I found this new book that I desperately want to read, "Post Secret". It just sounded so interesting. The concept is you write a secret that you have that you have never told anyone, you put it on a homemade postcard, then you mail it into the address. The author has taken the hundreds of thousands of postcards and put them into a book. He also has a traveling "art" exhibit. The whole thing was conceptulized as an art project, and it just sortof spiraled from their. While reading about the book, I stumbled across the authors blog, where he has posted more of the postcards.

I guess the reason the book sounds so intriguing is that we each have some sort of secret that we carry with us that we have never told anyone. It doesn't necessarily have to be a "bad secret", its just something that you have never told anyone else before. Perhaps its that you secretly hoped to star on broadway, or be a rodeo clown. Maybe you wanted to be a truck driver-- ok--- I mean, everyone in my family knows that about me, so its not really a secret and I was only 10. Maybe your secret guilty pleasure is watching "The Waltons" and listening to Air Supply. Maybe your afraid to ride in an airplane, or swim in water, or hold giant spiders...
Who knows?
Only you.
That's why it's YOUR secret.
I think sometimes we associate secrets with only the bad stuff. But secrets can also be just your plain, old, everyday, simple dreams that you don't dare tell anyone!

I have thought a lot about this whole art project-- what "secret" would I send in. I am realizing that I have a huge mouth, and I tell everyone EVERYTHING!! I need to keep thinking... I just may send one of my "secrets" in.

What are your secrets, and do you dare send them in?

Chess anyone? I think it's great that Hombre has taught Thing 1 & Thing 2 how to play chess. They are actually getting better each time they play!

These two sat here for almost an hour today playing chess. The Things like to play each other, and take great pride when they are able to beat their Dad. It makes me happy to see them playing all together!

You plan and plan for the big day. Lots of shopping, worrying, stressing, shopping and then just like that its done. All you have left is the mess of paper & boxes. It seems like it was all a whirlwind. It was great fun to watch everyone get so excited about their gifts. Now everyone is happily playing with all their new treasures. Thing 2 is building his very own skate board, and having a ton of fun in the progress. Thing 3 is loving the Dora Kitchen, and dumping all the new toys and old ones and mixing them together, cause you know, as she tells it, she loves to dump! Thing 1 is loving all her new clothes and the 2 new game boy games. Even the dumb Boxer dog got in on the excitement with her new toys and bones. She was prancing around like the Queen of Sheba herself!






All in all I would say it has been a great Christmas. Everyone is healthy, and happy. There is more to this whole christmas thing than just presents. We have so much to be thankful for. I am grateful for the 3 beautiful Things that The Lord has blessed us with. I am thankful for Hombre and how hard he works and the fact that he is my best friend. I am thankful for both our extended families... that's why we moved here!

All the hard work has been worth it to see how happy everyone is.

Thing 3 was having a blast riding the skate board down the ramp in the middle of the family room. We finally decided to take it outside, and let them use it out there-- can you believe that Hombre is wearing shorts? It was 55 today! Yes, that's right! Fifty-five! Can you believe it?? It is the mildest Christmas that this state has seen in over Fifty years! CRAZY!!
The kids were loving the ramp! Thing 2 jumped over and over and over again!! Thing 3 would ride ever so slowly over the ramp, usually getting stuck. She loved going down the other side! I am glad that we got this and that it was such a beautiful, warm day so they could play with it outside!

The kids posing in front of their "stashes!

Thing 2 on the famed bike ramp. He has wanted one ever since we moved here! Let the broken bones start--I fear!
Thing 1 with her new American Girl Doll Elizabeth. She was so excited when she saw it she was jumping up and down, screaming! That makes it worth it!
Thing 3 realizing that she has a Dora Kitchen! She was so excited about what the big kids got, that it took her a few to realize that it was there! Then she screamed with joy! What fun!

Thing 1 has wanted a skirt like this since school has started. It took some major convincing that they weren't the ugliest things on the planet. I have never seen her fawn over something so consistenly for so long. She freaked out when she opened it, and promptly put it on. I was speechless... she looked so grown up. She is turning into a beautiful lady. I can't believe how beautiful she looks in this "bohemian skirt"! Breath taking!

Thing 2 was so excited to give his Dad the present that he picked out for him. It's this huge model battleship. When Hombre opened it, Thing 2 was all excited yelling "Isn't it cool Dad? Isn't it cool?" I have never seen him so excited to give a present. Then he just threw himself at his Dad and said "I love you so much Dad!" Then Thing 2 proceeded to tell Hombre that the perfect place for him to put it was on his desk at work. That way if he got bored he could play with it! How sweet is that?

Thing 3 was so funny. She was going around hugging everyone telling them "I love you! Merry Christmas! It really warmed my heart. Everytime someone would open a present, she was there to hug them, tell them she loved them and wish them a Merry Christmas! How sweet!


I wish you could see the look on his face. When he realized what it was he got soo excited! When he saw this at the mall, he freaked out! Its a pair of jeans, a motorcycle shirt and a "leather jacket" with a motorcycle logo on it...He wanted it so bad. He promptly ran upstairs, put the outfit on, and came downstairs doing a "yo I'm so cool!" thing.

Well, its done. We ate our Christmas Eve dinner, read the Christmas story from the Scriptures, read our new Christmas book (The Giving Chest--which BTW is an AWESOME book!). We wrote our letter to Santa and tracked the Big Guys progress on the internet www.noradsanta.org. I think this was the Things favorite thing we did. We kept up the map, and you could see all the places that he had already been, see "Santa Sightings" and see what the projected time of arrival for the Big Guy was in your area. It is actually quite cool!

All the Things are now tucked snug in their beds, with visions of skateboards and dolls dancing in their heads! Santa arrived--right on time I might add--and we all put out their treasures. Now we are anxiously awaiting the screams of pleasure from our little Things.

I feel the same anxiety that I feel every year... Is it enough and will it be accepted?!

Today was The Anonymous Family's Christmas party. Hombre and I realized that this was the first time in our married life that we had spent the holidays with his family out here in the west. Shame on us. When we lived in the Mid-West, we always made the trek down to his Dads house on Christmas Eve. But, once his Dad died, we stopped. It was great to just hang out with everyone! Everyone was there--Granny, Anonymous Grandma J, Anonymous Grandpa E, Auntie W, Aunt H and lots and lots of cousins! The kids were in hog heaven!

Today is also Granny's birthday. Granny is such a beautiful woman. She was once a beauty queen, did you know that? She is so elegant and refined. She was so happy to have everyone there to celebrate with her. She got such a kick out of listening to us all talk about "getting old". She laughed and laughed, and then she cried. She misses Grandfather. She was soo happy to have us all there! It was such a great day!

As I sat there watching everyone interact, I was overcome with gratitude and love. It was nothing short of a miracle! I had this epiphany that I truely DID love these people. It's not such a bad thing to realize that you love your spouses family! They are so kind, loving, accepting and non judgemental. They love you just as you are! I always leave them feeling so good about myself. I love Hombres family! And, I can honestly say that they love me too.


Grandma J made the Things the most amazing dolls! I had no idea that she was so talented! She made Thing 1 a Fairey Princess--which she is enamored with! Thing 2's is this amazing Dragon, who is holding a "diamond" in his claw! It is freaking amazing! Laurens is this beautiful, cuddly doll. Anonymous Cousin P has one too--twin dolls for the twin girls!

Auntie W and I were trying to convince Anonymous Grandma J that she needed to start selling these. She should put them up on the internet and try to sell them. They are beautiful. She also has these AWESOME Harry Potter dolls! I was stunned at how totally cool they are! Someone offered her $250 for the set-- which is underpriced! They are amazing!

Anonymous AuntH is having a fit cause Anonymous Cousin P, she says, has turned into a Jesus Freak! I laughed so hard. A.H. says that all P wants to watch is Jesus movies. Jesus, Mary, Joesph, thats all she can talk about. A.H. says "I have Santa, Frosty, Rudolph movies, but I have Zero Jesus Movies." We all got a kick out of that. I am going to buy P some Jesus Movies, and give her a Nativity that she can play with. She will think that is cool!

So, I had an Epiphany! I am grateful to be here with Hombre's family. I am grateful that we are all together, and happy. I am grateful that he has so many cousins that are so kind to us. I am grateful for his Mother. She is a kind, loving woman.

Yup! I had an Epiphany, and boy did it feel good!

