Wednesday's Wall Words

A conversation with Natalie

If you were a fly on the wall at my house, you might hear this conversation.
(setting: Natalie sitting at the table coloring a picture of the Mayflower, reciting to herself a poem. I'm fixing dinner Jared in the other room doing who knows what.)
Natalie: "In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Mom? How old were you in 1492?"
(Loud laughing from the other room)
Jared: "Ya, Mom, how old were you in 1492?"
(more laughing from the other room)
Janalynn: "I wasn't born in 1492"
Natalie: "you mean you weren't alive when Columbus came to America?"
(louder laughing from the other room)
Janalynn: silent gives no answer.

Tuesday's Top Ten

Being the week of Thanksgiving, I thought it would be appropriate to list the top ten things I am THANKFUL for.
10. Automatic Washer, Dryer, Dishwasher (all major appliances)
9. Indoor plumbing, heating, air conditioning (My Home)
8. Modern Medicine
7. Employment
6. Health
5. Friends
4. My Parents, and siblings
3. My Children
2. Jared (He's just happy to be in the top ten)
And the #1 Thing I am Thankful for is...
1. My Testimony of the Gospel.

The Day After....

Thank You Laura! I knew Laura would come through for me. She made this video. She knows how to have a good time. (I talked to her this morning on the phone. I won't blog our conversation, lets just say...There was A LOT of active, not so good, hormones at the movies). I'm still standing my ground on "Twilight"

I'm In The "Twilight" Zone!!

WARNING: If you are a "Die-Hard Twilight Fan" over the age of 19, Please do not read this post. (I still love you Laura, and Becky!)

I'll admit it. I've read all the Twilight books, one right after the other. I'll even admit, that they were a VERY fun read. I will continue to admit that I really enjoy Stephanie Meyers writings, and her creativity. But I'm going to stop there!!

Really? Really? Come on now. Can you really lust after a Vampire? I had to laugh at "Edwards" description. All on the same page mind you. End of page 18 to the top of 19, I'll type straight out of the book,

"And yet, they were all exactly alike. Every one of them was CHALKY PALE, the pales of all the students living in this sunless Town. Paler than me, the albino. They all had very dark eyes despite the range in hair tones. They also had DARK SHADOWS UNDER THOSE EYES-PURPLISH, BRUISED-LIKE SHADOWS. As if they were all suffering from a sleepless night, or almost done recovering from a BROKEN NOSE. But all this is not why I couldn't look away. I stared because their faces, so different, so similar,were all devastatingly, inhumanly beautiful."

I don't think I was Ever turned on by this description. Maybe I'm weird, but pale, cold, sparkling skin, just doesn't do it for me. Enough of the description. I can forgive my girls falling for a Rich Kid who can give them the world. However my girls ARE in high school, and sure they can imagine BOYS are like this. But if your not in high school....Are you in la-la Land? Why in the world would want someone that controlling? (High schoolers can only see the money, they don't see how controlling he is). Sure we would all loved to be saved from harm time and time again, but can you say "STALKER"! Book Two I was warned was the "Boring" Book, because Edward was hardly in it. Now I have to disagree. I thought Jacob's story was much more realistic other than he was a Werewolf. However, his not-so-sure-of-himself was more endearing. Always trying and getting turned down was more like boys in my high school days. Which brings me to my last and final "Beef" of the Books. HELLO!! This book is about teenagers!! They think and act like teenagers. I am NOT a teenager. I have no problems with my TEENAGERS going nuts over the books, but if you are NOT a teenager....What am I missing? Do you secretly wish your high school days were like Bella's? I don't understand the attraction. Help me out here, give me your comments. Really I want to know why older women in their late 20's and 30's are so obsessed with these books!!

My girls are both going to go to the opening movie tonight. I was asked if I was going, I wasn't sure if the person asking was serious. LOL!! I wouldn't go to any opening movie. I could maybe understand if the movie was only going to play one time, but I believe most movies are in theatres for a least 3 months. Do I really feel it necessary to stay up in the cold, loose sleep and be with a bunch of teenagers, just to see a movie that I can see some other time, with less people? Ok really I'm done!! BTW Kailey informs me since I haven't gone to any movie opening night, I don't know what I'm missing. (Exactly). She LOVES going opening nights to movies, but then again, she's a teenager.

Utah Weddings

Bride and Groom - Daneila and Jack
Mother of the Groom (my sister Susan)

I paid big bucks to dance with my nephew!

Natalie and Jack

Porter and Daniela

Yesterday, my nephew Jack, was married. he married a beautiful, sweet girl, Daniela, who is Mexican descent. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple. This was the morning after the 2,000 people protest at the temple. I was a little afraid, that there would be some protesters still there, however, there were none. It was beautiful day. Afterwards the wedding breakfast was held at the church. Cafe Rio style tacos and salads was served. The reception was what was the high light. The reception started out quite typical of "UTAH" style receptions go. Ward members of my nephew's and sister's came, formed a line, congratulated the couple, sat at a table, ate their mint/peanut cup and cake with slush, and left. Daneila's friends, and family, came half way through, and the fun started. Now I am so sheltered here in Utah, and for the most part have not participated in too many weddings or receptions, other than "Utah Style" When the mariachi band came in and the Latino dancers, I was excited. They sang and danced and entertained. Mexican pastries, and flan was brought out, and the party began. Starting was the Wedding dance. The couple danced, then we started to pin money on either the bride or groom to have the chance to dance with them. Everyone got involved. It was a lot of fun. My kids had a blast. The most humorous however, was when the DJ played "Boot scootin' Boogie" Ironic to see a bunch of Mexicans doing a country dance. I laughed the whole song. (I have no idea how this got recorded sideways. too much laughing I guess).

