tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22302992906240835232024-03-13T13:06:48.669-07:00Memories from Hidden HollowNormahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-41650693498225327662010-12-16T09:59:00.000-08:002010-12-16T09:59:28.532-08:00Merry Christmas<div style="width: 450px;"><div style="height: 450px;"><object width="450" height="450"><param name="movie" value="http://content.oddcast.com/host/smallworld/swf/player_embed.swf?doorId=845&clientId=181&mId=38120226.1&ds=http%3A%2F%2Fhost-d.oddcast.com&stem=http%3A%2F%2Fhost-d.oddcast.com%2Fphp%2Fapi%2FgetWorkshopInfo%2FdoorId%3D845" /><param name="BASE" value="host-d.oddcast.com" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="salign" value="t" /><param name="scale" value="noborder" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed allowscriptaccess="never" allownetworking="internal" name="hostMov" swliveconnect="true" src="http://content.oddcast.com/host/smallworld/swf/player_embed.swf?doorId=845&clientId=181&mId=38120226.1&ds=http%3A%2F%2Fhost-d.oddcast.com&stem=http%3A%2F%2Fhost-d.oddcast.com%2Fphp%2Fapi%2FgetWorkshopInfo%2FdoorId%3D845" base="host-d.oddcast.com" scale="noborder" salign="t" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" height="450" width="450" /></object></div></div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-91967662408843455842010-11-01T22:02:00.000-07:002010-11-01T22:02:49.765-07:00A new month...Where did October go? Do you know? Have you seen it? I somehow lost 31 days. 31 DAYS!!!<br />
<br />
Therefore, I decided I am creating a new month.....may I introduce Octember. <br />
<br />
This shall be known as the in-between month. No decorating required. No sewing or last-miute-shopping for costumes. No excessive candy. No houseguests. <br />
<br />
This will be the month where it doesn't feel like Christmas is right around the corner and I don't feel compelled to count forks for Thanksgiving.<br />
<br />
How long can I delude myself?Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-66529249601051915152010-10-14T15:50:00.001-07:002010-10-14T15:50:47.485-07:00I had a goal...I while ago I had a goal. I would lovingly post to my lovely blog at least once a week. More often if possible. This seemed to be an attainable goal for what should be a life journal right? Then I started reading too many "other" blogs. Somehow forgetting to come back to mine. Throw in a little intimidation (seriously a post a day?), a little depression (some blogs portray life as pretty darn perfect), a loss for words (how many waterpolo games can I write about and still be interesting?) a little jealousy (that ugly green monster) and there you have it....two months I've been gone. Eight posts lost to the blogesphere.......<br />
<br />
I will be back, and better than ever.<br />
<br />
I promise.Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-81303899710846942682010-08-25T21:07:00.000-07:002010-09-27T15:43:22.064-07:00rescue aid society.....When I was a little girl I loved this movie:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/THXhfr5VWtI/AAAAAAAABkY/-jXpFhX4_Ls/s1600/The_Rescuers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/THXhfr5VWtI/AAAAAAAABkY/-jXpFhX4_Ls/s640/The_Rescuers.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">to be honest, I still do!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was something special about Bernard with his stuffy, snuffly voice and bumbly, clumsy self coming to the aid of the oh so classy Miss Bianca to rescue the darling Penny from the evil Madame Medusa. Just thinking of the nasty Brutus and Nero still gives me chills. But like all Disney movies there is a happy ending.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Which I was reminded of when we held our own Rescue Aid last week. A little bird thougt it was all grown up and tried to fly away. Unfortunately, Peep (as I imediately named him/her) didn't have the much needed lateral lift and gravity took hold as he wound up on the front porch. How he avoided becoming Luci's (the evil kitty of which no picture could truly do her justice) next snack is a miracle, but there he was when we got home!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/THXhp5uSwYI/AAAAAAAABko/NwpXPjD1HO0/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/THXhp5uSwYI/AAAAAAAABko/NwpXPjD1HO0/s640/002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>R-E-S-C-U-E</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><em>Rescue Aid Society</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><em>Heads held high, touch the sky</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>You mean everything to me</em> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/THXhl2iZdEI/AAAAAAAABkg/mHHRlVIJVds/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/THXhl2iZdEI/AAAAAAAABkg/mHHRlVIJVds/s640/001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>In a fix, in a bind</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Call on us anytime</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>We'll appear from nowhere</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Mighty are we</em> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/THXht-20vvI/AAAAAAAABkw/XVq-TvFPqls/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/THXht-20vvI/AAAAAAAABkw/XVq-TvFPqls/s640/003.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I did notice the 2 is crooked, it's on the honey do list)</span></div><br />Of course the Mr was immediately summoned to get the<span style="font-size: large;"> BIG</span> ladder and put him right back where he belonged so we could go about the remainder of our day.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>R-E-S-C-U-E</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Rescue Aid Society</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Honesty, loyalty</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>We pledge to thee </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>R-E-S-C-U-E</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br /></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Rescue Aid Society</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Heads held high, touch the sky</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>You mean everything to me</em> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/THXhwlD8KAI/AAAAAAAABk4/WenK38aAqxE/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/THXhwlD8KAI/AAAAAAAABk4/WenK38aAqxE/s640/004.