getting over something. But I think it's so weird that they both got the rash at the EXACT same time. And right after the pumpkin patch.

Then we went and got some lunch, then went grocery shopping. I still need to go to the library and find a video for pack night. (Have I mentioned that I don't like being Cubmaster? Pack nights are always stressful, and they never go well. But I don't know what else to do.)

Anyway...............what a crazy day!! And I'm taking time to blog. I really shouldn't. But we had such a good time, I wanted to jot it all down before I forgot.

6 quirks

My cute friend Nemiha tagged me with this - listing 6 quirks about myself.

1. I pull weeds with my toes. If I'm out there in bare feet and don't want to get my hands dirty.

2. I HATE not having my toenails painted - or seeing other women's bare toenails. I think it's disgusting.

3. I never really liked "The Little Mermaid" because she wore a bikini. She wasn't modest. I like the music, but was just never really a big fan of Ariel. The little harlot.

4. I hate spelling and grammatical errors. I can laugh about them on other blogs, and don't really hold a grudge, but I HATE when I catch errors I've made.

5. In the summer, I still have to sleep with a blanket, but keep one foot uncovered. In the winter when I wear pajama pants, I wear socks also and tuck the pants into the socks so that no skin is exposed.

6. I hate watching commercials. I usually have one main show that I watch, then toggle to another show during the commercials. Which means I end up missing parts of the show that I actually want to watch.


So there you have it! I think I used the word "hate" too much. Whoops. And it looks like I'm pretty weird about feet. I didn't realize that till now. I tag: Mother Goose, wizzard mom, Sher, Angelica, Sarah, and Cally.

Create and be compassionate

I had the opportunity to attend last night's General Relief Society broadcast. My favorite talk was definately President Uchtdorf's. A fact which I was pleasantly surprised by. In the past, I feel like he's had a tendency to tell stories and make really general points. Great object lessons, but nothing that I had really learned a lot from. To be honest, I was a little disappointed when they announced that he would be the final speaker. I am so VERY glad I was wrong.


He started off talking about his wife's cooking. He said that she is a wonderful cook. She cooks many things from around the world. But when they are eating, she will almost always make apologies about some part of the meal. "Oh, this would've been better with just a touch more curry and another bay leaf." Or, "I should've added just a touch more garlic." He then talked about the best thing he makes. Fried eggs. Sunny-side up. There was another dish that has some fancy German name, but really it's just bread toasted twice. Not too complicated.

He told us to stop apologizing. Stop apologizing! Women have too much of a tendency to apologize, I think. While a little humility is good, don't take it to the point of harsh self-criticism. Pres. Uchtdorf said, that women tend to focus on what is lacking, instead of who they really are, and what they are worth.

He said he was speaking to those who were discouraged, inadequate, and wearied. That he was speaking to all. of. us.

Pres. Uchtdorf said he wanted to taste of God's happiness. Well, what IS God's happiness? What's YOUR happiness as a parent? Your kids. God's children are His happiness. To taste of God's happiness, we need to create and be compassionate.

Creating, he said, brings satisfaction and fulfillment. And if you feel like you have nothing to create, remember: "You are a spirit daughter of the greatest Creator in the universe!"

Pres. Uchtdorf said that as mothers, not only do we have the opportunity to be co-creators with God in making physical bodies for our children, but that teaching and nurturing our children is an act of creation. --I realized that I need to be more "creative" in my activities with my kids. Anyone have the recipe for play dough? My apologies to plainbellied. She made these paperdolls with her daughter, then made real dolls from the pattern. Go look at the dolls she made! I thought of this picture when I was looking for an image of creating something with a child. I've used it without her permission. Will you forgive me? =D

He encouraged us to take matter and create something that was not there before. And not just picking up your kids' rooms! (He said that, not me!) I loved this definition of creation. He didn't say, "Take a canvas and some oils and make a painting." Creating is broader than that. Sure, it can be painting, but it could also be photography, making up a bedtime story for your kids, cooking dinner, gardening, even blogging. =D (I know that we all look for "validations" for our habit, and I truly believe that this is not a stretch. We are taking matter from our brains and creating something that wasn't there before. Giving a voice to our thoughts. In Blogger, the button for a new post is titled Create. Coincidence? I think not.)

He told us to take a space and make it beautiful. Isn't that what we do as mothers, as women? We seek beauty, and love to beautify. I think I need to remember this when I don't feel like cleaning my home. I'm not cleaning, I'm beautifying.

When President Uchtdorf spoke of compassion, he said, "Service and compassion open the windows of heaven." I don't know anyone among us who couldn't use a little manna from heaven. And service and compassion aren't high prices to pay for blessing from our Father. Sister Barbara Thompson spoke on bring relief back to Relief Society. She said, "Service magnifies and sanctifies the women of Relief Society." I could use a little magnification and sanctification.

An important point she brought up was that we don't have to look far to find opportunities for service. We don't need to create a need somewhere else in the world to fulfill. There are plenty of opportunites right in our own nieghborhoods and wards. The women who were part of Relief Society when it first starting would go to other sisters' homes-- visiting teaching, essentially-- and provide relief. They would tend children, help with meals, or laundry, or cleaning. I realized that I wanted to provide some relief to women I know.

Back to Pres. Uchtdorf. He spoke of President Hinkley, who after losing his wife, dove right back into the work of the Church. In one place he was visiting, a woman who had just lost her husband asked how he dealt with the grief of losing a spouse. He said, "Work will cure your grief. Serve others." I think I'm paraphrasing that a little, but that was the gist of it. Doesn't that sound just like him? And his Dad?

He quoted David O. McKay, and I'm paraphrasing a bit again, but here's what he said: "When you feel gloomy, find someone else worse off than you. Use the wisdom God gives you to solve the problem." There was more to it, but that's all I was able to write down. He went on to say that after helping others with their problems, you might have some insight into your own. Or at least they don't look so bad.

President Uchtdorf concluded by telling us that while the prayers we say may contribute to our happiness in the end, the prayers we answer will mean so much more. He counseled us to open our eyes, and see the heavy hearts. Feel the silent prayers of those around you. Allow yourself to be an instument in God's hands. He said, "As a daughter of God, happiness is your heritage."

Isn't that a beautiful thought?

I just have to say how VERY MUCH I loved this talk!! I felt called to repentence almost immediately when Pres. Uchtdorf started talking for thinking I never got much out of his addresses. I've never..........heard this preached over a pulpit before - the importance of creating. Not just procreating; we hear that all the time. But I loved the idea that creating in general is God-like, and done in the right way with the right things will bring us closer to Him.

The enitre meeting was great. Sister Beck told us to be still enough-------quiet enough--------to listen to the voice of the Spirit. Sister Allred talked about all the people who've made great sacrifices to go to the temple, and I realized how very much I take for granted the fact that I live just a short drive a way from multiple temples. I've already talked about Sister Thompson's talk, which was wonderful as well. She told us to "Step up and be strong." I love that!!

Were any of you able to attend the meeting? What were your thoughts? Favorite moments? I'm going to be better at creating, beautifying, and providing relief.

Random 10

"Make your home clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy," Jayne Ann Payne

----------------------------

I feel like I've done a lot of parenting lately. I know, it is my JOB, but still. The other day I noticed that everything Spiderman was saying was whiny. Every single thing!! And I've just gotten used to it, and respond to his whines. So since I don't respond till I hear that ever-so-annoying tone of voice, that's all he uses. I completely admit my fault in the matter.

But it is WRONG. He should not whine, and I should not respond to it. At least not by giving him what he's whining for. So that day I corrected him every time. I tried to be more attentive and listen to what he wants before he whined, but he just skipped straight to the whiny voice. Whenever he whined, I'd say, "When you talk like this (said in my most whiny voice) it's called WHINING. I can't hear you when you whine. Please try again."

So he'd ask again, in the exact same whiny tone. (!) I'd tell him again, "I can't hear you when you whine. Whining is when you talk like this and it hurts mommy's ears. Please SMILE and ask me nicely. Use the word please."

