where do I find the time

Day at the park

2011-09-17T23:22:00.003-06:00

Aiden was not impressed.

6 months

2011-09-17T21:48:00.003-06:00

I know I am super late posting his 6 month picture, but with school starting up....I know excuses...excuses...
As you can see, Aiden is getting big... is super cute...getting into everything...and even more LOVED today than 6 months ago!!!!!

(He is still not sleeping through the night.)

5 months old

2011-08-09T21:48:00.004-06:00

I know I have said it every month...but can you believe Aiden is 5 months old already?!!
He is so stinkin' cute.
He still does NOT sleep through the night (to all of you "helpful" people -including our friends, my o.b. and pediatrician- giving a baby cereal does not help them sleep through the night. LIARS)
He is somewhat mobile, he rolls all over the place. And can hold his head up when on his tummy.

He has discovered his hands and stares at them.

He has discovered that toes are delicious.
(and they do not help him sleep through the night anymore than solid foods)

4 months

2011-06-28T15:27:00.005-06:00

How can 4 months have past so quickly?

Isn't he the sweetest thing?!

We are all so enamored with this little guy. He has recently discovered his voice and has been cooing, babbling, squealing and grunting up a storm. I love to listen to him.

He still isn't sleeping through the night.

He has discovered his hands and can reach and grasp things (much to Brinley's delight...she has been trying to give him his rattle for ...well for 4 months!)

His grasp is pretty good...especially when he has my hair!

He rolled over...both ways this month!

As for what else is going on:

Brin learned to ride a 2-wheeler!

Poor Emily had to miss her first year at girls camp because of a horrible sunburn. I do have a picture of the huge blisters...but won't post them. There were lots of tears about missing girls camp...hers and mine!

Our pool is up and the kids (including Brad) are having a ball

the pool is the reason for the horrible sunburn. Brinley also got burned and so I have been making her wear a shirt until it heals.

This caused a huge tantrum...because my 5 year old thought she would look ugly...in her own backyard...while no one else would see her...except her dad...

her solution to not covering up her suit is to wear the shirt UNDER the suit. No exactly ugly...but not very fashionable either

3 months

2011-05-26T20:26:00.004-06:00

can you believe it has been 3 months?!

me either

He is such a good baby

this month:

he laughed

out loud

and i now spend the better part of my evenings trying to get him to do it again

his spitting up is out of control

Lisa said it peaks at 3 months and then should start to taper off

here's hoping

someday's he eats barely 4oz for the sitter

and then other days he drinks close to 10oz

my poor boobs are so confused!!!

I am really glad summer vacay starts TOMORROW!

then I won't have to worry about pumping.

well i need to go

it's "tummy time"

he still does not like "tummy time"

and is letting me know it!

Two Months

2011-04-27T17:35:00.004-06:00

Can you believe it has been two months!!!!
Me either.

At Aiden's two month check up he weighed 10 lbs 15 oz....or
as Brad say's...
11 lbs.

He has started to smile
and we look like fools trying to get him to smile and coo
and we look like bigger fools trying to capture his gummy grin with a camera!

He adjusted to my going to work really well
(better than the rest of us)
He doesn't really like the bottle...but will take it

Pumping is easier
especially since Brinley isn't at the high school with me
I had hoped that since the novelty of milk machine had worn off
Brinley would forget about it...

and then yesterday she asked if she could help me by squeezing the trigger!

umm
no thank you

too cute for words

2011-04-18T20:47:00.002-06:00

Funny Letters

2011-03-29T20:44:00.002-06:00

My friend Natalie emailed this to me.
It made me laugh...but I do not forward emails!
i post them here...
Lil funny letters ....

Dear Noah,
We could have sworn you said the ark wasn't leaving till 5.
Sincerely,
Unicorns

Dear Twilight fans,
Please realize that because vampires are dead and have no blood pumping through them, they can never get an erection.
Enjoy fantasizing about that.
Sincerely,
Logic

Dear Icebergs,
Sorry to hear about the global warming. Karma's a bitch.
Sincerely,
The Titanic

Dear America,
You produced Miley Cyrus. Bieber is your punishment.
Sincerely,
Canada

Dear Yahoo,
I've never heard anyone say, "I don't know, let's Yahoo! it..." Just saying...
Sincerely,
Google

Dear 2010,
So I hear the best rapper is white and the president is black? WTF happened?!
Sincerely,
1985

Dear Windshield Wipers,
Can't touch this.
Sincerely,
That Little Triangle

Dear girls who have been dumped,
There are plenty of fish in the sea. Just kidding! They're all dead.
Sincerely,
BP

Dear Michael Jackson,
You really should have became a Catholic Priest. The pay isn't
great, but the benefits....
Sincerely,
The Pope

Dear jf;ldsfa/kvsmmklnn,
Please lknvfdmv.xvn.
Sincerely,
Stevie Wonder

Dear Nickelback,
That's enough.
Sincerely,
The World

Dear Skin-Colored Band Aids,
Please make one for every skin color.
Sincerely,
Black people

Dear Scissors,
I feel your pain.....no one wants to run with me either.
Sincerely,
Sarah Palin

Dear Osama Bin Laden,
Marco....
Sincerely,
United States

Dear World of Warcraft,
Thank you for ensuring my son's virginity.
Sincerely,
Parents Everywhere

Dear Batman,
What was your power again?
Sincerely,
Superman

Dear Global Warming,
You're the best imaginary friend ever!
Sincerely,
Al Gore

Dear Ugly People,
You're welcome.
Sincerely,
Alcohol

Dear Forrest Gump
WTF are you talking about? There's a little diagram on the lid that
tells you EXACTLY what you're gonna get....
Sincerely,
Jenny

Dear Haiti,
Is it too early to ask what's shakin'?
Sincerely,
Seriously Going To Hell

Dear Martin Luther King Jr.
I have a dream within a dream within a dream within another
dream.... What now?
Sincerely,
Leonardo Di Caprio

Dear World,
Please stop freaking out about 2012. Our calendar ends there
because some Spanish d-bags invaded our country and we got a little busy ok?
Sincerely,
The Mayans

Dear Snooki,
GET BACK TO WORK!
Sincerely,
Willy Wonka

Dear White People,
Don't you just hate immigrants?
Sincerely,
Native Americans

Dear iPhone,
Please stop spellchecking all of my rude words into nice words. You
piece of shut.
Sincerely,
Every iPhone User

Dear Trash,
At least you get picked up...
Sincerely,
The Girls of Jersey Shore

Dear Dr. Phil,
Look man, there's only room for one fake doctor in this world and I
was here first.
Sincerely,
Dr. Pepper

Hope some made you laugh!

1 month

2011-03-28T20:37:00.005-06:00

I can't believe it has been 1 month! it has gone by sooo fast and yet I can't remember what life was like before he came! My friend Lisa said it best when she saw him for the first time she said, "he fits in so perfectly, its like he has always been here" With Brinley I managed to take a month picture every month I am hoping to do this with Aiden as well. his will have the same backdrop (the quilt I made) so we can see how much he grows/changes

Here is his 1 month picture:

He was sort of fussy...but still REALLY cute! (Yes-I did get his name appliqued on the quilt, but decided to leave the poka-dots off)

I only have 2 more weeks of maternity leave left...sniff

so Brad gave Aiden his first bottle last night-so he will take it for the babysitter. He took it without any complaint. Now please don't get me wrong... I am grateful for his willingness and in 2 weeks it will be one less thing to worry about...but I was a little sad...he could have protested a little...if only for my benefit ;)

Now normally I can pump for bottles like no ones business! (sorry if this is tmi)

but I am having a bit of trouble

and that trouble is... Brinley

she is FACINATED by the breastpump

it is unnerving to have my five year old STARE at me while I am using it

I have tried to hide

I have tried to occupy her with something else

But I swear she hears that machine turn on and she hunts me down

to stare

with my boobs at her eye level

she even rested her head in her hand and just wanted to watch

until I kicked her out of the room

and so she cried

and that is almost as unnerving as the staring

almost

To Remind Me When You Are Grown

2011-03-14T10:34:00.017-06:00

2 weeks
It has gone by so fast
you have already changed so much
(why do babies have to grow so fast is every mother's woe)
I never want to forget...

*how tightly you liked to be wrapped up. Gagam and I called you a baby buritto
(now you prefer to have your arms free)

*your chin quiver

*how you fold up your legs so tight, so they almost dissappear into your bottom half

* the peach fuzz on your perfect ears...and cheeks...and back...

*all your grunts, snorts, squeaks, and snuffling. And how you work up to a full cry, with a bunch of squawks.

*the hiccups you get 4 or 5 times a day

*how cute you looked in your froggie outfit.

(funny thing is, we almost exchanged this for a bigger size. We thought there was no way our baby would fit in anything so small. Luckily, we never got around to it...you only fit in 5 or 6 things those first two weeks. Your homecoming outfit was so big, that when I got you dressed and picked you up to put in the carseat that your pants slipped right off and fell on the floor! it was a 0-3 month size)

*how the first or second night home, you went through ALL 5 or 6 of those outfits...darn blowouts!

*how your sisters love to hold you...fight over who gets to hold you..and stare at you like you are the most amazing thing EVER!

*how you had a MASSIVE spit-up...on emily...on her 12th birthday

*how you get really fussy SECONDS before you fall asleep

*how much you dislike being on your tummy

*how you cry during sponge baths and whenever we put lotion on you

*how aunt stephanie is a baby hog and won't let any one else hold you

*that new baby smell...
even when I smell like spit up and dried breastmilk...you somehow manage to smell wonderfully delicious.

*how your hair gets messy and sticks up

*your squishy cheeks-that I can't stop kissing and nibbling

*how you go cross-eyed when I or emily take one too many pictures

*how you gag when ever I try to give you a binky
(you will take it from anyone else)

*worrying that you will never learn take a nap, unless someone is holding you. But not having the desire to actually put you down.

*how deep you sleep in your bassinett. I check to make sure you are breathing at least twice every night... since you wake up about every 2 hours to nurse...I am not sleeping much...

*how much we will all miss gagam. she stayed for 2 weeks and took care of everything else...so you and I could exist in our own little world...she made us take naps...fed us all...cleaned up after us...EVERYTHING...what will we do without her

*how your favorite position to be held is your head under my chin

*by two weeks you could focus on faces for a few seconds

*on Sunday, you smiled at me...it was a perfect moment...full of contentment...no one will ever convince me it was just gas.

I believe there is a moment when a mother and her babys spirit recognize each other from a previous existence. Sometimes it happens when they first meet in this world, other times a bit later. It happens for just a moment, as if it say, I knew you and loved you before the world was...and I will love you forever.

Birth Announcement

2011-03-13T11:51:00.001-06:00

Hello Boy Baby Announcements

Turn your favorite photo into a birth announcement.

View the entire collection of cards.

Welcome...

2011-03-01T22:12:00.005-07:00

a few minutes old... a big sister...completely smitten another big sister...utterly devoted

mom and dad...forever in love

with you

introducing....

2011-03-01T22:10:00.002-07:00

Aiden Richard Smith

Born February 26, 2010

7 lbs 8 oz

20 inches long

super cute stuff

2011-02-22T20:45:00.002-07:00

since I am awake during the wee hours of the morning
I have LOTS of time to look at my favorite crafty blogs
which then means I see TONS of ideas I want to copy
TONS of recipes I want to make

Unfortunately I am the type of person that has to print
EVERY SINGLE IDEA
I come across

It has lead to REAMS of crafty papers, ideas, and recipes

over the long weekend,
I actually put the REAMS of ideas into the appropriate binder
(yes, I have more than one binder...seperated by theme or holiday or technique...I am a tad OCD about stuff like this)

and then early this morning I found the CUTEST quiet book link on-line
I couldn't help myself and printed out EVERY SINGLE ONE!

I chose to print them at home...4x6 inches and will put them in a small photo album
the website said you could print them like a photo (at walmart or costco) and then bind them in some way

The themes are: Articles of Faith, Prophets and Apostles, We Believe and Book of Mormon stories. And best of all...you can download them for FREE.

Here is the link: http://www.simplyfreshdesigns.com
Just search quiet books or the theme once there. She has other free printables too.

Now if I could get my kids healthy enough to actually go to church...I may just be able to use it!

Ready...Set...Wait

2011-02-20T04:02:00.002-07:00

So it is Sunday Morning...4am
(shouldn't I be asleep)
oh-that's right I am awake at this time EVERY morning!

I think everything is READY.
Carseat....check
Swing...check
Bouncy seat...check
Crib...check
Bassinet...check
Hospital Bag packed...check
Newborn sized clothes washed in Dreft...check
A stockpile of diapers and wipes...check
Breast pump...check
Lesson plans....check!

and now we wait...

but that is ok
because both girls have these nasty colds
with gross hacking coughs
and intermitten fevers

What the heck kids...
you couldn't get these colds over Christmas Break?!
nope-had to happen the WEEK before we bring a new baby home...

Just praying Brad and I don't catch it in the next
FIVE DAYS!

Weekend Happenings

2011-02-13T18:10:00.004-07:00

Can you believe it?!
13 days left...
i am so excited
and nervous
and giddy with anticipation
and nervous
and ready
but nervous
all at the same time.

We FINALLY got a carseat
so the hospital
will let us bring him home
We got a killer deal
(I ended up canceling the one I ordered online; it was backordered)

Last week my friends Erin and Melissa hosted a baby shower.
I got so many cute things for the little guy.
It was great fun and I felt so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends.
It was hard to go to work on Friday...
I just wanted to stay and play with all the new baby stuff I got!
(i will post pictures later...but my camera is ALL THE WAY upstairs)

I helped the Sophomores set up for the dance on Saturday morning.
It didn't go quite as fast as they led me to believe.
and they were all 30 minutes late getting to the school.

at one point I was sitting on the gym floor untangling lights or something
and had to stand up
only to realize there was nothing around
for me to lean on to help my preggo body off the ground
Let me just say it was NOT a graceful act on my part!
I was glad the teens weren't paying attention to me...

Later that night, I did have a chat with the DJ
and told him to NOT invite me to donkey dance...or any kind of dancing...
he was kind enough not to.

Brad came with me to the dance.
We love playing fashion police
and commenting on how some girls come so beautiful
and covered up
and others look like they shop at Fredricks of Hollywood
and are so NOT covered up
and others look like they thought it was a Halloween dance
and are not covered up and look ri-donk-ulous!

This year (for the first time) we were able to judge the boys
and discuss how our son will look, act and treat his date.
It was new perspective for us and lots of fun to speculate!

Brad also gets a kick out of watching the social dymanics and is pretty good at picking out the popular kids, the emos, the loners....and the lesbian couple that came to the dance. I educated him on how to tell if a couple is...um...experienced.

My favorite is the kids who come to the dance and spend the entire time texting and on their i-pod. Seriously...why bring an i-pod to the dance...weirdos

At one point a girl came up and said her friend was having trouble with a broken zipper
and could I PLEASE come help
so there are three girls in the handicapped bathroom stall and this poor girl's zipper
is STUCK. Her entire side is bare. I tried, but the zipper would only move about 2 inches up...leaving the entire side open to drafts and leering teenage boys.
The stuck zipper was right above her hip and their was NO WAY she could shimmy out of it.
The only thing I could do was sew the zipper closed...while she was wearing it!
SO I spent about 20 minutes, sewing a zipper closed ON this poor girl...
(I should mention, it was her 18th birthday.)
I was so worried about stabbing her with the needle that I stabbed myself...
and BLED on the dress.

My only consulation is that her mom probably had to cut the darn dress off of her anyways
so it was already ruined...
I saw her later that night...and she seemed to be having a good time
so my shodding sewing job at least stayed put!

Brad laughed that at least her parents would know the dress stayed on all night!
(not that they should would worry...she is a great kid)
I said like bunneling bags in colonial times.

which leads me to my next career move...
I will be designing a line of modest dance wear
both semi-formal and formal
that parents can sew their daughters into.
it will give father's across the nation
peace of mind
it will give mother's peace of mind
it will give all ecclesiastical leaders peace of mind.

Teenage boys will loathe and despise me>
(insert evil laugh)

Oh The Questions I Get...

2011-02-10T01:33:00.003-07:00

So I am sure I got lots of questions from people with my other pregnancies,
but I don't remember it being quite this bad.
or maybe I wasn't as sensitive to them
or maybe I didn't wake up every frickin' night at 1am
and so I got some sleep
but I am getting irritated with some of the questions/comments.
For example and in no particular order:

*Last week I had to do a presentation at the Jr. High about classes they could take as Freshman.
Oh Vey!
Jr. High is such a horrible place...filled with horrible little teens...
I had to give my presentation SIXTEEN times.
By about the 12th presentation I was getting pretty grouchy....and tired...and thankful I do not have to deal with those horrible little teens everyday.
anyway, in that presentation, I asked if there were any questions
(there hadn't been one all day)
and some horrible little teen raised his hand and asked,
"are you pregnant or fat?"
nice
I told you there was a reason I don't teach Jr. High

* on Monday, Emily was sick
so that meant that I had to pick up Brinley from school
I had just hurried from work
and must have been waddling pretty bad
because the crossing guard
asked, "WHEN are you due?"
I tried to laugh it off
but her tone made me try and waddle a bit less.

*I was grocery shopping for school Tuesday night
and had A LOT of stuff.
Like 30 boxes of margarine, 8 bricks of cheese, flour...
LOTS of groceries.
as I was checking out
2 ladies kept commenting on the amount of food,
particularly the amount of margarine.
then they had the nerve to look me up and down
and said, "maybe that's why her baby is so big"
I HAD IT!
I said in a LOUD voice, from the next aisle
"I teach foods, this is for class."
they had the decency to look a bit embarassed
but just muttered, "Oh I thought there was a sale on margarine."
Brad was with me and a tad alarmed at my reaction...
I am pretty sure he blamed it on the hormones.
The butt heads, I probably have their terrible kids in class.
DO NOT judge what a 9month pregnant woman puts in her cart...
whether its for class or not
and for hells sake don't give her the up-down!

*yesterday, I had to borrow the vaccumn from baby buffs
(baby buffs is the daycare/preschool at THS)
as I walked in, a little 4year old girl came up to me
and said, "do you have a baby in your tummy?"
she was cute
so I just laughed and said
"I do"
"oh, is it coming out soon?"
not so cute

*Yesterday, a freshman boy in my 2nd period
became rather alarmed when he thought I could go into labor at some point
during his class
apparently he thinks that labor is really quick and if I happen to go into labor
during 2nd period he told me he would just leave...
I told him I would leave first...
he thought for a second
and asked, "How will you leave if the baby is coming out"
Everyone started giggling
I said, "it takes a while, you need to stop watching so many movies"
He said, "well I don't know about this sh**, it kind of freaks me out just looking at you"
the butt-head, He is not going to get a good grade at mid-term.