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>In a jam, in a scrape</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>And you think, "no escape"</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Do not fear, we'll be here</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Courageous are we</em> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>R-E-S-C-U-E</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br /></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Rescue Aid Society</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Heads held high, touch the sky</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Our hearts we pledge to thee</em> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course he didn't stay in the nest. He was determined to be out on his own so we set him up in his own little studio appartment on the bathroom counter. Fed him some delicious take-out of sugar water and liquified cat food (yuk) and called it a night. After two plunges from the safety of his nest the little guy made it thru the night and was immediately transfered to the vet to be hand fed every two hours.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/THXhzXAx12I/AAAAAAAABlA/_lMJ0j03Z-U/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/THXhzXAx12I/AAAAAAAABlA/_lMJ0j03Z-U/s640/006.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nurse Katie is the best, although Dr. Mom does make some pretty delicious looking cat food mush!</div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-11066829139248297642010-08-08T19:26:00.000-07:002010-09-27T15:43:22.082-07:00sorta like a Mastercard commercial....or a nursery rhyme<div style="text-align: center;">1 amazing flip-flop tan.....</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 kids.....</div><div style="text-align: center;">7 schools....</div><div style="text-align: center;">8 days....</div><div style="text-align: center;">15 waterpolo games.....</div><div style="text-align: center;">25+ hours poolside.....</div><div style="text-align: center;">a gazillion miles driven.....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What's for dinner?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/TF9nFuqhqpI/AAAAAAAABkI/jo9h29P8T-Y/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/TF9nFuqhqpI/AAAAAAAABkI/jo9h29P8T-Y/s640/002.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Poor old Mother Hubbard. I know just how she felt. </div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-22492269774707192862010-08-07T19:22:00.000-07:002010-09-27T15:43:22.103-07:00his story.....We all know how well teenage boys plan, right?<br /><br />If you happen to be in the dark let me enlighten you. <br /><br />Plan in any shape or form is not in their vocabulary. You can search high and low and you will not find it. <br /><br /><em>plan [plan]</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>noun (plural plans) </em><br /><em>1. system for achieving objective: a method of doing something that is worked out in advance </em><br /><em>2. intention: something that somebody intends or has arranged to do (often used in the plural) </em><br /><em>ie: What are your plans for Saturday?</em><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now you may occasionaly stumble across the verb form of <em>planning </em>in their thoughts, and then only when they are <em>planning</em> to eat. </div> <br /><em>planning</em> <br /><em>verb (past and past participle planned, present participle plan·ning, 3rd person present singular plans) </em><br /><em></em><br /><em>1. transitive and intransitive verb work out how to do something: to work out in advance how something is to be done or organized </em><br /><em>2. transitive verb intend to do something: to intend to do something, or make arrangements to do something</em> <br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Because we are all pretty darn sure they wouldn't want to:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>plan ahead</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>intransitive verb</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>make preparations or arrangements: to make preparations or arrangements for the future</em> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Yep, this is the boat I found myself floating in last week. </div><br />Now don't get me wrong. I love my son. However, there are days when I wonder if he has any of my DNA. I love to plan. His sister loves to plan. We write things in colored pencil on the calendar. We anticipate, count-down.<br /><br />We PLAN. pure and simple.<br /><br />Matthew is a last minute lets figure it out, do I have any clean clothes, gas in the car, have to work kinda kid. Makes me crazy.<br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So for months MONTHS <span style="font-size: small;">we have known that his waterpolo team was going to the National Junior Olympics. Something you might plan for right? For weeks I had been running the commentary...."are you going?"......"do you have the time off work?"......"how are we going to work it out?"...."who will you stay with in the hotel?" And the only feedback I got was....."I think I am going to work, so I can make more money". </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: small;">So being the kind of person I am....I made <em>other plans</em>! Then 24 hours before it all goes down....Matthew plans on participating. The darn kid is lucky he's still alive.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/TF4QhB5RiyI/AAAAAAAABjw/LPfqRMciejA/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/TF4QhB5RiyI/AAAAAAAABjw/LPfqRMciejA/s640/026.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/TF4UapE8jOI/AAAAAAAABj4/tCeQzOsWFNw/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/TF4UapE8jOI/AAAAAAAABj4/tCeQzOsWFNw/s640/105.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Plan or no plan it all worked out in the end. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">They came in 19th place in the Gold Division for the Nation.</div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-89497091973151384382010-07-28T08:47:00.000-07:002010-09-27T15:43:22.119-07:00attitude shmatitude.....<div style="text-align: center;">Remember, a good attitude produces good results, a fair attitude fair results, a poor attitude poor results. We each shape our own life, and the shape of it is determined largely by our attitude." </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">--M. Russell Ballard</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Not so long ago I posted about my <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2010/04/gallon-challenge.html">"gallon challenge"</a>. Needless to say it has been challenging for me. Especially to my attitude. My <a href="http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=c47bf48fa2d20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=637e1b08f338c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD">Martha attitude</a> that says everything should be just so. Almost perfect even. The list made, neatly of course, and on pretty paper. All the little check marks in a row to show myself just how efficient I have been. <br /><br />So far it hasn't been working out so well for me. <br /><br />I have needed an attitude adjustment. Coming across this quote from Elder Ballard reminded me. I have a good attitude towards many of lifes challenges. Hope even. But with this gallon challenge my attitude had been fair to poor. No wonder I have been discouraged. I needed this reminder. </div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-34120407185513967212010-06-01T10:37:00.000-07:002010-09-27T15:43:22.130-07:00unwelcome guests.....post edit<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Traditionally Memorial Day weekend is spent (at least in our family) out in the backyard. Completing unfinished projects, weeding, planting, dusting off patio furniture, swimming, tanning, firing up the bar-b-que, eating large amounts of sweet watermelon.