Perfectly Splendid

2012-02-12T23:21:00.000-08:00

my sister in law posted this on Pinterest

fact.

time to lay off the junk.

and maybe time to actually focus on a better me.

again.

for the 20th time in the last year.

or is it month?

Sydney was studying for a science quiz....

one of the vocabulary words was

CONSUMER
defined as:

an organism that consumes something (dead or alive) for energy.

I told her

In my "associate it w/ something... even if it doesn't make sense" kind of way...

"like... you consume the sun --- alive - it makes you feel good. gives you energy.

and chocolate (as I was acting like a pig scarfing down a bowl full of scrumptious yummy's)

... it's dead."

she thought I was calling her a pig.

"MOM!!!! are you calling me a PIG!???!!!"

in reality... I was calling MYSELF a pig.

and I have, definitely -

consumed my year supply of chocolate

- in one source or another -

within the past 2 weeks.

my taste buds have been thanking me. my thighs are rejecting me.

yw lesson. great thought.

2012-02-11T22:51:00.001-08:00

.....and because I am famous for it

there is probably a typo

somewhere.. that's my mark.

allow me this small moment......

2012-02-05T23:40:00.000-08:00

in the image below:
I see....
someone who has aged 10 years in 6 months.
someone who is exhausted, but increasing her inner knowledge.
someone who is trying hard to not compare herself - yet is.
someone who looks worn out next to one who obviously gets facials and massages, another who is able to out do us all w/ her glorious outfits. (sigh)

and life carries on.

“May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us." ...”

― Mother Teresa

this week I had Andrew's parent teacher conference.

worried that - since he only plays w/ girls at recess....

I asked his teacher,

"so ---- not that this is a HUGE deal, however - does Andrew associate w/ boys in the classroom?"

she looked at me and laughed.

"YES!... in fact - I would never tell him this, but you see the boys look up to him. He is the role model in the class. The boys look to him for acceptance and leadership. When he does something - the boys (and girls usually) follow his lead. I have asked some of the kids in the class who are doing better in math to help some of those who are struggling. I have given Andrew one of the children who is struggling the most. While tutoring her I will catch him saying things like, "you can do this. I know you can." and " that was so great! You did awesome!" and "we're going to get this!! just keep trying!".

I almost wanted to cry. I would love to take full credit for that, and I suppose I can take some of it - and his dad too. However I think the majority of the credit would go to his big brother David, who you can hear telling Andrew "you did great!" "don't get frustrated...you can do it..... it just takes a lot of practice - but you'll get it!" and... "awesome job!".

This week - as my daughter and I had a heart to heart ---- I told her, "I am only honest with you because I consider you one of my very best friends." and it was one of those moments where you get that "ding!" --- it felt right... so very honest and true.

I hope it stays that way.

the journey has just begun.

This week --- David got a phone call from the stake young men's presidency asking him to play the piano for a stake young men's conference - where over 200 will be in attendance. (do you think they will allow me to attend?) The Young Men's General President will be speaking (I haven't told him this -- out of worry that it might send him into an exhausted moment of stress - turning into a lovely episode of epileptic take over)--- what an honor for our David. (praying that his body and mind will control his epilepsy.... he should do great)

This week --- Mike finished week 2 of teaching. He loves teaching. He is an amazing teacher.

This week --- I got an A on my first College Algebra test. so - I suppose for all the frumpy outer appearance my body has decided to take on, my mind is not as frumpy as it used to be. It's growing into something ---- and I am finding joy in that.

2012-02-02T22:58:00.000-08:00

Sydney Leigh brought this to my attention
with a small giggling response of:
"mom... this is PERFECT for you and me."
..........................
all right.
it's true.
there is a small reason as to why I have never made it on
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE.
that... and my age might have something to do with it.

a break from studying... only slightly:

2012-01-30T22:47:00.000-08:00

I can sit and analyze my work after the fact.....

when I send something off to the printers.

then: find a mistake I thought I forgot to get fixed.

cream letters instead of white.

oh well.

They all will know:

Joanie is NOT perfect.

flaws are what makes things.... spectacular, correct?

(ugh.)

..............................................................

today:

woke up.

finished invite

sent invite off to YW leaders for final touch ups (a.k.a.: anything wrong?)

got homework together + math to study @ work during free time

go to work.

get kids home.

home work,

study for math test.

get kids on with their homework.

***my stomach & I have a slight disagreement for about 45 minutes***

study.

listen to stories from Sydney Leigh & her day.

chat w/ Dave and Pudge..... "boys, Homework?"

chat with Mike online.

listen some more to Sydney's day... boys are tards.

she's getting over her first heart break....

(that was a hard to see my daughter cry over a silly boy....)

it's better to just be friends with boys.

(while I am cleaning the kitchen.... she is riding her ripstick in circles around me)

"boys are selfish, hurtful, funny, hot, etc........."

boys feel no regret at 14....

nor should you.

girl friends are awesome. and fun. and always there for you....

"boys are still awesome".

***texting is a dangerous thing...

don't say anything in a text that you wouldn't say in person.

"mom.... that's the whole point of texting!"

- I know this. so. trust your mother. she's kind of smart sometimes.-

(me: miss Syd, don't ruin a good friendship over a silly crush.

just be their friend. You are better than ~~them~~ that.

(& them- who are we kidding?)

remember this, my dear Miss Sydney Leigh)

do some laundry.

Mike brings home take out.

(you are the BEST!)

I feel my waste size increase 2 inches.

(it's worth it, right?)

I convince myself it's time to get up earlier to work out. again.

do more laundry.

My sweet Mike folds the laundry

while I do more math/history stuff.....

Dave is sweet and cleans up the mess that was dinner

finish history presentation.

study more for math test.

(kind of freaking out about math test)

send invite to printers.

print off history report.

print off math study guide.

.........................................................

wash face.

now. off to bed.

after I take my vitamins and stuff........

2012-01-27T14:00:00.000-08:00

Last night.
After working
then
After 3 hours of math.
one hour of doing Sydney's research online
leaving
coming home after my night class
finishing Sydney's homework (helping. online - google was our BFF, and my brother Scott)

while gathering for nightly prayers
Pudge hands me a small green envelope

and says, "here mommy, this will make your day!"
I remind him that he is NOT supposed to keep getting into my stuff
and that we need to start asking before just taking.

with a little gloom and (maybe a little) fake sorrow in his eyes
he proclaims:
"Well, aren't you going to open it!? - it will make your day!"

I did.

can you guess who that is?
I couldn't guess....

so I asked.
....................................................
mom! It's Huggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Jacccccccckkkkkkkkkkkman!
(ps... that photo is the size of a pinkie nail. no joke.)

It made my day that he thought of me.
:)

I'm going to be old and senile one day and my kids are going to start making up stories about my obsession with Hugh Jackman. So I'm telling you all now... they are all LIES! Lies I say!
(well, mostly.)

we have snow.

2012-01-23T21:33:00.000-08:00

We have snow.
I say that not in uppercase letters.

the Pudge has been anxiously awaiting snow.
Yesterday he came home from church
rushed in his room
and threw on his snow gear.....because he really wanted it to snow.
it was a lovely sunny semi-warm day. turned to cloudy day.
today.....
it snowed.
wet. thick. slippery snow.

(I am going to be so sad when my little partner grows up
and locks himself in his room to text and daydream.
When he decides that hanging out with mom is not cool any more....
taking naps is the cool thing to do.
THAT will be a sad moment in my life.)
.........................................................................................................
Miss Sydney Leigh
being kidnapped at 7am

by her church pals:
Leslie, Sydney, Lex, and Kaitlyn.
after she returned
we told her next time:
the rule is: you wake up my darling daughter too early
you get to keep her all day.

she loved it.
and that room......
oh that room.
I believe we need a little "re-do"
and clean up....
and maybe not have her use every single blanket in the house on her bed.
(THAT is where all my "cuddle on the couch blankets have gone missing to....Sydney's room)

2012-01-22T21:16:00.000-08:00

this note might have given me a small tear in the corner of my eye.

this little man of mine....
wouldn't trade him for the world.

(I especially adore the little "check the box" section.
and the little man at the bottom of the page.)

2012-01-22T21:02:00.000-08:00

this week...
while I am in the midst of doing my hours upon hours of mathematical equations
I get to put together a 5 minute presentation on Ronald Reagan.
I'm kind of excited about it.

some great Reagan quotes:

Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.

The Founding Fathers established a nation under God, ruled not by arbitrary decrees of kings or the whims of entrenched elites but by the consent of the governed. Theirs was the vision of a striving, God-fearing, self-reliant people living in the sunlight of justice and breathing the bracing air of liberty.

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.

There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.

the above and below... very funny)

"Honey, I forgot to duck." -to his wife, Nancy, after surviving the assassination attempt

2012-01-20T23:24:00.000-08:00

Dear Mike,
you + me = heart.

Dear Math,
you + me (does not =) heart.
I wish college algebra was as easy as drawing a perfect heart.
....................................................
I just spent over 4 hours on my college algebra.
FOUR long, brain hemorrhaging HOURS.
all the while
my children were relaxing - having family movie night....
my Mike was preparing his Accounting class................

they are all in bed, relaxing in their dreamland.
and now I'm off to bed
at midnight (and a half)
ready to relax in my dreamland (of functions and factors and graphs....)
so I can wake up at 6:45
to send my daughter off to a breakfast,( that she knows nothing about.)
who's going to be beastly tomorrow?

me?
Sydney Leigh?

.......................................................
good night dear math.
until tomorrow..........

to sum in up: papa Sid... LOOK what your son is teaching your grandkids to do!!!! ;)

2012-01-16T21:06:00.000-08:00

Sydney & her darling friend spent hours upon hours playing "dress up".
then took a walk around the neighborhood like this.
(p.s.: it was freezing cold outside. ?????)

the Pudge played dress up too...
as a hobo (? <--- that is what he said he was dressed up as.. I guess hobo's wear lots of layers of clothing and a scout shirt..... may I also add that he had on some incredibly short shorts, of which I made him go change out of because it was just a little too "WHAM!" for me....)

the Pudge begged and pleaded for "a little coke"
I gave in. to a little.

not a pleased little man....

so he helped himself to a "little" more.
stinker.

Saturday was absolutely lovely.

I was able to paint outside. (in January. In Utah! --- how's that for global warming!)

we were blessed w/ a brilliant sunshine.

no rain.

a tad bit of a winter breeze,

but not to be outdone by the strong warmth coming from the bright rays of sunshine.

then today. Monday.
we took the children to the Imax
it snowed.
large. icy. windswept. snow.

tonight.
after a round of JUST DANCE 3
(where mom was ejected from the game because she kept beating everyone.)
... I'm not bragging... just telling you how it was.

the kids put on a dance for us.
which apparently they have been doing for a while.
1. I'm sexy and I know it.
(Pudge style)
2. A song by The Wiggles
(Do the Monkey)

"come on and jump to the front and back"

......oooh, oooh, ahh, ahh......

do the monkey:

do the elephant:

the tiger, tiger....
GROWL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you have now been thoroughly entertained by the White House.

