TO THE LADY IN THE TRUCK AT THE BANK DRIVE THROUGH. . .

Okay here is a little tip for ya. Ready?



Windows are see-through. Really. So when your digging for gold and plucking your chin and neck hairs while you wait for the teller to give you your cash, people can see you. Rather, I can see you. And the teller can see you, and the people inside the bank can see you. You see glass goes both ways. Out and in. And really, I would normally just have looked the other way, but since you were in between me and the teller, I had to look your way. And I had to see you straining to pluck those hairs out of your neck, and digging deeper than any adult should. Ever. Especially in public. And it was gross. Really gross. And I threw up in my mouth a little bit.



And the worst part? When you did finally notice that other people could see you and looked my way. I realized that I knew you. And really? Not one of my favorite people. And frankly, because I'm a nice person, I won't call you out in public by name because I'm sure 90% of my readers know you. So, I will keep this little post anonymous. But please. For the love of all that is holy: KEEP THE TWEEZERS AT HOME!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

TUESDAY'S TIP: O TANNENBAUM!

So last year after Christmas my in-laws decided to give away their tree and get a pre-lit tree, so lucky us, we inherited their old one! Score! The only problem is, it's HUGE! Which is great, but since we've only been a family for about 7 years, we don't really have all that many ornaments. And since I didn't have a whole lot of money to spend on decorations this year, (I bought a few strands of garland from target, a couple boxes of jingle bell ornaments and lights) so I decided to improvise. And improvise I did. I decided to fill in the gaps with some Christmas cards from last year. And then as they have been arriving all month, we've been replacing them.

And I absolutely love it. Not only do they fill in the gaps well, but every time I look at the tree I am reminded of what Christmas is really all about. The birth of Christ, love, families, and all our wonderful blessings (friends & family). We are truly are seriously so blessed (ha, ha, I know).

Hope you are all having a fabulous Christmas Eve Eve!

TRAGIC NEWS FROM UP NORTH. . .

Got this in an e-mail forward today and actually laughed out loud. Merry Christmas!

NEIL FRIGGIN DIAMOND

Okay, so Friday night.

I wasn't the least bit excited to go see this concert. Partly cause it was Neil, and partly cause it was a work thing for Hubs, and honestly, I don't do the corporate wife thing very well. Makes me nervous cause I have a slight problem with diarrhea of the mouth. I say, seriously, the stupidest things ever sometimes. Needless to say, we went and ended up having a total blast.

So, a few hours before the concert started they had a dinner, games, and mingling. The dinner wasn't all that great, but I will tell you what was. PLINKO! Yep, walked away with twenty bucks. Hubs only got a key chain. Ha! Next a little Wii Mario Kart. Which I totally smoked Hubs in again. And it got me really excited for our Wii we got for Christmas. I'm sure there is already a re-match scheduled somewhere in Hub's super-competitive head of his. And the best part? At all of these little game stations if you won you got raffle tickets where they drew for a bunch of different prizes. And I seriously, I bet had 100 raffle tickets in that big thing. Then they finally drew for all the prizes except for the last two items, which ended up being the prize of all prizes. And who's name did they call? Hubs. Seriously. He maybe had 20 tickets in there and he ends up winning. Who in the heck is that lucky? But what did he win? Upgraded ninth row on the floor tickets to tonight's concert! The price on the tickets said $122 each, but I heard they were going for like $300 a piece. Score! (The other tickets were up in a suite).

And in all honesty, Hubs and I were going to sneak out after the first few songs of the concert since they had pushed back the start time due to the snow and we didn't want to have our sitter out too late. But then, we won the tickets on the floor, and well, we had to rock those. And they were AWESOME. And Neil? The guy can rock. It was amazing. I have no idea how he travels all over the country performing at 67. It's incredible. But to be honest, I've never in my life seen so many oxygen tanks at a concert. Hubs and I were just laughing cause we were the youngest people there by at least 20 years. Seriously. The entire row behind us were these white haired ladies all screaming for Neil. How fun.