</div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/TAVEL1lLkGI/AAAAAAAABjY/HwglNV-xIY0/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/TAVEL1lLkGI/AAAAAAAABjY/HwglNV-xIY0/s400/001.JPG" width="300" /></a>This year we had unwelcome guests. Bees. Lots & lots of them as a matter of fact. Buzzing around our heads like little fighter jets warning us off from their new home in my cherry tree. Which by the way is full of cherries almost ready to be picked. :(</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After realizing they had no intention of leaving our party, I decided that spraying them with the hose would get them to leave. hahaha - so.not.effective. Matthew got in on the process and thought a shovel would do the trick. Since the poor things were half drowned following my attempts, and after being told to "not whack my tree, to scrape them off" Matthew promptly ran in brandishing his shovel and whacked the hive. Needless to say it did nothing except break tree branches which made the whole thing more visible. Katie, even though she is allergic to bees, wanted part of the fun too so she got back in there with the hose and squirted off another huge portion. Eventually Mike got involved and asked why we hadn't used the wasp spray. Why hadn't we? 'Cause it wouldn't have been as much fun! Of course that worked, and the poor things suffered what looked to be a painful death, but those that weren't killed skedaddled right out of our yard so we could enjoy the remainder of the day. Of course the action was so fast and furious I got zero pictures of it all.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This morning as I am doing my morning things I wander out to the back yard and what do I see? You guessed it, a massive cloud of bees around my cherry tree. Of course my first thought was to hose them down again but there were so many I thought I'd probably be introuble. So a calm mind prevailed, and back inside I came. Not half an hour later as I peeked out to see if the coast was clear not a bee in sight. Instead this is what I found -</div><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/TAVD8mPNMlI/AAAAAAAABjI/Mu-F4wxaolw/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/TAVD8mPNMlI/AAAAAAAABjI/Mu-F4wxaolw/s640/006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/TAVEBmHC1KI/AAAAAAAABjQ/zcCi78-hJuY/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/TAVEBmHC1KI/AAAAAAAABjQ/zcCi78-hJuY/s640/005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I really hate bees.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Post Edit: </span><span style="font-size: small;">so the bees are gone. apparently they were moving to a new and better address. hopefully far, far from me. i am feeling slightly guilty for all their aunts, uncles, cousins & friends i so unmercifully killed monday. please forgive me, but i still really do have bees.</span></div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-56087197059876034212010-05-28T17:33:00.000-07:002010-09-27T15:43:22.141-07:00dear blog,<br /><br />i have neglected you lately. i am sorry. i just have been so busy i haven't made time to write all my swirling thoughts down.<br /><br />summer is coming. maybe then things will slow down and settle in my mind.<br /><br />love,<br />me<br /><br />ps. i did make time to sew. i hope you aren't mad at meNormahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-2218564830462141762010-05-04T10:03:00.000-07:002010-09-27T15:43:22.150-07:00My New Life<object style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/KHDvxPjsm8E/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KHDvxPjsm8E&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KHDvxPjsm8E&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-34928855924778376862010-04-05T10:28:00.000-07:002010-09-27T15:43:22.161-07:00the gallon challengeAs I am sure most of you already know my kids play sports. Not the kind where you run around on a field and get hot, sweaty and bitten by bugs. Smart sports. Where minimal clothing is required and there is a pool instead of a field. This makes it fan-tab-u-lous for the mom who sits, paces and watches for untold hours. The suns glare off the pool gives a nice healthy sunglass tan and a permanent flip-flop tan starting in March.<br /><br />Since the only high school sports I have been exposed to are swim and water polo I am assuming football and baseball players have dumb rituals as well........maybe someone can fill me in.<br /><br />Anyway to get back to the title of this post - the gallon challenge - last season the girls water polo team challenged each other to drink a gallon of milk and keep it down. I do have to say my darling daughter was a smart cookie and declined to play this particular game and instead took pictures of her friends and teammates as they downed all that milk in an unreasonable amount of time. Bloated tummies ensued, nauseous looking faces, and of course lots and lots of vomit. Fortunately I do not have any of those pictures to share. My darling daughter did not drink milk for days.......I could possibly never again drink milk just thinking of this.<br /><br />Then there is her brother. He isn't as smart a cookie and he crumbled. His swim team participated in what they call the kool-aid challenge. This is where each kid (read dumb boy) gets their own bottle of different colored koolaid that they guzzle between swim sprints. Of course this induces lots of - you guessed it - vomit. But they are creative - they made art out of it.<br /><br />try to stomach it <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=feed&story_fbid=112430034824&id=1648941732&comments">here</a><br /><br />Which finally brings me to my gallon challenge. <br /><br />For a while now I have needed to lose weight. A lot of weight. A daunting number of pounds that slowly accumulated over the years as in how did I get here, more then even after my babies were born kind of weight loss.<br /><br />Honestly? a 7.1 gallon weight loss was needed. Motivation had been lacking then I reached the point of no return and finally got down to business! I dusted off the eliptical machine, made friends with Jillian Michaels and voila!<br /><br />2.1 gallons down - 5 to go!<br /><br />sorry to dissapoint, but there will be no video. Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-79010300834852590392010-03-19T18:05:00.000-07:002010-09-27T15:43:22.183-07:00extra credit...<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Extra credit should be easy right? After all it is EXTRA work......so when Katie suggested we do extra credit for her chemistry class I thought, sure why not? </div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well the why not reasons were definitely not in the directions.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#1. if your daughter doesn't immediately clean the pan the rock candy was created in it leaves a big job for mom</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">{no photo of mom repeatedly wasting scalding hot water by melting said candy out of the pan}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#2. if your daughter spills the rock candy liquid concoction onto the white stove top and still leaves the stove on, it burns into an unappetizing black mess that has yet to be cleaned up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">{ big sigh, you do NOT want to see a photo of this, it will scare you off of future chemistry extra credit assignments for life}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#3. if directions aren't followed exactly, the rock candy will fail to form on your stick and will instead crust over an entire drinking glass</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">{see exhibit A}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S6QbkmJxALI/AAAAAAAABiI/kSOcg9Flaiw/s1600-h/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S6QbkmJxALI/AAAAAAAABiI/kSOcg9Flaiw/s640/002.JPG" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{exhibit A}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#4. It will look really pretty, but will not be removed from the glass</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">{see exhibit B}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S6Qbh9deP0I/AAAAAAAABiA/KdAIc8v-zpk/s1600-h/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S6Qbh9deP0I/AAAAAAAABiA/KdAIc8v-zpk/s640/003.JPG" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{exhibit B}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#5. After much swishing, swirling and other scientific terms not to be named. This is all the edible candy there is to show for the experiment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">{see exhibit C}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S6QbfEt2ivI/AAAAAAAABh4/t7pzCQjdUzg/s1600-h/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S6QbfEt2ivI/AAAAAAAABh4/t7pzCQjdUzg/s640/004.JPG" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{exhibit C}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So to actually get the extra-credit you have to submit a photo of yourself eating the candy. I am still trying to figure out how to make this little chunk look like it is on a stick with my daughter eating it, or if since I did so much of the actual work if I should submit my own photo.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An "A" is so in my future.....</div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-30887835961217237792010-02-18T09:13:00.000-08:002010-09-27T15:43:22.194-07:00stolen thoughts.....<div style="text-align: justify;">"Think about your particular assignment at this time in your life. It may be to get an education, it may be to rear children, it may be to be a grandparent, it may be to care for and relieve the suffering of someone you love, it may be to do a job in the most excellent way possible, it may be to support someone who has a difficult assignment of their own. Our assignments are varied and they change from time to time. Don't take them lightly. Give them your full heart and energy. Do them with enthusiasm. Do whatever you have to do this week with your whole heart and soul. To do less than this will leave you with an empty feeling."</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">--Marjorie Pay Hinckley </div><div style="text-align: right;"> </div><div align="left" style="text-align: right;"><br /></div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-1596014711125036482010-02-12T09:44:00.000-08:002010-09-27T15:43:22.203-07:00can you feel the love?<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With all the rain I needed a project, which turned into two or three! Actually three hearts, two topiaries, a window full of wax & crayons, love print, key chain, then four skirts to round it all out. </div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is all Wendy's fault. I saw her super cute topiaries, then followed her link to where she saw them -<a href="http://theidearoom.blogspot.com/2010/01/valentines-topiary.html">theidearoom</a> (WARNING! do NOT go to this site unless you feel a project coming on!) was inspired</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">you can see what happened next!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S3WPFmVKnrI/AAAAAAAABhU/xD4nsR5jf_I/s1600-h/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S3WPFmVKnrI/AAAAAAAABhU/xD4nsR5jf_I/s640/001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">you take this.......(that is 1 & 1/2 yards of 72" wide felt)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S3WPCMzPiWI/AAAAAAAABhM/kgjG4SidDy8/s1600-h/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S3WPCMzPiWI/AAAAAAAABhM/kgjG4SidDy8/s640/002.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">cut circles until you wonder why you wanted to do this in the first place......this was one of 10 stacks of felt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S3WObMw7exI/AAAAAAAABgk/q4VsAZPD6iw/s1600-h/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S3WObMw7exI/AAAAAAAABgk/q4VsAZPD6iw/s640/003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the finished result is worth it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S3WOp7xRRCI/AAAAAAAABhE/tJjcB-jud2Y/s1600-h/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S3WOp7xRRCI/AAAAAAAABhE/tJjcB-jud2Y/s640/006.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">use up the left over circles on one of these........</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S3WOelJ_sKI/AAAAAAAABgs/rFstivnyRA4/s1600-h/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S3WOelJ_sKI/AAAAAAAABgs/rFstivnyRA4/s640/004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">decide that two is better than one and cut MORE circles!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S3WOicCD0OI/AAAAAAAABg0/-u6VZ5RqzDY/s1600-h/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S3WOicCD0OI/AAAAAAAABg0/-u6VZ5RqzDY/s640/005.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">spread even more love in a neglected picture frame.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S3WOmJUupkI/AAAAAAAABg8/vpMLgG0pX6c/s1600-h/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/S3WOmJUupkI/AAAAAAAABg8/vpMLgG0pX6c/s640/001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">find another use for the micro-grater when the crayon sharpener just doesn't cut it!