pre-physical=pampering

The day started in a blur and has continued on at the same pace. Orthodontist appointment before school,{shower and shave of the legs}got little one on the bus--picked up son from the ortho and went to the school to drop him off. While i was there i registered him for his summer school class, spoke with the the guidance counselor about on line classes and then i was off to my procrastinated pre physical. I was being good and decided to show up for my appointment a half hour early only to learn that my appointment was a half hour later than i thought--so all told i was an hour early. This is not a normal occurrence in my life--I had a book with me so i sat down and proceeded to read a few lines and then i needed a short nap. That waiting thing can be so exhausting sometimes. Did the tests for my physical and i will get the results in a few weeks when I go back. HMMMM i wonder what they will tell me? Maybe i should exercise more and lose some weight? Any one want to place bets on that one? I do know that i have extremely cranky veins when it comes to drawing blood--i make the phlebotomist crazy. I warned them about what would happen when they went to draw from me--did they believe me--NO? I guess i showed them and i got struck twice in the process. After all the tests i decided that i deserved a pedicure--actually my heels were looking OH SO SCARY and i figured that it was duty to rid my world of scary looking(and feeling) feet. So i went to a new place that was closer to my house and i guess my feet were so bad that he pulled out a dremil (for those of you who are tool impaired that is like a drill with sandpaper on it) and proceeded to sand all the extra skin off my heels. {This might gross you out so proceed at your own risk} It was disgusting--there was skin flakes and pieces flying all over--but i will tell you this--my heels feel WONDERFUL and look equally as WONDERFUL. I also decided since i was cleaning up i might as well get rid of the bearded woman look--so i went for the full facial wax. [Now this was fun] Have you ever had your nose waxed? I didn't even know that i had hair on my nose--and yet i digress. My face is now as smooth as a babies butt. Here is the real benefit to getting your face waxed on the hottest day of the year--any extra wax that is left on your face quickly melts off when you go outside---OH how i am not looking forward to the upcoming heat. Well that was the morning--all about ME--well i guess i did do something for child #2.

“Enjoy life.

This is not a dress rehearsal.”

- Author Unknown

shut out the world

Truly what is our world coming to? [TV is on in the background]---when, oh when, did it become acceptable to say words like "erectile" especially attached to the statement---"lasting more than 4 hours"? Why do we need to know about genital herpes? And how about the commercial that states a side effect of a particular drug is "EXPLOSIVE DIARRHEA"? Am i just being too sensitive or are we just a little too visual in the descriptions that are given. What happened to leaving things up to your imagination? Why do we need to know that people are {suffering?} with these problems. I wouldn't mind going back to a time when there were actually things that were inappropriate to talk about. Nothing is sacred anymore---everything is out in the open to clutter our minds. We are constantly being covered in the garbage of the world--so how do we live in it and try to maintain the innocence and naivety that was not that long ago. Short of crawling under a rock, throwing out the TV and living in some weird compound I am not sure it can be done. I guess it is just such a common place anymore that it bothers me that more people are not bothered.

Remember what is unbecoming to do

is also unbecoming to speak of.
----

Socrates

So here was my fix for leaving the world behind. Hubby and i went to the temple with our ward. The temple president spoke to us about coming through the doors and leaving the cares and problems of the world behind. There is such a peace that is present in the temple. Things move a slower pace. Things are simpler. It was a wonderful evening away from the dirt of the world. We also found out that there will be 2 new temples built in AZ. One will be in the Gila Valley and the other will be built in Gilbert. It is amazing how the number of temples has grown in my lifetime. One thing that was mentioned about the temples--they are built for everyone to be able to attend--there are just some pre-requisites for being able too do so. I love the knowledge that every hour of the day that the temple is open there are prayers being offered in behalf of those who are in need of extra blessings or are struggling. It was a great evening and i am so glad that we were able to go and get away from the world for a few hours. Now to figure out a more permanent situation.....{anyone have any ideas--I'm open to some thoughts}

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/background-information/temples