This worked. He'd give me this really strained, funny-looking smile and say "please" and whatever else he wanted. "Oh, thank you for asking so nicely! I'm happy to get you what you want when you ask nicely and don't whine!" We went through this at least 20 times that day. And the next day. We're still working on it. It's hard for me to get out of the habit of simply responding to his whines. I have to catch myself, too.

----------------------------------

That same day, I let the boys go outside to play. I stayed inside, getting dressed and tidying up. I'd go outside and check on them every 3-5 minutes. And the windows and the door were all open, so I could hear them.

At one point, I got a little lazy. Realized it had been 7-10 minutes since I had checked on them. I go outside. They're not in the front yard. I see that they've gone down the street, about three houses away. Toward the busy street. I immediately start walking down there and yelling for Spiderman to turn around on his bike and come home. He either didn't hear me or simply didn't want to do it. (Probably the latter. I'm pretty loud.)

I can see the Hulk in the neighbor's yard. I start yelling for him to come back, too. Then I see a little dog, and realize the Hulk must have been following him around. Then the dog runs into the street to get away from the Hulk. Didn't work - the Hulk started following him into the street.

At this point, I am running and SCREAMING. "HULK!! HULK!! STOP!!! STOP!!!!" The most hysterical I've ever sounded. Then I see a truck coming down the road. My heart stops. "HULK!!!!" Luckily, the truck saw both the dog and child in the road and had slowed to a stop.

By now I've reached the Hulk. He sees me and says, "What? Doggy, mommy."

He wasn't even on the actual street. He was on the shoulder. I scoop him up and am not even in control enough to think to swap his bottom. (The only time he gets a swat is running into the street.) I just hugged him and said over and over, "You can't run into the street. You can't run into the street."

As we were walking back home, I was trying to calm down, but I ended up working myself up more. What if I had waited another minute? What if the driver of that truck hadn't been paying attention? What if he'd been changing the radio station? What if he'd been talking on the phone? Or looking back at his kids, or just daydreaming? What if it had been me driving and someone else's kid? I feel like I'm always distracted when I drive. What if? What if?

I'm not a worrier by nature, but I think I'm becoming one. Like I said, lots of parenting lately.

---------------------

Ever After was on last night. Love that show. But I've always wondered: Who was the king going to announce as his son's fiancee? Was it Margurite? Or the Spanish princess? (LOVE the wedding scene with her, by the way. It's hilarious.) But who do you think?

Funny story: When Superman and I were dating back in high school, Ever After was one of my favorite movies. Superman was always trying to quote the movie to impress me. One time, I called him by his first name when he had asked I call him "Brother Kent." (Seriously.)

He was trying to quote Ever After when the prince says, "Do not address me so informal, madam." But instead he said, "Do not undress me so informal, madam."

--------------------

Loved me some Grey's Anatomy last night. (Though it means I missed The Office. But I couldn't watch only the last half of Grey's. It always trumps Office because it's longer and I can watch The Office online. But I did flip to NBC on commercial breaks and saw a BIG MOMENT!!) Anyway-I didn't realized how much I missed Grey's! Everything they teased in the trailer was fake. They've done that before. Don't know why I'm so gullible. But I loved it. Just a good, solid episode. ('Cept for the Callie/Hahn thing. Not lovin' that.) Some drama, but no more than normal. I loved the stuff with Christina and the army guy! I hope he comes back. And I actually got teary when Izzy got out of the elevator in her dress. I wasn't expecting that moment!

If you're reading this thinking, "Why is she talking about it?! I haven't had time to sit down and watch it on my DVR yet!! Have some common courtesy!"

To you I say: You're so smug with your little DumbVR. Think you're better than the rest of us who have to watch shows WHEN THEY AIR. "Oh, I can just record it. Oh, I can keep it forever. Life is so grand with a DVR!" Well. If you have time to blog, you have time to watch Grey's, since you can watch it WHENEVER YOU WANT. Get your priorities straight. Stop reading blogs RIGHT NOW and go watch it. NOW! Go! Seriously. Seriously.

Especially since my post is over.

-----------------------------

Music playing on my player right now:

1. Hello - David Cook
2. Everything you want - Vertical Horizon
3. I'll stand by you - Carrie Underwood
4. Then they do - Trace Adkiins
5. I need you - Tim & Faith
6. Moulin Rouge - Elephany Love Medley-- Ewan McGregor and Nicold Kidman
7. Beautiful - Christina Aguilera
8. Iris - Goo Goo Dolls
9. Come on get higher - Matt Nathanson
10. Sunday morning - Maroon 5

Bonus: What's the title of the song that says, " There she was, just a-walkin' down the street, singin'/Doo wah diddy diddy dum diddy doo. " I tried to search the title last night and couldn't find it. Who even sings is?

ummm......I got a little bored......and dragged my kids along with me.......

So this is what my hair looks like now. Dark strawberry blonde. Ish.

(I know. I'm hangin' on to the "blonde" thing by a very small thread!!)


Spiderman saw me taking LOTS of pictures (trying to get a good one) and decided to pose.

Aww.....aren't we cute?!

Contemplative pose + in front of window + pushing the button wrong = ??

Still trying to decide how I feel about this one.

And then......

..........things got a little crazy.

Well, not really CRAZY. But Cally Co inspired me to think out of the box. This is a mask that Superman brought back from Italy when he was there for a few weeks with the Army. Yeah, he got to go to ITALY. Guess where I went. Kansas.

The Hulk waking up this morning.

A shot that *Spiderman* got of the Hulk. And just for kicks.......

The shoes I'm wearing today. Superman calls them my hippy-gypsy shoes.

What do you do when you're bored?

p.s. who's watching grey's anatomy, the office, or smallville tonight?

My camera's working, so you get to see some random pictures I've been waiting to post

This was Spiderman's first day of preschool. You could say he was excited.

Spiderman is growing and changing so much. Lately, he loves to sing. He bursts out into song periodically throughout the day. Usually he sings, "I love to see the temple." Occasionally I get some "Called to Serve" or "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam." I'll have to try to record it sometime. It's so sweet and funny.

Can I just say I love this guy? I can't believe he's going to be FOUR soon.

He went in and started playing right away. No problem whatsoever. I'm just glad I got an "I love you, too, Mommy," before I left.

My sweet Hulkster. Love this kid. Drives me crazy sometimes, but I love him. For example:
The boys got angry over something earlier and they both went to their rooms for time out. A few minutes later, I get them out and have them hug and apologize. Then I said, "Is it nice to hit?"

"Yeaahh," Hulk says in his sweet raspy voice.

"No, it's NOT nice. It's mean!" I say and pull a really mean, monster-ish face. Trying to convey my meaning through facial expression.

The Hulk just thinks I'm being funny and smiles and starts to laugh. Which makes me mad. Take his face in my hands and pull his cheeks into a frown.

"It's NOT NICE!! It's mean!! No hitting. NOT nice," I say with my most serious face and I-mean-business tone of voice.

Hulk just giggles and gets even cuter. Makes me so mad!

This is the ONE picture I have of myself in the roadshow. Proof that I was there and that Superman was sitting behind a few people.

Funny story about Spiderman in the roadshow:

He did GREAT at the rehearsal. Sat on the girl's lap just fine. Didn't say a word. Perfect.

The night of the performance.....not so much. He had to wait a long time, and be quiet backstage. He actually did okay with that. There were some play guns that we had for part of the show that he was holding. When it was time for him to go out, he didn't want to let go of the gun. Started to throw a fit. But we managed to get him out there without too much of a meltdown.

But he didn't do what he was supposed to. He didn't want to sit on the girl's lap. She kept trying to get him to come over to her, and he kept shaking his head no. He finally just sat down in the middle of the stage. Which was okay. Not ideal, but okay. At least he was sitting down and not talking.

