Chinchilla

Oh chinchilla I morn thee.
(even if you are Santas little helper)

Pie

The two days before Thanksgiving I worked at the bakery. I made 52 pies, 5 pans of lemon bars, 6 pans of brownies and too many dozens of sugar cookies to count. After working 20 hours in a 30 hour period I was sick of baking, sick of being awake and sick of pies. I didn't eat a single piece of pie on Thanksgiving. Today, a man came into the bakery and said, "I've never been in this place but I decided I just had to come check it out. The lady at work just keeps talking about how good everything is here. She said that the pecan pie she got from here this year is the best pie she has ever eaten. " Really? Aahhh Shucks. Well, maybe I'm not completely sick of pies after all.

Recent events recently

I'd blog more if I actually had something to blog about. I know this doesn't stop most people but for some reason my brain only has so much to offer these days. I say to it.."take a nap dear, you'll feel much better if you do." It doesn't invite me to snuggle and sleep lazily in the afternoon very often so usually I'm on my own. Thanks Brain. Recent events occurring recently include potty training, losing my job, and getting complaints from my psycho neighbor. Yeah, all exciting. Especially when every conversation turns to "Oh Megan pooped in the potty today!" I will say that losing my job didn't include anything exciting (darn it) just the closing down of my bosses buisness without the bakery buying her out. I will miss all of our "conversations" of man-hating, lesbian gospel discussions. hummm, I think I'll go talk my brain into a mid morning nap.

Happy Halloween!

Yesterday Sherri came to hang out at the bakery. We had fun making these halloween cupcakes and talking about all of you. Yes, I did say we talked about all of you. Oh get over it, It happens all the time... So Sydney, Alex and Megan all had AWESOME cupcakes to take to school. I am definatly the best mom EVER!

but wait, there's more... Josh wanted a cake for his class instead so we made this cool graveyard complete with coffins and fallen down fences.

They aren't allowed to wear their halloween costumes so we opted for tasty, deliciousness instead. Yeah, I really am the best mom ever. Don't tell anyone, I don't think I could handle the hate mail.

Snow Fall

What is up with this Snow?? Where did my fall go? Really now. I didn't even get to comment on how much I love fall and the snow is already on the ground.

Paul Browning

I have a cousin named Paul Browning. For those of you who don't know him and in case I haven't mentioned it yet, he's pretty cool. While cleaning out the garage a couple of weeks ago I found some of my old pictures that put me in the nostolgic mode.

I really would like to write about some of the out of control crazy things that he use to do when we were younger but I'm constantly trying to keep up with the crazy out of control things that he does now. Yes I know, he hasn't changed much. He still had no personal boundries and continues to push all the boundries of others. I know, I know, he's saying..."What's wrong with that?" Well, nothing really if you can handle it... Sorry Mandi, It's your job daily.. we feel for you. But we that have a realation to him are also very lucky because we will never lose him and are better people for knowing our dear Paul... if not just a little more patient.

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Double my Frustration

Although I love looking at Hhhhaaaaaawwwwt Mr. Haselhoff I decided to move on to matters much less creepy.. and of utmost importance.

In March 2008 history changed courses for Doublemint gumchewers throughout the world. In a press conference release it is stated...

"A great new look with the introduction of Slim Pack(TM), a sleek, 15-stick envelope package that is more durable and portable for today's consumers. The new packaging is coupled with significant flavor improvements across both brands. We are bringing news and excitement to the Wrigley's traditional brands and Extra - a portfolio that represents 30 percent of our overall gum business in the U.S., commented Bill Perez, President and CEO, at Wrigley's Annual Stockholders' Meeting Wednesday in Chicago. We've reformulated these brands to improve taste and flavor duration, and we are introducing new, category-changing packaging that has been two years in the making. This cool new pack will make these brands more contemporary and give them a great presence on the shelf."