.... back to the grindstone tomorrow.
school. work. a new semester .... Just thinking about it all makes me tired.

home again.

2012-01-13T21:42:00.000-08:00

tradition @ IHop.

don't we not look oh so very fancy in our "ride home" gear?

and... entertainment.

mmmmmm....that sucker looks oh so tasty.

we rushed home.

10+ hours.

so our Sydney Leigh could attend her very first church dance:

doesn't she look darling?

something's gotta give, or break, or swear.....

2012-01-12T22:54:00.000-08:00

Sunday, I woke up to Andrew's little hands wrapped around a page of the Friend Magazine.
in irritation I said, "Pudge. I have no idea what you are showing me".
"MOM! Hello! C.T.R. BREAD!!!!! RIGHT HERE! ----duh!"
then a sweet...."so...... can we make it as our rolls for dinner tonight?"
- who could so no to that?
so....
at 3. then 4. (trying to take a quick snooze here!). then 5.
mom.
mom.
now?
now mom?
mom.... we'd better start now.
mom.... we need to start now.

we started.
and our little man got his CTR soft pretzel with dinner.

soon after the masterpiece was completed
food was carefully placed on the table.
everyone had their "pretzel" picked out... salted, not salted, buttered......
I was reaching for a cake plate for the art that Pudge made for us:

2 cake plates.
(sadly)

My dejunking just got easier, a sad "yay" is my response to this.

......................................................

Monday.
Mike & I had asked the Pudge to help get his room clean.
We stepped out for a minute

when we returned we found Dave and Syd looking suspiciously quiet in the kitchen.
grinning.
Sydney chuckled.
"Pudge swore."
...... what?
Dave chimed in.
"yup. he said "hell" "
Mike --- (both of us laughing) --- what? seriously? why?

"He was cleaning his bedroom and knocked his big picture of Jesus off the dresser and said:
"OH GREAT! I MIGHT AS WELL GO SIT IN A DARK SPACE NOW SINCE I WILL BE
GOING TO HELL!". "

Mike: "where is he now?"
a LOT of giggling from Sydney Leigh: "he's hiding in the bathroom cupboard".

talk about a photo op!
maxi pads....
old mouthwash....
face wash....
Pudge......

we kindly (while maybe laughing a little)
asked our guy: "Pudge... what's the matter?"
"leave me alone!!!!" and "mom! don't take a picture!"
we then:
explained to the little man that just because he knocked over a picture of Jesus did not mean that he had a one way ticket to hell.
"just leave me alone."
so we did. letting him know to come out when he was ready.
and that he was in no way ---- in trouble with us or any one else.

a while later his face reappeared.
he tackled his dad.
he didn't go to hell.
all was well.

you ready for a lot of photos!??? introducing... the wind caves in eastern mesa area:

2012-01-08T22:30:00.000-08:00

valley of the Sun. two small reasons to fall completely in love with this place:

2012-01-04T21:20:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2011... Mesa AZ Temple.

2012-01-02T21:09:00.000-08:00

this is where Mike & I were sealed - way back in January of 1995.
David had just finished his 2nd round of chemotherapy and was written in the books to have a second surgery to remove what they thought was the brain tumor growing back.
We were sealed. the surgery was successful. life continued on.
18 years later....it still continues on.
someone seems to have pushed "fast forward" on us.

I got a new camera from my Mike for Christmas.
It's not too much for me to handle. I think. ok. I'm learning still.
I love it.
I'm so excited to learn more of the ins and outs.
In my great excitement, I have misplaced my old little camera.
Christmas eve and Christmas morning might end up being history stored in a special corner of our thoughts and memories.
(haven't given up yet though. it will reappear. I am sure of it)
...................................................
Now that the New Year is upon us
I have mentally designed my "supposed progress" for 2012.
baby steps were made this last year to push me towards my goals

walls were slowly worked on being torn down.
leaving the outcome being that I am more open and forthcoming...
he is more accepting of my opinions,
which sometimes becomes defined as: you have your thoughts and opinions, I have mine.
Let's leave it at that and carry on.

And the decision of mine: to not get involved in politics.
More correctly:
to discuss politics lightly. Laugh it off. carry on.
and politicians: let's be honest here: they are all incredibly dishonest
yes (mother). I will vote.
I just won't discuss it too much.
will keep it on the down low.
(haha) who are we kidding... I always keep it on the down low.
Michael White.... you should have been an attorney.
(love you babe.)

I am closer to what I want to obtain in the course of my life
(though still indecisive)
and in the process of that - I have learned that my family is the number one thing of value in my life.

so as I continue the process of dejunking
or simplifying my life
I have come to the realization that
a: I was not as talented as I thought I should be....
b: crafting is something I can do personally, but lay off the professional aspect of it.
c: my children are much more important to me than a simple craft that will soon be out of style.
d: I do need to get rid of everything... because my valued time away from school/work/church calling should be with my family - not venturing out on selfish ideas that will only produce a mess and a slight attitude of "let mom be". family first.
e: sometimes, I had an incredibly low self esteem because I was not as good as another person thought they were.... and thus, instead of making my self worth disappear into the oblivion, I will build up my self worth in a way that will not only educate me but make me a better version of "me", not who others see me as being, but as I see myself as being. No more comparing myself with others who only want to make sure that they are the best.... I can only be the best ME.

so as for 2012:

I will attempt:
1. get past college algebra (yikes!)
2. balance life in a manner that I can fit in both school work & spirituality.... that's hard for me.
3. be more consistent
4. make family home evening a priority
5. find out what I want to be when I grow up - special ed? Health Services Administration?

tonight. we started family home evening again
with the task put upon my Children to help me be more organized.
we had Pudge take notes.
we talked about the family being more unified and more organized.

and I read this to my family.

Inspirational Thoughts

The Church

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stands unique before the world. It was brought into being by the appearance of God the Eternal Father and the risen Lord, Jesus Christ, to a boy whose mind was not clouded with the doctrines of other churches and with the philosophy of the world. His mind was pure. His outlook was clear. And he could accept the revelations which came to him from the Almighty. So, following that first great vision about which I hope every one of you has read, there came other manifestations of the power of God—the Book of Mormon, as another witness of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the holy priesthood, which gives to every worthy man the authority to speak in the name of God. There is nothing upon all the earth to compare with this Church” (meeting, Praia, São Tiago, Cape Verde, 22 Feb. 1998).

Education

“It is so important that you young men and you young women get all of the education that you can. The Lord has said very plainly that His people are to gain knowledge of countries and kingdoms and of things of the world through the process of education, even by study and by faith. Education is the key which will unlock the door of opportunity for you. It is worth sacrificing for. It is worth working at, and if you educate your mind and your hands, you will be able to make a great contribution to the society of which you are a part, and you will be able to reflect honorably on the Church of which you are a member. My dear young brothers and sisters, take advantage of every educational opportunity that you can possibly afford, and you fathers and mothers, encourage your sons and daughters to gain an education which will bless their lives” (meeting, Hermosillo, Mexico, 9 Mar. 1998).

What a great man is was.

Here's to goals for the New Year.

New Year... New Beginnings... Old Photos found...

2012-01-01T19:53:00.000-08:00

the realization from the photos:

1. my friend Tami captures great moments

2. time flies by at an amazing rate

3. I miss squeezing my little babies

4. we need to diet.

the reason he's named: the Pudge

so young. all of us.

the men in my life.

Sydney Leigh taking care of her sweet baby brother. angel.

angelic.

the 3 muskateers. darling.

not that I'm biased, but is that not the cutest little guy? adore these little ones.

they grow up so fast.

and leave.

true colors showing. especially my sweet little girl. THAT is my true Sydney Leigh.

2011-12-23T21:49:00.000-08:00

In Arizona
for Christmas.

It's lovely here.
always is.

Clean.
Warm.
Sunny.

I long for the Joy of the season to ring through.
through myself. my children. my husband.

I am a little excited to go listen to a choir of carolers on Christmas day.

So as tradition has allowed....
we are in Arizona.
Christmas can now....
sink. in.

2011-12-20T10:41:00.000-08:00

took Sydney in to the doc last friday for a check up.
since she is deathly afraid of needles
we did the flumist......
she was throwing up by Saturday night.

yesterday.
relived the doc episode w/ the Pudge.
did the mist
last night....
nausea. no vomit.
today... nausea.

I was not informed that it would cause them to throw up.

google.
(everyone's bff)

Are there side effects with FluMist?

Some side effects may occur with FluMist, including a runny nose, headache, wheezing, vomiting, muscle aches, and fever in children. In adults, side effects may include a runny nose, headache, sore throat, and cough. It is uncommon for adults to have a fever with FluMist. FluMist does not cause the flu.

and...

it is advised that you get it a second time for it to work.

seriously?!!!

word of advice: do Not get the flumist.

my poor kids.

18 years and counting!

2011-12-18T21:37:00.000-08:00

about 14 years ago

I was going into labor.
a lot changes in 14 years.
even more in 18 years.
we have had many ups
and possibly more downs
which have only made us stronger
have made me more determined
have made you more understanding.
love you goof

Andrew's favorite thing.. (for 2 days)..... his cool glasses. He took photos of us, secret videos.... I just found these on my computer. Apparently he downloaded all of these onto my computer. haha.<-----{Sydney insisted that I put "haha"}

2011-12-14T20:21:00.000-08:00

.................................................................

now for the

"story of the day"

I was standing in my kitchen tonight

minding my own business...

oh wait.

actually

slaving over dinner for my wonderful dear family

while chatting with miss Sydney Leigh about a certain boy

and something that was mentioned to me by someone else

about the "very friendly" relationship w/ my cutie, and this boy.

{who happens to be a very cute/nice boy... we just aren't going there for a few more years. 10}

she asks me: "mom. don't you trust me?"

me: "I truly do. If you say you are just friends, and you just have a crush on him, but are friends with a lot of boys and it's not going further than that.... I totally believe you."

her: "no you don't"

me: "I do. I trust you and know you wouldn't lie to me.

Until I find out you do. Then we have a major problem on our hands - all trust slips out the door. "

her: (after an extended long pause)

"I don't lie to you. .....thinking... thinking... thinking. Hey. You're not going to go to the store w/ your hair like THAT... are you?"

me: "SYDNEY!". (as I'm giggling... in more of a "I'm totally shocked you just said that" manner)

her: "you could. You just might make it on the "PEOPLE OF WALMART" website is all.

... did you see that? I was being honest with you. see! I'm totally honest!"

brutal. honesty.

that's how we do it at the White House

{apparently}

a little catching up to do... from November. don't be jealous of the quality of the photos. Cell phones do not produce amazing photos. ;)

2011-12-13T21:50:00.000-08:00

2011-12-13T07:08:00.000-08:00

after taking both my finals in one day
{and looking quite .... tired? worn? done!
I came home to this scene.....

Hot Cocoa
Cupcakes ... from the Cupcake Fairy. Yummy!
Hats
Horns
Congrats Banner

thanks family!
You're amazing!
..............................
one semester down.....
a LOT to go.

