10 for Wednesday

I ADORE random posts. They are to my eyes what stand up comedy is to my ears. J'adore them! So I will follow suit and post a random post for right now.

1. I really dislike when people have double standards. Like if you don't want your kids to drink pop or won't let them drink it (this is JUST an example so I don't need any comments about on weather or not I give Tanner pop...I do) then don't drink pop yourself.

2. Time Out for me was like a vacation away from my real life.

3. What is up with Quinn Fabray??? She is like so mean and Rachel has actually turned into a nice person. I totally loved the big yellow dress, though.

4. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do on Monday's from 2-3. That's when my dance class was and now that it's over...well, I'm kinda sad about it.

5. Friday nights at Susanne's resumes this week!!!! YAY YAY and YAY!! I got a new cookbook at the TOFW and we are going to try some of the recipes.

6. We are garden sharing this year as we won't be able to have a garden in the new house until next year. I have already started appreciating more deeply the blessings of having a garden in your own backyard.

7. The toughest question I've had to answer in the past week is "How did Aunty Caryolyn's spirit get to heaven? and Does she sleep up there?" Tanner has an unspoken understanding of what has happened and he has been really good.

8. Tanner is doing great in his coach pitch! He hit the ball 5 times in a row (albeit they were foul balls, but the other kids struggled with hitting the ball). His catching needs some work (the other kids were pretty good at catching) but he's having fun and seems to be enjoying himself.

9. Would you rather be famous or a Royal??? I'd rather be famous because if you're a Royal, you are famous until you die. When you're famous, you can stop being famous if you stop working. And I've never heard of a famous person dying (or murdered) from the paparazzi chasing them.

10. I am hunting and on the look out for a free standing porch swing. I want a good quality one but don't want to pay more than $300 for it. Maybe that's unrealistic, but I'm hoping.

11. I need some good dance type music. Music that makes a person want to dance. Any suggestions??? I just downloaded Britney's till the world ends but I can't listen to that all day otherwise I might get bored of it real quick.

12. What are your favorite dates? I'm always interested in knowing what other people do for their dates. We've been trying to do some different things this year. Normally we love the movies but we've been bowling and going to dinner and other things where you actually have to communicate. A lot of our "dates" recently have been going into Lethbridge and getting stuff for out house or picking stuff out etc. But now that we are moving into our house soon, what will we do instead????

Jumpin' on!

So, as Malauney has said, I'm jumping on the bandwagon! I thought this might be fun to do and who doesn't like to get to know a little more about another person right???


Day 1-Self portrait picture, and 15 interesting facts

What makes ME interesting??? I'm not really sure, but hopefully you find the following interesting.



here i am at 9:30 on a wednesday...seriously ready for bed...but taking a self picture of myself. i totally could have done this when i look nice, but what's the point in that? everyone knows what i look like all dressed up...let's see the "real" me...lol.



-i have a birthmark that covers my upper left leg. sometimes i feel like i have leparcy...i don't but some days it feels like that

-i have nannied for a female couple

-i have a pen fetish. i love them

-i love the smell of coffee. i have only once tried coffee (he who is without sin let him cast the first stone) and it was utterly gross! and i am NOT a tea drinker. i just recently found a tea that i enjoy on a rare occasion so that's kind of big for me.

-i don't just work at the chiropractic office here in town. i clean people's houses

-i've never swam in the ocean

-i am pre-diabetic (which means that my body doesn't use it's natural insulin properly)

-i played in a piano recital in the middle of sunridge mall when i was 8/9

-i love brittany spears (some of you already knew that and i hope that doesn't compromise my friendship with you, jamie :0 )

-i have a love/hate relationship with shoes and socks. most of the time i hate wearing them but there are the odd times where i love wearing socks (like to bed). I have walked home from church in bare feet because i was annoyed with my shoes

-i took french in college

-i hate when matt drives the car. i perfer to drive

-i use to work at the saddledome and i've seen some pretty awesome concerts being an usher

-i have been to the nutcracker ballet twice. it is a divine experience.

-when i was in grade 7 i played the trumpet and one day while walking home i fell and tripped on my trumpet case and pulled my groin. it was the first time i had to use crutches.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa:

I have actually been really good this year and I don't really want that much for Christmas because in all honesty, I have everything I NEED. I just WANT a few things to make my life a little funner...I know it seems selfish, but it really would benefit everyone around me. Here is my Christmas list:






1. I love knee socks. Maybe not these particular ones, but you get the point.




2. iTunes gift cards in any amount. I really would love to have the soundtrack to the first season of Glee ($99) but a few of these would help to go a long way.





3. An iPod dock. I love to listen to music and it would be nice to have the music other than in my living room.





4. The complete first season of Glee's soundtrack. I just love the songs and would be so very happy with this.

Bet on it

The title has nothing to do with my post....it's just a HSM song I'm currently listening to.

Kristi is clearly inspiring to me because I've referred to her a couple of time on my blog lately. She did this 21 in 10 post and it inspired me to write my own "21 things to accomplish in 10 years". So here it goes.

1. Buy a house. If Matt gets the job full time permanently in the fall, we will be looking in about a year for a house. We are cautiously optimistic.

2. Go to New York. I use to want to go there because I thought it was so great, but now I just want to go just to say I've gone. It's lame...I know. I think New York has become slightly over rated and it's not a place where you just dream about going anymore. Lots of people have gone that I know and I think I want to be a follower in that sense.

3. Adopt or naturally have another baby. We would love to add to our family but we know and trust in the Lord that it will be in His time.

4. Read the Bible all the through. I am in Deuteronomy 11 so I'm getting there. It's taken me a long time but I am actually really, really enjoying the things I'm learning. I wish I had the time I use to before I worked to study daily but I have to learn to take what I can get.

