Time flies....

Sometimes i wonder if time slips by quickly because im getting older, or because it is literally moving faster.
I would swear that it was summer yesterday. The fourth of july, James's birthday, warm weather, green grass and trees, then BOOM its all over.
Getting ready for Halloween, building fun things, decorating with all my favorite decorations, raking leaves and getting out the long sleeved shirts, then BOOM over.
Thanksgiving was a blur.... i know it happened, i WAS there im sure of it. But it got here so fast and was over before i knew it.
And now Christmas, i think i spend more time "getting ready" for christmas then i actually spend enjoying it. I am so excited for this year, sometimes Christmas is hard for me because of the lack of little people in our home. But for the last 3 years Wayne has been here and it makes all the difference. This year we have 5 stockings hanging up. FIVE! I have shopped so much, and bought WAY too much stuff and i couldnt be more excited. To have people here to open surprise presents, to hear laughter and excitement for Christmas morning, frankly it cant come soon enough. I still have about a half a million things to do, and a ton of baking on my list, but it will all be worth while.
My cousin Cassie has been blogging about her favorite things for Christmas. She talks about something new everyday, and reading it has become my new way to start the morning. I have so many amazing Christmas memories, and it makes me think about all of my favorites. So thanks Cass, for helping me remember that Christmas is about WAY more then "getting ready".
I have alot of things to be thankful for as usual, but right now, i am most thankful for the Mower's and all the joy they bring into my life. They are some of my favorite people on the planet, and its so nice to feel like i belong. To have in-laws that love me for who i am, and actually KNOW who i am.
Thanks for making me feel like one of your own to Ruth & Roy.
I love you Kathy, i wish you knew how amazing you really are.
Thanks for making me laugh till i cry to Jen & Todd.
You make me feel like a mom Wayne, & that is more than any person can ever be thankful enough for.
And to the rest of the Mower's who never fail to make me feel wanted and appreciated.
I love you all.

I did warn you i probably wouldnt be a good blogger.

So i think i can say pretty confidently that i am not a good blogger. I always feel like i need to have something witty or important to say. and mostly.... my life is pretty boring. so here are a few things, as boring as they may be, that are going on around here.

First of all, i watch too much hgtv. it makes me want to change things around here constantly. I'm always looking for my next project, or deciding what color i want to paint something. next up? the guest bedroom is getting a makeover, and my family room is going to get a repaint.

I love fall. wait, let me say that again. I LOVE FALL!!! just the smell of it makes me happy. (and, yes, it does have a smell) watching the leaves change is something i need. i feel for my loved ones in Phoenix. i was there once in October, and it made me sad. i feel so much appreciation for Heavenly Father when i watch the seasons change. It is so beautiful here right now.

Along with fall comes my favorite holiday.... Halloween. i am absolutely obsessed with the paranormal. ghosts, vampires, werewolves, zombies, and all that comes with them. (see my husbands recent blog entry...) i know there are things that cant be explained, i have experienced it. if i wasn't so afraid of the dark, i would totally be a paranormal investigator. James and i have spent the last 6 weeks or so making tombstones for a Halloween graveyard. it has been so much fun, and if i do say so myself, we are pretty good at it. my hope is that someone wealthy will see it and offer us a ton of money just to make fake tombstones. not too much to ask right??

The kids in my life are hilarious. i love talking to them. i don't ever remember being as smart as they are.
Today Gracie was telling me about carving pumpkins with her dad. she said that he was eating the guts from the pumpkin and trying to get her to try them. i said, "eww that is gross" and she said "i KNOW i told him, "dad that is NOT healthy"". she is 3 and a half going on 20.
There is a man nearby with a large farm. he plants various veggies for my family, so we all spend time there picking various things. last week it was potatoes. the smell at the farm is well.... terrible. actually terrible is an understatement. its really really really terrible... so we are picking up potatoes and Saydee says to me, "this is just like finding Easter eggs at Easter". i respond, "i don't know about that, it certainly doesn't SMELL like Easter". and without missing a beat she says, "you don't know Wendi, it could have smelled just like this when Jesus was resurrected". touche Saydee, touche.

