resemblance

These are the Kindergarten school pictures that are taken of Alli and I. There is only a few months age difference between us (school wise that is....)
I have often heard that Alli looks just like me. Aside from the nose/teeth, I don't see it. Do you?

Another Favorite 5

A few weeks back my friends Summer and Maury did a blog in which they challenged people to write down their five most favorite songs, and why they move you the way they do. It has taken me a while to figure out which ones they are. I love music. I love different genres of music. From Country to Classical and from Classic Rock to some Rock n' Roll. I have my favorite songs from each of these genres. I have favorite artists from my childhood days and ones from right now.
Usually I love these "tag" posts. It usually requires not a whole ton of deep thinking, but this one has proved me wrong. I have thought and thought... and then got stumped.
I think I have finally figured out the songs that are my fav five. And in no particular order here they are:

You are my sunshine: I know this is a silly little song. I have such fond memories of it though. My grandma Bonnie used to sing it to me when I was a little kid. She couldn't quite carry a tune, but I knew that when she sang that song it was because she loved me so much. This song has carried on down to my children, as it is the lullaby that I sing to them whenever they are sad, tired, or hurt. It is the song I used to express my love to them.

500 Miles by the Proclaimers: This song just has the best beat around. It makes me happy. I don't know why it does, but I can never hear this song and not smile. My girls can head bang to this song quite nicely.

When you say nothing at all by Alison Krauss: I always thought this was a beautiful song. I never got my first boyfriend until I was almost 17 (I was usually just friends with the guys... and I turned into "one of the guys"). Imagine how surprised I was that my very first boyfriend suggested that this be "our song" (lame, I know.... we had a song... haha). It brings back great memories. ( Our status of boyfriend/girlfriend couldn't have ever gone farther than that. His last name was Scharmann. If I would have married him, my name would have been Breezi Sharmann. Yeah. Spring Fresh Toilet Paper. Good thing I dumped him.)

I'm in a hurry (and don't know why) by Alabama: First off, I love Alabama. (not the state... the group... never been to the state.) I LOVE how they harmonize so beautifully. I grew up listening to this music. It reminds me of riding in the Rig with my dad. (Those of you Idahoans know what a Rig is.... sorry if the rest of you are clueless.. Translation. Rig= noun- any car, especially a truck that resides in the state of Idaho.) But this song reminds me of how not to live your life. Just rushing to one thing or another. Wearing yourself out. Not taking time to enjoy life. I love the song. It just makes me want to enjoy my life more. Plus it's got a good beat.

last but not least:
The Greatest Man I never knew by Reba McEntire: This song is so sad. It makes me cry almost every time I hear it. I can't even sing it without breaking out in tears. It has always reminded me of my dad. I have to post the lyrics:

The greatest man I never knew
Lived just down the hall
And everyday we said hello
But never touched at all
He was in his paper
I was in my room
How was I to know he thought I hung the moon

The greatest man I never knew
Came home late every night
He never had too much to say
Too much was on his mind
I never really knew him
And now it seems so sad
Everything he gave to us took all he had

Then the days turned into years
And the memories to black and white
He grew cold like an old winter wind
Blowing across my life

The greatest words I never heard
I guess I'll never hear
The man I thought would never die
S'been dead almost a year
He was good at business
But there was business left to do
He never said he loved me
Guess he thought I knew

My dad is one of the greatest people that I know on this earth. He has sacrificed his time with his family to make an honest living. He is giving. He knows about service to others. He is the first one to "getter' done". He is a great example of Love. He doesn't show his "mushy side" often, but he is deep down. (if you just watch him with a little one... you'll know what I mean!) Unlike the end of the song, my dad tells me how much he loves me... so that part is good. :o) But growing up he was a long distance truck driver, gone all week long, home on weekends. I was always scared that he would get into an accident and not come home, and thus cutting his time short with me. Luckily our prayers were answered over and over again and each weekend he came home safe and sound.
Most people don't get to really "know" their dads. Dad's are the strong silent types who show by example, not really talk about it. I guess one of the things that I love most is learning more about my dad and what a wonderful man he really is... I want to know more, so that this song doesn't become true. The one thing that is true is that my dad is the Greatest Man I know.