Aloha to Ethan

This is a entry from my new blogger friend Ethan. He lives up in Utah. This entry gave me quite a chuckle--take a look.
http://ethensevents.blogspot.com/2008/04/me-and-my-brother.html

talk the talk

my non verbal child loves the phone, until someone is actually on it wanting to talk to him. Last night he had the portable with him curled up where he was trying to go to sleep. I noticed it and thought that we should probably take that away from him--we did when we got the call back from the 911 dispatcher stating that they had been called and wanting to know if there was an emergency. Oh how i wish he could talk some days. I was watching a video that Kari had put on her blog showing her baby cooing--{the early stages of language} and i realized that Alex never really did that--he was so quiet. He is still quiet--kinda---until he wants to make his needs known and then watch out---he does everything is his power to let us know what he wants/needs or likes/dislikes. I just wish he didn't have to work so hard to get his point across. I wish he could express in words the things he is thinking about. Sometimes he just looks at me as he is trying to talk and i can see the desire in his eyes to say the words--yet anything but words come out. Just plain old frustrating.

Here is the blessing of having a non-verbal child---He is the one kid in my home that doesn't talk back. It doesn't mean that he doesn't ignore me when i am talking to him--he just doesn't openly defy me--Such a small blessing--but......

I would and am willing to give up that blessing to have him talk someday.
I do believe that it will happen--

SOMEDAY......

but oh that "patience is a virtue" thing certainly does try my PATIENCE.

Half the world is composed

of people who have something to say

and can't,

and the other half

who have nothing to say

and keep on saying it."

- --

Robert Frost

The law of the garbage truck

Something to think about......
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport . We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck'.
He explained, "Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage , full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it on to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is do not let garbage trucks take over your day. Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So,

'Love the people who treat you right.

Pray for the ones who don't.'

Life is ten percent what you make it

and ninety percent how you take it!"

smell the happiness

Sometimes there are simple things

that just make me happy.

Sometimes it is a smell.

I love the smell of clean laundry,

I love towels that smell all yummy and full of fabric softener.

Then there are the white clothes that smell of bleach.

Call me crazy

but i love that smell as well.

Maybe it is the fact that they contained dirty socks to begin with

and when they come out

they are all nice and clean and smell great in my opinion.

-----

Last night we had family night at the laundry mat--

so much fun pitching in together

to get a rather daunting task accomplished.

I love having all the winter blankets

washed and folded

and put away for the summer.

My goal for this week is to get my laundry room

cleaned out, cleaned up

and organized.

And maybe

if i am crazy

get my ironing done

--such ambition.

------------------

Another simple joy that i got to experience today is

holding a four day old baby.

Again the smell--

there is nothing quite like holding something so

fresh and new from God.

I love the fact that i can hold them,

snuggle them

and be in complete AWE

(I sat in disbelief that my kids were ever that small)

and yet, I have NO desire to have another one of my own.

There is a great satisfaction

in knowing that your family is complete.

I can only imaging the joy

of holding my childrens children--

--but i am content to wait on that one,

although i know it will be here before I know it.

-----------------------

Last thing on my simple joys of the day--

I love when the radio plays some

music

that just makes me want to

{bust a move}.

I love turning it up

(real loud)

and feeling the beat.

Singing like there is no tomorrow

and car dancing.

This is the kind of dancing where

(if your children are with you they are thoroughly embarrassed)

--you don't actually move your arms--

[because you are driving and that would not be safe]

but you have to isolate the moves from your shoulders and neck.

If traffic is not too bad.....

.....carefully [remember safety first]

remove one hand

and do the old Saturday night fever move.

Throw in some head banging

or some hip action

and you are rockin out to the tunes as you drive

--it just kinda makes me happy--

{ok, it really makes me happy}

(fills me with joy and makes my heart swell)

--what can i say--

I know i am slightly off balanced

--but that's what i love about me--

pure abandonment to conventional stuffiness.

---I will leave you with this thought---

As for worrying

what other people might think--

FORGET IT.

They aren't concerned about you.

----

They're too busy worrying about what

YOU

and other people

think of them.

---

Micheal LeBoeuf

And the ITCHING continues.....

I am sick and tired of being SICK and TIRED. These stupid allergies are driving me crazy. I have not had this many bad days in a long time. Here is the real problem. I can take drugs to feel better but my ability to function is severely limited--I want to sleep and if i can't sleep i just am dragging. But the alternative is to scratch, itch, water and in general feel miserable. Do i really have a GOOD choice--which is the lesser of the two evils? I have yet to figure this out.

the brain is empty

No profound thoughts of my own to share tonight--so instead i will post one that makes me feel profound just for reading it. Then i will post my all time favorite pictures from the Trek--they are of my niece and nephew. Then i will call it a night.....

