Happy Easter!
This is our Easter Egg hunt with the family yesterday!! It was great little get together. I really enjoyed it!
The weather couldn't decide if it wanted to be sunny or rainy. I think that if you look closely in the photo of anonymous nephew running, you can see the rain. It was great fun to watch the kids get so excited!! They look awesome in their Easter duds...
One of my favorite photos is of anonymous baby sister running with Thing 3 trying to get all the eggs... that cracked me up! She is soo competitive!
There is also one of Thing 3 off in the distance, and if you really look closely, you can see that she is falling--- Head first! It was hilarious! She jumped up yelling "I'm ok!" and kept on going!

Good day, with lots of candy...
Just what we need!
More sugar!

I spent my day working in the yard! I love to work in the yard, but I am WAY out of shape. I thought I was going to die when I came in tonight! For real! I also planted about 21 plants in the yard. They were stuff that my Mom was dividing, so we were the beneficiaries! Yew-haw!This is after the pile of mulch is almost 1/2 way gone. Crazy! Thing 2 was awesome and helped me scoop up the mulch into the wheelbarrow. Thing 3 was using a very small hand shovel, but she was doing her part putting the mulch into the wheelbarrow. Thing 1 was raking the mulch out for me... by having the Things help, the job went super fast. It was great to be in the dirt again! While I finished the planting, the Things did their Easter Eggs. That was a mess in a half to clean up... but they were happy. Thing 3 was completely covered-- all up her arms, shirt, pants ect with the die. She had these multi-colored fingers... it was actually kindof gross! Anyway... here are some more photos of the yard! It is really starting to look awesome!

Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and instead of bleeding he sings.- Edward Gardner

Here's my Random 10!
Where's yours??

1. Bitter Sweet - The Verve
2. No Rain - Blind Melon
3. Lovesong - The Cure
4. Because of You - Kelly Clarkson
5. Skin - Rascal Flatts
6. Bad Day - Daniel Powter
7. Who Did You Think I was? - John Mayer Trio
8. Over My Head (cable car) - The Fray
9. December - Collective Soul
10. Name - Goo Goo Dolls

Bonus: Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day
Talk - Coldplay (love this band!!!!)

THIS is the best part of Easter.



The Cadbury Mini Eggs. My favorite candy of all time.
They are only available at Easter time, and once they are gone-- they are gone.
I had stocked up, but now I am down to just 3 bags. Yikes! I need to stock up some more. Just so that I have a little "sum-um sum-um" for later!
I need to go re-hide these babies... My Things are coming and are going to find my stash!

About this time of year, when all the color starts to return, is when I realize just how SICK of winter I was!

I love spring!

Praise Allah winter is done.

We went on a field trip today.
Thing 1 has been jonesing to go to the Brigham Young Mansion ever since we moved here.
So, today was the day!
It was a beautiful, warm day... Perfect for our little outing.
All the flowers are blooming at Temple Square, it is alive with color.
Thing 1 was happy as a clam finally getting to see the mansion. It IS quite impressive. It is huge, and extremely elegant! I was impressed. I don't think that I have been in there since I was her age. Pretty sad really.

I think that Thing 2 liked it all right as well. Thing 3 was enjoying herself until we got to the kitchen and she saw some fake apples. That was the end of it for her. She wanted THOSE apples, and there was no telling her that she couldn't have them. That was the end of the tour for her. Thankfully, it WAS the end of the tour.

It really is a beautiful city. I wish that I was able to get down there more often. I suppose I will have to do a weekly field trip to SLC during the summer... And just take the kids to see all the tourist things that I probably haven't seen since I was a kid. That will be a fun thing!

We took the kids to see the Jazz Basketball game last night.
It was a total blast!!
The kids were given a bag full of junk-- a glow in the dark whistle, and all sorts of other stuff.
Jefe asked Thing 3 if she liked the game.
She had to really think hard about it.
Then she said, "Ummm, No."
" It was too loud. I couldn't hear my whistle!"

