Okay, okay, um, the last word was seagulls.

I don't know what I would do without Jen.

I don't believe in isms, I only believe in myself

Aaron is gone till Monday but I kinda needed a break. Not that I don't like being with Aaron, but being a wife of a traveling husband, you get use to having time to yourself. It is a weird situation, because I miss Aaron fiercely while he is gone but at the same time, I enjoy having my own time at night to do whatever I want. And tomorrow, I'm getting a babysitter so I can have a date with Barnes and Noble.

Which brings me to my next thought. Since I started writing my children's book, I haven't had time to read. My philosophy was if I had time to read, I had time to edit. Although right now, I need a break from the revision and so I'm gulping down books that I've been literally building as a to-read stack in my book room...it's not quite a library, patience, patience. So while it has been fun chatting, I'm going to go read. I'm currently reading the Ezekiel Option by Rosenberg: light, exciting, political thriller.

I didn't ask for a dime

Okay, so several weeks ago I lost my wedding ring. I've lost my ring two times before--all the same scenario: I take off my ring and put it on the bathroom counter while I take a shower. Little hands find it and then chuck it somewhere so they don't get caught. The first time it took me 6 hours to find my ring. The second time it took a day and a half to recover it. But this time it has been missing for over a month now.

It stressed me to no end at first; I know it is in this house some where, but I haven't been able to find it no matter how I try. At first I felt weird without it; I missed my constant companion. But now it has been so long that I don't miss its friendship. I'm no longer codependent. This makes me sad.

Aaron lost his wedding ring to the ocean within our first year of marriage. He was devastated and I told him, "it's just a piece of metal and we'll get another one." Although, now that the situation is reversed, I understand how he felt. Still I can't buy a new one because I KNOW IT IS HERE SOME WHERE. I'm hoping, one day I'll be cleaning out a closet or a toy bin and there it will be. I can hope, right?

I've fallen and I can't get up

"Do you think McCain has a sweet Jitterbug phone?"

I said maybe you're going to be the one that saves me

I love change. I chase it. Except for sometimes it catches me spontaneously and I want to return things to the way they were. I close my eyes tight. Tighter. But eventually, curiosity and impatience take over. I peek. Everything is still changed; nothing is as is was before. And all I have left is hope.

it's already been brought

My family loves Amazing Race...collectively, we're a bit obsessed. To the point where I have created a fantasy league for it and we all compete for bragging rights. If you want to join, you may: where the magic happens. I removed the teams feature because it was an extra headache, so it is mono e mono (yeah I have no idea how to spell that). Bring your A game or just get sucked in with the rest of us. The league enrollment closes on the 28th.

I use to sit by the window and I could see the squirrels and they were merry

I have two moments of peace during the day: one, when I'm getting out of the shower, I wrap up in a towel and sit by the side of my tub and clear my head of everything for at least a minute; and two, at 12.30p, I make lunch for the girls and then lie down on the carpet in the living room while they eat. The sun is blanketing the carpet and I curl up in its warmth. (I recognize this is a bit Patsyish but I'm not taking naps in sweaty cars, so I think I'm okay.) This fifteen minutes of peace saves me.

I have a fever and the prescription is more cowbell

I love fall; it is my favorite season: apple cider, sweaters, gray days, warm rolls, soup, leaves--all good things. Of course, fall also means football season. And for me, and I'm sure countless other wives, it means fantasy football. I loathe fantasy football. Don't get me wrong, I actually love to watch football...when it is a team I care about. But fantasy football means every game, regardless of team, is important because Aaron's or Aaron's opponent's players are worth watching. And don't even get me started on Sports Center--it runs like a ticker in this house. Of course, November is even worse when fantasy basketball starts and he has both going at the same time. I thought action sports dudes weren't suppose to be into team sports, but no I married the one that is into all sports. Sweet for me.

Aaron suggested that I join his league next time but I have no desire. I'm more spiteful; so my newest hobby is going to be creating a painful-for-boys fantasy league...I don't know what to do yet, I welcome any ideas. I was thinking something that centers around the E!, TLC, Oprah, Martha Stewart, or some other crappy (but I secretly love) girl show. We'll see what I come up with.

Jake's my boy!

So I was having a giggle at seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com, and I realized: oh crap, I can kinda relate to some of this stereotypical ridiculous married mormon stuff. For example, I love Target. And if it is a Super Target, I might pee my pants. (Yeah, Super Target is that fabulous.) Who doesn't like: wide aisles, relatively cute everyday crap, decent prices, and cookies for the kids? Only sickies reject Target. Walmart makes my lungs implode; it is so claustrophobic. I spit on Walmart...if there is a Target near by. I cannot reject my love for the Target, so I'll have to accept that I have ridiculous-married-mormon tendencies. It might take a few weeks to come to terms with this acknowledgment. But I'm sure a few trips to Target will help.

me want food

So my sister Livy is really into making fondant cakes, and who isn't, really? Fondant is grown-up playdough. To suck her sisters in, she created a cake-off. I have an entry, can you guess? Enjoy and vote.

dance'n around like you think you're Janet Jackson

While Aaron sipped redbulls with Sean White at the dew tour in SLC, I changed 7 poopy diapers (many were the blueberry garden variety--not a pleasant experience), ran Morgan to the hospital (she busted her chin open on a step up...I thought she might need stitches but we were cool), scavenged for Tollway change (the beast won't take pennies or dollars; swine tollway, I need to get a expresstoll pass...jerks), project-managed homework with Lauren, changed princess after princess outfit for Ava, grilled Bryn on her ABC's, and found a moment to brush my hair...but not my teeth (this is a disgusting realization; I'll be back in a minute. That's a little bit better). I've been running around like a chicken all week; I don't know what is going on. I think it is the lack of dance parties with the ladies. We'll have to get down tomorrow, I mean it's Friday, right?