If you were all alone in the universe

with no one to talk to,

no one with which to share the beauty of the stars,

to laugh with,

to touch,

what would be

your purpose in life?

It is other life,

it is love,

which gives your life meaning.

This is harmony.

We must discover the joy of each other,

the joy of challenge,

the joy of growth.

-----

Mitsugi Saotome

Phones are a blessing

PHONES--

they are a plague to me.

They don't like me and are plotting against me to make my life crazy.

The home phones are each taking turns being on the FRITZ. One doesn't like to answer--it only works on speaker phone, and the other just decided to quit ringing. I mean who really needs to know that someone is trying to call you? Then (unbeknownst to me) my cell phone took a suicide leap out of my pocket when i was putting Alex into the car. Luckily i listened to the still small voice--{the one that does not need a phone to reach me.} I felt prompted to look for my phone before i drove off. When i couldn't find it I felt strongly that I should go inside and call my phone
(I was thinking maybe i had left it in the house) I heard it ringing and low and behold it was lined up with the back tire on the ground under the car. If I hadn't listened to the prompting my phone would be NO MORE. I would have run it over without even knowing. This phone is supposed to be like indestructible and all but do i really want to test that for accuracy? I know that I am making light of this--but truly I feel blessed that i listened to the promtings. Sometimes it is those small and simple blessings that we need to acknowledge.

Garden of Weedin'

I grow weeds.

I grow them well. I don't have to work that hard at it--

it just seems to happen.

In the midst of my weeds today I found I have been growing

something of worth.

In pulling the weeds around my compost pile there was a familiar smell

--of a tomato plant.--

With further investigation I found that I had

not one, two or three plants,

but SIX tomato plants

that have taken up residence around my compost pile.

Now, it is one thing to grow the plant,

but {HOLY MOLEY}

to have it produce the fruit is something else.

Allah, peanut butter sandwiches--

Or maybe i should say

Allah, BLT SANDWICHES

I give you a tomato plant with 8 tomatoes

--Yes i am impressed with myself and my wonderful green thumb.

For my next trick i am going to work on the bacon plant.

A number of rare or newly experienced foods

have been claimed to be aphrodisiacs.

At one time this quality was even ascribed to the tomato.

Reflect on that when you are next preparing the family salad.”

Jane Grigson

Three tomatoes are walking down the street-

a poppa tomato, a momma tomato, and a little baby tomato.

Baby tomato starts lagging behind.

Poppa tomato gets angry, goes over to the baby tomato,

and smooshes him… and says, Catch up.

DEEPly disturbing

What has blood shot eyes,itchy ears and a strange voice?

---ME--

during allergy season.

So tonight i want to talk about something DEEP

---ummmm--- and that would be my voice today.It is funny that when you don't have anyone to talk too you forget what you sound like. After a quiet day at home i was on my way to work and stopped by Wendy's to get some lunch----

( Did you know that they are now open for breakfast? Years ago when i was a teen they used our area as a market research for breakfast--I loved it! They had the best french toast sticks with this apple dip stuff that was sooo Yummy. I was hoping that they would bring back the blast from my past. No such luck. Sorry, i rattle on and digress from my original topic) ----

Anywho, I went to order my food and out came this deep, rather alarming voice. Who was this person speaking? It was the weirdest thing--so instead of calling me Leigh Ann just call me Leigh. Kinda like a Pat--guy/girl or what. That is totally how i felt with my deeply sexy voice. Well maybe not so sexy unless i was singing R&B.

Through pride

we are ever deceiving ourselves.

But deep down

below the surface of the average conscience

a still, small voice says to us,

'Something is out of tune.'

-----

Carl Jung:

Anniversary of Tax day?

Other than my anniversary the only other one that I can remember the exact date is my brother and sister-in-laws. It is only right though since they did get engaged in the back of my car. We have shared 20 years together and more importantly they have shared those years together. I used to think that 20 years seemed like a long way off and it is hard to believe that we have both hit that bench mark. I was going to include pictures from our wedding since they were both in our wedding and each caught the bouquet and garter respectively. Only problem is that I can't find my wedding pictures ( i have no clue where they are?) So you will have to get a picture of them on the Trek--the only reason I feel i even have to post a picture is that Sheli said she will only read my blog if i have more pictures--so here to you guys. Happy Anniversary and here's wishing you another happy 20 together.

