Leah & John

My Adorable Nephew!

Seriously. Could he be any cuter??

Merry Christmas!

I am going to be very, very busy tomorrow, the next day we are traveling to Denver, it's my birthday and Christmas Eve. Christmas Day Leah & I are flying to Tallahassee, FL to go see my sister and her new son! (VERY exciting) so probably there won't be much blogging for a few days.

We did our Christmas celebration this morning and had a feast tonight. It was great fun! Here's a picture and video for your viewing pleasure (from Sunday).

Have a very Merry & Blessed Christmas!!

PS Sorry the video is sideways. I'm too tired to take the time to figure out how/if I can fix it ;)

School

This week for school was fun. For our crafts, Tuesday we made a gingerbread house & a gingerbread train and then Thursday (no Friday - we had to switch the day we had school. It was definitely Friday. lol). We made snowmen with cotton balls on construction paper. They're adorable. I took the picture of them before we added the mouth. Then I realized we'd forgotten and I was too lazy to take more pictures. ;)

We aren't having school with Leah's cousin again until the middle of January. I'm going to my sister's house (with Leah) on Christmas day because she's having her baby! I'm sure we'll still do school there but the girls are going to miss each other!

Leah also got to go to the library today and make crafts - a bookmark, a bracelet, and she frosted/decorated/ate a cookie. It was a good day for her! And we checked out books, of course.

Anyway. The pictures :)

 

Today

Today was not a great day. And since I don't feel like writing it all out I will focus on a couple good things that happened today.

Drew is at work. Since he hasn't worked in weeks, that's good.

Connie & her daughter Jaycey brought a plate of christmas yummy things to my door this evening. Heaven bless them.

And this was my two favorite people this morning because Leah said "Can I put on snow clothes and play in the snow?"

I love my family:

101 Things Tag

I saw this on my sister - Leah's - blog.

PUT THE THINGS YOU'VE DONE IN BOLD.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/Disney World
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing/repelling
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted/sketched
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (Math Tutor - okay it's a simple business but I did it & I was successful!)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching (I wasn't actually whale watching. We were on the deck of an Alaskan cruse - my sister & I - and we saw a whale. But SHE didn't bold this one so I feel guilty lol)
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (okay - only sort of - I was on an airplane and the pilot circled over the grand canyon while leaning the plane each way so we all got to see. It was pretty cool but still very far away)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (fish count, right?)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day.
101. Fallen in Love

Apparently I'm also supposed to tag 10 people but it's just not gonna happen. Do it. It's fun!

Just Because

June 5, 2006

Christmas Tag

William & Leah did this on their blog & Jaycey sent it to me in an email so I'm doing it here :)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Paper
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial - I'm allergic to real trees.
3. When do you put up the tree? Normally the day after Tday - This year it was Dec 1st.
4. When do you take the tree down? Jan 1st or 2nd
5. Do you like eggnog? Not much - too thick. Sometimes I buy those packets where you just add milk. I like that because I can make it thinner. And I LOVE to make French toast using eggnog instead of milk. SO good.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My favorite gift ever was a kitchen aid stand mixer. I don't remember ever being so excited about anything. However, I was not a child. I was 27? I think. I was so beside myself with excitement I couldn't even talk. My mom sent it to me in the mail. When I left her a message she couldn't even understand what I was saying and Drew wanted to know did I love the stand mixer more than him!
7. Hardest person to buy for? My parents. When they want something they just buy it. The only thing to do is find something they would want if they saw it - but before they do.
8. Do you have a nativity scene? Actually no. It broke when we moved. I need a new one.
9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. Who emails Christmas cards???
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of anything.
11. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th Street
12. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I used to start around Halloween. But since Leah's bday is mid November - now I start the day after her birthday. I can only present shop for one holiday at a time!
13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No
14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Caramel Popcorn - but only my family's caramel recipe.
15. Lights on the tree? Of course!
16. Favorite Christmas song? Angels We Have Heard On High
17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both this year - Christmas at home & then traveling on Christmas day to my sister's house!
18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes
19. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel on one tree, Star on the other
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas day? one on Christmas Eve (usually new jammies) and the rest on Christmas
21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People who act unhappy about the holidays!
22. Favorite ornament theme or color? navy blue/light blue, silver, white - that's big tree theme
23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Food
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? A Wii
25. Favorite thing you look forward to doing every year? All of it!

Leah's First Haircut

I gave Leah her first haircut today!

I've been thinking about it forever but today was just finally the day for some reason. Leah was born with quite a bit of hair and she never lost ANY of it. The first time a hair even came out when I was coming it she was over a year old. So since I've never cut any of it - the hair from the crown of her head is much longer than the rest of it. It's so curly and thick you couldn't tell at all - which is why I've ignored it for so long.

She was afraid at first. She said "Please don't hurt me." (LOL!) and we talked about an episode of Oswald I know she's seen many times. Henry (Oswald's best friend) goes to get a hair cut - okay feather cut since he's a penguin - and he's scared but it turns out fine, of course. Then she was fine with the idea.

I had her lay on her stomach on the bed and hang her head off. She was a little nervous about that so Daddy came and sat by her.

I just trimmed straight across. Then I had her stand up and evened up the back.

(This hair cut is really easy - I have it too. It looks entirely different on me of course LOL - you'd never know it was actually the same basic haircut)

I say "JUST" but seriously - cutting hair that curly is HARD!