We opened presents with my side of the family today. It was fun to see everyone's reaction. I think that Thing 1's was the best reaction. She was given some super cute pants with a darling belt and a great jacket to go with it! She loved it, as you can clearly see from her picture. Thing 2 got some great little Star Wars action heros--he LOVES Star Wars. And, Thing 3 got some bathtub paint. I was glad about that... maybe it will help her with her uneasiness about baths.

We got Anonymous Cousins a game that they could play while they are out here. Judging from Anonymous Cousins reaction, she wasn't too impressed! LOL!

Thing 1 is at the age where she is turning into a clothes hound. The goal for me is to help her not become obsessed with labels or shopping and help her grow into a well rounded individual. I would like to help her develop her self esteem based on herself , not the labels she wears, the places she shops, or the cars she drives. I want her to be a strong woman who doesn't care what others think, or what others are wearing. Call me crazy, but I truely believe that this is a major important principal that I want to teach my kids. If I always give them everything they want now, with unlimited supplies of name brand clothes (regardless of how cheap they were), then when they are teenagers it will be a nightmare.

That is just what I have been thinking about today. I guess I feel like I have to constantly defend myself on this principal that I am trying to instill in my kids. I shouldn't have to, but I do. It's really rather tiring to always be on the defensive about these sorts of things.

My sister told me something that her daughter said, and I just LOVE it! They were driving here from Colorado, and Anonymous Uncle asks his daughter what she wants Santa Claus to bring her for Christmas. She thought about it for a moment, and then said: "I will be happy with whatever he brings me. " WOW!!! How's that for putting things in the right perspective? She is only 4.

After she told me this, Thing 3 runs up to her and says loud and all proud like "Santa's going to bring me a Dora Kitchen". Kindof ruins the mood. Anonymous Little Sister has done an amazing job with those two cute kiddies-- and apparently I have a little more work to do on ours. Thing 1 handed me a list today of ALL the things she wants for Christmas...it was extremely long. Thing 2 wont tell anyone what he REALLY wants, he says he is keeping it a secret, in his heart, for just him and Santa to know. SCAREY!

I want my kids to respond to people when asked what they want for Christmas the way Anonymous Little Sisters kids did-- "I will be happy with whatever Santa brings me."

Yesterday the Christmas parties happened at the Things school. They were soo excited. This year they were at the same school, and the parties were at the same time, so I had to choose. Thing 1 really didn't want me to come to her party-- I guess we have hit the age when its embarrassing for your Mother to be a room mother?! Anyway, I went to Thing 2's party. It was for an entire Hour and thirty minutes. Yup! That's right-- we were supposed to entertain 25 hyper active 6-7 year olds for 1hour and 30 minutes. YIKES! Or as Thing 1 says--
"Cry-key" (Did I even spell that write?)

One of the room moms that was there to help out was a girl that I went to highschool with. We hardly said 3 words to each other growing up. You know how it is-- you're in one group-- they're in the "cool" group. I was a little worried. Some people that I have run into since being home have never really left the whole high school thing behind. Like the girl that said "Oh does Anonymous Person teach at the school your kids go to? I would NEVER let my kids be in her class-- she was soo mean in highschool." Uh, that was almost 20 years ago-- let go you freak! Anyway-- I was able to visit with Anonymous Popular girl, and have a fun time catching up. We helped the kids play bingo, make reindeer, snowflakes, and read them "A Polar Express". It was turning into a nice party.

At the end of Polar Express, we had the kids jingle their bells to see if they could hear it jingle, and who walks in? Santa Claus. I got so excited! The kids gasped, and then started screaming. Thing 3 ran over to Santa and gave him a big hug, then ran to me and yelled "Mom! Its Santa!" Well, that did it! I started to cry. What a dork! I started to cry, right there in front of all those cute 1st graders, other room moms, and Anonymous Popular girl. Yup. That's me! The only mom that cries at a class christmas party! At least Anonymous Popular girl was nice-- she put her arm around me and said "You're too cute!"

I don't know about that. I felt like a Big Giant Dork!

BTW---Thing 2 said that it was "the best party EVER Mom!!!!!" Well, alright then!

About this time of year, everything sortof becomes a blur. It feels like the world is spinning out of control. I start to panic that the things that we methodically planned to get for the kids is not enough, or right. I hate this point of the holidays! It's a good thing that I don't try and get the holiday shopping done before the 15th of December-- I would be the panic shopper. You know who you are-- panic shopping is when you freak out that the stuff you already have isn't right, so you go out and buy more. More stuff that they don't need with the hopes that that stuff will make it a perfect holiday.

I ran into someone I knew at the Mall a few days ago that was panic shopping. I was panic shopping. I needed to tell myself over and over-- "step away from the checkout counter". I found myself almost purchasing that one item that I have banned from Thing 1, cause she IS only 10--a cell phone. Luckily for me, I came to my senses and ran away fast from the cell phones. Could you imagine the horror on Hombre's face when she opened THAT gift? I have talked nothing but smack about 10year olds and cell phones--what a hypocrit I would be.

Panic shopping. It's a bad, bad thing. I am the worst at it too. I tell Hombre every year that I want to be done with Christmas "this year" by the beginning of November, and every year he tells me THAT is a bad idea. I will post this once and ONLY once, so read carefully HE IS RIGHT! I would end up spending more money if I followed my brilliant plan.

Have I ever mentioned that my car sucks? Well, just for future reference, it does! I have the worlds worst luck with cars. I took mine into the shop yesterday to get fixed--cause you know it sucks! The mechanic said that all it needed was good tune up, with all new wires and spark plugs. We tell him go ahead, cause you know it sucks and all.

Our mechanic is great one. He is a friend of my cousins who manages a car lots repair shop. He does our work, and charges us for the parts. It is usually half of what the car lot would charge us. It has worked out to a good deal for us. He said it was all good-- that I may have a clogged fuel injector, but it looked fine. I didn't think anything of it.

I pick the car up, start to drive it around the corner from the lot, and what happens? The service engine light comes back on. Yup. Still not fixed. I take it back to Anonymous Mechanic, and he tells me that its probably the fuel injector. I have been putting bad gas into the car, aparently. Who knew there were good gas stations, and bad gas stations. Not me. I thought it was all the same. I am suppose to drive the car for 100 miles, and see if all the heavy duty cleaners don't clean it out. Then, if the light is still on, he will replace the fuel injectors (which BTW, cost a ridiculous amount of money). If the light is still on, then it means that it is a crack in this v-ring. He assured me that almost never happens.

It will be my luck that it will be the cracked v-ring. I have bad luck with cars.

The light turned off after I drove it for a while. It was starting to run like it's old self again. But, then after letting it sit for several hours-- when I turned it back on, the light of course came back on. I guess I just need to go for a really long drive and let the kids watch a movie and see if we can't get the bad gas out.

I hate my car, cause it sucks and all. It is making me onery and cynical.

My first "homework" assignment for the online digital scrapbook class... It's done! I am WAY WAY WAY behind. The story of my life. This was only lesson #2-- I think they are now on lesson #5. I guess I know what I will be doing this week when the big kids get out of school. I am surprised with how much I enjoy this. Time just flies when I am doing this. I can start thinking I will only spend 1 hour-- and then 5 hours have flown by. It is a lot of fun. Hopefully I will get faster. Everyone assures me that I will.

Merry Christmas everyone. I need to go and get my shopping done now. YIKES!

My friend sent me this email. It's a letter to Santa with her Christmas Wishes. Since I liked it so well, I decided to post it here for your reading pleasure!


Dear Santa,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my three children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground and figured out how to attach nine patches onto my son's boy scout uniform with staples and a glue gun.
I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.
Here are my Christmas wishes:
I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with three kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way
up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season.

Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.

It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always, Mom
P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa

Hombre hates it when I play the "do you know" game with people. Inevitably I can always find someone that we both know. Six degrees of seperation?!

I have this friend that I have known for over 13 years! Can you believe it? Not me. I've known her longer than any of my other friends! I've known her longer than we've both known our spouses!

I met her when I lived in Idaho-- Yes, I DID live in Idaho. I spent 11months of my 18 month mission in this little 1 horse town--Orofino to be exact! She was one of the first people I met when I got to this town, and we just sortof became friends. I'm not sure why, really. We were both living entirely different lives, but she was a good person, and she made me laugh. When I went home, we stayed in contact. We very rarely (and I do mean rarely--like this summer was the first time in 9years I had seen her) saw each other, but we talked on the phone all the time. I went through her rough times, and she went through mine. We had our babies at the same time. I have always known that no matter how big of a screw up I am, Idaho will always be there for me-- and not judge me.