Well, she has her priorities straight!

I had to go to the store tonight for the "essentials."
Milk.
OJ.
Bread.
T.P.
Soda.
Candy.
You know.
The basics.
To make it through Sunday!

But here's the thing...
I was getting checked out by a lady in her 60's.
And she called me Ma'am.

When did this happen?
When did I become a 'Ma'am?'
And when did I become a Ma'am to someone in their 60's??
Further, why did no one warn me of this??

There once was a brainy baboon who always breathed down a bassoon for he said, ''It appears that in billions of years I shall certainly hit on a tune." Ezra Pound

1. I do - Better Than Ezra
2. One - U2
3. I Can't Love You Any More - Gary Nichols
4. Rain Falls Down - Ryan Shupe & The Rubber Band
5. Don't Wipe Your Face On Your Shirt - Cornell Hurd Band
6. Your Love Is Better Than Icecream - Sarah McLaughlin
7. You Don't Know Me - Michael Buble
8. Defying Gravity - Wicked Soundtrack
9. You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate
10. To Make You Feel My Love - Garth Brooks
BONUS: When The Stars Go Blue - U2/The Corrs

My goodness.
Yesterday, it was snowing so hard it was ridiculous, and freezing!
Today, it is so warm that there has been a MAJOR snow melt...
Too fast for the ground to handle.
everyone's yards look like they are lakes.
The kids were stoked to go out and play in the lake.
It took some convincing to get the dog in there, but once they did, they all had a blast.
It's in the 60's today.
You can hear the water dripping from everyone's roofs, and there is a major river of water in the gutter... You can see the "Run off"...
It makes me a little nervous about the REAL melt that is coming. I have heard that we have so much moisture that it could possibly be worse than the floods of '83. I remember those. The main street in Salt Lake was a raging river, and people were rafting on it. Crazy.
Anyway, the kids had a blast.
I was out right laughing out loud.
It was hilarious to watch.
Enjoy!

I'm back!
I'm back!
Ya-hoo!
I'm back!

I was trying to stick it to the man, but the man stuck it to me!
Remember the temper tantrum that I threw about my local phone company?
I hate them so much that I switched companies.
Well, they showed me.
When I switched phone companies, they took away my internet service.
Jerks.
I was disconnected from the world!!
How was I going to survive?
How was Thing 3 going to do her state report?
Yikes!
I don't know how we all survived the world without email and google.
Google.
It is the source of all knowledge.
If you don't know how to do something, like, oh, say long division...
Just ask google.
It knows everything.
Even long division.
Anyway...
I am back up, running and connected with life again.
Whew.
That was a LONG 2 days!

I am a "24" addict.
There.
I said it.
No more being in the closet.
I am a 24 addict.
For Real.

How I ever went this long without discovering this show will be the million dollar question.
But, I did.

Jefe brought home 2 discs with 3 episodes on each disc last night...
We stayed up ALL night watching it.
Yes.
I am freaking tired now.
But, it is an AMAZING show.

It is like watching a car wreck.
You know you don't want to see it, but you just can't help yourself... you HAVE to keep looking.

And, I am SOO excited that we have 4 seasons to watch on disc.
And just when we get those done, season 5 will be out!!
Watching it on disc is totally the way to go when watching a T.V. show.
No silly commercials to stress you out!

The official web site for 24 plays the soundtrack, or at least some songs from it.
Just an FYI

Click here to get a synopsis of 24...

I hate my freaking local phone company!!!

Every time I pay my phone bill, it feels like I am being violated!!
Raped, actually is a better word!
I hate my phone company...
Every time I even start to think about it, my blood seriously starts to boil!!I am dangerously close to either a heart attack or a brain aneurysm...
It ticks me off THAT bad!
ARGH!
I haven't had this much animosity toward a company since I lived in Illinois. I was with Ameritech, but they also sucked.
BIG TIME.
When I was able to switch to "The Neighborhood" I quit having urges to go postal on everyone when I opened my phone bill.