2011-12-06T21:32:00.001-08:00

.....Reminded me of Sydney Leigh today

......Reminded me of David today

......Reminded me of the Pudge today

2011-12-05T21:01:00.001-08:00

{this photographer captures amazing moments w/ her lense!}

*sigh*

in one week I will be throwing my relieved body onto my welcoming couch.
2 finals will have been taken.
2 classes will be added onto my check off list.
I'm not sure if I will be in tears, laughing like an insane maniac, or just cuddling up to my Mike.
I'm not even positive my brain will be in full function mode or complete.... STOP mode.
(all over just 2 classes..... sad.)

It has been a busy past 2 weeks.
I have been a letter writer ....
I have become an avid letter writer
when it comes to defending myself.
I have written, stuffed, sent off.
I have been forced to defend myself...
I have been chastised for living my life
I have been wrongly accused...
and it feels so good to speak up... in the written form
(verbally and I - we are not friends. we are enemies. my thoughts - coming out of my mouth = disaster. false communication is what that is. false and a jumbled up mess)
it feels good to feel justified, to know my feelings were .... well put and well said, and that I was able to get my point across in a (hopefully) kind, yet factual manner.

it's done.
I feel a sense of energy and confidence.

I have loved my job this semester.
I work w/ some of the greatest people.
I work w/ some amazing - funny - charismatic children.
I have one of the greatest examples at work... a "boss secretary" and her "sidekick secretary."
I have a dear friend at work - who understands where I come from (mentally - yes, she knows I am a complete dork, and yet --- laughs and joins me in my comedic stupidity as we conquer all the worlds problems on our own... our way -which would never work out, yet they seem so sensible!)
I work with some of the funnest/funniest women - with amazing sense(s) of humor.

and I have amazing friends away from work
I have my lovely sisters
I have my "little friend" (as my Mike likes to call her) who will stay out w/ me til 2 am laughing w/ our girls (ok, at our daughters) and with whom I can chat up a storm w/ about nothing... and everything... and sigh.... because I don't have to be or say or do anything that isn't me.

so many who have helped me get back into the game of "brain stretching"

School has given my brain a tweaking
a good adjustment
as I would cry in the beginning (every day... sometimes more like an embarrassing bawling)
Mike would hug me and say,
"it's just your brain stretching..... it will become so much easier in time. just give it time"
Mike.... (jot this down. take notes. a picture. copy/paste....)
You were right.
however:
give me a week of stress and tears, because they may be your ~~best friend~~ enemy for a few days.
then.
poof.
just like that, gone for a few peaceful sighing weeks.

all this said and done.
I feel more confident in me.
(until I dive back into college algebra, because they are making me retake it.... imagine that! after 20 years... those devils!)

so -- magic wishing ball.
I wish
with all my heart
a growing brain
a calm Christmas break
a sense of self... worth
a calm heart
a strong sense of confidence
a growing brain full of knowledge

...................as I will continue deciding: "what do I want to be when I grow up?"

2011-11-23T10:42:00.001-08:00

2011-11-22T20:53:00.001-08:00

2011 "spooky train" ride.

this year has been a bit busy.

and life didn't slow down for Halloween.

we snuck in this one tradition.

and...
dinner....

the

end.

2011-11-16T21:37:00.001-08:00

2011-11-15T22:15:00.001-08:00

okay creative ones...
or thinkers...............
for my History final project
I have to make some kind of a collage
of the early America's
yr. 0 - 1865.
I love the idea of the above photo...

isn't there some quote about
America.... being a giant fish bowl?
hmmm...?????
if so, help
if so, this would be something to ponder:

however, w/ people.
not fish.

when she said :collage
I was thinking:
kindergarten stuff.

then she told us about previous collage's.
ouch.

there are some clever folks out there

a digital collage - basically a slide show
a 3D collage - they made a giant rubix cube
etc.......

going for clever
and "adult like".

looking for suggestions.
please feel free to add yours.

lots of love,
me. ;)

2011-11-08T22:20:00.000-08:00

things I love:

1. even though I have gone incognito, my sweet friend Sarah still asks me: ARE YOU READY FOR A GOOD READ YET?... and when I reply: sadly. no. she reassures me that she has got a list for me to read as soon as this semester ends.

2. I get to see and spend one on one time with each of my kids, even in a hectic life's schedule.

3. Mike and I have more "educated talks".
(hahaha) ok. kidding. except he did completely enjoy the "new religion" I learned about in my history class... new to me, old to the world. Oneida. a man's dream. a woman's self esteem -either major killer or major booster. (thank heaven's that one has been ripped off the map)

4. That I have reached an age of "I don't care to hang out w/ catty women."
......THAT is a great feeling.

5. My "work" friends - who make me laugh, almost cry, and to whom I can say anything in front of or to...and all judgement ceases to exist. Just plain understanding bound w/ a sarcastic remark.
(I cannot forget to mention our 2 secretaries. a.k.a.: personal "mental" therapist/advice givers/psychologists. (which would be a "mental" therapist.)

6. My chats w/ Miss Sydney Leigh after school. She tells me just about everything.
(well, sometimes she leaves out her grades...)

7. My impromptu "dinner dates" with my Mike.. when we happen to be on the same freeway @ the same time after school/work. Love my time w/ him in this life of insanity. and love that he cleans, cooks, washes, folds, and gets things done when I am not there be "mom".

8. that I am currently sitting next to a space heater - in my bedroom. while Mike is sitting on our bed, w/ a standing air conditioner blowing cool air on him..... I'm hot. he's cold... :) wait, is it the other way around? no. can't be. ......

and..... I especially LOVE LOVE LOVE this quote:
(which completely coincides w/ all the above statements)

“1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.”
― Miguel Ruiz

and... the cool air has put my Mike to sleep. Time to shut off my hot air and join him.
p.s... I am not full of hot air, I was speaking of the personal heater next to me!

no regrets.....

2011-11-03T22:29:00.000-07:00

I forget where I found this image.

however...

it's perfect.

No Regrets.

Instead of a book titled

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL

I hope that some day

my book will be titled

THAT WAS WONDERFUL

no regrets.

follow my heart and mind.

do what my heart tells you to do.

I can't go wrong.

School is

hard. stressful.

empowering.

2011-10-31T22:36:00.000-07:00

just quick for Grandma & Pa...
HALLOWEEN!!!

Dave was the "Invisible Man"
he had the honor of staying home and handing out candy.
which he enjoys immensely
plus.... full control of the TV remote.
a young man's dream.

I didn't get very many pictures of miss Sydney Leigh.
she was having a sad night... her friends stood her up - girl's can be so unkind. :(
she had a great time @ the school dance, however. :)
and looked adorable!
she had a rough week last week w/ "friends"
so Saturday night I surprised her w/ a night out
we met up w/ her BFF, Miss McCall
and mine, Kam
I don't think 2 little girls can make me laugh more than these 2.
Jr. high girls are mean. it makes me sad for her.
it's hard ---
so glad she has little Miss McCall.... (even though she & Kam live too far away)

The Pudge was out partying it up tonight from 5:30 to 8:00
he said he weighed his bag of loot
5 lbs.
---- that's almost a full Pudge!
He had a blast.
(and a quick note... kept me company in my empty bed while My Mike was out of town... he only woke me up a few times each night to the grinding sound of his teeth....
~~ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh~~uuuuuuuuugggggggggggghhhhhhhhh

Me.....
I changed my costume idea about 10 times.
Each time receiving a "serious, mom? Really????!!!!"
from Miss Sydney Leigh, and sometimes Andrew.
So....
the fancy cat it was.
Which I still received a: "mom. you're a dork. you know that, right?"

no. I. am. not.

today
I had work til 2
then rushed home after a run to Costco.... in full costume
washed the melting nose and whiskers off my "cat's face"
ran (ok. drove, then ran) to class (math.)
rushed home (took me almost an hour)
rushed to find the Pudge - already out w/ Aunt Kaylene and Roman.
and then walked w/ him for 1.5 hours.

Fun!

the weather was lovely
felt like AZ.... for about 30 minutes. then the sun went down.

now.
off to bed --- (wait, who am I kiding?)
off to study for my History exam.
10 chapters of History.
prayers? yes, please.

Life is ... a work in progress

and Papa Sid.
We love you oh so very much.
Many prayers, thoughts, prayers, and love continuously flowing your way from our hearts.
Love you! You are an amazing man!

2011-10-17T21:55:00.001-07:00

2011-10-16T20:14:00.001-07:00

2011-10-13T22:08:00.000-07:00

this is me...
this was me today
when I got to school.....
when I had a brain vacation @ school
right before and right through my math midterm.

it was like I was lost
in a mist of ..... blurrrrrrrrrr

I am not sure what was going on.
My brain was in "shock" mode.
I'm not sure why.

now I'm left feeling upset with myself

frustrated beyond belief....

feeling numb.

I was doing SO WELL

I got one thing in my mind, and went with it.
it was the wrong direction - completely.

as soon as I shut my car door after my test
everything I had learned (minus 1 particular math problem... ugh)
came pouring back into where it belonged

as if the dam in my brain finally let loose
and my mind was flooded w/
the whole entire world of algebraic theories i had already known....
which for one hour were blocked from my frontal lobes (or where ever they are supposed to be hanging out)

I think I am losing my mind.
and the worst part....

feeling like a failure.

when I have been doing so amazingly fantastic.

I think I'll go mope some more now.
*sad*

Mike is hijacking the blog....

2011-10-12T17:31:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! It's my pleasure to fill you all in on the latest Joan story I like to call "Joanisms". Last night Joan and I went to have a relaxing dinner away from the kids and to enjoy some time together (which we're not able to do a lot of right now). On our way home Joan told me an unfortunate story about a man who was injured on a mountain bike ride. She said, "He went riding on a steep trail without a helmet. He started going down, picked up too much speed, lost control, and went down head first. It left him a paralegal." Laughing hysterically I said, "Do you mean it left him a 'paraplegic'?" Joan started laughing also at this point so I knew that was what she had meant.

So any of you that are looking to fast track your way in becoming a Paralegal just go out for a nice, steep mountain bike ride and don't wear your helmet!!

LOVE YOU HONEY!!!!!!!!!!

2011-10-11T23:04:00.000-07:00

in taking history (before 1877)
I have come to the acknowledgement
that the story of our founding fathers
is not nearly as "romantic" as I initially thought.....

it's actually quite - the opposite

and even though I know what happens with the issue of slavery

is it crazy of me
that as the banishment of slavery is mentioned
in different sections of this reading material
(in which I paid way too much for)
that I get a little excited
thinking that maybe history will rewrite itself
and our forefathers will realize the mistake they had made
and they will rid of the insanity that was slavery
and that nasty tidbit of our past will just vanish
to be forever forgotten because it only happened for a minute
and then......
I carry on in my reading....
and realize - it won't happen yet.
and ????
the unromantic vision I have of our forefather's carries on

wasn't our past supposed to be about
Turkey's with the Native American's
ball gowns
white wigs
happy settlers
winning an easy war against England
and France

peace and prosperity???

I'll stop now......

p.s.
if you think about it. or if you don't
BUY THE HELP
it's amazing!

midterms this week.
wish me luck.

