UPDATE (again...I know, I know, I'm no good at creative titles)

So here's what I've been writing in my other blog...I always forget to post to both sites (or I get too tired, or lazy, or both).

December 27
Christmas Recap
Ok, so earlier the girls had just left and I was feeling totally depressed, in fact, I had pretty much stopped functioning and had sat at my computer for a tearful blog-session. Fortunately for you (my two loyal blog-readers), a boo-boo happened to my computer and the entire depressing entry was deleted. I must admit, I'm a bit relieved. It was beautiful and eloquent, but a total downer. That's SO not where I wanted to be, so I'm glad I got it out of the system and it's gone forever.

Christmas was a blast! The girls had a wonderful time just being able to relax and spend time at home. I wasn't sure I'd be able to pull off christmas at home by myself, but it really turned out rather well. We got to get out just enough, and stay in just enough. It was full of happy times. I'm bummed the kids are gone, but it's ok.

Work starts up again for me tomorrow...bummer. Oh well, at least it'll distract me from my depression that hit today. Besides, I like my work most of the time. It keeps me busy and on my toes.

Well, that's all I've got to say for now...time to clean up the house a bit!
8:44 PM

December 24
Mele Kalikimaka!!!
Merry christmas! Not a lot of time to write, too many gifts to get wrapped, just wanted to say MELE KALIKIMAKA & HAUOLI MAKAHIKI HOU!!!!!!

Found this picture and totally laughed...

8:25 PM

December 23
TUBING!!!
This morning we went tubing. Not just your ordinary tubing at the local park, no. This was the real thing. Ok, it was a bit pricey, but we all had a great time, and I got an awesome workout. The place provides the tubes, and a pulley thing that pulls you all the way up the hill. You just have to sit on the tube of a short ride up, walk to the runs, and take off. WHen we first got there, it was nice and cold, and the runs were FAST. By the time our tubing session ended around noon, it was slushy and slow. I'm so glad we scheduled the first session of the day.

As for my workout, well remember how I said you just had to walk from the bottom of the runs to the rope that pulls you up, then walk again to the top of the runs? Well, Arden decided she liked sitting in her tube through all of that walking. So I lugged her around all morning. After a few rides, Skye decided she was tired and wanted to be pulled too. But I drew the line with Honi. There was no way I was gonna pull all three of the girls. But I did pull honi's tube around for her. I looked pretty silly lugging 4 tubes around, but the kids had fun, so it was worth it. My arms and legs got a great conditioning session today. We came home, and I was wasted. I took a hot bath and napped for an hour or so. The girls are wasted. They fell asleed within about 5 minutes of laying in bed. I think that's a record.

Well, I'm still wasted. I'm goin' to bed. Later.


11:29 PM

December 21
Tragedy has struck our home...
Today while the girls and I watched Bride and Prejudice, our 7 lb. shih tzu named Pake (pronounced pah-kay) figured out how to get the hamster cage open, coaxed the hamster out of his warm, safe home, and treated our poor little pet rodent like a chew toy. The rodent corpse was discovered by my daughter who guiltily thought she had stepped on it in the dark...(fortunately the fur was still wet with dog spit so I could ease her guilt).

So for about a half-hour, I had to comfort broken hearts and listen to the moans of a six-year-old as she asked me, "why did he have to die...he was so young" and "I miss him" and "what am I going to do without him?" and "he was the best hamster ever, we'll never find another one like him." There were moments when I fought to hold a straight face, but I managed to convince them that Ronald McDonald Macmonald (our former pet hamster) was in a better place.

Burial was discussed, but in the end, it was enough for them to get a good look at the dead rodent in the garbage can. We decided she would get buried at the dump and it was just like being buried in the yard. Haleluliah! I was in no mood to go dig a hole in the middle of winter for the hamster (not that I don't feel bad, plus it was the middle of the night).

They're finally in bed. Fortunately, crying makes kids tired. In fact, crying makes me tired too, so I think that applies to most people. I've managed to get them into bed before 9:30. AMAZING. Thank you Rondald McDonald MacMonald. You have given me an extra half-hour of peace and quiet.


9:28 PM

December 19
Dancing Queens...
Tonight the girls and I had a dance...we have them periodically, but I really enjoyed it tonight. I don't know why we didn't dance much before. Actually, I have a pretty good idea, but we're not gonna go there. I love to dance, always have. My girls get a kick out of dancing, and we had a great time tonight dancing around the kitchen.