*my nesting stage has gotten so bad I am nesting at work
I am cleaning and having the custodians fix things...
on Tuesday I decided to clean the ovens
I have 7 ovens in my room and did 3 of them.
I checked on them about an hour into the self-clean mode
only to discover that the room was FULL of smoke
I am not kidding when I say that the entire hall smelled like a campfire
So I had to have a custodian paged
which meant the entire office; administration and secretarial pool
heard about my plight...and laughed.
and the custodian said I have been causing him such a headache in the last few days
I had to name this baby after him!
his name is Ed, as in Edwin....
So today, my childs namesake came in to see how the ovens did
and I said "fine, I vaccumned out the dust that was left over"
and he said, "how did you manage that?" while staring at my belly.
Butthead...he just lost his chance of having a child named after him

*Saturday is the Sophomore dance
did I mention I am a sophomore advisor?
did I mention I have to help them set up?
did I mention I have to chaperone the dance?
did I mention that I am 9months pregnant?
My co-advisor told me yesterday
I may "pop" before saturday
the butthead gets to stay after the dance and clean up.

at last years sophomore dance the DJ made me
get on the dance floor and do the donkey dance...
it is one of the most embarassing experiences of my career.
We have hired the same DJ
when he starts setting up
I shall have a talk with him
cuz
I am NOT doing the donkey dance this year!

nesting

2011-02-05T20:51:00.002-07:00

It's Saturday.
You would think that I could have slept peacefully last night.
not true
I was awake from 1 to 4
I watched the Sing-a-long version of Grease.
then I was wide awake at 7
so I watched a Food Network special about chocolate
which was a bad idea
'cuz now I want some

I managed to stay pretty busy
I did the grocery shopping at Wal-Mart

we moved the bookcase out of Brin's room
to make room for the crib

we moved the nightstand out of the way
to make room for the bassinet

took Emily to the insta-care
she has been running a 103 fever for two and half days
strep test came back negative
which is ok, since the stubborn fart won't take ANY sort of medicine

I cleaned both bathrooms
and SCRUBBED the heck out of the tub

realized Brin has a fever now
(seriously, you couldn't let me know BEFORE I went to insta-care)

made dinner
did the dishes
and am making chocolate chip cookies for Brad...
I am crossing my fingers my sugar is low enough to eat one...maybe two...

while I was scrubbing the grout above the tub
I realized I was into some serious nesting...

I really hope it isn't a sign I am going into labor
my lesson plans still aren't done

Seriously

2011-02-03T04:15:00.003-07:00

happy 4am you guys!
Seriously
Maybe my little guy will wake up everyday at 4am everyday
and so he is preparing me now, to be awake at this time...

We had our last ultra sound at IMC yesterday.
Everything looks good
He is breech, but so was Brin

they are guessing he is ALMOST 7 POUNDS!!!
what the heck!
I still have 3 weeks to go
He may not even fit in Newborn size diapers

Don't get me wrong...
I love the chubby babies
(doesn't everyone)
and I am not complaining...
I am just worried he will look like a sumo-wrestler in a newborn size diaper
ya know
bum cheeks hangin' out of this little strip of pampers

(that was sort of a funny image)

So the radiologist kept pointing out his features
like here is a foot
(i got a picture)
and here is his little face
(i got a picture)
and his arm is over his face
(i got a picture)

You get the idea...
but for the life of me
I could NOT identify anything she was taking pictures of!
If I stare at the face one long enough
I MAY be able to make out a nose
Seriously
How can ANYONE tell what they are looking at

So at the end I ask her to take ONE MORE LOOK
at HIS...umm...boy parts
She tracks down there
and is like
"OH WOW, he is definatley a boy!"
and wouldn't you know it...

THAT IS THE ONLY THING I COULD IDENTIFY ON SCREEN AND ON THE PICTURE!

Brad was so proud!
He said something inappropriate
(something about family traits)
and then strutted around like a vain peacock for the rest of the night
Seriously.

Since we were in Salt Lake
we drove to Target to get the carseat
and just my luck
they had the pink version...no blue...
so I called Babies-R-Us
they didn't have it either

So I came home and ordered it on-line
at check out it sayed
shipping 3 to 5 days
So I thought, "cool, it will be here sometime next week."

Then I read my confirmation E-mail
and the estimated shipping date
is AFTER February 23

ummm.
I may need it sooner than that
Seriously.

Now I realize that Heavenly Father has lots of prayers coming at him right now...
Blizzards, Freezing temps, unrest in Egypt, floods in Australia, famine, disease, etc....
and my carseat woes seem trite
but PLEASE let the 23rd be a generous delivery date
Seriously.

Good Morning

2011-02-02T04:16:00.002-07:00

Good Morning!
Is anyone else WIDE AWAKE at 4am?
Probably not.

I thought I was in labor all Monday.
at 3am I even requested a sub
and then I fell asleep
woke up at 6
and realized I was NOT in labor
and then had to go to work
it was a bit of a bummer

I guess in the end it turned out ok
my lesson plans for the sub are not quite ready
my goal is by the end of the week

this weekend I made the carseat canopy (or carseat tent-whatever your call it)
which totally made Brad realize
we should probably go and buy the actual carseat!!!

Brad said yesterday, that we needed to go and get one soon
because he does not want to have to make that decision by himself...
apparently he had the thought that the baby and I would be waiting at the hospital
waiting for him to come and pick us up
and he is stuck at Target
trying to remember which design/color/brand I wanted!
I told him not to worry...
I would send my mom with him to pick one out!

I have had the design/color/brand picked out for over 2 months
and have discussed it with him a few times
but,
I bet $100
he can't remember ANY of it

and they say pregnancy brain only strikes us women!

final countdown

2011-01-23T09:35:00.003-07:00

My Ob scheduled my C-section for Feb 26th.
I was thinking I had 2 months left
um, not really
we have
5 WEEKS LEFT!!!

Holy moly

so unless I go into labor early
(which I never have)

cirlce the 26th

Brinley wants a day to day countdown
but honestly
when I do that
it stresses me out

funny how you plan, hope, pray and wish for a baby
and then you realize that it may actually be easier if the baby just stays inside of you
there is less mess that way
and less chaos

of course
if this little guy doesn't stop stretching
and kneeing me in the bladder and hip bones and ribs
I may welcome the chaos!

Never mind
forget I said that

Bring on the chaos...

we have been waiting

Its a sugar coated world...and I can't eat any of it!

2011-01-13T02:32:00.004-07:00

Hello
It's before 3 am thursday morning
and here I am
which makes it
EVERYDAY this week that I have been awake
from about 2am to 5ish
needless to say
I AM EXHAUSTED!

Don't even ask my classes about how grouchy I am
I yelled at some kid
and he just looked at me
and said in the sweetest voice
"exactly when are you due?"
to which I said
in my meanest voice
"not soon enough"
then the whole class laughed
including myself
but they pretty much left me alone
the rest of the period

that is one of the good things about having a class with upper-classmen
they know when to "not poke the bear"
on the other hand my classes that are full of freshmen
don't get that if I am sarcastic and grouchy
it will lead to complete and total
TERROR!
Just kidding...
sort of

Last night I MAY have dozed off
at the dinner table.
Then as I was reading Brinley her bedtime story
she kept having to shake me awake
what's worse,
I don't remember actually finishing the book
So she must have given up
(which I feel terrible about)

that in it of itself is the reason I need a "mental health day"
or a brownie

or a piece of hot fudge cake

or a donut

or a snickers bar

heck,
at this point I want coldstone ice cream...
and I don't like coldstone

but dad-nab-it

I can't eat my way through maternal guilt.

and it really sucks

Even worse is that I have grades due by 3pm on Friday
a doctor appointment at 3:30 (in Salt Lake)
and sharing time on Sunday

I wasn't even tempted over Christmas
to eat sweets
I kept the little guy in mind

heck I even gave an entire container of Almond Roca away
with out even eating one of those delicious toffee nibs...

but add some good old fashioned stress
and a wallop of maternal guilt

and I want to eat my way through the candy aisle
and the bakery department
and the ice cream aisle
and maybe crumble some potato chips on top

and ya know
sugar free pudding
doesn't really fit the bill

What a Week

2011-01-10T01:45:00.002-07:00

It's before 2am Monday
and naturally I am wide awake...
Perhaps my insomnia is preparing me for the sleepless nights once the baby gets here?

Tonight though, I am blaming Brad's c-pap machine.
ya know the machine that keeps his sleep apnea at bay.
it is making a chirping sound
at first I thought a cricket had some how made it's way into our bedroom
but then i realized it is January and the crickets are all hibernating or have flown south
(what do crickets do in winter?)

Anyhoo, I had a busy week and while I was trying to drown out the chirping noise
My brain kicked into high gear
and I went over the week in my head
1. State Test
ugh
how I hate the end of the semester
it means I have to give all my classes the Utah State CTE test
its a pain
and whats worse
my money for next year is tied to the darn scores
The test is online
and so I watch my computer screen for those magic 80% to come in
its torture
I must hit the refresh button 10, 000 times
crossing my fingers that just a few more students get that 80%
the worse is the 79% that comes across
I want to bang my head
because the kid only had to get 1 more question right to pass
even worse than that is the 79.9%
I then want to smack the idiot who thought of testing
Cuz-the state will not round up that score to 80%
it kills me

Please do not ever talk about merit pay and teachers around the semester change
I can do the same things in all of my classes
and in one i will have a decent number of 80%
and in the next...only 3 students will hit that
it is infuriating
it drives me crazy
it makes me loose sleep
and Brad is sick of hearing me complain and/or getting depressed by the class with the 3

2-My ultra sound went great!
the doctor was so impressed with how I am regulating my sugar
(even over christmas)
(which is good
because I am trying REALLY hard to be good...i didn't eat any of the dessert at BUNCO last week)
that she canceled the stress tests and the other ultra sounds!
woo-hoo
I do get one more ultra sound in February
He looks good.
He looks strong.
He looks healthy.
His head does not appear to be ginormous...like a certain parental unit had as a baby
He stayed all curled up in the fetus position during the ultra sound
which is the only time the little guy hasn't had his foot or arm in my rib cage in weeks!

I am not complaining
I am trying to enjoy these last few months of pregnancy
since it is my last
I want to remember everything
even how this little guy has the knack of bouncing on my bladder
causing me to RUN to the bathroom at a moments notice
seriously
I have had to RUN out of class
and I have never done that
not in 12 years of teaching

oh and my placenta is moving away from my old c-section scar
so I don't need to really lay awake worrying about that!

3-I won $100 bucks from the radio station!
they said to be the 93rd caller when I heard a Rascal Flatts song
I was waiting for the girls to get at of school
so I started calling
I dialed and dialed and dialed
I almost gave up, but tried one more time
they answered and said,
Whats your name? "michelle"
michelle you just won $100 dollars!
and yes I was such a nerd
I screamed
on the radio
and then I had to moo
on the radio
I am a tad embarassed by how excited I was
but hey
I have $100 coming
I will moo in front of anyone for cash money!

On Saturday,
we got out the bassinet and baby bouncer
its all washed and ready
Brinley was so impressed with the bassinet
she wants the baby to sleep in her room... NOW!
(we will remind her of that in about 3 or 4 months)
She is worried about the bassinet only having pink sheets...
"mom, they are sooo000 cute but are kind of girlie" she squealed
My fiscally minded husband
said, "he will only be sleeping on them for 2 months"

( i am looking for blue ones on pay day....
or when i get my 100 dollars from K-Bull 93)
MOOOOOOOOO!

I Can't Sleep

2011-01-04T04:42:00.003-07:00

Its almost 5am
I have been awake since 1:30
Will someone turn off my brain!
I can not stop thinking...

...Planning my sharing time for Sunday; sad about changes in Primary; worried what new calling will be; planning review game for school tomorrow; wondering if I should buy treats to bribe my classes into reviewing for test; worried about test scores; worried about class budget; worried about home budget; ohhh that was a nice kick to my bladder little guy; need to update the class list for all 220 students; thinking about next semester; wondering about subsitute during maternity leave; what should I make for dinner tonight; Bunco's tonight and I have to wear jammies, which jammies do I look less pregnant in; Oh -nice jab to the ribs little one; oh yeah-I am having a new baby in 2 months...what the heck was I thinking; I have an ultrasound on Wednesday; wonder what this new guy will look like; exactly how tall was Goliath and how am I going to draw a picture of him; I really need to get out the breast pump and make sure it is working; I may need to buy new parts; I need to buy a car seat; I hope my baby is cute; What the heck-is this baby doing the macarena in utero; I hope my baby is healthy; I really want a candy bar; why do they transfer new students into my class with only 2 week left in the semester; don't forget the Book of Mormon's that are in the van-I need to glue the scripture challenge paper in them; is Aiden the right name for the baby; is 2 middle names pretentious; what do I need to do on my prep; what can I eat for breakfast; once I deliver this baby I am going to make all of the christmas treats I couldn't; what if I end up with Type 2 diabetes-then no treats for me-EVER; I am really hungry-should I test my sugars now and then eat; i wish there was more sugar free stuff-what's out there is pretty bad...

See this is only a smidge of the things that have been running through my head the last 3 hours!
will someone please
SHUT
OFF
MY
BRAIN!

Happy New Year

2011-01-03T17:32:00.010-07:00

welp

Christmas Break is over.

I had to go back to work today

and man

I am soooo tired!

2 weeks of not having to wake up early, getting showered and dressed late really spoiled me.

So did 2 weeks of eating a good breakfast...

by 10am I was STARVING!

(By the way, Atkins Protein Bars are the most disgusting thing I have ever eaten)

We had a wonderful Christmas.

Here are the girlies in their Christmas Eve Pjs. This is a tradition I did as a kid and have carried it on. Plus, it is the only time I can dress them matchy and no one complains!

All of the girls wishes came true

...except for the laptop that Emily wanted

...santa (and I) don't think an 11 year old needs her own laptop.

Santa did leave a new camera and mascara in her stocking

so that ALMOST made up for it!

She also got lots of new clothes, including TWO shirts from Areo

She is at a hard age...too old for toys...

except she did ask for Bendaroos...

which have proven to be fun!

Brin was in Barbie paradise...

after all the gifts were opened she ended up with four new ones!

She is also in love with the pillow pet Gagam gave her! It's pretty cute and I am totally going to buy the monkey one for me! I mean the baby.

Our family gift was the kinnect for the X-box. Brad discovered that our furniture arrangement did not allow for "maximum playing" so on Sunday, we spent the afternoon rearranging the furniture.

as for my Christmas Break To-Do list, I did accomplish some of it:

1. Finished book 5 of Fablehaven-finished the series...disappointed in the ending

2. Start and finish the Hunger Games. I started this on Saturday morning and finished it that night! It was THAT good...can't wait to read #2!

3. Finish my 12 month of Snowmen Quilt-

I heart snowmen!

Every month in 2010 I got a free new snowman applique. The designs are from bunnyhill.com She has a new FREE one coming out for 2011. I think it has to do with jars....

So I have finished all 12 and need to assemble the quilt.

This is one of my favorite appliques from the set.

4. Finished the baby's quilt. (I am finished...and it is super cute)

His name will be appliqued in the white space...once he is here and we (meaning me) have permanently chosen a name!

I got the free pattern at modabakeshop.com. They offer free quilt patterns every other day or so and some of them are super cute.

This was the first quilt I have ever had to assemble on the diagonal...I think its is called 'on point' in the quilting world. It was kind of confusing.

5. Finished my Holiday table runner (I actually used it before christmas dinner)

6. Baked banana bread for all of Brad's work people

7. Baked cookies for santa with Emily and Brin

It is always a lot of fun...Em always puts flour on her face...and I spend several months cleaning up all the sprinkles!

13. Finished organizing recipes- but spent time on some foodie blogs...so I have more...I really need to stop looking at blogs

14. Organized craft dungeon-sort of

15. I did try 4 new recipes.

16. Found a new Ob. I decided I wouldn't go to the one here in Tooele for a band-aid, let alone have her cut me open and yank out my child! I am fully aware that this makes 3 Ob's this pregnancy...but, for the first time in 3 months I am at peace with our decision.

17. Survived driving home from new Ob, in the blizzard last Wednesday. I never went above 30mph on I-80, it was that bad!

18. My mom visited and got snowed in with us! We had a nice visit...and watched it snow all day on Friday. We also watched as my crazy sister tried to drive in all that snow! She did a 360 in front of our house and almost took out the fire hydrant on the corner, then she ran the stop sign and almost got hit by an SUV, then the nerd called WHILE DRIVING and started to screech "I am slipping!" My mom said she is a "stubborn little ******* and a tad OCD". True...so True.

Hope you are all safe and happy

Here's to 2011...

Damn Toy

2010-12-23T20:46:00.002-07:00

One of the things Brinley asked for was this walking FurReal Pup.
(its NOT the one that poops)
I picked this up in early December at Wal-mart
it is acitvated by light or movement and barked and shook my entire shopping trip.
I was quite annoyed with it...
and I hadn't even left the store.

This should be a sign for any sensible parent....
if a toy annoys you in the frickin' store....don't buy it...just imagine how it will annoy you later!
I am not sensible

I get home and get it inside
without Brinley hearing the damn thing

Later that night I was wrapping it
and noticed that it wasn't barking and shaking
"Good, the batteries ran out. Now it will be quiet until Christmas morning
and then I will just put new batteries in". I thought.

At one point I did lay awake worrying that the trip home from Wal-mart might have some how broken him...but decided to worry about it later.

That box has been moved and rearranged by each of my kids
at least 800 times
...with not a bark, pant or woof.

it is now two days before Christmas...
This afternoon Brinley bumped the box
and wouldn't you know it...
it barked, it panted, it shook.
I tried to pretend nothing was happening...
I left the room...
before she could ask.
then I heard her giggling....
and I knew she figured it out.

She told emily and daddy about the barking present...
she even told dad it walked

Now she is worried that it is the puppy that poops.

Holiday Plans

2010-12-15T04:30:00.002-07:00

Its VERY early...
before 5am
and I am wide awake.
and super excited.
Only 3 more school days until Winter Break!!!!!!

I have so many plans of what I will do the next 2 weeks.
So many projects that need to be completed.