My Wayner is getting married. there are people in my life who i have a physical need to take care of. Wayne was about 12 when i met him, and that need kicked in quickly. He is like the son i haven't been given. and i am so excited that he has found someone who makes him so happy. Linda is an amazing woman, and i know that they are going to be so great together. i am grateful that they have been so willing to let me take part in helping them plan. i love them so much, and i am so thankful they are such a part of my life.

My husband is the greatest gift i have ever been given. there is no one in my life that brings me more happiness, or shows me more love. he is the one who knows ALL my secrets, and yet he still wants to hang out with me.... i know right? we are completely connected, and i really do feel like he is my "other half". i know his face more than i know my own. just hearing his voice makes me happy, and he is constantly making me laugh. i grow more thankful for him everyday.

I am preparing for my life to have some things change over the next year. some big changes, others small. i haven't ever been very good with change, and ill admit that I'm scared. but I'm also optimistic, and excited.

I am grateful for a husband that loves me. for family that is supportive and there for me. for friends who don't care that I'm a little bit crazy. but mostly for my testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. i don't know what people who don't have prayer and faith do when things get difficult. who do they talk to when their heart hurts or they feel afraid? how do they find peace in a world where there just isn't any? the peace, comfort, love, and joy i receive from my faith is something that i wish everyone i love had.

There are many things in my life i wish i was better at, and blogging is just another on that list. I guess i'll just have to start writing about stuff, even if it is boring. sorry in advance for anyone that reads it....

When did this happen?

I have a friend who among mutual friends is known as the "recipe Nazi" she is an amazing cook, and makes all these fantastic treats and absolutely refuses to share her recipes with anyone. I used to laugh and think that was totally crazy... used to.

My ward is putting together a cookbook and the relief society pres asked me if i would submit some of my recipes. For a second, just a second, i wanted to say "NO!" but of course i didn't, and the other day i set about entering my recipes into the online book.

I found myself actually being picky about the recipes i was going to share, how ridiculous is that? I would enter one recipe, and skip about 4 before i entered another one. So answer me this, when in my life did i become a recipe Nazi????


I went to the doctor the other day and left with like a MILLION prescriptions.... granted some of them were for my husband, but tell me this, when did i become the old lady with the full pill box????


When i was in my twenties, i drove like a bat out of hell. Last night, i had to go and pick up James from work. It was about 9:00 and dark outside, and i nearly had a panic attack getting there.

I cant see in the dark anymore for some reason, and spent the whole drive complaining to myself about the traffic and the stupid road construction. At what point in my life did driving become an absolutely painful experience????


A few months ago we went to a birthday party at a friends house. As we were leaving they were saying how they don't get to see us often enough. As we walked to the car, one of them shouted after us. "come and visit us again soon, even though i know you are busy with all your OTHER friends!"

i laughed, then i said to James, "I wonder if they really do think we have abandoned them for other people...." because the sad truth is the only "other friends" James and i have are... well James and i. we used to have lots of friends that we hung out with. parties we would throw or go to. but for probably the last 2 years or so, the only person i find myself wanting to hang out with is James. and leaving the house? pft, why would we. when did i become agoraphobic????


I turned 35 on my last birthday. that was tough. I'm not sure why, it didn't bother me when i turned 30, but for some reason 35 was a lot harder. I am changing, and not for the better in a lot of ways. But at the same time, i have a sense of peace and comfort that i never had in my twenties. I'm grateful for all the good things in my life, and the good things about me. hopefully they out weigh all this craziness.

the secret transcript....

A secret transcript of a Udot meeting: (Udot is the people who do road construction in Utah, for those that don't know.):


Bob: (not his real name, but for my story it is.) So everybody, I have had a brilliant idea of a great joke we could play. My plan is this: we are going to have ALL the freeway on and off ramps under construction in northern Utah county at the same time.