And Hubs especially liked it, cause he's never been to a concert on the floor. EVER. And it's true, pretty much any concert on the floor is a totally different experience. It seriously makes it so much better. I mean, really, I saw Janet Jackson 2nd row floor when I was 15 and that my friends, THAT was a show. To be honest, not a lot going on with the Neil Diamond show (alot of walking, and winking), but it was still great live music. And you can bet I was dancing my ace off during Forever in Blue Jeans, and Sweet Caroline. Made me think back on all the great concerts I've been to in that arena. Paula Abdul, Salt N Peppa, Janet Jackson, Counting Crows, and a bunch of others that I can't think of at the moment. But yeah. So here are some pictures from our fun night out.

THANKS FOR THE GREAT NIGHT INSIDEOUT OFFICE INTERIORS. NEIL DIAMOND FRIGGIN ROCKS!

SINGLE LADIES? THIS IS FOR YOU

Funniest Single Ladies mock I've seen yet. Enjoy!

I AM TOTALLY SERIOUS ABOUT EVERY SINGLE WORD IN THIS POST

Okay, so this is just a little glimpse into my oh so very near future.

Just look at him rockin' it out his glitter shirt! But the thing that gets me about this little performance, is that well, it was TEN YEARS AGO!!! Um, what? The guy has some pretty sweet moves. I might have to steal some of them, for the next time I'm at a disco party. Honestly, I wasn't even a bit excited to go to this thing, except for the fact that it's a night out with Hubs without our precious offspring, but now, after watching this beauty of a clip, I am TOTALLY STOKED. I hope he rocks it tonight! Actually, I hope he doesn't rock it too hard and have a stroke or a heart attack or something.

Tonight is gonna be so sweet. At the very least, it should provide some good old people watching. And you better believe I'm gonna be rockin' my blue jeans.

MY DAILY LIFESAVER

Thanks to my friend Kris and her brilliant post, this little guy, aptly named Prince Noah The Elf, sits high on our shelf, as a constant reminder to Thing 1 and Thing 2 that they better be nice and obey their mother, clean up their rooms, keep their hands to themselves, or else! Seriously, best bribing tool EVER! You are supposed to bring this out during the holidays so Santa's elf can watch and report. Do you think the 4th of July is too soon to break him out next year?
Thanks Kris!

NEIGHBORHOOD GIFTS. . .

CHECK!

So, I can't tell you how much fun I had doing neighborhood gifts this year. And again, keeping with my cheap theme, I did them all for under $10. Wahoo!

Okay, so I needed something fun and a little nicer for some ladies I serve with in the Relief Society and so the first thing I did is check my gift card stash. And it just so happens that I had two Cactus & Tropical gift cards that I'd gotten from my mother for Valentines day and my birthday or anniversary or something. Which is so nice of her, but really, me and Plants (ironically) don't really mix very well. I usually end up killing them. And quickly. And then I feel all guilty and bad, so I don't usually do live flowers and plants. Unless they come already cut and you can put them in a vase and then they are supposed to die within a week or so. Just too much guilt. So anyhoo, I had about $85 on the cards, and I went in, and they had the cutest mini poinsettias. Ever. So I snagged up a bunch for gifts. And the cost to me in all this? $0.00, actually I was over by like .32 cents or something. Awesome, right? Thank you Momma!

Don't they look so cute? I love mini things. Just so charming.

Then, for my other neighbors and friends, I decided to make this awesome fudge I found via the Short Stop blog while I was perusing recipes using sweetened condensed milk. I was at Costco last week and picked up sweetened condensed instead of evaporated. Drat! Just what I needed. A Costco size load of sweetened condensed milk. But, luckily I found this little recipe. And lets be honest here folks, not only do I not have a green thumb, I also can't really cook. At all. Seriously. But I went searching for something simple And I found it. And it was soooooooo easy. Soooooo inexpensive. And sooooooo good. If you need an easy (and I mean easy. 5 ingredients people), yummy, cheap idea for neighborhood gifts, then please by all means, indulge yourself and your friends.

Chocolate Fudge

adapted from several others...