Are you kidding? First Tang and now this... Slim packs... fine. 15 stick for the price of 17... fine. Signicant flavor improvements...I beg to differ. News and excitement?? This news is not any type of excitement for me. Now everywhere I go I am buying up all the old packaging and obviously lack of flavor gum and hording it in my closet and changing my chewing habits to include only half a stick to make the packages last longer. I don't want to be "cool" I don't want "new and improved". I want what is good and delicious to my tastebuds and has been to many people throughout the world since 1914.

*sigh*

Thank You for your attention. Now if you will excuse me I have some gum to hoard.

If you think that this is eqally as gay as Twlight (which it is) how about this... oh mommy. Although, he was especially hot in Night Rider... or was that the car.. I can never remember...

we're drying again...

Last night we FINALLY got our dryer fixed. Parts and Labor.. $30 bucks and a pan of lemon bars. SWEET!!! (thanks Todd!)

Priceless

Yesterday I went to an appointment with Todd at the University. Meg was with us and so I waited in the lobby and proceeded to involve myself with the countless magazine full O' Crap wilst watching Judge Judy rip into some kid about being stupid enough to buy a motorcycle let alone get on one drunk, wreck and then not make any payments after he didn't have insurance.. *sigh* so during this time Meg is enjoying all the fun things that you can find in the waiting area including highlights magazine and coloring pages with crayons a plenty. I was halfway through the article on Mylie Cyrus' new album (looks to be another hit by the way..) Meg starts giving me treats from the basket on the end table. "Here's for mom" "One for me.." "And for Daddy.." Now for Mom.." Being so involved in Entertainement Magazine and their view now giving me knowledge that all the rage and hype is for a reason, I didn't realize that now Meg had moved onto the next basket on the table opposite where we sat. "No no Meg we only need a few. Keep a couple for daddy and put the rest back.." Judge Judy has moved onto chewing out the stupid girfriend and At that point I finally had the good sense to look down to find my lap filled with various brands and colors of condoms. Yes condoms.

.

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Visit to the University Health Center ...$15

Perscription filled...$4

Finding the perfect treat for daddy... Priceless

The incredible Jared Pratt

It's been close to 20 years since I went to college. Most memories about English and religion classes I try to forget and there are years that other things perhaps are a bit fuzzy.. one thing that is clear is that I had a lot of great friends along the way. One of the best was Jared Pratt. Recently, after 15 years of life going by, we got together for a little reunion of sorts. I found out that he still looks the same, I still think he's the best and his family is absolutely incredible!

Mission Accomplished

I guess you could say I'm an assistant of sorts. I help out a couple days a week at a bakery. Specifically, a cake decorator. She makes cakes of all sorts including wedding cakes, sheet cakes, birthday cakes and most any special occaision. They are delicious and fabulously decorated. It is fun and mostly relaxing and hardly difficult. I get to deliver wedding cakes and actually leave the reception without hardly even talking to anyone. It's wonderful. The owner is fun and good to work with. We talk a lot and are learning about each other while we are working on cakes. Yesterday I learned that she left her husband last year and is now living with her husbands best friends wife... Intimatly. I have a feeling my job is never going to be boring.

Settling in

I think we are finally settling in. I hope so. I'm sick of unloading boxes. We live in Chubbuck. Friendly neighbors, small library and a ward so happy to have us that we talked in Church the second sunday that we were there. I'm still getting use to kids knocking on the door all the time to play with our kids and always having to go find them all times of the day from playing all over the neighborhood. I'm still trying to figure out where to put things and having quite a time getting use to my kitchen. Time will be my friend.

Moving Day

Today is moving day. Once I actually realize that this is all happening and I recover from my numbing sense of denial, I think I may need a long hot bath and a massage... or perhaps just a swift kick to the head...

Packing

I would like to clarify...Packing really Sucks!

Tag I'm It

I've been tagged by Paul so here goes...

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

I was pregnant with Sydney (my second child) living in Rexburg and working at Inkley's.