I took this pictures before her hair was totally dry. After it was (when we got home from a christmas party) I trimmed the back a little more. It's all even now.

Anyway - I can't believe I did it! My baby girl's first hair cut!

Tagged - 4th Picture

I was tagged by Kathy for this one.

You are suppose to find your 4th picture in the 4th folder of pictures you have on your computer....and post it. Then tag 4 people

My pictures are so organized in our picture folder - family, by year, by month - I just keep going to the 4th folder until I got to pictures - this was April of this year. I decided to start with the 2008 folder. lol


I was laying on back on the bed & Leah leaned over me & I snapped that picture.

Gosh how I love that face!

Tag four people... hmmmm

1. Connie
2. Jaycey (is that going to be the same picture?)
3. Amy
4. Camela

Christmas Cards

All my Christmas Cards are in the mail and gone - as of a week ago really.

I have a few left! If you don't have one it means I missed you (there's cute pictures of Leah in it lol).

Send me an email with your address & I'll send you one!

Tagged by Jaycey

1. What time is it? 10:29 PM
2. Full name: Anna Camille
3. What are you most afraid of: not being the best mother I can be
4. What is the most recent movie that you've seen in a theater: Bolt
5. Have you ever seen a ghost? No
6. Where were you born? Rawlins
7. Have you ever been to Alaska? Yes - on a cruise - gorgeous!
8. Ever been toilet papering: No
9. Loved someone so much it made you cry? Yes
11. Croutons or bacon bits: Both, please.
12. Favorite day of the week: Saturdays
13. Favorite Restaurant: Red Lobster
14. Favorite Flower: Calla Lillies and Irises
15. Favorite sport: Ice Skating - does that count? I really like diving too.
16. Favorite Drink: REALLY cold ice water
17. Favorite ice cream: This times of year - Peppermint
18. Favorite fast food restaurant: Taco Time (*weeps that there isn't one near*)
19. What color is your bedroom carpet? Gold
20. How many times you failed your driver's test? Passed written first time, Failed driving first time - I went 22 in a 20mph school zone - automatic flunk. I passed the 2nd time ;)
21. What do you do most often when you are bored? Computer or Book
23. Bedtime: Whenever I fall asleep.
24. Favorite TV shows: Heroes (I may be slightly obessesed with this right now), House, My Own Worst Enemy, Amazing Race, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Fringe, Survivor, NCIS, The Mentalist, Bones, Eleventh Hour, Top Chef, Project Runway (I looked at my dvr list for some of that - I think that's most if it LOL. How embarassing!)
25. What are you listening to right now? Drew snoring (Big Sigh)
26. What is your favorite color? Blue
27. How many tattoos do you have? zero
28. What would you like to accomplish before you die? Raise happy children and see them raise happy children.

Is it just me???

Santa Commode Set

I saw this on the internet this morning. I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe. Then I showed it to Drew. He did not think it was that funny. Then two friends online - they said it was chuckle worthy but not all that funny.

Seriously???

If I walked into someone's bathroom and that was on the toilet? I'd have ended up wetting my pants before I got on the toilet from laughing so hard.

I think it's hysterical!

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Stuffing Casserole

• In a 9x9 pan...
• cut up 1.5-2 cups of turkey.
• Pour on top - one can of cream of chicken soup.
• Using the soup can - fill it 2/3 with sour cream and 1/3 with mayo.
• Add to 9x9.
• Stir it up.
• Layer stuffing on top.
• Bake at 350 degrees until bubbly (about 30 minutes).

Easy and yummy! (well, as long as your turkey & stuffing were yummy.... lol)

If you have a craving for this the rest of the year, you can sub a rotisserie chicken from the store and some stove top (any flavor but I normally only get the cornbread one). It's the only use in the world I have for stove top...

:)

PS This is my LAST NaBloPoMo post. I did it. I'm done.

And now I may not post for a week!!!

Picture

I just saw this picture the other day in a magazine. I'm in love!

It's by Greg Olsen. It's called "Hand in Hand".

Doritos!

Happy first day of Christmas season!

I am still getting queasy from everything I eat EXCEPT I just discovered that nacho Doritos are not making things worse!

Oh blessed Doritos.

Just to chew, swallow, and not be nauseated afterwards is AWESOME! :)

*UPDATE*

However - Doritos - being corn chips - will make my blood sugar shoot up.

NOT awesome.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!

I did the cook this morning but sadly sometime last night I started to get nauseated and it has yet to go away. It's slight until I eat something and then... then it's bad. If I eat something sugary... it's REALLY bad.

Right now I'm forcing myself to eat this plate of food even those it's going to make me feel worse. My blood sugar is too low so I gotta eat!

The only thing that doesn't taste off is the ham. The ham tastes REALLY good. Although it still makes me feel bad afterwards. However, ham is not going to raise my blood sugar. Sigh.

Having stomach issues on Thanksgiving is WRONG.

Did I do something to the cosmos??

Oh well ;)

I'm still thankful for my life!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Children's Book Review

Leah & I got this book from the library last Friday (we go to the library every Friday for a fresh supply of books). It was in a "holiday book" display.

As expected it's written in a chant like 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. It's absolutely an adorable beginning.

There are 8 children on a school bus riding to a turkey farm. They get there and there are 8 tiny turkeys and a farmer named Mack Nuggett which cracked me up. Leah was thoroughly enjoying my reading of it because I was hamming up the chant, of course.