(guess I should actually hit the pillow at a decent hour)
..........................................speaking of. yawn............

2011-10-07T20:54:00.000-07:00

what warms the heart?
hot hot hot chocolate.
..................................
after 2 days of below 40 degrees weather
my sweet friend, Marja, brought me & the other 3 ladies "babysitting" outside
hot chocolate.
You're so awesome, Marja!
(and you looked so comfy. come back to work. I miss you.}

ps. this was taken at noon. it was so gloomy and dark. perfect hot chocolate weather.... though sitting under a blanket, reading a book or snoozing would have been preferable. ;)

homecoming....

2011-10-06T21:09:00.000-07:00

David went w/ his cute friend, McKenzie.
He had a blast.
first homecoming
first date

Nellie kept trying to get them to relax,
smile
......................
do you think they were a little uncomfortable?
so cute.

I am totally confused as to the whole event of

"homecoming"

in AF.

no corsage

no football game the same weekend

no fancy dinner......????????

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR YOUTH?????!!!!!

someone needs to bring back "proper dating etiquette"

GOOD NEWS!

2011-09-27T07:17:00.000-07:00

GOOD NEWS!
hold on to your baskets!!!!

My ever so BRILLIANT children have apparently discovered a

money tree

in our back yard!!!!!!!!!.

going out to investigate.................

be right back.......

{stay tuned.}

2011-09-26T23:15:00.000-07:00

I'm dying to make time stand still.....

Life has just become incredibly insanely busy.

so... until I have time to upload photos: words will fill in.

David
went to homecoming.
he had a blast.
his first date.
he went with a close friend, and some other teens... who need a good explanation as to what home coming is and how to treat your date.... a loaf of bread w/ ham slices does not constitute a nice dinner.
he prevailed and loved his night. (yay!)
(thank you photograper Nellie... wish the other couples had a clue as to "proper dating etiquette...
.................... Louisiana could teach them a thing or 2)

Sydney Leigh
is loving school
has gone to 2 football games
wants her hair dyed dark. (?)
loves her friends
loves her cooking class
has been a GREAT help while I am at school

Andrew
has asked me to PLEASE not call him "pudge" @ his soccer games
had this conversation w/ me the other day:
"mom. I REALLY wish you would quit college."
when I asked why, he replied,
"because I don't want you to stop working @ my school. I like seeing you there - don't you like working @ my school? why would you ever want to leave? and plus, I don't get to see you very much any more,"
broke my heart. :(
he loves his teacher
is always ALWAYS wanting a friend over.
wants to spend $60 on his halloween costume. (not happening)

Mike
is also very VERY insanely busy
is continuing his masters in HR
starts teaching at the Univ. of Phx. next week
has been my cheerleader
has listened to me stress out
has held me while i have spent more than enough time bawling
has been awesome.

Me
busy
crying
laughing - so I don't cry
working
mothering
schooling
I was gone all day today. My first huge history test on 5 chapters.
my dinner beforehand:
snickers bar, pepsi (because they didn't have coke) and an excedrine.

and dear Marja, yes..... I took another excedrine haha...... I needed to stay awake. and now it's 12:12 and I am STILL awake.
maybe a mistake????)

still working on "what I want to be when I grow up"
wish someone would just tell me
that would work out well....

Pictures of Dave's homecoming soon enough.... sorry grandma white & B
soon.
very soon I will get a hang of this whole school thing.
and then life will continue on

word to the wise.
don't take math and history together.
busy.
very busy.

2011-09-16T22:21:00.000-07:00

2011-09-09T14:18:00.000-07:00

school - school - school - school - school w/ some food

2011-09-01T21:41:00.000-07:00

the happenings here....
first day of school.
Pudge was excited to see a friendly face
{then realized that over 1/2 of his classmates are good friends of his--- yay!}

Sydney has her cute friend, Casey, with her on the bus this year.
JOY!
no more boys trying to hold her hand/flirt/etc....
{right miss Sydney Leigh! -- arms distance!}

David is jumping right into school work....
and even signed up for PE.
which has caused a lot of fuss over at the school
PE = seizures = nervous folks = calls to mom = :(
he wants to be normal - and be a "real boy".

I began classes on Monday
(2 tests down... many to go - still breathing, so that's good)
Mike began a new semester tonight
(he has been my rock! he has gone over board w/ kindness! You're awesome babe!)

we are a busy family.

and...
after watching too many episodes of "Man VS Food"
the Pudge asked Mike if he could make up his own sandwich
and serve it for dinner....

*drum roll please*

love this boy.
and his funny sister.
and kind brother.

and amazing dad.

back to school

2011-08-28T19:55:00.000-07:00

"You educate a man; you educate a man.
You educate a woman; you educate a generation."
— Brigham Young

Going back.
Tomorrow.
Our kids are in for a BIG shake up in our life.

Breathe.... Just Breath.

and I am NOT Billy Madison!!!!

lesson on service

2011-08-27T23:20:00.000-07:00

little brother = awesome!

2011-08-24T21:21:00.000-07:00

part of the process of going back to school at an old age
is taking part in a "math placement" test.
known by other's as
complete hell.

Monday - instead of taking life easy the day before the kids headed back to their appropriate by age math classes, I taxied myself to UVU to take on math - in a test form.

I called my awesome brother Brian (up top there) and asked for his advice -
he had finished his degree at UVU after taking THE test..
his advice:
I thought I was doing awesome! The questions got easier and easier.
After I completed the test - I told the person working there "that was easy! the questions started out difficult, but got easier as I went along!"
- they informed me that
the worse you are doing, the easier the questions get.
OUCH!
I was laughing so hard I was almost crying.....
{or was it I was already almost crying but he made me laugh? I forget}

After driving past the testing center 5 times and calling for directions - being told that there are signs leading to the testing center all over the place - and plenty of parking

I stopped to get formal directions from an official employee who pointed me in the right direction - even letting me know that it's the gray trailer like building on the south side of the road w/ a tree lining sidewalk leading up to the double doors welcoming you into the testing center.
{do you think he was concerned for my lack of direction?} and then informed me I could park across the street in the student parking lot because school is not in session - making it possible to park ticket free.

(apparently... STUDENT SERVICE CENTER is the new language used for TESTING CENTER. something that us older folks must have missed out on in the "new modern language" dictionary of terms. hmmm....???????????)

After being given instruction by a 19 year old boy - I followed a few other young beings into the testing center where I was sat at a computer - and............. began.

The first part went on and on..... I felt as if I was practically guessing part of the time.
This test ended - prompting me to carry on. (YES!)...
apparently the test now starts out easy, then if you do well you go into the next grade level.
I was breezing through this 2nd test when after only a few questions, the test shut down.

an hour and a half after walking into the "testing center", I turned in my test
(having the young lady look @ me like I was from another planet)
& climbed into my hot car -

scores in hand - and called Brian, who laughed with me (I love you Brian) and then said,
"well - @ least you know you are as dumb as I am".
Then added more comforting words only a hilarious sarcastic little brother can add -
making you feel like a prized sister rather than a brainless woman.

While driving and feeling the love...., I noticed - flapping in the wind, a parking citation stuck between my window shield and wiper blade.

3 words.
cherry. on. top.

......................................................................
the next day:
I parked in the 'PAY AS A VISITOR' parking lot
Upon leaving the fountain of youth that must be going on at UVU
I stopped to pay my parking lot fee - to have the 19 year old male - while turning his eyes in my direction say cheerfully, "what's up!".....
upon quickly realizing that I am not 20 (I refuse to say "an older woman") he promptly corrected himself and while subtly clearing his voice said,
"OH! I mean.... helllllloooooo!".
*sigh*

today it was a young man w/ red hair and a strange thing that looked like a large mustache growing off his face (seriously? gross!) just smile as if to say, "hello m'am".

.......................................................................
for your extra information:
colleges need a woman in the real world to help them be more organized
{mainly - a woman w/ kids who has to be organized}
their internet resources are not user friendly

& I am old. {er}

as for the white house kids:
they are in school.
I love my job thus far this year.
Dave is happy and excited for his junior year.
Syd gets to see her crush in the hallway which = complete JOY.
Pudge gets to see me.... .. ... .. he loves school - and loves his social life there.

back - again

2011-08-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

note: patience

2011-08-18T00:22:00.000-07:00

2011-08-15T23:08:00.000-07:00

I have been reading up a storm as of late.
I don't know if I am just relaxing the brain
{attempting to - possibly failing a bit}
or just trying to get as much in during this last week of summer break
until the whirlwind of life picks up again
leaving little time to day dream, day read, or day relax.

Mike & I ran to Barnes and Nobel last weekend
after viewing a much wasted 2 and a half hours of TRANSFORMERS
{waste of movie $}
so I could pick up a silly YA novel.

I couldn't find it, yet felt a little silly asking the employee to look it up for me
remembering that I had a daughter - and son just at the right age
I convinced myself that if asked... or balked at
I could shrug my shoulders and announce
"it's for my daughter"

the attendant was kind enough to saunter off - with a smile
and with out judging

she brought back a copy just for me.

On my way to the little ladies room
I giggled as I approached Mike,
shoving the book into his hands, folding them up to his chest for him
I warned him to not look @ the cover...
I'd be back.

As I was leaving his side
I could hear him....
laughing. wickedly. teasingly.
@ me.

it's a mindless read.
really.
something to keep me...
happy.

3 books.

in one week.

I don't regret it one bit.

next time I may send Mike alone...

to buy me this:

October 4th.
something to look forward to.
....................................................................................

the kids have been lazily doing nothing
playing a lot of DS games
David having 2 seizures in a week.

bringing me back to my reality of mom.

brain vacations can be good sometimes.

2011-08-13T14:36:00.000-07:00

My Sunday YW hand out
Lesson: Reading the Book of Mormon & applying it to your life
{or something like that}

"My dear young friends, perhaps the Lord’s encouragement to “open [your] mouths” might today include “use your hands” to blog and text message the gospel to all the world! But please remember, all at the right time and at the right place." Dieter F. Uchtdorf

feel free to copy the above for your own use...{if you so please.}
have i voiced my love for photoshop as of late? I heart ps!

2011-08-10T23:08:00.000-07:00

now...
if you know me
you know that I attempt... and fail
at being a healthy eater.
I have gotten better, I really have
{click on any of the photos/titles and it will take you to the appropriate link}

Brook sent me this link
about diet sodas... among other things
I KNEW they were gross for a reason!

The quick answer: America’s love affair with diet drinks was a big mistake. Our recipe for better health: water, on the rocks, with a slice of lime.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Heard of the Ornery Rule? My invention, I confess, but it says you can count on someone finding the stuff you like the most . . . to be unhealthy. Like sugar. We’ve taken on America’s love for sugar—excess sugar is our single biggest health problem—with these Healthy Changes:

#1 If you consume sodas or other sugared drinks, limit yourself to one (12 oz.) serving per week.

#3 Cereal products must be made of whole grains, and have more grams of natural fiber than grams of sugar.

#6 Drink lots of water; make it your main drink.

