This brought me to tears!

Warning: this is a little graphic... but I couldn't resist.

This picture (and a bunch more) was attached to an email sent to Paul titled: Why boys need parents. Here is the text of the email... sad to think of how some people figured this stuff out!

Why boys need parents....And you also find out interesting things when you have sons, like...

1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.

2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

3.) A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20 x 20 ft. room.

5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words 'uh oh', it's already too late.

8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

9.) A six-year old boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.

10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old Boy.

11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.

12.) Super glue is forever.

13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool, you still can't walk on water.

14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

15.) VCR's do not eject 'PB & J' sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.

16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.

19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.

20.) The fire department in Austin , TX has a 5-minute response time.

21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.

22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.

23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

24.) 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.

25.) 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.

...and a couple more pictures that epitomize my life as the mother of boys!

A new discovery

Okay, I found something that's gotten me to some thinkin'! Have you heard of or visited the blog "seriously, so blessed"? At first, I giggled a little, cringed a little, then laughed a bit. It's very funny, but it makes you cringe when she hits on something you do, have done, or would do! She mocks my love for Stampin' Up!

I guess this blog started back in June as a joke to some friends and now it gets thousands of hits a day. This blog is about TAMN, the perfect Utah Mormon newlywed/soon-to-be mommy and her perfect life with her perfect HOT hubby to go along with her perfect hot bod, despite her pregger status with twins!! It's out there spoofing us in some ways, but not out of bitterness or spite. It's just a way to laugh at ourselves and our tendency to only blog about the best in our lives. She's very superlative, so it's easy to see that she's not serious. I have to warn you, if you take yourself and your blog too seriously, you won't like this blog! After reading a few posts, I said to Paul, "I don't think I'll ever be able to blog again!" But after thinking about it some and reading some of the news items, I realize, this blogger is just a normal gal making fun of the extremes in our culture.

So, I think I can follow this blog a little... if for no other reason, she has some INCREDIBLE "give-oh-giveaways!" It'll likely help me make my blog a bit more "true" to me... and keep me on my toes about typos and words like "go-jus"! Enjoy!

I'm done

It's official... I'm done with Heroes. I am so tired of shows that think the more convoluted they can make the story line, the better it is. I think this show started out great (you know, "save the cheerleader, save the world"), but like the show "Lost", I just can't do it anymore! I'm officially signing off on this show. After watching an episode, I just feel yuckier and yuckier about the characters, their choices, and where the show is going. I'm actually grateful... one less thing to do during the week! In a way, I hope the rest of my favorite shows start to tick me off enough that I'll sign off on them too!

I need to do some catch up

It's been a bit too long since I've added to my blog. Part of the issue is that it feels like I've been working A LOT lately. Here's some of what is going on.

Several weeks ago, we had some changes to the personnel at one of my schools. This change (and the events leading up to it) left a HUGE mess for some of us to clean up. So, on top of my ever growing caseload (I'm almost up to 35 students at this one school), we've got extra meetings to hold, current students whose paperwork needs renewing, new students to be tested and signed in, hearing and kindergarten screenings to start and on and on and on. And that's just at one school! All I can say is... it's a very good thing I really enjoy my work. I have to be careful, though. Paul and I are going through another phase of testing/temptation in regards to my work and I need to make sure this doesn't snowball. Ugh! What to do!

Last week was a short work/school week for us because of "fall break." The boys and I had Thursday and Friday off and Paul also had Friday off, so we actually made some plans for last weekend! I had a few errands to run which took us as far north as Brigham City. Since we were heading up that far, we decided to go just a little further and spend some time in Logan. Paul and I met while attending USU, Paul was raised in Cache Valley, both of our roots stem from there, and it holds a VERY dear place in our hearts. Thankfully, we still have a handful of family and friends still living there. I love this place!

(by the way: Paul proposed to me at this spot!)
Friday: drive north - stop in Woods Cross to deliver some stampin stuff to my wonderful Aunt Lynn and see how Uncle George is recovering from his recent back surgery - stop in Brigham City to pick up a fake Christmas tree from my sister's old house (add on - see all the improvements to said house since the new owners moved in!) - visit Carrie Ann and Richard and see their new, beautiful home! We could have spent the whole evening with them! - drive to Logan and get some yummy Mexican food from El Sol - stay up late talking about politics at Kim and John Cook's house! (I could so post a whole paragraph on each of these things, but I'll spare you!)

Saturday: hang out with Kim and John til noon - go to park and picnic with friend, Mandy, and her two gorgeous daughters, Morgan and Mady - read a book in the car while Charlie naps and while Paul goes on a little hike up Logan canyon with the boys - visit Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Mickey for a while - get dinner at the Bluebird (mmmmm, Bluebird chicken! We had our wedding dinner there.) - visit Carla, Brent, Amanda, Carma and Boyd (all relatives and all at the same time) for just a few minutes - drop Paul off at Daniel and Andrea's to watch the UFC fight - drive to Brigham to visit Cami and Jeff and talk politics, books, everything with them for a few hours - backtrack halfway to pick up Paul - drive home.