Some days, life is just plain fun. Today felt like one of those days.
12:03 AM

December 17
I'm not quite sure why, but
I've been listening to Annie Lennox lately and I like her music a lot. Nice and mellow...but it's just kinda random.

My baby's been sick. She threw up on me three times last night in my bed, once it almost got in my hair. Whew! luckily it missed, but I was pretty wasted all morning because of the throw-up episodes, so I lounged around in pajamas until noon. I think that's the first time I've done that in almost a year. Sad huh? That I can't just take a day to relax and take it easy...It's sad that I felt guilty for staying in my pajamas that long. I need more pajama days (or half-days).

I watched "The Island" last night, it's pretty lame. Oh well. The other day I got lunch at subway, and the minute I walked in, the smell hit me. I'd never really noticed it before, but it's been so long since I've eaten at Subway that I finally noticed the "yeasty" smell a class-mate of mine used to rant and rave about. I can totally see how it would make some people sick. It's pretty strong. But when I finally noticed it, I laughed remembering how strongly opposed she was to going there. She even noticed the smell when others near her had eaten there.

Next week a few of us at work are going to start working out during our lunch hours. I'm excited to have other people to exercise with regularly. It's way easier to get into the exercise "groove" when there are people doing it with you. I'm a sucker for peer-pressure I guess.

Have I mentioned that I LOVE Karen Carpenter's voice? Yeah, I do. It's that deep rich tone. When I was growing up I used to listen to the Carpenters tapes and sing along to try and mimic her voice. Good stuff. The Carpenter's Christmas album is my ALL-TIME favorite CD in the whole world. Not just the best christmas album, but ALL-TIME. I'm a big-time fan.

In other news, I need to limit my trips to costco. I find that there are always too many good things there in HUGEMONGOUS quantities. I think to myself that I need laundry detergent, and end up paying $82 for a three-year supply. Right now, I can't really afford to be buying three-year supplies of laundry detergent, but I get lured in by the "bargain" factor...I save $3.39 on the whole HUGEMONGOUS bucket of detergent. Yeah. Thats why I am not limited to 1 visit per month. (maybe I should change that to 1 visit every 3 years? and wait until I've used up all the detergent?)

OK, enough random ramblings from my life. Peace out.

Movie night part three???...

Ok, ok, I know it seems like all I ever do is watch movies, but to be honest, this is probably the most movie watching I've done in months. Tonight I put the kids to bed and put in "Their Eyes Were Watching God" , the made for tv movie that Oprah produced. I was curious about it, so I indulged. I. ABSOLUTELY. LOVED. IT. Plus Haley Berry is just beautiful in this movie...not that she isn't beautiful all the time, but she really stood out in this one.

Maybe my enjoying the movie so much has to do with the fact that my life is such a mess right now, or it might have more to do with the message of the story, which was basically that this woman was able to live her life according to what she knew was right for her, and she was happy regardless of the expectations and values others imposed on her. Maybe that's just what I took from it because that's all I was looking for, but whatever the case, I enjoyed this movie thoroughly. Most movies I pop in are difficult for me to sit all the way through. I get bored, or distracted by things I need to get done.

One of the things that really helped the movie along was the Character Tea Cake played by one of Andrea's all-time favorites. I have to say, this was one of his performances I really appreciated. Those blue eyes are just amazing. Ok, got that out of the system....

In other news, today was the 12th day of christmas!!! I can't believe we're that close to the holiday...scary. We built a gingerbread house to celebrate.

And in closing, let's all take a moment to appreciate:

It's gotta be the hormones or something making me post these pictures...that and I got kinda freaked out about posting pictures of myself on here. Oh well. I'm out.

movie night part II...

December 12
Movie Night Part II...
Tonight I witnessed one of the most endearing/adorable/heart-wrenching things I have ever seen. The girls and I went to the video store to rent a movie and they chose "March of the Penguins". I knew it was a documentary, so I doubted it's ability to hold their attention for longer than 4 minutes. Well, I was dead wrong. The great thing about my girls is that they LOVE to learn about anything new. So they sat, enthrawled, in front of the television (ok, ok, maybe I shouldn't be excited about the fact that my kids were placated by the T.V., but I think in this case it was ok. Besides, they really don't watch much tv at all). ANYWAYS, as I was saying, they LOVED the movie and I got a chance to relax, take a bath, shave the legs, do all the fun stuff I never get a chance to do when they're home, and I never make the time to do when they're not home because I'm never home when they aren't. So, back to the story...I was in the kitchen cleaning, or eating, or doing both, when I heard horrible crying and screaming coming from the tv room...I hurried in to find the two youngest horrified by an awful Do-Do bird chasing the baby penguins to eat them. My children were horrified, and it took everything in me not to just laugh at how adorable it was to see how much they worried about the babies, especially the actual victim of "the emeny" as Arden put it.