Other Guy: Um, Bob, did you say ALL of them?

Bob: Yes, other guy, i did.

Other Guy: are you sure that's a good idea?

Other Other guy: yeah, Bob I'm not even sure we have enough orange barrels for that.

Bob: But don't we have some of those cement walls of death things?

Other other guy: well, yeah we do have some of those, even though I'm not sure that is their technical name.

Bob: well then, PUT EM UP!

Other guy: I see another problem Bob, I'm not sure we have enough employees to be working on all these projects at the same time.

Bob: who said anything about working on them!? Just move crap around, put up the barrels and the walls of death and let the fun begin!

Other other guy: Bob this sounds like it might be really inconvenient for people that live and drive in that area.

Bob: don't be such a stick in the mud Other Other Guy, its going to be HILARIOUS!

TWO MONTHS LATER:

Other Guy: Okay Bob, we've got everything under construction as you wanted, its chaos, annoying, causes terrible traffic at any time of day, and looks like crap.

Bob: Perfect.


I wasn't at this meeting, its just how it HAD to have gone, trust me.

Fourth of July fun!

i have been thinking all day about how to blog about the fourth of july weekend. Frankly i dont know where to start, or what to include. Will it get boring if i go over every hilarious moment? Or will it be sad when i talk about how quiet things are around here.

There are some days that just take over parts of your memory, just to be sure they dont get lost. I had more then one of those days that weekend. On friday, Dave, Emmy, the kids, Kathy, James and i went to Lagoon. Im pretty sure i cant remember the last time i have laughed that much, or that hard. It was the most fun day i have had in..... well a really long time.

Before we went i stated that i probably wasnt going to ride much if anything, and then we got there. I made kathy ride all kinds of things with me, mostly because we are hilarious when we are apart, and when we are together its HILARIOUS with all caps.

We were laughing for absolutely no reason, other then to laugh. I kept saying, "why is this so funny??" and Kathy kept saying, "why did you make me come on this ride? this was a TERRIBLE idea" and that just made it funnier.

By the end of the day, we had conquered the tidal wave twice, gone blind from spinning on the tilt a whirl, broken her knee on the jet star, followed a terrified alexis on the terror ride, destroyed ourselves on the colossus, and scared ourselves a bit on dracula's castle. (which was sans dracula by the way....that was kinda weird)

And in between all the hilariousness we all enjoyed watching the kids riding everything they were tall enough to ride, and loving every minute of it.

the girls went shopping on saturday, it was so fun. And then that night we had a bbq with my family, and a bunch of fireworks. Alexis and Timothy both fell asleep during the fireworks and when Kathy tried to pick Alexis up at the end she muttered something like "nooo im not done yet" it was so funny.

It was so great to spend time with everyone, we had so much fun! We hope everyone will come and visit again soon, so that things will be busy and noisy again, it makes me happy.

vampires are just plain cool.

I am not a girly girl. Never have been. But sometimes i have experiences that remind me clearly of this fact.
I spent the afternoon with some of the girls in my family seeing Eclipse. Let me preface this by saying, i loved the books. I thought they were fun, and different, and incredibly entertaining. I also unsurprisingly loved the movies. Do i find Edward's hair incredibly over quaffed? Yes. Is Bella's incessant moping annoying? Yes. Is Jacob incredibly whiny, and a not so good actor? DEFINITELY yes. But i still enjoy a fun story as much as the next person.
Except......
I loved the movie, i really did. But the swooning, and the giggling, and the whispering by the audience every time someone kissed or took their shirt off made it incredibly difficult for me to not roll my eyes. In fact I'll admit it. I did roll my eyes quite a number of times. But when the long awaited (for me anyway) fight scene took place, i believe i may have been the only person in the room, who when jasper LITERALLY punched someones head off, said out loud "that was AWESOME".
My sisters think I'm quite crazy.
Its not that I'm not a romantic. I am, in a sense. But give me a Colonel Brandon, a Mr. Darcy, or a Captain Wentworth. An Edward Ferrars, a Mr. Knightly, or a Mr. Rochester, any day over a Jacob OR an Edward.
To quote a favorite television character of mine. "you have to admit, vampires are just plain cool." and to throw in my two cents, werewolves aren't bad either.
But for me, well, id rather just see them being werewolves and vampires. Sure throw in a little love story, it always makes for better story telling, but in the end it was the head punching, werewolf tackling, arm ripping off, bouncing off the trees, fight that i found the most entertaining.
That probably says something about me, but hopefully nothing that makes you love me any less. ;)