5. Go to Nauvoo. When Tanner is 12, we are hoping to go.

6. Make the perfect loaf of White Chocolate bread. This is a delicious, yummy bread that the family I use to Nanny for gave me when they got it from their vacation in Punta Cana. I will not talk about it anymore, but I would like to perfect it.

7. Be more inspiring and not so outwardly superficial. I read other people's blogs and am totally inspired but quotes/stories and I think sometimes I seem a little shallow to people, but I'm really not. I want to work on my outward persona and be a better person.

8. Show my love to people as deeply as I feel it.

9. Be as equally of a good friend to my friends as they are to me. I have the greatest friends and I feel like sometimes they are much better friends to me than I am to them.

10. Be a way better wife. I'm not a very good wife...I know I'm not...I don't need flattery here. I think some people are really good at being a wife but have a hard time being a Mom or a sister or a friend. I don't feel like I'm a terrible Mom. I believe in my capabilities in that capacity, but not so much as a wife. I know I'm not perfect and there's always room for improvement. I'm learning as I go.

11. Travel with my friends to anywhere for a girls weekend getaway.

12. Have a "real" honeymoon with Matt. We never went on a honeymoon. A year after we were married we went to Alabama to visit a family on his mission. We've never gone anywhere...just the 2 of us.

13. Take Tanner to Disneyland. After 8 is the magic age...so I've been told.

14. Read Pride and Prejudice. It's on my shelf to take on my trip to Salt Lake this summer.

15. Meet the Prophet. I've met President Hinckley and I would love to meet President Monson.

16. Go to a super fancy restaurant. I think this would be a once in a lifetime experience.

17. Eat at a real Japanese or Chinese restaurant. I'm too chicken to go because I don't know what I would/should order. If any of you have gone, I'll take you just so you can come with me...let me know

18. Eat a lobster.

19. Swim in the Ocean

20. Eat a Peach right off a Peach tree

21. Love deeper

5 for Friday

The 5 things that made me most happy this week...in no particular order



1. Matt and Tanner. They are so fun and love me for me and are both so good to me.





2. Going to Relief Society last Sunday and this Sunday. I miss it soooo much and love being able to go when I can.





3. Reading the messages in the Ensign. I love the General Conference issue and love re-reading the talks. I just finished reading President Uchtdorf's talk on patience. SO GOOD!!!!






4. Friends like Susanne, Sharon and Jamie (no picture). I know these are old pictures and you're both probably going to complain that you look terrible in them but I don't have recent pictures of either one of you so you'll both have to suck it up...lol. These friends are some of the greatest friends I have . Sharon watches Tanner and always has nice things to say no matter what. She's always so positive. And Susanne is there night or day whenever I need to talk or just to tell her good news or bad news...whatever it may be. Jamie is supportive and loyal and understanding and always puts equal amounts of effort into our friendship.




5. My sister's, Amy and Megan. These are pictures from last year's birthday because we are celebrating their birthday's tomorrow so you'll get pictures next week. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my sisters and they really are my biggest fans and greatest friends. Although we did not get along as kids (no one really liked me...I was a little mean) we have really become true friends as we've gotten older and married/moved away/went on missions. Each of my sisters (I have 3) are special and unique in their own way and I love them all.

There are other things that made me really happy this week. 5 is not even close to the number of things that made me happy this week. It is just a small fraction of all the blessings in my life.

Tanner lost his second bottom tooth. It was actually kind of funny because it was the night that I run and when I got home he said: I lost my tooth while you were running. He had been eating corn on the cob and it came out. He didn't tell the babysitter and so he said it fell on the floor and wanted me to help him find it. Right! because finding a tooth on a beige colored carpet is easy. I told him I would look for it while he went to bed but then he found it. I don't know how, but he has really good eyes.

I also planned our trip to Salt Lake. I thought I should think about booking a motel because it probably isn't smart to drive all the way there in one day. right? Tanner is an excellent traveller and we spoil him on trips...as in, we have a portable DVD machine that he can watch movies on. He really likes that so we have put some movies away until our trip so they'll be "new" for when we drive down there. I might see if I can borrow a couple from some friends, but if not, I think we'll be fine. We bought him this travel bingo game that he loves and also travel size Trouble. If you know of any other games/activities that you find your kids like, I would love to hear about them. Movies are the easy way out if he's getting bored but I would like him to do other things too. Books and music only go so far for him.

We are trying a few new things while we're there. Normally when I've gone, we do Temple square and shopping but this time we're going to do some tours and the Children's museum and the zoo. Now that a lot of the stores that use to be only in the states and not in Canada, are now in Canada, shopping won't be so "special". I remember Old Navy and Bath and Body Works were special stores but now that they are in Canada, the novelty isn't there as much. We always go to See's Candy store and this time we are actually going to do a tour of the Candy Factory that makes the world famous Salt Water Taffy. It should be fun. I'm sure Tanner will love it, if nothing else.

So I guess that's all for now. Have a great long weekend and don't get burnt!

5 for Friday

5 scents I love right now:

1. Anything Apple. I just got apple scented candles from Partylite and I can't get enough of them.

2. Peach. I can't wait to can again.

3. Fresh air. I love walking to work and smelling the fresh air in the morning.

4. Fresh cut grass. Matt mowed the lawn yesterday and it smells so nice.

5. My new perfume. It's Estee Lauder pleasures. It's light and fruity.

Have a great weekend!

All I want for Christmas

I was thinking about gifts...mostly because I'm pretty much done my shopping...and I thought, not for selfish reasons, I would put mine up here. I am a huge list person and I love to shop from lists. My friend has a "favorite" etsy list and I think that is such a good idea. So the things I enjoy or like are:

1. Bath and Body works soap-gentle foaming or moisturizing NOT the deep cleaning kind. Betcha some of you didn't know there was a difference...lol

2. Brown/tan brads for my card making

3. Zip up Hoodie in any color

4. One of those winter hats that covers the ears and has the tie dangling down.

5. Movie passes

6. Any Church movie (I really enjoyed Forever Strong)

7. High School Musical #1, the Re-Mix

8. Taco chips and cheese sauce (for nachos and cheese) it's a weakness

9. Mini Wheats (brown sugar) because I am slightly addicted...lol

That's about all I can think of.