He then puts his finger up his nose.

wonder woman melts in embarrassment off-stage

Luckily, he didn't eat it. And the people I talked to said they didn't even see it.

Whew.

100

I know that some people do a give-away for their 100th post, but I don't have anything to give away!  I mean, I guess I could raid my junk drawer and clean out my closets and give you a bunch of stuff from my house, but I don't think I have anything that people would actually leave a comment for.  So I'm going to tell you 100 things about me, mostly in response to the questions you asked, and some random facts I threw in as well.

Y'all ready for this?!

1. Shellie- My favorite Halloween costume as a kid was a jack-in-the-box. It was my idea. I got a big box and my dad helped me decorate it. Painted my face and wore a clown wig and everything. I could barely fit through the door at school and couldn't sit in my desk. It was SO COOL.

2. KU girl- My biggest fear is Superman dying. And dying before he's 80. Or 40.

3. Mechelle- A dream of mine that has not yet come true: the first thing that came to mind is having a daughter. Beyond that.......my sons serving missions.

4. Nemiha - I live 30 minutes away from this chick and we can NEVER find a good time to get together!!

5. Funny story- Nemiha married Lance, who served his mission in my home state. They got married about 4 months before Superman and I did. She ended up taking our engagement pictures, and we all became friends and hung out quite a bit till we started having kids. Funny how that complicates EVERYTHING!

6. Merrianne's got the next few. How did Superman and I meet? At a stake dance. We danced once when we were like 14 and 15. He remembers dancing with a blonde girl, and I remember dancing with a boy with a rat tail, wearing a vest. Halfway through the dance, an older girl from his ward came up and told me I couldn't dance with him.

7. Our wards were in a feud at the time. Our stake had a Young Women's basketball tournament. Call-your-own foul. Our wards didn't "agree" on what a foul was. I guess this girl didn't want someone from my ward dancing with a guy from her ward.

8. Two years later, Superman was the COOLEST guy at the dances. He was a ball of fun and energy. Never danced with the same girl twice - never asked a girl to dance - never sat out a dance. Knew all the moves to the Men in Black dance. Wore a suit and shades. Man, that kid was cool! We gravitated toward each other.

9. How long did we date? Our official first date was November 4, 1999. My first date EVER. We started "dating" in May 2000. He went to BASIC/AIT mid-August of that year. Came home in December. We broke up in January 2001 for him to prepare for his mission. Left for Taiwan in May. Returned June 2003. We didn't really date after that, just renewed our friendship and realized we were supposed to get married. He proposed July 9, 2003. Married August 25, 2003.

10. Our first date was with two friends of ours. I told my girlfriend, who was dating a friend of Superman's, to set up a double date. We set it up for a certain night, then Superman wasn't going to be able to come. I had already made plans to go, so I was just gonna be a third wheel. Then Superman showed up!! He thought that *I* wasn't going to be there, so we were both pleasantly surprised.

11. We rode in the back of his friend's Blazer. We messed with the stuff in his backseat. Made a "privacy" curtain for our friends in the front seat out of duct tape and paper towels. We went to IHOP and had the appetizer plate. We made the syrup dispensers "talk" to each other. Went back our friend's house and watched "The Mummy" and had a pillow fight. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!!

12. When was our first kiss? August 8, 2000. We had been dating 3 months and were in love. (Though we hadn't said those three little words yet.) He waited a LONG time!! Which was good. We only had 8 days till he left for BASIC. But it was perfect.

13. Story of our first kiss: I got ready for work one day and when I came out of my room, Superman was there, standing in my family room. He pushed a button on my computer, and our song started to play. (Bryan Adams, "Everything I Do") He asked me to dance. We danced. He started saying the words with the song, "I'd fight for you. I'd lie for you. Walk the wire for you. Yeah, I'd die for you." Then he kissed me. It was perfect.

14. How did he propose? We went to Temple Square. We saw "The Testaments." Then he took me to the statue of Joseph and Emma, and asked me to sit down on the bench. He had told me something in Chinese (the language he spoke on his mission) a few days before, but wouldn't tell me what it meant. There at the bench, he repeated it, then said, "It means, will you marry me?" Then he pulled out the ring.

15. Superman picked out the ring all by himself. He explained it to me when he proposed. "I got gold for your hair, sapphires for your eyes, and a diamond for your beautiful spirit." Then I said, "Yes! I'll marry you!" (My ring has a sapphire on each side of a marquis-cut diamond, with a slender gold band.)

16. Which leads me to Sher and Catie's question, What's so terrible about being a brunette? There's nothing "terrible" about it.  I was just being dramatic.  But I've always had blonde hair and am used to seeing that when I look in the mirror, and think of it everytime I look at my wedding ring. And I'm just not so great with unexpected change. =D

17. My favorite color is fuschia. Or magenta. Deep pink.

18. I am five feet and one half inch tall. I used to dream of being 5'4". =D

19. How much do I weigh? 10 lbs more than I did before kids. : p

20. I'm not telling you my SS#. Sorry Sher! 555-55-5555. (Isn't that what they do in the movies?)

21. Mcewens- beyond Superman dying, one of my biggest fears is my children royally messing up their lives. Not being together forever after this life because of mistakes made and not remedied.

22. My biggest regret - ending a relationship on a bad note. I hate the feeling that someone will forever hate me. They've probably gotten over it, but I'll never know.

23. If I could meet anyone, who would it be? The people my children are going to marry. And their parents, right McEwens? =D

24. Did I go to college? I went to one year of school at BYU-Idaho. After that year, Superman came home from his mission, and we got engaged amd married before I could blink. Also before I could apply/transfer to school in Provo. I felt like I wanted a break from school and ready to start a family. 5 months later, I was pregnant.

25. I don't regret starting my family when I did, but I don't think I'd recommend getting pregnant at 20 to everyone. It happened that way for me, but sometimes I wish I had more life experience under my belt.

26. What was my degree in? I was going to major in English Education, but I may have changed it to Journalism.

27. I was on the Scroll staff at BYU-I, the campus newspaper. I earned a scholarship doing it. I learned a LOT about the world of journalism. The parts I liked, the parts I didn't. I realize now how easy it would be to write/edit from home.

28. Plainbellied: Aah, you've hit on the one thing I haven't blogged about. Yes, we are looking into adoption through fostering. It's a complicated process. I'm not sure how it will turn out.

29. We are looking into this for a few reasons, that I don't feel 100% okay with disclosing, but I will tell you what the reason it's NOT. It's not for health reasons.

30. I don't have a hard time getting pregnant. I don't have hard pregnancies. I don't have hard deliveries (unlike Merrianne.) I'm very blessed and thankful for all those things.

31. And now for some random facts: I have two brothers.

32. One is 15 months younger than me. The other is 10 years younger.

33. My best friend is also my sister-in-law.

34. We became best friends when Superman and I were dating. Our friendship lasted through he and I breaking up, high school and the year we went to college, marrying her brother and continues now. We've got kids the same ages.

35. She has a twin sister. These girls truly are my sisters. I love that we get along so well!

36. My mom is best friends with my mother-in-law.

37. They grew up in the same general area and stake in Kansas their whole lives, but never met. When Superman started showing an interest in me and coming over every now and then, my mom decided to try to meet his mom.

38. At the time, the closest temple was 6 hours away. The adults would take buses down. My mom got on the 2nd bus, because she knew it would stop and pick up Superman's mom, if she was going. His mom got on the bus, sat next to my mom, and they've been kindred spirits/best friends/sisters ever since. Cool, huh?

39. I love my mother-in-law. She and my mom were there when I gave birth to Spiderman.

40. I am the ward organist. Superman supports me in it - which means he sits with the boys during church each week. They acually behave better for him than they do for me! He's got them trained--like dogs. =D Actually, he used the same kind of techniques and it works for the boys.

41. I was a cheerleader in middle school and high school.

42. I started playing the piano in second grade.

43. On the 3rd day of 3rd grade, I fell off the monkey bars and broke my arm. It looked like a boomerang. It actually didn't hurt that much, but it scared me. I started to go into shock. My Spanish teacher had to tell me to breathe.