Jesus!? I know him!

Today Draven, Gracie, Gabree and I made some pictures to send to Drew in Hawaii. Its very interesting to get a child's view of a mission when they have never experienced one before.
I said, "i think we should make some pictures to send to Drew in Hawaii, i bet he would really love that", to which Draven responded, "is Drew going to be in Hawaii forever?"
hmm interesting question, the words "two years" means very little to a 6 year old.
So i said, "well not forever exactly. but a long time, he will back when you are 8". When i said it out loud, i almost wanted to say, WOW, that IS forever....
Gracie wanted to paint her picture, so i got out the paint and she said "what should i paint?"
I suggested maybe some trees or flowers, and then i said, "you should put a missionary on it too"
"What's a missionary?"
"Well, a missionary is a person who goes somewhere far away to teach people about Jesus."
To which she responded (and this was my favorite part by the way) "JESUS?!! I KNOW HIM!" and she said it pretty much like that scene in elf when Buddy is told Santa is coming to town. AWESOME.
Draven decided to draw A: a picture of batman on one side, and B: a picture of Bruce Banner turning into the Hulk on the other side.
And Gabree got more purple crayon on my kitchen counter then on the paper.
So we made our pictures, and it was fun. I cant mail it out yet though, because James has insisted the he is going to color a picture of a panda bear to send, (yeah i don't know either)
I might make it a weekly occurrence, or at least until Drew writes me asking me to stop sending him crayon and paint covered printer paper.
Aloha Elder Carter, we love you!

Meltdown.

So every once in a while i have a meltdown.
I don't know if this is something that happens to everyone or not. But at some point after a few weeks of putting things on a shelf, the shelf collapses and i have a complete meltdown.
it usually consists of a lot of crying, a moderate amount of self loathing, and ends with complete exhaustion.
It can be anything that sets it off. Usually something small that finally breaks the proverbial camel, and the rest of the world comes crumbling with it.
The reason i am bringing this up, is because yesterday i had a doozy. It started with small things, and as the weekend went on it got bigger until i found myself crying uncontrollably. I was angry at myself for some stupid mistakes, angry at some other people for THEIR mistakes, and missing Sheri big time.
Does everyone have these days??? Maybe i don't want to know the answer to that one....
So when it all came falling down, like the London bridge kids sing about, at about midnight last night, i wanted to curl up in a ball and give up.
But i didn't.
And i never do.
And here is the reason.
James. He is my knight in armor, my hero, my conscience, and my voice of reason. He is the one person in my life who can say to me in a calm and rational voice, "Wendi, STOP IT." and i do. Granted sometimes it takes me ten minutes or so, and sometimes the feelings remain. But all of a sudden life feels like it can and will continue.
I have an amazing life. One that makes me ashamed i even have these episodes of complete craziness. I think i need to hang a sign somewhere in my house that i will see everyday. It will say, "today people are going to say rude things to me, or hurt me by not saying something i think they should. There are going to be people in my life today that are going to bring back painful memories, no matter how deep i think i have buried them. Today i am going to forget something important, do something stupid, and miss some one i love who isn't here anymore. But I AM GOING TO DEAL."
You would think by the age of 35 i would have learned to let the Lord take over when i feel like i cant handle things anymore. But I'm still learning.
I would like nothing more than to say that I'm going to do that from now on. No more anger at people who have hurt my husband or family. No more hating myself for not doing things as perfectly as i think i should have, or making the silly mistakes i make everyday.
I would REALLY like to say that....
I love the people in my life, you all make a difference to me in one way or another. I'm grateful for an amazing husband who tries to get me, and when he doesn't, he still keeps trying. I'm grateful for an amazing family, who don't try and manipulate me, and love me for who i am. I'm thankful for a Heavenly Father that loves me. And mostly, I'm thankful for a Savior who doesn't care if i manage to complete all my housework perfectly, that i am constantly forgetting appointments, and that my Jello is a totally weird color.