I'm really looking forward to doing our first Christmas together as a family here at home. I have list of 24 different activities to do during the month of December. some of them I used from Megan's blog from last year.

Some of them include: A Jerusalem dinner, go for a drive and look at the lights, go to the old fashioned Christmas downtown, go to the ward party, have a $5 dinner, watch Christmas movies after making a Christmas treat, sleep under the tree (or really close to it) as well as some other things.

Some of them have to be placed in certain places (ie the ward dinner or the old fashioned Christmas) but I'm going to have to make up some sort of calendar to put them all in. Sadly, I do not have an advent calendar.


(The Advent Calendar I made)

My sister made one for the little boy she nannies last year and I asked her if she would make one for Tanner this year. She didn't make one for his birthday so maybe for his Christmas gift she made him one...who knows...one can hope. If not, I am going to make a permanent one in the new year. I'll have to make a temporary one this year.

I've been SOOOO crazy busy making Christmas cards to sell. Matt asked me today if I was done and I replied "I hope so". So that's why I haven't gotten around to making an advent calendar. I would love any ideas or if any of you have one, could you let me know how to make it.

It doesn't really feel like Christmas because there is no snow yet. Matt said he heard on Friday we're suppose to have snow. I love the snow, but I'm enjoying the snowless weather right now.

So in other news...Tanner had his 6th birthday! I invited 9...yes NINE children over to our little house. We were so very lucky and had great weather. Matt and I took them over to the park and played there and Matt started a game of 'what time is it mister wolf'. Everyone seemed to have fun. He got too many gifts. He got a beautiful Nativity from my Aunt. He really loves my Mom's nativity from when we were kids so it's nice for him to have his own. It's an adult type one. Porcelain and a really fancy, moss covered stable. Matt and I don't even have a stable for our nativity. He got 7 new backugans, 3 new transformers, some monster tonka trucks, sugar cereal (he LOVES, by the way) and some bionicles and dress up clothes. He got more than that (I KNOW!!!!! SERIOUSLY!?!? totally ridiculous the amount he got) but that was the main part of what he got.
My sister Melany got him this pressure nerf ball gun...it is soooo much fun. Matt and I use it A LOT! I told her I would like another one so Matt and I can have gun fights. It's just a gun that shoots balls. I know, I'm such a bad parent...encouraging gun fighting...lol. It is so like Melany to get something like that. I can't wait to see what she gets him for Christmas. I didn't do a fancy cake this year (making cards, remember) so I bought these Wall-E cake decorations. Tanner loved them. For his friends party, I did a caterpillar cake. Sharon lent me her jumbo cupcake pans and I made one for each child and they got to decorate the cupcake and take it home for their treat. They all had fun with that. Well, that's probably more than what everyone cared to know about his birthday, but we had a good time...even though he fighting a cold AGAIN!



















Matt is still looking for a permanent job. The Fed-Ex thing...well, we haven't heard back from them at all. So we're back at square one. He has some odd jobs that he's working on, but nothing to bring in the income we need for our bills. He counted the number of places he's applied to right now and he told me it's 27 places. And that's just in the last week. So hopefully something will come of it. I'm not too stressed this time round. We've been through this before and the main thing I learned is that I can't force someone to hire Matt so there's no point in stressing too much about it. Obviously, I'm a little concerned, but we're praying and Matt is doing the best he can. We know that we're doing all we possibly can to put figure out what to do. But that's enough of that.

We just got our new ensign today so I'm excited to read that today. I love the ensign and it really makes me feel so grateful and appreciative of what I have. It really helps re-set my priorities every month or re-affirms that what I'm doing is what I should be doing. Tanner uses the 'Friend' to do Family Home Evening lessons. He will usually read the picture stories (the ones that have pictures for words) or read the 'Matt and Mandy' story. He would teach FHE every week if we let him, but I have to put him into the rotation in the new year. I would like to make a FHE chart because right now I just have it on our calendar who's doing what.

Well, sorry for the LONG winded entry. I had a lot that I was thinking about and wanted to share. I hope everyone is enjoying their day and has a great week!

Bored

So because I haven't posted for a while, I thought I'd over do it a bit tonight. Matt's gone to a movie, my Mom is watching T.V. and Tanner is watching Treehouse. None of those interest me. OH! First, I hope Juliette doesn't mind me doing this but everyone should really check this out if they are planning on taking their kids trick or treating

Second, I saw this on a few other people's blogs and thought I'd do it too.

1. Do you like blue cheese? Rarely

2. Have you ever smoked heroin ? no

3. Do you own a gun? no and I don't plan to ever own a gun

4. Wax or Shave your body parts? I've done both and I would rather shave. It's quicker

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Depends on if it's a cute doctor...lol joking. If it's a new doctor then I get nervous but after that, then no.

