Techy

Crafty Friends…

…are the best!

Cally created this.
Go to her blog to see all of the other amazing things that she can do.
I almost died when there was something just for me on her blog.
Who knew blogging friends were so good at surprises?
I cannot wait to get my hands on the original.
Friends do get a good discount, right?

I must say that I am so happy to have finally found something that
really portrays just how cute my girls really are.

And, as if this wasn’t enough.
Look at what came in the mail today.
Kristen made up this sweetest piece of recreated children’s art.
She mentioned this medium on her blog in reference to my post about Bella’s art.
Kristen also has a crafty blog.
This is just so beautiful. It reminds me of something that I would find at Cally’s house.
Neener, neener. neener Cally, you will have to make your own.
I love being surprised. It doesn’t happen often.

Thanks for thinking of us girls.

You have both motivated me to decorate the girls’ room for the first time in their lives.
Now all I have to do is wait for Valerie to sew those bedspreads.
Would anyone like to offer to paint and/or make some curtains?

Really, thank you so much Cally and Kristen.

I am absolutely speechless. And you know that never happens to me.

Bucket List

Added 3.28.11 Every day I get a lot of hits to this post from search engines. I just want to steer you in the direction to sharebuckets. It is a cool site where you can write, edit, and track your bucket list as well as sharing ideas with other users. Too cool not to share.

LG and I watched the movie The Bucket List a while back.

It was a great reason to search myself. What MUST I do before I die?
I have been pondering the question. I haven’t written my bucket list yet.
Here are some funny bucket list ideas I want to add to mine.
1. Name one of my children after the place they were conceived, preferably Vegas.
2. Get on a JumboTron by doing something stupid.
3. Take someone’s clothes away from a public shower, and leave them with only a funny costume to wear.
4. Somehow get one of the messages written to me in my High School yearbooks published.
5. Spontaneously break out into a rockin’ rendition of The Wheels on the Bus while riding public transportation..of course change the lyrics to shed light on the type of passengers who ride.
6. Interview a Wal-Mart greeter as if I want to put him in a paper for his life accomplishments. Send the write-up to my local paper because you know it will end up way interesting. Everyone has a story.
7. Hang lots of different fun pairs of shoes from the phone wire in my front yard. Preferably in an array of colors.
8. Get on The Today Show and pick my nose.
9. Ask for different color nailpolish on all ten toes every time I get a pedicure.
10. Go nuts while playing minigolf, every time I sink a putt.
(these are weak…c’mon, give me some better ideas)
Funny things I have already marked off are:
1. Just inviting up 2 people from a church congregation to sing a musical number…act like they already had it planned.
2. Rollerblade to work on Halloween in my bathrobe.
3. Kiss a complete stranger on the street. And make it a good kiss.
4. Crank call someone famous.
5. Party line a friend and talk bad about them to another friend while acting like you can’t hear them and are unaware they are on the phone. (this one is kind of mean)
6. Glue quarters to a street in the crosswalk and photograph people who pick them up.
7. As a teenager, I told my mom that I was pregnant in all seriousness, and let her believe it for a few hours.
8. Play bob for goldfish, swallow a goldfish whole. (I cannot believe I did this one)
9. Hijack a local radio station and tell the audience that you are kidnapping the DJ until you gives you the concert tickets.
10. Go to the Rose Parade and ask one of the old dudes to let you ride on the back of his motorcycle. It is especially fun when the guy’s name is Fast Eddie.
11. Go up to local hunters in their hunting garb and thank them for their service to their country. ( I recently made a fool of myself when mistaking hunting camo for the real thing. oops)
After finding the following list, I think I am living with a whole lot more excitement then I ever thought I could have experienced and this young age of 35.
So, good for me. And, bad for me….I still have so many things to check off that darn list.
Now, who still wants to go bungee jumping?
(I ‘ve starred everything I have already done.)