</div><div align="center">(note for next time - do this on an old towel so there is no pink & red crayon on the hubby's nice white shirt)</div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-82504287454107530332010-02-09T11:31:00.000-08:002010-09-27T15:43:22.217-07:00just a minute!ok think for just a second, when was the last time you said this? Not too long ago probably. Experience has taught me I am only needed by the children, husband or dog when I am not wherever they are. Usually I am busy doing something and a mmmmooooooooooommm is hollered across the house or a huuuuuuuuunnnnneeeeeeeeyyyyyy could you come here is heard, maybe faintly, but heard nonetheless.<br /><br />Sometimes I want to pretend I didn't hear them. What is it they could possibly need or want? usually it is toilet paper so that makes it ok. youtube videos are occasionally intertaining, but not high on my priority list.<br /><br />When my kids were little they usually needed help getting down from the toilet. Or a game that couldn't be reached from a shelf. Sometimes a referee, a blanket that fell out of a crib, another story, or a favorite toy.<br /><br />Things have changed A LOT. Now I find lots of free minutes. Minutes that I spend on the computer or getting sucked mindlessly into TV. Minutes spent with good books, magazines and cookbooks. Priceless minutes with the kids and my husband. Minutes that I would give up and minutes that I treasure.<br /><br />The other morning I found myself thinking of what I could do in a minute standing infront of the microwave watching 1:10 count down while waiting for my hot chocolate. <br /><br />So I thought I would make it a game - <br /><br />In a minute I can:<br /><br />load the diswasher<br />unload the diswasher<br />start a load of wash<br />dump clothes in the dryer<br />pile clothes on the bed<br />get dressed<br />feed the dog<br />gather junk<br />put away my shoes<br />clean out my purse<br />organize receipts<br />wipe down the kitchen counters<br />come up with a silly blog idea!<br /><br />I won't be trying to do these all at once, and I am sure there is lots more I could do but it was just a nice little reminder that I do have free minutes and it is up to me how I use them.....right now I am going to enjoy my cocoa and watch the rain!Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-27390788783943526942010-02-09T10:57:00.000-08:002010-09-27T15:43:22.233-07:00resolutions, resolutions.....so I am a little behind. but I am trying to catch up, that is what is important!<br /><br />I love a new start. Beginnings are......clean, fresh, new. Unblemished. Full of possibilities. I have these kinds of thoughts at the start of a new year, and throught the year, but they are usually burried under guilt. The things I <em>should</em> have done that I didn't. Things I <em>should</em> be doing, but am not. sigh. This is why resolutions aren't really my thing. Too much pressure for me with my perfectionist tendencies. If I don't get it right I usually give up. Not very productive!!<br /><br />In all my blog hopping {read time wasting, laundry avoiding} lots of fantastic women have amazing ideas. Resolutions for themselves, for their families. I am stealing, borrowing, or possibly even taking advice from them. This year instead of beating myself up for what I am not doing or could be doing better I am implementing <a href="http://www.christinekane.com/word/WordoftheYearWorksheet2010.pdf">this idea</a> my <em>WORD OF THE YEAR.</em> <br /><br />This will work for me. This is a starting place every day. Each day is a new beginning! I may even make some cute craft so I see my word and remind myself to live it every day.<br /><br />For 2010 I picked <em><span style="font-size: large;">INTENTION.</span></em><br /><br />Encarta dictionary has this to say -<em> </em><br /><em>intention - <strong>quality of purposefulness</strong>: the quality or state of having a purpose in mind</em><br /> <strong><em>aim or objective</em></strong>: <em>something that somebody plans to do</em><br /><br /><br />Why intention? Because frequently I find myself wondering why I have no time (um, because I wasted it online?), trying to figure out how to get everything done in the few hours left and still sleep. If I truly apply this then <em>everything</em> I choose to do should have a purpose in mind.....<br /><br />what would your word be? <br />right now my <em>intention</em> is to get off the computer and onto the eliptical!!!Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-45389713614247682642010-01-10T15:15:00.000-08:002010-09-27T15:43:22.243-07:00another year has gone by.....<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love that song by Celine Dion. It is more of a love song then a year in review song, but I had it stuck in my head.....so after seeing this on lots of other blogs, done way more creatively, I thought it would be fun to look back on all the things that at the time seemed important enough to blog about!</span><br /><br />scroll over to find the links!<br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>January</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">* saw <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/01/wicked-new-years_8951.html">Wicked </a>on New Years Eve<br />*came up with <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/01/100-things-about-me.html">100 things</a> about me</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>February</strong></span><br />*sewed like a mad woman <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/02/look-what-i-made.html">here</a>, <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/02/sew-cute.html">here</a>,<a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/02/days-of-week.html"> here</a> and <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/02/make-up-bag-v12.html">here</a><br />*signs of <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/02/first-sign-of-spring.html">spring </a>(already)<br />*crazy fun <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/02/coronado-island-love-birds.html">Valentines date</a> on our bikes</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>March</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">*more <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/03/latest-sewing-project.html">sewing</a><br />*started <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/03/wordless-wednesdays.html">wordless Wednesdays</a><br />*<a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/03/2009-ca-state-lifeguard-tryout-swim.html">beach swim</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>April</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">*<a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/04/accidents-happen.html">accidents</a><br />*mini <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/04/me-me-me.html">vacation</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>May</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">*<a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/05/wordless-wednesday_13.html">dates</a> and more <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/05/date-day.html">dates</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>June</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">*more <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/06/wordless-wednesday.html">wordless Wednesdays</a><br />*<a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/06/wordless-wednesday.html">swim</a><br />*<a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/06/lessons-learned.html">sewing lessons</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>July</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">*trying to <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/07/misadventures-of-multi-tasking.html">do too much</a><br />*<a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/07/yummy-for-my-tummy.html">scrump-dilly-icious!</a><br />*I left my heart in<a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/08/san-francisco.html"> San Francisco</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>August</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">*Katie goes to the<a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/08/its-about-time.html"> Junior Olympics</a><br />*happy <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/08/is-for.html">anniversary</a> to us</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>September</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">*my birthday shoulda been in here somewhere<br />*annual body surfing <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/09/2009-body-surfing.html">competition</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>October</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">*happy <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/10/happy-bloggaversary.html">bloggaversary</a> to me<br />*<a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/10/fall-fun.html">Oak Glenn</a><br />*took a break from wordless Wednesdays<br />*started <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/10/temperingfirst-in-series.html">"Handle With Care"</a> post series<br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>November</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">*pulled out the <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-pill.html">sweaters</a><br />*made just about anything and everything with<a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/11/cheater-cheater-pumpkin-eater.html"> pumpkin</a><br />*those <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/11/wants-needs.html">shoes</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>December</strong></span><br />*had <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-sweet-it-is.html">sweet times</a> with friends<br />*<a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/12/daily-dose.html">laughed </a>until someone peed their pants....so glad it wasn't me!<br />*enjoyed my <a href="http://yoursminenours.blogspot.com/2009/12/daily-dose.html">family</a>!<br /><br />I can't wait to see what 2010 brings!</div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-58090635367728064252009-12-28T11:27:00.000-08:002010-09-27T15:43:22.255-07:00do you hear what I hear?Like most years, this Christmas was a busy day. Parents arriving, kids coming and going, Mike working (yuk), cooking, present opening....you name it. A busy day!<br /><br />Before the chaos began, Matthew had opened a couple little gifts from the neighbors while half lying down in the cozy living room chair. Michael, Katie and I went into the kitchen to finish getting dinner ready, when Katie said "do you hear that leaf blower?" I thought yea, I hear that. Michael heard it too. Then I thought again and wondered what kind of crazy do you have to be to blow your leaves on Christmas day? Michael then throws in his 2cents......."is that Matthew snoring?"<br /><br />yep......you just gotta love tired teenage boys!<br /><br /><img border="0" height="0" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.11NXC/bHQ9MTI2MjAyOTQ3MjU4NyZwdD*xMjYyMDI5NTI1NDY3JnA9Mzg2MzYxJmQ9Jm49YmxvZ2dlciZnPTEmb2Y9MA==.gif" style="height: 0px; visibility: hidden; width: 0px;" width="0" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" height="361" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid449.photobucket.com/albums/qq213/mnbabbel/007-4.flv" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" wmode="transparent"></embed>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-31484905921647846062009-12-23T12:57:00.000-08:002010-09-27T15:43:22.265-07:00A CHRISTmas gift.....<div align="center"><a href="http://www.lds.org/topic/christmas/christmas-story.html">The Christmas Story</a><br /></div><div align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PxKas2Mcjg4&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PxKas2Mcjg4&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-43499319557659232372009-12-17T11:39:00.000-08:002010-09-27T15:43:22.275-07:00daily dose.....Last night I had a blast.....usually the weeks leading up to Christmas are always so busy for me doing all the things I like to and need to do in preparation for our family gathering. I was so excited this year to receive an invite to a cookie/ornament exchange to recharge my sorta run down batteries.<br /><br />What a great night! Lots of fun women to hang out with and learn more about. Super tasty snacks (which I ate too many of, because who needs dinner when there is party food!), fun door prizes, darling ornaments to exchange, steal and covet, delicious cookies to exchange, a beautiful home, and laughter. Lots and lots of laughter. I did mention we laughed, right? Because I laughed until I cried, then I gave myself a headache, but I did sleep well!<br /><br />I am sure you know laughter is the best medicine. It is documented <a href="http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm">here:</a><br /><br /><em>The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. </em><br /><em>When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. </em><br /><br /><em>In addition to the domino effect of joy and amusement, laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the body. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em><br /></em><br /><em>Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.