Ya THINK??

So we were watching “Marley and Me” the other night, and there’s the scene where Jennifer Aniston’s character and Owen Wilson’s character are reading newspapers that they had each written an article for. The are reading each other’s articles. Being the supportive spouses and such. Owen Wilson works for a small paper and his article is really some blurb where the editor cut a bunch of it out and spell the character’s name wrong. Jennifer Aniston works for a large paper and has this huge article about something very important that continues on to another page and covers four columns of text.

Ches says, “That would be so hard, to be married and do the same thing but not have the same results.”

I just looked at him. Yeah. I don’t know how that feels at all.

Sad

I know everyone is talking about it, but I’m sad. I’m a bit in shock. I can’t believe Michael Jackson is gone. One of my earliest memories of good music was lip synching and dancing to “Billie Jean” with my best friend. When I was 12 and babysitting late at night, I would watch Friday Night Videos. I remember watching the videos to “Billie Jean”, “Bad”, and “Thriller”. I was scared to death of the last one, but those dancing zombies were amazing to me, even then. Michael Jackson with his moonwalk and one sparkly gloved hand was a huge part of my childhood. I just can’t believe he is gone.

The past several years have been tough on Michael Jackson. I’m not here to say what he did wrong or could have done wrong or whatever. All I know is that music lost one of it’s all time greatest performers today. My thoughts and prayers are with the MJ’s children, family, and loved ones.

Also, additional thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of Ed McMahon and Farrah Fawcett. Ed McMahon is just an iconic figure in entertainment, and while I was never a fan of Farrah Fawcett, I can’t say that her loss doesn’t matter. It has been a very sad couple of days in the world of entertainment.

Stranger Danger

I’m not a morning person. I think we all know that. It’s just not pretty to wake me up too early. However, I have three little boys that repeatedly wake up much earlier that I would like. Normally I can get them a snack or a cup of milk, turn on the computer or a movie, and I can go back to sleep for a good hour with no problems. Aiden is at the age where he takes care of himself, and I like it that way.

This morning was a typical morning. I was sound asleep, Ches had gone in to the school before anyone else woke up to get some work done, and Aiden and Dallin woke up and started to play. I thought I could hear Star Wars talk, so I assumed they were playing Lego Star Wars or one of the many computer games they found websites for. The sun was shining, and I could hear some landscapers outside that the HOA hired to trim trees and such. Aiden and Dallin are having a lot of fun and their voices are getting louder and louder. It’s annoying, but I’m too tired to get up and tell them to be quiet.

After a while, I realize that Aiden and Dallin aren’t on the computer. I don’t hear the TV. They are still talking, and I hear them yelling things about our vacation and I can hear voices talking back to them. Now suddenly wide awake, I get up and find the two boys at one of the upstairs windows, talking to the landscapers. It wouldn’t be too big of a deal, except for what Aiden was telling them. And by telling, I mean shouting. For the entire neighborhood to hear.

Aiden told them we are going on vacation, exactly where we are going on vacation, what we are going to do on vacation, and the day we leave for vacation.

I was livid! These men seem nice enough to talk to my boys while they are working (they talked about trees and Star Wars and such, too), but they are strangers and who’s to say one of them isn’t going to come back and see what stuff we have in our house while we’re gone? Or anyone out for a walk? Now I’m going to be worried the entire time we’re gone. If Aiden wasn’t so young, I’d be tempted to leave him home from vacation and let him deal with any intruders!!! ARGH!

These kids will be the death of me.

Giveaway Blogs

It seems that there are a lot of blogs out there with giveaways these days. It’s great. I like to enter in the hopes of winning a new laptop, a pair of jeans, ice cream, a new book, or whatever. I am, however, noticing an alarming (to me) trend to these giveaways. Most of them have these amazingly complicated rules on how to enter. It used to be that you could just leave a comment, and be done with it. Now, however, you have to leave a comment AND subscribe as a follower to the blog AND post something on Facebook (leaving your link of said posting) AND post something on Twitter (again, leaving your link) AND mention the giveaway on your own blog (yet again leaving your link) AND hand over custody of your first-born…

Okay, maybe it’s a little bit of an exaggeration, but you get the idea. I do not want to have to go through 15 step just to enter a giveaway. Yes, I would love to win the prize, but why does it have to be so hard? If you asked me to mention something on my blog, I would. But if you are making it a requirement for my entry in your contest, it just rubs me the wrong way. Why are you making life so hard for us? And I don’t want to subscribe to a bunch of blogs. I have links on my own blog to what I like to read. There are more than enough there. I don’t need more things sent to my email, and I don’t need something else to sign in to just to read blogs. I like the system I have, so don’t mess with it.

