Giggles More Galore

Good news:  Cole laughed without peeing through his outfit!  He is still, however, true boy.  He laughed hysterically at my raspberry spitting sounds.  :)

Bad news:  Jackson lost his glasses at school -- nowhere to be found.   Yup, awesome.  Good thing for Jackson that I just wrapped all of the presents, otherwise I might have to return them and get him a very non-exciting present.

Good news: Santa sent Jackson a personalized video telling him he was on the nice list.

Bad news: I'm pretty sure Jackson was scratched out and put on the naughty list within an hour.

Good news:  His mother doesn't really want to buy coal.

Bad news:  Jackson is really struggling with giving Cole the present he picked out for his little brother at the Dollar Tree.

Good news:  I think Cole might get a really nice picture of a race car.

Bad news:  I've already gained the 20 pounds for the holidays and it's not even Christmas.

Good news:  My free issue of Fitness Magazine came in today.

Bad news:  I have five loads of laundry to fold.

Good news:  I have clean laundry so I can answer the door instead of making my husband answer it while he's on vacation and while I hide in the bedroom at 2 p.m. in the afternoon because I still haven't showered because all of my laundry is in the process of getting washed.

Bad news:  I'm beginning to ramble in this post.

Good news:  I'm actually posting on my blog*, and now it's done.

THE END.


*This is what you get when I've inactivated my Facebook account and can't give you a play-by-play of my every move there.  ;)

Unknown

So. . . funny thing. . . there are several of you readers out there with a name of "Unknown." Unless you put something identifying, say, like your name, at the end of your comment, I have no idea who is talking.  :)  Just sayin'.  It looks like I have a lot of friends and family that I don't really know.  :)

Oh, and as a side-note, I've noticed a lot more errors in my posts where I either leave out words or tack on extra letters.  I would go back and change them normally because I can't stand simple editing errors; however, I won't this time because it shows that I have true "Newborn Mom Brain" at this point in my life.  What's that?  It means that I only feel incoherent half the time.

At the Mall. . .

While walking through Dillards with Matt and Jackson, I heard the following conversation behind me.

Teen Girl #1:  I went and talked with the bishop (the LDS equivalent of a pastor).
Teen Girl #2:  So, what did your bishop tell you?
Teen Girl #1:  To quit being a *ho.
Teen Girl #2:  You should probably listen to him.
Teen Girl #1:  (scoffs) But I like dressing this way.

I looked back to see two "scantily clad" teenage girls. 



*You should know that bishops don't normally use the term "ho."

Nothing, tra la la

I go through blogging phases.  Some periods are as if the Blog Bug bit me, and the ideas and words spew forth onto the screen.  Other time spans are like now when I don't have any motivation to blog.  I get ideas during the day, but nothing that drives me to type it out.  Honestly, it has been good for me to take a break.  There really is a lot on my mind lately, and yet I don't feel the need to broadcast it to the world.  In fact, I actually like having things that the entire world doesn't know.  It's during these times that I think that I'm ready to say good-bye to social networking and go back to my hamlet. . . and then it doesn't seem as easy as it sounds. 

Anyway, this post has turned to rambling meaningless nothings and will become redundant if I don't close soon.  So, I will leave you with a fantastic quote by Jackson,

"Let's jump on Dad and get rude on him!"

I still love my kid!

AWAL

Where have I been lately?

• Picking apples
• Canning Applesauce
• Volunteering at Jackson's school
• Canning some more applesauce
• Substitute teaching
• Visiting Panaca and making Christmas decorations with my mom (sorry no new pictures this trip)
• Playing "Catch Up" around my house because of everything
• Training for a 5K. . . yup, I think I might actually do it this year!!!

I do have a few blog posts I'm working on, but I just haven't been spending as much time at the computer lately, and it feels so good.

Playlist

Last post for the day, I think.

Well, the day has finally come. Yes, Matt, I added a Playlist to my blog (you'll find it at the very bottom). However, I decided to NOT let it auto-play or shuffle. I thought it the best way for everyone to know what my current "theme songs" are. The first two on the playlist are not only on the new CD Matt gave me for my birthday, but they describe my emotions and my experience with the adoption scammers perfectly.

People Really Sell Strange Stuff and Get Away With It

Need something funny to read?  Read this blog:  What Weirdos!

Then again, maybe you won't think it's funny because you'd actually like to buy some the weird stuff posted!

No, seriously, you'll get a good laugh!

Need a photography prop?

Are you are photographer? Then you know that the latest thing in infant photography seems to be these cocoon-ey things. Well, Lisa makes them, and they look soft and comfy! Head on over to her shop to take a look at her white halo bowl. They're very cute!

Knitting Bird

Are you an ETSY shopper?
Well, have you checked Knitting Bird out?
You haven't?
Well, you should.
That baby stuff is dang cute!