12 ounces (1 bag) milk chocolate chips

2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, optional (cuts the sweetness, which I prefer)

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

dash salt

Combine chocolate chips, unsweetened chocolate, and sweetened condensed milk into medium saucepan. Heat at lowest setting possible until chocolate has melted.Stir in vanilla and salt. Thoroughly combine.Spread mixture into foil-lined 8x8-inch baking dish. Refrigerate for at least two hours.Remove fudge by lifting foil out of pan. Peel away foil, and cut fudge into squares, or with cookie cutter.

And if you happen to be super crafty and have a mini star cookie cutter you could make your fudge like this, instead of just in boring old squares.

Aren't these adorable? Again with the mini. Too fun!

MY CRAFTY GENE EMERGES

So, for Christmas this year for Thing 2, I decided to go with a kitchen theme. I got this little set for her from Costco. I love that it's red, cause it will go perfectly along a wall in my own kitchen. And I also loved that it wasn't a butt load of money like some other sets I've seen. So, to go with the kitchen, I've bought her a bunch of wooden food and cookie sets, a metal pan set from Ikea, and a cute little tea set. I'm hoping she enjoys it. So, I wanted to get her a little RED apron to go with it, but after scouring Etsy and a half dozen traveling boutique shows, and being able to only find pink and blue and green aprons I decided to go ahead and make her one. Gutsy I know. I do have a sewing machine and thanks to Sue Hess sewing classes, I can actually sew pretty well. As long as there aren't zippers or buttons involved, I'm all set. So, I found this cute red cherry fabric and went to work. This is the finished product:

I'm pretty impressed with myself, actually. The neck has a Velcro closure, two huge pockets for cooking utensils, white ruffle edge, and a polka dot bow for a tie. I hope she likes it! Merry Christmas Thing 2!

TUESDAY'S TIP wrapping papper chargers

Hi y'all!

Today's tip comes courtesy of the crappy economy and upcoming tithing settlements. Last weekend we had a little dinner party and I needed a fun and inexpensive way to dress up our table. And where most people would use fancy shmancy things, I decided to use stuff I had, dollar store items, and wrapping paper. Here is how it turned out:


And the great thing about all of these items is the only this that is even slightly Christmasy is the wrapping paper. So I could use all of this again, swap out the paper and use different salad plates, and I have a whole new theme. Yay!

For the place settings I used basic white dinner plates. Dressed it up with a red salad plate I already had, and made the chargers out of some fun wrapping paper I found at the Basket loft. Add dollar store ribbon for the napkin holder, and dollar store party glasses and walla: The inexpensive party solution.

Plates, stemware and napkins: free.

Wrapping paper chargers: $6.99

10 fun party glasses: $10

Decorating for under $17: PRICELESS

ITSY, BITSY, TEENIE, WEENIE, METALIC, SILVER. . .

This, just might be the funniest thing I've read. Ever. Well, at least today. Check it out here.

YOU KNOW YOUR SICK WHEN. . .

• the house looks like a tornado hit, but you could care less.
• Thing 2 has painted an entire tube of pink glittery lip gloss all over her body (and now is paining a dish towel), and again, you could care less.
• Thing 1 is so bored that he is literally running around the house practicing his sliding moves on the wood floor, and even though it may look he is asking for a trip to the ER soon, you just can't quite seem to move off the couch.
• all you want to eat is tea, Tylenol, and thera flu.
• you were so desperate to feel even the least bit better, that you actually took some one's advice (against your better judgement) and rubbed Vick's on the bottom of your feet. Now you feel like crap and have gooey feet. yay.
• Never mind the wii and wii fit you asked for for Christmas. All you want this year is this:

Yes I feel like I might die any minute. Either from this evil cold, or from the fact that I've watched about 10 hours of the same Harry Potter movie (Did you know that before Edward was a vampire he was a wizard?) today. So why am I telling you all this? No, not for your pity, but rather to save you from the virus from Hell that has taken over my body. Here is your warning. It's out there. On shopping carts, doorknobs and little preschoolers boogie-nosed hands. And don't even for a minute start lecturing me about flu shots and such, cause I had one friends. I did. And this little beauty of a cold, is something else entirely. No little prick or sniff can save you from this torture. So. . .