2. 5 Things on my To Do List

Pack
Pack
Pack
Clean
Pack

3. What Snacks do I enjoy?

I love apples when they are cold and crisp
Doublemint Gum and most any kind of gumball
Shortbread cookies
Big Hunk (its a childhood tradition)
Turtle Chex Mix (YUMMM!)
ORIGINAL Tang (we won't go into that...) :(

4. What would I do if I were suddenly a billionaire?

Pay off my mortgage, pay off school loans, buy a car that doesn't break down every month and put Todd through School.

5. 3 Bad habits

I complain way too much
I don't listen very well
I waste a lot of time

6. 6 places I've lived

Sugar City, ID
Wichita, KS
Barre, VT
Portland, ME
Logan, UT
Scarsdale, NY

7. 6 jobs I've had

McDonald's Drive Thru connoisseur
Seamstress extrordinair
Golf Pro Shop counter girl
Art teacher at Summer Camp
Photography store/studio Manager
Professional Photographer

8. 5 things most people don't know about me

I laugh and giggle in my sleep
I have a mole on the top of my middle toe on my left foot.
At the age of 8 I got lost at Disney Land and spent the entire day in the lost and found (not the Happiest place on earth).
The lead singer of MaterialIssue smoked pot in my bathroom at a Backyard BBQ I won from a radio station.



I tag Leslie and Sasha

Moving

Our Family now has an official moving date. May 31 we will be heading to Pocatello. It comes with mixed feelings but we know that is where we are suppose to be. We haven't sold our house yet but know it will sell eventually, hopefully sooner than later. Yeah I know...this patience thing is getting a little old.

Everyone has been asking how I hurt my foot. I've been trying to tell everyone it is no big deal and that I just hurt it jumping off my deck. So that you will understand the crazy normalities, here are some pictures caught on handycam that I pulled off just for you to enjoy.

Sisters

This weeekend all my sisters were together for the first time since 2000.

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Now that Neva has moved from Alaska to Salt Lake City and Noreen has moved from Arizona it seems like this will be possible more often. (This is a good thing right?)

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My sister-in-law Leanne, (married to Nathan), was visiting from Seattle. Everyone say we look like sisters more that my brother and I look alike. Probably true. Even more so is that my niece Shalisha looks more like me that either of them and everyone thinks I am her mom.

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After dinner on Sunday everyone went out to play a mean game of dodgeball. Unfortunatly for me (or fortunatly perhaps...) I almost broke my foot while running off the deck last week which rendered me useless in the dodgeball world. humm...too bad... oh well I did get a new pair of airwalk flip flops out of the deal and also a great supply of colored sticky horse wrap for my foot. I can't even brag about the awesome foot brace I already had from stepping off my deck last fall. Yeah I know, different foot though and different hole in the lawn. Same injury and quite the same pain.

All in all it was a fun visit and we look forward to this summer. Now that we live within 2 hours of each other I'm sure there will be many happy memories coming right up. Pass the Happiness Please....

Some days this explains it all, but remove "Caution". It just feels better that way.

Can she fix it? Yes she can!

I have been on a fix-it craze the past few weeks. In the preparation for selling the house I keep finding things that have a need for fixing. For example.. the hole behind the door caused from hasty entry into our house. Todd is gone all week and is so busy when he gets home that I have decided to just start fixing things myself. Tightening doorknobs, adjusting cabinent doors, patching walls. Can I do it? Yes I can! Everyone please rise. Now clap and holler. I would like a standing ovation.

Home Wreckers

Today our family prepared for spring with some clean up in our yard. We raked and swept and pulled out old plants. Trimmed, raked some more and best of all we burned our ditch banks. For my city slicker friends who have never had the pleasure of burning ditches let me just tell you, it is a rare treat. This year especially we realized amazingly large amount of mice that had burrowed in for the winter. Now that we've destroyed their homes and leveled the back pasture to a crisp black we are tired, hungry, smelly and ultimately... home wreckers.