And then sudden I hit this stanza...

Then somebody spotted
An ax by the door,
And she asked Farmer Nuggett
What it was for.

With a blink of his eye
And a twist of his head,
The old farmer told
A grim tale of dread:

"Tonight," said Mack Nuggett,
"These feathery beasts
Will be chopped up and roasted
For Thanksgiving feasts."

After this the children start crying - in the pictures it's full on sobbing. The farmer & teacher run to a well to get them a drink and when they come back the children are calm. And you see they each have a turkey stuffed up their shirt. They steal the turkeys and take them home.

The book says they each have a turkey as a guest for tday. And "feasted on veggies with jelly and toast, and everyone was thankful (The turkeys were most!)."

Seriously, I don't need a children's book that is going to prompted my child to ask me to explain what happens with an ax and a turkey!!!

Fascinatingly on the author's website it says:

"I don't consider this book to be a story about vegetarianism... to me, it's just a silly story about love and friendship. If this book has any 'message', it is perhaps that following your heart is often more important than following the rules."

It also states that he wasn't a vegetarian when he wrote the book but he is now a vegan.

Whatever. Not about vegetarianism? Give me a break. It points out that the bus was filled with love on the way home. Ya know, because they STOLE turkeys to save the turkey's lives.

Whatever. We only read it the once & then I put it up so she wouldn't even flip through and see the picture of the little girl holding an ax and asking what it's for!

Frankly, even if you ARE a vegetarian or vegan, it's so not appropriate to scare little kids with stories of turkey murders!

Sheesh!

Just so I'm clear - I'm not so much recommending this one ;)

Sweet Potato & Red Pepper Soup

• 2 red bell peppers - seeded & chopped
• heaping 4 cups diced sweet potatoes
• 1 onion - chopped
• 2 large garlic cloves - chopped
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
• hot-pepper sauce, salt, & pepper to taste

Put the sweet potatoes, red peppers, onions, garlic, and broth into a large pot. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat & let it simmer until all the vegetables are soft - about 30 minutes.

Once the soup is finished put it in a food processor, a blender, or use a stick blender & completely purée everything until smooth.

Taste the soup & then add salt, pepper, and a little hot-pepper sauce to taste. Remember a little goes a long way with that hot-pepper sauce - you need very little - and even then it's totally optional.

While not necessary, it adds a smoother texture if you strain the soup through a sieve.

***
I served this at a church thing not too long ago & while some people were scared to try my bright orange soup, EVERYONE loved it.

Overwhelmed With Joy is doing a Soup Collection :) Yummy! Perfect timing with winter upon us!

HowManyOfMe.com

I got this from Kathy's blog. I've seen it before forever ago but for got about it. It's fun!

Me:

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 6 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

My husband:

owManyOfMe.com

There are 124 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Leah:

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 17 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Forgetting

Today I made a TDay dinner list & a menu.

Tonight I realized Leah was out of cold medicine. So we bundle up. I gather my list, a movie we need to return, my phone, my purse, some cash on the table.

I got to the store and realized that the cash was on the table, my wallet is on the couch, my phone & the movie are still upstairs, my list is on the piano... I had only managed to bring my purse and Leah.

Luckily I had a checkbook. We bought Leah's medicine and came home.

I need to sleep.

Either that or I'm losing it.

Oh & I forgot to buckle Leah in her seat. She can buckle herself actually but not when she has her winter coat on lately. I actually need to pull her seat out and move the straps up.

I keep forgetting. Imagine that.

I'm domestic

I'm feeling very domestic this morning. Leah had one of her babies wrapped up & I realized it was wrapped in a shirt that she was pretending was a blanket. I said, "You need some tiny blankets, huh?" - "Ya, mommy. Ya, I do!"

So I hauled out my sewing machine (which needed to come out because I wanted to make a couple blankets before the arrival of my newest nephew and apparently my sister isn't going to be pregnant forever... anyway). I got some old fabric and made leah a couple of blankets. I suppose it's a good way to keep myself busy while catching up on DVR stuff. ;)

I'm all done with the blankets. Leah is asleep (she has a cold). And Drew went to church without us. I didn't want Leah to go to nursery today because she'll make the other kids sick. She's mad at me about it.

Maybe when she wakes up and the blankets done, she'll forgive me? She's seen the tiny one but not the bigger one.

Anyway, here they are:















PS The babies are all naked because for some reason Leah can't stand for them to be dressed. It doesn't seem to matter how big of a wardrobe there are for the babies either. That doesn't mean something, does it?? ;)

Twilight Review

So I had plans to write a review. But my sister posted one today and now it seems redundant.

Leah's Twilight Review

I will add one thing. And this is DEFINITELY a spoiler if you haven't read the books or seen the movie.

When Edward is sucking the venom out of Bella's bite - Edward is the one who stops and says that her blood tastes clean in the book. In the movie, Carlisle has to say "Stop Edward. You're killing her. Her blood is clean now." (or something of that sort) I feel like that made Edward seem weaker than he is. There is nothing weak about Edward!

Don't get me wrong though - I really did like the movie!

Happy Anniversary!

Today is mine & Drew's 11th anniversary!

I am still madly, deeply in love with my husband. I love that man!

It's been kind of an emotional day. This morning 10 minutes before he was supposed to leave for work he got laid off! (Laid off means something different in railroad terms - it moves him from a regular working conductor, to a conductor who is "on call" 2 days out of the week. It's about a 1/4 of the pay - be we still keep insurance, etc. Anyway!) We couldn't believe it. 10 minutes before work!