6. Real or fake nails. Fake nails are SOOOO annoying

7. Favourite Christmas song? O Holy Night

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? my cereal milk

9. Can you do push ups? sure

10.What's your favourite piece of jewellery? My wedding band

11. Favourite hobby? card making

12. Do you have A.D.D.? sometimes I think I have moments of A.D.D...

13. What's one trait that you hate about yourself? I live for improvement so I don't hate any traits....HAA HAAA....I think I am a bit selfish

14. Middle Name? Elaine

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? I really hope Megan has a girl, I can't wait for our Thanksgiving meal, I wonder how long it will take me to do this questionnaire

16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? water, milk and more water

17. Current worry right now? what Matt will wear to church since I left his clothes at home

18. Current hate right now? Emily Gilmore and how manipulative she is

19. Favourite place to be? on the couch reading my scriptures

20. How did you bring in the New Year? we went to Jenn and Marks for an awesome fun time

21. Like to go? out with Matt

22. Name three people who will complete this? Jamie, Sharon, and Susanne

23. Do you own slippers? 4 pairs

24. What colour shirt are you wearing? Blue p.j. top

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? so annoyingly slippery

26. Can you whistle? yes

27. Favourite colour? Purple and yellow

28. Would you be a pirate? no because it requires stealing and dishonesty and then I wouldn't be able to have a temple recommend

29. What songs do you sing in the shower? usually Tanner's kids CD's songs

30. Favourite girl's name? Emily,

31. Favourite boy's name? Marcus

32. What's in your pocket right now? don't have pockets

3. Last thing that made you laugh? Tanner being silly

34. Best bed sheets as a kid? Flowers

34. Worst injury you've ever had? Broken nose

35. Do you love where you live? More than you know

36. How many TV's do you have in your house? 1

37. Who is your loudest friend? Sharon....lol just kidding, probably Jessie

38. How many pets do you have? NONE! I hate pets. Animals I like, pets I do not

39. Does someone have a crush on you? everybody has a crush on me....; )

40 What is your favourite book? Tiny Dancer

41. What is your favourite lollie? the purple kind

42. Favourite Sports Team? Calgary Flames

43. What were you doing 12am last night? trying to sleep

44. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? Can't Tanner ever be quiet in the morning

45. Worst habit? nagging

46. Do you play an instrument? I took piano lessons and I played Trumpet and Clarinet in band

47. How long does it take you to get to work? I don't work at a formal job. I'm a mother so that takes me 2 seconds

48. Plans for the weekend? Turkey dinner tomorrow

49. If you could eat anything in the world right this second? chocolate molten cake

50. Do you like the person who sent this to you? no one sent this but I'm sure if I got it in the e-mail, I would like the person who sent it to me since I don't receive e-mails from people I don't like...duh...lol

So there you have it...50 odd things about me.

clothe the naked

First off, a little story. When I know we are going to Calgary, I usually pack about 3-4 days in advance. Sometimes it's a week in advance. I know...crazy right??? Anyway, so I packed and got all our outfits together for this weekend including Sunday clothes that I don't pack, I just leave on the hanger. So last night when I was packing the car, I was so proud of myself thinking...I have everything, I haven't forgotten anything this time. WRONG!!! When we were in between Vulcan and Mossleigh I realized that I had forgotten our Church clothes at home in the front closet...(eyes rolling) so we are figuring things out as to where we will borrow clothes because we certainly don't have money to buy anything. Life...

Next, I've been tagged. I was actually tagged a long time ago, I just didn't have the time to sit down and do it so I'm doing it now.

My 3 Joys:

My family
Music
The Church

My 3 Fears:

Being alone in the dark
Losing someone I love, especially Matt and Tanner
That I will not live up to my potential

My 3 Current Obsessions:

Card making
Tanner
Gilmore Girls

My 3 Surprising Facts:

I have been wearing my contacts a lot more lately
I have already volunteered in Tanner's class twice
I just saw that my Mom has the new stampin up fall/winter 2008 catalogue and I'm a little jealous.

Mine and Matt's date night was fabulous! We are learning to dance...jive, waltz, cha cha. It's a weekly thing so I am really looking forward to it because I've always wanted to do it. Matt and I are the youngest couple there by far. How do I know??? Everyone else has all grey hair or has grown kids. It makes me happy to dance and I always wanted to learn to do that kind of stuff. I know how to jive and my family and I took line/country dance classes when my Mom was engaged but then we never got to show off our stuff. So I'm pretty stoked about doing this with Matt. Plus, it free! You can't go wrong there.

Anyways, that's all for now. Happy Thanksgiving.

Stolen...This is me

I saw this on Christal's blog and loved it so I thought I would blog steal it and do it.


I am: a child of God, happy, free to make my own choices

I think: I could be a better person, about everything all the time...non stop

I know: that God lives, that my family and friends love me, that tomorrow is a new day to try to be better

I want: to be able to afford a house in my lifetime, to be a great mother, to be a better friend, to be more educated, to be a better wife

I have: everything in life that I have ever wanted, what's important to me

I wish: I was smarter, I paid more attention in school, some days were easier, some people would stop seeing me as the person I was in the past and see me for who I am now

I dislike: people who lie, when people let their dogs poop in my yard and don't clean it up...there's a reason I don't have a dog, contention

I miss: my Dad, my friends that I don't get to see as often as I'd like, the YSA dances

I fear: my family dying, the unknown, I won't be ready when the Savior comes again

I feel: full, happy, satisfied, loved, excited, tired, peaceful

I hear: crickets; if you put toothpaste on a mosquito bite, it will stop the itching

I smell: good, I hope; like subway

I crave: love and affection, water,

I usually: lie in bed in the morning with my eyes closed, pretending I'm asleep

I search: for good deals, for answers

I wonder: if I'll have more kids in this life or the next, if people actually like me,

I regret: nothing...the past is just that

I love: myself, my family, friends, the gospel, to laugh, a good book

I care: what other people think about me,

I always: roll my eyes, think

I worry: about how Tanner will be treated as he gets older

I am not: a liar, skinny,

I remember: childhood memories like they happened just yesterday, everything about Tanner's beginning in life

I believe: people can be good people if they choose to want to be good, life is all about choices

I dance: all the time especially in the car

I sing: in the car and in the church choir

I don’t always: stay in touch with the people I really want to as much as I'd like to

I argue: when I am passionate about an issue

I write: in a journal for Tanner

I win: games with Tanner but let him think that he's won if he's in a sensitive mood

I lose: my mind when teeny boppers come into subway and are loud and obnoxious and rude

I never: want to be in debt again, thought I'd be so lucky to have an amazing little guy for a son, thought I could ever love someone so much,

I listen: to both sides of a story if possible, to Matt and Tanner playing, to church music almost daily,

I don't understand: a lot about a lot of things, why people are mean, homosexuality, why people think the things they do, why some people get to have what they want when they want and then others have to go through so much to try to get the things they want

I can usually be found: at home, outside,

I am scared: of the future

Tagged by Sharon

Attached or Single: Attached. For 8 years

B- Best friend: I would have to say that I have a few best friends. Meghan is my first true best friend. The one that's been around the longest. Jamie is my best friend from Calgary and although I mean no lost love to any of you here in town, I would say Sharon and Suzanne are my new best friends. Oh, and Trish is another Calgary best friend.