Okay, so there you go. My job here is done.... execpt wait: What would be the point of a "tag" if I didn't tag anyone??

So Tag. You're It.

I think everyone should figure out why and what their favorite songs are... and why they move you the way they do.
*on the plus side, if you are like me who copies their blogs at the end of the month into a printable format and then prints it out like a little journal for posterity... this would be a good one to do so your great grandchildren know what songs moves you!

Things of which I am certain:

There are few things in this world of which I am absolutely certain about. This is one of them.
I am quite positively certain that if by some chance in my life where my family has to go underground and hide out to escape with our lives. We'd be found and killed.
How did I come to such a morbid conclusion you might ask?

First reason: I have a cat who "talks". Loudly, often, and un-hushable. The more you shush that cat, the louder and more frequent his meowing is.
The second reason: I have a two year old who is quite incapable of being quiet also. Whether screaming in church to "Let Go Mommy!!" during prayer time, loud body slams when it's completely unexpected, or just being delighted at a bug... she's LOUD.
The third reason: My husband can't stop singing. He loves to sing about silly songs non-stop. If he isn't singing, he is humming. If he isn't humming, he is whistling. That man needs to have something come out of his mouth at all time. It is cute (sometimes), annoying (sometimes), and quite charming(sometimes). Just one of the little reasons why I love him.

Let's just pray and hope that we'll never have to successfully hide out.

5 Random Things Post

5 Thing

I actually like doing these surveys. I find that I don't have to be creative all by myself.... I just have to fill out things. It's great. Thanks Summer for the tag :o)

5 things I was doing ten years ago:

I was a Junior in HS

I was working at MCD's as a Crew trainer (I was also the Ronald's Ranger in the play place.. cleaning toys, doing birthday parties, playing with the kids....)

I just got my cool car Betty. A 94' Mazda MX-3, Cherry red, fast, beautiful..... I loved her.

I was dating Jesse (ohh... McDreamy.. haha)

My hobbies included taking pictures by silly mailboxes, stalking the school busses, and generally doing things that were stupid that I probably shouldn't have wasted my time on.

5 things on my to-do list today

Get the kids ready for Church
Blog
shower
Take a nap
listen to the puzzle master on the air (strange... but I love it.)

5 snacks I like:
Peanut butter M&M's
Cheesy Chipoltle Chips (they are from Mike Sells)
powder sugar doughnuts

FRESH Cinnabon with carmel added on top
Peanut Butter Captin' crunch

5 things I would do if I was a millionaire:

Get the "perfect" house (equipt with housecleaner, cook, landscaper... and pool boy!)
buy a Mini Van
Go on an awesome Vacation (alot)
Get lipo and a boob lift and perk up. :o)
help others in need. annonymously.

5 places I have lived:

Lewiston, Idaho
Bellevue, Washington
Nurnemburg, Germany
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Columbus, Ohio

5 jobs I have had:

MCD's (crew trainer/Ronald Ranger Extraordinare)
Nanny (4&6 year old kids... I Loved It!)
Michaels Arts and Crafts (stock girl/cashier)
Worked at Baranetts Bridal Shop as the try on helper to bridezillas.
Zip Trip. (Gas station/Taco Bell/Sandwich shop/ Hand dip Ice Cream) I did it all.