So he came to the store with me. We were both feeling down but I still had work to be done & we were trying to focus on the fact we got to spend our anniversary together & we thought we weren't. After we finally got home & got Leah down for a nap, I called my bioDad and asked if he would watch Leah tonight while we went to a movie. That set of parents has never babysat her before but she actually asked for them to watch her (so cute!). Then we made plans for him to come over so I could work on his new laptop at 3.

Right after that Drew went to check the railroad boards online & and came running back in the room DANCING (actually the Dora dance "We did it. We did it." and swinging his hips around... don't tell me I told you! hehe). He was back on already!! PLUS they added two guys below him!! He was cut off for 7.5 hours!

Not only that but he was now going to have to go to work around 8 and our movie date was shot! lol

Luckily Dad came at 3 and then Leah wanted to leave with him so we went to the 4:10 movie and Leah hung out with some grandparents. Then Drew went and got me some to go Chinese & then left for work.

It just feels like I've been on an emotional rollercoaster.

30 minutes before we were making a list of house projects he could work on to keep busy! And then suddenly he's going to work again.

I need to sleep. lol

School Pictures

Still doing school & still having fun!

Although last Tuesday was not grand. Let's just say I felt like I deserved an award for not losing my cool by the end of that! Yeah me ;)

These are just some pictures from over the last couple weeks during school

This is a notebook that uses dry erase markers - just one of the things I rotate for them to practice on:














Aren't they cute??














We did a little lesson about color mixing & then they got to fingerpaint:














I think I might have posted this before. We did tattoos. They thought I was so cool! LOL














We made bracelets and necklaces out of noodles that I dyed. The ones on the upper left are the original noodles. These are all the colors we did. I forgot to take pics of the finished product. Duh.
(1/2 cup rubbing alcohol and about 10 drops of color, stir about 1/2 cup of noodles in that for just like 20 seconds or so? Not long really. Then spread on a paper towel and let dry. The color gets more vibrant the longer they dry - promise!)

Countdown

That's a countdown to Twilight (which I'm excited about!) and a countdown to my 11th anniversary! Hooray!

Kids & Cleaners

Okay. I think I'm funny. Officially this post IS about kids and cleaners but probably you'd be expecting something like this picture not not what I'm actually going to post ;)

PS I have no idea who that kid is. I just put "kids and cleaners" in google image search


ANYWAY!

SO.

Yesterday we are in the store - Leah & I. We are just getting into a line and in the line next to us there are two women with two children in the cart - one child is a baby & the other is probably 3 - maybe 4. And all the sudden she looks right at Leah, makes this nasty face, points and says "You're a baby!" Leah looks at her with a surprised face and then says "I am not!!" (very indignantly)

Right then one of the women realizes what is happening and starts reprimanding her and telling her to say sorry (which she never did) - and she told her she was going to give her a time out when she got home, etc. I picked Leah up, hugged her, and then had to pay for my groceries. Leah didn't really say anything and I was debating about whether or not to talk to her about it. She was playing and then just standing there looking pensive and then glancing back at that girl so I decided something needed said.

As we were walking out I stood her on the dry ice chest so she could be looking down at me & talked to her about it.

"That girl wasn't being very nice, huh?"
"She called me a baby! I am NOT a baby!"
"No you're not. She was being naughty and her mom is going to make her go home and sit on her bed." (that's what we do for time out)
"She is?"
"Ya, that's what time out means."
"Oh good. She was naughty & rude."
"Yes, she was."

And then we had variations of that conversation for the rest of the day. She even mentioned her this morning trying to relate the story to Drew so I had to tell him.

Rude kid!

****


Cleaners - For all the fancy cleaners there are now - some new, different concoction for every different chore - I love comet!

Sometimes you just have to take the time to scrub the tub down with some comet instead of Bubbles in a can.

Not that I don't have a million different fun cleaners - I'm just sayin': I love me some comet. ;)

Tagged - 7 things

Connie tagged me :)

Seven things to do before I die:
(this is really all about the food I want to eat)

Visit...

1. France
2. Spain
3. Italy
4. China
5. Japan
6. Thailand
7. Africa

Seven things I cannot do:

1. Swallow any kind of mushroom
2. Be a man
3. Grow taller
4. Play volleyball without getting hurt
5. Totally overcome my past (nothing sordid ;) lol I mean my childhood)
6. Eat broccoli or cauliflower (I guess I can eat broccoli raw with dip - but otherwise - ew)
7. Beat Drew up (it was his idea I put that)

Seven things that attracted me to my spouse:

1. His face
2. His sense of humor
3. His testimony
4. His kisses
5. The way he so freely showed he liked me
6. The way he looked (and still looks) at me
7. His hands

Seven things I say most often:

1. Leah!
2. Come on, gorgeous (to Leah)
3. I love you
4. You're my favorite _____ (I say that so much that now Leah responds with "You're my favorite mommy!")
5. Where's my phone? (Ever try call me? I don't answer because I never know where my phone is!)
6. I'm hungry.
7. What do you need?