I suggest you keep an extra-large tub of disinfectant on your back and start popping those airbornes/zicam/vitamin C's like they are candy. Seriously. You might look like Bob from What about Bob, but it will be worth it. Cause you won't feel this hellish pain. Consider yourself warned.


P.S. Thing2 is currently stuck in the toy cabinet. Is it bad that I'm considering not getting up? I sure hope Hubs gets home soon. Just kidding. I'm not that sick. But I did consider it.

FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY. . .

VOTE FOR ED!!!!!!!

Seriously, all you have to do is call this number:

1-866-613-0002

If you love me you will do this. Heck, even if you just tolerate me, and this silly blog, will you pretty please with a cherry on top, take 15 seconds and call that number. That is all. I swear. No one to talk too, nothing to say, just dial and hang up.

Okay, now let me tell you why this is of utmost importance.

• First of all, Ed has the coolest voice ever, and we have too darn much fun impersonating Ed to have him not be a part of the finale. It really would be tragic. Please vote for him, for his lazy southern drawl if for nothing else.
• He is better than Heba. Way better. That silly plea Heba put up on the screen was ridiculous. Heck, Ed already got kicked off the show, and then worked his butt of (literally) to get back onto the show, and you don't think he deserves to be there? Oh, and p.s. Heba, since you were actually the HEAVIEST women on campus, then it actually would have been EASIER for you to pull the same numbers and percentages that the other women were. Yes indeedy. A vote for Ed, is in fact, a vote against Heba. And just remember Heba is friends with Vicky. Eww.
• I know the only reason Ed gained those two pounds was cause the devil, oops, I mean Vicky talked him into it. And this just pisses me off. Cause if Ed would have just lost weight like everyone else than Vicky and Heba would have been below the yellow line, and everyone knows there is no way in the sam heck American would have let the devil in the finale. Then both Heba and Ed would have been in the finale. Which would have sucked, but would have been better than Vicky having a shot at it.
• Vote for Ed because I think that he won't bust his butt and lose as much weight, because he knows he is in competition with Heba, and he wants Heba to win. And if Ed gets in via votes, then Michelle will have a better chance at winning. And really, I'm not really so thrilled with Michelle, I just can't stand the other three, so yeah, I hope she wins.
• Did I mention Ed's sweet accent?

JUST VOTE FOR ED ALREADY!!!

And yes, I realize this is just a show. But it is a REALITY show, so it's kinda like real. Right? Yes, I know I need to get a life.

TUESDAY'S TIP teach your child to read

Today's tip comes courtesy of my cousin Laurie. I was telling her that Thing 1 is getting really excited about his letters and is eager to learn to read, but since he is my first, I had no idea how to teach him to read. I really felt like there was a window of opportunity and if I didn't fill it soon, it would go away. She suggested this book. It's Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons by Siegfried Engelmann. And let me just state for the record: THIS BOOK ROCKS!

We are only on lesson 10, but Thing 1 is reading! I'm serious. Only after 10 lessons, he gets it. Every letter has a sound, and he just sounds out the letters and he is reading. Even when we are driving in the car he will tell me what signs say, and stuff. It's way cool, and I love it! One thing that this book does that I really like, is at the end of each 10 minute lesson there is a writing portion. I got Thing 1 his own pad of learning-how-to-write lined paper (the one that looks like roads), and each day he does his writing on a new page. I don't let him write or color in this notebook except for our lessons. That way it can be his special reading/writing book. It's fun to see his progress from lesson one. I hope to keep it and put it in his scrapbook one day. And the best thing? He loves to write! And read! And being that I read about a two books a week, and therefore have a serious love of reading, I'm ecstatic to be passing on the joy that can be found in reading.

Seriously, it's my new bribe. Do you want to do your reading lesson? Then you must be nice to your sister. He literally cheers every time I tell him it's time for his lesson. I got him a few writing notebooks, and I keep one in my purse for trips in the car, doctors offices, and yesterday in church he literally sat and wrote his letters and numbers for 30 minutes straight!