Police Beat

Just when life was getting boring, my husband brought home the local college campus' newspaper, which I hadn't read in aaages. Of course, almost any student will tell you that the two best parts of the newspaper are the "Police Beat" and "Letters to the Editor" sections. Honestly, in those two sections you can find all you need to know to keep up with what is happening on campus.

Well, in this issue, there was a spot called, "The best of the Police Beat: spring and summer." Oh, what a gold mine! Here are some of the gems that were deemed worthy enough to print and to inform the students of things to beware. Oh, and you get my take on them all.

First: "An adult male dressed in black was reported running through the quad and hiding behind dumpsters at [the student family housing complex]. The man ran through the quad, dropped to his belly and army-crawled, then got back to his feet and continued running. He ran past a woman and said 'Good morning' before jumping in a car and speeding off."

My take on this: Hahahahaha, sorry I missed that show! Give the guy a break -- he's just practicing his mad skillz!

Second: "A resident at [the student family housing complex] called and reported that carpet layers did not clean up after themselves and worked late into the evening on his apartment. Police referred him to Housing Administration because no crime was committed."

My take: I understand the frustration of renting and dealing with all the different campus crews. Honestly, though, wouldn't you want the crew to try and finish so that your carpet could be done? Sheesh. Thanks for warning me of these hardened men and women on the carpet crews.*

Third: "Someone thought there was a burglary when they returned to their car and a window was broken out. Nothing appeared to be missing, so officers think the window may have exploded because of the heat."

My take: Really? REALLY? I would like to take that theory and let the Mythbusters de-bunk that one for us!

Finally, my FAVE: "An owl was found in the former president's home. An officer communicated with the owl and it left."

My take: I wonder if being able to speak "Hoot" is a job requirement for our campus police. If not, thank goodness this officer knew the language anyway!


*My brother worked on the carpet crew, so I really do know.

I Want to Win

Okay, so I've been trying to avoid blogging about giveaways, but I really want to win this one. My friend Shannon has a blog called the Mommy Files. She blogs about all kinds of things, but she gears her blog for mommies. She reviews products (and gives them away many times), has Mommy discussions, and tries to be a support for us moms out there.

Well, today she has a giveaway for one of my favorite TV shows. She's giving away Season 6 of Reba. If you have never seen the show, I recommend it. It's a hilarious show about a mom who has to learn to get a long with her ex-husband's new wife as well as help her teen-mom daughter and new husband adjust. Anyway, it always has us (yes, Matt's included) rolling with laughter. That's it. Now I can add three more entries!

Check out her blog at http://www.themommy-files.com/.

Give Her a Voice

Please, please read her story here. I'm not telling you who "her" is because it is not important who, but how we can give her a voice. Please read it, and if you have a way to help, let us know (either me or my friend -- you can post a comment on her blog). Feel free to pass this on to others you may know, or who can help.

Channel Surfing

One of the stipulations of buying a home was to get rid of our cable. It was an easy expense to cut, and honestly, I haven't missed it much. I still get to watch Lost, so I'm good. Matt may disagree as the Discovery Channel and the History Channel do not come in via antenna.

Anyway, this evening I was in need of some diversion from my long day, and I turned on the local PBS station. It was "Classic Movie" time, and they were running the 1960 version of Inherit the Wind. If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it. Go check it out from your library. I had never seen it, but I immediately recognized Gene Kelly, Spencer Tracy, and that Darrin guy from Bewitched. It's a good reminder of how we should behave in a society with so much controversy.

No Joke

I know I'm posting this on April Fool's Day, but it's really not a joke.

I can't find my cell phone.

I apologize to anyone who has tried to call it and has not received a reply call back. (There aren't many of you who know my number and read this.) It's been MIA since the end of last week, and I have NO IDEA where I've put it.

There are two other problems that enhance this dilemma. 1: It is turned off, so I can't call it and find it. 2: My home phone number listed in the phone, if someone who found it and tried to call it, is still my old phone number that no longer works.


I really, really hope it's around here somewhere.

Be Entertained for a Few

A thought and a giveaway

So, since our offer on the house fell through, I've been back to thinking more and more about adoption again. One thing I always think about is a great gift idea for the birth parents. An idea that I like is a Build-A-Bear from the Build-A-Bear workshop. I'd give one to the birth mom and a matching one to the baby.

My friend who does the Mommy-Files blog is doing a giveaway for a certificate there. Go check it out if you love Build-A-Bear!

Christmas Questionnaire

Wrapping paper or gift bags? This year, wrapping paper – I’m out of gift bags.

Real tree or artificial? Fake – less mess and lasts a lot longer.

When do you put up the tree? As soon after Thanksgiving as I can!

Do you like eggnog? Eww! No way!

Favorite gift received as a child? That’s a toughy. Santa was always good to me.