Basically, I just don’t enter that many giveaways. I want to, but I don’t want to mess with it. So now you know there are better chances for you to win (if you want to go through the hassle, that is).

Inconceivable!!

If you are a Cake Wrecks fan, you will probably already have seen this post. If not, you must go there right now. Especially if you love The Princess Bride (and who doesn’t love The Princess Bride?? You’d have to be inhuman to not love it!!) And for everyone, read all the comments. Yes, there are 188 comments, but they are worth reading. I’m still laughing.

Summer Break is HERE

Yesterday was Aiden’s last day of first grade. He came home from a day of play with his excellent report card (which has me beaming a little!! Other than the talking and throwing fits when he things don’t go his way, his teachers think he is wonderful and smart and all that good stuff), a t-shirt that all the kids in his class signed, and a stack of papers to put in the box under his bed. It was a tough year in many respects, but he made it. He’s looking forward to second grade and a new school (which he mistakenly keeps calling “Centipede Elementary”. Cracks me up!).

Last night was graduation at the high school Ches teaches at. It didn’t get rained out this year like last year, but it did start to rain towards the end of the ceremony. It rained hard enough that while names were still being called Ches had his kids put their instruments away and take the percussion equipment back to the band room. The sound guys were starting to get worried about their equipment, but the end of the line came, the closing remarks were cut short, the Alma Mater was not sung, and graduation was done! End of another year for Ches.

Ches had to go in early this morning and finish cleaning and do his end of year check out. He will sleep in tomorrow.

I thought we’d sleep in today. I’m not a morning person, and I think it’s perfect acceptable to sleep in until 9 am. I know my kids, however, so I thought we’d be up at 8.

The little monsters were up and playing at 6 am. SIX A-FREAKING-M. It is summer break and they get up at 6 in the morning??? WHAT are they thinking??? They’d better not do this to me all summer.

Oh wait. Ches will be home. He’s a morning person. He can get up with them and I’ll sleep. YAY!

It’s going to be a fun summer. We’re headed to Florida in June for a week, and at the end of July we go to Montana for a family reunion. The rest of the days will be spent in the pool, at the Science Center, at the park (although that will be kind of rare in this heat), and at home playing games, reading books, and doing whatever I can think of that doesn’t destroy the house. I LOVE SUMMER BREAK.

Edward Who?

My mom has been on my case for years to come get my “stuff”. She is tired of dragging my childhood books and toys and journals across the country every time she moves. I can’t say I blame her, as I haven’t gotten my stuff because until we settle down and get our own house, I refuse to drag that stuff across the country. That and we don’t have any place to store it. Anyway, Mom has come up with a clever plan to get rid of my stuff… just start sending me things. For the past couple of years I get random boxes in the mail filled with my old books. I finally requested specific books so I can be sure to get what I want (still waiting for The Secret Garden, Charly, and Little Women — of which I have about four copies!!!) and will read or read with Aiden.

The most recent box held my Anne of Green Gables series. Since I finished Three Cups of Tea, I needed something light to read and I don’t think I’ve read any Anne books in about 15 years. It has been like going home after a long time away. I had forgotten just how lovely and descriptive L.M. Montgomery writes. I had forgotten just how funny and delightful I find Anne. And I had forgotten all about my crush on Gilbert Blythe.

Oh, Gilbert Blythe! My first literary love. In my imagination he was so cute (and once I saw the movies, I was so glad the actor lived up to my expectations. That doesn’t happen often enough). Gilbert is so steady and sure and wonderful! Sends my heart a-flutter to remember all about Gilbert.

Like millions of girls out there, I will admit to having a huge crush on Edward Cullen, but honestly, he just doesn’t hold a candle to Gilbert Blythe. There will always be an extra special place in my heart for my first love. Other loves come and go, but your first just stays with you. Even in imaginary characters.