Seven books I love:

1. Girl of the Limberlost
2. Twilight Series (4 books)
3. Wheel of Time Series (11 - soon to be 12 books - I'm on book 5)
4. Harry Potter Series (7 Books)
5. Green Eggs & Ham
6. I love you yesterday, today & tomorrow too
7. Winnie the Pooh books

Seven movies I could watch over and over again:

1. Sense & Sensibility
2. Persuasion
3. Cutting Edge
4. Robin Hood (Kevin Costner)
5. Steel Magnolias
6. US Marshals
7. Miracle on 34th Street

Seven people I'm tagging:

1. Leah
2. Becky
3. Pep
4. Kathy
5. Sara
6. Amy
7. Aubrey

As always if you don't do this - I will *not* be offended!

Self-Perception

My perception of myself is seriously not something I normally give a lot of thought to.

It's not that I'm not self-aware. I really am. I just feel like it has a relatively unimportant place in my life. It's something I feel like people get so wrapped up in - over analyze it - analyze it death. Then they end up all wrapped up in themselves. What good does that do anyone, kwim?

So this week I had this odd experience. Drew comes home from work and says there was a big group of men at work talking about me. WHAT?

Someone asked Drew about me - and someone else asks who I am. And they start talking about how I'm the red headed woman who works is always at the store because she's a vendor. And apparently, all the sudden they are - "That's YOUR wife?"

"If I was half the age I wish I was, I'd take her home." (said by old guy - I thought that one was funny)

And other things about my being attractive and stuff. I, seriously, cannot type them. So freaking embarrassing.

Now, when I'm in the store and a man walks by I'm thinking "Is that a railroader? Don't look at me!" (I'm so mental. Did you know that?)

I'm so seriously NOT bragging. This was very disconcerting for me. I don't think about people looking at me normally. Anyone really - male or female. I'm just going about my business in my daily life. I very very rarely get "ready" when I go to the store in the morning. I never have on make-up. My hair is always in a bun.

The fact that anyone in the world sees me and finds me attractive is weird to me. I mean - ugh. I don't think I'm hideous or anything. I think I look nice when I do my hair, etc. but nothin' special.

I don't know why I'm typing this out. I told you I'm mental!

***

Then today at church there was a lesson about loving yourself. And I was thinking about a couple months ago when I was going through pictures and said to Drew "I hate my hair in this picture." and Leah came running over. "What, mommy? You don't like yourself in that picture?" And I thought OH MY GOSH! I can NEVER again say something negative about myself out loud in front of Leah. I don't want her to learn negative self-talk from me!

Only one other time I was stepping off the scale (ew) as she came in the room and she heard me say UGH. "What's the matter, mommy?" I told her nothing and changed the subject.

Anyway, it has been good for me. Forcing myself to control the negative things that come out of my mouth about myself.

If we let it guide us our children sure can make us better people!

***
I don't know about this other incident though. Drew said no one was horribly disrespectful because at first I was like "Am I supposed to be offended?" I wasn't flattered - but mostly because I can't figure out what it means.

I guess logically it's supposed to mean there are other men in the world who think I'm attractive besides Drew.

Interesting. Freaky.

Don't stop reading because you think I'm crazy now, okay?

Birthday Cake

Okay. I said I wasn't going to make Leah that strawberry wedding cake but in fact I ended up making a small version of it. She was very pleased ;)

The finished product:

This is the "underneath" before I covered it.

I bought two angel food cakes. I sliced them horizontally. Then I used a knife to shape the layers. The extra pieces I cut into small squares to fill the holes in the middle of the angel food cake circles.

The filling/frosting was:

4 cups heavy whipping cream
1 jar strawberry preserves
6 tbsp powdered sugar

Whipped until stiff.

The layers - cake, strawberry preserves, sliced strawberries, filling, repeat. Then I covered the whole thing in the cream & decorated with strawberries.

It totally looks just like a miniature version of the cake I said I wasn't going to make! I'm such a nice mommy LOL

Dear Leah,

Today you are 3 years old. Like I imagine every birthday will be for me - I have bittersweet feelings about your birthday.

I have treasured and loved every minute of your life. I love watching you learn about the world around you.

You have the most wonderful spirit. You are so free with your feelings, your laughter, your curiosity.

I know it sounds cheesy but you are literally the sunshine throughout my day. I can't imagine life without you.

I want everything for you. I want to hand you the world and I want to teach you to reach for it on your own all at the same time.

I am so in love with who you are. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life watching you become the woman you will be.

Your existence is such a blessing, Leah.

I love you.

Birth Story

This morning Leah & I were talking about her birthday tomorrow.

I was holding her and rocking the recliner. She was being very patient with me. Normally she tells me to stop and says "I'm not a baby anymore!" but sometimes when she first wakes up I can get away with it for a few minutes.

Anyway.

I said "Do you want me to tell you about when you were born?"

"Ya Mommy!"

We talked first about how Aunt Jenna & Aunt Leah both have babies in them. She said "in their tummies?" and I talked first about how your tummy is up here (pointing) but babies are down here (pointing again) in your uterus. She loves saying the word uterus. Too funny.

I explained to her that my uterus is broken. And that D (who she has talked to on the phone quite a few times) was where Leah grew. She was fascinated by that even though I've told her before. So I told her some stories that D told me while she was pg about things Leah did and ways she moved in her. She loved that.

Then I told her about how D called us and told us she'd been born. All about driving for two days and the snow and how happy we were. How I got to hold her and rock her just like I was right then.

Sadly, this brought on the aforementioned "I'm not a baby anymore!" and she wanted to sit up.

A little while later when we were up and about she was saying "I grew in D's uterus because your uterus is broken!" She sounded so mature!