C- Cake or Pie: Cake. I don't particularly like pie all that much.

D- Day of Choice: Thursday because it goes by so fast

E- Essential Item: GUM! I have to have gum everywhere I go. I don't even chew it that often, but I need to have it with me at all times in case I want to chew it.

F- Favorite color: Purple and Yellow

G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Bears. Worms are gross somehow.

H- Hometown: It use to be Calgary but now it's Raymond

I- Indulgence(s): Subway, card making, I think that's it.

J- January or July: January because July is too hot and I pefer cold over hot any day

K-Kids: 1 boy.

L- Life is Incomplete Without: Matt and Tanner

M-Marriage Date: January 28, 2000

N- Number of Siblings: 3 sisters, and 1 brother in law on my side. 4 sister in laws and 4 brother in laws on Matt's side

O- Oranges or apples: apples with cinnamon and sugar mixture on them

P- Phobias or Fears: the dark

Q- Quotes: I like all the common ones: if you don't have anything nice to say don't say it at all. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Live like it was your last day.

R- Reason to Smile: My life

S- Season: Spring and Fall

T- Tag Seven: Anyone who wants to do this.

U- Unknown Fact about Me: I have grey hair already

V- Vegetarian or Meat Lover: More vegatarian than meat lover

W- Worst Habit: rolling my eyes, or spending more time on the comptuer than I should

X- X Rays or Ultrasounds: I LOVE ultrasounds

Y- Your Favorite Food: Spaghettii, and PB&J sandwiches

Z-Zodiac: Aries, Matt is an Aries too...lol

"Subway"

Clearly my blog hasn't been visited by many people so that is why I have not updated it. I'm a little bit bored because I don't know what to write. Life is pretty boring right now. This morning as I was checking my e-mail Tanner says to me " look, it says Subway". When I turned around, he had spelt the word "subway" with his letters! What a smart kid I have. It's blizzarding here (if that's a word, I don't know) and so we are having a day inside. I didn't even know that it was a blizzard out until Matt called and said that there was no school for all the school division because of the blizzard. So, it's catch up on rest day. I am really tired this week for some strange reason. I've even been going to bed pretty quickly after work. Usually it takes me about 45 minutes to wind down, but this week it's been about 20-30 minutes and I'm out. Maybe because I'm running 4 days a week....who knows. Work is going good. They hired a new girl who starts next week. About half the girls that work there now are quitting because they are in grade 12 and graduating. So we will have a new crop of people to work with.

I have been walking tanner to and from school and it has been helping quite a bit for him not yelling and screaming and not obeying. It helps him to play better at home and works up his appetite so he doen't complain about what I offer him. He can be such a carb freak...lol

So in honor of Valentines day, here's a little valentines day something

L-love of my life, Matt and Tanner

O-outstanding friends like Jamie, Sharon, Suzanne, Erica, Trish, and Meghan who have been my closest friends and confidants for as long as I've known each of them.

V-very wonderful family who is so fun to be with...most of the time. Family who supports us and cares for us.

E-excellent friendships and friendships that are developing into more than "face" value friendships...if that makes sense. E is also for my middle name, Elaine, who I am named after and who I love very much.

There are lots of things I could put there but those are the ones that came to me at this moment of doing this.

I LOVE my life
I LOVE my friends
I LOVE my family
I LOVE that I have great people to work with
I LOVE where I live
I LOVE that I have reasonably good health. Not perfect, but pretty good.
I LOVE watching Tanner grow and learn
I LOVE teaching my Sunday Primary class
I LOVE those who are so willing to watch Tanner if I need it
I LOVE the gospel
I LOVE the Lord
I LOVE reading books and learning something new
I LOVE that my sister thinks, and says, that I'm freakishly strong
I LOVE having those perfect days where everything just falls into place and you accomplish what you wanted and your child(ren) are pretty well behaved and it just feels like the stars in your world are all aligned and things are great
I LOVE cardmaking
I LOVE when it snows. I love watching it fall. There's nothing more beautiful to me than an evergreen or spruce tree covered in snow.
I LOVE when people comment on my blog (HINT HINT!!!! There is no such thing as a dumb comment)
I LOVE reading other peoples blogs
I LOVE that I know how to cook and clean
I LOVE the experiences I have had in life and what they have taught me
I LOVE learning from other people's experiences
I LOVE dancing, singing, 'getting my groove thang' on.
I LOVE baking
I LOVE eating together as a family
I LOVE after we have family prayer, we all have a big family group hug
I LOVE when Tanner sings the Primary songs at home
I LOVE love. It's the best feeling in the world!

So Happy LOVE day! I hope it's a great one

Stolen

I stole this from Julie's blog (I know a bunch of other people did it too)





Four Jobs I've had:

1.Pet counsellor at Petland

2.Sandwich artist at Subway

3. Nanny

4.Usher at Stampede time





Four Places I've Lived:

1.Drumheller

2.Calgary

3.Canal Flats B.C.