In hopes that I will stay motivated...
and NOT spend the next two weeks
on the couch
drinking cocoa and watching Elf, The Grinch, and It's A Wonderful Life
Here is my goal list:
(so that all of you will keep me off the couch)
1. Finish book 5 of Fablehaven
2. Start and finish the Hunger Games (i have been trying to read this since summer)
3. Finish my 12 month of Snowmen Quilt (I am about 1/3 done)
4. Finish the baby's quilt. (I am 1/2 way finished...and it is super cute)
5. Finish my Holiday table runner (so I can actually use it before christmas dinner)
6. Bake banana bread for all of Brad's work people
7. Bake cookies for santa with Emily and Brinley
8. Think of and deliver an economical and clever neighbor gift
9. Make the plaque to go next to my nativity set ( I have planned this for over a year and it's still not even started)
10. Christmas Cards ( I don't even have a picture yet)
11. Sew baby shoes (I found a really cute pattern on-line and have been thinking about making these soft sole shoes for MONTHS)
12. Decide on those last minute presents...buy them...wrap them...
13. Finish organizing recipes
14. Organize craft dungeon
15. organize Brin's room (so we can put up the crib)

on second thought....
cocoa and Elf sound way better!

never say this in front of teenagers!

2010-12-10T18:27:00.002-07:00

what a week
i am pooped
but...
only 5 more school days until winter break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(the exclamation points are so you will know how excited I am)

Funny story happened this week

*warning*
if you are a prude...
please click on a more family friendly blog!

So my Foods 1 classes had to learn about eggs
so we went over the usual...parts, nutrition, color, etc
and then I had to demonstrate the three stages of beating egg whites.
For some reason, it was taking a long time to get to the third stage, which is stiff peak
So to cover the time I stopped my hand mixer and said,
"the longer you beat it the stiffer it gets"

So the kids at the naughty table started giggling.
(there is always a naughty table...the naughty kids flock together...
these are the kids you hope your kids aren't friends with...
because they are so "worldly" and know way more than a 15 year old should)

I am honestly confused by the laughter.
and must have looked puzzled
it made them laugh harder
so in my head I back-track what I just said....
and realize why the preverts are laughing...

and then I found it a tiny bit funny...
but under NO circumstances was I going to laugh.
so I had to turn around and pretend to look for a wisk....
it took me a while to find it...so I could compose my face...
when I turned back around I had my most disgusted teacher look on
and said, "you are all sicko perverts and should be ashamed of yourselves"...
then the whole class laughs and I can enjoy the fact that I said beat and stiff in the same sentence!

there is a 15 year old boy in all of us

90 days!

2010-12-05T21:58:00.002-07:00

I have this pregnancy timer on my computer.
it keeps track of what week we are on
today, i clicked to see how many days are left...

90 days!

holy cow

90 days

on one hand that still seems like a REALLY long time!
(haven't I been pregnant FOREVER already)
on the other hand....
90 days is comin' pretty darn fast.
I still have so much more to do...
so many more packages of diapers to buy...
finish my two quilts...
put up the crib and bassinette...
wash the bouncer and swing...
find a carseat...
make sure the breast pump is working...
(sorry if that was too much info)

oh boy
90 days....

90 days until maternity leave!!!!!!!

90 days until my mom will come and stay with us
and make potato soup just for me!!!!

90 days until I have an excuse not to leave my house for at least 4 weeks!

90 days...
and then I will get to snuggle and cuddle and sniff the little man
we have been dreaming about for YEARS...

Black Friday Adventure

2010-11-26T08:35:00.004-07:00

I seem to have a fan base that misses my blog posts! "'chelle, when are you going to update?" I keep hearing...granted this fan base is solely made up of my mom and my sister, Amber...heck I have to give the people what they want!

I LOVE black Friday! It is like my Christmas. I am one of the "crazies" that goes out at 3 am to stand in a line and freeze all in the name of Christmas Giving. In fact, one year I was sick and in serious pain, and still went. I the middle of my shopping, my mom finally convinced me to call my doctor...I did, set up an appointment, and went to 3 more stores. By the last store, I could barely walk and had to lean on the shopping cart. Later that day, I was admitted to the hospital for diverticulitis and had to stay for 3 days! Brad loves this story, because it shows that I am either very dedicated to Christmas Giving or Crazy...I can't remember which angle he goes with...;)

This year was different. i really wasn't up for standing in lines. I have completed a lot of my shopping on-line. There was nothing in Target's ad or Wal-Mart's that I really needed. My partner in crime, my sister Stephanie, had surgery on Tuesday and wasn't ready to stand in lines either. So I opted out...however...Old Navy had a few things Emily had asked for...and they opened at Midnight. I figured Brad and I could drive to Jordan Landing, after leaving my sister Jacki's (thanks for hosting Jacki, It was wonderful!) He and the kids would wait in the car and I would "run in and get the things I needed." I am not sure why I thought this...I am a Black Friday VETERAN...I know that one does not simply "run in and get the things one needs".

As we were leaving West Haven/Roy, Brad said, there is an old navy in Layton, we could go to the movies to kill a couple of hours and then go to the old navy there. Then came the task of finding: a) movie we both wanted to see and b) one we could take the kids to. In the end, Brad and Em wanted to see Mega Mind and Brin and I wanted to see Tangled. So off we went to purchase tickets. Now both movies we went to see had 3-D times...did you know you pay more for 3-D?...neither did we...when our cashier said, "38 dollars please". I gasped... Brad pooped his pants....Needless to say, we did not purchase treats. Brinley and I LOVED Tangled. and the 3-D was AMAZING! At first, Brin kept trying to touch things. Brad and Em thought MegaMind was "good".

We left our expensive movie memory about 11:45 and went to the Layton Old Navy...the line...oh my...I tried to text my sisters and mom....Finally they said they were near the front, but I didn't want to leave my spot, because the doors were going to open any second. My sister, Amber asked what I most wanted so she could grab it for me. If I got out of line, they could be in the store and then I would be a girl without a spot...so I waited and got in the store.

It was crowded. I found my mom and sister, they had the item I wanted most. And then I shopped, pushed and bumped into people. My arms were full, I lost my mom and sisters, so I just got in line to pay...only to discover this wasn't the line....I moved...where the store associate told me I should....only to have another associate move us again....I put my stuff on the floor, dug out my cell phone to find my mom and sisters. They didn't seem that far ahead of me...so I stayed put...only to have the line move AGAIN. I tried to find my mom, couldn't see her and wasn't willing to loose THIS spot.

At this point, I did not feel good. I was hot and tired and thinking that Brad was right...I am CRAZY for doing this! I put my stuff down, dug out my phone and told him I was starting to question if this was worth it. He reminded me of the time I had spent and the 38 dollars we spent to see a movie. So I picked back up my stuff and continued to wait. The people in front of me were really bugging me. and the line NEVER MOVED...for over 20 minutes...it was at a stand still, we didn't even shuffle. I was hot, bugged, and feeling dizzy. Then my sister called and said they were ready to pay, i looked up and saw my mom looking for me through the polar fleece...

now I may be in my thirties, I have my own home, my own kids and a career....but when I saw her...my heart jumped for joy and I thought, MY MOMMY is here to save me!

So my sisters made a big deal about my looking so sick and pulled me into the line with them...I am not sure if they played this sick card for the people behind them or because I actually did look awful...but I really didn't feel good and let them make a fuss. I payed for my purchases...argued over a sale price...payed for the argued items...and left...to hug my sisters and mommy for saving me from the WORST BLACK FRIDAY ADVENTURE EVER!

I love this time of year...
I can't wait for next year...

Eating Healthy

2010-11-07T07:27:00.003-07:00

I have been reading these books by Michael Pollan and he talks about how unhealthy the American diet is. The main idea of the books is we need to get away from so much of the processed crap we put into our mouths and return to how our great-grandparents ate. He states, "if your great-grandparents wouldn't recoginize it (or the ingredients) as food...don't eat it". It makes sense, if your grandma wanted waffles in the morning, did she throw an egg-o in the toaster? No, she got out of bed and made them...from scratch...and she probably had to walk to the chicken coop to get the eggs!

In an effort to "return to basic ingredients" I have tried to get my family to eat more of the "basics". I do not buy quick rice mixes anymore, I read labels on juice and don't buy ones with corn syrup, and I have been trying to use half whole wheat flour when ever I can sneak it in.

Now I am FULLY aware that for weeks, I have been obsessing over mcdonald's pumpkin pie shakes, which are not "basic"...but we are taking baby steps, here people(...and don't judge my pregnancy cravings.)

Anywho, on Halloween morning I made pumpkin pancakes. I used a recipe I got from the twopeasandtheirpod website. They were good, everyone liked them, especially my niece Madison. They had half whole wheat flour and no one knew! The cinnamon syrup was also good...but even better if you did a little maple with it. Well, I found another recipe on line for pumpkin pancakes which claimed to be SUPER healthy and delicious. Since I was awake at 5 am I whipped them up.

they called for whole wheat flour, I can't do that...Emily can tell everytime. So I did half and half. The recipe went on as usual, but then it called for aguave nectar....dang! i used up the last of my aguave nectar last week. (just kidding...I am not 100% sure what aguave nectar is, let alone if I can find it in Tooele, Utah!) The recipe said I could substitute honey. I had that.

As i was heating up my griddle, I tasted the batter...it was NOT good.
Now, I teach Foods; I know that pancake batter does not and is not supposed to taste good. It's not cake batter, but it should taste like SOMETHING! So I added more honey.

After all the pancakes were cooked, I ate one...WITH LOTS OF SYRUP. (I need to ask Mr. Pollan is this counts in the "back to basics" movement)

Conclusion: the pumpkin pancakes from two peas were way better...and while maybe not as "basic" they are made from scratch and did have some whole wheat.

Maybe it was the lack of aguave nectar?
Probably not.

sick days

2010-11-02T16:46:00.003-06:00

Sick days....oh how I miss thee
I will be the first to admit it,
in the past i have been somewhat reckless in using my sick days.
Brad and I joking called them, "mental health days".
I would claim that me or one of the kids was sick and take the day off of work.
I would clean or craft or watch Law and Order:SVU marathons

Sometimes I took so many "mental health days" that if my kids (or I) did actually get sick
i would panic that I had any leave left.

But this year, I have to save all my sick days for maternity leave.
Which means I have not taken one, not one "mental health day"
and it's second quarter!

Some mornings, the alarm goes off
and I want to call in sick
oh yeah-need those days for maternity leave.

Some nights, I wonder...Is Brinley getting sick?
oh yeah-she can't...I need to save for maternity leave

My 1st class will be obnoxious
and I want to leave
oh yeah-need the day for maternity leave.

Tomorrow, my two friends from my department are going to a sewing conference in Park City.
We get to stay overnight.
the principal paid for it
(it did not occur to him that two of us do not teach sewing...my BRILLIANT department head said things like, "we collaborate with other teachers, it gives a chance to network, etc"...and he paid for it)
I get to sew and listen to one of my favorite crafty bloggers talk

I am hoping this conference will rejuvenate me,
just like a good old "Mental Health Day"!

pregnancy brain or trials of an insomniac

2010-10-28T17:35:00.005-06:00

I have had one doozy of a week.
thank heavens it is almost friday
and friday is a half day for the kids at school
then i will lock my classroom door
and forget that this week ever happened

I forget what I am saying mid-sentence
I have lost my keys 100 times
(both personal and school sets)
I have lost my phone 500 times
one time I thought I lost it and spent 30 minutes looking for it...
I looked in the car, my purse, 2 desks, the filing cabinet, the kitchen drawers, EVERYWHERE!
only to realize I had tucked it into my bra strap

I had to send 2 kids to the office
for offenses
only there is no proof
so the office sends them back
and they glare at me the rest of the day
Administration is sick of me
(but I am sick of them)
so we are even

I graded a quiz
finished about 60
only to realize
i used the wrong answer key

it's the end of the quarter
so all the loser's who can't turn in their work on time are trying to sneak it in
I told one kid it was too late to turn in that assignment...it was due August 29
and then accepted the same assignment from another kid.
now I have to go back and tell kid #2 it was too late or take the first kids assignment.

I forget what I am about to say
I repeat what I have already said

I wandered around Macy's for 15 minutes
because I forgot I needed dish soap (aisle 12)
then I forgot I needed garlic powder (aisle 2)
then i remembered i needed sour cream (back by aisle 12)
then I remembered i needed cream cheese (by aisle 2)
and the worst part is: I HAD A SHOPPING LIST with me and it is broken down by departments! (the proof that I spend 1/3 of my life grocery shopping is that I know what the aisles are numbered...and it is THE ONLY thing i can remember right now)

I am in charge of ward baptisms next weekend and had to call a parent THREE times in a row
because I kept forgetting to ask what her son wanted.
Pretty sure she is nervous about me being in charge of the program now!

My work friends just laugh when I describe all my trials...
they say, "oh the joys of pregnancy brain"
I am worried that if "pregnancy brain" is the problem,
I will be a complete idiot and drooling into a cup by January.
Brad thinks it may have something to do with the fact i only get 3 hours of sleep a night.
I think I may be so scattered brained because I spend a great deal of my time thinking about how hungry I am. Only nothing sounds good...except for pumpkin pie shakes at mcdonalds. and then my friend Natalie brought me a PUMPKIN CRISPY CREAM DONUT! i litteraly died and went to pumpkin nirvana. I was glad she gave it to me and left my classroom, because i really moaned as I ate it.

The cafeteria fish sticks were the third BEST tasting thing I have eaten all week
and that alone scares me...seriously who LIKES cafeteria fish sticks...it grosses me out to even think about liking them. But I did.

I was in bed by 7:30 last night
I had drifted off to sleep
and my cell phone rang a little before 8pm
and I literally jumped up thinking it was time to wake up for the day

I almost wished it had been...
I would be that much closer to the weekend.

Is it weird?

2010-10-20T03:00:00.004-06:00

Is it weird that I was in bed before 8, asleep before 9, awake at midnight, and STILL awake at 3AM?

Is it weird that the only way I can fall back asleep on nights like this is to write an asinine blog post?

Is it weird that I am eating green olives straight out of the jar at 3am?

Is it weird that all I want, right now, is a pumpkin pie shake from McDonald's?

Is it weird that, right now, I could literally spread pumpkin on a piece of toast and eat it?

Is it weird that my FIVE year old told me at dinner "not to clear her place, because she wasn't done eating, but had to go and check her game on the computer." Then when I tell her to finish eating, she pouts and immediately decides she is done...so she can check her game on the computer?

Is it weird that this same FIVE year old told the babysitter we are naming her new brother "Popsicle"?

Is it weird that Brinley's teacher sent home a note asking for parents to donate a bag of mini-marshmallows...only now I can't find the note. So I am worried I am sending Brinley with a bag of marshmallows and I may have dreamed the entire "note".

Is it weird that I needed to scald some milk for a bread recipe at work and accidentally set the microwave for 40 minutes instead of 4....and did not notice until a student said, "umm, Mrs. Smith, there is smoke coming out of your microwave"?

Is it weird that I then tried to salvage the plastic measuring cup. I soaked it overnight and yesterday tried to scape off the gunk...only to realize that I had scrapped the entire top off of the melted plastic?

Is it weird that I spent 35 minutes of my prep class playing spider solitaire instead of correcting papers? (ok it was really closer to an hour)

Is it weird I almost tried to talk Emily into a "less-than-modest" halloween costume...only because it would have saved me the trouble of having to sew one...before the ward party on Friday?

Is it weird that there are no boy receiving blankets at Wal-mart and I woke up in a PANIC thinking I would have to wrap my son in PINK blankies?

Is it weird that I taped a picture of my ultra sound to the board at work and wrote "it's a boy" underneath. When a freshman boy (its always a freshman) exclaimed "your pregnant?!" his girl friend leaned over and whispered "that's why she is so bitchy" and instead of getting mad, I laughed hysterically and told her, "honey, you ain't seen nothin' yet"

Funny Kids

2010-10-17T19:56:00.002-06:00

My kids are funny!

Emily was questioning a post Brad put on Facebook. It was about Breast Cancer and she was wondering how women found out if they had cancer. So I was explaining how a doctor feels for lumps and may do an "x-ray". Emily was sort of disgusted and asked, "what kind of doctor does that? A Boobieologist?" Brad and I laughed so hard...
and then Brad said if that was a field of study, he would have tried harder in high school!

Brinley was telling Brad that if he doesn't want to wear ties to work, his boss can't make him.
Brad: "Brin, you have to do what your boss says."
Brin: "tell him you don't want to"
Brad: "my boss is a woman, don't be sexist"
Brin: "Dad, I don't have sexes, I am only 5"

In other news, we bought our first BLUE baby outfit yesterday...
It was wierd...I kept looking at all the pink stuff and had to remind myself to look at blue.
Guess 11+ years of habit is hard to break!

snips and snails...puppy dog tails..

2010-10-15T16:59:00.006-06:00

Is this grainy picture not the most beautiful thing you have ever seen!?

Tomorrow I will be 20 weeks!

We are half way there...baby!

For WEEKS now we have been wondering what sort of bean I am carrying.

Is it a girl or a boy?

EVERYONE was guessing boy.

Friends, Emily, students at school,

I was starting to feel a lot of pressure.

On Tuesday, the girls and I had dentist appointments. The hygienists, receptionist and dentist all bet it was a boy.

For the first time in my life, I completely understood how Henry VIII felt...

it's a lot of pressure to produce a male heir...

and I don't even rule a kingdom...

let alone contribute that darn Y chromosome!

We would have been fine either way...

I worried that everyone else would be bummed for us.

and their bummed reaction would make me sad.

(its the oldest child in me...I need to make everyone happy)

Today we had our ultra-sound.

Let me ask, if we can put a man on the moon, bomb countries by satellite, and have cell phones that get access to anything on the Internet...

why haven't we invented an ultra-sound machine that works with an empty bladder!

In other words, they made my drink 5 to 8 cups of water and then expected me to hold it.

and naturally they were behind!

My bladder is only the size of a walnut!

I couldn't even stand up straight for fear I would leak. Honestly, I walked around the hospital sort of bent over!

then my funny boy husband tried to make a joke...I had to squeeze (so as not to pee) while smacking him.

Do not tell me about kegels....I will smack you!

So the tech took four or five pictures and let me pee before we continued...

I loved her.

She took lots of measurements...

and found a "something".

We cried.

A couple minutes later, I asked, " what percentage do you think its a boy"

she said, "97%, but we will look again"

Later, she went to look...

and the umbilical cord was in the way...

AND SHE STARTED TO DOUBT!

So after A LOT of jiggling, bouncing and turning...

she found it!

Now,
someone needs to tell me how to change a baby boys diaper!

(and Erin, please explain to Austin that it is a boy...but not the seven year old playmate he has been dreaming of! No way am I delivering that!!!)