5 people I tagged:
Rachel
Melanie
Lora
Kristin
Michelle

Choices

Who has watched the movie “Labyrinth” so many times that they can quote the lines perfectly? (It’s okay if you are raising your hand…)

“Hey, lady! Where are you going with a head like that??”
“Smell Baaadddddddd”
"Jareth: You remind me of the babe.
Goblin: What babe?
Jareth: The babe with the power.
Goblin: What power?
Jareth: The power of voodoo.
Goblin: Who do?
Jareth: You do.
Goblin: Do what?
Jareth: Remind me of the babe. "

Well, It was while I was cooking yet another dinner, slaving at the stove, listening to the kids arguing and fighting over some toy, then looking at my floor which was covered in the days current filth and dirt buildup, looking at the dishes, and all of the laundry over flowing, when a line from that movie popped into my head :
“She chose DOOOOOWN!"
Helping Hand: Well then, come on, which way?
Sarah: Which way?
Helping Hand: Up, or down?
Sarah: Oh...
Helping Hand: Come on, come on.
Different Helping Hand: We haven't got all day.
Different Helping Hand: Well, it's a big decision for her.
Different Helping Hand: Which way do you want to go, hm?
Sarah: Oh.
Helping Hand: Yes, which way?
Sarah: Well... since I'm pointed that way, I guess I'll go down.
Helping Hand: She chose DOOOOOWN!
Different Helping Hand: She chose *down*? Heh!
[they let go]
Sarah: Was that wrong?
Helping Hand: Too late now!


It made me wonder why I chose the path that I did choose. It made me wonder where I would be if I did some things a little differently, like what if I married my old boyfriend instead of Chip, or go to college instead of going to be a nanny (where I ultimately met Chip in the singles ward in Philly because of my choice), or what if having Alli the day before our first anniversary was the right choice.. why not wait a few years get some money saved up, get Chip out of school and not have student loans, what if we had the kids closer together, instead of 3 ½ years apart, or the hind-sight of 20/20 like why didn’t we just buy a house when we first moved here (6 ½ years ago…..)? Or What if I learned new skills or was interested in something else? Who would I be today?
Was the choices that I made really “Down”?

I think I made some good choices along the way. I have a wonderful husband who I am head over heals for, I have two beautiful daughters that are completely awesome children, and we are in a city that we have grown to love, friends here that we love and adore that are more like immediate family than “regular” friends.

Everyone has bad days once in a while and we aren’t expected to be the perfect “Molly Mormon/Betty Crocker/Suzy Homemaker” 24/7 (although it’s nice to portray that image). It’s easy to wonder about the choices that we made when things are utter chaos in our lives, when the kids are on your ever-lovin’ last nerve, when you want to pack your bags and leave (and then come back of course), when everything you do (such as cleaning/laundry/etc..) never lasts because somebody comes through like a tornado and destroys it! Just every once in a while it is interesting to think of where and who I would be if I made different choices along the way.

I think I didn’t “chose down”… when it all comes down to it, I think I chose the right road for me.
(I know this post is kinda random, but that is the way my brain was thinking at that moment in time...)

Win a Wild Vacation!

I am a Mahjongg addict. I love it.
One of the best parts about it are the prizes and you get at the end when you win the game. (Which of course, I always win!)
Today as I was waiting for Maggie to fall asleep, I was playing Mahjongg on the computer. I chose for the prize to be “Win a wild vacation!” So here are three of the things that I won.

¶You've just won a vacation to Valhalla. Here you'll spend a fun filled week with dead Viking heroes. Valkeries will serve you from our extensive menu of beer, mead, and mutton (okay, so it's not so extensive). Revel in the merriment. If you get lucky, a Norse God, such as Thor or Odin, might even show up. Watch out for Loki, though. So if you've got a hearty appetite and an ear for tales of plundering, you're going to love this vacation.

¶You are our lucky winner to the Museum Planet. Here you'll wander our seemingly endless hallways of paintings. Big deal, you say, I can do that at any museum. Well, can you actually step into the paintings at museums at home? You can when you come to Museum Planet. Step into the works of Van Gogh, Monet, or Picasso. Calm down the Screamer or see why Mona Lisa is smiling. Sail down the Delaware with George Washington. For the truly adventurous, there's always the H. R. Giger wing. If it's been painted, it can be done at Museum Planet.