She talked about it for quite awhile. Processing I think.

I love this kid!

Backseat Driver

"Red means stop"

"Green means go"

"Yellow means be careful"

"Drive slowly, mommy"

"Tractors drive slowly, too"

"There's a stop sign again. That means you have to stop."

"There's our house now, mommy."

****

All things Leah said to me between turning into our neighborhood and getting to our house tonight.

A backseat driver in the making! I think I'll just let her do it. Her husband may not thank me someday...

Leah Singing - Again

This time when I videoed Leah singing she promised to sing the WHOLE song - unlike last time.



PS Let's just be up front. I'm obsessed with Leah turning 3 this week. All my posts are probably going to be about her. I can't get enough of her!

PS (again) - The last line of "You Are My Sunshine" is something I changed when Leah was a baby. I don't like the last line of "Please don't take my sunshine away" so we sing "You are my sunshine all through the day" instead.

Sweet Moment? YES!

Leah just walked into the kitchen where I am still cooking dinner.

She came up behind me & hugged my leg. Then she said, "You are my best friend!"

I picked her up and hugged her tightly and said, "I love you so much!"

"You're squeezing me mommy!"

I let her go.

Now I am all weepy.

I'm boring.

I'm feeling very nostalgic about my little girl these weekend. I'm sure it will only get worse as this week continues. I can't believe she's turning 3. Really, it's just so hard to contemplate.

We had a biannual meeting at church today called Stake Conference (we organize by area into "wards", then several wards to a "stake", then stakes are organized in "regions" - you get the idea) - in actuality it was a Regional Conference in place of our normal Stake Conference. It was broadcast to our building and to other parts of Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. Henry B Eyring and Robert D Hales both spoke. Also a member of the Young Women's General Presidency - Ann M Dibbs - she is also the prophet's daughter. She was smiling so hard I'm certain her cheeks must have hurt when her talk was over. We were laughing about it but really it must be so pleasant to be that happy. She was literally beaming and oozing all kinds of happiness. What a wonderful way to live your life.

It was a good meeting. This two times a year are hard for the little people. I sat in a different place behind another family that has a child Leah's age. They played and had fun the whole meeting. That made it much more pleasant.

Normally we have church from 1-4 PM. Today the meeting was at 10 AM. We were home again by noon. That is the PERFECT timing for Leah's nap. Usually Sunday's are a bit of a juggling act with her napping. Starting in January we will be switching to 9-12. That'll be eons better as far as napping goes.

Wow. This is one boring blog entry. Maybe I'm too relaxed to be blogging!

Here's a picture of Leah from exactly two years ago today:



You like how Leah's lips are slightly blue in the next one? It was FREEZING. We literally took pictues and got back out and went back to our room. We met Aunt Leah in Denver that weekend. It was great fun. Well, except the next day is the day of the infamous stolen wallet.... Poor Aunt Leah. It's a little sad about my fatness in the picture but alas. At least it's better now. lol

Sweet Moment? Not!

I have all kinds of deeper blog posts floating around in my head but I'm too tired to focus. So this is it for today.

I decided to lay down with Leah to read before her nap.

After we were done, we were just chatting about her turning 3 next week, her party, etc. She was laying facing away from me on her bed and I said,

"Leah, look at me."

She rolls over, looks me in the eye, and says "Ya, mommy?"

"These three years since you were born have been the best three years of my life."

....

Leah says...

"Okay."

And rolls back over.

Sweet, huh?

I guess those deep moments are lost on my little almost 3 year old. ;)

Lazy Day

Today was a lazy day.

The three of us got up. I combed Leah's hair out (took 5 minutes because it had been in a french braid - LOVE when that happens). We all three got dressed and went to the store to do my job. Then we went to the library for "Library Day" (that's what we call Friday). We came home for Leah's nap. Leah napped. Drew napped. We laid around. Then we went to a Chinese place for their Friday night buffet.

And now here we are laying on the bed watching yesterday's Survivor.

Life is rough.

Oh! I don't know if I ever said on my blog that Drew got cut off the railroad again. So he's been home for three weeks.

But in good news he got called back this morning!

Pray it sticks. I'm tired of money not coming in - at least not in such tiny quantities!!

National Blog Posting Month

National Blog Posting Month - Or NaBloPoMo for short.

Have I mentioned I'm doing that - posting everyday for a month. I wonder how boring my posts will be by the end of November? And does it mean I won't post AT ALL in December?? LOL

We'll see. I'm gonna try anyway.

****************************

Today I am miserable with the arrival of my monthly cramps. My brain is less functional because of the pain.

Maybe I'll take some drugs and come back to do a real post later!

Happy Thursday everyone!

History Made

"We should not be seduced by the notion that Obama's presidency signals the end of racism, the civil rights movement, the struggle for black equality or the careers of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton." -Michael Eric Dyson, LA Times, Today

I think that's true. But really! This IS history worth celebrating. Last night I said to Drew "When our parents were Leah's age segregation existed. Is it possible that in just two generations we have gone from that to this?" It truly is amazing. It is a GREAT stride.

"To those Americans whose support I have yet to earn -- I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president too."

Seriously, that was a good speech. I liked that part.

(PS I loved McCain's speech too. It was classy. Perfect really.)

This is the part that happens every election. People fight and argue everyone votes and then - then we need to let it go. Someone wins and now we move forward and hope for the best!