</em> <br /><br /><br /><em>Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after. </em><br /><em><br /></em><br /><em>Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. </em><br /><em><br /></em><br /><em>Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain. </em><br /><br /><em>Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. </em><br /><br /><em>Physical Health Benefits:</em><br /><em>Boosts immunity </em><br /><em>Lowers stress hormones </em><br /><em>Decreases pain </em><br /><em>Relaxes your muscles </em><br /><em>Prevents heart disease </em><br /><br /><em>Mental Health Benefits:</em><br /><em>Adds joy and zest to life </em><br /><em>Eases anxiety and fear </em><br /><em>Relieves stress </em><br /><em>Improves mood </em><br /><em>Enhances resilience</em> <br /><br /><em>Social Benefits:</em><br /><em>Strengthens relationships </em><br /><em>Attracts others to us </em><br /><em>Enhances teamwork </em><br /><em>Promotes group bonding</em> <br /><br /><br /><em>Laughter dissolves distressing emotions. You can’t feel anxious, angry, or sad when you’re laughing. </em><br /><em><br /></em><br /><em>Laughter helps you relax and recharge. It reduces stress and increases energy, enabling you to stay focused and accomplish more. </em><br /><br /><em>Laughing with others is more powerful than laughing alone </em><br /><br /><em>Using humor and laughter in relationships allows you to:</em><br /><em>Be more spontaneous. Humor gets you out of your head and away from your troubles. </em><br /><em>Let go of defensiveness. Laughter helps you forget judgments, criticisms, and doubts. </em><br /><em>Release inhibitions. Your fear of holding back and holding on are set aside. </em><br /><em>Express your true feelings. Deeply felt emotions are allowed to rise to the surface. </em><br /><br />Boy did I meet my RDA, and then I stored some up for a rainy day. <br />Thanks Wendy & Jill for a fantastic night!!!Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-37904485160348863802009-12-17T09:38:00.000-08:002010-09-27T15:43:22.289-07:00these are a few of my favorite things.......<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SypuPAOkiJI/AAAAAAAABcs/LUfRPqvTT_M/s1600-h/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SypuPAOkiJI/AAAAAAAABcs/LUfRPqvTT_M/s640/010.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SypubG87bDI/AAAAAAAABc0/eSUNHPCQmNI/s1600-h/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SypubG87bDI/AAAAAAAABc0/eSUNHPCQmNI/s640/009.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SypunxrZhKI/AAAAAAAABdE/1Wkzk34Bsjs/s1600-h/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SypunxrZhKI/AAAAAAAABdE/1Wkzk34Bsjs/s640/014.JPG" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SypukrkMYaI/AAAAAAAABc8/9WI5DFiey2Y/s1600-h/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SypukrkMYaI/AAAAAAAABc8/9WI5DFiey2Y/s640/012.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/Sypu8a5kh3I/AAAAAAAABdM/8-crEkDKB1w/s1600-h/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/Sypu8a5kh3I/AAAAAAAABdM/8-crEkDKB1w/s640/002.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SypvEIv6H7I/AAAAAAAABdU/AHsKqUCoRcA/s1600-h/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SypvEIv6H7I/AAAAAAAABdU/AHsKqUCoRcA/s640/006.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SypvMXZVeOI/AAAAAAAABdc/gVU3Q8XHD2M/s1600-h/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SypvMXZVeOI/AAAAAAAABdc/gVU3Q8XHD2M/s640/016.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SypvTwdJUrI/AAAAAAAABdk/gbKDTAiu4Zk/s1600-h/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SypvTwdJUrI/AAAAAAAABdk/gbKDTAiu4Zk/s640/011.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/Syp-gJUBWSI/AAAAAAAABds/ma4y_x_UHf4/s1600-h/febtiffanybox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/Syp-gJUBWSI/AAAAAAAABds/ma4y_x_UHf4/s640/febtiffanybox.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SyqC87LPeLI/AAAAAAAABd0/gvNBefDbt_0/s1600-h/022a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SyqC87LPeLI/AAAAAAAABd0/gvNBefDbt_0/s640/022a.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart."<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">-Helen Keller <br /></div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-49875418626900643602009-12-11T13:11:00.000-08:002010-09-27T15:43:22.299-07:00how sweet it is.....Life is sweet. Sometimes I forget this. <br /><br />The voices (yes,sometimes there are more than one) in my head tell me to do "this"and be "that". Go, do, clean, shop, wash, fold, wipe, sweep, pick-up, drop-off.....priorities, priorities, priorities. Where am I on that list? Why am I on the bottom or not on the list at all? I let the things I want or like to do go by the wayside, thinking empty laundry baskets, shiny mirrors and clean produce drawers are more important. Occasionally, not as often as I'd like, I realize that I am important too. That it is ok to have fun and if I am not on my to do list, then life can be pretty sad. <br /><br />This week I did something I've told myself I would do over, and over and over again. Actually for the last six years, ever since we moved into this house I said I would. But I didn't. Lots of excuses were found ..... the kitchen isn't done (this was valid), we need new carpet, I should paint, the house is dirty, the dog needs a bath, everyone is too busy, we need new landscaping. Seriously, I needed to get over my Martha perfectionism. It is a disease.....<br /><br />So this year I did it. And you know what? I haven't had so much fun in a very, very long time (dates with the Mr. being excluded, b/c he is a fun date).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>Gingerbread House Party 2009</em></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SyLAYAdHskI/AAAAAAAABb0/ekoDVKkFeoA/s1600-h/gb2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SyLAYAdHskI/AAAAAAAABb0/ekoDVKkFeoA/s640/gb2a.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SyLDjc0QYcI/AAAAAAAABb8/V4nNLjNdK2s/s1600-h/gb3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SyLDjc0QYcI/AAAAAAAABb8/V4nNLjNdK2s/s640/gb3.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SyLK1gc-X8I/AAAAAAAABcE/iOyDlbJZtdc/s1600-h/gb4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SyLK1gc-X8I/AAAAAAAABcE/iOyDlbJZtdc/s640/gb4.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SyLLo1HXfXI/AAAAAAAABcM/0IUCqs3aOA8/s1600-h/gb5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SyLLo1HXfXI/AAAAAAAABcM/0IUCqs3aOA8/s640/gb5.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SyLMivNtJSI/AAAAAAAABcU/9KoOde7n6Bk/s1600-h/gb6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SyLMivNtJSI/AAAAAAAABcU/9KoOde7n6Bk/s640/gb6.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SyK8UL6MMyI/AAAAAAAABbk/3aeXkb8uRIQ/s1600-h/gb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SyK8UL6MMyI/AAAAAAAABbk/3aeXkb8uRIQ/s640/gb1.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SyLNroCmwFI/AAAAAAAABcc/_PZqnv9K5LU/s1600-h/gb7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SyLNroCmwFI/AAAAAAAABcc/_PZqnv9K5LU/s640/gb7.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What a fun time, lots of laughs and lots and lots, did I say lots? of SUGAR! super sweet!