A house full of people? Bring it on.

I LOVE to have visitors. Its probably one of my very favorite things. For a few months now we have been planning a family get together for the fourth of July for some of our out of town family. I cannot wait. It's a good thing i have a husband to reign me in, because if i didn't, i would have spent a years salary on changing everything in my house, and buying a yard's worth of fun things.
As it stands now, i was allowed one inflatable movie screen, a bedroom redecorating, and a gazebo for the backyard. Its going to be so fun! Now i just have to pray that the weather cooperates.
I cant wait to see everybody, give Kathy a big hug, and have a meaningful conversation with Alexis, her advice is invaluable you know.
I am so grateful for the Mowers. For the way they make me feel like family. I love them all so much, and spending time with them doesn't happen enough.
I have more plans in my head then we will ever be able to put into action. But just sitting and chatting, eating and laughing, will be enough.
So thanks guys, you might think you need to thank me, but trust me you don't. Come to this house whenever you choose, and stay as long as you want. There is nothing in my life i love more then taking care of people i love.
Its going to go by quick, im sure of that. But i plan on enjoying it as much as possible, because when everyone goes home, my house is WAY too quiet. :)

Just this...

So i was outside today pulling the weeds that seem to multiply while i sleep, and was approached by my nephew Draven on his scooter. He simply said to me, "Wendi, come buy somethin" and then rode away....
I was a bit confused until i looked to my sister's house and saw my nieces and nephews had created some kind of lemonade stand. So i got some money and headed over to see what there was to buy.
There was a large jug of lemonade, some little bags of chips, and a cooler which was filled with Popsicles. I was quickly instructed by Dylan that i shouldn't buy the lemonade, cause it "tasted funny" so i proceeded to buy enough Popsicles for us all to have one. I then asked the question, "so what else is going on today" to which Shayna responded, "just this".
There are a lot of things you couldn't pay me enough to relive as an adult, but a good lazy summer day is something i would PAY to relive. The freedom of summer as a child is a feeling you don't really get to recapture as an adult. Sure there are days off, vacations, and the like. But when in your adult life have you experienced an entire day where your plans were "just this", with thoughts of nothing else on your mind, or your to do list. Or a day where you really DO nothing, and don't have guilt. It just doesn't happen anymore.
So go outside, and have a Popsicle with some kids. Its a good reminder of what summer really used to feel like.

Is there a 12 step program for me?