Did I ever tell you that Mrs. McCave Had twenty-three sons, and she named them all Dave?
Well, she did. And that wasn't a smart thing to do. You see, when she wants one, and calls out "Yoo-Hoo! Come into the house, Dave!" she doesn't get one. All twenty-three Daves of hers come on the run!
This makes things quite difficult at the McCaves' As you can imagine, with so many Daves. And often she wishes that, when they were born, She had named one of them Bodkin Van Horn.

And one of them Hoos-Foos. And one of them Snimm.

And one of them Hot-Shot. And one Sunny Jim.

And one of them Shadrack. And one of them Blinkey.

And one of them Stuffy. And one of them Stinkey.

Another one Putt-Putt. Another one Moon Face.

Another one Marvin O'Gravel Balloon Face.

And one of them Ziggy. And one Soggy Muff.

One Buffalo Bill. And one Biffalo Buff.

And one of them Sneepy. And one Weepy Weed.

And one Paris Garters. And one Harris Tweed.

And one of them Sir Michael Carmichael Zutt.

And one of them Oliver Boliver Butt.

And one of them Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate . . . .

But she didn't do it. And now it's too late.

Magic

Dear Mr Clean, I love you! you are my new boyfriend. When we meet I will kiss you right on the lips with enduring love. Your magic erasers are well....MAGIC. Everytime I use them I think of you and my heart swells with gratitude. When you die you should be admitted stright into heaven for all people in the world that you have helped to lighten their load and brightened their day (not to mention their bathtubs)

I am forever yours, Brightened by magic.

see please here

Attn: Akinogal-
Leave me alone. I do not want to see please here. I am not interested in having a virus on my computer and I would appreciate it if you would stay away. I don't give you crap for your computer without asking you so don't give crap to me without asking. If you would like to submit in writing to Send Crap Here at crapcollector@hotmail.com in full detail with return address with full explanation for virus I would be happy to consider your request. Until that point I can not process your demands.

Thank you- management

so random

Real Estate

Moving really stinks. It just gets harder the longer you live in the same place and the more kids you have. When we built our house 4 years ago we thought we'd be here for a while. Life changes things like that. Now we are selling our house and on our way to Pocatello for school. We love our house but know this will be a great move for us. Now if we could just get it sold. It is a bit unusual for our area but the right family will find it and fall in love like we did when we built it. Now we are just praying for the patience to see it through. Stay tuned for change of address coming to a blog near you...

Happy Easter

I've added a picture for my profile. Now everyone can quit buggin me about not having one. Since I have so many good ones (not counting my drivers license. It is the best there is) Enjoy. and Enjoy.

Language

I have been reading a lot lately. I enjoy a good murder mystery and try to stay away from anything too cheesy but not so in depth to where I actually have to think. Every once in a while I read a Robert Ludlum novel. After a little bit of a wait the Madison Library called to inform me that the book I had them hold had finally come in. The Bourne Identity. Now I admit, the language in this book may not be so clean but is obviously necessary for the writer to help establish his characters (or something) so anyway, thanks to a very courteous and clean library patron I now have a book to read that has been edited for the good of the non language people. And it only cost me $9.995.5 And they say that only the lucky get the good stuff...

Just for the record...

I'm happy to report that I am the proud new owner of a renewed Idaho drivers license. Not that I didn't think I could get one (knowing my record and all...) It's just that unbeknownst to me it has been expired 6 months. (A sweet little girl kindly pointed it out to me last week as I was buying spraypaint at walmart. Yeah I know...I got carded. Luckily I squeaked past the age limit and I could spray to my hearts content later that day) Anyway, Because of the length of expiration I thought that it would require taking the test (gasp!) Obviously I am not the only slacker in the grand state of Idaho to wait so long and the time has been extended to a full year of non renewal for freedom on non test taking. Maybe they are afraid too many people will fail to pass.