I was trying to think of some of my other literary crushes. Mr. Darcy, of course, and Teddy (from L. M. Montgomery’s Emily of New Moon series) popped in my head right away. I remember wishing I would someday find a guy like in so many of Jack Weyland’s characters. I read a lot of teenage romances in 7th grade. It was a series of books called “Couples”. In my group of friends we all read them, and we all kind of adopted a character to be ourselves. Mine was a shy, petite, brunette named Holly. Her boyfriend in the series was Emerson (his last name… don’t remember his first name. He was mainly called by his last name), a large, jovial football player who was absolutely devoted to Holly. So, since I was Holly, of course I had a crush on Emerson. I wanted an Emerson.

Ahhh, the memories. It’s really funny to me now, but don’t expect me to talk about much else on my Facebook status for a while. I’m back with my first love, Gilbert Blythe.

Who did you have a literary crush on?

Random Friday

I just have a few announcements.

Tonight we are having our pictures done with Blue Lily. Remember how I won a photo session from the blog Seriously, So Blessed! last October or something? Finally getting to use it. I am so excited! I bought me a new shirt, bought Ches a new shirt, and have some (I think) cute/cool clothes for the boys. I’m just sad it’s 104 out today. I really would rather we were wearing long sleeves, but Ches nixed that right off. Don’t blame him. Sweating, dehydrated people would not look good in a photo!

Aiden has less than 2 weeks of school left. Crazy!!

I got a new printer!!! One of the staff members at my school brought in her old printer and said whoever wants it can have it. I asked her about it, and she said it’s old… like 6 years. I laughed. Our printer (which is basically not useable now) is 11 years old. It’s a bubble jet. She said, “What’s a bubble jet?” and that just told me that must mean it’s really old. Anyway, my “new” printer is also a copier/scanner. So I can finally show off some old photos!!! YAY! Now, I just have to figure out how to hook it up…

I’m reading Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin for book club this month. It really is an inspiring story. I’ve only got about 70 more pages left to read. I like it, but I have to warn you that it isn’t the easiest read. It’s written by a journalist and really has that journalism feel. Not bad if you’re reading a story in a magazine or a feature article in the paper, but hard if you want to read a novel. Nothing about it is a typical novel. In style. However, the story is wonderful!!! Go get it from the library or buy it today. Right now. My blog will still be here when you get back.

A teenage girl in our ward sent out an email saying that she is saving money to go to EFY this summer, so she is offering cookie dough for sale. And tomorrow night she is holding a “mom’s night out”. From 6 to 9 pm she will take our kids for $5 per kid, and this gives the dads an opportunity to take their wives out for mother’s day. I’m so excited!! Ches has this girl in his orchestra and talked to her about it. She said there are about 40 kids coming. I don’t think she expected that big a turn out. She also wants to do this once a month, but is thinking of making an attendance cap or something. Limit it at 15 to 20 kids. She is enlisting her entire family to help out tomorrow night, I think. heh. But now Ches and I are going to celebrate our anniversary (11 years on May 2nd, baby!!) and see Star Trek or something.

I love Pandora. Thanks for introducing me, Kenyon. I’m listening to my Paramore station right now. I need to learn lots of Paramore songs because I’m seeing them in TWO WEEKS. That’s right. No Doubt and Paramore in Phoenix, and I get to go!!!! My first concert. I couldn’t be more excited. Anyway, it’s cool to listen to Paramore and other groups of a similar style (according to Pandora). I like everything they put on there.

I had a dream last night that I had hip surgery and needed to walk with a cane, so I got this really cool carved wood cane. And I was super excited for the changes it would bring me, namely that I would be able to go running with Alyson this summer. Then today I read Karen’s blog and April’s status on Facebook. I must be thinking about the two of you a lot. More than I realized!

And Alyson, I’m still not running with you and Em. You guys have fun. I’ll just seclude myself in my tent and read a book.