Another Middle of the Night Ramble

2010-10-12T02:28:00.003-06:00

I was in bed at 8:30pm
Sound asleep before 9pm
awake at 11:30
still awake at 2:30am

I NEED TO SLEEP!

I have to much on my mind...
hopefully if I list it all here...
my mind will turn off and I can get at least 3 hours of sleep before my alarm goes off.
So in no particular order:

* I have to collect for pennies by the inch (ick)
*we have dentist appts tomorrow (double ick)
*should I just let my class cook tomorrow (oops, today). I have an assignment all ready...but honestly, my life is easier when I just let them cook. But then I will have to go to the store...AGAIN.
*I have sharing time on Sunday, planning how/what to do. I have a hard time planning Junior Sharing time.
*i love fall
*i wonder if KOSY radio station will play Christmas music right after Halloween...HOPE SO! I LOVE IT! It drives Brad crazy, but I think Christmas should start on November 1st, I would totally put up my tree...if Brad would carry it in from the garage. He won't.
* I love pumpkin.
in the last week I have made:
1-Pumpkin Scones with Cinnamon Chips-so yummy and so good with hot chocolate
2-Pumpkin Cupcakes
3-Pumpkin Whoopie Pies-I made these last night after dinner. It was like a homemade oreo, but with out the chocolate...think pumpkin roll in cookie form....they were yummy. Emily (who said she doesn't like pumpkin) ate two.
Did you know that there was a pumpkin shortage last year? I did, but only because:
a) I spend 1/3 of my life in the grocery store and b) I visit a lot of foodie blogs.
It seems Libby could not harvest all of the pumpkins and that created a shortage. A case of Libby Pumpkin just sold on e-bay for almost $60! Wal-mart hasn't had pumpkin in over 9 months...Macy's has some. I am thinking of buying a case or 2 and waiting to see if the pumpkin crisis is over...if not, I am selling on e-bay...and paying for Christmas!

*The biggest news of all: WE ARE HAVING AN ULTRA SOUND ON FRIDAY! WE (HOPEFULLY) WILL KNOW IF WE ARE HAVING A BOY OR GIRL!
all I can say, is this little bean had better cooperate and give us a good look at his/her "parts"..or else I will have to sell pumpkin on e-bay, to pay for the ultra-sound at the mall!

Crisis + Time = Humor

2010-10-10T13:52:00.003-06:00

Last week, my friend Natalie from work and I took 3 girls from school to the FCCLA Leadership Conference in Layton. (FCCLA is what FHA was for all of us in high school back in the stone ages. If you have never heard of either...google it)
Oh my word! the advisor classes were so mind numbingly dull!
At one point I was thinking, I won't be able to come next year, because I will have a nursing baby. And then I wished I could start using that excuse NOW to get out of the advisor meetings. It was pure torture....worse...the classes were "taught" by other teachers....I really hope I am not that boring.

The only entertaining event was the keynote speaker on Tuesday night.
I can't remember his name (JP or RJ?), he is from Utah State, and he was so funny!
I almost peed my pants...THREE times!

He was talking to the 200 or so teens (and their advisers) from across the state about being a good leader. One key to being a good leader, is to NOT take your self too serious.

He said that in any situation, we must remember that crisis + time = humor.
He then told several "crisis" moments in his own life, that given enough time makes him laugh.
The audience was laughing right along.

It would be just my luck that I had the chance on Friday to experience my own "crisis".
My classes were making cupcakes, and Macy's was out of cupcake liners. So on my way to school I stopped at Albertson's to get some. I found them and then at the end of the aisle, I found cute Halloween ones and they were cheaper! SCORE! I stuff the first packages on some random shelf....and in the process dropped my cell phone. The battery door popped off and my battery flew under the shelf! Great, So as I am getting on to my hands and knees to see if I can retrieve my battery, I think "I am glad I am not at Wal-mart, there floors are way dirty". Guess what? At close range Albertson's stores are not that clean. My battery is under this tiny, dirt encrusted shelf...I can't reach it! So I dig a pen out of my purse to try and drag it to me...just then a worker comes by and looks at me and says, "uhhhh mam, do you need help" I WANTED TO CRAWL UNDER THE SHELF...DIRT AND ALL. No I squeaked, I am just trying to get my cell battery. the worker watched me for a second and walked away. I got my battery, shoved it in my purse and used self checkout ...so I wouldn't have to talk to anyone, let alone look them in the eye.

I know that on the security camera it shows me...with my fanny in the air...trying to get my darn cell battery. I also have nightmares of the employees rewinding the tape and watching it over and over.

I called Brad, once I had reassembled my phone and told him I was calling in sick and going back to bed.
Do you know what he said?

"Crisis + time = humor"

Butt head...
I will NEVER tell him what I learned at Conference again.

Movement!

2010-10-07T20:03:00.004-06:00

I felt my little bean of baby move this weekend.
I thought I had felt it for a few days...but wasn't positive until Saturday.
It is so cool and my favorite part of being pregnant!
(remind me of that in a month or two)

Now everyday, I come home from work, eat a snack and sit still just so I can feel that little stirring...

Now, more than ever, I want to know if we are having a he or she!
I have a doctors appointment on Monday...my last with this Ob
(she is moving)
and Brad and I are going to request (i.e...demand) that she order the 20 week ultrasound
with any luck...we will find out in a week or so...

I have my "cute" text announcement all planned...a version for a girl or boy...

and then...

I can start buying baby stuff!

(and hiding the receipts from Brad)

Please tell me it's a generational thing

2010-10-03T06:48:00.003-06:00

About a month ago, President Obama addressed the nations school children. I didn't know it was happening until I got the pre-recorded message from the school district giving me (as a parent) the option to have my children watch it or not.

Last years address, made me realize how completely ignorant we have become as a society.
What ever happened to teaching our children to RESPECT the office of president?
Now, we are so into being politically correct; monitoring everything we see or hear, so that no one is has to think differently.

The most amazing thing is that teachers are given the right to choose to show the address or not. And some at the High School made their politcal position known, by refusing to show it. THESE ARE COLLEGE EDUCATED ADULTS! and they can't listen to a simple 20 minute message! AIMED AT CHILDREN!!!

So the time is drawing near, we are to announce whether we will show it in our classrooms and simple invite those who don't want to listen to go to the commons. So about 8 or 9 kids leave. Then I say, If you can not be respectful, you may leave. That was enough for the freshman boys, and 6 or 7 left. On their way out, one kid in my class yelled, "Canada's borders are open!"

I decided right then and their to give that kid an A....no matter what he does for the rest of the quarter.

So I am getting whitehouse.gov on my projector, when a girl comes in and quietly tells me she is checking out because she CAN'T watch....and then she points to the screen. The twerp won't even say Obama's name! and by golly I wanted her to say Obama's name! But she just kept pointing to the screen and the door, like at any minute, Obama was going to start hypnotizing us! Finally, I said, "just go to the commons with everyone else". she said "no I have to check out for the rest of the day". And I said, "are you ill?" No, I just have to leave. And she looks over my shoulder, so I glance back and see her mom in the hall, giving me the biggest crusty/defiant look....hands on hips....ready to pounce stance....as if to challenge my decision to show the speech. I roll my eyes and let her go.

Another senior boy, left to call his mommy, to see if he was allowed to watch the speech...he never came back....he is already 18...he can vote and be drafted...but mommy said no.

So the speech starts, it was all about staying in school, trying your hardest, and getting involved. I didn't hear or see any socialist agenda; talk of health care, bank bailouts, etc... If I am being perfectly honest, it was less formal than last years address and a tad redundant.

So the speech ends and all of the "peasants" who could not listen come back to class. We do not discuss the speech. We simply start the class, like I would any other day. I think the "peasants" may have been a little dissapointed...they "kept asking what did he say". the kid with the canada remark said, "Guess if you wanted to know, you should have stayed".

(Its hard to be a "peasant"; the more educated and open-minded people never share their knowledge. So their are stuck in a politcally correct world...not having to think or judge for themselves.)

The most maddening thing is that if Mitt Romney had a snowballs chance in Hades to win the last election, and then spoke to the nations school children. Most of Utah's parents would force their children to watch...and take notes...and maybe play conference bingo... and then hump is leg after...

So I realize that all of this starts at home, Monday night Emily brought me her permission slip to watch. She asked if I would just check NO. Because last years speech "was boring"...sorry i said, you were born into the wrong family. and proudly checked YES ( i may have even circled and underlined yes)...so when Brad got home she tried with him....since he is from the other political party...sorry he said, when the President speaks, you listen. Emily rolled her eyes and stomped upstairs, probably wishing she was born into some "peasants" family.

It is my hope, that in 20 or so years, her kids will come and ask her to check no on the permission slip. and she will be able to say, "sorry you were born into the wrong family...in this house...we listen to the President."

Weekend Review

2010-09-28T16:36:00.005-06:00

Brad had a "guys weekend" at the cabin in Wyoming.
He went there to close it up for winter.
His brother, Evan and my brother in laws, Jef and Keith went with him
They made a few stops in Evanston to purchase things that (ahem) can not be found in Utah and made it to the cabin a little after midnight.
It must be a guy thing, but they took a bigger TV and an Xbox.
Weird-os

Since it was just me and the girls all weekend, I had all of these plans to make soup every night for dinner.

Brad does not care for soup.

Some of you may have heard about the incident last fall, when I had the nerve to make soup 3 nights in a row. Now I would like to point out that all 3 were form scratch and it was a DIFFERENT soup each night. I did not open a can and call it dinner.
Brad was so bugged he complained to the neighbors about what a mean wife he has.
All I say is "what did you make for dinner?"
Nothing.
Eat your soup buddy.
(I would also like to point out I ALWAYS make some sort of bread to go with soup.)

Anyhoo..I wasn't in the mood for soup while he was gone. ( I was still craving salmon)

Emily and I did watch Letters to Juliet (twice) and liked it.

We saw my mom on Saturday.

Brin was sick Sunday morning.

Sunday afternoon Emily fell out of a tree.
She can't walk.
The ER docs couldn't see a break on the x-ray but since there are a lot of growth plates in the foot we have to see a specialist on Thursday.

She is on crutches.
At first she thought they were super cool.
Now...not so much
We on the other hand are having heartattacks everytime she stumbles or drops a crutch.
Crutches+eleven year old=not graceful

Here she is in the ER
(yes I take pics in the ER. Its a scrap-able moment)

Brad came home Sunday evening.

He and the guys had driven the van to Wyoming.

anyone have an idea how to get rid of stinky man smell out of a car?

Harvest

2010-09-26T13:51:00.012-06:00

So I am not a great gardener.
Every year I want to channel my inner Martha Stewart and plant an
amazing garden.

But I don't actually enjoy gardening.
(its dirty and it's hot outside)

This year we made a small attempt to improve our tomato yield
and moved where we plant.
Brad even built a nifty box for our 3 tomato plants and 2 "zuquooney"
(thats what we call it at our house)

I had every intention of watering and weeding....

I remembered every couple of days and sent the girls out to do it.

Well, our half-butt attempt is proving fruitful!
We have tomatoes running out our ears!
Yesterday morning I sent the girls to pick the red ones and this is what they came back with.

I admit I was pretty impressed.

If I gave gardening a real try...
I could start my own farmers market.

But then reality set in...
"What in the hell am I gonna do with all these tomatoes?"

Brad was in Wyoming all weekend,
So I made a big batch of Cowboy Salsa
and took it and the girls to West Haven for a visit with my mom
(who is babysitting for my sister)
We ate the salsa and had a nice visit.

Only to drive home and see the bowl of tomatoes STILL sitting there.
I think they multiplied while I was gone,
I mean I did chop up 7 or 8 for salsa. And the bowl was still FULL.

So I did what any self-respecting FACS teacher would do.
I made 18 cups of tomato sauce to freeze!
I cooked up 2 different kinds.
One was a roasted tomato sauce.
and the other was one I adapted from Giada.

The only down side to my sauce making is that I have this teeny, wimpy food processor. It was taking forever to puree the sauce. Then about half way through, I remembered I have an immersion blender! I can just blend it right in the pot.
I'm a little absent minded lately.

Here is all my effort at sauce making.
Looks pretty cool.

The roasted tomato sauce was my favorite.

I can't wait to use it on homemade pizza.

As for our Zuquooney, I made a chocolate zuquooney cake last night. It was pretty good. The can of frosting I used helped a lot.

Now, I wonder if I will ever get the tomato pulp out from under my fingernails.

Cravings

2010-09-23T20:13:00.002-06:00

one of the worst things about being preggers
is the cravings!
I have these INTENSE food cravings
I OBSESS about a certain food
until I get it
and then I am fine.

My cravings this week
1-candy corn (I polished off a bag in like 4 days...i had help from em and brin)
2-cheese (and not any cheese will do...I want manchego or a crumbly gorgonzola...yummm...good thing costco carries both of these!)
3-watermelon-thursday in the cafeteria they have watermelon.
4-Salmon
I wanted salmon so bad I was tempted to have my Foods class prepare it, just so I could demonstrate cooking it first! But since I can barely afford to have my classes prepare chicken, I would have a hard time justifing salmon. I even looked up a recipe for canned salmon...you can make it into a "loaf" (I bet Erin is gagging at that. sorry i know how you feel about "loafs")
Brad kindly took me to Applebee's for dinner so I could order Salmon.
It was delish!
and since I didn't have to cook I FINALLY was able to eat and ENJOY dinner!

But...
Brad took a bite of my Applebee's salmon,
and said, "you make it better".

He's right.
My salmon is better
(and not quite as dry)
So now
I REALLY want MY Salmon.

damn cravings

(maybe my Omega 3 levels are low)

Working "Outside"

2010-09-22T18:17:00.010-06:00

The other day I was having a conversation with a woman in my ward.
She asked if I would continue working "outside" my home after the baby was born.
I told her I would take 6 weeks off and then go back to finish out the year.
"Oh, then you will be at home?"
Well, i said, "until school starts up in August."
The look she gave me was a mix 1-of complete horror 2- pity 3-a bit of disgust
she then ended our conversation.

Over the last 12 years I have dealt with this...
a lot.
Being a working "outside" the home mom is hard.
Being a Mormon mom who works "outside" is impossible.

I do not need for anyone to leave a copy of Presidents Benson talk from 20+ years ago in my door.
(this happened...with highlighted areas)
I also do not need you to quote the Proclamation to me...I have one in my living room... thank you.

You see, I can quote prophets too.
I can justify my life decisions with the scriptures just as well as the next person.

It has taken a long time for me to come to this acceptance with myself, my family, my religion and my career.

I am ashamed to say, that at one point, It was this very thing that I used as my excuse to become inactive.

I am a Mormon mom who works "outside".
I am trying, just like you are to fit everything together.
Sometimes, I am not very good at the puzzle.
But none of us are...that's why were here...to learn.

I do not need your pity.
I do not need special treatment.
I do not need your judgement.
I do not need you to compare your busy day with mine.
I know we all have busy days and stress and schedules and meetings and callings and practices and dinner to get on the table.

I do not work to pay for my wants.
We don't vacay in fancy places...we go to Pinedale, Wyoming
We don't wear fancy clothes...I am excited if I get to shop at Target and Kohl's is next to Christmas in my book
We don't have expensive toys.
And most months we struggle to get from paycheck to paycheck.
Just like you do.

I know I may complain, wail and gnash my teeth.
It's not a cry for pity.
Somedays I don't want to go to work
Just like you don't want to deal with morning rush and carpool drama and running kids to practice
but we all do what we have to do
For ourselves and our families

You should see their parents!

2010-09-22T17:14:00.003-06:00

Somedays, I have to shake my head at the teenagers in my classes.

Other days I go home and have fake arguments to myself and say all of the things that the law or my union forbids me say. (Ask Emily, she always asks "are you talking to yourself or a student?")

Sometimes I wonder, "who are your parents?"

well, I met some of them over the last 2 days at Parent Teacher Conferences
and let me tell you...

the kids are normal
compared the FREAKY parents we have in Tooele.

One freshman boy's mom is dating a kid I taught 3 years ago...
WEIRD!
(i use the word taught loosely...he NEVER came to class)

Another mom could NOT understand why her kid had an F.
"He only has missed 6 classes and has not turned in 7 assignments...
and did not take the test..."
but how DARE I give him an F!
"you really need to come up with a better grading system" she said
Ummmm-Bi*** you need to get your kid to school
(I didn't say this...but I thought it...SEVERAL times)
I peeked at his midterm...
straight F's
Guess we all need a "better grading system"

Another mom STUNK so bad
I had to breathe out of my mouth to keep from dry heaving...
but that didn't help because then I could sort of "taste" the funk.
The smell was a mix of garbage and (how should I say) "woman's monthly" that needed to be taken care of...a week ago.
It was disgusting.

I had two sets of parents that had to bring an interpreter because they didn't speak English.
I was never sure who I should look at...the parent or the interpreter...
so my eyes kept darting back and forth
I know I looked all "shifty"
(and I got a little dizzy)

Another parent lamented the fact that her teenage son will not speak to her...
at all.
She went on and on about how close they use to be...they went to the store together, church, ball games, practices....trust me it went on and on and on.

then a mother told me all about the troubles in her marriage...

RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER TEENAGE DAUGHTER!

(trust me, her daughter did not need to hear about their sex life...

neither did I, for that matter)

at this point I sent a text to Brad about my being a family/marriage counselor. His response was, Since my department insists on being called Family and Consumer Sciences (instead of Home Ec) I need to be ready for such things.

the next parent teacher conference is in December.

I will be charging extra for family counseling.

Crazy Week Wrap-up

2010-09-19T13:03:00.002-06:00

I am so glad this week is over.
It was CRAZY!
(This coming week will be almost as hectic...but hopefully not as CRAZY!)

Brad, my super smart husband, fixed my crashed (PINK) laptop AND managed to save my files! Including the pictures I had saved of my Dad. I am so happy and relieved.

I graded all but one period's midterms...It took forever
and I thought my hand would fall off.

My horrible TA still has self-esteem, even though I told him he was fired...
and locked my treats in the closet.

The primary activity was a success.
Even my "too cool for primary" 11 year old admitted (grudgingly) it was fun.
The flavored breads/quick breads/whatever bread were a huge hit.
Only one kid complained...and she ended up eating 2 and half pieces.

Speaking of Primary...let me vent for a moment about some of the women in Relief Society.
"Attention women in Relief Society, Primary is NOT 2 hour free day care for you. We are there to serve and teach YOUR children. When we need help, we would appreciate YOUR help. Do not make the RS President come and help...her children are already grown. I realize that you see this 2 hour block as YOUR time...but your spirit can be just as uplifted serving in Primary. Thank You!"

excuse me, while I step off my soapbox

Whoo-that has been bothering me for a few hours.