#8 Buy candy a piece at a time; never bring a box or bag of candy into the home.

#12 Enjoy a healthy mix of snacks by making a daily snack plate. (Because sugary snacks are often impulsive, this adds the virtue of premeditation to snacking.)

#25 Don’t skip breakfast. Start your day with a healthy breakfast rich in antioxidants with more fiber than sugar.

Non-sugar sugar?

A little history? In the beginning there was no sugar, just natural sweeteners like honey, By and by, someone discovered how to make sugar from cane and in the 1600s, colonies were established in the New World to meet the growing demand. Fortunes were built on the sugar trade. Even before the cotton plantations of the South, slaves were taken from Africa to the Caribbean to work the cane fields. In Europe, because sugar was so precious at first, it was usually sold in drugstores (apothecaries). As the effects of eating sugar became apparent, doctors began to warn of its dangers.

During this time there arose in France a lawyer turned food writer named Brillat-Savarin. In 1825 he composed the first important book on food, The Physiology of Taste. It became a classic and nearly two centuries later is still a good read. Brillat-Savarin observes how health concerns about sugar were met with the mindless rejoinder, “sugar hurts nothing but the purse.” A learned man even promised that, “if sugar should ever again be thirty sous a pound, I will drink nothing but eau sucree.” He wasn’t alone, which brings us to America’s love affair with sugar alternatives.

In 1890 it was discovered that saccharine gave the taste of sugar without the calories. Prescribed first for diabetics, it was approved for general use in 1958. Some remember it for launching Tab, the first big diet drink. With saccharine, it seemed, you really could have your cake and eat it too, if you didn’t mind the bitter aftertaste. Other artificial sweeteners followed: including cyclamates (no longer approved in the US); and aspartame (NutraSweet, or Equal), the most controversial of the sweeteners.

Coca-Cola, envying the popularity of Tab, responded with Diet Coke, which used aspartame. Launched in New York City in 1982 with a $100 million advertising campaign, Diet Coke was an immediate success and is now the #2 soft drink, after Coke. Not to be outdone, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, and Mountain Dew brought out diet versions. Again, as with sugar, a few doctors spoke out against the danger of artificial sugars but the temptation of both sweetness and slimness was irresistible.

Are diet drinks really healthier than sugar drinks?

This brings us to the big question: Are diet drinks healthier than sugary drinks? Long story short, diet drinks really are unhealthy, but in different ways. For example:

Preterm delivery risk: A 2010 Danish study found pregnant women who consumed one diet drink daily at 38% higher risk for preterm delivery. There was also a dose response: women who drank four per day had a 78% greater risk. No such risk was found for sugar drinks.
Metabolic syndrome: A nine-year study of 9714 people, age 45 to 64 years, reported in 2007, looked for dietary causes of metabolic syndrome (which we discussed here). High meat intake was found to be a significant risk but the big surprise was that diet drinks increased the risk 34%.
Osteoporosis: There is a longtime link between diet drinks and osteoporosis, but the exact cause remains unknown. Is calcium leached from the bones to buffer the phosphoric acid? Or, do soda drinkers just get less calcium from sources like milk? We haven’t figured it out yet, but perhaps it shouldn’t surprise us that research against highly profitable products doesn’t get funded.
Kidney stones: Where does the calcium lost from the bones go? Some winds up as kidney stones. An NIH study of kidney stones found two or more cola drinks each day double the risk for stones. As the most popular drinks, sugar or diet, are colas, urologists will be busy treating those painful stones. The calcium in your diet isn’t the problem—a 1993 study found calcium from food protects against kidney stones.
Stroke and heart attack: A U. of Miami study of 2500 Manhattan residents followed over 9 years found a 61% higher risk of vascular events (heart attack, stroke, or vascular death) for daily diet soda drinkers vs those who abstained. Even after controlling for known risk factors, a 48% greater risk remained.
Weight gain: There’s a bag-full of studies showing diet sodas add rather than reduce weight but this shouldn’t be news. Back in 1986 a study of 78K women ages 50-69 found nearly 2 pounds per year greater weight gain for women consuming artificial sweeteners vs. women who didn’t. A pound or two isn’t much, but multiply it by 28 years (since Diet Coke was introduced) and you’re looking at a big gain.

The problem of weight gain for diet soda drinkers was addressed in a Yalereview of prior studies. The conclusion was that artificial sweeteners reinforce the sugar desire, without satisfying it as regular sugar does. No surprise then that the national weight gain of recent decades parallels the growing use of artificial sweeteners—the more we eat, the more we want. Good for business, but bad for health.

There’s true irony here: Diet drinks—despite the marketing—don’t make us slimmer, what’s worse they introduce new health risks. We’ve been through the sugar binge, high fructose corn syrup, saccharine, and aspartame, and the bottom line seems to be that we must return to olden ways and recover our taste for flavors other than sugar, whether real or artificial. A little sugar is okay, but we've gone way past a little.

Healthy Change #31 reads much like our first Healthy Change:

Budget Wisdom: Americans spend about $12 billion yearly on soft drinks, I’m told. Drinking less bottled drinks, way less, and more good old water from your tap (well, after it runs through the charcoal filter) will save you money that can be better used to buy whole foods, as well as your health. Water on the rocks with a twist of lime—you can't beat it for value, convenience, or healthfulness.

Please comment: This is a challenge because diet drinks are tempting, especially for moms who want something to pick them up on busy days, which can be everyday. For this reason I’ve saved it until our 31^st week—after you’ve gained strength from the dietary improvements and extra exercise. If you’ve successfully cut back on diet sodas, please share your experience.

Need a reminder? Download our Healthy Change reminder card. Print and fold, then place in your kitchen or on your bathroom mirror to help you remember the Healthy Change of the week.

p.s.
Kamie
Marja
I think I might give up on my diet soda kick now.
plus... 2 months later... the scale hasn't budged.
{dang! and I really wanted a magic answer!}

2011-08-09T23:03:00.000-07:00

off we go again

2 weeks away.

{the kids --- they are going to be in for a rude awakening pretty soon! Love it! - not the early mornings, however. I am NOT a morning person. My morning glory consists of messy hair, crabby attitude, and lots of self prodding ---- "I won't be so tired if I'd just get out of bed. Come on Joan. One foot. Then the other... good job, now --- walk to the bathroom and begin your day"}

as for me:

do I

1. go back to be an elementary teacher

2. go back and maybe be a jr. high teacher?

3. go back and possibly consider nursing?

4. go back and be crazy and try something I love, but risk the whole world of competitiveness...

{never mind that I am too old to even begin the whole competitive business world - yikes.}

5. go back and ....... just take some classes to see what I really want to do.

either way.

I am bound and determined to do something new this year.

No more wondering.

I am bound and determined to find a home for us......

{why is it so hard. I'm just asking for something great with a "Joanie.. this is your new home" glittered sign out front. and for someone to not rip it out from under my feet.... that's not asking too much, right? My dear Mike, I'm not a dreamer. I'm a believer! I AM!!!! DON'T DISAGREE WITH ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (love you dearly)}

...........................................

............................................

White family.
slowly but surely photos will come for you.

2011-08-08T21:41:00.000-07:00

this might be one of my favorite chocolate deserts
w/ a ball of vanilla bean ice cream melting on top.
yum. yum. yum. yum. yum.

12 TBL butter, melted

1 Cup caster sugar (I put sugar in my blender to make it fie)

1/3 Cup brown sugar

3 eggs

1 1/4 Cups plain flour (I use 1/2 wheat - 1/2 regular flour, makes me feel as if I might be making it healthy..... ha. ha. ha.)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 Cup cocoa

I put about 1/4 a cup of dough in small glass cups (tea cups) that I collect from thrift stores.

These are put on a jelly roll baking dish
cooked in a pre-heated oven {350} for 15 - 20 minutes

wah lah!

add whipped cream, ice cream, strawberries, bananas, or anything your heart desires.

YUM!

{and totally good for you! because I use some wheat flour.}

2011-08-06T23:00:00.000-07:00

My excuse for inexcusable driving after dark is always exhaled as
"they must be a little tipsy"
to which Mike undoubtably replies:
"yes. because Utah County is full of rowdy wiley drunks"

we may have witnessed a horrific accident tonight...
brought on by one of these hooligans.
{thanks to quick thinking by the person almost hit & my Mike's wild driving skills... all was well}

soon afterwards we pulled into the grocery store parking lot
drunkards must have been looming in the open spaces of my thoughts.....

we filled our cart
visited the cheese lane - xtra sharp cheddar, last on the list
found check out stand 6 --- ready to service our groceries.
we loaded our items - setting out our 2 gallons of milk onto the treading checkout top last.
I grabbed the divider stick and set it sweetly down --

feeling of the large presence standing a little too close to comfort for me

I thought for sure.
drunk
has to be.

I turned because I was in fact... not curious enough as to why this man forgot to fix his unruly hair, and why he had all his grocery possessions in a small cardboard box....
he was Gary Busey's identical twin. In a yellow Jimmy Buffet button down shirt.
as I turn, this man implies of me and Mike:

"are those all of your items?

"yes"

then... he grabs one of my precious gallons of 1% and sticks it on his side of the bar.

{shock. wonder. ......... oh yah. he's drunk}

I grabbed my milk and retaliated with awe,
"um. that's ours"
inside thinking:
HE WASN'T GOING TO TAKE MY MILK!
I don't care if he IS Gary Busey or his twin!!!!
I am learning to speak up!!!!
I will not be taken advantage of!!!

he burst out laughing. "I've always wanted to do that! I had to do it while my wife was still gone, she gets so mad at me when I do stuff like that!"

a tad embarrassed.... I just laughed and apologized.
my Mike was snickering... telling mr. bleached hair, "that's a good one!"
{ok. it was. but seriously, sir. You looked like a Gary Busey mug shot. teeth, hair, body language.....}

then.... he said, "YOU DIDN'T EVEN PAY FOR IT YET AND YOU WERE GETTING ON TO ME!"
as he continued roaring w/ amusement @ my cost.

...................................................
I turned a minute later to see him exchanging places with a darling lady dressed in classy clothes, lovely black hair pulled back into a ponytail.
I waited for him to return - I was going to say something smart to his wife.
Maybe comment on.............
nothing.
because that's how my brain works in those type of situations.
nothing.

as I climbed into the car, laughing @ myself - I told Mike
"I did have one comment I was going to say....."
"I was going to say, "back off Gary Busey!!!"
Mike (maybe a little shocked that I came up w/ that on my own) said;
"oh, that would have been great!"
THAT would have been great.... or would have gotten me smacked down.

see.
exciting things CAN happen in Utah county.
sometimes.

2011-08-05T21:42:00.000-07:00

this was a great movie.

LOVED it.

Laughed half of the time

smiled the remaining moments.

teased My Mike about the "unfortunate" clothing draped on Steve Carell's character

dyed laughing about the 'GAP' jokes.

{are we really getting old if we like the GAP - though it has disappointed lately. really. a lot of disappointing stuff}

left the theater telling Mike White

"ok. time for new jeans, my dear."