¶Hope you've saved your vacation time, because you've won a trip to the beginning of time. That's right, the Big Bang. While here, you'll witness all the matter in the Universe coming together into one giant mass. This unbelievably dense mass will then implode until... BOOM! ...the biggest explosion ever! Afterwards, sit back and watch as stars, planets, black holes, and other astronomical phenomenon are formed. Stay around an extra five billion years or so and you will get to see the primordial beginnings of life.

So It sounds like I am going to be quite busy for some time while I am taking all of these vacations! Does anyone wanna join me in my explorations?

I'm Not Dead

Just my computer is. Well, my router and modem are. They have been since Monday afternoon.
I had to go to Panera Bread to use the internet.(soooo super Yummy. The Asiago cheese bagels with plain cream cheese is my fav from there.... well, so is the broccoli cheese soup, chicken ceasar sandwich, and well.. pretty much everything!) Basically, I couldn't loose going to Panera with Chip's laptop. :o) Although, I am under STRICT orders not to kill, spill on, crumb on, or basically do anything to Chip's laptop. I have my drink on another chair instead of on top of the table. (you're welcome Chip.)
I am supposed to be doing missionary work right now... (well homework for my calling at least) but it could wait until my blogging is done. I had to get my "fix" after 3 days. I am an addict.
So, I'll sign off until tomorrow when my new modem and router gets UPS'd to us (hopefully or someone might get seriously hurt!!)

Fund Raising

I arrived at Alli's school this morning at 9am to help pop popcorn for a PTO fund raiser. The kids could buy a bag for 50cents and eat it in class. (Alli had to sweep the kitchen floor to earn her money... ) Anyways, It took me and another mother 4 hours to pop 450 bags of this stupid popcorn! It took FOREVER! I was planning on using Maggie as a scape goat, as she has a cold and I have the benefit of her being 2 and hoping that she'd throw a fit to get me out of poppin' duty. It didn't work. Maggie was content as ever being a good little girl and let me stay the whole time. Thanks Mags.
Maggie got to stay and eat lunch with Alli and then play with her on the play ground. Alli was the most popular kid at school having a little "baby" there to play with.
Well after this experience of poppin' so much corn I just have to say that I am not liking popcorn very much right now. Which is sad, because I love popcorn.
Bonus: They are doing this every single Friday now. YAY. Guess who is going to smell like they work in a movie theater.....

Just thought I'd share

Talkin' to the Teacher

Last night was Parent Teacher Conference at Alli's School. Chip stayed at home with the kids (we were going to bring them, but it was a crabby night for them... so we opted to let the teacher think that our children never have fits... and they stayed home).
As I went into the school to go to the meeting my stomach was all tied up in knots. "Did I teach Alli enough manners?" " Is Alli progressing academically?" "Is she one of the "good" kids?" These thoughts kept racing through my head along with many others. I had to wait out in the library for 30 minutes for anther conference to get over with. I found a good way to pass the time, I grabbed the Guiness book of World Records 2005 edition. Man... there are some pretty creepy things in there! Finally it was my turn. As I sat on the miniature chairs that are only meant for the Keebler Elves and 5 year olds alike, The teacher took a deep breath and started with her first question: "Does Alli always say 'excuse me' before she starts talking to you?" I was quite taken aback. She doesn't always say excuse me, but she is really polite most of the time. Mrs. Keller was really quite impressed with her polite manners (score 1-me... I taught my kid manners : score 1-Alli... she remembered to use the manners I taught her!) She went on to say that Alli is a really good kid and she is one of the brightest in her class. (score 1-genetics...)
In her class at the beginning of the year they took proficiency tests to see where the kids were at.. ya know... where to start teaching the kids from. Alli got 100% proficiency on patters, functions and algebra, geometry and spatial sense, reading/acquisition of vocabulary. She got a 75% and above on Number sense and operations, data analysis and probability, reading applications: informational, technical and persuasive text, reading applications: Literary text, and Reading process: Concepts of print, comprehension strategies and self-monitoring strategies.
The only thing the teacher said that she needed to work on was Writing Conventions (sentences... capitalization and punctuation) for a 5 year old who's never gone to any preschool, that's pretty dang good!
She knows all of her sight words and sounds everything out and has good fluency on her reading. She knows all the letters and sounds of them. She is in the top of the class in her reading. She is Exemplary in her behavior at school. (thank goodness!) Her teacher really likes having Alli in class. (We really like having Alli in our family!) After an hour of good and pleasant conversation I walked back out of the school and got into my car and breathed a sigh of relief. I didn't have to maim my child.
And that is how I survived my very first parent teacher conference, by just having a great kid who uses good manners and behavior... (and got a little smart somewhere a long the way)
We're proud of you Alli girl!