Here are some pics of the boys at the park. These are just taken with my camera phone... hopefully Mandy will post some better ones on her blog that I can steal!
We had so much fun! Spending a whole day visiting the people we love is one of my favorite things to do! We had some really great conversations on a whole myriad of topics. I love hashing things out with people... it's amazing how we all see the world in our own special way.

Well, nuff for one night. Hope you all had a great weekend too!

Oh dear, now I've done it!

I did it. First... the blog. Obviously, a few months ago, I started this blog. It has been an adventure and I've loved it.

The other day, I joined Facebook and WOWZERS!!! That place is CRAZY!!! I'm amazed at how much time I can just waste away over on that website! I mean, I really should be watching "biggest loser" on my DVR right now, but nope, I'm at my computer, finding more and more friends on Facebook. It truly is addicting though. In less than a week, I've touched base with a BUNCH of long lost friends that I haven't talked to in over a decade. Not that I haven't thought of them often (I'm an insanely sentimental person), but it's so easy to just lose people!

So, it feels like my world has been jumbled up a little. I know this sounds retarded, but I've been a lot more pensive this week about my life and where I am these days. When you've gone this long without communicating with people from your past, once that connection is made again, it almost throws you back there! I think of who I was back in high school and I laugh... and sigh... and even beat myself up a little. What a PAIN I used to be! Yuck! I'm so thankful I'm not in that place anymore. I'm so glad that we have the chance to evolve and mature. I'm also grateful to not be in a place where it matters if someone has something that you don't. I don't need to worry if this person has an important job or looks the same or better than they did in high school (but don't we all look better?!? Those mid-nineties hairstyles are something else!). I don't need to worry about the fact that 13 years later, I'm dealing with a weight battle brought about by having 3 kids and not working hard to keep myself fit. It's not like I ever "let myself go," but I wouldn't love heading to a reunion in my current state! But this is just where I am now... and it's great... because I won't necessarily be here tomorrow! But it's been really good, because I LOVE where I am in life right now. I love my family, my faith, my home, my job, and my friends. Maybe others wouldn't be as content as I am to be living this kind of life, but I am so grateful for my little world full of blessings. I would be happy to list them all, but I don't need to. I list them plenty in my prayers and that's good enough.

So, I don't know if my friends from Facebook will ever venture over to my blog or not... but if you are one of them and you do, I'd love for you to leave a comment to let me know that you came a saw a glimpse of who I am today. I have learned so much since then!

much better, thank you!

So, my weigh in today was much better this week with a 3.4 lb loss! Yea! I'm especially relieved because I got to go to lunch with my girlfriends yesterday and I purposefully, yet unwillingly, did not GO TO TOWN on the chips and salsa like I wanted to!!! At least it wasn't all for nothing! Paul and I went swimming again yesterday and then out to dinner as well, so I could have been in big trouble for today. My friend Rachel handed me a "fun size" bag of peanut M&Ms yesterday (after my comment of wanting to eat a whole bag of them last week), so I think I'll celebrate by eating them tonight! Thanks Rachel!

getting a head start!

So, one of my favorite things to do during conference is to get started on my Christmas cards. I was able to get 30 cards made! I got a few stamp sets with Christmas themes last month, so I broke them in a bit. Here are some pics of the cards I made.

This is a "spinner" card. I used 4 different circle punches to make this baby... but it came together WAY easier than it looks! I love this little reindeer... he's just so cute! Here are the ingredients; stamps: Deer Friend, Best Yet (both hostess sets). paper: Very Vanilla, River Rock, Dashing Designer Series, Old Olive, Real Red. ink: Chocolate Chip. accessories: 1 3/4" circle, 1 3/8" circle, 1 1/4" circle, 1" circle punches, string, tape, sticky strip.

These two cards are basically identical, but with different colors. The colors don't look right at all in the pictures, but you get the idea. The stamp set is Punches Three; paper on the left is Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Whisper white, Bella Rose DSP. Paper on the right is Ruby Red, Mellow Moss and Bella Rose DSP. Ink on each card matches the paper. Accessories include the 1 3/4" circle punch, scallop square punch and gold brads. Very easy but fun.

I also went through my "previously made and currently hoarding" card pile recently and was able to add some finishing touches on some of those. These, along with cards from card exchange last year, I already have about 50 cards ready for this Christmases mailing. Only 50ish more to go! Some of you may be getting "one of a kind" cards this year! By the way, if any of you who actually read my blog don't currently receive a Christmas card from me each year, it's because I don't have your address... that, or you've never sent me a Christmas card! I'd be more than DELIGHTED to add you to my list, heck, you can even request which card you want!! I was really debating on whether I should post my cards on my blog. I don't want anyone to feel neglected! Please post your address for me! I love getting mail with actual postage on it, so I make an effort (once a year) to do this for those I love!