Well, I found out that her Dad is getting remarried. Good for him! Her Mom died a year or so back. Her parents were always so kind to me. I like icecream, and they would always buy me icecream to eat. Anyway-- he met this lady on the internet. They started talking, then dating and now they are getting married. I say good for them! The internet is awesome that way. It brings people together who, after a certain age are really "untouchable" in the dating world. They would normally be made to be alone for the rest of their lives, but the internet connects them to people who they can live out their senior lives with. I'm happy for them.

Now, here is the part that shows how small of a world this is. I was talking with Anonymous Baby sister, and she was telling me that she had to go meet her husbands-aunts-new internet boyfriend. (did you follow that?) I laughed, just cause that sounded funny. I told her that I knew someone who met someone on line and they were getting married. I thought it was cool, cause both their spouses had died, and had died the same way. Babysis told me that was the same deal with her hubbys aunt. We started comparing stories and-- if I'm lying, I'm dying-- they are the same people!! I was so excited! I called my friend, Idaho (who by the way now lives in New Orleans or rather Texas right now... but thats another story!), and told her all about it, and she was laughing too. She really likes the new step mom, and is super excited for her dad!

See, it really is a small world after all!

Yup. We're still sick. Tonight is Hombres work party. At the last firm he worked for, it was on company time, and no family members allowed! That really irked me, but hey! What do you do? Anyway, I told Hombre we were going no matter what! It was a catered dinner at the JSMB! Anyone who knows me well, knows that I like to eat. You know, that unhealthy relationship with food and all... Anyway... I really want to see the lights on Temple Square, but its too cold. I think that I would like to see them by helicopter!
So, seeing how I am still sick and all, I am again taking the lazy mans way out. Here is another journal entry. I must have been in really reflective moods when I wrote these. Either that, or everyone was healthy!

Recently I was driving in my car listening to my favorite radio program “A Prairie Home Companion” with my children. They introduced a singer I vaguely recognized, then started talking about how the song she was going to sing always makes him want to cry. I remember thinking “Oh great! Here comes another sappy, old love song. Yuck!” Then she started singing about her children, and how they were all grown now, and leaving for college. How she’d ‘had eighteen years to prepare for this: Letting go, there’s nothing in the way now-- Letting go." Immediately the flood gates opened as I started thinking of my three wonderful children.

Later in the song the singer talks about how now she has more time for the gardening and will be able to read all those books she had been waiting to read, but that it was all still so hard, Letting go.

Thing 1 listened to me sing (as I did actually know the song), then said “Mom, what is she singing about?” I told her “She is singing about her children growing up and leaving home”. She thought for a moment, and said “Mom, do you want me to grow up and leave home?” And before I could even get the answer out, she continued “cause I don’t ever want to grow up. I would miss you too much”.

This made my thoughts turn to my own Mother. I grew up, moved away. I too missed my Mother.

Childhood is such a wonderful thing. Things are easier to understand. I often hear my children tell me things, and find myself thinking “what a wonderful, simple way to view the world”. How lucky we are to have children around us!

It is such an interesting idea, “Letting go”. I had never thought of it in the sense that I was “letting them go”. I had thought many times, “Boy, I can’t wait until you can do this, that or the other for yourself.” I have found myself hurrying my children along to ‘grow-up’. Yet, as I listened to this song about “Letting them go”, it made me realize that all too soon, I will be an empty nester, with “nothing in the way now” to do all those things that I have been complaining I never get to do. I will be ‘just me’ again, able to come and go as I please, do all those hobbies that I enjoyed “before I had kids.” And then, all I will want is for them to come home.

Letting go. I don't think that I will do that very good. I don't even like them to go across the street, how will I ever handle them moving away?

Since I am sick, and have zero creative energies flowing from these veins, I decided to post one of my old journal entries that I found. I have been going through all my files on the computer, and have found several of my journal entries that never actually made it into my journal. I have always been a writer at heart. It has been my way of working through ideas or problems. If I can't verbally hash it out, then I write. I suppose it saves me thousands in therapy bills. :0) Anyway, I forgot about this until I read it. I liked it, so I decided to post it here... I hope you like it too.
Today was a beautiful day. The sun was bright, no wind, and my children were happy. I took my cute little Thing2 to pre-school, and while we were walking up the sidewalk to the playground, he took my hand and we started singing one of our family songs: "I love you, a bushel and a peck...” We stopped to examine all of the dead, gross worms, and then continued on to the playground. Right before he ran off to play, he reached up, and gave me a kiss. Then he turned and ran towards the playground, promptly wiping off that kiss. Watching him run to meet his friends, and run around the playground, my heart swelled. I was overcome with gratitude. I felt so grateful for all the blessings that were mine, and they were all non material. My gratitude came from my 3 gorgeous children, who incidentally do drive me crazy. My rowdy dog, which has totally ruined my backyard, and tracks her muddy feet everywhere. I felt grateful for my wonderful husband who works so hard to provide such a wonderful life for his family. I felt grateful to have been raised in such a loving, righteous environment. I was filled with gratitude.

All of this reminded me of an interview that I heard on NPR back in February. It was a Catholic priest who had started this organization called Homeboy Industries. He would employ the gang-bangers that were released back into society from prison. This was a profound interview for me to hear, and I have found myself thinking about it often. Hombre and I talked about it a lot after we listened to it, amazed with the unconditional love this man had for these “untouchables”. But the thing that was the most amazing was how he prayed.
He said that he prays so that his heart will be more like the Saviors. The interviewer quickly interrupted him, and said “You’re kidding, right?! I heard that you had Leukemia. Are you saying that you never prayed that God would cure you?” I thought that this was a fair question, and his response was that it never occurred to him to “tell” God what he should and should not do. “I simply prayed in gratitude, not for things.” He said. I contemplated on this, and found it quite amazing. How often do we pray for “things” and how often in our prayers are we thanking Him for “things”.

As I honestly answered this, I found it disturbing, and almost embarrassing. I was all about “thanking” Heavenly Father for the things that I had been given... but was that true gratitude? I know that I have “told” the Lord what I want, and not listened to what it is that He wants for me. According to this Catholic priest, his idea of prayer was trying to align yourself and your heart to be one with the Saviors. I have contemplated on this idea often, and have realized that I do have much to be grateful for, and they are not “material”.

I am grateful for the country that I live in. I am grateful for all of the freedoms associated with living in this country. I am grateful my husband has a job. I am grateful that I am able to see the world with eyes that work. I am grateful that I know how to read. I am grateful for my 3 children and my spazzy dog. I am grateful for my extended family, and the support and love they shower on my family. I am grateful for my health, and the health of those whom I love. I am grateful for the telephone. I am grateful. There are so many things that I could list here.
There lies the challenge... to ponder what it is that I am truely grateful for that isn’t “stuff”. Brigham Young has said that one of the greatest sins is the sin of ingratitude. I need to try this month to align myself and my heart to be one with the Saviors. I need to try to be more thankful for all of the blessings (not stuff) that the Lord has blessed me with, and listen more to what it is that the Lord would have me pray.

What would be the cherry on top to this hellish week that I've had? Me getting sick. Bingo! Never has the entire family been sick at the same time. This really is pathetic. We are all wandering around, moaning, hoping that someone will take pity on us... but no one is, cause we are all sick. Hopefully this will all be over soon!

See that cute little dog? Thats me. That's how I have felt the past few days. Let me give you a brief overview of my crazy life...
Thing2 is sick. He was sick on his birthday. Bummer. He had a fever of 103. That's really high... for a S.E.V.E.N. Year old! (I still can't believe it!) What a horrible way to spend your birthday--sick.

On Monday morning, bright and early, I called the Doctor-and the Doctor said: "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" Ok! He didn't really say that-- but he should've! Just read on and you will see why! ANYWAY-- I made an appointment for Thing2 to get into the Doctor. I got them all dressed, and ready to go. I hurried them into the car only to realize: I knoweth not where my purse is! I start freaking out, looking all over the house and I couldn't find it anywhere! Then I realize that my purse is in Hombres car, which just happens to be in the city--25minutes away. Hombre is having a busy day, and there is no way he can bring it to me. I think to myself, its ok. I will just have to pay the co-pay later, Thing2 needs medicine! I get everyone re-buckled into the car, only to find out that my car battery is dead. Yup dead... D.E.A.D... dead. Not working, dead! I couldn't believe it! I had to call the Doctors office, yet again, and re-schedule the appointment. Then I had to figure out how I was going to get there, AND pay for it.