44. My mom was working at the school as a para at the time. She was in the main office when they took me to the nurse. I still love that my mom was RIGHT there, RIGHT away.

45. On the 3rd day back from Christmas break in 3rd grade, I broke the same arm in the same place. Slipped on some ice and tried to break my fall. I was wearing a big poofy coat and couldn't see my arm, but I knew it was broken. I told one of the teachers on the playground I thought my arm was broken and needed to go the nurse's office. She was a substitute, and didn't know I had broken my arm before. She just saw a kid who wasn't really crying (remember, it didn't hurt, and it'd happened before) wearing a poofy coat, saying her arm was broken. She told me I'd be fine and to go play.

46. When she wasn't looking, I went to the nurse's office. She helped me take off my coat, and sure enough, it was broken. My mom wasn't at the school then, but she came right away.

47. We had just switched insurances/doctors and hadn't been to this pediatrician before. One of the nurses, upon seeing my arm, asked if I was okay. Very concerned. I told her, "No, this happens all the time," much to my mother's dismay. =D I can understand now why she wouldn't want me to say that.

48. I was in ballet when I was 5. Started a jazz class when that was over, but didn't really like it.

49. I was "gifted" as a child. =D Worked a year ahead in math and english. We did lots of fun stuff, though. I remember doing a unit on Greek mythology, and timed tests for multiplication, and Mrs. O'Brian talking about Dan Quayle not knowing how to spell potatos. (She must've been a democrat. =D)

50. I was on TV in second grade, talking to a reporter about my teacher taking maternity leave.

More questions from the viewers: (these came in after I started this post, and I'm NOT going to re-number!)

51. From Dad- The most significant thing to happen in my life so far: Marrying Superman. I almost screwed that up big time. I'm glad I married the right guy.

52. Why do I love my mom as much as I do? 'Cuz she's my mom. =D I love that I have always been able to talk to her. Even as a teenager. We had clashes, but I don't remember ever not wanting to open up to her. And she wanted to have my friends over to hang out. (You too, dad!)

53. What do I love about my brothers? I love that Alex and I were best friends growing up. We had the best time playing together, and hung out with a lot of the same people as teenagers. I wish we were closer now. I love that Spencer and I have always had a great relationship. He's 10 years younger, but we've always been close. He is SUCH a good kid, with a heart of gold.

54. Who or what is my biggest rival in life? Wow. This is tough. I don't think I have a rival in life. I've never felt that way. I don't feel like I have a rival for my husband's attention. I'm not trying to compete with anyone in aspect of my life.

55. If I could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? I would travel to EUROPE. All of it. British Isles, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece, Romania........I know I've left out a lot of countries, but I'd love to see all of them. To see the centuries old culture. The beautiful landscapes and architecture. Hear all the languages. Get a broader view of the world.

56. An unasked question: What do I love about my dad? I have got a love of many things from my dad. Old movies. The theater. Art/creativity. "Oldies" music. Being a spectator at live sporting events. Bargain shopping. (Got this from both parents, actually!)I love that we can talk as friends. My dad is a friend to everyone. He has no problem striking up conversations with strangers. I wish I were better at that.

57. Angie: How long does it take to curl my hair in the morning? I usually let it air dry, and can have it completely curled in 10-15 minutes, depending on interruptions from kids. (Blow-drying's like another 4-5 minutes.) I actually did a how-to post about it not too long ago, if you wanna see it.

58. Now for more random info pulled from my head. Some of the craziest things I've done: Climbed the water tower next to Superman's house back in Kansas. We had to do it after 2 am when the lake patrol stopped. Did it many times with his sisters.

59. Bridge jumping! I went with some friends in high school. Jumped off a bridge into some water - we didn't know how deep it was, but deep enough that we never hit bottom. It was SUCH a rush!! So much fun.

60. I rode my first rollercoaster at 18. We went to Dallas, TX for a choir trip, and went to six flags. I rode the Batman - one where your feet dangle. It was another HUGE rush!! I love roller coasters now. (Though I've only been on like 3 since that time.)

61. "The Notebook" is probably my absolute favorite movie. I also love Return to Me, Ever After, You've Got Mail, The Waitress, Moulin Rouge, Runaway Bride, and Princess Bride.

62. Superman's family are HUGE Princess Bride fans. And Superman has this amazing ability to remember every detail of every movie he's ever seen. (Actually, it's fairly irritating because he never wants to see a movie more than once.) Once, he and I spent about an hour on a car trip quoting Princess Bride back and forth. He did 85% of the quoting. We quote it all the time. "Le' me e'splain. No, there is too much. Lemme sum up." "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." "Give us the gate key. --I.....have no gate key. --Fezzik, tear his arms off. --Oh, you mean this gate key." (We usually substitute some item we're looking for, then find.) The list goes on and on. We're big on quoting movies back and forth.

63. Some other favorite movies: Napoleon Dynamite, Ghostbusters, The Dark Knight, Be kind, Rewind---& almost wet myself I was laughing so hard the first half of this movie.  I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to movies.  But those are some faves off the top of my head.

64. I didn't nickname my husband Superman just because I think he's cool. This man was fed Superman mythology like babies are fed their mother's milk. He has a whole drawer full of comic books. He has a superhero complex - feels like he has to save everyone.

65. I built the rest of our "aMAYzing" family around this. My oldest is a climber and likes Spiderman. My youngest is a ball of energy and love and happiness. But he also loses his temper "with style," as Grandma says. =D He's not fat, but he's a solid kid who wants to eat all the time. I'm not Wonder Woman by any stretch of the imagination, but I'd like to be.

66. That thing that happened in church a little bit ago that I blogged about and since deleted--All taken care of. Not by me. =D But all taken care of.

67. We did the roadshow Saturday night. I'm glad it's over. It was pretty DANG good for only having one practice, and not everyone there for it!!

68. My birthday's coming up. I'll be 25.

69. Did you know that Superman used to be in the Army Reserves? He joined about the time of our first date. He left for his mission in Taiwan just 4 months before 9/11. His unit in Kansas was deployed, but he was technically in the inactive reserve while serving his mission.

70. When he returned home, he joined the unit here in Utah. They were actually deployed to Kuwait at the time, but there were a few who had joined/transferred while they were gone, and Superman drilled with them one weekend/month.

71. His term of service ended last November. He was never deployed. (Whew. Thank you, Father in Heaven.) The army paid most of his tuition, and he was paid for his drill weekends, but he never received his $5,000 signing bonus or $10,000 repaid in student loans. The paperwork got messed up when he went on his mission. If he signed for two more years, they said he would get it all. We decided it wasn't worth the risk.

72. This has given me a skewed view of the war in Iraq. I know that that Superman feels as 97% of the servicemen do - we need to stay till the job's done, so we don't have to go back. We want them to be safe with a stable govenment, and US citizens to be safe as well. But all I see when I look at footage of the war is someone's husband. Someone's father. They are without that man now, and could be for the rest of their lives. Or he may be wounded and never able to walk or see or hear or talk again.

I just want them home with their families.

73. I collected teddy bears as a kid.

74. I HATE doing the dishes.

75. I am prone to keep clutter, rather than throw it away.

76. My labor with Spiderman was induced, and didn't want an epidural. It was a painful labor. I wasn't prepared for it - didn't know they were going to induce me that day. I wanted to bounce on my ball and walk the halls......can't do that with a catheter and 2 monitors in your birthing canal. After 7 hours, I was ready to collapse and asked to talk to the nurse about some pain relief. She was like, "Well,.........I could give you some Demerol through the IV. It won't get rid of the pain, but it'll take the edge off."

I was like, "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!?!?" That stuff was manna from heaven. I actually started to fall asleep between contractions. And they were only 1-2 minutes apart.