<br /></div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-91300831938002220732009-11-16T04:15:00.000-08:002010-09-27T15:43:22.310-07:00Blind Baking.....part three in a series<div><em>Blind Baking : the process of baking a pie crust without the filling</em><br /></div><em><br /></em><br /><div><em></em><br /></div><em>"Sometimes, when you're dealing with a fragile dough, it will collapse in spite of your best intentions. For this reason, some pie crusts and tart shells must be baked before the filling is added. The best method is to line the tart pan or pie plate with the rolled-out dough and place it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. When you are ready to bake, prick the crust in several spots with a fork, line the pie plate or tart shell with foil or parchment paper, and fill it with rice or dried beans. Bake as directed, than carefully remove the foil and the beans - the shell will have retained its form because of them. I like seeing how a substance that weighs heavily can, in the end, be lifted; I like the feel of the beans, like trouble that slips through your fingers. Most of all, I like the proof in the pastry: it is the things we have to bear that shape us".</em><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><em>* from Jodi Picoult</em><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><em>Handle With Care</em><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Personalities are like pastry. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Some are flaky. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Some tough. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Some you wouldn't want to meet again. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Some you just can't get enough of. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">No two people quite exactly the same. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Although we are all created in His image, it is lifes lessons that shape us. Lessons learned from parents. teachers. friends. mistakes.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Things that weigh us down are truly helping us to form.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I need to remember this. <br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">*get the recipe <em><a href="http://thisgirlcancook.blogspot.com/2009/11/sweet-pastry-dough.html">here</a></em><br /></div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-37602209413222576282009-11-12T17:36:00.000-08:002010-09-27T15:43:22.321-07:00wants & needs.....<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not so long ago</span> I was on a wanting binge (if i am honest it really hasn't ended). I wanted new lip gloss, new jeans, new lights in the kitchen, new things (that I can't for the life of me remember what they are called) over the bathroom windows, new windows for that matter, new carpet, new back yard, new car, new abs.....the list went on. Oh yea and new shoes. That is what started it all. The shoes.<br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/Svy0DfYVIaI/AAAAAAAABa0/UIxCMDrylDk/s1600-h/shoe2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/Svy0DfYVIaI/AAAAAAAABa0/UIxCMDrylDk/s640/shoe2.bmp" /></a><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Why do I want what I know I can't have? It is a defeating cycle. want, get. want, get. want more. ugh! Nothing I needed, except of course those shoes. mmmmm...... those shoes. I had a dream about them. I still want them. <br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I think I do <span style="font-size: large;">need</span> them.<br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Wanting something can come in handy. You want a clean house? - you put on <strike><em>those shoes</em></strike> your grungy clothes and clean. You want muscle tone? - you put on, <strike><em>those</em> <em>shoes</em></strike> (although they could develop some amazing calfs), tennies and work it out. You want to be healthier? - you cook at home and pretend you don't know the word butter. wait a minute...that could be done in <em>those</em> <em>shoes</em>, with a little apron on!<br /><br /></div>Today was another day. Yes, I still wanted a clean house (cleaner, actually since I cleaned Monday), but I didn't really <em>need</em> it. I still wanted muscle definition, which would have taken effort that I didn't expend, but again I don't really <em>need</em> that either. I still want to be healthier, so I won't tell how much butter is in the pumpkin chocolate chip muffins I made today. <br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/Svy0GYMEgfI/AAAAAAAABa8/S5DfM1jVI8U/s1600-h/shoe3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/Svy0GYMEgfI/AAAAAAAABa8/S5DfM1jVI8U/s320/shoe3.bmp" /></a>but those shoes?<br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">um, yeah...I think I need them.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">maybe Santa will bring them for Christmas.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />yes, I did humilliate my husband taking pictures, with my phone,<br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">of myself trying on shoes <em>in the store!</em><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"> i think me and kate could possibly be bff, don't you?<br /></div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2230299290624083523.post-33883578804545909342009-11-11T12:06:00.000-08:002010-09-27T15:43:22.335-07:00cheater, cheater, pumpkin eater.....This morning I woke up and it felt like fall. The floor was cold. Matthew had slept (on the floor, next to the perfectly good bed) with his window wide open all night so the hall was freezing, well maybe 65, but freezing nonetheless. The sky was cloudy and I thought to myself yes! finally! This is the day fall will start. So we had a Fall breakfast to celebrate! <br /><br />drum roll please.......<br /><br />I give you <strike>pumkpin pie</strike> pumpkin pancakes.....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SvsXZeFIBXI/AAAAAAAABZ8/ECshlOll6u8/s1600-h/pancake1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SvsXZeFIBXI/AAAAAAAABZ8/ECshlOll6u8/s640/pancake1.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SvsXhG4p_KI/AAAAAAAABaE/HvpK9aBwIOE/s1600-h/pancake2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pgI-sZx9f_Y/SvsXhG4p_KI/AAAAAAAABaE/HvpK9aBwIOE/s640/pancake2.jpg" /></a><br /></div>these are the only photos because as <u>soon</u> as they were flipped onto a plate they were gone. Just imagine a pretty plate with a pile of pancakes, some melting butter, with syrup slipping down the sides and maybe, just maybe a cloud of whip cream on top with some pecans...... yea, that's what it looked like to me too! Plus they kinda tasted like warm pumpkin pie!<br /><div style="text-align: right;"><em>*get the recipe <a href="http://thisgirlcancook.blogspot.com/2009/11/pumpkin-pancakes.html">here</a></em><br /></div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10664057972509701019noreply@blogger.com0