1. Touched an iceberg* (and stood on one floating in the ocean)
2. Slept under the stars*
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby’s diaper*
5. Watched a meteor shower*
6. Given more than you can afford to charity*
7. Swam with wild dolphins*
8. Climbed a mountain*
9. Held a tarantula*
10. Said “I love you” and meant it*
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise*
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game *
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables*
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope*
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment*
21. Had a pillow fight* (I may have to disagree with this…is there really a worst time…everyone should laugh more often)
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill*
24. Built a snow fort*
25. Held a lamb*
26. Gone skinny dipping*
27. Taken an ice cold bath*
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar*
29. Seen a total eclipse*
30. Ridden a roller coaster*
31. Hit a home run*
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking*
33. Adopted an accent for fun* (it has never been that good though)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors*
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment*
36. Loved your job 90% of the time*
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied*
38. Watched wild whales*
39. Gone rock climbing* (does a wall count)
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach*
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant*
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight*
46. Milked a cow*
47. Alphabetized your personal files*
48. Ever worn a superhero costume*
49. Sung karaoke*
50. Lounged around in bed all day*
51. Gone scuba diving* (sort of -came back up very quick)
52. Kissed in the rain*
53. Played in the mud*
54. Gone to a drive-in theater*
55. Done something you should regret, but don’t*
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business*
58. Taken a martial arts class*
59. Been in a movie*
60. Gone without food for 3 days* (not willingly)
61. Made cookies from scratch*
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason*
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check*
68. Read – and understood – your credit report*
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy*
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person*
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over*
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge*
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money* (Bunko)
77. Broken a bone* (the doctor did it for me)
78. Ridden a motorcycle* (ran into our front door)
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph*
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi*
84. Had your picture in the newspaper*
85. Read The Bible cover to cover (I’m not sure, can’t remember, I had the goal on my mission but I read so many scriptures then I can’t remember if I actually read the whole thing – I think if I had, I would remember it)
86. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about*
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school*
89. Changed your name*
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes*
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch*
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating* (does fish count?)
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt*(I think I am a pro at this)
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language*
97. Been elected to public office (does school council count?)
98. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream*
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair*
103. Been a DJ*
104. Rocked a baby to sleep*
105. Dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people*
108. Brought out the worst in people*
109. Worn a mood ring*
110. Ridden a horse*
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap*
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe*
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway* (does a traveling Broadway count – I saw Phantom in LA with that main guy, can’t remember his name)
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket*
117. Danced at a disco*(does rollerskating count)
118. Played in a band*
119. Shot a bird* (with my finger)
120. Gone to an arboretum*
121. Tutored someone*
122. Ridden a train*
123. Brought an old fad back into style*
124. Eaten caviar*
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need*
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant*
127. Published a book (I wish)
128. Pieced a quilt
129.Lived in an historic place*
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage*
131. Asked for a raise*
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing*
134. Gone roller skating*
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf* (does getting up for 3 seconds count)
137. Invented something* (In my mind, if I could actually make a prototype I am convinced it would make million -I’m just not technically inclined)
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite* (does a resort count?)
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo*
143. Gone spelunking (don’t know what that is?)
144. Learned how to take a compliment*
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David* (the knock off in some casino in Las Vegas)
147. Had your portrait painted* (does sketched count?)
148. Written a fan letter*
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away*
152. Learned to juggle*
153. Been a boss (does it count that I always feel like I am in charge?)
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight*
156. Gone on a diet*
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget* (do the fake ones count)
158. Written a poem*
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox*
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission*
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon*
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks*
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers*
167. Ridden in a limousine*
168. Attended the Olympics* (do the Olympic sights and Today Show count?)
169. Can hula or waltz* (I learned a little hula when I was younger)
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream*
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane*
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert*
175. Saved someone’s life* (do all those blood donations and depression med talks count?)
176. Eaten raw whale (how about shark?)
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint*
178. Laughed till your side hurt*
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing*
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle*
183. Spent the night in a hostel (but I think some of the scary hotels should count)
184. Been a cashier*
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union*
187. Donated blood or plasma*
188. Built a campfire*
189. Kept a blog*
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation*
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen*
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube*(does peeling the stickers or taking it apart count?)
196. Know CPR*
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible*
198. Found a long lost friend*
199. Helped solve a crime
Now I need to get writing my own list. I can only think of a few for now.