I tried to give the local company a try...
But they completly SUCK!!
I mean, any company that will let some third party charge you for things, and not even ask...crooks, crooks, crooks!
They (the thieving phone company) completely mis-represented themselves when I signed up. My phone bill was NEVER what they said that it would be.I hate surprises when it comes to money... Especially when they are over $30 dollars off... That means that someone wasn't being honest with me. My bill changed every stinking' month.Why?They could never give me a reasonable explanation. I wanted to change the due date of the bill to the middle of the month, but crappy local company said that was no way possible.
Huh.
New awesome company had NO problem what so ever giving me the due date that I wanted.

So, I switched.
I have NO loyalty!!
None.
Zippo.
Zilch.

Except to a company that gives me EXACTLY what I ask for.
Then I turn into one of those obnoxious Amway type people.
"This will change your life if you will just give it a try".

So, take that!
Stupid phone company!

Bah-hahahahahahah!
As if they really care!

Music hath the charm to soothe a savage beast, but I'd try a revolver first. - Josh Billings

Here are my songs for Random 10 Friday.
Just a refresher as to how to play-- You hit play on your I-tunes, or rhapsody, or Yahoo launch or your MP3 player, or whatever it is that you use to listen to your tunes on. Then you see what songs come up--- all random of course. You write them down, and don't cheat cause you are embarrassed about what songs pops up! That's half the fun to be able to razz you about what you have on your MP3 players!!

It's fun! You should play!!


1. You're Beautiful - James Blunt
2. Better Days - Goo Goo Dolls
3. Ever The Same - Rob Thomas
4. Savin' Me - Nickleback
5. The River - Live
6. Blind - Lifehouse
7. Better Way - Ben Harper
8. Who says You Can't Go Home?
- Bon Jovi & Jennifer Nettles
9. Talk - Coldplay
10. Upside Down - Jack Johnson

Bonus: What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong **

I love the words in this song! "And I said to myself, what a wonderful life!"
I want to put that on my wall in my kitchen! I know that it is actually 'world' in the song, but I think 'life' fits better.

Horror of horrors!
I had a glimpse of my life with a teenager this past week.

My friend from Illinois let her 17 year old daughter come out and stay with us for a few days.
We were so excited!
Anonymous Teenager was our babysitter... The one and only babysitter.
Ever.
Period.
We never had another teenager tend our kids!
She started watching our kids when she was 12, when I was working nights at Kohls...
so we have had the priviledge of watching her grow into a beautiful young lady!

She was prom dress shopping-- for modest dresses.
That is quite the adventure, even for us 35 year olds!
It was really fun, and exciting to watch her try on the dresses.

What was horrifying was seeing how much those beautiful strips of material cost.
Some were more than $400 dollars.
Yup.
Four hundred dollars.
Oye vey!
The ones that Anonymouns teenager loved were $405 and $350.
The one that was $350 would have still needed some "tweaking" to make it modest.
It was interesting to watch her "negotiate" with her Mom on the costs of the dresses.
Her Mom was firm and stood her ground.
I think I would've caved...

Anonymous teenager was funny to watch--- her life would most definitely be over if she couldn't have "that dress"...
I know I was that dramatic when I was a kid, but it was rather amusing to be on the other side watching.

Anyway...
I told Anonymous teenager that she shouldn't "waste"her money on a dress that she would only wear once. Just think of how many pairs of jeans that would buy---$400 dollars worth of jeans is A LOT of jeans.

I really had a wonderful time hanging out with her. We couldn't find a dress that she liked.
I think she has decided to get it made-- then she can have complete creative freedom -- resulting in the dress of her dreams!

We also went up and toured the UofU campus. She is thinking of a degree in architecture.
The U is ranked 26th in the nation.
It was good for her to see the school, meet the professors, and see what it is that degree entails.
She is so much further ahead of where I was at that age.
I don' t think that I really even decided on a university until AFTER I graduated.
I didn't decide on a major until I was married.
She is light years ahead of where I was at 17.
Good for her!