But the best part? That would be my conversation with Leah last night.

Although all along I've been saying that you don't vote for Obama because he's African American/Black. You don't vote for McCain because his running mate is a woman. These are not reasons to vote for someone. You look up his or her politics and then you go from there. (PS And by look up politics I do not mean the insane ads on TV - oh those commercials make me so glad this is over! - and the flyers all around and the crap the arrives in the mail and the phone callls - I mean the facts. Places like ontheissues.org - the FACTS.)

Anyway, my conversation with Leah.

I don't think there's any matching the feeling I had when Leah was asking about what Drew & I were talking about when they called him as the winner. I showed her his picture & I was explaining to her how he was the next president and what the president was, etc. She was asking great questions.

The picture was of Obama & Biden.

And my sweet (almost) 3 year old pointed out that our President Elect MATCHES HER. She held her arm up to the screen. "We match. He matches me."

And I told her "This is the first time that someone who matches you has ever been President."

And she danced around saying "He wins. He wins. He wins."

Then she pointed out the Biden matched me. :giggle:

It's a historic moment. And THAT is why.

I could have had that conversation and pointed out Palin is a girl. And how that was a first.

All politics aside - it is SO cool that she noticed.

What does this mean for her self image? ANYTHING is possible. Anything.

This is America. A place where American Dreams actually do come true.

That's so cheesy to say. And yet SO true.

I'm feeling all romantic like this morning. Can you tell?

I Voted!

My experience today while I actually registered to vote was... interesting. The voting itself was fine. I used the touch screen. I was completely fasicnated that there were lines to use the paper ballots and NO lines at the touch screens. People seriously live in fear that the computers will eat their votes?? My husband chose a paper ballot so I had to sit and wait for him to finish for a little while. When we got in the car he said "The computer makes me nervous." So funny!

Maybe everyone doesn't know the computer prints a paper ballot out after you are done?

Whatever! I didn't have to wait in line & I'm fine with that.

So at the registration table... There are four of us at the table, two on each side.

1. the guy running the table - we'll call him Guy #1

2. Me

3. Drew

4. Guy #2 who is also registering to vote

5. Leah - standing next to me

Guys #2 to Guy #1: "So how has the turn out been today? Good?"

#1: It's been really great actually!

#2: I bet so - given everything happening with this election

#1: Ya, there's a lot of first this time! (Just a cheery man!)

#2: Ya, no kidding.

While saying this last line he looks at Leah significantly, then at the guy, and then back at Leah.

Guy #1's eyes got huge. It was a rude look and then Guy #2 walked off.

Aye, Aye, Aye.

At least my little girl was cheerily playing and took no notice of the racist pig (previously refer to as Guy #2). Even racist pigs have a right to vote, ya?

Army Wives & Barney

Okay. I'm ticked off.

I'm all for a cliff hanger as a season finale. Really! I want to be excited for the next season to start.

But it is overly dramatic to do FIVE cliff hangers in one show - well more really - one for each family but most families have multiples.

You don't have to systematically destroy each individual life just to make an exciting ending. They presented so many different stories lines that it will seem fake if they try to resolve all of it too quickly.

I really like that show too. But I'm way annoyed.

*****

Barney - Oh Barney.

I seriously hate Barney. I just finished watching an episode with Leah.

When I was a senior in high school they had a dance that is just for seniors for Halloween. My mom helped me make my "costume". I wore black jeans and a black t-shirt. My mother had taken red fabric paint and - making it look like dripping blood - wrote "Barney is dead!" on my shirt. I also wore an Australian outback hat.

Then we got a costume that was for about 2/3 year old. Mom stuffed it and sewed the head on. She put blood coming out of it's mouth and then we used a plastic fork and stuck it in the Barney and put blood all around it.

And then we tied a noose around it's neck and I took it to the dance with me.

People loved it. There were a lot of people shaking my hand and saying "Thank you!" and "Congratulations!". Pretty funny.

When I got home. mom & I hung him from the flag pole outside our front door - that was her idea.

Oddly... we did not get trick or treaters that year.

Do you think I'm sick & twisted now?? If you do, you can blame my mother ;)

GRR.

Sleepy

I was getting ready for church and finish getting Leah ready & found her sound asleep on her bed! Waking her up would be... a mistake.

Of course if she sleeps too long and completely misses nursery (primary for children 18 months to 3) at church she's going to be SO disappointed.

I've decided not to let that happen but clearly she's gotta sleep for a little while. Aye aye aye!

I sent my husband off to church alone (with a little prodding ;) ) and now here I sit. Waiting.

So now I'm doing a completely pointless blog post!

This is the first time Drew held Leah. That's in the hospital room. Those are some pretty kissable cheeks.

New Theme

I have changed my theme to match Leah (my sister) & Kathy.

Why do we have matching themes?

I don't know. Kathy & Leah did it on accident before and then on purpose and then we were hunting for Halloween themes while chatting and I joined in.

Does that make me a follower? Yikes. ;)

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, Blogger Friends!!

Camille needs...

I got this from Connie's blog. Too funny!

1. Go to Google.
2. Type in your name and then the word 'needs'. i.e.: "Camille needs"
3. See what you find.

Here are some of my results:

1. Camille needs a duck to keep her company. No kidding? Weird.

2. Camille star needs dental emergency treatment. I do need my wisdom teeth out but I don't know if I'd say it was an emergency. lol

3. Camille needs men. Okay. That's probably true. Although really it's just one man in particular!

4.Camille needs to learn to be gentler and less of a perfectionist. Fer rude!!