2 full minutes...

I took my children to the dentist the other day and each one came home with a new toothbrush, watermellon toothpaste and a 2 minute sand timer. For those of you that have never timed yourself while brushing your teeth you may be surprised. I love clean teeth and enjoy a good teeth flossing but to go the full two minutes... I think I need to rethink my morning routine by at least 1.3 minutes...

Snow Fairy

Recently my children have been asking why be have been getting so much snow. It is more than they have ever seen in one year. I have explained that the snow fairy has been very generous and that this year we have been very blessed. "Keep watching out so we can Thank that Snow Fairy when we see him". I changed my mind. I think we'll just send him a letter....

Valentine tips 101

AN ACTUAL 1955 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING ARTICLE
(HOUSEKEEPING MONTHLY 13 MAY 1955)

THE GOOD WIFE'S GUIDE

*HAVE DINNER READY. PLAN AHEAD, EVEN THE NIGHT BEFORE, TO HAVE A DELICIOUS MEAL
READY, ON TIME FOR HIS RETURN. THIS IS A WAY OF LETTING HIM KNOW THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN THINKING ABOUT HIM AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIS NEEDS. MOST MEN ARE HUNGRY
WHEN THEY COME HOME AND THE PROSPECTS OF A GOOD MEAL (ESPECIALLY HIS FAVORITE
DISH) IS PART OF THE WARM WELCOME NEEDED.

*PREPARE YOURSELF. TAKE 15 MINUTES TO REST SO YOU'LL BE REFRESHED WHEN HE ARRIVES.
TOUCH UP YOUR MAKE-UP, PUT A RIBBON IN YOUR HAIR, AND BE FRESH LOOKING. HE HAS
JUST BEEN WITH A LOT OF WORK-WEARY PEOPLE.

*BE A LITTLE GAY AND A LITTLE MORE INTERESTING FOR HIM. HIS BORING DAY MAY NEED A LIFT
AND ONE OF YOUR DUTIES IS TO PROVIDE IT.

*CLEAR AWAY THE CLUTTER. MAKE ONE LAST TRIP THROUGH THE MAIN PART OF THE HOUSE JUST
BEFORE YOUR HUSBAND ARRIVES.

*GATHER UP SCHOOLBOOKS, TOYS, PAPER ETC AND THEN RUN A DUST CLOTH OVER THE TABLES.

*OVER THE COOLER MONTHS OF THE YEAR YOU SHOULD PREPARE AND LIGHT A FIRE FOR HIM
TO UNWIND BY. YOUR HUSBAND WILL FEEL HE HAS REACHED A HAVEN OF REST AND ORDER,
AND IT WILL GIVE YOU A LIFT TOO. AFTER ALL, CATERING FOR HIS COMFORT WILL PROVIDE
YOU WITH IMMENSE PERSONAL SATISFACTION.

*PREPARE THE CHILDREN. TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO WASH THE CHILDREN'S HANDS AND FACES
(IF THEY ARE SMALL), COMB THEIR HAIR AND, IF NECESSARY, CHANGE THEIR CLOTHES. THEY
ARE LITTLE TREASURES AND HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM PLAYING THE PART. MINIMIZE ALL
NOISE. AT THE TIME OF HIS ARRIVAL, ELIMINATE ALL NOISE OF THE WASHER, DRYER, OR VACUUM.
TRY TO ENCOURAGE THE CHILDREN TO BE QUIET.

*BE HAPPY TO SEE HIM.

*GREET HIM WITH A WARM SMILE AND SHOW SINCERITY IN YOUR DESIRE TO PLEASE HIM.

*LISTEN TO HIM. YOU MAY HAVE A DOZEN IMPORTANT THINGS TO TELL HIM, BUT THE MOMENT
OF HIS ARRIVAL IS NOT THE TIME. LET HIM TALK FIRST-REMEMBER, HIS TOPICS OF
CONVERSATION ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOURS.