So, if you are in the market to teach a youngster how to read, then I highly recommend this book. Ba-dum-dum.

OVER AT THE FAMILY BLOG. . .

Just wanted to let friends and family know that the rest of the Christmas photo shoot pictures are up over on the family blog. As well as Thing 2's dance performance video. Which is definitely good for a laugh. Hope you are all having a good one!

DEAR VICKY:

YOU SUCK!!!!

I am so friggin sick of Vicky. It's ridic. Just jump off the platform you frickin baby. Amy should have voted you off when she got the chance. I don't think I've ever hated someone on this show as much as I hate you. And hate is a very strong word. The only thing making me feel even a little bit better is the fact that she looked horrible after her "makeover". Yes, that is so vain and rude, but oh so true. I hope to Betsy that you retain fierce amounts of water this next week so that you will NOT be in the finals. Cause you suck!

I feel so much better now. Thankyou.

ETSY LOVE: JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Okay, so my new favorite addictive substance is Etsy. Seriously. So. Addictive.

Don't you just LOVE it? I mean, I could literally shop and search for hours. And have done so. But now, I don't need to feel even the least bit guilty. Why? Because with Christmas just around the corner I've decided to do the bulk of my gift shopping at Etsy and other boutiques with home/mom made items. The reason is two-fold.

First, I absolutely love to shop. Love. And I really love finding unique one of a kind items. It just gives me a thrill every time I find that perfect gift for that difficult-to-shop-for-someone. It's nice to know that the people I'm giving to won't be getting the same scarf and hat set from Old Navy that every other person alive is. It's the thrill of the hunt ya know. Finding the perfect one-of-a-kind gift that no one else will have. It sparks the artistic creative side in me. (And ignites my hunter-gather gene) And yes, I realize it would be much better if I myself made said gifts, but lets be real people. I'm the education counselor in the R.S; not the enrichment one. And really my problem mostly is that I have these great ideas, but then I'm not very crafty so that doesn't help. Apparently, when God was handing out gifts he snubbed me in the crafty department. Oh well. I'm over it.

And secondly, with America officially now finding itself in a recession, I feel that buying locally (somewhat) hand-made items the money goes directly to the hard-working individuals themselves, instead of some corporate Walmart-type CEO. Brills right? Cut out the middle man. Go straight to the crafty source. Fab-u-lous.

Okay, so to encourage you to shop Etsy this holiday season I've decided to link a few of my favorite etsy sites. These are some of the best-of-the-best. Truth be told there is alot of crap on Etsy. Lots of doily type toll-painted nightmares, but there is also a whole heckofalot of really super creative/talented people out there. And I think you should buy their stuff. So, here ya go. And if you are a relative, or expecting a gift from me this year, don't be bummed if you open your present come the 25th and it's no surprise, cause you saw it on here first. Fair warning, eh? Oh, and feel free to share your Etsy love knowledge with all my fabuloso Naptime readers and leave a comment with your favorite Etsy links. Come on. It's good for the economy, good for your wallet, and just plain fun. Happy Shopping!

• Silvia66 I am in la la la love with a few of these scarves and caplets. Perfect gift for that fashionista in your life. This one's got me drooling. And this one.
• Vol25 Found this etsy user via Aimee, and have bought a few of her prints. They would make a perfect gift for that certain someone who seems to have just about EVERYTHING. I have this one and absolutely love it.
• The Vintage Pearl These hand stamped necklaces would be perfect for Grammy don't you think?
• PosieandMe Okay, how about these adorable tooth pillows? Or the felt cookies and tea set?
• Retrofied These bags are just delish. Sister? Mother? New Mommy? Check.
• Knits By Knittin Mamma Have a kid? Or a neice? Or a nephew? Pretty sure these are the cutest knitted beanies for babies and kids I've ever seen. Ever. Oscar the grouch? Eyeore? Cupcake? Yes, please.
• VMJESS Know someone with a camera? Then these guys have got you covered. Cutest camera straps EVER.
• ChalkyDoodles Cutest oilcloth and chalkcloth aprons and tablecloths. So unique. So fun!
• RaimbowTree. Okay, so I have like 4 of these. And I love them. And I want this one now.
• Lucky Fiona Dog lover? Dunzo.
• A Bushel and a Peck How cute would these letters be in your best friend's house?
• Fandangled. Isn't this shirt a hoot? Your nephew is officially covered.
• The Full Spectrum. She is a local, and I have a few of her shirts. Too fun. How about this for that sister-in-law who just finished LotoJa?
• Another Local. Happy Little Artist. Love this.
• MD sparks Got a finicky teen? I bet she would love these. Or these.