Miracles DO happen

Anyone who doubts that modern day miracles take place

was not in my home tonight.

Anyone who knows me in the slightest,

knows that i hardly do any of the cooking.

If you have been in my home at dinner time you know

that it is the rare night that we all get to sit down together

and if we do it is never before 7pm.

tonight many of these things changed.

First off, we were having the sister missionaries for dinner.

They like to eat at 5pm,

which in my world is next to impossible,

but i keep trying.

I am not know in my circle of friends for being the most prompt person--

when i give a time it is with the ISH attached to it.

Like, we will eat around 5ish

(this means anywhere from 5:15 at the earliest to 5:45)

[Once when we had the missionaries something was taking much longer

to cook than I had anticipated so we ate DESSERT first].

Yes, i was the hit with the missionaries that night.

{Sorry i digressed.}

So tonight the stars aligned and weird things happened.

Everything and i mean EVERYTHING

(including napkins on the table)

was ready to be eaten at 5 o'clock sharp.

WHAT?--you say.

I know it's hard to believe--even i was astounded.

The only problem was that on this given night

my normally very prompt missionaries were LATE!?

I just had to laugh--they know me too well.

BUT I WANT IT NOTED FOR THE RECORD--

that i did manage to put on a spread, ON TIME.

We all sat down and enjoyed a wonderful meal together.

Such a simple act--such a BIG DEAL.

just a small miracle

Toasted and Grilled we were THRILLED

i found a soul sister on the blog. Someone who loves butter as much as i do! Just looking at the pictures of the food she makes is about enough to make your arteries clog--but I am drawn to the recipes like a fish is to water. It was not enough to sit and drool over the computer as we looked up various recipes this weekend. We (me and the kids) went to work on recreating one of the tasty morsels---and TASTY it was!!!!

Slice up mounds of meat (sorry if you are a vegetarian)

add some Toasted bread on the griddle

A lovely variety of vegetables sauteed in butter

And a little melted cheese on top of the cooked meat

And what do you get?

--An AMAZING taste sensation--

that and 5 hApPy Kids and a HaPpY husband to boot. It is not every day that i cook-but my motto is "go big or go home" Wait I am home? So maybe it should be "I cook therefore i can go to scrapbook class"--YES--that is it. After i finished lunch with the kids i skedaddled off to the scrapbook store with my 300 Trek photos in tow and worked on an album to put them in. I am so thrilled and can hardly wait to get it finished--I will be posting pictures of that feat.

" Eat butter first,

and eat it last,

and live till a hundred years be past."

------

Old Dutch proverb

It's Open season on OPEN TOES

While not all statements apply to me personally I thought it would be a good idea to refresh us on the proper etiquette of open toe/heel footwear


Alright ladies, it's that time of year once again!!! I think we all need to be reminded of a few things. So my sisters, PLEASE, raise your big toes and repeat after me below...

The Open Toed Shoe and Sandal Pledge

As a member of the Cute Girl Sisterhood, I pledge to follow the Rules when wearing sandals and other open-toe shoes:

• I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.

• I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.

• I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow and crack. There is nothing worse than seeing the a map of the Grand Canyon on the backs of your feet

• I will shave the hairs off my big toe.

• I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.

• If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.

• I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl's if my feet need him.

• I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.

• I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.

• I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and that NO sandal makes creepy feet look good.
  

• I will promise if I wear flip flops that I will ensure that they actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.

• I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs of wear... nothing is tackier than dirty white sandals.

my IDOL opinion

Today i have determined that i am the only person who IS NOT watching American Idol. Now i am not dissing those of you who take the time to watch the show, I just really don't care this year. I have had a great sense of indifference to the show since they voted off Chris Daughtry [who has since had a great album] I thought about the many years that i watched faithfully only to see someone that I didn't care for win--let me name a few. In the order of least favorite

1. Fantasia---just the thought of her and her squealie voice makes me cringe {where is she now I ask---my point exactly!!}


2. Ruben--the velvet teddy bear--while he could sing the low and mellow it just didn't do IT for me--Clay Aiken has become far more marketable and I see him all the time on talk shows and such


3. Taylor Hicks--I find it hard to watch a white boy sing the blues--I'm not big into harmonicas and he seemed like a bad wedding singer.