Just another reason I love my girls.

10:09 PM

Movie Night

December 10
Last night I took the girls to opening night of Chronicles of Narnia. We'd prepped for the movie by reading the prequel to The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe. I wanted to re-read the actual book the movie was based on, but Honi decided she didn't want to ruin the movie experience by knowing what was going to happen...I couldn't argue with her reasoning. We'll read it now that we know what happens.

The movie was excellent. It held the attention of my 4-year-old for the entire 2 & and Half hours even though we waited in line for an HOUR before. You know a movie is good when the mom AND the 4 year old come out happy. Movie Success.

Today I bummed around the house most of the day, just happy to be able to sleep in...sorta. I guess you can't really sleep in when the kids come in every 2 minutes asking for things...it's been too long since they've been home, they forgot how to "watch themselves" for a few hours in the morning so I can sleep in. Though I must admit, the distractions are welcomed. On thursday night, as arden came to sleep with me at 1 in the morining, the thought occurred to me that I hadn't been happier to be awoken by a child and kicked in the back all night. Kids are awesome.

We had tickets to a BYU basketball game tonight, it was fun for the first 30 minutes, until the girls got restless and decided they were too bored to sit still...shoes started coming off and jumping between rows, girls were fighting over seats and coats and hair and anything else they could think of to fight over, and they were all thirsty every 4 minutes. So we left early. I'm glad we did though because they took almost an hour to settle down enough to sleep tonight. I love that they enjoy each others' company and like to play, but it gets frustrating sometimes when it's late and I know it's gonna be hard to get out the door to get to church on time.

Well, life is ok I guess, it's not really good, but I figure it can't really get much worse, so I guess that means it's ok. I'm still waiting for it to get better, though I realize it could be a LONG, LONG time. *long tired-sounding sigh*.

I'm out.

New Stuff...

Ok, here are the posts I was writing on the other blog and forgot to send here...it's not that interesting, but hey, it'll clue you in on what I've been up to...work, work, and more work.

December 07
BITTER COLD!!!
This morning it was so cold that when I went to clean my windshield, the water froze right away and I couldn't wipe it off...in fact, it was so frozen I had trouble scraping it off with my window scraper. I think it was like 5 degrees. The high today was 20. It was awful.

The one good thing about the cold outside is that my department at work is always nice and warm. In the summer the AC gets so cold that we freeze, but in the winter it's PERFECT!!! In fact, during the summers it gets so cold that the boss bought heaters for all of the women in the department who get cold. I know, I know, it sounds sexist, but it just ended up that none of the guys wanted heaters at the time. So we call them the chick heaters.

I'm cold and tired. I'm going to bed.

9:51 PM

December 06
Ok, ok, forget everything bad I ever had to say about my bronco
We got a butt-load of snow today, just kinda out of the blue, and for the very first time, I used my 4-wheel drive. I'm convinced it saved my life...ok, maybe not that dramatic, but it sure was nice to be driving in the monstrous vehicle I have without feeling like I could lose control at anytime. I didn't slide out at all!!! So once again, I love my Bronco. Good times, good times.


9:42 PM


December 05
FUN Night!!!
This morning at work, a co-worker asked if anyone was interested in Jazz tickets for tonight's game. I jumped and told him I did, so he got me and another co-worker three tickets each to the Jazz game! I called a friend of mine, and we took her little cousin/nephew boy with us and we all had a great time! It's SO much more exciting to be there at the games than to sit and watch it on the tv. The only thing that made me sad was that lately, when I've gotten tickets to fun things like that, I haven't been able to take the girls with me. Oh well, we still get to do a lot of fun stuff together.

Got a picture of my co-workers today, it's from a pot-luck lunch we had a few months ago when a few co-workers were leaving. Now you can see some of the people I work with...not everyone, but most of them.

Ok, goodnight!