1. Hike down the Grand Canyon.
2. Write and publish a book.
3. Visit the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii.
4. Go to NYC and see at least 5 broadway musicals.
5. Earn at least my Bachelor’s Degree.
6. Get back in shape and be able to run a mile in under 8 minutes again.
7. See every State in the Union.
8. Learn to speak Spanish fluently.
9. Go on a mission with my husband.
10. Go sky diving.
11.Give away a lot of money.
Here’s to living long enough to get it all done.

If you got any great ideas from this post,
please take a moment and click the facebook like button
on the right sidebar. Thanks.

God’s in charge, and I don’t need a picture to illustrate my point.

My Internet has been out for a couple of days.
I have been going a little crazy.
I have become dependent, not just because of my blogging,
but because of the following reasons:
I could not get maps to anywhere I needed to go.
I could not balance my checkbook or make sure I had enough money for retail therapy.
I could not check my e-mail.
I could not google anything, including but not limited to the Olympic stats, several health conditions, recipes, school stuff, and church stuff.
I couldn’t use the yellow pages.com and you all know that I have forgotten how to use a real phonebook.
and, last, but not least,
I was forced to finish the organizing and cleaning I started on Monday.
Which, also meant that I was forced to ALMOST finish ironing my husband’s whole closet worth of clothes. And, you all know how much I hate to iron. I say almost, only because I have limited myself to 15 items of clothes a day.

Well, the reason for the post. The at&t guy looked at me a little crazily while I told him that God himself had been making our Internet work, even though it had not been hooked up to the right port for the past 3 years.

“Seriously”, I informed, “I have no doubt that God waited to let my connection go until he knew that I could handle it. Can you believe that it only took me 3 years to get my act together?”

Um, yeah, he didn’t answer me.

So, my friend Kristy e-mailed me a little story that illustrates that God knows what he is doing. I hope you all get a good smile…don’t know if it is good enough for a laugh. Along with that smile, I hope you know that God is always watching over you, even if it comes in the form of a flying cat.

Dwight Nelson recently told a true story about the pastor of his church. He had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was afraid to come down. The pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, etc. The kitty would not come down. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor decided that if he tied a rope to his car and pulled it until the tree bent down, he could then reach up and get the kitten. That’s what he did, all the while checking his progress in the car. He then figured if he went just a little bit further, the tree would be bent sufficiently for him to reach the kitten. But as he moved the car a little further forward, the rope broke. The tree went ‘boing!’ and the kitten instantly sailed through the air – out of sight.

The pastor felt terrible. He walked all over the neighborhood asking people if they’d seen a little kitten.No. Nobody had seen a stray kitten. So he prayed, “Lord, I just commit this kitten to your keeping,” and went on about his business.

A few days later he was at the grocery store, and met one of his church members. He happened to look into her shopping cart and was amazed to see cat food. This woman was a cat hater and everyone knew it, so he asked her, “Why are you buying cat food when you hate cats so much?” She replied,”You won’t believe this,” and then told him how her little girl had been begging her for a cat, but she kept refusing.

Then a few days before, the child had begged again, so the Mom finally told her little girl, “Well, if God gives you a cat, I’ll let you keep it.” She told the pastor, “I watched my child go out in the yard, get on her knees, and ask God for a cat. And really, Pastor, you won’t believe this, but I saw it with my own eyes. A kitten suddenly came flying out of the blue sky, with its paws outspread, and landed right in front of her.”

Those Days Are Past and Gone

My baby went to Kindergarten today.
I feel a little lost.
I am happy for Bella to go to school.
I just wish I had some more kids.
I am not ready for this season to be over yet.
I took this photo in South Dakota last week.
And I wrote this poem showcasing my mood today.

Those days are past and gone.
The ones when they were young.

Off, away, they go.
Leaving me feeling so.

The sun sets on my heart.
Do we have to be apart?

This is their new dawn.
Those days are past and gone.

Whole grains

I forced myself to have Grape Nuts for breakfast a while back.