Anyway.

I guess I need to start looking for that second job so that I can pay for the prom dresses that will be OUTRAGEOUS when Thing 3 needs one!

This was a joint birthday party for the little girls.
Thing 3 and her cousin have birthday's 10 days apart. It makes for so much fun when we get together to play. They LOVE LOVE LOVE each other. They play so nicely together. Anonymous cousin is really the ONLY little girl that she plays nicely with.
Hopefully that will change.
Anyway--
We had the Perfect Princess Party for the girls.
They had little costumes.
Crowns.
Bags.
AND a frog pinata! You know, for the frog prince! Anonymous cousin and The big things were kissing it trying to get it to turn into a prince... everytime the frog would swing by Thing 3-- she would completely freak out! It was so hilarious!
What an awesome afternoon!!
Here are some photos from the adventure!!

T.R.O.U.B.L.E.!!!

That is what I am in...

GREAT BIG TROUBLE!!!
With a capital T and rhymes with bubble...

TROUBLE!

you know how I got duped into taking that gross fridge?
Well, now I can't find anyone to take it.
For real.
I have a hillbilly fridge in my garage, and I can't get rid of it.
My car has to be parked outside because of the nasty fridge.
What on earth am I going to do with it??
No one wants it.
There is no Goodwill here.
No Salvation Army.
Nothing.
I am stumped as to what I am going to do with this nasty, gross fridge.
I really want to park my car in the garage... Not a fridge!

Music is the soundtrack of your life.
- Dick Clark

Here are my random 10

1. She's a Beauty - The Tubes
2. This Love - Maroon 5
3. Bizarre Love Triangle (The Crystal Method Extended Mix)
- New Order
4. Walk On - U2
5. Brass Monkey - Beastie Boys
6. Closer To Fine - Indigo Girls
7. Closing Time - Tom Waits
8. September - Earth Wind & Fire
9. Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe
- Barry White
10. Bring It On Home - Little Big Town

Bonus: Mungo Jerry - Summertime

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Thing 3 is 3 today.
WOW! She is getting so big.
She opened her presents this morning, and made us sing "Happy Birthday" the whole time she was opening her presents. She was so funny! Everytime we would stop singing, she would holler, "Keep singing! Keep singing!" She is so funny!

Three...
My baby isn't a baby anymore!
sniff sniff

She popped out of bed this morning and said: "Mom-- I'm Three today. I'm not a baby any more! I DON'T wear diapers!!"
Well, then.
Ok!
She's a big girl now!
And don't you forget it!

Three years ago today I was in the hospital getting induced to have Thing 3.
Three years ago...
I can't believe it.
How fast the time has flown.

We were in the hospital all night, watching the War in Iraq on T.V.
I can't believe that either...
Three years since that ridiculous mess was started in Iraq.
Don't EVEN get me started with that!!

Anyway...

Thing 3 was getting a jump start to being here.
4 weeks early.
From the time my water broke, until she screamed her first cry was 50 minutes.
Yes.
Fifty minutes.
I know.
Pain.
But, I was very, very spoiled.
I had so many drugs, that I literally slept and watched the invasion on T.V.
Crazy!
Her birth was the easiest and most "luxurious"... if child birth can be that.
We knew some people who knew the RIGHT people at the hospital...
We received VIP treatment---all the way.
It was awesome!

Three years ago.
I am still in shock.
My cute, little, independant, stubborn Thing 3 was on her way.
Tomorrow is her birthday.
Today is Anonymous baby nephews birthday.
I hate how fast these cute little rug-rats are growing up.
UGH!

Today is the first day of spring.
The day when the north and south poles are equal distance from the sun, so we will have equal parts day and night...
Well, that would be the case if we could SEE the sun.
But, we can't.
Because it's snowing
Click on any of the little cameras, and you will see my town, with all the snow.