I think I might have offended him.

yikes!

but seriously.

the baggy slouchy 1990's gap jeans.

not cool.

even if they aren't gap... target... old navy... all the same.

{have I professed my undying love for you yet? love you dear}

Mike's response to this was,

"so if I don't change my stylish jeans,

are you going to run off with Kevin Bacon?"

no!

geesh.

he's a married man

(and might be looking more and more like skeletor every day.... I think he might benefit from some of this stuff i have growing on the backside of my body... and the hips... and the belly --- it's like a tumor!)

My Dear Mike... you're the only one for me.

so... jeans? please?

I love Steve Carell.

I believe Emma Stone might be my new favorite female actress.

a good laugh.

and most of all...

I kept thinking of my oldest brother, Scott

wearing the "skinny suit"

because he likes the look of the skinny suit

and wants to own a skinny suit.

Scott.

I love you so much.

do NOT buy a skinny suit.

Please.

I'm pleading.

do not do that to me. ~~us.~~ your wife.

2011-08-04T23:29:00.001-07:00

{& I am pretty sure that this one time, I spelled every word correctly. sigh.}

I love this quote.

so, for my sake - it has been added.

proper etiquette

2011-08-03T21:57:00.000-07:00

if you
Happen upon an ARC
do you deny it?
do you admit to it?
do you tell everyone how you absolutely LOVE the book?
{and then tease them.... because sharing is outlawed}

do you let your friends know that you give it 5 stars?
{but then they know how the 1st was your happy book....
which you read 5 times this year, because you needed it this year}

or

do you just stay quiet until the book is published?

2011-08-02T20:39:00.000-07:00

i was letting Nellie know I was in fact.. still alive
then later realized my miss print....
nice.

and this:

is my new {not so guilty} pleasure.
I was restless last night
so --- after attempting sleep
I opted to come out and watch an episode... or 2 ... or maybe 3
and stayed up until (yikes!) 2 am watching the drama unfold
{of which my Sydney Leigh "told" on me --- getting me into a bit of drama myself}
melting over the ladies clothes
dreaming of having "help" do everything for me
laughing inside over the choppy filmography that is Britishly known.
watch it!
I know you'll love it!
{maybe wait until January... season 2 isn't going to grace us with their ....
theatricals
until January.}

one more bit of ...
joy
in highschool for PE
I had the complete honor of wearing this fabulous frock.

cute. I especially adore the elastic on the legs
(which I don't recall... maybe mine didn't have them????)
the snaps
and the transparent fabric.
darling.

2011-08-01T19:24:00.001-07:00

here's the mail.....

2011-07-26T22:48:00.000-07:00

{link}

"Writing is for stories to be read, books to be published, poems to be recited, plays to be acted, songs to be sung, newspapers to be shared, letters to be mailed, jokes to be told, notes to be passed, recipes to be cooked, messages to be exchanged, memos to be circulated, announcements to be posted, bills to be collected, posters to be displayed and diaries to be concealed. Writing is for ideas, action, reflection, and experience. It is not for having your ignorance exposed, your sensitivity destroyed, or your ability assessed."
— Frank Smith

tonight as the news was humming in the back ground of the portrayal of life surrounding me
a report of more postal service offices being closed caught my attention.
I don't know where.
I don't know when.
sorrow ......
what a tragic world we will live in when mail is no longer a part of our afternoon duties.
My mother prefers the written statement rather than the typed & coded hints.....

for her children, grandchildren, or anyone who might attempt a conversation via the internet
her constant kind response is repeatedly:
"send me a letter in the mail."

there is almost something romantic and magical about a hand written letter.
someone took precious time to find a lovely piece of stationary
a blank unused envelope
lovingly scripted your name and address
and you - in this process - were worth the price of a stamp.
you were not cheap and free.... they spent a precious stamp on you.

there is something comforting and priceless about a letter.
someday. someday soon - a handwritten page of wishes, dreams, and thoughts
will be a distant memory....
something cataloged in the file of "nostalgia".

insomniac here.....

2011-07-25T23:59:00.000-07:00

this is where My Mike dreams of living.

it is lovely, isn't it?

Mr. Mike... you help my unsettled heart feel settled... & I will move almost anywhere....
{as long as we get good medical care, good schools, and a large window to flood the house w/ natural light..... I'm not asking too much, am I?}

food for thought... literally: {download to brain}

2011-07-22T10:04:00.000-07:00

FOOD IS NOT A TROPHY

Ever think (as we do!), I deserve a brownie for that? "Many women aren't comfortable tooting their own horn; eating is a quiet celebration," says psychologist Melissa McCreery, Ph.D., creator of TooMuchOnHerPlate.com. But the pleasure is fleeting and often followed by guilt and stress, which can trigger cravings and weight gain. "Pick a reward that will still seem like a prize the next day," McCreery says, such as putting money in your vacay fund.

DESERT IS BEST ON A FULL STOMACH

dang! so does this mean when I get that freebee that comes before the meal... a.k.a. the cookie at Paradise or the fortune cookie at PeiWei... I have to hold off until the end of the meal? well, that just makes NO sense. No sense @ all!

We eat it last for a reason: We're supposed to fill up on nutrient-rich food so we won't hungrily down a hunk of cake without thinking. Start with a bowl of vegetable soup, a filling habit that cut later calorie consumption by 20 percent in a study at Penn State University in University Park. Doubling up on a veggie side can satisfy you further, leaving room for a few bites of a treat but not enough to overdo it.

Manufacturers often shrink portions so they can make eye-catching claims such as lowfat on the box. But when was the last time you ate only seven potato chips? Eyeball the serving size. "If it's two tiny cookies, think, will I really stop after two?" says Leslie Bonci, R.D., director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. No? Move on to a single serving of something that will satisfy.

THE OXYGEN MASK RULE APPLIES TO EATING TOO

"So many women put all their time and energy into making sure their loved ones eat healthfully but then make bad food choices for themselves," says Marisa Moore, R.D., a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Witness the apple slices and organic peanut butter in your little one's backpack and the…well, nada that's edible in your bag. (Mints don't count.) While fixing your kids' snack or a whole-wheat wrap for your guy, take a minute to throw together an equally nutritious nibble for yourself, Moore says, such as a pear and 1 ounce of cheddar, or roll up a second wrap for yourself.

SWAYING IS FOR TREES

{this one happens to be my favorite.... and my downfall}

When a thin pal orders a big meal, her tablemates are likely to follow suit, the Journal of Consumer Research reports. Lock in your healthful choice, and when the waiter asks if everyone is ready, say, "I know what I want—mind if I go first?"

SPLURGES HAVE A SHORT SHELF LIFE

wait... this one is my downfall, for sure

Overdoing it on saturated fats (cheese, butter, beef) for three days straight may prime us to keep overeating, the Journal of Clinical Investigation indicates. "The excess fats might block the brain's ability to respond to hormones that tell us we're full," says study author Deborah Clegg, Ph.D. The occasional burger-and-grown-up-bevvies extravaganza is no biggie, but if you have an extended binge—vacation, long weekend—don't rely on your internal hunger cues when it's over. You may need to measure out portions for a day or two to cut fat and reset your hunger signals.

MENUS ARE EYE CANDY

"Cumin-Flaked Crispy Chicken" is still fried chicken, which you might normally skip. Descriptive phrases on menus make us 27 percent more likely to order a food, a study at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign finds. Before dining out, scan the menu online, ignoring adjectives. Settle on a lean protein and a veggie side, or a salad with a starter, which is usually half the size of an entrée.

"FREE" COMES W/ A PRICE

A food that's "free" of something you don't want (such as fat) probably has more of something else you also don't want (like sugar or salt) to replace the missing ingredient. Trade a nonfat treat for a real-deal one that doesn't make false promises and satisfies your craving.

ok... for sure. this one is my greatest enemy.

Before you reach for the stale bagel in the conference room or a cookie sample at the supermarket, ask yourself whether you truly want it. If not, skip it. Those spontaneous nibbles aren't making you happier or svelter. "We don't necessarily register these fly-by calories, but they can add up," says Lona Sandon, R.D., a spokeswoman for the ADA. To avoid knee-jerk noshing, create a personal policy about it—"I splurge only on dark chocolate" or "One sweet a day"—so you don't have to decide nay or yea on the spot.

IF IT'S SWEET, BUT NOT FRUIT - IT'S NOT FOR BREAKFAST

Danish, doughnuts and the like can deliver 500 calories but still fall short on energizing protein. Good old-fashioned eggs, however, helped decrease levels of appetite-stimulating hormones, a study at the University of Connecticut in Storrs shows. As a result, egg eaters consumed 17 percent fewer calories than if their A.M. meal came in bagel form. Love a sweet start? Have your scramblers with fruit salad!

IT'S NO COINCIDENCE "FAD" RHYMES WITH "BAD"

Yes, trendy diets that promise jaw-dropping results (25 pounds gone in two weeks!) or promote a single food as a slimming miracle sound tempting. Who doesn't want rapid, effortless weight loss? But deep down, we all know that sticking with something too strict or wacky lasts about as long as Lady Gaga's latest look. "A fad diet might work if you want to lose a few pounds fast and gain it all back," Sandon says. "To keep weight off, go with a plan that is easy to incorporate into your life and provides all the nutrients your body needs without making you feel deprived." A good rule of thumb: If you can't shop in a regular grocery store or order off a restaurant menu, the diet will be much too frustrating to maintain.

THE MORE YOU SLEEP, THE LESS YOU EAT

People who spent only 5½ hours between the sheets ate 25 percent more calories after dinner than when they tacked another three hours on to their sack time, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports. It makes sense: The longer we're awake, the more likely we are to get hungry or bored and start snacking. Unfortunately, postdinner hours aren't typically active ones (who chooses jogging over channel surfing at 11 P.M.?), so we often don't burn off those extra calories, and the risk of weight gain goes up. If you're a night owl, make a healthful dinner and save half of it or your side dish for a late-night snack, Moore suggests. Or DVR Jimmy Kimmel and hit the hay before munchies strike. Hey, when you snooze, you lose—weight!

{here} is the site the article came from

a plus: if you click on the photos....

most of them connect to a yummy recipe!

Arizona......

2011-07-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

coming soon......
miss our Arizona family.
don't miss the smoldering dense heat --- my body is slowly acclamating to the Utah cool high altitude air.
miss the shopping. the food. the clean roads. the landscaping.. {on the highway}
more later! :)

july 4th ---

2011-07-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

gotta love the excellent job our camera does w/ night time photography.
it's a lovely aspect of my camera.
it works. that is all that matters. right? yes. yes it is. ;)

and... we're back.

2011-07-17T17:54:00.000-07:00

........................if looks could kill.......................

I do love my Miss Sydney Leigh.

Crusty look and all.....................

to the edge of the light

2011-07-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

I read this last night.

Loved it.

Something I needed.

Boyd K. Packer
The Edge of the Light

Shortly after I was called as a General Authority, I went to Elder Harold B. Lee for counsel. He listened very carefully to my problem and suggested that I see President David O. McKay. President McKay counseled me as to the direction I should go. I was very willing to be obedient but saw no way possible for me to do as he counseled me to do.