77. I had Spiderman the day after Bush beat Kerry in the '04 election. I had dreams in between contractions of Kerry conceeding to Bush on the same stage. A contraction woke me up, and I started to carry on the conversation I'd been having in my dream, only to realize it wasn't real!

78. About 2 hours after the Demerol, I had Spiderman. Pushed for about 15 minutes.

79. The Hulk came the day after Memorial Day. Woke up with really strong contractions. Got to the hospital. Water broke (just a trickle) in the elevator. I asked about an epidural right away. Which was good, 'cuz the Hulk was posterior and it was all in my back. I could still feel some pressure with the epidural, but it was so bearable! It was also good because I had to wait 30 minutes for the doctor to come from another hospital when I was ready to push. 15 minutes of pushing, and the Hulk was here!

80. Recovery was MUCH easier with baby #2.

81. I keep dishsoap in one of those fancy oil dispensers by my sink. Looks much better than keeping the bottle out all the time. Something I picked up from my sister-in-law.

82. Alright, these next questions are all Jessica: Aside from blogging, what's your fav hobby? I love to scrapbook.  Though I really only do it once a month for a swap with some friends.  I also LOVE to read. 

83. When you're old and gray and the kids have moved out, where do you want to live? Might be a bit cliche, but close to my grandkids.

84. What's your biggest pet peeve? Inconsiderate drivers.

85. Assuming you were blessed with all talents, what would your dream career be? I'd love to be a performer- acting and/or singing. It seems that country singers have a lot of leeway in their schedule, and that's what my voice is most like.  Actually, I think I have more of a chameleon-like singing voice.  I usually end up sounding like the artist I'm singing along with.  Anyway........I'd enjoy that.  Or a columnist with a HUGE gig so I could pay the bills and SHOP!

86. How many kids do you want? I'd like 4.  Ideally 2 of each.  I'm hoping for some girls next! Not that I have much say in the matter.  But I've put it out into the universe, hoping it will come back to me.  And I'm gonna do all I can to make some girl babies next time! =D  I'd be okay with boys, too.  I love my boys. LOVE them, seriously.

87. What church calling do you really hope the Lord doesn't see fit to bless you with? Librarian. Stake preparedness specialist.

88. What's your favorite meal to make your family?  Parmesan Chicken.  The recipe's right here.

89. What's your favorite thing about you? I think I'm really fun and nice. =D And I always try to be myself.  What you see is what you get.  I don't hide much.

90. What's your favorite thing about your hubby? Sense of humor & testimony/knowledge of the gospel. To fulfill his request, here are all the good things:  He's so VERY handsome!!  He does a really good job being a dad to our kids.  Good job playing, good job disciplining.  I love feeling that I'm not raising my kids alone.  He works SO HARD for our family.  I have NEVER had a reason to question his devotion to me.  I appreciate that he's a saver.  Our bank account couldn't handle two spenders.  I love his integrity.  He's an excellent teacher.  Did I mention he's funny? He's smart.  And for the rest - MAKE YOUR OWN BLOG AND HAVE 100 POSTS!!!  Just kidding, sugar muffin!

91. What's your preferred mode of transportation? MINI VAN.  I want one so bad!!!  I'd love to be able to give people rides and take their kids AND mine.  And to be able to take the dogs places.

92.  Now Catie's questions: Do you really love being a stay at home mom, or would you rather work some (even just a little)? Good question.  I really do love staying at home.  Especially while my kids are so young.  I might feel differently when they're all older and in school.  But sometimes I think it'd be nice to work like 6 hours a week at Dairy Queen decorating cakes.  Enough to get out of the house, but not enough for them to notice my absence.  And I've decorated cakes at the DQ before and loved it.  =D Of course some extra money would be nice, but we don't need it.

93. What do you worry about the most? I don't worry a whole lot in general.  But if I had to say what I worry about most.........it'd be Superman dying young, and leaving me a young widow with young kids.  I know we'll be together after this life, and I don't fear death, I just fear the consequences of his death.

94.  Are you guys ever going to think about moving back home? We've talked about moving back to Kansas.  The biggest problem is that we grew up in different "Kansases."  While I grew up in the city, in a suberb, with a high school who focused on college, he grew up in a small town where no matter how well you did in school, no one went to college, and they all end up working at the gas station.  To him, Kansas is a "black hole."  If you've got a stable job there, it's great.  The cost of living is SO low!! But if there's any question as to the permanence of your job.......there's nothing to do if you lose your job.  (ie Boeing)  I would LOVE to be back there, closer to our families.  But it's just not something that we can do right now.

95. These next ones are also from my dad, and they're hard!  Guess I should've finished this sooner! When & how did you gain a testimony of the Gospel? To be honest, I can't give a when.  I would say it blossomed around the time I was 14 or fifteen.  The how is easier.  Seminary was a HUGE help.  I attended early morning seminary from 6-6:45 every morning before high school.  Studying the scriptures every day in a class, and on my own, were big parts of my testimony growing, and praying to know the truth.  John Bytheway tapes, too. =D

96.  What is your favorite memory of each of your grandparents? Another hard one.  Of Grandpa O'Neal - the tire swing.  And riding on his shoulders through the house.  Going to their house in his truck and getting treats at Kwik Shop.  Of Grandma O'Neal - her taking me out to Utah so Levi could propose.  That and the drive back.  Just talking about lots of things. Grandpa Epperson - swimming.  Riding on his back in the swimming pool.  Grandma Epperson - she made me a birthday cake one year with a real rose on it.  It was beautiful!

97. What is your best childhood memory?  Finding a bell from Santa Claus on the Christmas tree.

98.  What do you do the best to help your children know the Lord?  We go to church, where they learn a lot, but we also read from the scriptures at home.  We've acted out some stories that talk about faith.  Also, to help the kids be reverent during the passing of the sacrament, I try to whisper to each of them what it means.  "When we eat the bread, we think about Jesus' body.  Jesus loved us, and died for us so we can be happy.  It's important to always be nice, and do the right thing.  When we drink the water, we promise to always be good, because we love Jesus.  Do you know that Jesus loves you?" (along those lines)

99.  Shellie- What's my favorite kind of food? Italian, or Mexican.  Superman doesn't like a lot of spicy food, so I make more Italian dishes.  But because I don't eat a lot of Mexican, I'd probably pick that when going out to eat.
 
100.  A forgotten question from Jessica: If you could choose, how old would you live to be? 100

Whatcha wanna know?

Merrianne just asked her readers this question, and now I'm going to do the same, because my next post is my 100th, and I'm "supposed" to write 100 things about myself.  So......

What do you want to know about me?

Is there something you've wondered about, but have never asked?

No question's off limits!

You can even ask it anonymously, if you want to!!

I will answer every question! So ask away!

Random 10

WW: "I love you."
S: "I love you, too. And I would've gotten away with it if it weren't for those rotten kids and that dog......"
WW: "What? What are you talking about?"
S: "You know, Scooby Doo. That's what the bad guys always say at the end."
--conversation between myself and a (conscious) Superman last night.

-------------------------------

We had the first practice for our roadshow last night. Remember- the performance is Saturday. It was.........shaky. It's hard to tell a bunch of 13yo kids who've never been in a play what to do and where to go when the scripts they weren't given have no specific directions. And then when they all leave before we get a chance to run through it again.

In a way, I'm kind of glad that this is SO last minute. Means I'm only stressing about it for 5 days, instead of 3 months! That's much healthier. I'm sure it'll be fine. And if it's not, what's the worst that can happen? Other wards will think we have no talent? We'll have a good laugh at ourselves? If nothing else, we will have set the bar low enough that the next time we do it, it'll be really great, since this is all they have to compare it too.

A few good things about it- I'm in it, with a fairly major role. I've always regretted not doing more drama in high school, and I'm trying to remedy that. Also, Spiderman's in it!! At one point, some mothers are talking to their kids about faith. He's one of the kids. Looks so cute in his little scripture story costume. And he just sat there on the girl's lap. Didn't talk or try to get up or anything. He's so dang cute up there.