4.Raymond





Four Movies That I Love:

1. Mean Girls

2.Sound of Music

3. Pride and Prejudice

4.Mary Poppins





Four Favorite Foods:

1. Peanut butter and Raspberry jam sandwiches

2. Spaghetti

3. Rice with salsa

4. Tacos





Four Weird Things About Me:

1. I eat countable things in even numbers (ie mini wheat's, ju-jubes, candy, bigger veggies)

2. I have to sleep closest to the door

3. I LOVE the smell of coffee

4. I can only drink hot drinks out of a mug and not a glass without a handle









Four Favorite TV Shows:

1. Grey's

2. Brother's and Sister's

3. October Road

4. The Office







Four Places I'd Love To Go:

1. Paris

2. Navoo

3. Italy

4. Mexico



I know I haven't blogged in a while. I guess I'm feeling bored with blogging. I'm not really sure what to write about or what people want to hear. It's just been a really busy week. I've started running on the treadmill. It's been going really good. I run 4 days a week. I take Tanner to and from school so that takes up a lot of time with running in between. Work has been good. My Aunt is coming this weekend for a visit. I don't have any opinions or thoughts on anything in particular. It's kind of a slow thinking week. We're just buzzing along. Nothing exciting. OH! Matt didn't get that job he had the interview for. I guess there's something better in store for him. I hope it shows up soon. Ummm...I guess that's it for now.

Mommy Tag

I know I already posted today but I found this fun little tag on another blog I check out occasionally.

Typical time of wake up: 8am on a super good day. But generally it's about 7:30ish.

How many times have you been a new mom: Once

How old were you when you became a mom (is this to personal?): 23

Favorite Kids show: Franklin, Doodlebops, Dragon Tales

Least Favorite Kids show: Calliou, Barney,

Favorite chore: probably dishes or laundry

Least favorite chore: dusting and making the beds

Meal you cook most often: usually pasta or rice...or Subway

Kids favorite meal: It changes all the time. Right now, it's Subway soup of ANY kind. Or Macaroni

5 things that make you smile when you are being a mom: When Tanner laughs, when he tells me he loves me randomly, when he gets excited for something and jumps up and down, when he runs anywhere in the house (seriously, this boy does NOT know the meaning of walking), when he calls me to the bathroom to wipe his bum (I don't know why this makes me smile, but it does)

Favorite thing your husband does with your kids: When he reads stories to T. Matt is a great story teler

Last time you went out with no kids: the last time was when I worked, but if the question refers to Matt and I...it will be this Friday when we go to the Temple.

If you could take your kids anywhere where would it be: To Calaway Park. Or to Utah.

Favorite pastime/activity with kids: Favorite past time is when Tanner's not feeling well, he gets pretty cuddly. I love that. Favorite activity is making cookies or playing in the pool.

1 thing you said you would never do when you were a mom: This one is a hard one because I don't know if I ever said that I would never do something specific when I was a Mom. Maybe have them never hit. I don't know.

If you had an afternoon to yourself what would you do? Read and go to the Chiropractor and accupuncturist. That's what I'd like to do, but honestly if I have an afternoon to myself, I do house cleaning and reading. That's more realistic. The first is a dream afternoon.

1 thing you do that your mom did & now you do: Ummm...make Tanner not play when he's sick. If we were sick, we had to lay in bed or on the couch and we were not allowed to play or get on the computer. If we were sick, we rested. I do that with Tanner. Not that he's sick like that very often. But I allow him to veg in front of the T.V. watching movies so he'll lay and rest. Otherwise, he get's up and plays.

Favorite quality of your own mom: She is the most non-judgemental person you'll ever meet. She never assumes or jumps to conclusions.

Favorite kids book: Guess how much I love you, The hungry Caterpillar, Where the wild things are....we grew up on books and now we have a lot of the same books for Tanner.

Scariest or most heartbreaking moment as a mom: Scariest thing was when they called me back way earlier than I expected when he was having his head surgery. I honestly thought he hadn't made it. At the same time the most heartbreaking thing was when his little head was so swollen and puffed that his eyelids started to turn inside out and when he was "awake" he waved his arm around to "see" if I was there. It was so sad. Another scary thing happened this summer when my Mom and Aunt were here to help me garden and he went missing. I thought he was in the front and when I went to check on him my Aunt said he was in the back. He wasn't in the back because I had just come from there. So I went in the house and called his name...no answer. Then I panicked. I knew he knew where the park is (right around the corner) and I ran over there. No Tanner. Then I started walking down the street...no Tanner. As I'm walking past the car in the driveway, the horn honks. There he was, this whole time playing in the car. I was so scared. Needless to say, we keep our doors locked and the keys where he can't reach them anymore.

Most joyful moment as a mom: When any of his Doctor's or therapists tell me he's doing well, the first time he smiled at me, the day we finally got to bring him home from the hospital. I know the question implys one, but there have and continue to be, many.

Last time your child told you they love you: All the time. I constantly tell him that I love him. In the middle of a movie, in the middle of coloring, when we're dancing, when he's in the shower with me, when he's eating, when we're walking to school, when I drop him off at school. I ALWAYS tell him I love him.



Now go tell your kids how great they are give them a big hug & kiss! I think you are all the best moms ever, and are doing a heck of a job!

I tag anyone who wants to do this. (I'd be especially interested in reading Amy, Christal, Bobbi-Jo, Adrienne, and Jamie's responses. But no pressure...lol. )

Thanks Erica

Erica made a great suggestion on my post about what I should write about. She suggested writing 10 things I couldn't live without. First off, I just want to say that we really truly and honestly don't have a lot of stuff. We don't have anything fancy or expensive so I really honestly could live without a lot of stuff because I already do. But that being said these are the top 10 things I couldn't live without. I am not allowed to say people...that's a given. Like Matt and Tanner and my friends and family. Also, food and clothes is a given. I literally couldn't live without those things.

1. My heart....obviously I would be dead without it.

2. My digital camera...I am obsessed with taking pictures of Tanner

3. The griddle Matt got for Christmas. It's truly a blessing. Pancakes only take 15 minutes instead of us eating in shifts because we could only cook one at a time.