4. And i know that Sanjaya didn't win but he stayed far longer than he should have last year---it made the whole season appear as a joke

It also irritates me that Simon gets boo-ed for being honest,Randy speaks in Eubonics and Dawg phrases and Paula is channeling Mr.Rogers telling people that they are beautiful,wonderful and to follow their dreams.....Quit dancing around the truth and tell it like it is--they stunk.

I realize i am probably the only person who does not like the first few weeks of tryouts where the really bad singers show off their skills or lack there of. It just appears to be contrive and predictable--and with that being said ( i know i am in the minority especially in my own household) enjoy your singing competition and talking about it the day after--but when you mention it to me, and i look clueless as to what you are talking about--please remember I really am!

As far as winners go my favorite idol has been Carrie Underwood. Love her albums.

A Blue Bird Dies

It took me a bit to finally get these pictures. On Tuesday i had planned on taking the pictures after i got back from my baseball game--who knew that night it would go extra innings and then be called on account of darkness. I tried to take the pictures but they really did not show the full effect in the dark. The next day i decided to take them before i left for my trip--and in trying to be efficient and making sure that my battery would be charged i managed to leave it at home on the charger. So no pictures yesterday. I guess as they say the third times the charm. So here are the pictures and we will now have a lesson in

COMPARE and CONTRAST.

One of these things doesn't look like the others--

---one of these things just doesn't belong

this was the buses best side

Here is what the bus used to look like

and what it currently looks like--creased like an accordion
how it used to look with the door
and where is the door?

another view from how it is supposed to look

--hence the COMPARE

and the CONTRAST

and one view from the inside

---AMAZING---

Truly a blessing that nobody was seriously hurt or even killed. While the pictures are striking it really doesn't do justice for the magnitude of destruction. This accident really reminded me what a serious job i have and made me even more aware of the responsibility that i am charged with each time i am behind the wheel. It doesn't matter how good a driver you are if you are on the road with those who are not alert and paying attention.

In the famous words of "Hillstreet Blues"

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE

sNuggLinG with the Little Man

Just me and little bud home tonight. It is so weird! Everyone had places to be and since we have an additional driver i was not needed to go out and retrieve anyone. So we just hung out--having conversations about things that i have no knowledge about. If only i understood ANY of what he is trying to tell me--well actually i do understand...SOME. He is such a good beggar and the sign drink is REAL CLEAR. So he flashes me the old drink sign--but i refuse to give in and let him SLUG the rest of my Pepsi-- I tell him to go get his own drink. I love his independence or his wanting to be independent. So off he goes, and i hear the ice maker going. He comes back downstairs with the biggest glass possible--[like the size of his head] and proceeds to climb up in bed with me. Will he share the said glass--NO. He was just taunting me with the lovely crushed ice--2/3 full, just like i like it. My other children struggle to make me a proper drink and here comes my "special" child with it--PERFECT. I am seeing a future here for him--only problem is that we don't hang out in bars or coffee houses. Maybe one day there will be a need for a drink specialist at QT--there is the job for him. He did finally let me have a sip--and i must say it was nice and cold and perfect--just like our evening together. Nothing like having a child snuggle up to you to fall asleep. I LoVe these moments.

My children....

have been a constant joy to me

(except on the days when they weren't)

----

Evelyn Fairbanks

mArVeLous MiSs MiNdY

you need to use you best Mexican music here
---I--Yi--YI--YI, I love my pollo fundido.

I love just saying those words--POLLO FUNDIDO, just the sound of it makes me happy--it is like a party with language. And when I take that first bite my taste buds start the happy dance. Yes, I know that it is deep fried. Yes, I know that is bad for me but.... there is something about the sour cream sauce that is sooo YUMMY!!! I love Mexican food--not the Taco Bell type, but the kind where you go in and you are one of the few who speaks English as their primary language kind of Mexican food.

Joining me in this FUNdido lunch today was Jo (since she was out of school) and Miss Mindy (one of Jo's ex middle school teachers) Mindy is taking a break from corrupting, I mean teaching my children and is working around the corner from our house.