I added plenty of sugar like the non Weight Watcher girl that I am right now.

As I was chowing down, I read a post that looked like this.

“That looks like such a better form of whole grains”, I thought to myself.
“If I just had that darn Bosch!”

I hope that Marilyn won’t mind that I smuggled her post topic and snagged her picture.
(I’m sure she won’t. She’s good like that. And, heck, I just gave her some link love – Oh, I hate it when people take my topic or idea without a link. It’s just blogging decency people.)

The whole reason for this post is to send you over to Marilyn for a great wheat bread recipe. But, of course, I have to add my take on it.

I have stored her blog post for another day. (Like the day that I want to start eating healthy again and I have my brand new Bosch mixer waiting to be used.)

For now, I am just being tortured with the thought of eating the rest of this Whole Grain cereal.
Thanks for a great tease Marilyn.

My little Grape granules just aren’t good enough now.
Golly, you use enough energy just eating this stuff that it should cancel out the calories.

Where did this cereal get it’s name?
Are these really Grape seeds or something?
Or did they just give it a name with the word grape in it to try and deter you from thinking about the tough and crunchy wheat plant?

O.k…who knew that there was a website called nograpesnonuts?
There’s an actual explanation to the name.

I try to be a good Mormon lady, and follow the prophet by keeping a food storage.

I recently stored wheat. (And, I have to thank my mother in law for the wheat loan here.)

Above is a photo of the wheat that we got about six months back.

Yes, it sat in my living room for quite a while.

We told our self righteous friends that we didn’t want to store the wheat away until we had a chance to talk to all of our friends about the importance of being prepared.

Mormons will let a lot of weaknesses slide if it means your are doing your missionary work.

(But, really, you all just know that I was blogging instead of worrying about the wheat)

If the amount of time it takes a woman to get her wheat into her buckets is a measure of what kingdom of heaven she will earn, I am going to be in big trouble.

Can you say 3 months?

That means that I am going to be in the third kingdom down.

Well, it’s good to know, that I will be in the right place.

You do remember that some of my left over wheat buckets gave me away a while back?

Wow, I guess that God did think of everything.

He made a kingdom just for the white trash of the world.

Revenge on Mommy

Like Cally, I don’t usually like tags and memes and the idea of HERE read about me some more.

And then I slap myself silly and remind myself that my blog’s whole purpose is for other people to read all about me and my ideas.

So, I decided to play along this time because I thought it would be fun.

I don’t look like much fun in this latest photo. LG captured us standing in line.


Posted by Picasa

Here are questions answered by my children (ahhhh, scary)

1. What is something mom always says to you? Clean up. Go to bed. NO!

2. What makes mom happy? When we let you sleep in.
3. What makes mom sad? When we don’t listen to you.
4. How does mom make you laugh? Put funny stuff about us on your blog. When you embarrass us and take pictures.
5. What was mom like as a child? How are we supposed to know that?

6. How old is mom? 33, 34 (how old am I, I don’t even know)
7. How tall is mom? You never told us before.

7.5. How much does your mom weigh? (I added this one for fun) one hundred somethin’ (yeah if I lose 15 lb)

8. What is mom’s favorite thing to do? Blog

9. What does mom do when you’re not around? Blog, shop

10. If mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Blogging
11. What is mom really good at? Blogging
12. What is mom not good at? Ummmm (long pause – good job, right answer) then she scarred me….losing weight, you keep quitting on everything. (yeah, I liked the first answer better) Ha, now we are embarrassing you! Do you have to put everything I say on there? (Slaps her forehead as I type)

13. What is mom’s job? She used to work at Target, babysitting babies
14. What is mom’s favorite food? edamames (I think she was just trying to repent for the losing weight thing)
15. What makes you proud of mom? I don’t know ….long pause again
16. What do you and mom do together? Nothing, shop.
17. How are you and mom the same? Well, you and Bella both have black hair.
18. How are you and mom different? A lot of ways.
19. How do you know mom loves you? Because you keep telling us over and over again. You give us hugs and kisses (with a look of disgust)