Okay, I need to get back to life now. Have Fun, and please don't forget to share your fav Etsy links!

TUESDAY'S TIP Christmas Flicks

Get ready to set your Tivo's people, cause the annual Christmas TV extravaganza is about to begin. Oh, and your welcome.

Tues December 2 Santa Claus Is Coming' to Town Channel 4 7PM animated
Wed December 3 Rudolph Red Nose Reeindeer Channel 2 7PM animated
Wed December 3 Christmas in Rockafeller Sq Channel 5 7PM
Fri December 5 How the Grinch Stole Christmas Channel 4 7PM Jim Carrey
Fri December 5 Greatest Holiday Moments TV Channel 5 7PM
Mon December 8 A Charlie Brown Christmas Channel 4 7PM animated
Wed December 10 Christmas in New York Channel 5 7PM new animated
Fri December 12 Frosty the Snowman Channel 2 7PM animated
Fri December 12 Songs of the Season Channel 5 7PM
Fri December 12 Frosty Returns Channel 2 7:30 PM animated
Sat December 13 It's a Wonderful Life Channel 5 7PM
Sun December 14 Christmas w/ Tabernacle choir Channel 7 6:30 PM (2007)
Sun December 14 The Santa Clause 2 Channel 4 7PM Tim Allen
Mon December 15 Charlie Brown, want a dog Channel 4 7PM animated
Wed December 17 A Muppets Christmas Letters Channel 5 7PM animated
Thurs December 18 LA Holiday Celebration Channel 7 11PM
Sat December 20 ELF Channel 2 7PM
Tues December 23 Faith Hill, Home for Holidays Channel 2 7PM
Wed December 24 It's a Wonderful Life Channel 5 7PM

HAPPY THANKSGIVING Y'ALL

A few things I am thankful for:

• naptime. Nuff said.
• autumn. colorful mountainsides, sweatshirts, and good holidays.
• root beer. Served best with chips and salsa.
• pizza. Again, need I say more?
• Project Runway.
• The return of Lost in January. Fina-frickin-lly
• Preschool. Three full hours people.
• Utes beating BYU.
• Edward. Just kidding.
• Thing 1. Makes me laugh daily.
• Thing 2. So sweet and so silly.
• Hubs. Hands down my favorite person ever.

Hope you all have a good one!

I THINK MY 9 YEAR OLD NEIGHBOR SAID IT BEST. . .

"BYU STINKS LIKE POO."


Amen, sister. Amen.

GREAT GAME UTES!

FINAL SCORE = 24 BYU - 48 UTAH

frick yeah.

TWILIGHT ON THE BIG SCREEN

Okay, where to begin?

First off, Friday morning I woke up to an onslaught of negative publicity on the web. Some from friends, and some from national sources stating their opinions about Twilight and how it just didn't meet the mark. They thought it lacked substance and didn't tell the story well.

So I have to admit, Saturday around noon, when my girlfriends and I were on our way to the movie, we were less than thrilled. I mean, we were glad we were going, but we'd all heard such bad things, that we weren't that excited.

Then we watched the movie for ourselves.

And I just have one question. Why all the haters?

I thought Twilight was great. Not fantastic, but pretty darn close. The only reasoning I can come up with as to why people haven't enjoyed the movie, is that they so enjoyed the book, and had such high expectations that they really weren't going to be satisfied either way.