All I have to say about that is: "Thank heavens for Anonymous Moms!" What would we ever do without them? I swear, (not really. Well, ok, only sometimes when its really important, but I digress...) I think I must look like a total idiot since moving here. I have had to be "rescued" more times than I can count. I really am not that big of a Daphne-- You know, the girl in Scooby doo that is always the damsel in distress getting rescued?!? It only looks like it!

It only took all day to get poor Thing 2 to the Doctor to find out that he has a sinus infection (ick) and the starting of pneumonia (yikes), with a raging fever ( I knew that one). Poor little guy! He is one sick little dude! I got him home, and into the bath with some great medicine that Hombre brought home. Thing 2 actually slept really well.

"Is that all?" You say to make you feel like a cute, little doggie about to be squashed by a 300 lb lady? Ooohhhhh Noooo! Let me continue on with the saga.

Today, Thing2 stayed home from school. Duh! Thing3 starts in with a fever about 1pm, and I was finally able to get her to sleep by about 2pm. Thing1 calls at 3:10pm "dying, she is soo sick and just can't take school any longer." Now, mind you school gets out at 3:20pm. I get the message through Anonymous Mom, because Thing1 couldn't reach me on the phone. Thing1 wanted Anonymous Mom to come and pick her up, which, thankfully she told her to ride the bus home. For heavens sakes People! I was in the shower, sheesh. One needs to wash the stench off at some point in time! Anyway, I thought for sure that because of the way she was acting something major had gone down at school. But Noooo! She just had the flu.

Ok. 2 down, 1 more to go. I get all the Things in their P.J's, get the vaporizer on them, and we settle in to watch the flood of Christmas shows that are sprouting up on every single channel. While we are all getting settled in, Thing3 falls off the bed ( see, here comes my new mantra:
NO MORE MONKEYS JUMPING ON THE BED!!!), hits her head on the corner of the nightstand, and then lands in a pile of Rescue Heros. She is wailing up a storm, and I pick her up to console her, only to get a hand full of blood. NOW-- anyone that knows me KNOWS that I am useless in an emergency. But, I had the sense to get a wet towel and put pressure on it. Boy, who would've thought a head that little could hold that much blood. YUCK!! Anyway.. Hombre has been stuck in traffic for over 45 minutes and hadn't even left the city yet-- and by the way, he was sick too. Oh, lucky me. Now everyone but the dog was sick. I was probably going to come home to a sick dog too, the way this was starting to pan out.

I was flying solo. Thank heavens for Anonymous Mom, yet again. I think that I am going to have to write her her own theme song! You know, like the A-Teams??! She seems to be doing a whole lot of rescueing lately. All of the sick things went to Anonymous Grandmas, and I had to borrow her car, cause you know-- my car sucks and all.

Poor little Thing3 kept telling everyone at A.G's house how she had a hole in her head. She fell and cracked her head, and now there was a hole in it. Anonymous Baby sister tried to convince her that she should put salad in her hole, but she didn't think that was funny. She told Anonymous baby sister that she was going to go to the doctors and get a magic bandaide. Thank heavens she still believes everything I tell her. Bandaids can solve all your problems! Did you know that? It's true!

Poor little Thing 3-- she got 2 stitches. It was rather traumatic, especially since there was a little boy in the room next to ours who was also getting stitches-- more than 10-- and he was screaming like a banshe! Thing3 was getting more and more nervous. It was actually horrid to watch her get those blasted things. But what did I do? I sang her 'Popcorn popping on the Apricot tree" and "Do you know the muffin man?" I couldn't think of anything else to do.

So, thats my life. 3 sick kids, a dog who ate 2 diapers while I was gone (she really WILL be sick tonight! Dumb dog!), a sick Hombre and a little one with stitches in her head. All in a days work I suppose.

I got everyone into bed, and then I had to go get McDonalds and "unwind". Nothing calms my nerves faster than McDee's Diet coke and fries. I know, I know! Sick and wrong. Yes, I have seen the nasty movie "Super Size Me", But hey, what can you do? You can either freak-out, or roll with the punches. I choose to roll, and eat french fries and drink diet coke. If I have any more days like today I will literally BE rolling... from all that fat!

Happy Birthday Little Man!! My little man, Thing2, is 7 today. It is soo exciting, but it is also sad. He is growing up, and I might add, into quite a handsome little guy! I can not believe that next year he will be 8... that just blows my mind.

Now, let me explain something... in my church, the 8th birthday is a big deal. It's the age when, if one chooses, they can be baptized into full membership of the church. With Thing1 we spent the whole year leading up to her baptism going over all the teachings and beliefs with her. She was MORE than ready when the time came for her to be baptized. She was born with a HUGE testimony.

ANYWAY-- Last night we were opening Birthday presents with Grandma and Pappy. Hombre was talking to Thing2 about his birthday and asked him what was going to happen on his next birthday. Thinking that he would say something to the effect of "get baptized". Oh No! Nothing of the sort. Without missing a beat, he said "I'll get MORE presents." Oh geeze! We have a lot of work ahead of us, if he is going to be ready to get baptized. Silly boy! Or should I say "Bad Mommy & Daddy"!?!

My little man had his birthday party today. He got everything that he was DYING for. It seems that we spoiled him, yet again. But, how can one resist when he looks at you with those beautiful blue eyes?? Hombre says that Thing2 has me wrapped around his little finger. I would have to agree. I love that little boy. I love my girls too, don't get me wrong. I'm just feeling extra sappy towards Thing2 cause its his birthday. We got him the build your own lightsaber, the lego star wars xbox game, new handle bars grips for his bike, a cd player with a new cd. We decided to make the cake this year... usually we buy it from Wal-mart. (I know, gag. But I LOVE their frosting! And I usually hate frosting!) That cake was the saddest looking cake ever! Hombre kept calling it the "charlie brown birthday cake". It was rather sad looking. Now we know why Mom buys the cakes at Wal-mart! Homemade ones are better tasting, but store bought ones are prettier.

We went to my Uncle and Aunts 50th wedding anniversary tonight. It was great fun to see ALL of my cousins. Some I hadn't seen in well over 10years. I told Hombre it had been so long since I had seen some of them, I didn't know what to talk to them about. The Things couldn't believe that "all those people" were their family. They are still getting used to having so much family around. They had a blast playing with all the cousins. That is one of the things that I am so happy about. Both Thing1 and 2's best friends are their cousins... how awesome is that? Thats why we moved here. To be around the family.

Today is the first Friday of December. Usually, on the first Friday in December, all of my friends and I would be hanging out, making merry and having a grand ole time. Tonight is the first night in a very very long time that it hasn't happened. I know that they are continuing on without me, and that is as it should be.

So, in the spirit of merry making-- I made up some of my favorite treats and ate them ALL BY MYSELF!! Well, granted they were mostly leftovers from Sunday's- post-turkey- party... but that's not the point... I ate all the treats by myself and watched Bruce Almighty with Hombre. Then, ran Thing1 to her friends house, and checked out Christmas with the Kranks to continue on in the party mode! :0)

Hopefully by this time next year I will know enough people to start the annual tradition up again. It took a while when I moved into the old house to start it up there. I have nothing but time I am coming to understand, and so hopefully by next year I will know enough people that I can invite more than just my family.

On a different subject totally... 7 years ago my son was born. It was a friday morning, 12:54am. The morning of Hombre's first law school final. He had been studying through the first half of my labor for the torte final. At first, I had thought it was funny, but towards the end it made me mad and he quit. After Thing2 arrived, Hombre went and cleaned himself up, visited with Thing1 and then took his first law school exam. He did pretty well, considering.

Thing2 turns 7 on Sunday. S.E.V.E.N. !! I can't believe it. Where did all that time go. He used to love to cuddle with me... long gone are those days. He is a joy to have around. He is such a kind and thoughtful little boy. I am so grateful that he is my child. He makes everyone around him happy. He has an infectious laugh. Thing2 turns 7-- and all too soon he will be grown-up and gone.

These children have brought me so much joy. My life is much richer with them in it. I couldn't imagine going through life without them. I thank my Father in Heaven for them daily. Even when they are naughty!

TAH-DAH! Here it is... my very first digital scrapbook page ever!! After only about 4 hours of actually trying to make the page... this is what I came up with. Then, it took another hour or so along with the help of 2 of my sisters to figure out what I did wrong in saving it. It was too big to email, or post here. But with the help of Anonymous Sister in Seattle and Colorado I was able to re-save it and post. Let me know what you think. I hope that it gets faster for me to make a page. Anonymous Sister in Seattle told me she can do a page in 20 minutes or so. Hopefully someday that'll be me!