Shopping Done Right

I Love to Shop! I think most reading, could probably agree with me that it's enjoyable to shop. I don't mean you have to buy everything you see, just looking sometimes and find the newest and latest things out there. I don't particularly like to shop for a certain item, cause I get too frustrated, because I feel like I'm racing against time, to get to all the stores to find that one item, and then to get it at the best price. I just like to more or less BROWSE. I love to search the clearance racks and find the best deal. I love to shop at stores that have unique things, that you usually can't find elsewhere,(however, I tend to buy more at these stores, therefore don't shop there often). Today I am making a shopping list. Whenever a list is involved, it immediately takes the fun out, and a list usually involves food. This is one type of shopping I DO NOT like. In the past I've had Jared go for me......although I don't like to go, sometimes it's better for us all if Dad doesn't go.
These are the top 10 reasons that Grocery Shopping is not a favorite of mine.
1. 50% of the time I leave my list at home.
2. 50% of the time I forget an item or two on my list and don't realize it until I'm checking out.
3. 99% of the time, I'm buying just STUFF, without a clue when I'm going to use it, or cook it.
4. For some reason, I keep buying peanut butter, and tomato soup. I always think we're out, but, my pantry is over stocked with these items.
5. For some reason, I keep forgetting to buy bread and eggs.
6. 50% of the time the clerk doesn't put the rest of my groceries in while I'm paying, and then I end up walking out with out a bag or two.
7. 10% of the time, I'll buy all the stuff for a great recipe but never make it. A year later, while cleaning out my pantry, wonder why the heck I bought molasses.
8. The Ice cream isle.
9. I know I need to buy fresh vegetables..come on I just can't get myself excited to buy fresh, and hurry home to use it before it goes bad,
10. Where is the canned pumpkin? does it belong in the canned veggies? Or the baking isle? (the stores, won't make up their minds.) And on that note, lemon juice. Come on now, is it really a juice? Right next to the Kool-aid?
Help me out here. How do you make Grocery shopping more enjoyable. Oh and if I have to take a child with me, I just WILL NOT GO!! So all you mom's out there, who has to have a take-a-long, Well I guess I do have it better than you! I'm so sorry!!
Question for all you Grocery Shoppers
1. Do you shop at different grocery stores?
2. Do you stick to a list?
3. Do you add match?
4. What is the most unbearable thing to you about grocery shopping?
5. About what price range do you spend on a weeks worth of groceries?
6. What are some items you always run out of, or keep buying?

If you can't tell, I'm stalling. I don't wanna GO!!

Yea! Yea! Time To Put Halloween AWAY!!

Don't ge t me wrong, I LOVE Halloween! It kicks off the Holliday season, I love to decorate the yard, the fun costumes and parties, it's just a lot of work! I have 15 years of costumes now in 2 large totes. These costumes get out on October 1st and are strung all over my home until November 1st. I have so many mix and matches, that my kids love to go though them and pick and choose all month long. I think I add an extra load of laundry each week trying to keep the costumes clean. I try not to make a big deal about getting into them, because this is a fun time for them, to pretend and get excited, besides this way they can be more than one character, for each activity they go to. However, I am glad to gather them all up and put them away until next year!
This year for preschool, I was a witch. I had a LONG gray wig, that kept getting in my way. After the day was done, I was reminded why I liked my hair short. Our ward carnival and trunk-or-treating, Jared went as white trash, and I went as...I'm not sure what I was, I used the same LONG gray wig, dumped the witch dress. I guess I was a cross between a hippie and a biker chick- or maybe white trash too. Anyways Kelsey was a black cat, Kailey "Judy Sparks" the girl with long red hair on Guitar Hero, and Natalie a witch. Porter claimed he was a "Dead Skeleton" He wore a pirate's hat with his skeleton costume. (I think he was thinking about Pirate's of the Caribbean). Natalie was Rapunzel for her school party and a fairy for trick-or-treating. When it was time to dress for trick-or-treating, Porter didn't want to get into his costume. He told me that he just wanted to be "Letter Man" when I asked who letter man was he said."someone who wears letters on his shirt like me." I laughed and suggested he be spiderman. His response was "I'll just be Peter Parker." Needless to say he just put on his jacket and grabbed his basket and went as is. (He is totally Jared's son!)

Carnival, Natalie as a Witch

Mr. and Mrs. White Trash? Skeleton PorterSchool Party Rapunzel Peter Parker Porter
Fairy and Porter Parker

Annual Pumpkin Carving

Halloween isn't Halloween if you don't spend a ooey, gooey, night of carving pumpkins. We had our good friends, the Barkers, over. This is our 2nd year carving pumpkins with them. We had taco soup, apple cider and lots of pumpkin seeds. A fun night for us all.