My name is Wendi, and i have an addiction.
Oh who am i kidding, i have A LOT of them. The things in my life, that at a given point, i feel as though i cant live without. They change from time to time, i go through different phases. Some last a few weeks, others i have had for many years, but these are the ones i thought about today to share with you.
1. The first one is a little thing they call Netflix. Words do not express the feeling you get when you see the red logo, whether its in the mailbox, or on the "watch instantly" menu. I LOVE movies and television. I always have. My head is full of all sorts of useless pop culture information, that does me little good, other then coming in handy when somebody says "who was that guy in that movie?". Last Saturday they added a bunch of new things to the instant watch list, and i was so excited, i ran to the bedroom and woke up James to tell him. His excitement level was not as great as mine.
2. Kind of in line with the first one is a television show that i find myself completely addicted to, and no its not even "Lost". Its called "Lie to Me" and its probably the most entertaining thing i have found on netflix so far. In connection with this obsession, comes one for the theme song for the show. Its called "brand new day" by Ryan Star, and it is awesome. Its on my playlist below, give it a listen.
3. Amazon.com.... doesn't just saying it make you happy? Shopping online is one of my greatest addictions, its SO MUCH DANG FUN. Where else can you buy a t-shirt, a dvd, an inflatable movie screen, and 12 books all at the same time.
4. Cake, and not just eating it. I have a cake to decorate for my niece's birthday tomorrow, and decorating cakes makes me happy AND obsessive. I absolutely love when things go right, and something i made turns out amazing.
5. Two words: JUNIOR MINTS.
6. Decorating, if I'm not decorating a room, I'm THINKING about decorating a room. I have moved through pretty much our entire home one room at a time, and have started over more then once on some of the rooms. A lot of people in my life think its crazy that painting a room is something i do for fun and relaxation, and not punishment. My dream would be for someone to give me a white room, and some cash, and let me go to it.
7. Probably my greatest addiction is my husband. There is no one on the planet who is more fun, or more amazing to me. I laugh every day at my house, and there is nothing greater than that. We were watching some crime show the other day and they were of course interviewing the wife after the husbands murder. She stated that she hadn't talked to her husband for three weeks because he was on some fishing trip while she was out of town. James turned to me and said "what would you do if you hadn't talked to me for three weeks" to which i responded, "i would panic if i didn't know where you were for 3 HOURS. after three weeks, I'd be curled up in a corner somewhere mumbling incoherently." Sad, but probably true...
There are many more on my list, but this post is getting frighteningly long. I guess the others will have to wait till another day.
They say admitting addiction is a step to overcoming it. i guess we will see.

What's been going on in my head.

So i havent blogged for a couple of days, its been a busy but fun weekend. Here are just a handful of things that took place, and also a bunch of random things that i have thought about in the last couple days.

I had never even used the internet before i met my husband, and now if i didnt have it i would probably die. Or at least need medication.
Every time i see Megan Fox, i feel like i need to take a shower.
I love british tv, its badly done and poorly acted, and for some reason that makes me love it more.
On saturday i watched yet another version of Jane Eyre. there are certain stories i NEVER tire of hearing.
I have to go to the dentist today, and lie yet again. "why yes Dr. Boyden, of COURSE i floss everyday."
Neil Patrick Harris + Joss Whedon = legendary genius.
Monday holidays are awesome, but make the rest of my week confusing.
When we went to the cemetary to put some flowers on Sheri's grave, the family next to us had brought a weed wacker, a broom, and other things that made us feel like we were cemetary noobs. We apologized to Sheri, and promised next year we would come more prepared.
We watched an episode of the show "Hoarders" yesterday, and now i feel like i need to throw away everything in our house.
My sister, got an "F" on a poem SHE wrote for her son's homework. She got angry and wrote the teacher an email. HILARIOUS.
I get a lot of joy out of watching Tim Roth, and his cockney accent, catch liars.
Apparantly the long weekend was tiring for all of us, as the dogs have been comatose since about 10 minutes after they got up this morning.
I shared my new "exterminate" dalek voice text tone with my neice, and when it went off yesterday it scared my mom.
While mowing the grass in the rain is quite refreshing, when your hair and shirt are soaked, its probably time to admit defeat.
Bust mostly, im grateful to have a husband who even after 12 years still makes me laugh till i cry almost every single day.

Put down the rocket launcher and get out of the car sir.