4. My scriptures. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my scriptures. If I could, I would seriously carry them around with me everywhere. I just love them.

5. Hmmmm.....music. I have to listen to music a lot. I love music and dancing.

6. My calendar. It's my lifeline to organize my life and keep what's going on in front of me at all times. I got obsessed with this after I had Tanner and he was having so many appointments. I also keep my calendars so I know what happened 2 years ago, or 3 years ago or a few months ago. It's kind of another way of keeping a mini journal.

7. The gospel. Everything about it and everything it teaches. I couldn't live without. Especially forgiveness and repentance. Those are vital.

8. Love. I couldn't live without it for very long. It's the worst feeling when you think people don't love you.

9. Good friends and friendship. Life would be pretty boring without friends. Okay so that's a people one but I wanted to put it on there. I'll add another one.

10. My cards and card making things. I get a little consumed with it sometimes. I go through phases where I do them a lot and then I just have to put them away and wait for inspiration.

11. My bed with my comforter. Mmmmmm.....so warm and relaxing.

So that's it. I know a lot of people have posted on President Hinckley's death and the wonderful life he lead. I just want people to know that I know he was a Prophet of God and I echo everyone else's sentiments. I've always been that kind of person. If someone else, or several, have posted on something or written about something or talked about something that I agree with, I don't really like to repeat what other's have said if I agree or feel the same way. I'm sorry if that's a bit snobbish or stand offish. I don't think that it's necessary to express my feelings or opinions when I agree with what other's have already said. I hope that doesn't come off as rude. I'm not trying to be. I don't have much else to add.

My Christmas wish

So I have been tagged again by Christal. I have to write 6 things that people don't know about me, so here goes nothing...lol

1. I LOVE maple flavored Mini-Wheats. They are my favorite. I also love the brown sugar ones. They are my second favorite kind.

2. I am, right now, completley stressed out with life. I feel burnt out and over stretched

3. I get to have an early Christmas with my family in Calgary on the 18th. I am excited about that.

4. I can't find our Christmas Tree stand. I have the tree but can't find the stand for it so we might not be able to put up a tree this year. Which is really sad because I spent about 3 months making a beautiful tree skirt for our tree. I'm totally bummed out at the thought that I might not get to display it this year.

5. My theme for Christmas is snowmen. I don't really like the whole Santa Claus thing and I am not going to encourage Tanner and future children to believe in Santa. I'm not going to discourage him but I'm not going to encourage it. I personally believe that it is dishonest to force your kids to believe in something that isn't even real. I will tell him the story of St.Nicholas but if he doesn't want to believe in it, I am not going to tell him he has to. I don't believe in lying to your kids. Snowmen are a real part of winter. I thought about doing a Nativity theme but I wanted to do something a little funner for when our kids were little. Plus, they didn't have a lot of Nativity things when I startred looking. Tanner knows about the Nativity and he knows the story of the Savior's birth.

6. This one isn't so much about me but it affects me...Tanner is having surgery in January. This one will be the last one for about 5 or 6 years. I am SO happy to have been able to get to this stage.

Now, for my Christmas wish. I would love for all of you who read (or ever have read) my blog to let me know that you read it. Weather you have ever commented or not, I would love to hear from those who read this. Just a simple Hi in the comments would be awesome. If I don't know you personally, tell me how you came across my blog.That is my Christmas wish this year. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and for commenting when you do.

That's it for now.

AGAIN???

People really like to Tag me and to tell you the truth, I don't mind it at all. So I have to write 6 habits or things people don't know about me that I haven't written about before (which is going to be hard because I've written plenty of this stuff before)

1. I'm like Adrienne in that I'm in a clothes crisis. I feel like nothing fits, nothing looks good and I don't like the style right now. I just wear what is comfortable and I don't really care. I use to be a little bit trendy/school girly but now, I don't know. Clothes is too expensive. I like JOE, LOVE LOVE LOVE Reitmans, and sometimes I like Old Navy. Also, I am in a music jam. I don't really know what I really really like. I love The MTC, and most country and old stuff. I don't really think the stuff they play now is worth listening too. I listen to it sometimes but it get's on my nerves pretty quickly.

2. When I am having a really challenging day I have a bad habit of thinking that life as a pioneer would be easier than what I'm dealing with at the moment. I know, totally unrealistic, but, whatever

3. I believe in the natural, homeopathic stuff. I believe oils and herbs are better for a person. I wish we had more money so that we could do all that stuff full on.

4. I have to sleep with a pillow between my knees. Ever since I was pregnant, I have to have it.

5. After my Dad died, I had to sleep with something in my arms every night. When I got the Jordan doll from NKOTB, I slept with it. Then I slept with a dinosaur that I got from someone when I got my wisdom teeth out. It's not so bad now but for a very long time, I couldn't go to sleep with something in my arms. It could get a bit akward at sleepovers but I didn't really care.

6. I have a habit of when I get a needle to have my blood drawn or having any kind of pain, I dig my thumb nail into my pointer finger to lessen the pain of where I feel it. It weird, I know.

***I know we are only suppose to do 6 but I thought of one more that is kind of funny. I got a new set of scriptures for my birthday and I can't bear to mark them up yet. I carry my old BofM around so I can mark it up like crazy. I did't have a seperate Bible before my new ones I got for my birthday, so I carry around my new (seperate) set of The B of M and the Bible and my old B of M. It's too pretty to mark up yet. Next year I'll be braver and do it really nice. I should have arms of steel pretty soon with all that weight in my church bag.

So I am going to tag Christine, Amanda, Malauney, Juliette, Kim, and Brooke.

Also, besides being tagged I discovered that a mouse ate through some of Book of Mormon study guide. So I said to Matt "that mouse better be super smart from Alma 1-15 because that's where he ate through". It was pretty funny. He laughed at me.