Brinley has decided that her day at school is determined by whether or not her recess is long or short. If it is long, she had a great day...if it was short, boy, do I hear about it later.

Emily did not win student body elections.
It was very sad and there were a few tears shed...on both our parts.
It hurt to see her so disappointed.
But she looked at me and said, she learned somethings and to try harder.
(I will admit that I shed a few more tears after she said that.)

My Foods 2 classes planned and prepared their meals on Friday. It went so well! There wasn't a bad meal in the bunch. It almost made the hour long shopping trip and $300 grocery bill worth it. It did not make up for the mean old guy at Macy's who kept staring at me and make snotty comments about how much food I was buying. If Brad hadn't been there, I may have punched the old man.

I do owe Brad an apology.
Apparently I crossed some boundary when I discussed our issues with fiber pills in the previous post...
I had NO idea that the guy who can go to church and discuss "snail trails" had any boundaries.
I apologize...

for now!

Ramblings of the Sleep Deprived

2010-09-16T02:32:00.005-06:00

Its 2:30 am and i am wide awake.
I am also starving.
unfortunately, whenever I open my 'fridge
I start dry heaving.
so i am eating cheez-it crackers and a Phineus and Ferb
fruit snack...I hid from Brinley earlier

I cant't sleep.
I am having one doozy of a week

It's midterms at school
I have this entire basket of stuff that needs to graded
by 3:00 Friday.
One of my TA's is a lousy corrector.
I told him today,
he is worthless.
He laughed
Don't worry about his self-esteem...
last week I told him to "go and get a piece of gum out of my desk
because he had the worst coffee breath".
(yes---I said EXACTLY that)
He laughed...
and now helps himself to EVERYTHING in my desk...
including the Phineus and Ferb fruit snacks I took to work
(to hide from Brinley)

My PINK laptop crashed on Tuesday,
(did I mention it is Midterms this week)
I had just spent 2 hours working on a power point for class.
Brad got it started enough for me to email my power point to myself-
so I could use it at work.
Unfortunately the crash destroyed all of my pictures and animations.
So i emailed myself this skeleton looking presentation
and naturally didn't notice until 15 minutes before class.

I have a Primary Activity on Saturday.

I have to go to Salt Lake sometime before Friday for blood work.

Brinley won't wear this cute jumper...because she said "people will think she is a farmer"
The jumper isn't even denim...it's tan with pink flowers...from Gymboree...How many farmers wear Gymboree?! (I did not buy this, it is a hand-me-down from my super cooler sister)

I think I am getting a cold, my throat hurts and my nose has started to run.

Emily has started Orchestra again, which makes my Wednesday and Friday mornings extra fun.
She has to be to the junior high at 7:45 and I am supposed to be at work by 7:30. Naturally it is not Tooele Jr High but the other one...across town.
Super fun.
I love spending my mornings YELLING at her to hurry...
dropping her off with a "Have a good day and I love you"...
even though I just spent the last 20 minutes yelling.
makes this maternal working mom guilt go into overdrive

She is also running for student body vice prez and made it past the primaries. They did final votes on Wednesday and so we should find out today. Cross your fingers!

I had a meeting, Wednesday night, at the new Tooele County Community Learning Center. It is a gorgous building with great equipment and technology. It did make me think, "is this why we haven't heard how much equipment/supply money my deptartment gets this year?" Cynical, I know...but, after seeing it, I have a feeling the budget amounts are going to be way down.

Ya know, how when you are pregnant your digestive systems slow way down
(i will try and put this as delicately as possible)
and then prenatal vitamins make the problem even worse?
well I have been trying to combat the "slow down" with fiber pills.
Brad takes one and almost has to call in sick the next morning, because it "speeds" things up.
I am taking THREE a day...not really helping.

this last ramble is proof....
I really need sleep.
I really need to correct papers.
Luckily, my TA today is better at correcting,
and even better...
she doesn't have coffee breath.

Martha Stewart never has to deal with crap like this!

2010-09-08T19:11:00.003-06:00

Ya know the feeling,
"Why me?"
That was my experience 6th period today.
Why me?

I was showing my Foods 1 class how to use a hot air popcorn popper...
Believe it or not, but most kids today have NO IDEA that you can make popcorn outside of a microwave!

So, I am demonstrating how to pour the popcorn in to the popper and wait for it to pop.
About midway through the popping, the entire lid falls off and popcorn is flying EVEYWHERE!
Teenagers are laughing, I am laughing. Its a good time!
I make a joke, "Martha Stewart never has to deal with crap like this"
The seniors laugh harder. I laugh. Everyone is laughing and popcorn is poppin' like some freakin' apricot tree.

I am trying to unplug the darn popper,
when an unpopped kernal
flys out of the popper
and GOES DOWN MY SHIRT...
IT LANDS IN MY BRA...
AND STARTS BURNING MY BOOBIES!

Important info: even if a kernal does not pop. IT IS HECK-A-HOT!!!!!

What can I do?!
I have like 36 teenagers watching me...
and over half are boys.
I can't stick my hand down my shirt and pull out the molten kernal.
So I quickly ask, "any questions?"
Dismissed...
but one freshman kid (it's always a freshman)
comes up (just as I am about to pull the kernal from my burned bosom)
and asks for the work he'll miss next week, because he is going on vacation.

I want to YELL..."MY BOOB IS BEING BURNED AND YOU ARE TELLING ME ABOUT YOUR DAMN VACATION!"
but i didn't.
I used this as an excuse to run across the hall to collect his assignments from my classroom, all the while blowing down my shirt.

Excuse me,
I need to find the aloe.

Smith family parties are NOT for children

2010-09-06T17:39:00.004-06:00

We celebrated Brad's bithday and Labor Day with a Barbeque at our home.
Brad's Aunt Bit always brings the cake.
She works at Schmidt's Bakery
which not only has amazing goodies...(the eclairs are to die for.)
They make a yummy cake.

Usually the cakes are full of beautiful flowers and are so pretty it is almost a shame to cut into the perfection...
but then you remember the yumminess that awaits and you just take a picture to remember the beauty.

Sometimes Aunt Bit has the cake decorated with cartoon characters or match box cars.

For Brad's she went a completely different route...

(if you are a bit prudish, you may want to click on a more wholesome blog)

Yep, this is the cake she brought.

You can order one for your next event...Be it a bachelor party, divorce party, or your nephew's birthday!

The cake is called "Dirty Sue".

We all called her "Crack-Whore Sue".

Aunt Bit assures us she is anatomically correct under her frosting bra and g-string.

Brad said, "chelle and I will find out later" wink...wink...wink...

on my part, I went, puke...puke...puke ;)

The best part about the cake is that Brinley is totally convinced that Daddy is going to give her his new "Barbie".

Aunt Bit also mentioned that there is a male version...they put him on a bear skin rug.

just in case you ladies want to order one for a bachlorette party, divorce party, or your neice's birthday.

Insecurities

2010-09-05T19:07:00.004-06:00

Insecurities
I have a few
About what? (you may ask)
EVERYTHING!
I think it is a woman thing
(at least i hope it is)

Oh sure I try and ACT like I have it all together.
But most days I want to curl into the fetal position
and go back to my mommy's womb...
because I am sure that was the only time I ever felt confident.

Brad does not understand where these insecurities come from.
He has tried for 15+ years to get me to lighten up.
But, It's a woman thing
(at least i hope it is)

Nothing
NOTHING!
brings out my insecurities more than what I have to go through this week...

It is..

SCHOOL PICTURE DAY

Oh, how I dread this day.
It does not matter what i have accomplished in my life
School picture day causes me to revert back to my 6th grade self.

I had no style, bad hair, worse skin and really crooked teeth.

And I sit down on the stool, those 6th grade images will come flooding back.

It won't matter that I am no longer a student (I am a teacher)
It won't matter that I found my sense of style (at least at work)
It won't matter that my roots are freshly covered and my hair will be perfectly fluffy
It won't matter that my skin cleared up (most days...fingers crossed)
and it won't matter that I got braces and my teeth are straight (although not as white as they could be)

The whole time I will be greatful that the camera is only from the chest up and trying to remember to tilt my head a certain way so my double chin doesn't show (as much).

Why are school pictures just as traumatic as an adult as they were in junior high!!!!!

In two weeks I will get my picture packet
and cringe (and it won't even matter if it is a fairly good one...I always cringe)
I will quickly tuck my new ID card into my lanyard.
and cut out the three pictures I always save:
one for Brad to take to work
one for my school scrapbook
and one for my mom...because mom's LOVE school pictures even when you're 30something!
I will tuck the rest away, along with my 6th grade self...
until next year.

EDIT
as i was proof reading this, i realized it may come off that i am depressed. Please do not call my doctor and suggest happy pills. Please do not call my Ob and suggest hormone replacement. Please do not alert my religious leaders that i need some spirituality in my sad life. This was intended to be a funny look at how much I dread school picture day. And the hope that insecurities really are a woman thing.
(at least i hope it is)

Happy Birthday Brad!

2010-09-04T15:18:00.006-06:00

Because it is Brad's bithday and in keeping with blog-o-shpere tradition I am going to write about all of the wonderful things I love about my husband. But don't worry, in keeping with blog-o-sphere tradition, I will also include some of his flaws and minor jabs at his character so y'all don't get too nauseated from the sugary-coated life this post may portray!

(Note to Stephanie: at NO point will I refer to him as my "eternal companion"...I don't want you to throw up and boycott my blog!)

REASONS I LOVE MY HUSBAND (in no particular order):

*he calls me George. This started when we first met. People think it's weird...I think it is sweet. He calls me 'Chelle too, in fact if he ever calls me "michelle" is sounds harsh and I know I have irritated him

*he his Honest. He won't steal a shopping cart...even though I really NEED one at school. I have even come up with scenarios, so we don't actually steal it from the parking lot...no deal.

*he does the laundry. He calls it his "manly duty"...or doodie. He has done this since the first year of marriage when I washed our garments with our forest green sheets. Even now, if he needs to me to do some laundry he prefers to sort it first.

*he is friendly. This is one the things that first attracted me to Brad. Since I am somewhat shy and reserved, I admired the way he can strike up a conversation with ANYONE. 15+ years later I find this annoying sometimes...do we have to make friends with every cashier and waiter we come across?!

*He makes me laugh...EVERYDAY! Its his goal...and he accomplishes it...Because he is "one funny Mo-Fo".

*He is a great dad. He knows each disney princess, hannah montana, and has been know to have his own Ron doll (excuse me, action figure) so he could play Kim Possible with Emily. He watches Phineus and Ferb with Brinley and even quoted it at the dinner table earlier this week. (he draws the line at singing Justin Beiber)

*He enlightened me to the world of Star Wars, Star Trek, James Bond and Harry Potter. I still do not appreciate Monty Python, Strange Brew, and Blazing Sladdles...oh and Stripes...he tries...I don't get it.

*he is a p*****t. (I can't actually type this because Emily reads this.) Lets just say he can turn anything into some sort of innuendo. It doesn't matter where we are; at home, the store, friends, at CHURCH. People think it's funny...it is...except at church.

*He has to have his hand on my bum to fall asleep. And when I wake up in the middle of the night I have to snuggle his manly bicep!

*he is smart. He knows lots about politics...who else carries a copy of the constitution everyday...and can quote it. As we have gotten older, he has become more liberal and I more conservative. We still have some doozey arguments regarding politics, but less since he has given up playing devil's advocate.

*He loves the Jazz and Faiders (excuse me, Raiders). He cheers for Utah, mainly because he can't stand BYU fans. The Lord, does not choose football teams. He has other things to do..."if the Lord chose them...thet wouldn't have to be Independent."

*He thinks I am the greatest! When the world is harsh and I feel bad about myself, he is the one person that reminds me how special I am. He makes my insecurities dissappear and lets me know he loves me. and that is all that really matters.

Love ya
(you are closer to 40 than I will EVER be!)

Spacing

2010-09-01T05:58:00.006-06:00

The other day a co-worker stopped me in the hall.
She heard through the "grapevine" (a.k.a. gossip mill)
that I was expecting. She asked a few questions,
and then MARVELED at the 6 year difference between
Emily and Brinley. And EXCLAIMED at how brave I was for doing it all again.
Didn't i know that "optimal child-spacing is 2 1/2 to three years".

Umm...yes, I have heard that.
Thank You.

See when we started out on our journey we didn't PLAN on NOT following
"optimal child-spacing" it just sort of happened.

We had Emily in our mid twenties.
It was cool and exciting to have our first.
after 4 years of marriage, we were finally able to say

we are a family

We got busy with careers, buying a home, raising a child.
We seemed to have it all.
The problem with having it all, is that sometimes "all" is hard to manage.
We lost sight of what was important.
We had distorted priorities.
We were at a very low point and
took a look around and realized that the only thing we could keep was the fact that

we are a family

So we pulled our heads out of our butts
reoraganized, readjusted...
and VERY QUICKLY got pregnant with Brinley.

For me, Brinley has always been the punctuation mark.

We are a family.

Period, end of sentence.
Her birth was a definitive moment that cemented the fact that the low part was over.
We now had a definite goal, a definite priority.
And even though we still have to juggle careers and everything else, we learned how to do it together.

We planned on "optimal child-spacing" after Brinley.
But, our ways are not His ways.
We still needed to learn patience.
We needed to learn to trust in Him.
That we (I) can not control everything.

As we look forward to our next baby, I am still learning to trust in Him.
Knowing that He knows
How much we want...

WE ARE A FAMILY!
our exclamation point

Back To School

2010-08-31T13:13:00.007-06:00

Here is Emily on the first day of school, last Tuesday. It was taken at 7:15am...even though school does not start until 9! She is in the cute outfit she paid for with her babysitting money! She LOVES her teacher and LOVES that her friends are in the same class.

The only bad thing, is that the principal decided to not let the 6th graders sit on the benches during assemblies anymore. Poor Em and her friends waited for years to be in 6th grade and rule the school and sit on benches...now they have to sit on the floor with the younger grades!

(i think they will survive this injustice)

She was so excited for this year. Her teacher handed out their classroom supply list in June (she is super organized that way). So the ENTIRE summer, Emily would ask when we were going to get her school supplies. Call me crazy, but I did not see the point of buying school supplies in June or July. I finally told her we would get the supplies the pay day before school started. Well, she decided that was to long of a wait. So she took her babysitting money and bought her supplies herself! Now I know some of you may think this is so MEAN that we let her buy her own supplies. I think it shows: a) she is somewhat impaitient and b) real responsibility on her part. She had the money and knew what she needed. Here's to a great year Em!

Here is Brin, on her first day of school. This picture was taken at 7:20 am...her class starts at 12:45! For the last few weeks Emily and I have been teasing that on Brinley's first day we would hug her to our bosom and wail, "my baby, my baby". Brin took this in good humor until last night, when I was rehearsing my antics with her and she pushed me away, threw her hands up and said, "Mom do not embarass me tomorrow!"

Gulp...

don't I have a few more years before she thinks I am embarassing?

Emily came in and started her rehersal...and Brin put her hands on her hips and said,

"don't embarass me like mom is."

then at dinner, Brin offered the prayer and asked Heavenly Father to "help mom not be sad on my first day of school"

She is in the same class as her cousin, Ashlynne.

This is so cute...

My heart may burst!

Brad and I helped her get settled and she started coloring. I snapped a few pictures and started to feel the hysterics take over so I walked over to Brad and said we need to go...now...because I was ready to cradle her to my bosom and wail, "my baby". Just as her were leaving, Brin patted my leg and said, "one more hug". I needed it more than she did.

Excuse me...my heart did burst.

Insomniac Posting

2010-08-31T02:25:00.004-06:00

It's 2:30 am.
I am wide awake.
I am thinking about changing the name of my blog to "Hormonal Insomniac"
It's catchy
and it sums up the passive-aggressive/sarcastic posts I sometimes write.

Brace yourself...
this IS one of those posts!

Last week, I took Brinley to her Kindergarten Assessment
as I waited in the hall, I overheard a conversation between a parent
and the principal. The parent wanted to change their child's teacher and
the principal was asking for VALID reasons. At one point the parent said,
"But Ms._________is SO CUTE!"

really, REALLY?!?
as I sat in the hall trying to close my mouth
(because my jaw literally hit the floor)
I realized why I can NEVER get my masters in administration.
Because I...
I would have bitched-slapped this parent,

cute, CUTE?!?
are you SERIOUS!
IT IS EDUCATION....not a puppy contest.
since when did your child's academic year depend on if your child's teacher can enter the Miss American pagent?

Later that evening, I attended Back to School Night.
I was impressed by the information I was given.
Each teacher told a little about themselves,
presented grading policies, went over curriculum and classroom expectations.
Their classrooms were neat, organized, and inviting.

AT NO POINT DID I THINK TO MYSELF, "HOW CUTE"

This parent think she has trouble now....
wait until Junior High...

there ain't nothin' cute in Junior High.

Dinner Conversations at the Smith House

2010-08-29T19:49:00.003-06:00

Welp...I am at the end of the first trimester...
and I feel just like I did a month ago.
I make dinner...and then can't eat it.
It is really starting to tick me off!
I am still gagging and dry heaving...
I am exhausted.
and I pee every 15 minutes...
just ask Brad,
He had to pause the movie we were watching 5 times.
This last week and a half had better be the finale to my feeling crappy or this little baby is grounded!

Dinner conversation at our house was interesting.
Usually, Brad asks us what the best part of our day was.
He didn't tonight.
He probably should have.

Somehow Brad mentioned the deer hunt and Brin asked what the deer hunt was.
Brad wanted to protect our innocent 5 year old from the horrors of life, so he said that "you find a deer, take it to dinner, read it a bedtime story and" and Brinley added, "and then shoot it".
so much for protecting her innocence.

Next we talked about Kermit the Frog...
a song stuck in Emily's head...
and then vagina's...

Oh to be a fly on the wall at our dinner table.
(at least it can eat)

How Do People Wait 9 Months?!

2010-08-22T07:23:00.002-06:00

We had a little scare on Friday, I was already at the doctors for blood work and so she said she would do a quick ultrasound to check. Everything is fine. I just need to take it easy for a day or two. The stress of going back to work, setting up my classrooms, and everything else just left me stressed out. On the ultrasound my little baby was moving like crazy. Anytime she tried to listen to the heartbeat, the baby would jump out of the way.

I had an ultra sound last week and it looked like a baby with little nubs for arms and legs. This week all that would fit is the head and a long arm with a definite hand. I can't believe how much they grow in just a week!