I returned to Elder Lee and told him that I saw no way to move in the direction I was counseled to go. He said, "The trouble with you is you want to see the end from the beginning." I replied that I would like to see at least a step or two ahead. Then came the lesson of a lifetime:

"You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness; then the light will appear and show the way before you." Then he quoted these eighteen words from the Book of Mormon: "Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." {Ether 12:6}

day 3 ... family picture chaos

2011-07-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

my friend DONNA HOLLAND {who happens to be quite handy w/ a camera}
w/ her "helpful husband" Bo - whom she brought to make sure everyone could be seen...
instead, I was told, he just stood behind her - badgering to "hurry Donna." &, "just take it Donna".
as I could see, he was red faced, laughing the entire time. {which, I have to admit - had I had the chance to be a bystander in this circus of crying babies, I too would have found the whole thing quite comical. Wait. I did find the whole thing quite comical --- as I kept leaning over towards Mike, whispering in his ear: "I'm so thankful we are out of THAT situation." and "remember when we used to go visit my parents in either Louisiana or Nevada, how everyone -- mostly the younger single ones - would take off while we had babies --and how when asked if they'd watch our small wee ones, the answer was mostly a laugh followed by a "see ya! --- I'm so very glad that we have graduated to the next level of life."

that cute little green shirted escapey... that is little Nicholas (named for the golfer) and the pointer is Brian, who just might have been the cutest young child you would ever meet... think: Kevin from HOME ALONE.

practice makes perfect, right?

my amazing mom NEVER put herself first...
her children always came first.
she always went w/o so her children could have what was affordable and needed.
she had 7 boys.... you'd have to be amazing!!!!

back @ home

Miss Sydney Leigh and her cousin Alexis looked so darling....

and girly. My Sydney actually looked girly!

so the camera came out for a shot at something that is rarely seen.

BOOM*BANG*FIRE POWAH!******

p.s. the following were not taken by Donna... the photographer.
actually the above of the little ladies weren't either.
the below were taken by the amazing... Mike. who just happens to not be a photographer in any manner...
I still love you dearly Mr. Mike. :)

family home evening.
each of the Henry and Trudy children told one story about their most memorable moment of each my mom and dad.

afterwards, Sydney said to me: "Mom, almost everyone's favorite story included either wrecking a car, or getting into trouble. You have a crazy family!" --- I thought about it for a moment, and it was totally true. then she pointed out, "only yours was wrecking a car, and then Markie getting into trouble for it. That was awesome!"

{taken @ Scott's home}

day 2.... doing it Louisiana Style!

2011-07-10T22:02:00.000-07:00

can you say ..... YUMMMMMMMMY!
I didn't eat too much....
ended up sick.
In my next life, my body will be able to handle spicy food.....
cuz it's oh so good.

above right corner.... my 2 sister-in-laws, who happen to be sisters... Andrea and Nadja.
{Nadja --- I love this picture of you!... and you are both beautiful!!! Andrea - how do you stay so thin?}

the teens showing Grandpa Henry that he's not the only one who knows how it's done
except maybe not the sucking of the crawdad's head. and eyeballs. {that's just gross}
and then the pre-teens showing some love to Uncle Patrick.
Patrick and Scotty --- 20 years ago, wait... 30 years ago these two were like calvin and hobbes.
Scott being Calvin. Patrick the latter --- being blamed for everything Scott did - or doing what ever Scott ordered him to do. They were any mom's personal ..... they were so cute! :)

Janis, Markie, Dave, Kylee holding Adam, and Dave chatting it up w/ Grandma Trudy....

Bridgy loved the watermellon... rind and all. And the legos. And the Pudge. Not so much Joanie. :(

Pudgerific w/ little Bobby ---
the girls. I believe Brooklyn has been hanging out with Sydney A LOT.... taking posing lessons from Miss Syd.... along with Lexi and Natalie - who opt to just smile - naturally. silly girls.

pause.... for eggs. from the chickens.
{man, I hope they washed their hands. GERMS!!!! yucky.}
... have I ever mentioned that I am a major germaphobe? and that my sister teases me about this...
and pasta that has been sitting out allllll day long that I might not eat because I am afraid of food poisoning.???

.......................................................................
the family.
when we lived in Louisiana
people used to plead with me to say all the names in my family - in order - as fast as I could
and then would say,
"how do you remember everyone?"....
they are my family.
talent. pure talent.

I love my family.
even my brothers. {haha!}
I think I have the BEST most helpful brothers... even if they give awkward hugs.
and the MOST AMAZING sisters on the planet. seriously true.

ugh! and Sofie standing in front of my little Pudge. see... I knew I was doing something wrong.
I tried. She's not one to miss, except she is so quiet... while her sisters are so outgoing.
she the cute baby. love her!

angry birds....
and tackling to pass time.
{ps. Patrick. You have a bad addiction to games.... you know that? and you know that naming that cute little guy next to you "Scott Patrick Bradford" was a curse. I'm just letting you know --- he is so so so cute though. so cute. I just can not wait to hear his stories!!!!}

The Pudge just might take his ~~wariness~~ carefulness towards anything that burns, from me....
we are just cautious people. that's all!!!!
Uncle Brian -- or Bobby -- or BR --- is so awesome!

joy!

*phew!*
day 2 - down.
2 more days to go.
I didn't go on photo overload the next few days.
I promise.

day 1... lagoon

2011-07-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

day -1:
we picked up Nellie and Bridgette from the airport.....
my kids adore this little tiny girl who is just beginning to jibber jabber
and who swims in her milk that slips onto her chair as she attempts to eat her capn crunch.

and who has no problem warming up to uncle "Yikes"

.... ok, as long as he is sharing his blues clues with her.
bribery is always ok, right?

Day 1: lagoon

the pudge was kind enough to ride 2 "baby" rides with his sweet cousin
to save her from plunging to her death....

what an awesome little guy.

what made the day even better?

My little man opted to stay w/ me

rather than run off w/ the boy cousins his age.

I know... silly of me

but it was a blast. he was my ride partner

he never picks me..... and since my Mike opted to work

(ok, had to)

I got to be the one.

I was holding little Bridgy in the above photo...
or while taking the shot.
each time my little man would swing by us,
Bridge would point and say "Pudge"
over and over again.

when hanging w/ mom needed a break

the little man decided to hang w/ the girls over the boys. - Kennedy & Sofie

his daddy would be proud.... he would say, "he knows what he's doing!"

Miss Sydney Leigh w/ Bridgy and her cousin Lexie

cotton ball and band aid on the ear.

blocking off any potential poopy water that might infect her swimmers ear even more.

yuck.

&....

I didn't even see David most of the day.

Only so he could provide me with this little snack.

a treat just for me.

his broken phone.
this is what happens when you wear gym shorts -
after your mom asked you to not wear gym shorts but regular shorts
to lagoon and go on large rollercoasters.

nice.
...........................................
not to take away from my family time...
but ......
AUSTENLAND
is being made into a movie! for reals!
and even better
one of my "dream team" characters is in the movie.....!
yay!!!!!
I have no idea who the men are, but know of the women.
there is sadly - no Mr. Henry Caville in the movie.
{what were they thinking}
and the man picked doesn't even come close to being as manly and
you know...
gorgeous as Henry....
{I can use first name basis here, right?... I might be talking about my dad, you never know}
but...
I will set my expectations low....
after all, we saw how Twilight was completely shredded by being made a movie.
Or maybe it will be another right cast
like Harry Potter.

Leave me to dream.

family reuion.

2011-07-06T23:23:00.000-07:00

how tired do these people look?
... very.
or working up their sweat glands for the upcoming photo.
them. + a lot of screaming babies.
maybe a little freaked out from the prior attempt......

this:
is my family.
the adults minus Nellie's Dan

this is my family.

Henry's favorites....

Trudy's daughters.
& apparently I need to work on standing with my legs closer together.

my 7 brother's being complete dorks.
or maybe just teasing their sister's ...

youngest to oldest.
Bonnie, Brian, Nellie, Danny, Nathan, Mark, Joanie, Annie, James, Patrick, & Scott.
11.

LOTS
more to come.
sometime ...

2011-06-28T00:04:00.000-07:00

this Sunday
I handed the above out to each of my beehives....
{if you click on the photo... you can actually read all of it. I do so love the scripture on the side.}
this was a difficult one
the girls were ----
daydreaming of sand... waves.... boys....
something other than what was right in front of them.
they were not present.
I felt the lesson plummet deep down into the depths of that ocean.

I loved the thought of the lesson.
As I pondered this lesson I felt
nothing.

it's difficult when you don't "feel" the direction to go.
when they are despondent to what you have prepared
you know that the direction you went was not ---- the right direction.

this is the first time I have felt like I wasn't getting through them
maybe it's me.
I've been despondent as of late....
my inner voice has been silent.
I want it back.
I am ready for it to jump back into action
seriously. any. time.

so for when it comes back.....
I can recall this failed attempt to revive the girls that I adore so very much.
all 15 or so of them.
and then
re watch this video

we have had many "tender mercies"
however --- @ this moment the memories of them have been sluggish
possibly drowning....
somewhere deep in the vast depths of my brain.....

on summer vacation, I suppose.

dear brain.
WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!
love, me.
ps
if you would like to do this on your own...
because I had such an award winning time w/ it...
here is a blank on for you!
just click on the photo....
it will bring up a new page.
then save it...
tuh duh! it's yours! :)

2011-06-24T00:24:00.000-07:00

my GREAT July 4th attempt this year....

make this cake!

what would I do with out my Kamie

to show me things that I really should not attempt

but can't resist attempting.....

my Mike may really REALLY ground me from Kamie

if this attempt fails miserably

leaving me frustrated

after plowing through 5 bags of costco sized powdered sugar

and flinging things here and there

in a fit of aggravation.

it is a lovely cake.

worthy of attempting.

besides....

if my experiment turns out .... bad

frosting spread in thick piles on saltines

--- YUMMMM!!! ---

............................................................

My Mike finished classes this week.....

proudly sporting his new {free} work bag

which he will be sporting as he teaches

ACCOUNTING night classes.

"Professor Mike"

good ring to it, yes?

David returned from a couple of days @ youth conference

bringing home a seizure in tow.

and then slept for well over 3 hours.

{no arguing from mom - or him}

while....

Syd, Pudge, and I

{after my wonderful - I'm going to kick you into shape, girlfriend! friend Marja

got me up to walk 3 miles w/ her this morning.... which afterwards I rewarded myself w/ a cookie from

Flour Girl Dough Boy

(because My Mike missed me oh so much and insisted that I join him for lunch on this fine day)

and then later w/ Kam... a cookie from Dear Lizzie...

who can scream OINK OINK the quickest!!!???}

...................lounged at the pool w/ Kam and her kids.

not too shabby of a day.

& the sun even graced us w/ her presence.

how kind is that?!

ahhhhh.......

back to reality tomorrow.

a day to

clean, sew, cook, clean, shower......

back to being my role of the villain

i mean

mom.

2011-06-22T22:53:00.000-07:00

the little man opted for a shorter do this time.

aged him a couple of years.

almost shed a tear.

our little Pudge isn't so little any more.