-------------------------------

Yesterday afternoon, I decided to start potty-training the Hulk. I put on the thick undies, then the vinyl pants over them. I told him that if he needs to go potty, come tell me.

What was I thinking?!?!? I've potty-trained before!! I know what to do. You have to stay with them. And watch them. Take them to the potty every half hour. Make sure YOU are ready for it. And DON'T do it when they're teething. That last one's particularly important.

Last night sitting at dinner, I started to smell something. Then I realized that the Hulk wasn't wearing a diaper. OH NO. And we only had 15 minutes till we had to be at the roadshow practice. He's cutting his molars and has had some really GREAT diapers of late. It was disgusting. We had to put him in the tub to hose him off, and I started a load of laundry then. (Which I had to RE-wash later since it sat in the washing machine for 3 hours after it was done.)

I've decided to wait a little bit longer to potty-train. Mom needs to be just as ready as kid. He's bright and will catch on quickly when I decided to put some effort into it. He's already pooped on the potty a few times. (Sorry if this is too much for some of you.)

------------------------------------

Do you remember your dreams? All of them? Just sometimes? I can very rarely remember my dreams. Superman remembers all of his. I think he does a lot more dreaming than sleeping at night. (Actually, I don't think he sleeps right. Probably ought to get it checked out.) But you know what I want? A TiVo for my dreams!!!! In that few seconds after I wake up, I can recall the dream and that it was cool, then it's gone. Makes me mad! So I've decided that if we ever get rich, and someone's invented this machine, I will TOTALLY buy it. Forget the Hummer or the 18-bedroom house. I want a Dream TiVo!!

-----------------------------

I went out on a limb and sent an e-mail to women in my ward, inviting them to view my blog. I felt like a crazy person, "Come read my blog and we'll be friends!" But I know a few of them blog, and others blog stalk. I know of like 6 that have visited. But no one's left a comment! And I even said that the only way we'd get to know one another is if they left a comment. Do you think it's just 'cuz they don't know what to do? Should I change my "shout outs" back to "comments?"

Or maybe they just don't realize what a BIG DEAL comments are to bloggers. We all joke about them being directly related to our self-esteem. I think only most of us are half-way joking. And sometimes I'm tempted to leave a blog without commenting, then I think of how I hate that, and leave a comment. Of course, this looks like a not-so-subtle plea for you all to comment. I didn't mean for that to happen. Really. I just meant to complain about people not commenting. Maybe I should just delete this whole section. Probably not.

----------------------------------

What's playing on my player:
1. 3 am -Matchbox 20
2. Home - Chantal Kreviazuk
3. Anyway - Martina McBride
4. You're gonna miss this - Trace Adkins
5. Beautiful - Christina Aguilera
6. Superman - Five for Fighting
7. Stolen - Dashboard Confessional
7. Imagine - David Archuleta
8. You've got a friend - Carol King
9. No - Cherie Call
10. I'll be - Edwin McCain --> think he's any relation to John?

Bonus: No place that far - Sara Evans

p.s. It's National Talk like a Pirate Day!! Ahoy! Avast! Arrgh, Matey!

3 arguments

I got this in an e-mail today and decided to share it with you all. Hope it's not too sacreligious for you!! (I also hope it's not a post Sue came up with and has been turned into an e-mail forward! I'd feel really bad.)

There were 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black:
1. He called everyone brother
2. He liked Gospel
3. He didn't get a fair trial

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Jewish:
1. He went into His Father's business
2. He lived at home until he was 33
3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his Mother was sure He was God

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Italian:
1. He talked with His hands
2.He had wine with His meals
3. He used olive oil

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a Californian:
1. He never cut His hair
2. He walked around barefoot all the time
3. He started a new religion

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a Native American:
1. He was at peace with nature
2. He ate a lot of fish
3. He talked about the Great Spirit

But then there were 3 equally good arguments> that Jesus was Irish
1. He never got married.
2. He was always telling stories.
3. He loved green pastures.

But the most compelling evidence of all - 3 proofs that Jesus was a woman:
1. He fed a crowd at a moment's notice when there was virtually no food
2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn't get it
3. And even when He was dead, He had to get up because there was still work to do

Aint that the truth!!

Until I gather my thoughts and come up with a political post of my own....

....enjoy this. (Beware: little bit of mild swearing)

Tag, I'm it. I tagged myself. Enjoy.

If every job paid $50,000 a year, and you had no physical or mental limitations, what would you do? I'm still trying to decide!! I love being able to stay at home with my kids. But I think I'd enjoy being a columnist. Like a mommy-humor-sometimes-deep-moments column. (Kind of like my blog.) But I'd also like to travel. Oh, how I'd love to travel. I'd also really enjoy Broadway, I think. I've always regretted not doing more (musical) theater when I had the chance.

What is your current church calling and what do you like about it? I am the ward organist, Enrichment committee member, and Cubmaster with Superman. I enjoy the organ because it's such an easy calling. Little or no prep is okay. And it's good for Superman to be with the kids during Sacrament meeting. ---Enrichment commitee has given me friends. And a great way to be involved. ---Cubmaster......is probably the calling I'll have the longest because it's the one I enjoy the least. Superman and I find it very challenging.

Name a person you regularly encounter (outside your family) who brightens your day: Tina. She and I walk together each morning, and I don't think I'd do it if I weren't doing it with her. We're becoming really good friends.

In twenty years, what do you think you will miss most about your life now? Little kids around who want to give me hugs and think I'm the center of the universe. The simplicity. It doesn't feel very simple right now, but it's just going to get crazier as my kids get older.

What’s something you appreciate about your spouse? His sense of humor. Laughing outloud is so very healthy, and I know I can count on him for that everyday. I also appreciate his sense of right and wrong. He is full of integrity, and inspires me to be better. His dedication to our family and providing for us.

What is your favorite routine, household chore? Laundry. It's so easy. And it gives me an excuse to watch TV. (Like I ever need an excuse. But when I fold laundry, I can do it without feeling guilty!)

What’s a book you return to occasionally (besides the scriptures)? The Potentially Sane Mother's Guide to Raising Young Children by Tamara Fackrell.......and of course the Twilight series.

Favorite small pleasure? blogging, york peppermint patties

Favorite time of the day? I'm so glad when Daddy comes home!! I really enjoy our evenings as a family, putting the kids to bed, and spending time one-on-one.

Name a person who performed what they thought was a small act of service, but ended up being a big deal to you: I wish I COULD name this person. They are in my last ward. I had lost our cordless phone over a week before. At a RS activity, I was just telling the story of how I lost it, couldn't find it, and was really in need. (Superman was going out of town for a while and I wouldn't have a way to talk to him.) I told them I had said a small prayer about it, but not much more because I always feel like I need to be doing everything I'm supposed to before God will answer my prayers. And I wasn't that great at reading my scriptures everyday.......so I didn't really pray about it. (Dumb, I know, but true.) But we had just attended the General RS Broadcast, where they spoke of God's love for and desire to bless us.

That night I went home, read my scriptures, and prayed. I told God I was sorry for not doing better and for thinking I was unworthy of the blessings he wanted to bestow. I prayed to find the phone.

The next morning, I went out to the car to get something. Before I got there, however, I saw a small box with a phone in it. It was a new phone, one that probably cost less than $10 at Walmart. Such a small thing that someone had done for me, but it told me that God was aware of me, and loved me. And that someone else was willing to obey His promptings.

"God answers prayers, but it is usually through another person that he meets our needs," --heard that on a John Bytheway tape, but don't know who said it originally. (Sorry, that turned into a post itself.)

Name someone who somehow changed your life: Ms. Hall, my sophomore English teacher. I learned to write in her class. And to love literature, and finding deeper meanings. She took an interest in her students. My senior year, I was an aide for her, along with another boy. Quite a combination: I'm Mormon, she's Catholic, and he's gay. =D We had some very interesting discussions, but I learned so much from them.