We had a fun lunch of dodging the pigeons and LAUGHING. It is great that Mindy can continue to influence my children.

Just so you know I had on the brown shirt first this morning--how embarrassing that your daughter tries to dress like you--Is there a talk show for cases like this?

"Make [food] simple

and let things taste of what they are."

Pioneer woman cooks

I found this blog site--can i just say two words YUM----EEEE.
{ i realize that it really is only one word but i make it work as two} I only wish that you could reach in and grab a biteful from the wonderful pictures she posts. I tried to put in under my favorites but blogger is having issues this AM--so i will leave the connection here to add to my blog later.
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/
It makes me want to go and cook just so i can eat some of these luscious recipes. The recipes appear to be pretty simple and straight forward and she likes to use things like--BUTTER ( can you hear the angels singing--truly that was one of gods greatest feats ) Try it out--I know i will be

"Food...

can look beautiful, taste exquisite,

smell wonderful,

make people feel good,

bring them together,

inspire romantic feelings....

At its most basic,

it is fuel for a hungry machine;...."

-----

Rosamond Richardson, English cookery author

Happy hurling

DISCLAIMER:If you have a weak stomach--go to the second paragraph--I would hate to be the reason of anyone spending time praying to the porcelain god

We have had a case of the puke--ees as of late. Kayce was at home Saturday night with them and Jake was out with Kevin at a restaurant (Red Lobster, which even when you feel fine the smell can be a bit much to handle) having the same issue. Only poor Jake had the problem on the way to the bathroom in the restaurant.YUCK. Can you say that someone earned their TIP that night? I am so glad that dad got to deal with that one--he{dad} is the official HURLER in the family and I often comment (when my children are in the throws of puking) that it is his weak gene that is the cause of the issue. We (the Jensens) are non-hurlers. I threw up ONCE with each of my pregnancys and thats about it for me. I am not saying that i don't feel like it, I just don't SPEEW. Which leads me to my dear hubby and him staying home today--not feeling well. He has learned after many years of marriage to shut the door to the bathroom or go to the one that is the farthest away from where i am. And who says that men can't be taught? {Truly that is high up on thoughtfulness as far as I am concerned.} I am hoping that is the extent of sharing this bug--Why is it that some people need the TLC when they are sick and others (ME) just want to be left alone to feel miserable on my own?

I got to see my niece play softball today--it was fun being her personal cheerleader. After the game i drove her in my sweet ride (big yellow bus) back to the yard and then she came over to our house for the gourmet dinner of PIZZA.(from little ceasers) If you haven't had the cheese bread you have not lived. It is soooo YUMMY--i could eat that by itself. It was fun just hanging out with her and getting to know her better--it's not often that we are one on one. When we got back to the bus yard there was a bus that was rather munched parked in the back. I will have to take a picture cuz it is quite an amazing site that no one was seriously injured.

Here's to driving safe......

Take time to work

- it is the price of success.

Take time to think

- it is the source of power.

Take time to play -

it is the secret of perpetual youth.

Take time to read -

it is the foundation of wisdom.

Take time to be friendly -

it is the road to happiness.

Take time to dream -

it is hitching your wagon to a star.

Take time to look around

- it is too short a day to be selfish.

Take time to Laugh -

it is the music of the soul.

Take time with God -

it is the source of strength -

Source Unknown.

wedding and conference weekend

where has the weekend gone? I feel like it just blew by and i feel like it has been forever since i have really blogged. Highlights of the weekend entail the wedding reception--it was so much fun catching up with people that I haven't seen in years. It was great hanging out with the girlfriends in the kitchen and laughing. I would post pictures but being the photographer that i am i actually left the camera at home? What was i thinking? I am hoping to get pictures off of my friends camera and if i do i will post them.
While in the kitchen my dear friend got a little zealous with the scissors and injured herself. Nothing like some duct tape to fix the mistakes we make in life. We don't need no stinkin' band-aid. The funny thing was that another one of our friends about passed out at the sight of this little bit of blood. We couldn't help but laugh at her plight as we wondered how she survived this problem during her kids childhoods. As a grandma she must figure that if there is any blood it is the parents responsibility.