The nurse at the doctors office always laughs at how I stare at my ultrasound pictures.
I do.
I can't help it.
I love the PROOF!

and to be perfectly honest
I am also looking for a clue as to the sex.
I go back and forth
sometimes I think its a girl
other times a boy

As I looked at this weeks pictures I tried to imagine that long arm and what it would play with as a toddler.
Will it play princess and poly pockets?
or trucks and football?

(Please do not criticize my gender stereotyping.
If my girl wants to play with trucks and football,
that's fine
If my boy wants to play princess and pollypockets...
I'll let Brad deal with that ;) )

Now don't get me wrong
I really have "no preference"
Heck, we waited so long for this....I won't complain
I JUST WANT TO KNOW!!!!

How do people wait 9 months to find out!
They are crazy...
and they act all superior because they WAITED.
How do they plan? How do they shop? How do they SLEEP?

On Thursday, I was at the store and wandered in the baby aisle.
I want to buy SOMETHING...ANYTHING!
But I don't like the "neutral" stuff.
It looks boy to me.
If this baby is a girl, I want it in PINK and lavender and (maybe) pale yellow.
So I didn't buy anything.
But I REALLY wanted to.
I want something to hang in my bedroom,
so I can look at it as I am falling asleep.
I want something to touch and fold
to wash in Dreft
and sniff
I WANT SOMETHING I CAN RUB AGAINST MY FACE AND IMAGINE THIS LITTLE BABY WEARING IT!

(I apologize, I have been quite dramatic lately)

Please grant me the paitence to wait a few more weeks.

Because I can not handle Brad referring to our baby as...
Cletus the Fetus!

Technology Bytes!

2010-08-19T05:30:00.003-06:00

It's the wee hours of the morning.
I have realized a sleeping pill won't do me any good.
I have no problem falling asleep...I just can't stay alseep.

I thought my phone was going to be ok.
It seemed to work for a while, except when someone would call they couldn't hear me. I could hear them, but there was no dialogue exchange.
But, i could text and access my notes, calender and pictures.
Having people hear me seems to be irrelevant...NOW.

On the drive to the AT&T store, I thought "I need to hurry and write down all of the things on my calender, write down my contacts that didn't get stored to the memory card, transfer pics to memory card, copy notes, etc"...I had A LOT of writing to do. BUT wouldn't you know as soon as the sales guy looked at my phone. It went completely black-with only an ominous red line across it! Seriously, I could access everything 30 seconds ago. I think he did something to get my money. I ask in a very timid voice, does the calender save to the memory card? NOPE
Notes? NOPE any way to get the contacts or pictures NOPE

All of my appointments, schedules, and notes are on the darn thing! Oh man, my to-do lists were also on there! Everything is gone! My life is a big mess, I can't remember when my next doctors appt is because it was on my darn phone. Did I set up Brin's assessment for next Thurs or Fri-my phone could tell me, but its gone.

I am still blaming the cat.

Remember the old days when people would write things down in their Franklin Planners? The only fear that I had in those days was someone STEALING my ugly Franklin binder. No one ever did-my calender, schedule, to do lists all remained with me. My life was in order.

I ask the sales guy, do any phones save calenders, notes, to-do lists. "Only the smart phones-because then you can link it to google calender and sinc it with...yada...yada...yada...yada..." about 5 minutes later I come out of my techno coma...I have NO IDEA what he said. I have NO IDEA how to do those things. And I can't get a smart phone: 1. you have to pay for the data plan and I can't afford it. and 2. I am not cool/important enough

So we decide on a phone, it has a key board and calender (that can't be saved)
(its PINK!)
the color is sooo important
my last one was blue
I always wished it was pink

I guess the fact I am excited about PINK, proves why I am not cool/important enough to get a smart phone.

In other techno/21st century news:
I joined facebook last night.
I held out for as long as I could.
But all of the ladies who teach FACS (Home Ec) in the district wanted to set up something so we could communicate. and I was the ONLY one, the ONLY ONE who did not have facebook.

I would like to point out, that we can NOT access facebook at school. It was one of the many sites the district blocks. With good reason, can you just imagine if teenagers could go to school and use it?! Well actually, a lot of teens have smart phones and access it at school anyway. You just can't do it on a school computer.
So I argued this point.
They argued more.

So after the phone store, Brad helped me set out my account.
I am disappointed with myself

I feel dirty ;)

My Day

2010-08-18T16:50:00.002-06:00

I Know...2 posts in one day! Crazy!
Went back work.
Should say the opening session was motivating,
it was...just way too long.
It's hard to stay motivated when my behind is asleep and I am starving.
Seriously
it was a good thing I packed fruit snacks and a granola bar or I would have started knawing on my new motivating book.
Once I got home, my day took a turn from long and boring to DRAMATIC!

First I walked in and my preggo nose smelled a burn smell. It seems there was a tiny fire when Em made mac and cheese for lunch. The cause was just a dirty burner. Luckily, Erin saved the day and put out the blazing inferno that Emily was sure she created.

I walked upstairs and (thanks to my preggo nose) smelled cat pee.
I looked and couldn't find anything
so I sent Emily up there to investigate
she found it...
ON MY BED!
ON MY DOWN COMFORTER!!!!
(it was on Brad's side...again)

The cat now has an execution date set for Saturday.

Which has led to much crying and sadness for Emily and Brinley.

I ripped the comforter off my bed to take it to the dry cleaners.
I removed the sheets, blanket and matress pad to wash at home.
As I was stuffing the matress pas in our washer, my phone slipped from my shoulder and fell into the washer as it was filling with water.

My phone has been executed.

I am blaming the cat for EVERYTHING! (I should've stayed at work.)

Don't call the Enquirer just yet

2010-08-18T05:50:00.002-06:00

It really early. Before 6am
I am bugged because I go back to work today and here I am WIDE AWAKE
But something has been on my mind...

Originally this was supposed to be a sarcastic....passive-aggressive....worldly justification response to the "concern" we have been getting over our age.

But, I can't bring my self to actually type it.

Yes,
we are over 30
in truth we are over 35
and we are having a baby!
We don't feel we need a tabloid headline "Oldest couple in Tooele expecting"

Yes
I realize I am Advanced Maternal Age
Yes, we realize this puts certain risks higher
and while I have several snooty comebacks

the truth is I am scared.

Pregnancy is a nerve wracking nine months for everyone. Maybe I worry about things more than others. But worrying does keep me up at night. Brad is more pragmatic..."worrying does nothing, he says...what happens is what is supposed to happen...we will deal with whatever happens..."

It's not OUR dealing with it that worries me the most.
It's society.
Society is cruel
Think about how often the word "retard" is thrown around.
Heck,
I use it to describe something Brad has done at least twice a month.
The worry that someone may use this word to describe my child
brings out the momma bear in me.

So thank you for your "concerns"
we are not ignorant of the risks, but
we wanted to complete our family.
should we have ignored this feeling?
just because the general population of Utah thinks we are too old.
(and it is a Utah thing)

The blessings outweighed the risks.

Random Thoughts on Monday

2010-08-16T10:11:00.005-06:00

I have been awake since 3:00 am.
At 4am I marinated the tri-tip for dinner tonight and made muffins.
At 5am I checked my favorite blogs and my email.
Then in desperation for something to do,
I checked my class lists for this school year.
As I looked at my Foods II roll, I went down the list and thought:
good I am glad she took my class again;ok he was a pill, but kind of funny;oh crap!
why in the h-e-double hockey sticks did that girl sign up!
Then I looked at my Foods 1 rolls, lots of new names, lots of seniors, and quite a few kids that have already had Foods 1 and 2.
Why take it a second time? I hate that.
See here is why I don't like kids in Foods 1 that have already taken it.
The first day or two of school, I try to act MEAN/HARD/you know, the type of teacher that will NOT put up with their monkey-shine.
I do it to weed out the jerks that are in there to play and the girls who are to squeamish to touch a raw egg...let alone raw chicken.
BUT if a student has had me before they know I am a pushover...I am all talk...and i put up with way more monkey-shine than I should.
And these "veterans" will spill the beans about what a softie I really am and all hope is lost! Monkey-shines from day 2!
Brad says they take my class for the third time because I am just that awesome.
(or I grade too easy)

After looking at my class lists
I ate a muffin
as I walked past the fridge I smiled at my ultra sound picture and may have patted my little fetus. I smile whenever I see that little alien looking picture.
IT'S PROOF THERE IS A BABY IN THERE!
(i may sing to it too)

As I sat on the couch watching Law and Order:SVU here are the other things running through my mind:
*where are we going to put this fetus when it's born?
*we need to finish our basement
*if we finish our basement, will the spiders leave?
*Brad told Emily to mow the lawn today as her chore, how can she be old enough to mow?!
*I hope I can start the mower for her. Sometimes it won't start for me.
*my garment tops are awfully tight.
* what am I going to do if/when my boobs get fuller?
*Law and order is scary...why do I watch this...it puts horrible images in my head
* i really need to buy a lesson plan book
* i really want another muffin
* i really want to go to Virg's and order a breakfast skillet
*i hope that teacher does not teach kindergarten or if she does that brin does not get her
*i had better sleep once school starts
*are there sleeping pills safe for pregnant ladies

At 6:30 I went back to bed.
and slept
until Brad woke up at 7
Restful night

An Offiical Announcement

2010-08-14T06:16:00.004-06:00

Well

After 2 years of trying

After 2 years of hoping

After 2 years of praying

After a couple of "uncomfortable" visits to specialists

After rubbing Monica's cute baby bump for luck

After one REALLY LUCKY rub of Jennifer's baby bump

After ALMOST coming to terms with the fact it was not going to happen

We got this:

Yep!

It's official

The pee stick (magic genie) granted our wish

the rabbit has died

we are Pregnant

Preggo

Preggers

Knocked Up

Expecting

In the family way

There is a bun in the oven

We slipped one past the goalie (not that we used a goalie-it's just a clever saying.)

Baby Smith #3 is due in early March

Before I sign off,

A couple of apologies:

#1 yes, I really did rub Monica and Jennifer's baby bump for luck

I am a little embarassed by this now.

Thank you both for putting up with me and letting me treat you like my own Primary Buddah

#2 I did not mean to imply that Jennifer's baby bump was luckier. I am sure that I had all of this luck stored up and that last one just pushed the odds in our favor!

# 3 to those of you with mild sensibilites, I apologize for displaying my pee stick. I did crop off the urine soaked part!

Last Week of Freedom

2010-08-11T11:06:00.002-06:00

well it's august.
TV commercials are advertising Back to School Sales
Walmart has all the notebooks, crayons and backpacks out.
And I got the dreaded welcome back letter from my principal.
Guess there is no escaping it.
I'm going back next week...

Each year I have this internal struggle with going back
I am excited-new ideas, new students, a new start
I am not
I look forward to getting back into our routine
I will miss watching morning TV and not showering until 10am
My kids are driving me crazy
But I will miss them
My own kids drive me crazy
Now I am going to go and let OTHER peoples kids drive me crazy

This summer has been a quiet one around here.
I didn't accomplish ANY of my summer goals.
I looked at the list I wrote in May,
Nothing was crossed off.
I do have a week to try and finish some things on my list
but that would probably interfere with morning TV
and I would have to shower before 10am.

Happy 5th Birthday!

2010-08-06T13:20:00.004-06:00

Brinley's Birthday was yesterday. I can not believe she is 5 and ready to start Kindergarten in a few weeks. Brinley is definately our more SPICE than sugar girl. Aunt Stephanie says she is crabby and Gagam says she just has LOTS of personality.
No matter how you describe her, she is FUNNY. Here are some of our funny/crabby/spicy stories from the last few weeks.

*she told daddy, "dad, I decided I love you almost as much as I love mommy"

*she wants to be a cheerleader in high school so "she can kiss in the hall"

*at the grocery store the other day, I went to hold her hand in the parking lot. Brinley puts up both hands and says, "mom, I got this". When I asked her "what?" She proceded to tell me that she is a big girl and knows how to look for cars and does not need to hold my hand. Once we get in the store she wants to ride in the shopping carts that have the car attatched. I point out that big girls do not ride in shopping carts, especially enormous ones shaped like a car. Brin thinks for a second and says, "maybe inside the store I can be little and outside I'll be big".

*Practicing letters one day, I write C A T. We sound it out and say cat. Then I change the first letter (mat, rat, bat, etc...) I go back to C A T, I point and say "what does this one say?" She looks at me and says "MEOW"

*at the dinner table, asks why babies don't just climb out of mommies mouths when they are born. Trying not to laugh I ask "why don't YOU think they come out of mommies mouths?" Brin thinks for a minute and says, "because then the mommy would choke"

*at the library I ask if she wants a book about what babies do while they are in their mommies tummy. she throws up her hands and says, "no way! that is disgusting! I don't want to see all that blood!" (it did NOT have actual photos, it was cartoonish and cute)

*when she doesn't like something-her new phrase is "it's creepin' me out." Brin uses this to describe an outfit she doesn't like, the underwear that gave her a wedgey, a polly pocket dress, a barbie with messy hair, and a casserole I made for dinner last week!

Crabby or Spicy she keeps us all laughing!
Happy Brithday Barney!

Cabin 2010

2010-08-02T12:31:00.004-06:00

Our view at sunset.

We had a great trip to the cabin. It took a whole week for me to recover, I was exhausted!

Probably the first comment I should let everyone know: There were no rodents in the cabin! Yeah! No bats dive bombing me in the wee hours of the morning and no rustling of mice. I actually even slept (for the most part). I did still jump at most noises and listened for the flapping of wings and had to get up and pee 4 or 5 times, but still got more sleep than usual!

However, NO trip the cabin is complete with out some catastrophe. This year it was a broken water pipe. When we got to the cabin Brad turned on the electricity and then went outside to turn on the water. I was in the kitchen waiting for the water to come on, it did for a few seconds and then sputtered off. Brad tried the water in the bathroom..nothing. We couldn't figure what was wrong. Brad went outside and said a very bad word. Water was coming up from under the walk way, which meant a pipe leading to the cabin had burst. He quickly turned off the water and called his mom, so she could call the handy man. The handy man came(the next morning) and he and Brad had the water fixed by 10am. Crisis averted.

Stephanie and Jef came up Thrusday with the boat we all rented. The plan was to spend all day Friday and Saturday on the lake. I however, got really "boat sick" on Friday and spent the afternoon at the cabin with the little girls. Saturday was better and I was able to spend the day at the lake.

Something must be wrong with me...I only took 7 pictures the entire week we were there.

7 pictures! I can't even believe it.

I just didn't even think about bringing my camera.

So i have no pictures of Emily (or anyone else) on the tube.

I have no pictures of the "biggest" sandcastle Brin, Brad and Ashlynne made.

I have no pictures of the gorgeous scenery you can only see on a boat.

Nothing. Nada. Zip..

SEVEN lousy pictures, I quickly took while leaving.

How will all of the people who read this know what a happy time we had...I have no picture evidence of our fabulous family moments!

Something must be wrong with me ;)

Oh wait Brad took 5 or 6 with his i-phone.

so we have about 13 pictures total.

Speaking of the i-phone...

Brad has one, Stephanie has one, and Jef has one

apparently...

I am not cool/important enough to have one

this year they all got service on their cool/important i-phones

and friday night, I looked around the cabin

the three of them are on their cool/important i-phones

the three kids are on their leapsters, dsi's, and i-pods

and I...

I am reading a book

Like a freaking peasant!

Which begs me to ask the question.

How would Grandpa Reece like the i-phone? The man was against installing a rotary phone in the 70's. and here is his legacy, staring at a screen like some kind of techno zombie!

I'm just saying.

Who Needs A Pool Anyway?

2010-07-16T13:06:00.000-06:00

Usually our pool provides us with hours of entertainment.

It is a great way for the kids (and Brad) to splash, swim and play marco polo and other annoying water games.

This summer it has been nothing but a headache! Between leaks and actual holes I was ready to slash the thing with a knife! Then it seemed that all of the problems had been fixed. We enjoyed it for about 2 weeks and I even kept the water really clean and chemically balanced! Then one side started to sink, which made the other side pop up. I could see some kid getting stuck in our pool as it slowly folded in like a burrito! So we drained it.... again.

I was done with the darn thing. Brad wants to try again...maybe...Me, I am done. We will try again next year.
And while I feel bad that it limits the kids activities, it turns out that with a little imagination; Brinley (with some help from Mia) can turn our drive way into a pool! (rumor has it that Mia has skinny dipped in our "pool" once before)

Our driveway has a crack and is sinking, water pools there when it rains or snow melts. Brinley and Mia filled the puddle up and went for a dip!

They can practice the back float!

And their strong swimmer kicks!

And let's not forget, the great fun of standing still while someone runs around in circles!

Great fun...doesn't really last for more than 30 minutes, but little kids never stay in the big pool for more than that anyways. And its a lot cheaper than replacing the other one.

This picture has nothing to do with the post. But it was way cute! Brinley and Mia's apaptation of Princess and the Frog. Now known as "Princess and the Bumble Bee"

Thoughts on staying at home

2010-07-13T10:47:00.000-06:00

I realize I am not an expert.
I can only be considered a stay at home mom 3 months out of the year.
But seriously you guys...
How does a stay at home mom EVER go to the bathroom with out interuption!
I am in there for like 20 seconds, and I hear FRANTIC yelling, "mom, mom, where are you!"
They act like abandonment is a real issue in our home and so they have to know of my where-abouts every second. And worse the majority of the interuption comes from my 11 year old. The last time she was FRANTIC in discovering my location, my tush had barely hit the seat. I was so bugged I wanted to yell down, "Can't I even take a *#@*( )".
Don't worry, I didn't....I just thought about it.

At work I never have this problem. I go and no one even notices I am gone. Its very pee-ceful. (pee-ceful...that was funny!)

But I guess it is nicer to be so loved...and so worried about that i can't even *#@*() with out interuption

If this is family programming we are in serious doodoo!

2010-07-10T04:40:00.000-06:00

Last night Brad and I watched one of the Harry Potter movies on ABC Family.
Yes-we have seen each HP movie ump-teen times.
But-we have 178 channels and it was the only thing on.
Yes-we do have a Netflix movie we could have watched-but then one of us would have had to go upstairs to find it, then we would have discussed who put this piece of crap on the cue, and then we would have had to find the remote to change the TV's input..
Trust me-it was easier to watch HP
Plus-it is a HP Weekend and every so often they would show clips from the new movie that comes out in November!

yes-we are nerds
even worse-we will be at the midnight showing in November
Brad, at this point out, would probably like me to point out the difference between a nerd and a dork.