Hardest person to buy for? Parents

Easiest person to buy for? Me. I don’t have to buy anything – I leave it up to Matt.

Do you have a nativity scene? Of course.

Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Either one is great. Snail Mail, though, if you’re going to send money.

Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Not sure there is a worst. I can always find something

funny about the ones I didn’t care for.

Favorite Christmas movie? Actually, I like almost all of them.

When do you start shopping? October – I can spread the money better that way.

Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I can’t remember, but probably.

Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom’s Christmas candy.

Lights on the tree? Multicolored, always!

Favorite Christmas song? I don’t think I can pick just one, but I’ve always loved God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Good King Wenceslas.

Travel at Christmas or stay home? I wish we could do both and split the time.

Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes, but I’m not going to here.

Angel on the tree top or a star? Star

Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Preferably Christmas morning

Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Sickness and bad drivers

Favorite for Christmas dinner? Dessert.

What do you want for Christmas this year? A Shuffle

A Modest Way to Go

A few weeks ago you probably noticed that I added another widget/link to the right hand side of my blog. The company, Blush, makes a topless undershirt. The undershirt was made to help with those shirts that are just too short. We all own one or two of those -- you know the kind that creeps up your back and shows off your back or unmentionables to the whole world when you bed over or crouch. Well, with the topless undershirt, you don't have to worry any more. You put it on under your shirt and over your pants, giving you a layered look, but without the bulk, heaviness, and (for my problem) heat of a full undershirt.

If you don't know this product well, you're probably saying, "Sounds like a great idea, but does it work? I mean really work?" Well, a couple of days ago I would have told you that it seems to work well according to the people I know who wear them, yet I didn't know for myself. Well, thanks to all of you who clicked my widget on the right, I won a Blush product! I picked out my color and size and wore it around yesterday. And, yes, it works! It fit snuggly around your hips and stretches (if you need it to) to fit your shape and size.

Blush offers different sizes and a great selection of colors. The price is very reasonable, and they work for maternity wear, too. In fact, as I lose more weight, I will be buying more of them as they are cute and add to the look of an outfit. They would make a great gift for someone, and it arrived within a couple of days (I picked one they had in stock).

I'm going to be honest and tell you that I was really doubtful about how this would fit on my body. I'm overweight and snug-fitting things tend to accentuate parts of my body that I don't really care to show off. However, it stayed in place and worked like a charm! I definitely think that I will buy more.

If you would like to add a button to your blog, go here, and Katie has a post about how to do it, and she has two different buttons from which you can choose.

K-Mart has nothing on us!

Tonight while checking out of K-Mart, the young, male checker noticed that I was wearing a BYU Broadcasting jacket and asked, "Do you teach at BYU?" (I tried not to snicker at this remark.)

"No," I replied. "He (pointing to Matt) works for BYU Broadcasting."

The checker in awe asks, "Do you make a lot of money?"

Matt: "Oh, millions."

Checker: "The guy who owns K-Mart makes a lot of money. He must be a billionaire."

Us: "Yeah, maybe."

Checker: "Does he make as much as you?"

Us: blank stares

We really tried to hold in our laughter as we walked out the doors!

Something good

I've realized that lately it probably seems that we're all really depressed and down because my posts have been a little depressing. Well, it's true that I have had some bouts of depression that have hit hard and suddenly. Thankfully, I've been able to work through them quite well. Anyway, to prevent depression hitting again, I've been more active (exercising everyday again -- it feels so good when I do) and trying to be more productive.

I'm thankful to Natalie and Ben for letting us buy their elliptical machine before they moved. With the chilly weather, I've still been able to exercise at a relatively decent hour in the day. I can feel my endurance and strength increasing. Now let's just hope that the fat decreases at the same time! Each day that I exercise, I'm happier because of all of the freed endorphins running around in my head, and I'm a much better mom. Thirty to forty-five minutes a day is all it takes.

I've also been working on more food storage stuff. I've dried some apples and peppers (from my garden), and I'm working on pickling some green tomatoes. They are some of my mom's favorites, and since I was never a fan of bread and butter pickles, I am, of course, making them myself. Perhaps I will acquire a like for them as I have squash and eggplant.

Finally, I finished Jackson's baby scrapbook last night! After four years, it's finally done! For my baby shower, Mindy was so kind to give me a scrapbook to get me started -- it's now complete. I can now work on his recent stuff until another one comes along. I guess it's time to get ahead otherwise it will NEVER happen.

Oh, and lately when I go to visit my friend Paige, Jackson does the funniest thing; but I always seems to forget to take my camera. When he was little he loved his saucer (okay, it wasn't ours, it was Mindy's), and he seems to remember all of the fun he had. Can't you just see the joy on his face? Well, Paige has a similar one for her baby, and Jackson somehow thinks it's for kids of all ages. Just imagine a four year old sitting in one now. Quite funny looking.