5. Camille dropped her phone in the toilet and lost all her numbers. Oh man. That's just funny! I did drop my phone in the toilet once. I was helping Leah get on. It didn't work for a day but when it dried out it was fine & I didn't lose anything! The funniest part was I was talking to Drew and I could still hear him talking in the water & he could hear all these gurgling sounds. Hysterical!

6. Camille is the kind of person we need in Congress…Camille is dedicated to the ideals of the Democratic Party, has fought for, and will continue to fight... (I didn't actually click the link to see what that was all about. I just thought it was funny!)

That was fun!

Chocolate Coins Recall

There's an email going around about chocolate coins being recalled this year - which is a little scary around Halloween.

I normally ignore these but I checked on snopes & the recall is real.

http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/coins.asp

Of course, it's in CANADA. Does the email bother to mention that? No.

But still - here's main info:

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume, distribute, or sell the Sherwood Brands Pirate’s Gold Milk Chocolate Coins described below. This product is being recalled due to positive test results for melamine conducted by the CFIA.

The affected product, Sherwood Brands Pirate’s Gold Milk Chocolate Coins, is sold in 840g containers containing 240 pieces per container

bearing UPC 0 36077 11240 7 and lot code 1928S1.

This product is sold nationally through Costco stores and may also have been sold in bulk packages or as individual pieces at various dollar and bulk stores across Canada.

If the original product identity and UPC code is not evident, consumers are advised to check with their retailer to determine if they have the affected product.

Twilight Spoof

This is funny stuff.

Of course, if you haven't read Twilight - it will not be funny.

Leah - Jan 2007

What is with that face?? LOL

I saw this come by on my slideshow on my laptop this morning. It made me laugh out loud.

Depression & beginning the Winter

I have read in several places in the last few days - and heard in conversation - of people who are feeling some depression set in. It's pretty common this time of year.

**Preface - true depression is very real - if you need to see a doctor, get some meds - whatever keeps you healthy!

I feel like a broken record offering this advice but it's still good advice.

Get some B-Complex. Take it!

B-Complex can do miracles for lifting mood. I've heard my sister call it "Happy Vitamins" (I think that was it).

It's such a simple thing. It's worth trying right?

So this fall/winter, if you feel yourself just generally feeling despondent and weepy. Do yourself a favor, give the B-Complex a try.

The dosage depends on the brand you buy & you. My husband needs more of it than I do for it to be effective.

But - REALLY - it works.

It's also very good for those PMS days ;) - mood LIFTER!

That's my 2 cents.

PS If you hate to swallow pills everyday you can also use Celestial Seasonings Tension Tamer Tea - it's got lots of B Vitamins it. Good Stuff!

Yummy Dip & Cakes - Updated

I made this dip last night. It was similar to something I've made before from a recipe. But since I've lost that & I don't really remember what all went in it - I made this up!

4 oz cream cheese
1/2 jar roasted red peppers (15 oz jar)
4 oz sour cream
a good size handful of fresh spinach leaves

Blend until smooth.

I'm dipping harvest wheat crackers in it. So scrumptious!

:)

*************************
Cakes

On Tracey's blog she did a post about Cake Wrecks. You can read about it there. She said "Show me yours" So here's my whole two cakes. I have to make another in 3 weeks!

Leah's 1st birthday I felt very successful.



Then on Leah's second birthday. I was going to make this cake (just the top half):



Seriously. I made EIGHT boxes of cake & they all fell. First I made 2 - they fell. 2 more - they fell. I couldn't believe it. I've never had a cake fall before. EVER. I've not had once fall since then either.

So we ended up with this cake:



Which I never bothered to take a picture from the front of. Sheesh. Those are penguin suckers. I was going to use them on the earlier cake instead of hand making those little penguins.

I actually went to the store to see if I could buy some unfrosted cakes & still assembled what I wanted. They would not give me unfrosted cakes. And for some reason it was cheaper to buy the already done cake then to buy an UNdecorated one. It was a frustrating part of the day. But the party was still fun!

Edited to add -

I just had this conversation with Leah about her birthday & then I said "Do you know what kind of cake you want?" I was expecting some little kid answer - like "a big cake!" or "a backyardigan cake" or something.

But no.

She says "I want strawberry shortcake."

WHAT?

So I show her pictures.



She chose that. Well, actually she saw a three tiered strawberry shortcake wedding cake. I. think. not. ;) This one:



Strawberry shortcake I can do! But a wedding cake for a 3rd bday? No. :)

Balloon Things

My child asked at the store today to buy a package of those long skinny balloons and it included a pump. For 3.95, I said "Sure, baby."

Then we come home - "Make these mommy!" as she looks at the instruction pictures.

Google to the rescue again.

I watched several videos. I found this handy website - Balloon Animals

I have made a heart (not as easy as I thought it would be), a sword (REALLY easy), a crown, a bear's head (okay - it was supposed to be a whole bear but the body popped), a flower, a cat, a couple butterflies, and several attempts at things that just popped.





"structions" - I was using the pump & Leah comes in the room with a tip.

"Mommy, you're supposed to use this. It says in the 'structions'." as she points at the picture instructions that came with it.

She was quite right. Albeit lecturing me about using instructions after that. My 2 year old lecturing me. Awesome.

P.S. I'm tired of making balloon animals.