A nerd-goes to the midnight showing
A dork-dresses up (like Harry or Ron or Snape) at the midnight showing

We fall into the nerd category and insist that's were we will stay.
We won't dress up...
although it will be November
and it's cold in November
so we have an excuse to wear our matching Gryffindor scarves

Hey! I see you pointing and making fun!!
Do me a favor and take off your Team Edward hoody before you jugde me!
Oh and get the vinyl off the back of your mini-van...
no, not the one of your stick family...
the one that says "Love at first bite"
cuz, you my friend ARE A DORK!

Anyways...I digress

So while watching HP Weekend
I saw the series that they put on this trashy channel.
Seriously, Who is the focus group that ABC Family uses?!
First we have a show about teens that get pregnant...not just one...but lots of teens end up prego.
Then there is a show about a group of girls who are somehow responsible for a friends disappearance...its even called "Dirty girls Dirty Lies" (or something like this)
Then there is a show about gymnasts-who might make it to the Olympics, if they ever stop canoodling with their boyfriends.
In every commercial the teens are shown fornicating or drinking (hey. when teens are holding red dixie cups-at a party-I can pretty much guarantee they are not drinking pumpkin juice!)
This is FAMILY programming?!
Worse ABC is owned by Disney!

I am thinking of starting a petition...

a Love/Hate relationship

2010-07-08T02:46:00.000-06:00

In a week or so my family and I will be going on our annual family vacation to "The Cabin". Its in Wyoming. I am already stressed! See I love the cabin, I look forward to going...and yet I HATE it at the same time. To start I am going to list the reasons I love the cabin and then why I don't.

Things I Love:
1. it is gorgeous
2. there are no phones or internet (so I don't have to listen the constant chirping of Brad's I-phone or his sheep as he plays Farmville)
3. it is a cute, rustic cabin
4. i think about grandma reese in the tiny kitchen and her cooking a "big breakfast"-cleaning up and starting on lunch-cleaning up and starting dinner-cleaning up. We make it a point to have a "big breakfast" in her honor at least once
5. the lake is cool...but the lake on a boat is FANTASTIC! Hours of fun and sun!
6. the stars from the front deck are incredible. At night you can see falling stars, identify the different constellations...and see the satelites rotating with the earth.
7. Brad is not cheap when we are on vacation!
8. The mom and pop shops in town are cool. As are the mom and pop diners/restaurants. The city doesn't even have a McDonald's. In fact the closest fast food is like two hours away. How refreshing is that?
9. I get tons of uber-cute pics to scrap!
10. We do have a lot of fun

So I know you are all thinking, what is there to hate. My number one thing is that once the sun goes down, I do not like being there! I asked Brad 2 years ago if we could spend the DAY at the cabin and then go to town and sleep in a hotel at night! He looked at me like I was crazy and mumbled something about my being a princess. I don't care...at night this cabin becomes...scary...and I dont sleep!

See I never sleep well when I am away from home (even when I bring my own pillow)
I just can't seem to relax anywhere, but at home. But at the cabin, my insomnia is worse.
Every noise makes me jumpy! And trust me it has a story
It was 5 years ago and I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with Brinley. the 6th Harry Potter book had just come out and I was reading it at 3 am. Brad and Em were sound asleep. I hear a rustling and look up from my tale of Harry and the Half Blood Prince to see what I think is a bird fly by. I wake Brad up...he tells me its a moth and to go to sleep. So I go back to reading and listening to this "moth" flap its wings in the next room...when it flys over my head and practically dive bombs me and I realize it is a BAT! I scream! Brad sees it and yelps! The bat flys into the room where Em is alseep! We get her out of there and Brad shuts the door and says it's trapped in there we will all just sleep together and take care of it in the morning. Just then ANOTHER bat flies past him! We high-tailed out of the cabin and spent the next 5 or 6 hours driving around western Wyoming trying to figure out what to do.

The next year we go up, and a bat lands on me while I am asleep. Even worse a baby bat gets trapped in our towels and we bring the little bastard home with us!

The bat problem has been solved. there haven't been any for two years. Still I do not find the cabin restful at night. I lay awake all night, jumping at every little noise. freaking out when an actual moth brushes by. At about 3am I have to pee, and will lay there until I can't take it and run to the bathroom, turning on every light and ducking my head the entire way. I lay awake until the sky goes from black to milky gray and then I fall asleep. I put in my ear phones to drowned out the noise, but then think that if some crazy mountain man breaks in I won't hear us being murdered, so I take out the earphones, and then hear every bump and moth fly by...its a vicious cylce! My imagination comes ALIVE at night! Its why I can't sleep.

Other things to dislike:
1. True nature is pretty...but it is dirty and like bugs live in it. Last year (or maybe two years ago) I had 65 mosquito bites! Brin had 33! Yes I do realize they make bug spray, but I am a concerned parent and have read all of the warnings about DEET. But that year my girly and fresh smelling bug spray did nothing to deter the blood-sucking bugs! I had to contaminate my kids, my self and the ozone with deep woods off-which contains a ton of DEET.
2. there is no phone service-so we can't call anyone to help us out when bats dive-bomb us. Along with that there is not a TV. Which seems like a great idea, until you are trying to do something and can't tell your kids to go watch Disney channel. Not that I EVER do that-it would just be nice to have the option ;)
3. It is a rustic cabin-with only a septic tank (a very old tank). So the motto is "if its yellow let it mellow...." you know where I am going with this
4. the dirt road is very narrow and I refuse to drive down it. Heck 3 years ago I made Brad drive down when he had kidney stones. I just can't do it. I even make my sister drive our van down to the boat dock because its so narrow!
5. The lake is COLD...Butt cold...I do not see how my kids can swim in it
6. I do not get any sleep at the cabin!

I guess my list of dislikes is shorter than I thought.

Still it would be nice to go to a hotel.

Funniest Blog EVER!

2010-07-07T18:29:00.000-06:00

some of you may remember my hormonal rant the other day. Well I have found a blog that expresses all of my frustrations in a sarcastic and HILARIOUS way! I found the link on Beckie's blog and have been reading all of the older posts for 2 days straight! I have laughed so hard -I peed! Here is a link:
http://seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com

It is a fabulous look at the mormon mommy sub-culture we live in. Looking at it like this- proves how pathetic and judgemental we become when talking about motherhood, our callings, our crafting, and even our choice in hair styles.

The blog makes fun of everything: from working moms to women who have babies after 30. Since I fit into both of those categories and have heard all of the cliches (which of course are not directed at me, but said loud enough for me to hear). I find it VALIDATING to see these judgements done in a sarcastic way.

check it out!

I Miss The Bubbles

2010-07-01T13:33:00.000-06:00

I have recently, like 4 days ago, given up Pepsi. It was a decision only based on elimating caffiene from my life. Yes I know I should have done it because it is empty calories and probably contains chemicals that will kill off my internal organs, but I did it for the caffiene. I didn't even get a caffiene headache, I just miss the bubbles! The syrupy, delicious fizz. Heck, I even miss the fizzy nose burps that it can cause when I drink it too fast!

Three weeks ago, I had a conference on BYU's campus and there wasn't a caffienated drink ANYWHERE! I smuggled one in my purse and poured it into my cougar eats cup...IN THE BATHROOM! Brad thought this was a little extreme. But I was worried that if campus security caught me they would put me into outer darkness! As I was telling another teacher of my sinfull behaivor she said "now you know how an alcoholic feels". Which in itself is a tell-tell sign of how she views caffiene-right up there with vodka and immorality. But it did give me reason to think that I had become so addicted to something that I was hiding it, IN A BATHROOM at BYU!

I guess I can try rootbeer or something else. I will not try sprite or 7-up. It reminds me of being sick as a kid. But then, I think about all the empty calories and chemicals that will kill my internal organs.
Still...
I really miss the bubbles.

Mother-Daughter Party

2010-06-30T10:23:00.000-06:00

Last night was the activity girls mother-daughter party. The theme was flip flops. The leaders brought each girl a pair of flip flops and told them to decorate them for the fashion show. Of course, Emily wanted to decorate that very night! But being the procrastinating person I am, we waited until the day of...Poor Emily...all she wants is a mother with definate PLANS. unfortunatley, she ended up with me.

The party was a lot of fun, the moms painted their daughters toes to get ready for the fashion show. Then each girl got to strut her stuff and show her creative flip flops! We named Emily's "party in the USA"

Each girl got an award, Emily's was most patriotic!
After the show we had yummy treats; Emily especially loved the little umbrellas in the drinks! She brought them home to put in the "childhood memory box" she keeps under her bed. (Sometimes we argue over the stuff she gets to keep and the stuff I get to put in scrapbooks-I let her keep the umbrellas!)

We had a great time, it was nice just to spend time with just Emily. Sometimes being the oldest has a lot of responsibilty. I am glad we were able to have fun and not worry about other stuff.

Thanks to Erin for taking the pics and emailing them so quickly!

Clear light of day

2010-06-25T12:25:00.000-06:00

So my husband read my 2 am rant and asked if I needed a Midol or st. johns wart for my "ladies day" (that's from the everybody loves raymond episode.) Let me first state that the blog I was refering to is not someone I know in my real life...it is also not anyone I knew in my younger life. It is a random blog I came across one day...and I was tired of this blogger showing food, crafts and clothes she made and then CHARGING for the pattern or recipe. I apologize for my ranting...again it WAS 2am...and I am totally blaming "ladies day".

PMS ranting

2010-06-25T01:53:00.000-06:00

It's 2 am and I am wide awake. Usually I have insomnia during Aug-May, I call it "school induced insomnia". Since it is the end of June, I am blaming the fact that I am on blogger at 2 frickin am on PMS!?
I have been particularly grouchy this week...maybe I notice it more because I am not taking it out on high school students. Emily even told me I have been talking to myself an awful lot this week. Sorry, it's how I deal; I mean better yell at myself than her. I have been so bad, I am remembering that Everybody Loves Raymond episode about PMS. I am almost that bad.
I have decided my biggest problem with blogging (besides consistency) is that I lack a VISION. What exactly is my blog suppose to be about? I am not sure, and that is why I don't post a lot.
I keep up with several blogs. Many of them are foodie/recipe blogs. SEVERAL of them are various crafty blogs and many are just friends/family blogs.
Do I want this to be a foodie blog? If so, then you have to try the rib recipe I made for dinner on Tuesday! But I didn't come up with the recipe, I found it online 2 summers ago and have been using it since. So I shouldn't post it-it's not my recipe.
I have been sewing and crafting up a storm these first weeks of summer vacation. I made a new bag, Emily an outfit for church, Brinley a dress, and have been working on two quilts. I plan on finishing my menu board and making Brinley a fourth of July dress. Should I show all of this? Here's the thing...I create for ME. I don't need other people to tell me how good it looks or blah blah. I did it to create something, I feel the accomplishment and it makes me feel good. If I post pictures I feel like I am bragging and that is not what I am after. I do not want my little corner of cyberspace to be a way for me to prove to the world how many "mommy projects" I get done in a day or week. Blogs like that turn me off, I find them nauseating and a little sad. It's like they are trying to convince themselves how idylic their life is...and hey it's not...life is hard...life is great...life is funny...but a lot of the time it is hard and I am just trying to get through. When you only read about how perfect other peoples are, it seems desperate. like lindsey lohan desperate...
My favorite blogs are ones that keep it real. So maybe that is my vision. Keepin it real. So here is my REALITY based summer review:
It has taken the entire month of June to get our above ground pool up! it sank on one side last year so this year we decided to put bricks under each pole. this lead to a leak because (we think) it put to much pressure on the seams. We filled it about 2/3 and then drained the darn thing to find the leak...never did. So we refilled it only to have one of the bricks slip and poke a big hole in the bottom. brad basically had to snorkle to put the patch on...then we moved the bricks out. So far it has held...I REALLY do NOT want to see our water bill.
So the pool has been up and the kids swimming away and I develop some weird reaction to the sun and sunscreen and have this rash all over. For the next week, if I go out, I have to wear long sleeves and a hat. My Dr put me on steroids and Brad made a few jokes about "roid rage". See if i just posted pictures of kids in the pool, smiling and happy, that doesn't tell the story. The real story is that above ground pools are a pain and now we can't get the chemicals right.

On My Mind

2010-06-11T20:53:00.000-06:00

I have all of these things that I wanted to post and share, but haven't been able to do it. I felt like it was wrong to post all of our summer plans, when I never posted about the death of my father. So like the true coward I am, I just kept putting off posting at all. But here it goes. My dad passed away May 19th. All of his immediate family was there as he left this mortal existence and returned to his Heavenly Father's presence...where I know he was welcomed with open arms.

A few nights after his death, I remembered an incident when I was a teenager. I had gone to Deseret Book for something and came home with this picture of Jesus hugging someone and the caption reads, How great shall be your joy. The expression on Jesus's face is one of pure love. I remember showing this to my dad, and he just broke down in tears. (this was not the first time I saw him break down. My dad did cry, but would try to hide it by doing a snuffling, choking, heavy breathing sound...it never fooled anyone!) For some reason, this memory brought me such peace. My father knew in life who his Savior is, just as I know the Savior knows him.

I will always remember my dad as one of the kindest men. He wanted to be friends with everyone. (As a teen, this was a constant source of embarassment) He never judged anyone and accepted people as they were. I hope someday to be more like him.

Until We Meet Again....I love you

His Legacy.

taken one month before his death

Here is his obituary:
Richard R. Thomas POCATELLO - Richard R. Thomas, 76, passed away on May 19, 2010, surrounded by his loving family.He was born on April 7, 1934, the son of W. Milton and Millee Lewis Thomas. He graduated from Pocatello High School in 1952.He married Claudia Adams in 1954. They were later divorced. He married Donna Wilson in August 1972. They had five children.The U.S. military was his career. He served in the U.S. Air Force in Japan during the Korean War. Later, he joined the U.S. Army, serving in Europe and Vietnam. He retired from the military in 1977. He worked at Defense Depot in Ogden until 1995. In his later years, he enjoyed the Greater Pocatello Senior Center. He enjoyed the dances, the fellowship and singing with the Silver Chords.Due to declining health, Richard has resided at Highland Hills Assisted Living Center for the last four months.He is survived by his wife, Donna; and five children, Michelle (Brad) Smith, Jacki (Keith) Moran, Stephanie (Jef) Hayes, Amber Thomas and Matthew Thomas; and 10 grandchildren, Alex, Jaydin, Madison, Bailey, Emily, Baylee, Kali, Gage, Ashlynne and Brinley. He was their Poppy. He was preceded in death by his parents and two grandchildren, Zachary and Kennedy Moran.A memorial service will be held Monday, May 24 at 11 a.m. at Downard Funeral Home, 241 North Garfield, with a visitation beginning at 10 a.m., also at the funeral home.The family would like to thank the staff and residents at Highland Hills for care and friendship given to him. Also, the PMC surgical floor for the care given to Richard and the compassionate support to his family on that sad day.
Published in Idaho State Journal on May 21, 2010

Spring Break 2010

2010-04-06T21:52:00.000-06:00

Last week was spring break. Mother Nature did not recieve the school district's schedule in time and did not cooperate. It was cold...Butt Cold! It snowed...a lot. We made the best of it. I personally completed 16 scrapbook layouts-from start to finish. AND finished two that I started months ago. That's a total of 18. I have been in a rut for MONTHS and it was good to get out of it! It makes me happy.

I had great plans to cook lots of yummy dishes...and finishing my twisty quilt top...but was in my scrappin' groove.

The girls and I went to the pool...a HUGE deal for me...I generally avoid places where high school students may be...especially in a swimsuit :) I made it 2 1/2 hours without a single, "Hi Mrs. Smith". Then in the locker room I got three. Oh well, the girls had a blast. Emily even went off the HIGH dive. I was pretty proud-especially since I have NEVER gone off the high dive. We went with the Curtis's and had a great time.

Thursday Brad was off and we went to Chuckee Cheese and spent 800 dollars on crappy pizza and cheap prizes. It was fun! Brad and Josh shot mummies. Erin has a funny picture on her blog; check it out.

The only thing Brinley wanted to do for Spring Break was go to the fish farm. Yes, I know it is not REAL fishing, but I have kids and I don't have the time or paitience to go REAL fishing. We had a blast and spent 300 dollars on fish that the kids wouldn't eat!

We also went to the Tooele Easter Egg Hunt. Brad "practiced" aggressive hunting with the girls before we left...even told them that the more eggs they find the more he will love them...didn't help. Out of thousands of eggs, my girls brought home a grand total of 7. Good thing we love them unconditionally.

I would have included pictures...but haven't downloaded and my camera is ALL the way upstairs. Next post will be picture heavy I promise.

Now it's back to work. (insert crying, wailing and knashing of teeth).
BUT only 9 weeks left!
Ya hear that Mother Nature....Tooele Co. School District gets out on June 3rd. I expect summer weather!

Catchin' Up

2010-03-05T18:08:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy week or two at the Smith house. Last weekend we went to Idaho to visit my family. It was good to see my dad settled in his new home. Even though his health is failing, he was in good spirits! It was also good to see my mom taking care of him. We took both my mom and dad out for breakfast...at 8 am...because that's when my dad eats breakfast ;)

The people at my dad's rest home were very nice and accomidating of a wiggly four year old. aka Brinley Ruth Smith. One lady in particular made friends with Brin. Brin sat on her lap and they discussed clothing and dance moves, Brinley showed her several of her "tricks" (which are a series of jumps and twirls). The elderly lady would clap and tell her "how cute!" At this point in the story, I should mention that the lady is of Japanese decsent...and at one point I thought I overheard Brinley say, "hey your eyes go like this..." but I hoped with all my heart that I did not hear correctly! On our way back to mom's I mentioned what I "thought" I heard to Brad. He said, "Nope, I heard it too!" Guess we need to work on cultural differences in Family Home Evening!

Here is a picture I got of my dad and the girls.
It's hard to see your parents health deteriorate. I look at the man who was my provider, protector and advocate for 20 years. He seems so small and frail. It made me so sad to leave. It was hard. I was surprised at how bad I felt leaving him. For one moment, I wanted to live in Idaho so I could be closer. I hope this doesn't get back to my sister's or brother...but I know I am my dad's favorite. He is the one person I never have to TRY to impress, because he thinks I am "wonderful"...His "wonderful daughter, Michelle" That line is a HUGE joke in my family...but I treasure that knowledge and know that no mattter what he is always proud of me.

Later that day we met Brad's dad, Richard and Mindy for lunch...Brinley was so worn out she fell asleep at the table over her mac and cheese. Unfortunately I left my camera in the van, so I didn't get a picture.