It's the novelist Margaret Atwood's birthday today.
She said this about spring:
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."

Well, I think that at the end of THIS day... All we will smell like is wet dog.
Bummer dude!

I am bored...
Can You tell??

1 hit wonders
Those bands that had only 1 hit.
Their 1 claim to fame...

How many can YOU name???

1. Shes a beauty - The tubes
2. How do you talk to an angel - The heights
3. 867-5309 - Tommy Tutone
4. In The Summertime - Mungo Jerry
5. King Of Wishful Thinking - Go West
6. Sadness Part1 (Extended trance mix) - Enigma
7. I know What Boys Like - The Waitresses
8. Let’s Go All The Way - Sly Fox
9. Baby Got Back - Sir Mix A lot
10. Axel F - Harold Faltermeyer (Beverly Hills Cop Soundtrack)

Random 10 Friday.
Here they are.
Does anyone ever play??

1. Don’t worry ‘bout a thing - SHeDAISEY
2. When you say nothing at all - Keith Whitley
3. Ever the Same - Rob Thomas
4. Istanbul - They Might Be Giants
5. Take My Breath Away - Berlin
6. Clocks - Coldplay
7. Pieces of Me - Ashley Simpson (I know! I know! No need to mock!)
8. She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5
9. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door - Bob Dylan
10. The Lucky One - Faith Hill
Bonus: No Rain Blind Melon

All I can say is this:
WHAT IN THE HECK???????
I am sick sick sick sick sick of snow.

Thing 3 spent over an hour outside this morning-- first thing. Playing in the snow with crazy boxer dog and cleaning all the snow off her new play set. It really bugged her that there was snow on it. I think she too is sick of the snow. It's no fun to swing in the snow. You get cold too easily!!




Four inches in one night is a little extreme for MARCH!

I took pictures of me measuring the snow-- I didn't want people to think that I was exaggerating...cause four inches in March makes you want to say "What the heck??"

Oh, and BTW-- It is really hard to hold a tape measure, take a photo and hold everything still... THAT takes talent!

How do you get mad at someone who has drawn on your wall, when clearly they are extremely pleased with themselves?!

You will have to click on the first photo so that you can get a clear view of what it is she drew.
It has changed several times.
At first it was her Dad, then it was me.
Now, it is a Jelly Fish.
I guess I can see the resemblance...

My camera has been unable to upload to the computer. I fiddled and faddled for several weeks, and just couldn't figure it out. Then I gave up!
Today, I really wanted to upload my photos.
I got so annoyed that I unplugged everything, and re-plugged them all back in.
For some reason, that worked!
I can now upload photos.
So, now I have several months worth of photos to share.
So, hunker down and enjoy!

I woke up one Sunday morning to this message in my backyard. It had snowed a ton, and Jefe told me to go look out our bathroom window. This is what I found written across the entire backyard... all 1 acre. What a good man! I am lucky!!

Cute little Anonymous Nephew playing with Thing 3. He was extremely patient with her while she dressed him up in all sorts of costumes. They had a blast... well, at least she did!

Jefe putting the finishing touches on the playset. The kids were so excited to get it done! They came home from school-- got a ton of blankets and promptly made themselves a gigantic fort!

I love this photo. The Things happily playing together. We had to bring #3 in kicking and screaming. She loves the playset!

Someday, I KNOW that I will appreciate how strong willed Thing 3 has become.
She will have no problem what so ever telling people what she thinks.
She won't let people bully her into doing things that she doesn't want to do, or knows that she shouldn't do.
Someday.
Not today.
I asked her ever so nicely this afternoon to take her clothes and put them in her bedroom.
She looked at me, put her hand up and said, while waving her hand, "Umm. Absolutely Not."
And then continued on dancing and singing.
It took me by surprise, and I had to really keep myself from laughing.
Even though she is a big stinker sometimes, she can be so stinking' cute!

"Ummm. Absolutely Not."
What a cute little stinker!