2011-06-21T20:30:00.000-07:00

{credit here}

"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4th, not {only} with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism."

Author: Erma Bombeck

confession:

2011-06-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

{beautiful credit}

I have spent my evenings

s l o w l y

reading ...

AUSTENLAND

again.

Mike inquired of me the other night

as he was close to falling into dreamland
"How many times have you read that thing?"

while I was covering my bed side lamp with something to dim the light

searching for a thicker item of clothing to keep the light dim enough for sleep:

"stop. I love it. it's my happy book. go to sleep. leave me to my book"

"you're a goof. you know that?"

I really have no idea how many times I've opened the cover of that book.

but I truly love it.

{click for credit}

my slight obsession will end.

but to go to sleep on a happy note.....

it's a truly great read.

even if I am the only one I know who adores this story as I do.

...............................................

on another note worthy topic:

I have been trying to figure out the

LIVESTRONG

website.

I am trying to convince Mike to do it with me

{he won't get on the scale to see how much he weighs... I DID!}

so.....

yes I am biting the bullet...

I am forging forward.

possibly at a slow speed.

but...

the time has come upon us. me .. us

to take off those hideous pounds that seem to be holding on as if they have no other home

they do

and it's time for them to move on...

so like a parent kicking their 30 year old man child out of the house

I am attempting to kick this 38 year old piece of blubber into loose it mode.

hopefully.

it's quite annoying and frustrating when night fall comes upon us

and I realize that i have eaten my fair share of blubber and fat.

so if I have someone to do it with...... maybe it won't be so bad.

so who's in favor of My Mike stepping on that scale and joining me in my quest for less!!!!!?????

anyone?

come on babe

you know you want to!!!!!

2011-06-18T22:22:00.000-07:00

darling bedroom
I adore everything about it.
oh so very... perfect

Independence Day is among us

"Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists."
— Franklin D. Roosevelt

do you think our fore fathers could see the future
know that we would judge one another
know that we would hate one another
know that we would tear our country apart -- all with our own bare hands and our own selfish reasoning's?

"The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first and love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life."
— Theodore Roosevelt

"It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it."
— Eleanor Roosevelt

oh the great conversations Franklin D and Eleanor Roosevelt must have had behind closed doors.
to have a leader so dedicated to our country again....
It would be wonderful to have a president again... some day... who loves our country
who puts our country before his own selfish desires
who puts the average person before the appetites of the wealthy and egotistical.
do you think that time will arise again?
I believe... possibly not.

I remember a time when whom ever the President of our great country happened to be...
He was honored at every school by having his photo hung on the wall
because he was respected for that position which the majority of our country voted him into.
no matter his political front

it saddens me that this person
who is the head of our country
whether we agree with him or not...
does not - now - get the respect of the position he was elected into

one man can not tear down a country.
one million men arguing over this one person in this one position .... can.

.................................................................................

and just for my mind's memory ... because the bank is running low on space

this needs to be added to my "remember" list:
(not that it has anything to do with the above... but you know me... A.D.D.)

"Life is too short to waste any amount of time on wondering what other people think about you. In the first place, if they had better things going on in their lives, they wouldn't have the time to sit around and talk about you. What's important to me is not others' opinions of me, but what's important to me is my opinion of myself."
— C. JoyBell C.

2011-06-17T21:49:00.000-07:00

{to go to link}

"One thing life has taught me: if you are interested, you never have to look for new interests. They come to you. When you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else."

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

— Eleanor Roosevelt

One thing I have learned this year

I need to better myself.

The mindless act of letting my brain cells sit in dormant mode

I have decided needs to come to a close.

So.....

through my life experiences

I have ---------------

nothing.

I - though am deliriously fearful of taking any type of math

really want to continue my education

even if one class at a time

to become

not sure yet

I aspire to be someone

to do something

just don't know quite what yet

I am insanely jealous of others who have this decided

and @ the age of nearing 40 -

I should know.

I don't

all I know is

I can do it.

if I can get past math

and it will be great

and extremely busy

but great

yet I often wonder what direction life will take our family next.....

to stay

to go

to move

to sit still and be still

what have we not learned yet, that we need to learn to move on

what ever it might be

I pray

it comes - calmly - kindly - quickly

I'm looking.

cautiously.

2011-06-13T21:43:00.000-07:00

Back in the day....
wait. who am I kidding?
My dad has many lines
that only out of his mouth do I here these word uttered
one of his most famous:

okay Jo... take a hike
which is always uttered w/ a grin, slight laughter, and a polite swipe in the air of the hand...
meaning that he either wants to go to sleep
get frisky w/ mom... (lol - not really)
or just needs his alone time....

a few others:
"Pardon?" (which I secretly love & wish I had hooked onto)
"you're short on smarts"
"someone hit him in the head w/ the short end of the stick"
"let's gooooooo Jo!"
"HUSTLE!"
&
"I built my own coffin... you'll just have to help mom w/ the fabric insert and the sheet to cover my body when I die. Can you do that?"
(wait... he keeps telling me not to tell people that he built his own coffin... they might think he's a little weird)

back to the photo:

and speaking of taking a hike.....
Sir David has hiked up his age.
17.
as of the 4th of June....
it just took me THAT long to load the photos up onto the computer.
sorry buddy....
that's just the way your mom goes....
procrastinate, procrastinate, procrastinate....

17.... BUDDY! you're aging me!
You have made me grow up and age in a manner that is unbelievably rapid.....
however your life has pushed me into corners I never would have dreamed of standing in
though the experiences hiding in those crevices have pushed me beyond my mental capacity..
or the capacity I thought I could handle
making me stronger.... wishing though that I could have been better.
Happy Belated - "put on the books" Birthday Dave!
You are loved!!!!!

2011-06-09T12:29:00.000-07:00

I do this.
I really do.
and now I am reading this:

which has a great message behind the oh so very descriptiveness that you have to mill through to actually get to the meaning behind each message she is attempting to get across

..............{Stacy. I do enjoy it. I really do. and that cover. Who can't LOVE that cover?}

So...

in honor of my melt down this week.

one of these days....

soon

I will attempt to jot in my notebook

a 1000 long list of things I do love.

Like:

1. Mike's warm feet to heat the sheets at night

{no.. not only in that way! }

2. When Pudge takes hold of my hand

3. The smell of fresh out of the dryer laundry

etc....

summer?

2011-06-06T22:35:00.000-07:00

{credit to honeytree}

*I'm not sure what the below photo has to do w/ allergies, however when I typed in "allergies".... this one came up. but it's a lovely little thing, is it not? I'm not sure how these things fit.... but it's made in New Orleans... and it's pricey... maybe the price makes you sooo shocked, you sneeze???

summer break {credit deserved}
day 1
.........................
me, Pudge, and Dave = itchy eyes, stuffy noses, etc......

I feel .... not great
&
I have had the munchies ALL DAY.
not good for someone who has vowed to not eat unhealthy this week.
{isn't it usually when you feel yuck, you don't feel tempted to chow down?}

the kids begged - after doing a "what can I help you with, mommy" cleaning spree
(yes. "mommy" was used. - big sign that a begging and pleading of some sort is on it's way)

the wantings spilled out.... they really NEEDED me to take them to the local pool
so......
after a long guilt trip from the Pudge
we tossed on swim suits, cover-ups, and grabbed towels
and headed to the pool...
which was closed down because of "lightening"
a.k.a. : it was super windy and winter like conditions outside
lawn chairs flying across the patios -- children swimming in waves you would normally find in the ocean...
(ok. maybe an tad bit of exaggeration going on here)
and so the life guards decided to close down
(good decision if you were to ask me)

so we headed to Hobby Lobby
me, Syd, and Pudge
where they opted to stay in the car
however when I jumped out and noticed myself in the driver side window of the car....
hair flying every which way... goosebumps covering my ice blue skin...
eek! I was in swim wear --- only. (a cover up included in this ensemble... still. swim wear}
I re-opened the door - struggling against the arctic wind,
"guys. I look like an idiot. come w/ me so I don't look like one alone"
to which they both replied:
"why? because you are in your swim suit and it's freezing outside?
so you want US to come look like idiots w/ you?"
(we use the word "idiots" wayyy too much in this household)
me:
"yup"
them:
giggle...a shrugging of the shoulders....."okay"

good kids.

so we pushed our way against the wind into the store
to find the normal people wearing sweats/hoodies/warm clothes
staring @ those of us who were obviously hoping that if we dressed for sun... the sun would come
(we were quite mistaken).

made our not so quick purchases...
then
headed for the sno shack for icees
(yup - when it's cold...)

headed home to share w/ Dave... who was the smart one and opted not to swim in the hurricane like weather.
I then dreamed of snuggling up w/ a blanket and taking a nap

instead, made dinner.... chatted w/ my Mike about an article he emailed me
because he loves to talk religion/politics/debate.
(have I ever mentioned I DO NOT enjoy debate... especially on the above matters? HAVE I?)

"Mormon Moment..." in Newsweek. Mormons Rock!

They've conquered Broadway, talk radio, the U.S. Senate-and they may win the White House.

Why Mitt Romney and 6 million Mormons have the secret to success.

{click on the photo to read the article}

"No question the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is “having a moment.” Not only is Romney running again—this time, he’s likely to be competing against his distant Mormon cousin Jon Huntsman Jr. The Senate, meanwhile, is led by Mormon Harry Reid. Beyond the Beltway, the Twilight vampire novels of Mormon Stephenie Meyer sell tens of millions of copies, "(etc.... )

then: helped Scott plant his garden...
wondering if my black thumb will indeed curse their plants.
we shall see....

(it would have helped had I watered my plants I had purchased over a week ago. instead, I left them inside. that is, of course, until my dad said, "uh. Jo? Those plants might need a little sun. They look like they might need some iron or something... before they die."... then of course dad laughed at me, under his breath, because that is what he does, then reminds me that sometimes I am "short on smarts". I adore him, despite his need to mention the sad obvious facts that come w/ me & gardening)

finally
off to slumberville
maybe... hopefully tomorrow is filled w/ energy
and inner control over my secret desires to seriously pig out.....

wet n wild!

2011-06-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

field day @ our elementary.
it was not "hot" out...
more like perfect - on the chilly side.
I looked everywhere for my little guy towards the end of day
when the firetruck arrived to wash out the stench of pre-teen b.o.
then found him w/ his pal:

soaking wet
and freezing.
if my phone camera was amazing - you would see tiny goose bumps making their way up these arms and legs

I chased these 2 fellas down to the black top.
the black top was so cozy warm:

I told the Pudge
there is NO way I would be going back out there.... I would stay face planted on the black top....
as soon as this was mentioned, off the guy went

one word.
brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr........................................................

day 2:
the traditional "day before school gets out" dance festival.
I love the dance festival.
Rumor has it:.
the weather has always been perfect on this one day.

Amidst the winter like weather that seems to be looming around
for the 2 hours of dancing about .... it was indeed, perfect
warm sunshine... a slight breeze as needed

my Pudge w/ his great pals
Callen & Brogan.