We finally made a decision about Aiden’s schooling for next year. We are sending him to another elementary school in this district (it is actually a K-8 school. All the schools in this district are. I hate it, but that’s another story for another day). It’s going to be brand new next year, and they are starting a Gifted program there. It’s the inclusive classes (I can’t remember if that’s what it’s called). It’s where they have classes of just gifted kids. The classes don’t start until 3rd grade, and Aiden is going into 2nd, but this way he’ll have a year to get used to the school and he’ll be in a cluster class of kids he’ll be with the next year anyway. This school is also expected to have a very low enrollment over all (there’s a loooooong story behind that, which I won’t go into right now), and while class sizes will probably be the same size, I’m hoping things will be more personal in general. Aiden needs that. Oh, and Ches will be teaching a band class at that school, so it will be nice for Aiden to know that his dad is on campus. He will still be pulled out of his classroom next year to work with the gifted advocate on a regular basis, so we won’t be taking another year off from that. This year was just a mess. It’s not the gifted advocate’s fault. She is very busy and I just haven’t been proactive enough… lots of stuff going on… anyway. I will be quite involved next year and it will be a great year for Aiden, I’m just sure of it. So… there you go. For those of you who were wondering.

Have a great weekend, everyone!!!

The Things They Say

I know I complain about my job quite a bit, but I really do like it. There is a really good vibe at my school and I get along with all the teachers there. Everyone is super nice and helpful, and I get to talk to Sarah (who was in my ward before we moved out here). The kids can be super fun and cute, too.

In many of my toddler classes, we have been reading a book and singing songs about a safari and jungle animals and the like. I decided to “take” the kids on a bear hunt. You know: “Goin’ on a bear hunt (Goin’ on a bear hunt)/ I’m not afraid (I’m not afraid)” and so on until you come to an obstacle, then it’s “Can’t go over it/ Can’t go under it/ Can’t go around it…”

Well, we got to a wide river and I said to the 2 year olds “Got to swim through it.” As most of us started to move our arms and “swim”, little J piped up with “Well, to swim I need to put on my Michael Phelps goggles.”

The assistant and I laughed so hard. Of course you need Michael Phelps goggles to swim. Silly us!!

A couple weeks ago we were about to read a book about beetles (the kids had just done stuff with lady bugs in their garden) and I asked my other 2 year old class “Who knows what a beetle is?” thinking that they would see the pictures on the front of this book and make a guess (like “a ladybug!!”).

Most of the kids start yelling things out about bugs, but sweet little R says, “I know that they sing Obladee obladah life goes on… Those are The Beatles, Sariah.”

Again, I started to laugh, then told R just how awesome he is. Those are The Beatles. Just not the beetles we were talking about!

I don’t know where the kids come up with some of these crazy things, but they sure make me laugh. And laugh for the rest of the day. And that one statement out of any of them is enough to keep me going.

Don’t Assume You Know Me…

You know what I’m sick of? I’m sick of people assuming they know what I think or feel or believe. I’m sick of people assuming I believe in certain things or my politics are a certain way just because of the church I go to or the neighborhood I live in.

You know, the only real reason why I am even a member of a certain political party is because I wanted to vote in the presidential primaries. I do not agree with everything in that party. Nor do I agree with anything in any party. I do not let political parties define me. Why should I let you define me?

As to how I voted on certain “hot button” issues… I have many complex reasons for exactly why I voted the way I did. I do not expect to be agreed with, and most of the reasons I have are so personal I am not willing to share with everyone. I’m especially not going to share them with someone who has already made a decision and closed their mind down to any other possibilities.

I do not get into political debates. Most people do not actually discuss politics. They argue and talk and yell and do not listen to the other side. They are so busy making their point and trying to prove their point that they are not giving any thought of validity to the other side. I hate the contention that discussing politics brings about. I refuse to debate or even “discuss” politics with you because I don’t feel like my opinions are even being listened to.

I hate the assumptions that people make of me as I avoid politics. It is assumed that I don’t care as much. Or that I’m not smart enough. Or that I’m too ignorant to see “the right side” of the discussion. I am none of those. I care very deeply about my country, my state, my town. I care very deeply about people and society in general. I care about my family and how things affect my daily life. But I am not willing to get into the arguments for argument’s sake. I am smart enough. I will do research on a subject that interests me and make decisions to the best of my ability. I am not a stupid person by any means. I am also not ignorant. Just because I don’t seem to believe in the same things as you does not mean that I am ignorant.

Or naive. I was called naive recently. I am not naive. Again, I have done enough research and I have had enough experiences that I feel I can make an informed decision as well as have an opinion. Do not scoff at me because my life is on a different path than yours.

At first glance I probably do look like your typical 30-something, married, mother, Mormon, Arizona, white woman. At at first glance, my beliefs may reflect that, also. But everything is far more complex and deep. Don’t assume you know me and lump me into your narrow categories. You don’t know anything about me.