In other news, my sister came to visit and we had a wonderful time. I always love when my family comes down. I always have a good visit with them.

So I think that's it for today.

Twice Tagged

I've been tagged for 2 different things. One from Bobbi-Jo and the other from Tara so here goes.

Me summed up in fours

My four favorite naughty food:
1. Cheeseies
2. Tim Bits
3. Popcorn with flavoring salt
4.Crave cupcakes

My 4 favorite movies
1. Ever After
2. Lion King
3. Pride and Prejudice
4. Mean Girls

My 4 favorite things to say
1. SERIOUSLY?!
2. For real?
3. Whatever
4. Yeah right!

My 4 favorite T.V. shows
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Prison break
3. Brother's and Sisters
4. The Hills

4 jobs I've had:
1. Pet Councelor (Petland)
2. Subway Sandwich Artist
3. Usher (Saddledome)
4. Nanny

My 4 favorite scrapbooking colors
1. Pink
2. Brown
3. Saffron Yellow
4. Black

Four places I would love to visit
1. New York
2. Disneyland
3. Navoo
4. All over California

Four names I like but never named my children
1. Ava
2. Ausitn
3. Callie
4. Dylan

My 4 biggest fears:
1. Tanner dying
2. The Dark
3. Not knowing my family as well as I think I do
4. Being unhealthy

Now I tag Jamie and Lahni on this one

Six random things:

1. I put my towel on the heat register when I'm in the shower to warm it up for when I get out.

2. I loved growing up in the 80's. It was the best time of my life...or should I say funnest.

3. I love the smell of fresh laundry. It makes me happy and even a little giddy.

4. When I was a kid, after breakfast my sister's and I use to all find a heat register and pull our nighties up over our knees and sit on it to get warm before we had to get dressed for school.

5. It drives me crazy when people leave dishes in other rooms of the house and they don't bring them to the kitchen to be washed.

6. I have moved 9 times in my life. Most of which have been after I have been married.

I have to tag 6 people but I don't even know 6 "bloggers". So I will tag anyone who is willing to do this one.

Things I'm grateful for

So I was thinking about all the things I'm grateful for while driving home from Calgary today. These are the top 10. There are too many things to list.

1. My health. I have not been super sick ever and that's a good thing.

2. Affordable health care. This is especially important since we have had Tanner

3. Knowledge

4. A home

6. Family and Friends

7. The gospel and all it encompasses

8. The scriptures

9. A free country

10. The Savior

These are in no order of importance but the top 10 most important.

We have come back from a wonderful trip from Calgary. We had such a good time. It was fun, restful, revealing, relaxing, enjoyable and filling.
I don't feel like I have that much to say so this is just a short one. We were able to take a bunch of family pictures and they turned out reasonably well. We haven't all been together since April when we were up for my birthday. So it's been a while. It was nice. It didn't come without some frustration and tears but it worked out in the end. Now we will probably have to wait until the spring to go up all together again. We are 100 % sure that we are having Christmas down here. We aren't able to afford to go up more than once a month and Tanner has 3 appointments 1 week before Christmas so we'll already be up for that and we can't stay because I have to teach in Church that Sunday. So cross my fingers, hopefully the weather stays decent so that my family can and will come down to us. If it's bad weather, they won't come. My Mom doesn't like driving in any questionable weather. She had a really bad experience when we were younger so it makes her very nervous to be onthe roads with any type of weather incriments. It's nice to be able to have my family come down. It will be a new adventure. If my sister comes, I will be very suprised. She is very much about tradition and going to the nativity paegent on Christmas Eve is tradition so I know it will probably be very difficult for her if she gives that up this year. My other married sister and her husband is going up to his family so they won't be with us this year. And I hope my little sister can come. She said she works but I don't know when. She has never been down here since we moved so it will be a nice treat if she comes too. Christmas seems to be such a big thing and it's a very busy and happy (generally for the most part) time for our family. It's a big holiday for us. Anyway...I hope it all works out. Tanner's speech went fairly well. She had Tanner doing some way harder stuff than he's use to so it was a little frustrating for him. But he did okay. It's things we have been trying to work on already to get him where he should be and a little bit ahead. He has a hard time with "is" and "are" and using them in sentences. So now we have to be A LOT more concencious about saying those words and not using slang like "it's a car" for "it is a car". I think we sometimes get so lazy in our slang and shorten words that it affects the next generation. Not a lot of people talk like that anymore but how else are kids suppose to learn those propositions if they don't hear them. It will take some effort on our part but if it helps, I'll learn to talk "properly" so he learns what he needs to.

Well, I think that's it for now. I'm out for a walk. Yeah!!!!

A little more about me

A friend recently e-mailed this to me and I thought I'd post it.


This is for your entire life:
( ) Smoked a cigarette
( ) Drank so much you threw up
( ) Crashed a friend's car
( ) Stolen a car..but returned it the same night unharmed
(x) Been in love
(x) Been dumped
(x) Been laid off/fired
(x) Quit your job
( ) Been in a fist fight
(x) Snuck out of your parent's house
(x) Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back.....
( ) Been arrested
(x) Gone on a blind date
(x) Lied to a friend but only to protect feelings
(x) Skipped school
( ) Seen someone die
(x) Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Been lost
(x) Been on the opposite side of the country
( ) Gone to Washington, DC
( )Swam in the ocean
(x) Felt like dying
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
( ) Played cops and robbers
(x) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang karaoke
(x) Paid for a meal with only coins...
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) Made prank phone calls
(x) Made a friend cry
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe.....
(x) Watched the sun rise with someone you cared about.
(x) Blew bubbles
( ) Made a bonfire on the beach
( ) Crashed a party
(x) Gone roller-skating
(x) Gone Ice-skating
(x) Gone Fishing
(x) Gone Toilet Papering
(x ) Gone to a major/national league game
( ) Gone to Europe