So today's blog is a cautionary tale about the dangers of playing too many video games.
My husband is what you would call a gameaholic. His drug of choice right now is a little game called "Call of Duty" in which he, his brother and his friend from work take their little men dressed in camoflauge around a what looks to be a post apocolyptic city of some sort and shoot people, blow things up and pretty much cause all kinds of mayhem.
Mostly its innocent, there's a lot of yelling things like "dude look out!" and "oh my gosh dude, did you see that?!" and the like, which is all quite funny to listen to.
But then the other day it happened. My husband and i were driving down main street in Lehi, and he just started laughing out loud for no reason.
(On a side note, it should probably be mentioned that Lehi is about 5 miles east of a very large army base called camp williams.)
Anyway, as i said, laughing. Alot of it. To which i said, "um i think i missed something" to which he responded, "i just saw an army helicopter flying over head and thought to myself, i need to take that down"......I havent stopped laughing about it since.
Let that be a lesson to all you gamers out there. Enjoy your games, but never buy a real weapon of any kind. For if my husband had owned some kind of rocket launcher or large gun, we would both be sitting in an army prison right now.

A letter to my lost sister.

Dear Sheri,
Wow so much has happened in the 9 months you have been gone. I knew when i started this blog that this post was going to happen, and i thought memorial day weekend seemed appropriate.
Your girls are getting so big! They are funny, and beautiful. And every time Ava looks at me i see your giant blue eyes.
There were early mornings i spent with Ava where it was just her and me, and i was SURE you were there. I talked to you both and i hope you heard.
Our extended family is as crazy as ever, and i have had so many days when i was waiting for you to log into messenger so we could talk about it. You were the one who understood, the one who could laugh with me, and the only one i ever felt really WAS my sister. Its lonely for me in this family without you....
I MISS YOU. Probably more then you will ever know. I could cry every day if i let myself. But you will be happy to know that i dont. James and I talk about you so much, and we laugh, and remember. And sometimes we cry and remember.
We went to see your new headstone a few days ago, and are planning to go again tomorrow. Its so beautiful, and im glad its close by so we can go there often.
I hope you hear it when we talk to each other, your husband, and your children about you. And i hope you are there laughing with us when we discuss the latest events in our lives. And see the pictures of you we keep around us to remember you.
I love you sister, and i cant wait to sit and talk with you again someday. Oh my goodness the stories i have to tell you....
Wendi

Help Wanted: psychic life coach.

Is it just me, or does everyone wonder if free agency is such a gift sometimes.
Sometimes i think to myself that i wish someone would just tell me exactly what to do, and what will happen after i do it.
Like every week i just get some kind of transcript in the mail, telling me what will be going on this week.
It will say things like, "i know you think waiting a couple extra days before mowing the lawn wont be a big deal. But it will, and the lawn will be SO long that it will take you 3 times as long to mow then if you just do it today."
Or, "tomorrow, someone you love will be having a bad day, go buy them a giant candy bar".
It will tell me what to make for dinner, and a list of things i should buy at the store, so i dont have to go back for the ten things i forgot i needed.
There will be a list of already made appointments for the things i forget, like the vet, the doctor, or the dentist.
It will include a list of people i should help, or spend extra time with. People that might need me, or people i need who wont be around when I need them. With this section there will be a list of appropriate things to say that will be helpful, and also a list of the things i shouldnt say out loud...
Most importantly will be a list of things i am going to be sad, or angry about. So that i can be TOTALLY prepared to not overreact, cry for an hour, or say something i might regret.
Well until the day that someone becomes my psychic "life coach" and starts sending me these things, i guess im just going to have to keep making mistakes, saying silly things, and trying to be there more for the people i love. So dont be shy peeps, even if you just need a giant candy bar, im your girl.

Aloha Oe...

We sent out our first family missionary today.
My nephew Drew entered the MTC today to prepare for the difficulties that come with serving a mission in a hardcore, harsh weather, roughing it mission. Maybe you've heard of it, i think they call it Hono-lu-lu.... No im not kidding, my lucky nephew gets to spend the next two years in what i consider to be the most beautiful place on earth, Honolulu, Hawaii.
For those that know my family its a BIG deal for him to go there, and it is one of those things that makes you say, "hmm, yeah, the church is definately true" because out of the entire planet, our Prophet opted to send this boy to the one place on earth that means as much to my family as our home here does. God works in mysterious ways, and obvious ones too sometimes. :)
Its going to be a strange thing for my family to have someone so far away for such a long time. I'm so proud of him, and his example to all the kids in the family that are watching him closely, not to mention the example he is to me of true bravery for doing something i wouldnt have dreamt of doing at his age.
So props Drew, for being amazing, brave, a great example, and one of the funniest people i know. I love you.