Crazy 8's

The 8 Things Tag...
(Thanks Summer. :o)

8 TV shows I love to watch:
1. The Big Bang theory
2. Ghost Whisperer
3. The Unit
4. How I Met Your Mother
5. The Simpsons
6. The News (on a non-depressing day)
7. The New Adventures of Old Christine
8. Two and a half Men

8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Max and Erma's
2. Taco Time (ohh.. how I miss you while you're in Idaho.....)
3.Outback Steakhouse
4. Sharps Burger Ranch (another yummy Lewiston Fav...)
5. Chipoltle
6. Cheesecake Factory
7. California Pizza Kitchen
8. Donatos. (You CAN'T beat their cheese pizza!)

8 Things that happened today
1. Kids woke up before 7 (grrrr)
2. Successfully put Maggie down for a nap
3. Dropped Alli off for school
4. Showered
5. Did dishes
6. Walmart
7. Pizza lunch
8. Brushed teeth

8 things that I look forward to:
1. Getting all of my projects done
2. Christmas
3. having Maggie potty trained
4. Having more babies
5. having Family come to visit
6. Scrap night
7. Any Girls night out
8. Snuggle time with Chip

8 Things on my wish list:
1. Venerday. (an extra day in the week- comes after Friday) <- Sorry Summer, I had to copy... it's brilliant!!!
2. A Mini-Van
3. Chip to have his dream job
4. Move near family
5. A Big house to fill with Children (and scrapbooking stuff)
6. a Puppy (it goes with the house)
7. a dish washer (7 years without one is starting to kill me!)
8. World Peace (or just more peace in my life would be a good starting point)

8 People I tag:
1. Lora
2. Michelle
3. Leah
4. Kelly
5. Rachel
6. Ruthie
7. Kristin
8.Melanie

Party Time

On Tuesday is Molly's 24th Birthday. Molly is Chip's sister. She is completely awesome! She surprised us on Tuesday saying that she was going to fly in to Columbus on Wednesday! Yay!
We were thrilled that she'd be here when Chip's mom and brother were also here! We love a full house! We decided that because she
couldn't be here with us on Tuesday when her actual birthday is, that we'd just have a birthday party for her while we were together! The girls loved their blue and red cupcakes topped with lots of fluff! The best part was it colored your mouth!
Molly, Sorry we only had tea-light candles. Hope that didn't damper your party spirit too much :o)

*and I realized while I was up-loading these photos, I didn't get a single picture of Jeff, Chip's brother. How bad of a sister am I?? Well, In 6-8 weeks when Nomi and Jeff come back, I'll get pictures then. Promise.

Happy Birthday Molly Belle!

Nunnums Lovin'

We LOVE when Nunnums comes to visit! It doesn't happen very often, but when it does the girls (and Chip and I) are so excited! The girls love to play with her. She has the most patience of almost anyone that I've ever known. I didn't have to do the dishes the whole time she was here (THANK YOU!!). Chip had his Mommy. I had such a blast with her too. It was truly a great visit. We can't wait for 6-8 weeks to pass till she comes again!