*MAKE THE EVENING HIS. NEVER COMPLAIN IF HE COMES HOME LATE OR GOES OUT TO DINNER,
OR OTHER PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT WITHOUT YOU. INSTEAD, TRY TO UNDERSTAND HIS WORLD
OF STRAIN AND PRESSURE AND HIS VERY REAL NEED TO BE AT HOME AND RELAX.

*YOUR GOAL: TRY TO MAKE SURE YOUR HOME IS A PLACE OF PEACE, ORDER AND TRANQUILITY
WHERE YOUR HUSBAND CAN RENEW HIMSELF IN BODY AND SPIRIT.

*DON'T GREET HIM WITH COMPLAINTS AND PROBLEMS.

*DON'T COMPLAIN IF HE'S LATE HOME FOR DINNER OR EVEN IF HE STAYS OUT ALL NIGHT.
COUNT THIS AS MINOR COMPARED TO WHAT HE MIGHT HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT DAY.

*MAKE HIM COMFORTABLE. HAVE HIM LEAN BACK IN A COMFORTABLE CHAIR OR HAVE HIM
LIE DOWN IN THE BEDROOM. HAVE A COOL OR WARM DRINK READY FOR HIM.

*ARRANGE HIS PILLOW AND OFFER TO TAKE OFF HIS SHOES. SPEAK IN A LOW, SOOTHING AND
PLEASANT VOICE.

*DON'T ASK HIM QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS ACTIONS OR QUESTION HIS JUDGMENT OR INTEGRITY.
REMEMBER, HE IS THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE AND AS SUCH WILL ALWAYS EXERCISE HIS WILL
WITH FAIRNESS AND TRUTHFULNESS. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO QUESTION HIM.

*A GOOD WIFE ALWAYS KNOWS HER PLACE.



THIS ARTICLE ACTUALLY APPEARED IN HOUSEKEEPING MONTHLY ON 13 MAY 1955

Whoever wrote the song "Let it snow" obviously didn't live in Idaho and have to clear a 1/4 mile driveway.

6 or 7 things about me

Paul Tagged me so here goes...


1. I threw up once from laughing so hard. It was at the State Football game in the ISU Minidome (aka Holt arena) in Pocatello. My boyfriend came back from the bathroom and leaned over and wispered.. "their toilet paper is hard" right as was starting to drink my 7-up. I started laughing, turned to choking, then full on throwing up right on the people in front of me. I wonder if they use the same toilet paper at the minidome?

2. I have never had a nightmare. No full on scary wake up in sweats screaming type of anything. I'm more of a giggle in my sleep kind of girl. I wake myself up laughing or giggling at least once a week. Yeah, and don't ask. I don't remember....


3. My favorite place in the whole world so far is Vermont in the Fall. The entire place is transformed into a magical and amazing place. The rolling hills and covered bridges and in some places small lakes just take your breath away.

4. I made out with one of my best friends boyfriend once. (don't ask I won't tell...) I still feel guilty about that...


5. My favorite book is called " I Like You " by Sandol Stoddard Warburg.. I've known this book as long as I can remember and it still makes me happy everytime I read it. "Here is the book that Romeo would have given Juliet; Charlie Brown would have given Snoopy; and you can give to some very special friend..."


6. I really love ABBA. Yes the Group. Shut up this is my blog of favorite things... I am not ashamed of my love for such a sensation. I have now worn out two CD's and working on my third of ABBA's greatest hits.


7. I was a professional seamstress once which consisted of quilting those really cheesy velvet seatcovers. I was super fast and made great money. If you have ever had one of these seatcover.. I'm sorry. I still think they are full of cheese.

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. Alright time for a tag... Sherri- Show us your stuff.. And Robin. Get a blog going We know you have some great stuff to get out there...