My most interesting day of the week.

Tuesdays are by far my most interesting day.
I never know how they are going to go, am i going to get my nails done? or maybe get my hair done. or possibly have my make up put on. Or better yet, eat invisible soup that turns out to be dog food.
Well the truth is usually it is all of those things because i spend tuesdays with my two favorite girls in the world. My great-nieces Gracie, and Gabree.
Grace is 4 years old, and every week i get pretend make up, pretend nail polish, my hair thouroughly brushed, and fake food, all while she calls me "sweetheart" and tells me i look "gorgeous". Usually while this is going on, Gab is standing on my lap (as i sit on the floor in front of gracie's beauty chair) bouncing around, screaming, and covering my face in slobbery one year old kisses.
I LOVE these days! They make me laugh, make me smile, and make me exhausted and wonder how moms manage it 7 days a week. My hat is off to all you mothers out there, as much as i love fake soup, and looking gorgeous, it is a freaking lot of work!

I woke up on the wrong side of the seasons.

So it snowed today. Not like, "oh look its snowing in may" but like "HOLY FREAKING CRAP there is a blizzard in may".
Makes for a grumpy morning i'll tell ya that much. But i went forward with plans james and i made over the weekend of me taking him to work so i could run some errands in provo. And while i was out i bought myself something i have never had before. Are you ready?? Wait for it..... i bought my very OWN copy of the Book of Mormon.
I know, right? I should have one by now, but being the youngest of 6, mine was always a hand me down. The one i have been using most recently belonged to my husband's late grandmother. And i just cant bring myself to mark in it... i know its silly but i see her little notes in the margins, and the things she marked, and well, its just not mine to color in. :)
So even though the weather was crappy and made me angry, i still got to go shopping, which is always good, and we went to the cemetary to see my sister-in-law Sheri's headstone. It was just put in a few weeks ago. It's beautiful, and suites her perfectly.
It will probably be 90 degrees tomorrow, and we will all be moving sandbags to stop the flooding from the snow melt, but i guess that's life in Utah.

Here we go....

So i'm not going to pretend that anyone will really care too much about my opinions, or the things i think about. In fact if you had asked me a year ago if i had ever considered having a blog, i would have laughed. In truth, (and they say admitting it is the first step), i'm really not that interesting. I have no real opinions on politics, sports, the news, or most anything that most people would want to talk about.
I'm a thirty something married woman, with no children of her own, but definately not lacking being surrounded by loved ones. I have a ginormous family, in which i would like to think i am loved, or at least found entertaining at moments.... ;)
I think of myself as the "odd" one in my family. I have no love for country music, hunting, chick flicks, girls weekends/dinners out, and a number of other things that my loving family thrives on.
I was 23 when i got married, which was the oldest of all my siblings, and i was the only one that lived away from home for any length of time before they got married. My husband is a TOTAL computer/gaming nerd, and has never hunted anything in his life. And for anyone that knows my family, THAT is a big deal.
So why am i doing this?? its a valid question, and one i have been fighting with for months now. But i cant deny that the prompting has been driving me "straight up bananas" which is how we say crazy in our house.So here it is folks, the beginning of what may end in failure, or may only be something i do for myself that no one else reads :P either way, i feel better now that i have started, and there are MANY stories in my mind that i plan on sharing. But that's probably enough for now. Stick with me while i figure this out and you might be rewarded with a funny story or two, or maybe some interesting gossip, i guess we will have to wait and find out together. :)

My first day here.

So this is my first day here, well not here on earth, but here in blog world. Im altogether not that interesting, so this might turn out to be an epic failure, but it seemed like it might be fun.