Nap

Not that I don't love my child being awake. All the laughter, squeals of delight, goofy two year old curiosity. But I LOVE naptime. A two hour peace in my life.

She was sick

Today Maggie had to stay home from church with me. She had all sorts of sniffles and a case of those really "wet" coughs. Poor thing. She was supposed ACT sick while she was sick. Apparently
She didn't get that memo. She started off the morning by opening up all of the food coloring dye. (Left conveniently on the bookshelf where she could reach it... Thanks Chip for dying the bathwater last night and leaving it accessible to her :o) She didn't just open all the dye onto say, a trash bag, or on the kitchen floor, where it could have easily been cleaned up. NOPE, she opened them up on the QUILT that was hand made by my mom, hand stitched, made for Chip and my wedding almost 7 years ago. My heart was broken. I know that my mom must have spent hours and hours and yes, even more hours lovingly piecing it together, choosing the fabric and patterns to make the watercolor quilt, only to be ruined by a two year old with a fascination of getting into EVERYTHING. Of course while she was doing this I was in the shower. Alli came in and told me what was going on. I jumped out of the shower, had Alli run downstairs to get our Gain laundry detergent. I poured probably about 3 loads worth of soap all over the stains and scrubbed (and prayed) hoping that the stains would come out. I had very little hope, as it STILL is stained all over Maggie's hands. I soaked the quilt in water and ran it through the wash cycle about 3 times... and TA-DA it came out! MIRACLE upon Miracle!
After that crisis was solved we watched Dora till my eyes fell out, played with every toy we practically own, and finally settled into a warm bath to try to make her unclog her nose. The bath only made her hyper and more excited about life.(does any of the above photo of Maggie look "sick"?) People are going to think that she was faking her illness only to get out of church. Man... she's starting this early!

Treat Monsters

This year for Halloween Alli and Maggie dressed up as Mermaids! (Thanks Nunnums for making such BEAUTIFUL costumes!) We got to go trick or treating with our friends the Beck's. Zoe was a pretty ballerina, Allie was a gorgeous Cinderella, and Geneva was the cutest fairy ever!
(This was the "best" group shot that I could get!)

It didn't take Maggie very long to get into the Halloween spirit (after we talked her into her costume which she DID NOT like at first). She realized that the more you said trick-or-treat, the more candy you got! She ran as fast as her tiny legs could carry her in order to keep up with the older girls. It only lasted about 4 blocks for her... she ran outta steam! Alli had a blast running with her two best friends getting all those treats!
(and yes, from the back, Maggie looks like a puffer fish... still cute though!)

We were all pretty happy with the loot the girls collected. I guess we go to the right neighborhood, as we got $1 dollar bills, cans of Pepsi products, king size M&M's, and a few other regular sized candies, as well as fresh hot popcorn! It was a great night!
Thanks Becks for having us along for the ride!

dreams of talent

For as long as I can remember I have wanted to possess a certain talent. What talent am I missing you may ask?? (as I obviously have TONS of talent.. ha ha.) I want to be able to raise just one eyebrow.
There is so much you can express with that one glance. You can say "What in the world??", "HUH??", "WOW!", "Boy, That's ridiculous!". You can also look sinister, inquisitive, sexy or even scary with just one lift of that one brow. It's so versatile!
Obviously I am not the only one who desires this talent. This article here shows you in 7 "easy" steps how to do it.
I know I have tried for YEARS to get this talent without the hope of obtaining it, and luckily I haven't popped any blood vessels yet straining to get the job done. I have always wondered if it is the lack of forehead wrinkles that's holding me back. (That's right, I have absolutely NO forehead lines...weird!)
For whatever reason, I am not talented enough to acquire the 'one eyebrow lift' skill. Maybe in the next life.