On Saturday i had to work and ended up in a gym where i could actually get wireless Internet. It was a Catholic private school so the fact that i was watching LDS conference in the gym was kinda cracking me up. So about the time that conference came on i turned on the computer and was sitting watching when a coach came in and declared that i must be hard core since i was watching conference--the really funny thing is that I am pretty sure that he is not Mormon and the fact that he knew it was conference with just a brief look was surprising. He then went on to ask as he was walking by as to who the lord loved more--the Mormons at Gilbert or the Mormons at Highland(they were currently playing each other and both those schools have a number of Mormons at them) I told him i had to go with Highland since i have nephews who attend that school.


Kevin came and took me to lunch on Saturday--we went to "My Florist" thanks to the recommendation from Jen--and it was YUMMY. A great place to people watch as well. Pretty food and an interesting mix of flavors--I had a sandwich with grilled chicken,pears and brie cheese, a salad of mixed greens with a raspberry balsamic vinaigrette and a bowl of homemade cream of mushroom soup--it was soooo good. A little pricey for soup and sandwich but good none the less--i think i will go there again--Anyone up for a field trip?http://www.myfloristcafe.com/pages/lunch2.html


And to end the weekend we had marathon family day. My sis-in-law called yesterday to invite us to brunch between conference sessions so we came over a little after 11am and we ended up staying till 10 tonight. It really is tooooo bad that we don't enjoy each others company. Brunch was great and for our impromptu dinner, we gathered up food at our house and made a great meal with a combination between the houses. Finished off the evening with several games of "settlers" and i actually won the last one. It has been ages since we have played--just too busy these days. It was so much fun just to hang out and laugh and play together. They had pulled out a puzzle to work on during conference and can i just say how addicting they are to me? I am so glad that it is at her house because i have such a hard time breaking myself away from them. I get such a satisfaction from placing pieces and it makes me happy when i figure them out--I am a puzzle junky--i will admit it. It takes everything in me to walk away from them when there is one out.


“ Life must be lived as play.”---Plato

joyfully tired

burning the candle at both ends---

---TIRED---

FUN DAY

watching my friends daughter get married

catching up with old friends

hanging out with current friends

helping and being of service

feet sore

back aches

ate too much

ready for sleep

Nite all

Today came EaRLy

oh the joys {sarcasm} of the middle child;

nothing like waking up with cranky kids;

gotta love selective listening;

people messing with my morning routine;

Just to clarify for the record,

I still don't "DO MORNINGS"

they would be much better received

if they came later;

if people would be quiet and let me ease into the day,

if the dishes had been done the night before,

and we could leave the "drama" to the TV.

I really messed up the early to bed thing last night

but......I am doing the early to rise

and yet....

I don't feel Healthy, Wealthy or Wise.

Just SluGgiSh, CraNky and TiRed.

HAPPY FRIDAY ALL.

Blessed are the flexible,

for they shall not be bent out of shape.

-----

unknown

WEIGH too much

I guess i better get this posted before it gets much later. Thanks to my friend Mindy i will be weighing and measuring my food for the next week or so.
Like her, I am going to participate in a grad study on nutrition/exercise. In meeting about it today i realized how being accountable to someone for the things I put in my mouth has me thinking twice about what i am willing to put in. Although it would be good for me to be "better" I figure i might as well eat like i normally do and then have all the data evaluated to find where i could make the best changes. We had to fill out a questionnaire and pretty much i found that i love food. I don't think i am an emotional eater but i am not willing to give up much by way of flavor. It also got me thinking about my exercise or lack of it--i need to find a way to improve in that area--something to think about if nothing else.

"You must take personal responsibility.

You cannot change the circumstances,

the seasons, or the wind,

but you can change yourself"

---

Jim Rohn

GOOD DOG

For some reason we missed the bus this morning. I think it must have been set on "STEALTH" since none of us heard it--and that includes Abbey who is always willing to let us know that the bus has arrived. Since i had to take Alex to school anyway--Abbey went along for the ride and got to meet Alex' friends at school. Never was there a more happy dog--she loves kids and was in dog heaven being doted over. They all took turns walking her--which Alex was a little bent out of shape having to give up his turn, but did it with a smile on his face. She is such a great dog with kids and loves the attention they were all willing to give her. Alex is always talking about his dog--it is the one sign that he does on his own and does well. I think that i have provided the conversation for the class for the remainder of the day.



The dog

was created

specially for children.
He is the god of frolic.

~Henry Ward Beecher