Anonymous Dad had called me the other day laughing. He had been reading the blog, and wanted to know who I was. He said: "You have Hombre, the Things, Anonymous Dad, Anonymous Mom, Anonymous Grandma, and Anonymous Cousin, dumb and dumber... but, who are you??" Initially I said that I was just the Anonymous Lady... but I've changed my mind. AND you know, a girl has the right to change her mind.... a lot and all the time.

Who Am I?? Well, I am TheMotherboard, of course!

I have to do the book review this week. I am a little nervous... well, actually I am extremely nervous. I chose my favorite Christmas book: Secret Santa by Anne Osborn Poelman. It is a story that I read every year the weekend of Thanksgiving. It puts me in the "right" frame of mind for the holidays. It is just a lovely, lovely book.

I suppose the reason that I love it so, is because it reminds me of the times when Hombre and I had nothing, and I do mean nothing. It was when he was in Law school. I was given this book at Christmas with a $100.00. It just so happened that money was all the money that we had. Our Bishop had announced that there were some families struggling and he was asking for donations to help them out. Hombre told me that we were blessed, and we should give what we had left to those that were less fortunate. (Never did it occur to us that we were one of the ones the Bishop was talking about... but that is another story for another time.) I went to the Salvation Army and signed-up for their Adopt-A-Family Christmas program. And the $100.00 was what Hombre and I used to buy presents for his family and mine. That was all the money that we had. It was an emotionally painful time for us... and I don't ever want to forget it. It helps keep me grounded to what the real meaning of Christmas is about. It's not about presents or stuff... and all too often that is what the focus becomes. I read this book, every single year, to remember those feelings. I think all too often, when one is not on the end of generosity or kindness from others, one can easily forget that there ARE people out there that have less, or nothing at all. I don't ever want to forget. So, I read my book to remember.

The weather man said that we would wake up this morning to lots of this white fluffy stuff. He was wrong. It didn't come until tonight. And then boy, did it come down. It seemed to just be floating down, like feathers. Only colder. I had forgotten how pretty a snowstorm could be. When the weather man had said there was going to be a snowstorm, Hombre and I started scurrying around like little squirrels hunkering down for the long winter. Thats what we were used to back in the midwest. When they said there was a storm comming out there--it meant it was going to be a real doosey-- Snow coming in sideways, and blowing like you've never experienced, and extremely cold! But, when it started snowing here tonight, it was almost peaceful like. It was quiet, and there were big fluffy flakes. The snow was sticking to the grass, and it looked like a large white blanket. Snow storms here are beautiful. It's good to be back home.

Well, remember how we had the little disaster with the kitchen faucet on Thanksgiving? Well, today was the day to fix it! Hombre went and got the necessary parts to fix our little problem, and then proceeded to install the new faucet. We were told that it would only take him a mere 3o-45 minutes to accomplish this task.

WELL.... after an hour and a half of trying to get the dumb nuts and bolts apart, he was starting to get a little cranky. It seems that the numb-nutz that installed the sink in the first place stripped the bolts, so they were as flat as pancakes. Hombre decided to cut the tubes that were holding it all together, and then start fresh.

He got the left side all sawed off, then proceeded to start on the right... thats when water started spurting out like old faithful. It was a mess. He was standing there trying to direct the water down the drain, and I was just staring at him like a mute fool. I didn't know if I should start yelling or crying, so I took option 3-- I started laughing. I couldn't help myself. It was really rather funny. The whole kitchen was getting a nice shower, and poor Hombre was starting to look like a drowned rat. He enlisted my help-- I got to go try and direct the water down the drain, while he turned all the water off at the main source. At first, I think he was really mad at me cause I was laughing... but then he started laughing too. "It's all your fault anyway you know." he told me. He said that if I hadn't broken the stupid thing in the first place we would all be dry. True dat!

I kept trying to convince him to call Anonymous Dad. Cause you know, Anonymous Dad can fix ANYTHING!! Hombre was getting a little irritated with me by suggesting this. He finally hollered "For Crying out loud! I went to Law School. I think I can handle changing a faucet"! Oh, ok. My mistake. We can just sit here trying to unscrew a bolt that wants to be left alone. We have nothing but time!

Well, Anonymous Dad's fixit sense must have been buzzing, cause the next thing we knew there he was, walking through the back door. Anonymous Dad had come to save the day!! Hombre proceeded to explain what he was doing, and A.D. told him to let him have a look. He climed under the sink, and in less than 2 minutes, he had that little bolt off and the faucet out. If I'm lying, I'm dying!! Hombre's mouth about hit the floor. He kept saying "You're the man! A.D. You're the man!" He was thoroughly impressed. They finished the project in under 20 minutes, and A.D. was on his merry way. Needless to say, I kept my mouth shut.
I did however take photos of the merry occassion, but Hombre made me swear not to post them here. And not just swear, but swear on our marital vows. I guess that means its a big time serious swear! Anyway-- I won't post the photos. Just know that they are worth their weight in gold. Not to mention good blackmail money!

Black Friday. The biggest shopping day of the year. Crowds, pushing, shoving, yelling, fighting. Sound fun?? This was a new experience for me. I had never, ever attempted to shop on black friday. I usually liked to lay around, put up the tree and all the other decorations. This year, however, I decided to give this whole thing a whirl. My sisters LOVE doing this, so I thought I should give it a try... Anonymous Baby sister was getting a kick out of how shell shocked I looked. I have to say that I have never in my life seen anything THAT crazy in my life. There were people everywhere, lines everywhere, stuff everywhere. When they opened up the electronic stuff, people were screaming, and yelling like there was a bar fight. In the midst of all the yelling was a crying baby... some genius had brought their baby. That child will definately need counseling when they grow up. It was scarey. It was definately a fire hazzard... if there had been a reason to evacuate the building, we would have had a stampede, and lots and lots of dead people!

I think the thing that was the most disturbing was watching the way people were behaving. It seemed to bring out the worst in people. There was no Christmas spirit there-- just a bunch of people pushing and shoving to get the best deal. If I had to make a poster of materialism and consumerism... I would take a photo of Wal-Mart, at 5:00am, on black friday. Honestly, I didn't believe all the hype of how crazy it is; but believe you me, it is all that everyone says it is and more. I didn't enjoy the whole experience, it was quite disturbing. It was fun going to breakfast and just visiting. It was fun going to the mall, where there was hardly any people. I found Target to be kindof creepy too. I was looking for an X-box game that Thing2 wants for his birthday. They had none at Wal-mart (yes I did look), none at Kohls, so we tried Target. At first, there were none to be found. When I started complaining that I was never going to be able to find that game, this man came up and handed me one...he had 5 of the same game. Why? I don't know. Sortof creepy to me. Maybe greedy is the better word. We saw the same guy later, pushing a full to capacity shopping cart with multiples of everything in there. I just find that to be disgusting really. The whole experience upset me (sorry Anonymous baby sister).

Christmas to me is all about finding that perfect gift for the person that you are buying for. Taking your time, and really thinking about what it is that you are purchasing. Quality. Thoughtfulness. Love. I think there should be a measure of love in the gifts that you give.

I think that its great to be together. Go to breakfast... that was fun. I love being with my family. I will go again next year... maybe by then I will be more into it. Maybe I will have changed and be less discombobulated. My family, I am sure, hopes so!

" Turkey lurkey doo, turkey lurkey dap, I eat turkey and then I take a nap! Gobble Gobble Goo, and Gobble Gobble gickel, I wish turkey only cost a nickel! Oh I love turkey on Thanskgiving!"
Thanks Adam Sandler!


I love turkey! Today was the big day! I got up bright and early--6am to get the ole bird a cooking. Then I started in with all the other things that I wanted to cook. First things first-- Wassil to make the house smell all festive like. Then it was a run to Krispy Kremes to get the necessary fuel... It was fun getting all ready. I cooked and cooked, and Hombre and all the Things cleaned the house. They did a fantastic job! Hombre even cleaned out the filthy garage! (Thanks man!)

We had food coming out our eyeballs, I think. There was, of course turkey, potatoes and gravy, yams, stuffing, veggie/relish tray (with the spinach dip! Thanks Anonymous baby sister), homemade rolls, spinach-artichoke dip, bacon wrapped chestnuts, homemade cranberries, a cheese-ball, chocolate cake and pumpkin pie. WHEW! There was a ton of food.