Consider what you do each day. Think of one attribute or trait that you bring to your daily work that is a strength—what is something you do really well? I'm pretty good at rolling with the punches. I don't have a strict schedule that I adhere to, or make my kids adhere to. We make messes. But we also play. Of course, naps and meals come at the same times, but I'll let the kids pick (within reason) what they want to eat. And if they want to go outside, or play with blocks or make Star Wars ships out of the couch cushions. When it comes to the small, daily stuff, I'm pretty good at going with the flow.

Bonus: Scripture that speaks to me right now: James 1:6 "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

I'm not going to tag anyone, but let me know if you're going to do it. I liked that this was different from some more generic tags.

Have a happy Sunday. And don't forget to take a look at Kiera's giveaway, described below.

Barnes & Noble GIVEAWAY

My fabulous photographer friend Kiera is having a giveaway. She's still building her portfolio and wants some imput on people's favorite shots of hers. This chick is seriously amazing.

For the effort, she'll award one lucky commenter a Barnes and Noble gift certificate! And I know I'm actually ruining my chances of winning by telling you all, but I love this lady and want to help her.

So go take a gander at her stuff, and if you win, promise to at least mention me as you gloat.

--She's got a list up on her sidebar of her shoots to make it easy for you.

GREY'S ANATOMY TRAILER

Has anyone seen the Grey's Anatomy trailer for the new season?

SLUTTY NURSE IS CARRYING MCDREAMY'S BABY.

HE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. COVERED IN BLOOD. MEREDITH SCREAMING. CHIEF YELLING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SAVE HIM.

AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Sorry. I'm just freakin' out a little bit.

Where were you?

I was sitting in Ms. Royer's 1st hour English class. The vice-principle, Mr. Wiebe, came on the intercom and told us that a plane had crashed in New York and we should probably turn on our TVs. I thought it was kinda weird that he would say that.......

But everyone turned on their TVs. They were on all day. None of the teachers even attempted lessons. In my 2nd hour class, we all watched in shock as the second plane crashed into the second tower. Then the Pentagon. Then the crash in Pennsylvania. The towers crumbling.......

A lot of parents came to get their kids from school. Gas prices jumped. Grocery stores were flooded with people buying all they could.

I remember that people were talking about Osama bin Laden almost immediately.

I remember seeing the masses of people running through the streets from the clouds of smoke and dust and debris. Then the firemen, running into the same ominous clouds.

I remember the Red Cross asking for blood donors, then having to throw away some of the blood because there were so many who donated, but not enough survivors who needed blood.

I remember the members of Congress singing, "God Bless America." And Lee Greenwood's "Proud to be an American" being played on every station, then being re-released on CD.

And the flags. There were flags everywhere. On the houses, people's cars, some even painted flags on their fences or garage doors. People were not afraid to show their patriotism.

I remember the candlit vigils. It seemed the entire nation was in prayer. Classes, religions, and political viewpoints didn't matter. We were mourning for our lost brothers and sisters, and mourning with the ones they left behind.

What do you remember?

I think I've forgotten how to write short posts. Looking over some of my latest work........good gracious! So I'm going to write a little baby post, just to see if I still can.

Today was a VERY long, boring day. I got up and went walking, then came home and slept till Superman left for work. I think I got a good 20 minutes, and it helped.

It was overcast all day, and hard to tell if it was warming up and getting a little humid or cooling down and close to raining. We ended up getting a 3-minute hailstorm mid-afternoon, but then it warmed up after that.

I stayed in my exercise clothes till 4 pm when I HAD to change for a meeting. Kids stayed inside all day, since I wasn't going outside. (Plus the weather.) They made star wars ships out of the couch cushions and watched a few cartoons and ran around the house like crazy people.

I just......did nothing. All day. I looked at blogs and made a few comments, but didn't post. I didn't e-mail anyone or play on facebook or youtube. I didn't read a book, or watch E! or do my dishes. I DID unload the dishwasher this morning, washed some bedding, and finished a scrapbook page. And by "finish" I mean put 3 buttons on a page and glued on a picture.

My days aren't normally like this. I mean, I know I have lazy tendencies, but I usually get dressed and do my make-up. And usually before 4 o'clock. And the kids usually play outside.

I think it was the overcast weather all day. Do cloudy days make anyone else.....lethargic?

Stupid, naive freshman

I've been thinking about this post for a few days, ever since I told Shellie I had a story to tell. It was along the same lines as a story of hers, but not as funny - more embarrassing that I was so naive. I've debated telling it for that reason. (And I'm NOT as funny as Shellie.)

But since don't have anything else to blog about and I've already pulled out my journal with the account and I don't feel like cleaning my house, here's my story:

I was a freshman at BYU-Idaho. One Friday I was walking from my apartment to the Snow Building to practice the organ before my classes. It was a pretty chilly morning for mid-September. (But I soon found that was normal for Rexburg.) I had a long walk ahead of me- close to 15 minutes. As I was walking, a car turned out of my apartment complex and the driver waved at me. I waved back. I didn't know who he was, but that's what you do when someone waves at you. You wave back.

About 3 seconds later, the car does a U-turn and pulls up beside me. The guy asked if I wanted a ride. Startled but flattered, I said sure and told him where I was going. (Remember: chilly morning, long walk, NAIVE) He told me his name, then said that his friends called him Huey. I don't even remember his real name. We chatted for a minute, then he dropped me off.

This is not how I waved to the guy, but it is a picture from my freshman year. Doesn't the girl beside me look like Kirsten Dunst?

That night I went to a small outdoor dance. Huey was there. He was walking around, introducing himself to lots of people, and eventually came to where I was dancing with some friends. He introduced himself, and I said, "Aren't you the guy who gave me a ride this morning?"

"OH!" he said with a smile, and put his arm around my shoulders and started walking away. I went because......I guess I was flattered. Before I go further, let me describe this guy. He was probably about 5'5" with some moderate acne. Not the handsomest devil around, but extremely confident. And I'm only 5'1" (on a good day) so his height didn't really bother me. I wasn't exactly attracted to him, but he was seemingly attracted to me, so I figured, "What the heck?"

After about 15 mintues of walking around with his arm on my shoulder, or holding my hand, he asked if I wanted to go to a party at the sand dunes with him. I had heard that "the dunes" were really fun and decided to go. I told the friends I went to the dance with that I was going to the dunes with a friend. (I really don't even know if I said who I was going with. What a stupid, STUPID girl.)

Another picture. Neither of these go with the story, but they're some of the only ones I have online from college. This is me with my best friend Kelli and her room mates.

As we're driving out of town, it started to dawn on me what an idiot I'd been. I didn't have a cell phone with me. I didn't tell anyone his name. I don't even know him! And now he's taking me to "the dunes," a place I've never been. And I probably won't see anyone I know. I remember saying a little prayer that I'd get home alright.

10-15 minutes later, we're at the dunes. There were a few fires with people standing around them. None really looked like a party. He took my hand and we went to one of the groups of people where he looked around briefly, then kept walking. He said he didn't see any of his friends there and pulled me up to sit on a large dune. (I don't think he knew anyone that was going to be out there- just wanted to get me out there.)

We sat down next to one another, except he was turned to face me, with this arm out over my legs. I was leaned back on my hands with my legs out. Then he put his other arm around my waist. (!?!?!) He looked me straight in the eye and started talking. We were "kiss or not kiss" close and I did NOT want to kiss him!! I was looking everywhere but at him and kept changing positions. He finally changed how he was sitting, and sat beside me, though he kept trying to put his arm on my shoulder or hold my hand.

Then he laid down. He tugged at my arm and I was like, "Oh, we don't need to lay down..."
"But the stars are so pretty from down here."
"They're pretty from up here, too!"