Aaron doesn't get back till Sunday...man, I need a V8.

Director of Extreme Weather Preparedness and the War on the Poor

"I hate that I like Alec Baldwin."
"Yeah, me too."
"He's just really funny."

smurfberry crunch is fun to eat, a smurfy smurfy breakfast treat

Today has been one smurf of a smurfy day. In fact, I am currently chocking down two cookies to neutralize my smurfy day. I can't smurf'n complain about the beginning of my day but I can smurf'n rant about how it ended. You know what, smurf it. I'm not going to blemish this blog with a smurfin rant. Just know, today smurfed. Being a stay-at-home mom is not the smurfing sweet life. serenity now, serenity now.

a whole new world

We drove to Sotah (Southern Utah)--yeah that's Aaron's silly nickname for it--this weekend for my grandma's funeral. We grossly underestimated how long it would take. Aaron and I thought it would take 7, maybe 8, hours to get there....but no, it took us 10. In retrospect, I should have flown; lessons learned.

The kids watched a lot of movies on the trip. During Aladdin, Jafar wished for absolute power which sparked a interesting discussion between Aaron and I. Absolute power is one of the very last things we would ever wish for. Neither of us see the appeal of dominating others. Then we discussed what we would actually wish for if we were given three wishes. I would wish for:

1. Protection for my family from any form of harm.
   
2. To unlock my brain's potential. Super genius is very appealing to me; most super geniuses have problems coping in society but I'm hoping my street smarts will help balance that.
   
3. To fly. I understand that this is a bit silly and fantastical but if you have ever flown in a dream, you know it is sweet. And I wouldn't fly like superman or peter pan or even tinker bell. I think flying while sitting Indian-style would be comfortable and less save-the-world.
   

Honorable mention: telescope eyes. So I could stare for hours into the universe without straining to peak through a restrictive tiny telescope.

Grandma sidebar: I am happy for my grandma to be free of this life. The funeral was one of celebration. But the hardest part of the weekend, for me, was going to their empty house after the funeral and realizing I would probably never go there again. Staring into the empty house, I was flooded with all the memories made there: of watching the Holy Grail for the first time, catching praying mantises in the driveway while eating fun dip and penny candies from Lyman's, playing Uno with Heidi and Grandpa in the kitchen, staying up talking with cousins while pretending to sleep in sleeping bags, climbing the big tree, eating molasses candy and picking it out of my teeth, I could go on for hours. I will miss that there will not be any new memories in that house.

thank you sir, may I have another

What a week. It is Thursday tomorrow and I don't know how I got here...I have so many thoughts, some I have broken up below and others I'm just going to spew, but that's how a journal works, right?

As of late, I have had several friends going through very difficult experiences. I am an over empathizer--so much so, that I cut people off to relate rather than quietly listen, I'm working on being a better listener. But in these situations, I cannot relate and I find difficulty trying to be a good friend. But maybe that is when listening becomes more important. In all these situations, the gospel of Jesus Christ is so necessary. I can't imagine going through life without it, it would be dark and depressing.

Tonight, we had a Septembering (I figure Patsy will be proud). I made Toni's decadent molten chocolate cake with sugared raspberries. Delicious. And I served them on fancy dishes--even to little Ava. I felt it necessary to welcome my favorite season. The weather was cool enough today that I even wore a sweater, it wasn't hardy wool but a light short sleeve sweater. Combining short sleeves and sweater should be an oxymoron (like a short sleeve turtleneck), but I feel it is a nice transition into fall. And I love an excuse to wear a sweater.

This past labor day weekend, Ry & Christy and kids came to visit. It was mad fun to be with them. I love that we live closer. Of course, one of the best moments happened just after they arrived. Of course I boobie-trapped their bed and toilet. Ryan went to TCB (Take Care of Business) just as I told Christy that I had snapped (the little firecrackers) the toilet. It was fully loaded too. Seconds later, a loud pop could be heard, even from the downstairs. Ryan screamed and hopped off the toilet. It was worth every snap.

Convention sidebar: Palin has balls.

he's a brilliant hamologist

Eleven years. Aaron and I have been married eleven years...I know this because instead of parking just anywhere at the grocery store, I look and drive around for a few minutes trying to find the closest spot. And today, I didn't take advantage of the golden pull-through. I am becoming Aaron...and I'm okay with that. I love him fiercely...more than words can express, more than actions can show.

I had a grandmother once...two actually

My sweet Grandma Wilson finally died this evening. I am grateful for her life and example. I am grateful that she is with Grandpa now. I am grateful for the gospel and the hope that Jesus Christ gives us.

he's quite wily like his old man

McCain might be a snarky bastard but he is a brilliant political strategist. Palin is genius. She's going to steal Hillary votes and unite the conservative base. Genius. And yes, Carrie, she does look like Tina Fey. And that's reason enough to vote for her; 30 Rock is the best show since Arrested Development.