But here's the thing... why is that when something is going to go wrong, it has to happen at the most inconvient time?? Right in the middle of getting everything on the table, with 6 butts in the kitchen giving everything the final "midas touch", the faucet to the sink just breaks right off. Yup! Right off, no questions asked, just pops right off. Water running and all! WTH?? I would have preferred this to happen YESTERDAY!!! Or, maybe tomorrow, or Monday... but NOOO!!! It has to pop off right in the prime usage time of Thanksgiving day dinner preparations.... with the maximum exposure of embarrassment. Sheesh! Everyone was nice, and we just rolled with the punches... but for crying out loud...

All that aside, it was very fun to have the whole family here, and to eat with them. I think that Anonymous Mom actually enjoyed herself. It was probably nice for her to sit back and relax. I heard it through the grapevine that she was going through withdrawls of not doing it all herself. I think thats funny! I was soo frazzled by the whole faucet thing, that I didn't have everyone go around and list what they are thankful for. So, I decided to do that here. I have lots to be thankful for!

Hombre, the Things, crazy boxer dog, Anonymous sisters & spouses, Anonymous neices and nephews, Anonymous parents and in-laws. Anonymous friends, my house (even tho it seems to be falling apart), Hombres' job, my freedom, mine & my families health, that I can read, that there are books. Where we live, where have lived, My church.... I could go on and on. But the reality is this: I have a lot to be grateful for. I have everything that I have ever wanted, and I have accomplished a large majority of my goals. I have lived in a lot of the places that I have always dreamed of living, and I have visited a lot of the places that I dream of seeing. What more could a person ask for than that? I truely am a blessed person!

My toe hurts. Thats all I can think about. The throbbing pain shooting from my toe. Throb. Throb. Throb. "I am here and don't you forget it!" Is what my toe is pounding out to me in morse code. It really hurts. But, the thoughts of getting the toe fixed scares me worse than the pain that I have to endure.

I get this every year about this time. It's when I go from the luxury and freedom of sandles to the confinement of regular shoes. If the truth be known--I hate shoes. If I could get away with not ever wearing shoes, I would. But Hombre gets so completely grossed out by the dirty feet thing, that shoes are a necessary evil. All winter long, I long for the freedom that sandles provide--not to mention that they are pain free!

I hate shoes. And now, I hate my toe.

I think that I am addicted to movies. I love movies. I can't get enough of movies. If I could go to a new movie every weekend I would be extremely happy. I have made a list of the movies that I want to see, with a link to the previews.
Elizabethtown-- seen it! Awesome!
Yours, Mine & Ours; Cheaper By the Dozen 2; Harry Potter 4; Chronicles of Narnia;
The Producers, Rent; Superman Returns; King Kong; Chicken Little; Pride Predjudice;
Walk the Line; The Brothers Grimm, The Work & The Glory: American Zion, and Christmas in the Clouds.

Christmas is comming. It's in the air. Hombre is soo excited he can't even stand it. Last night, he pulled out one of the trees, and set it up. Then today after church, the kids and he decorated it. 1 down, 2 to go. Hombre is a christmas junky. Its soo fun to watch him get soo excited. It has struck much earlier this year. I think that is because he has been watching all the lights get put up downtown. The big trees are up and all decorated. The lights at the temple will go on this Friday. I can't wait. It will be awesome to show the kids that. They have never seen that... that is one of my fondest memories growing up-- going downtown to see the lights on the square, and the widow decorations.

When the tree was all decorated, we had to run out in the backyard and see what it looked like. It looks really good. I can't wait to get the one in the living room up-- that one is the prettiest, I think! It will be fun to be here this year and have so much family around.

We get to have 2 Thanksgiving dinners this year, and I am stoked! I love turkey! At first, I must admit, that I was a little disappointed that we would'nt be able to be all alone. But now, I think that it will be great! I am excited to celebrate with my family and Hombre's. It is awesome to watch all the Things interact with the family! Thats what I have always wanted! I have realized that I have everything that I have ever wanted... I am a blessed woman!

Today we had Anonymous cousin come to play with Anonymous Grandma. It was such a great day! Anonymous Cousins Mom had gone to a conference in D.C., so we thought that she could use a play date. It was so much fun to watch A.C. and Thing 3 play together. I think that this was the first time that they really PLAYED. Usually, they just play near each other, but today, they interacted and actually played. That was so great to watch.

Anonymous Grandma was so fun to talk to. She has had the same idea that Hombre and I have been mulling over. To open up an Apple Barn/Pumpkin Farm here. There is nothing like that in the area, and I think that it would be a huge success. It was fun to talk about that, and make our "fantasy" plans.

It was just a wonderful day. We sat at the kitchen table eating chips and salsa, and just yaking away. And the kids played and played and played. It was heaven. I soo hope that they will eventually be able to move down here. I would so love to have A.C live closer, so that her and Thing 3 could play together more often. When A.C. left, Thing 3 looked at me and said: "She's my best friend!"

Thats her new thing. She is always telling each of us that we are her best friend. I love that. She is slowly getting out of the phase of "fit frowing". She is, I suppose, growing out of it... which means technically that she is growing up. I don't like that, not really. I like that she is potty trained, but I hate the fact that the kids are growing up. It makes me sad. I soo love these little stinkers!

Today, I arranged to do my monthly visits for my church. I had been called earlier in the month, and told that they had changed my route--which, frankly, I was glad. (remember the disaster with Thing 3??) I got a new companion, and 2 new ladies to visit. My new companion is a 75+ lady, and the gals I visit are in their late 40's and 50's. I was a little nervous to go with an older lady, but thought that it would be alright, since the President told me that she didn't like to do anything. That left me free to do what I wanted. I made the appointments, made them some treats and worked up a lesson.

At the scheduled time, I went to get my companion. She is soo cute. She was all dressed to the nines, and was waiting patiently for me. She quickly ushered me into the house, and showed me her "wing" of the house. Now, this house is interesting. It has 4 families living in it. In the basement, are the owners of the house, who BTW are in their mid 60's. They live on one side of the basement. On the other side is their youngest daughter and her new husband. On one side of the upstairs, is my cute companion. And on the other side is the other Grandma & Grandpa. They are in wheel-chairs. It would make for a big Sunday dinner. All of the children live in this town, and they all come home home for Sunday dinner. WOW!

Any-hoo, she showed me all her quilts, and pictures of her Grandkids--one of them being a guy I went to highschool with. We were in a ton of plays together. Then she was telling me that one of her old companions was our stake presidents mom. Now, my stake president is my Uncle. I couldn't believe it. I thought: "Surely Not!" And I said, "You mean Anonymous Grandma?" She looked at me and said "Why yes!" I was surprised with my reaction. I burst into tears. It just came out of nowhere... I was soo overcome with emotion. Here I was going VT with a woman who had done the same thing with my Grandma. A coincidence? I think not! She told me how sad she had been here since being shipped here from Oregon. She had hardly been to church, and was feeling very useless. It would be just like my Grandma to help get us put together! I needed her, and she needed me. It was an amazing experience!

I had been mumbling to Hombre that I wondered if we had done the right thing by moving here. It seemed like everything was falling apart in the house, and it was just plain hard. I figured that it shouldn't be hard if it was the right thing. But, after today, I know that I am right where the Lord wants me to be. It is no coincidence that my back neighbor is family. It is no coincidence that my new companion is my Grandma's old companion. It is no coincidence that my stake president is my uncle. It is no coincidence that Hombre is FREAKING happy every day when he comes home from work... I am right where the Lord wants me to be. I feel at peace with the move--FINALLY.

Only 4 more hours until Harry Potter comes out! I love Harry!! He is so great! Anything that gets 10-14 year old kids out from in front of the TV or from playing Video games is all right in my book! The story line is freaking amazing... I can't wait to see it. Thing 1 has been listening to book for again on tape-- she says so that she will be good and ready to see the film.

If you want to see the preview, click here. There are about 6 clips that you can watch! Enjoy!

My worst nightmare is loosing my kids! I just don't know how I would cope. Well, we had terror on the home front today. The kids have had early out all week so that the teachers could have parent teacher conferences. Why it takes 5 days to meet with the parents is beyond me, but hey! What do I know?? I just work here...