He sat up and asked if I had a boyfriend. I told him I didn't, then he asked how many I'd had. I told him just one. "What? a cute, fun girl like you?" (Remember, I'm quoting from my journal, not just bragging. =D)

Then he asked how many boys I'd kissed. "Well, just that one." [Yes, it's Superman.] "He's the only one who's earned it. To me kisses are love-"

"What?! Kisses aren't love!"

"Well, to me they are. I can see maybe a kiss on the hand, but beyond that...."

He then proceeded to pick up my hand and kiss it. Then he kissed my cheek.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I just sat there, not saying anything or looking at him for a few minutes. Then I stood up and said something about how it was late and we should get back.

We had only been in the car a few minutes when we came to a crossroads (literally, not just figuratively.) He wasn't paying attention and ran the stop sign. Didn't even slow down. There was a car coming on my side, and they didn't have a stop sign. Luckily they were paying attention and slowed enough not to hit the car and kill me. But if it had been just one second later........whew. Scary. Both cars were probably going close to 50 mph.

He quickly apologized as I caught my breath. A few minutes later, he told me that he didn't want any commitment, just physical affection. Oh, well thanks for clearing that up! "What do they call it? NiCkMO?" (non-commital make-out, for those of you not in the know.) "Yeah, I just want a NCMO." I told him that I'd love to hang out with him, but not to expect anything - especially because he hadn't been on a mission yet.

Then he got mad. "People like you are making me hate this school!"

"People like me are keeping you on the straight and narrow." (SO very uppity of me! But it's what I said.)

"Well, I was just fine where I was."

I told him that most of the girls he met at BYU-I probably didn't want a NCMO, and probablywouldn't date a premie (pre-missionary) very seriously. He didn't like that either.

We didn't talk much the rest of the way home. He dropped me off in front of my building and I got inside and said a quick prayer of thanks.

So. There it is. Not edited for funny or to make myself not look like an IDIOT. I was just very naive. I had only had one boyfriend before, and he had been MORE than a gentleman. There were other guys I dated, but none seriously. And I had only been at BYU-I for a few weeks! I just.......didn't know what slimeballs some guys can be. Turns out Huey developed quite a reputation. One of my friend's boyfriend was his room mate. He HATED Huey. With a deep and burning passion.

I can understand that. And what the HECK kind of nickname is HUEY?!?!?

I don't even know his last name. Or his first.

How did I ever pass my time

before I blogged?



Oh, yeah.



I cleaned my house. Did the dishes. Vacuumed. Folded laundry. Made food not from a box.



Hmm.....maybe I should work on doing some of those a little more...... 'cuz having a clean house is kinda nice.



Or maybe I should just get a maid.

A Woman of Faith

There was a talk given by Magaret D. Nadauld in the October 2002 General Conference that I think I will always remember. I was a freshman at college and was taking notes during every talk. (I try to do that now, but it's hard with the boys running around. Also, it's REALLY hard for me to focus on Conference and feel the Spirit when I'm just watching it at home on my TV. Another topic for another day.)

So as Sister Nadauld began her talk, I began writing and realized that I wanted to write down EVERY word she said!! And I couldn't get it all. I started using so much short hand that I could barely understand my notes. I wrote in the margins, "Get a copy of this entire talk." It was all pure gold me.

At the end I wrote, "This is the kind of woman I want my husband to marry. The kind of woman I need to be."

I still feel this way as I read these words. This is the woman I want my husband to be married to. The one I want raising my children.

This is the kind of woman I need to try much harder to be.

So without further ado, Margaret D. Nadauld.

"I love the Lord Jesus Christ and His Church, which has been restored to the earth in our day. I treasure the teachings of His holy life from newborn infant to resurrected man, Son of God.

As I have read from the pages of the Bible, in my mind's eye I have watched Him as He "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."1 In my reading, I was there when He raised the dead. He healed the sick, fed the 5,000, brought comfort and hope and a process for peace into the world that He had created. He forgave those who mocked and tortured and crucified Him—for they knew not what they did. I saw the divine love and concern He had for His mother, though He suffered in supreme agony Himself. He overcame death so that we can too. He has prepared a place for us in heaven with our Eternal Father. He has taught us the plan for happiness and given us the vision of it and the hope to follow it. His was the ultimate life of sacrifice and a life of service to fulfill the plan of God His Father.

A Latter-day Saint woman who follows Christ's example in her daily living begins to fulfill the plan of our Heavenly Father for her. By so doing she can be a powerful influence for good in today's world and meet the challenges of mortality. I have known such women, and they have been a guiding light to me. The Latter-day Saint woman who follows Christ is a true Christian in the very best sense of the word. She is a woman of faith who trusts God and is confident and fearless.


A woman of faith trusts God and faces adversity with hope. She knows of His interest in her life. She knows that He knows her. She loves His words and drinks deeply of that living water. She is grateful for the prophet He has sent for these latter days, and she trusts his counsel and follows it, for she knows that by so doing she will find safety and peace. In prayer she seeks the kind, unfaltering guidance and help of a listening Heavenly Father. As she prays, she listens—allowing the communication to be two-way. She trusts that in His still and quiet way, He will lead her by the hand and give her answer to her prayers.2

A woman of faith is confident because she understands the divine plan of our Heavenly Father and her role to bless lives. She is confident that any sacrifice she makes is worth something in an eternal sense. She knows about sacrifice from knowing of the life of the Savior. She knows that her sacrifices may be small by comparison, but she knows that Heavenly Father understands and values what she does to strengthen her home and her family and the world in which she lives.

Her confidence grows because she is virtuous and lovely and gracious, which is even better than beautiful. She has pure motives. She is loving and gentle and kind. The hearts of her husband and her children safely trust in her.3 And so do the children or youth or women that she has been called to teach, lead, serve, and love—they are drawn to her because of that special spirit that she radiates. It is the image of God that she has in her countenance that is appealing and important.4 She is confident that she is fashioning a character and a record of performance that will be invited to stand in the presence of her Heavenly Father. She will be able to do so with the sense that she fully belongs there, that she is known by Him and loved and valued and treasured forever and always.

A woman of faith is fearless. She fears no evil, for God is with her.5 There is no ambiguity, no uncertain trump in her life. She can live a principled life because she studies the doctrine and teachings of a perfect teacher, the Master. She is a noble example to all who know her. She is less than perfect, of course, not because she doesn't have perfect principles or the perfect example in Christ, but because she is human. She stays away from the evil influence and the unclean thing, and if it encroaches on her territory, she is as a lioness protecting her cubs.

A fearless woman of faith has the courage to talk with her children about practices which would destroy them. They not only hear her discuss her commitment, but they see her commitment in her daily living—in the way she dresses, what she reads and watches, how she spends her leisure time, what she loves and laughs at, who she attracts, and how she acts at all times, in all things, and in all places. She has a certain style of her own that is attractive and joyful and bright and good. Our little girls and our young women can safely trust in her example. We pray that they too will be fearless as they seek out and promote that which is uplifting and happy and decent, for they are our future.

Thank heaven for women of faith in our lives. A woman of faith loves the Lord. She wants Him to know it by the life she lives, by the words she speaks, by the service she renders to His children, by her every action. She knows that He loves her even though she is imperfect and still trying to be better. She knows that when she does her very best, that it is enough, as President Hinckley has told us.6

A woman of faith is blessed by faithful men in her life who hold the priesthood of God and honor this privilege: her father, bishop, husband, brothers, sons. They value her and the divine gifts given by God to His daughter. They sustain and encourage, and they understand the great mission of her life as a woman. They love her; they bless her. They are in turn blessed by this woman of faith as they walk the path of life together. They know, as scripture teaches, that "two are better than one. . . . For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow."7

I express my gratitude for wonderful women of faith, for great, noble men, and for my beloved family, who have lifted me up and inspired me throughout my life. They have been an especially great blessing as I have tried to fulfill the sacred errand from the Lord as the Young Women general president.

Dear brothers and sisters, please know of my love for you and my great gratitude to our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I will honor and serve Them with all my heart forever and be thankful for the privilege.

I hope you have a wonderful Sabbath.