Another thing we crafted this weekend was our invitations to the 3rd annual Croshaw Halloween party. I didn't take pictures of the actual cards we made, but this is the pattern we copied. Aren't they crazy cute?!?! The credit must be given to a gal named Cambria Turnbow.

I'm looking forward to our party this year. I'm not normally a huge Halloween fan, but having something like this to plan and get ready for makes it a little more exciting! Now, I need to figure out a costume!

High on conferences!

I love conferences & conventions. I love learning from people who are experts in the fields of things I love. A couple years ago, I realized how lucky I am that I have the opportunity to go to conferences about the really important things in my life.

First, there's the Church, and I LOVE being able to listen to the "experts" (I would call a prophet of God an expert... wouldn't you?!) talk to me about what God wants me to hear. I don't know if any of my non-member friends read my blog (I'm doubting it), but just in case... General conference was this weekend and I was truly fed. I got to listen to all five sessions (the 4 plus RS) and kept receiving inspiration on things I can improve on. I particularly loved Elder Corbridge's talk on Saturday afternoon. It was all about the Savior, and though I've heard all the scriptural references he quoted many many times before, this talk struck me to the core. I know that though I have a testimony of the Savior and His atonement, I know my testimony can always be stronger, that I can always live closer to Him, and put more of my trust in Him. It especially sank in when Elder Corbridge reiterated how bringing to pass our immortality is God's work and glory, not our own. It is not a human endeavor. The commandment to be "perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect", has always felt unattainable to me and has discouraged me in the past. But to hear that "while the Lord's invitation to follow Him is the highest of all, it is also achievable by everyone. Not because we are able, but because He is." I was standing in my kitchen making lunch for my boys wiping tears from my face after he said this. And the tears kept flowing as he declared that "life is hard, but life is simple. Get on the path and never ever give up... you just keep on going and don't quit and you will make it... Jesus Christ is the way... any other way is madness." Sometimes I need to be told that I CAN make it, because so much inside us and all around us tells us that it's impossible. I do believe that it is possible and this talk gives me more hope and faith that I can get there... through Him. Ahhhh, food for my soul. There were many great talks this time... very upbeat, despite all the CRAP going on in the world.

Secondly (and much less importantly), I got to go to a convention for Speech Pathologists on Thursday and Friday. I am now a little smarter in the areas of infant/childhood development, fixing the /r/ sound, and Asperger's Syndrome. So go ahead, ask me anything! HA!! Two of the keynote speakers are legendary in their areas of expertise. Dr. Rosetti is the go-to-guy for early intervention (helping babies learn to communicate) and Mr. Kowalski is the SLP expert on Asperger. It was awesome to listen to these men. Wow, there's so much to know! Conferences are great in that you get to learn more, but terrible as you realize how little you know. As an SLP in the schools, I don't get the luxury to be an expert on anything, you have to be "smart enough" in everything. I got to hang out with my friend from college, Lacey, and two sweet SLP colleagues I met from a previous conference. Now, I just need to figure out how to actually apply all this good information to my daily WORK. Wish me luck.

My other recent convention was the Stampin' Up! convention in July. I already posted about this in August, but I just wanted to throw that in here to acknowledge (again) how much I enjoy being able to experience these kinds of events. I'm very blessed.

It's been a slightly frustrating week!

So, I was teasing Paul last night after our first 4 mile run together, "I think you're in search for a cuter wife." When he denied it, then I told him I should turn him in for some domestic abuse for how much he's pushed me to run this week! We did two workouts last Friday; running in the morning and swimming that afternoon (I think of you, Rachelle, every time we go to the pool! Tangent alert... swimming is WAY harder than it looks!!!!! Too much to think about and all that water sure gets in the way when you need to breathe!). Our FHE activity this Monday was our typical 3.5 mile run/bike ride (for the boys). Then, on Tuesday, he encouraged me to do some speed work on my own. Then on Wednesday, as a family again, we ran all the way to the 2 mile mark before turning around and running all the way home... pant, pant, pant. That's the furthest distance and longest amount of time I've ever run, and I'm glad to know that I can go that far and probably even a little farther if needed (but please don't make me do it yet!). So, I've been very good this week and have done well on my "points" for weight watchers as well!

So, you'd think I'd have a good evening with my weigh-in today, but I was wearing the wrong jeans!!! I was happy with my number this morning (being dehydrated and wearing light clothing), but after sitting all day at a speech therapy convention and a big yummy sweet pork salad from Costa Vida for lunch, I was NOT happy with my 1.2 lb GAIN for the week... grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Just to make myself feel better, I weighed myself at home with my jeans on, then off, and the difference was 1.4 lbs!! So, technically, I think I lost 0.6 lb this week (my scale is .4 higher than the WW scale)... which STILL stinks because I worked hard this week! Last week, my total weight loss was 11 lbs, and now I'm only a 9.8 lb loss. Crazy how the body works. Next week had better be better!!!! I am so in the mood for a big bag of peanut M&Ms.