I have been sticking to my resolution and trying new recipes. Here is my review of what I have made:
1. stuffed pork chops. I got this recipe from a simple and delicious magazine. I have always wanted to try stuffed chops, and this did not disappoint! It was yummy. Emily even ate the spinach stuffing! (Brin not so much)

2. Cranberry Bliss Bar. I found this copy-cat recipe two years ago on the web. It is a knock off of the cranberry bar starbuck's sells at christmas. OH MY!!! It was sooooo good. Its kind of like a blondie, with a lemony topping. I could have eaten the whole pan...but didn't since I am watching what I eat.

3. An artichoke chicken dish from a Cuisine magazine. Brad really liked this, I thought it was ok. The recipe had honey in it and I am not a fan of sweet tasting chicken or meat. In my book, meat should be savory!

Teenagers and Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-02-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

On of the most common questions I get, is "how can you stand to teach teenagers", and to be honest I'm not sure how or why.. I just do. But today...today was one of those days...where I wanted to throw in the towel and just have a bunch of runny nosed 3rd graders!

I'll start with my Foods 1 class(es). The topic is FIBER. And we talk about what it does, how much we should have, and how to add more fiber. So the lab is Chocolate Chip Cookies (with half whole wheat flour for the FIBER) This naturally leads to much wailing and nashing of teeth, because "can't we just make regular cookies" and my favorite "I don't eat wheat". I tell them to buck up; it's one cup of whole wheat flour and get over it. ( i may have threatened that they can just read the chapter out of the book on fiber...there isn't one, but they shut up)

So everyone gets to work and one girl notices that the chocolate chips in the container are different colors. I tell her it's because I mix semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips together. I do this for two reasons: 1-I like the different chocolate flavors and textures in the same cookie. and 2-because in groups, half will like milk chocolate and the other half semi-sweet. this chocolate preference has been the cause of many fights in class, so to stop the bickering i just mix the two together. Well this girl does not like milk chocolate, she only wants semi-sweet and basically demands that I accomidate her. Needless to say this FROSTED MY COOKIES! I give her one of my up-down looks and tell her she can pick out the semi-sweet chips. And SHE DID! It took her over 30 minutes, her group was MAD. They didn't freakin' care- they just wanted their cookies.

Next is a girl who is allergic to chocolate. I have some butterscotch chips for her to use. I ask her what type of allergy it is. I mean is she going to go into anaphalactic shock...tummy trouble...what. She whispers that chocolate causes HORMONAL IMBALANCE. So I am thinking, yeah if you DON'T eat chocolate then your imbalanced...it kept that to myself

Now for Foods 2: One of the Utah State objectives is that they "plan, prepare, and evaluate a meal". Last week they planned, all of the groups did a fairly decent job. One group however wanted tuna fish sandwiches and oriental sautee'd mushrooms. I told them that menu didn't really "go" together...they were SOOO offended that I didn't like their idea. After all "you told us we could plan anything" and "we like mushrooms and tuna". Today they made their tuna and sautee'd mushrooms...and they didn't like it. It smelled DISGUSTING and looked worse. Then they wanted to take it to someone to eat and I said (ok yelled), "THAT IS NOT LEAVING THIS ROOM. I DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO THINK THAT I CAME UP WITH THAT! I have a rep to protect" This offended them as well, and being teenagers, their response was..." you let us make it".

So I am pondering how many credits do I need to teach elementary?!

What's for Dinner?

2010-02-10T21:05:00.000-07:00

One of my new years resolution (besides being a better blogger) is to try a new recipe every week. Here's the thing...I love recipes, I collect cookbooks, I love Food Network so much that one of Brinley's favorite shows is Everyday Italian (with Giada), I spend LOTS of time on several "foodie" websites and print reams of recipes...I can't help it. I read cookbooks like a novel. It facinates me, it calms me, and it motivates me. Guess it's no wonder I teach Foods! And since I teach Foods, people link me to "foodie" sites, email recipes and it seems to never end. In fact we had to buy a book case that would "hide" all my cookbooks because they were taking over the pantry and I was running out of room for actual food. Don't believe me...Here's the proof:

Bookshelf #1 Bookshelf #2 what's left in the pantry

I have a problem and am looking for a support group. Cookbooks Anonymous: "Hello my name is Michelle and I love recipes"

Over Christams Break I was trying to organize and realized I never even use most of these. So my goal is one new recipe a week. Last week I even made 3 new recipes for dinner and one dessert. Here is what I made (last week):

1) Giada's Creamy Orzo - this was yummy. I didn't have cream so just used milk and it worked out.

2) Giada's Sage and Fontina Chicken Rolls- Fantastic! But time consuming.

3) A crockpot recipe for Italian Beef Sandwiches from Allrecipes.com- Yum-o. great with provolone and a crusty bun.

The dessert was mousse bars for the Curtis's Superbowl party. I liked the filling but wasn't crazy about the crust.

I'll keep you updated on all my attempts!

Valentines

2010-02-06T08:10:00.000-07:00

Emily recieved her class list so she could FINALLY do the valentines we bought almost a month ago. Keep in mind it's Friday afternoon...Friday after a very LONG week at work...the last thing I want to do is write names on Valentines. But Emily does NOT like to procrastinate ANYTHING! Her teacher passed out the list, in her 10 year old mind, it has to be done NOW! (Never mind the fact that the Valentines school party is not until Thursday)

Yes she is 10 and perfectly capable of doing Valentines herself....my involvement comes from the fact that if Em gets to do her cards then Brinley HAS to do her card as well.

So we spread out our Valentines cards and candy and started. Brinley chose a very cute Princess and the Frog set...Emily chose the not very cute Wizards of Waverly Place (you may not know this about me, but Selena Gomez bugs the crap out of me) But they are the ones Em wanted...I only care about her happiness...never mind the fact that the darn valentine kit came with a poster and Em teased me she was hanging it on the outside of her door so I could see Selena's stuck-up expression EVERYTIME I WALK DOWN THE HALL! but like I said, I only care about her happiness.

Taping suckers on Valentines got to be a little too much temptation for Emily to handle, so she asked if she could have one. I said, yes and she began slurping away. I thought it was weird that Brin didn't immediately follow suit. So after a few minutes I was worried we were going to run out of suckers and Brinley wouldn't get one; I asked Brin if she got a sucker she looked at me and reached behind her and said, I GOT THREE! The stinker had made sure she had some for later!

Ramblings

2010-02-04T18:08:00.000-07:00

Brin has not slept throught the night in over a week. One would think she is 6 months old and not four YEARS old. And when she wakes up, she wakes me up.

Laying awake at 3:30am makes me think about all the stuff I need to do; housekeeping, grading papers, my blog, housekeeping, shopping for school, shopping for home, sharing time, housekeeping. catching that darn mouse in my classroom, will we EVER get pregnant... Seriously...some nights I have to turn on my i-pod and watch The Office just to turn off my brain.

and since it has been over 5 months since the last post...I was at Monica's blog, looking at pictures of her new baby. And my blog is listed on the side and it stated "last post 5 months ago" How embarassing!

Here are the family pictures we took for christmas. I love how they turned out!

We had a great holiday season and hope you did too. Its a month late, but here's to 2010!

End of Summer

2009-08-17T16:15:00.000-06:00

Well...it's official. Summer Vacay is over and I am back at work.
Good bye to:
SLEEPING IN
LAW AND ORDER SVU MARATHONS (and getting nothing done)
THE GIRLS IN THE POOL
LATE NIGHTS
EATING LUNCH WITH EM AND BRIN
SCRAPBOOKING OR SEWING WHENEVER I FEEL LIKE IT
A CLEAN HOUSE (ok-its not much better during summer)
READING A BOOK FOR PLEASURE
LETTING EMILY SNEAK IN MORE TV TIME DURING THE DAY (don't tell Brad)
MARIO PARTY WITH BRIN(maybe I won't miss that one!)

As much as I complain about going back,(and I will admit it, I complain, A LOT.)
There is something nice about the first of the school year...new supplies, new goals, new people, new ideas...
I complain, but once I walk into my classroom I am full of anticipation for the year. Lets face it -since I have to work, there is nothing else I would rather do. I love my job. I love that I get to teach kids. I love to see them excited about learning. I love to show them that there is more to food than cheetoes and dr. pepper. When a 16 year old makes his first yeast bread and tells me he wants to be a chef, I feel his excitement and share his joy that all the world has to offer. and I think what a miracle it is that a recipe can open his eyes to that.

So good bye summer...

But welcome back to school!
(i'll just tivo law and order!)

My First Quilt

2009-07-06T20:39:00.000-06:00

The talented Camille amd Carrie are having a "parade of quilts" and inviting bloggers to show thier first quilts. So here is mine.
The pattern is from Camille's company (ThimbleBlossoms) and the fabric is Riviera by Connecting Threads. I had the top pieced by Christmas, but didn't finish the actual quilting until last month. I love it so much! It makes me smile just to see it sitting on my couch!

My second quilt is from the book JellyRoll and the fabric is Portabella Market by Moda. I like how it turned out. Its not as cheery as my first, but Brad likes this one better.
So what have I learned since completing my first (and so far only) quilts? Press. Press. Press. It really does make a difference.

still here...

2009-05-07T21:10:00.000-06:00

Well...I guess I pretty much STINK at this whole blogging thing! Seriously, its been since December and its May...and people want me to sign up for Facebook?! Are you kidding!?!

So what have we been up to? Birthdays, Holidays, Soccer, Spring Break, heck, we even took the girls to DISNEYLAND and I didn't post a thing.

so here are a few pictures of spring 2009!

Emily had so much fun with Donald! (brin not so much. She was COMPLETELY worn out!)

How cute is this?!!! It is so sweet it makes my teeth ache!

We loved the beach! Em loves water, she would have stayed all day. Brin liked it, until a wave knocked her over. Then she was content to sit on the beach with mom. At one point she said, "Mommy, sand does not taste very good." no babe- it doesn't

On the way home, Brinley was in her carseat talking to her Jasmine doll and we heard her say: "I loved the beach! Until a wave pushed me and I got sand in my mouth. But my daddy saved me." Brad and I laughed about that for a good hour! (She did have a hard time standing up again because another darn wave would pushed her down again.)

Well, the school year is winding down..only 17 more school days left! I will be busy with State CTE testing, packing for the move to SHS, grading, and more grading. So I can't promise when I will post again.

I promise this summer...

I will update more...

if I do better in blogworld..

I may sign up for facebook...

but don't count on it ;)

Santa No No NO!

2008-12-07T01:19:00.000-07:00

Our first visit with Santa took place at Middle Canyon Elementary. Emily went right up to him, sat on his lap, told him she wanted the Amercian Girl doll of the year, Mia, and smiled for my picture.

Brinley on the other hand, cuddled with dad the entire time we were in line. And then kept a death grip on my neck, lest I hand her over to the strange bearded guy.

She wouldn't even make eye contact with Santa, let alone tell him what she wanted for Christmas. Then I tried to get her to take a candy cane from him....any other time of year I would NEVER allow her to take candy from a stranger...Visiting with Santa is a strange custom.

Hodgepodge Tree

2008-12-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year! I always have. As a teenager I would set up a mini tree in my room. (usually right after Halloween) I love that a radio station in Utah starts playing Christmas music on November 1st!

Being a home ec, crafty type gal, I love perfectly coordinating trees. You know the type where the ornaments all match, the ribbon all matches, the twinkling white lights, etc... The ones look like Martha Stewart herself decorated it. Strangely enough this has never been my tree.

As a child my parents would give each of us an ornament for the year. It usually represented something about us that year. There is a small pink Victorian hat box I got as teenager when I was going through a pink phase, there is a nutcracker from the year I saw the nutcracker, a homemade Strawberry Shortcake ornament from the year I was 7, I even have a Styrofoam ball with purple pipe cleaners that I made when I was 3! And if you know me you know there are a TON of snowmen ornaments!

I have continued the ornament a year with Emily and Brinley. Emily loves to look at her 10 ornaments and think back to the year that Barbie Princess and the Pauper was IT. Emily even has her own Strawberry Shortcake ornament (that year I tried it convince her Strawberry was IT) She has several princess ornaments and (of course) this year it had to be Hannah Montana.

Brinley doesn't have as many (she IS only 3) and naturally felt that the princess and barbie ornaments were hers. But she was so excited as we pulled her Elmo from last year out of the box. And she carried around this years ornament, Dora, till it broke!

So my tree doesn't match...its hodgepodge...a hodgepodge of all my memories...memories of childhood...when it was just brad and i...and now the collection of all the things Emily and Brinley cherish...I love my hodgepodge tree and all of the memories it brings...and I will take those over a perfectly coordinated tree any day...Take that Martha Stewart!

Title is fitting...

2008-11-29T17:41:00.000-07:00

Yes...I have discovered that I am as lousy at blogging as I am writing in a journal. I think pretty much everyday that I need to update my blog...and then never get around to it. I missed posting our halloween pictures, going to Disney on ice, seeing Twilight, heck, Brad and I even went to our first Jazz game of the season!

We spent Thanksgiving in West Haven, at my sweet sister Jacki's. As we were leaving Jacki said she felt like it was chaotic. Well...with 11 adults...10 kids...and three dogs...does anyone expect it to be calm?! We have never been a quiet eat on china type of family and never will be. It was wonderful (Jacki I hope you read this) thank you for hosting!

Here is a picture of the cousins. Now, how hard it is to get 10 kids, that range in ages of 15 to 3 to smile at the same time...Impossible!

Friday morning came and Steph and I left at 4 am for our traditional Black Friday shopping. Oh how I love Black Friday...neither Steph or I were in a frantic search for anything. But I love that adrenaline rush as Target opens their doors! (Or it could be that I don't get into trouble for spending $100+ at Target on Black Friday. Any other day, I would have some explainin' to do)

Friday afternoon we promised Emily we would take her to (FINALLY) see High School Musical 3. Now when we made this promise the movie was still in Tooele...by Friday it was gone. So We all headed back into Salt Lake to see the movie. Now I liked High School Musical 1 and tolerated the overacting in HSM2. But HSM3 had me cursing Walt Disney! Come on...it was torture... Brad and I spent one and a half hours rolling our eyes and wishing the world was a safer place so we could just drop her off and go and watch James Bond! But then we looked down our isle and Emily is perched on the end of her chair...mesmorized. It made it all worth it (well almost).

Yes I realize my shadow is in the picture...don't judge me...this was the best one of Em doing her HSM jump.

One of the previews was for another Disney movie, called Dog Hotel, or something like that. I leaned over and said to Brad: "I don't care how many times her friends see it, we will not go!" It is not a threat...it is a promise!

To sum up my thanksgiving post: I am thankful for my family, my husband who puts up with me, but still manages to be my best friend and lover. I am thankful for my daughters and their excitement for the little things in life. I am thankful for my sisters and their husbands, for making me laugh and providing myself and my kids with a sense of family and knowing that whatever happens they will be there for us. and I am thankful to my parents, even though things haven't turned out as I pictured, it all started with them.

Who gets the best of you?

2008-10-18T22:06:00.000-06:00

A few years ago at a FACS summer conference the keynote speaker was asking the women in the audience "who gets the best of you"? The question wasn't about who makes you angry, but who gets the best parts of you. That got me really thinking, after a long day at school, running errands, church obligations, etc... it seems like my family gets the least of me. I try every day to make sure my children get the best of me and sometimes (more often than not) I seem to fall short. Somedays by 5:30 I have had IT and just can't deal with one more complaint and I do not respond in the best way. Here is an incidence that happened just last week. The girls and I get home and I start making dinner. Emily comes in and asks me why she never gets to take home lunch to school. Apparently she is the ONLY kid in her class that has to eat school lunch! When I question this "fact" she assures me it is true. Now every year since first grade we go through this home lunch argument. I explain that there isn't time for me to fix lunch in the morning and since Emily is a picky eater, she will not eat peanut butter and jelly-which she would get three or four times a week if she took home lunch. *By the way, I think the home lunch argument comes up when a friend has a new lunch box*

Anyhoo, she is still complaining about the home lunch thing, and I start to feel guilty that I don't have the time to make her cute little boxed lunches...you know the sandwiches cut into shapes and homemade cookies...with a beribboned love note tucked inside.

The complaining goes on... and I point out that she doesn't like sandwhiches...at which point she says that she doesn't have to take sandwhiches...she will take a can of spray cheese and some crackers! At which point I turn to her and yell, YOU ARE NOT TAKING CANNED SQUIRT CHEESE AND CRACKERS FOR LUNCH!!!!! I know, not my best..she leaves the room crying...guilt kicks in immediately. Guilt that I can't make the home lunch she longs for, guilt that I yelled, guilt that I can't understand why this is so darn important to her.

After we have both calmed down, I try to get her to tell me why she wants to take lunch so bad. I don't even think she knows...She needs something to tell her therapist in 10 years or maybe by some fluke EVERY kid in her class does bring sandwhiches cut into cute shapes and homemade cookies with beribboned love notes tucked inside.

So today, I picked up somethings for her home lunch. I told her she could do it three times over the next two weeks. Now I just have to remember to pack the lunch before I go to work...and add my beribboned love note

We're off to see the Witches!!

2008-10-17T18:17:00.000-06:00

Today we went to Gardner Village to see the witches. It was Wee Witches Weekend (and UEA) so EVERYONE in Northern Utah had the same idea. It was very crowded, but we had a great time. This picture about sums up how my girls felt about the witches...

Seriously, Em you are 9! You should be able to sit close to a STUFFED DOLL!!!

where do I find the time

2008-10-17T02:59:00.000-06:00

Sooo...after months of stalling...not because I didn't want to start a blog...I just couldn't come up with a clever name for it ( I know seriously dorky, but a blog name should mean something about the person).. I have bitten the bullet and started a blog. Now I won't feel left out when people at recipe club are all chatting about their blogs. And I can give shout outs to the blogs I already "stalk".

Sooo...why "where do I find the time"? Well, people ask me this all the time. I am not sure if it is because I work full time and have two girls or what. I think that if something is important to you, you find the time. Like it is 3 am and here I am...making time...typing away at something I am positive only my darling sisters (and maybe my husband) will ever read! But Darcy said one night (at recipe club) that her blog is like her journal. And I am so crappy at keeping a journal I thought this might help.

For years I have had the same journal. I am not kidding, it incompasses about 6 years and is only 30 or so pages long... I usually write in it once a year...usually after General Conference...ok so maybe twice a year. It's just sad. I have justified my crappy journal keeping by reminding myself that I scrapbook. Now that is where you will see EVERYTHING Emily did from birth on. Brinley's are not as full, but still manage to fill 3 1/2 volumes!

But there is very little ME in my scrapbooks. I need a place to ramble about our lives and keep track of day to day events.