ANYWAY-- Thing 1 came running home, ringing the doorbell like a crazy person, screaming: "Thing 2 didn't get off the bus. He didn't get off! He's lost!" I thought, surely No! He's just teasing her, again, and will come strolling in here any moment. He never did. I started to freak out. We jumped in the car and started buzzing up and down all the streets--Thing 2 was no where to be found. I called Hombre all in a panic, which made him panic. I called the school--screaming "Where is my son? He didn't get off the bus!" They had this s.l.o.w. paced mentality-- "Oh don't worry! He'll turn up!" Ummm, did you not hear me? My son is missing!! Call the transportation department! Find out what they did with my child!!! What is the teacher going to tell you? He left here! Don't know where he is! This is unreal! They didn't have a clue what to do, or how to go about locating a lost child.

Now, rewind-- I had met with the school at the beginning of the school year about this very issue. There is no security at this school. None. Zero. Zippo. People can come and go as they please, and they don't even call you to find out why your kid is not at school. The bus issue is major scarey. No supervision from the school on getting the kids on the right bus. None. Zero. Zippo. The principal was extremely patronising, and basically told me that she would not do anything to change things... thats just the way they were. Besides, this is Anonymous Town--nothing bad ever happens here! Well, I believe in Kidnapping, and I believe it can happen anywhere--even here in Anonymous Town.

So, Thing 2 is missing and the school has no idea what to do, or how to handle this. They say:"We'll go ask his teachers if he went home with someone else." WHAT?? You mean you would actually let my kid go somewhere else, with someone else without my permission?? Um, thats gotta change. We drive up and down the street, looking and looking and we can't find Thing 2 anywhere. I didn't know what to do. I went to my neighbor, who is actually my cousin, and told her... Thankfully, she had some stability, and started looking at all the neighbors, and got them rallied to start looking. Thing 1 goes back home to wait and pray that we can find him, and there is my cute little Thing 2 sitting on the couch crying.

Now comes the part where I get so livid! He tried to get off the bus at our stop-- there are 30 kids that get off there. The bus driver shuts the door in his face, and makes him sit back down. Then they go 2 more stops away, and he gets off, and just starts walking home... scared out of his little mind. If I had done things my way, I would have beat the snot out of the bus driver for doing that to my son, and then beat the snot out of the incapable school help. I am soo livid I can't even begin to think straight.

I feel like I am the David of David and Goliath. It feels like this is an uphill battle, however, they are going to rue the day that they didn't listen to this pyscho Mom! I called the old school district where we came from, and am having them fax me a copy of their transportation policies, and their dismissal policies. Then, Hombre and I are going to start lobbying the neighborhood parents that have kids that go to that school. Then we will go to the district and get this incompetent policy changed. What the school doesn't want to accept is responsiblity. When my children are at school, they are in the schools custody, and until they walk through those doors, they are still in their custody. The school wants no responsiblity. Their feeling is when the bell rings-- their job is done. I am sorry, but I disagree! I want safer schools!!! I don't want anyone to be able to just walk around the school, and just anyone to be able to go and check my kids out. I want the faculty to take responsiblity to make sure that the kids get where they are supposed to be. I want organization in regards to the way they dismiss. There needs to be a set place that the kids are picked up-- that way if someone is "forgotten" (which BTW happened and the principal had no idea. The little girl had been sitting on the playground for 1 hour. I was there with my kids letting them play), then they can call the right people. It is going to take a tragedy to wake this sleepy administration up! I am furious... as you can tell.

This is my new cause... and I guess I am just going to have to become the dreaded bitch mom from hell. I want to know that my kids are safe. I want something done, and I guess I will have to be the one that makes it happen.

When ever I need a "pick me up" I watch this video. Just click on your prefered method of viewing pleasure, and be prepared to be entertained! It makes me laugh everytime I watch it. Mostly cause I think Christopher Walken is sortof creepy, but he is awesome in this video. I heard that he majored in dance. What do you think?

I am impressed with myself. I worked really hard yesterday, and got all the bookcases moved and put back together. Hombre hates their new homes, but I wanted a place to display my nativities. I suppose we can try to figure out where to relocate them to once the holidays are over. The list was checked off this weekend. The toilet was fixed, the desk taken down and the new one put up. Which I like the looks of quiet a bit! So, I feel pretty good about the work that I acomplished. I am easily impressed.

I have been reading this book--well, actually I have several books that I have been reading. The one that I decided to work on last night completely consumed me. Its one of the those books that has several plot lines going. Well, I got really absorbed in this one plot line, and couldn't stand the time it was taking to get through all the other plots, so I started skipping ahead to find out what was happening to this character... It was driving me nuts. You know that you are reading a good book when you start to talk to the characters, and get all mad at them because you can see where every single little decision they are making is just sending them closer to distruction. I kept moaning outloud with each new twist in her plot. When I finally finished her plot line, I thought: "I'll get me a drink, and go back and finish all the others now". I looked at the clock and about had a heart attack. I had started reading at 8:30pm--when I finally stopped, it was 2:15--IN THE MORNING!!! I was shocked. I had no clue that it was that late. I was completely absorbed in my book! It didn't feel THAT late, or that I had been reading for almost 6 hours... Usually, I can't read that long without getting a headache--but it was different with this one. I HAD to find out what happened to this character. It was infuriating! I still am thinking about her-- that, my friends, is a sign of a good book. Now, I just need to go finish the rest of the book.

I have several other books that I have been reading. I have given up on one of them "Midwives"... It really bugs me the way he uses colons on every single page. He uses colons the way I use periods. It was nerve wracking-- I even started circling them, just to see how often he used them... I kept showing them to Hombre, and asking the "Editor" of the family why in Allah's name would he (the author) use them so much-- he didn't know. Which, I might add, bugged me even more, cause I think Hombre is pretty smart. So, if he was stumped, then it had to be wrong! Reasonable logic, I think!

Anyway, my stack of books keeps getting larger and larger, and my list keeps getting longer and longer. I have so many books to read, I will be entertained all winter long. Plus, there just happens to be more great books coming out every week. I really want to read the new Amy Tan book-Saving Fish From Drowning and the new Anita Shreve book-A wedding in December. There is also the book The Widow of the South, and Son of Witch (the sequel to Wicked). I have a notebook that I have been writing them all down in, and then crossing them off when I finish them... It just keeps getting longer and longer. I like that. I think that a well educated person will read... and read as much as they are able.

I have found the University that has the EXACT program that I am wanting to finish my degree in... I just have to figure out how in the heck I am going to pay for it. There isn't enough left over each month to cover $1,200 in tuition and books. I need to set up a time to go up to the financial aide office and see if there aren't some sort of grants/scholarships that I could get. I really, really, really want to finish. It would be a degree in Literature with an emphasis on 19th and 20th century authors. I would like to also have an emphasis on Children and Young Adult fiction. Then I would like to pursue a Masters Degree and then teach. Maybe at a Community College or something equivalent. I dunno. I wish the school fairy would just show up and say:"Anonymous Lady, You are all registered for school, and your tuition and books are all covered. Good luck!" Would'nt that be nice? I don't know where to even start. It seems so overwhelming, but, unfortunately there isn't going to be that magic little fairy. I hope that I can get this all figured out before I turn 50... HA!

Borrowing my favorite writer: Be well, do good work, and keep in touch!

It's raining really hard today. I was extremely nervous about the storm coming in--there is supposed to be snow with it. You know, the leak and all. But, it seems that Hombre DID fix the leak, and there is no more rain inside the house. That is a good thing. It's quite cold! The silly boxer dog wont go outside without some major manipulation...the food kind. She then stands at the back door, and shivers like she is freezing right to death, which is an act, since she does that in the middle of July too!

I am glad that it doesn't get dark here as early as it did at our old house. By 3:45, the sun was starting to set, and by 4:00pm, when Thing 2 would be getting off the bus, the sun was set. By 4:30, which was when we would head into Tae Qwon Doe--it would be dark. That is depressing. I am grateful about that--the sun doesn't set here until 5:00, and it's not totally dark until 5:30! Thats a huge difference.

I went to lunch yesterday with a neighbor. She came over and invited me out--and I thought that takes major guts to do that--so I went. I am not sure really how I feel about the whole expereince. I am worried that I devulged to much information about myself and my family, and now it will come back to haunt me. That is the part of me that is cautious-- I am extremely cautious with who I let into my life. I have been burned to many times. SO- now I am stewing and fretting... just something new to worry about, I suppose.

I have projects coming out of my ears that I need to buckle down and get finished. I have 4 more blinds to wash, and 4 more blinds to buy-- for the broken one in the family room and the living room has none. The curtains look ridiculous! I need to empty out all the bookshelves, and move one of them into the playroom to put all kids' books in. Then I need to build a book case in the office. The previous owners had started one, but didn't finish it. Once I can get that done, I think it will look nice in there. We are going to take the current desk out and give it to my cousin who is starting his own business. Hombres brother gave us another desk this summer, and so we are going to put that one up in the office. I think that the office will be nice once that is done.

Then there is painting. The white walls are killing me! I hate white walls. It will be a good thing to get out of the way to. The whole house needs painting. I need to buckle down and get those colors chosen.

I also want to move the T.V. from my room to the play room. Then I can hook up the VCR for the kids. I would like to find a futon to put in there also. That would be a fun hangout room once that is done.

Then there is always the basement that needs cleaning...My honey-do list seems to be getting longer and longer. LOL! There are the 2 holes in the ceiling that need to be patched. The downstairs toilet needs to be fixed, it doesn't flush with out reaching into the top of the toilet--yuck! Then there is my bathroom-- the whole thing needs to be gutted and just start from scratch.

You know what all this spells to me?? Cha-ching! Humm, maybe I will win Publishers Clearing House... That would be awesome! LOL! But, until then, I am going to start with the easiest one-- moving all the books.

Since moving here, Hombre and I have been able to quite a few fun things together--minus kids! We were able to go the Shakespeare Festival ON THE FIRMS DIME, and see 2 great plays (Romeo & Juliet and Dr Faustus). It was 3 days of blissful relaxation with our meals provided and great entertainment also provided. We signed up for the mountain biking experience--niether of us really mountain bikers. The guy incharge assured us that it was a beginner trail. When we finally made it up to the ski resort, it was raining--And boy was it COLD! Brrr! We ate a picnic type lunch inside the lodge waiting for it to stop raining. As soon as it stopped, we ran to the ski lift to have our bikes hauled up behind us. No sooner had we started up the mountain, which by the way did NOT look beginner to me, it started to thunder and lightening. Remember in the movie "Man From Snowy River" when it was raining in the mountains and the thunder echoed off the mountains?? Well, thats what it was doing with us. Hombre was all decked out in his riding gear--shorts. We were soon questioning our sanity when the rain suddenly turned into snow. Yes, you read right, snow--in the middle of August. Needless to say, when we finally got t0 the top, we looked like 2 drowned rats. We dried off in the ski patrol shack--and I was serioulsy getting worried about how I was going to get down. That was major steep, and scarey! I told Hombre that it was offical: I was old. In my younger days I would've attacked that mountain with vigor! But, I was seriously thinking about walking down...Yup! I'm old!!

We started off, and had quite a ride. At one point, we heard these guys on the ski lift above us saying "Geeze, I didn't know you could go that slow." Yup. They were refering to us. Them: 2 times down. Us: 1/2 time. We were still working on 1. It was hilarious, looking back. At the time, not so funny. Everyone told us it would take us "tops 45 minutes". Umm, they lied. It was more like 2 hours! At one point, Hombre did a major biff. He fliped over his bike, and then his bike over him. I was really worried. He just laid there--then he got up, smiling and says: "Did you get a picture of it? Did it look cool?" Men!

Another fun thing that we were able to do was get all gussied up and go to this fancy, smansy dinner at a local hotel. It was nice. The food was good. It was for the National Arthritis foundation... not really the most exciting of subject, but it was fun none the less. The speakers were a little boring, but it was fun to get dressed up. During the dinner they had a fashion show. What a fashion show has to do with Arthritis I will never know. It was quite the deal-- a runway, fancy clothes, fancy music, and very serious models. There was a lady that was older- late 50's. She was modeling a nice looking pant suit. She got to the end of the runway, turned and started to strut her stuff back to the front of the stage. In the middle of the runway, her pants fall down... around her ankles! I gasped. Surely I did not just see what I think I saw. I look at Hombre, who has his hands over his mouth, all bug eyed. Yup! I did. She grabed those pants so fast and power walked off the stage. The audience burst into laughter. I laughed too, then immediately felt sorry for her. How mortifying!! I thought for sure she wouldn't come back out-- but she did. And everyone gave her a standing ovation. That was worth the whole evening-- the pant disaster! She said "nothing is more painful than arthritis, except loosing your pants in front of 500 people"!

The last fun thing was tonight going to the 1st Annual Cowboy Poetry Reading. It was pricey-- I was glad the firm was paying. It said on the invitations: "Cowboy dress encouraged". I thought: "With how pricey this thing is, no one will show up in their 'cowboy dress'." Boy was I wrong! At the entrance to the event, there were 'real live cowboys' there, spurs, hats, and horses! They had a campfire built, with cow-pokes sitting around it singing, and tee-pees-- I mean it was the real deal! We got in there and there was an orchestra, and all sorts of cowboy stuff. The dinner was catered by Eddie Dean, George Dub-yas own cook. And boy was it dang good bar-b-que! The entertainment was superb! I honestly didn't think that I would enjoy cowboy poetry-- but it was really pleasant to listen to. It was a blast, actually. There were no "pant delimmas, but it was a great time. The music was fun, and atmosphere was very enjoyable. At one point, there was an auction for boots, a saddle, paintings, goodie baskets... and people were popping down some serious cash. Before I knew what had happened those boots were up to $1,200. Can you believe that? Someone actually had that kindof cash just laying around! The saddle went for $3,000. I about died. It was unreal! There was nothing auctioned off that cost under $500. Hombre leaned over and said don't you wish you had an extra 3 grand laying around? I thought to myself--Ummm, yeah! I would fix my shower if I did. Oh well. Maybe some day. It was exciting to watch the auctioneer talk so fast you had no idea what he was saying. The cow pokes were all over the ball room, whistling and yelling when someone raised their pallets. It would've been easy to get caught up in all the commotion! It was soo enjoyable. I was glad that Hombre thought to ask. Next year, we will get in our cowboy gear too. Oh wait, I don't have any. Humm, guess we need to go shopping!

Now for the next adventure we wait: tickets to the local professional basketball team! They will be playing Miami! That will be fun, since I really like Shak! I liked Shak before it was cool to like him. I can't wait! We are having more fun together here than we ever had in our old town. It is a good thing we came here!

I have a crazy boxer dog. Actually I quite like her, but I think that she drives everyone else nuts. She only listens to me and Thing 3--which is ironic since Thing 3 is shorter than her. Everyone else is just an annoyance to Zoe. It's hilarious to watch/listen to Thing 3 scold Zoe. She makes Zoe sit, and lay down before she can do anything. If Zoe even looks like she might steal or even sniff Thing 3's food, she starts yelling at her, and Zoe's ears go back like "Oh Man! Busted again!" I love to watch the two of them run around in the back yard... Zoe is soo careful to not knock Thing 3 down, but still chase with her. It will be fun once there is snow.

Anyway--my crazy boxer dog-- she always decides around 3:30 in the morning that she needs to go outside to go potty. The ritual is the same every night... even if I try to ignore it or change it. She will come into my room, and start to whine. I will ignore her. Then she will start to shake her head, which rattles the "necklace" (her tags), I ignore her. Then she will start to bump the bed, until I get up. Then once you are up, she runs out the door, then runs back in the door to make sure you are comming. Then she runs to the stairs and sits there until you start down them, then she runs to the door, and does her kidney bean dance...

Last night, I just didn't want to get up. So, when the bed bumping didn't work, she put her paws up on the bed and put her face in mine and did this weird little talk thing she does. It's half bark, half howl... its hilarious, except at 3:30 in the morning. So, we finished our routine, and then I dragged myself back to bed. She really is a good companion for me, and she is really good with my kids, especially Thing 3.

She follows me everywhere. I can't even begin to tell you how many times a day I trip over her, 'cause she is right under my feet. If I leave a room, and am gone longer than she likes, she comes and finds me. When I take the garbage out, she greets me when I come back like I have been gone for a year... thats fun. When there is someone even remotely close to the house, I know it cause Zoe starts growling. I love that. I never worry about someone sneaking in, cause she would let me know. She might not do anything if they got in, but her scarey bark would surely scare them away.

Sometimes I wish my life were as simple as hers-- sleep, play, sleep, poop, sleep, eat, sleep, play... its a good life. We have been trying to find her a "life partner" but haven't had any success yet. She would be even happier if she had another doggie friend to play with. She is a social animal, she just gets really scared around other kids. I know that is because our naughty neighbors in our last neighborhood used to tease her relentlessly. So, now she associates all other kids, besides her kids, as mean kids. Its hard to de-program her, but we are trying.

Anyway, I have a crazy boxer dog, who thinks she is human. Maybe in her previous life she was.