I have to admit, when I first saw who they cast as Edward, I was a little disappointed, because I imagined him to be much, much more handsome. But, just like in the book, the more I watched Edward and got to know his character the more attractive and enticing as a character he became. I really liked Bella and it bothered me a bit that she didn't really act/feel like she was as into Edward as he was into her, and then I remembered that it was just like that in the book. So, I thought the acting (at least with the two main characters) was spot on.

My only frustration in watching was that I wish they had had time to develop the characters more. I remember feeling almost smitten with Edward as I read the book, and I just didn't get that feeling from the movie at all. It's as if they just didn't have time. There was too much plot they had to fit in. It's just hard, in my opinion, to squeeze 500 pages worth of writing into a two hour movie. But I did however, enjoy the music, and the visual backdrop that Washington provided for the movie.

One of the movie's biggest critique with some was it's lack of dialogue. To which I say: so much more, at times, especially in movies, can be said in a look, a moment and a situation. I don't really rely on dialogue when I watch movies, so much as the feeling I get from the characters. The chemistry portrayed onscreen between the actors can say a thousand words. I also really think the people who made the movie, knew that it would be a challenge to get that much writing (500pages) into a movie, so they relied on the movie-goer having already read the book. Which isn't the case in most movies that are based on books. I was concerned about this because one of my friends who came with us hadn't yet read the books (I know, right?), and even she loved the movie. So, in the end, that didn't end up being a problem either.


I don't know. Maybe I'm too easily entertained. I mean I don't think it's going to win any academy awards any time soon, but, let's be honest people, it wasn't THAT bad. All the negative press is a little much. I mean, it wasn't my favorite movie ever, but I think they did a wonderful job turning Twilight into a film. I am glad I went. I had a great time with the girls, and the movie satisfied. So, go see it already. And don't let the Twilight haters scare you.

TUESDAY'S TIP preschool printables

This weeks tip is for all the mommies out there. Or aunts. Grandmas. Grandpas. Pretty much for anyone who knows a kid.

Looking for something to do with your kids/nieces/nephews/cousins while the turkey's a cookin' next Thursday? Then, search no further.

A few weeks ago, in search for some fun coloring pages that were holiday themed for Thing 2's joyschool, I came across this great website called Preschool Printables. From there I clicked on the Preschool coloring book page. Where I found about a gazillion printable pictures like the ones below.

What's so great about that you say? Well, let me tell you. I have found that this little site has become completely invaluable. First off, I love that it is free. Cause I really hate paying money for coloring books. (Or for anything for that matter.) It just seems like such a waste of money. And I love that they have about 25-30 pictures for each holiday. They have every holiday from Christmas to Groundhog day. Secondly, I can't tell you how many times I've quickly pulled up this little website just minutes before church is starting, printed off about 10 pages while I'm getting the kids shoes and coats on. By the time they are ready, I grab the papers and off we go. The kids love coloring them, and best of all, it keeps them quiet. And since it isn't an old coloring book they've sifted through a million times, it actually keeps them entertained. And it takes up alot less space in the old church bag. Wahoo for that.

I also love that they have printables for all sorts of other things. Like seasons, shapes, animals and bugs. They also have a whole section of birthday pages. My kids love to have print out cards, and they can color it and give it to whomevers birthday it is. Grandmas especially go for this sort of thing. They also have the alphabet, which you could color yourself and laminate and make into flash cards or just stick them on the playroom/bedroom walls or on the outside of their bedroom doors with their names. We also just recently printed out some fall leaves, colored them, laminated them (everything is better laminated. Especially with my $30 scotch laminator I got at Costco. Score!), and decorated our fridge. I'm sure you could do this with snowflakes in the winter, birds in the spring, and flowers in the summer.

After searching the site I've also found areas where you can find felt board story printouts, blank calendars, and certificates (for that just potty trained child for instance). The website isn't the best layed out website ever. Nor, is it very easy to navigate, but if you just click on the options to the left of the page you can't go wrong.

Happy Coloring!

FRIENDS

• Aimee

THE VEGAN CHRONICLES part 4

Well yesterday I happened to be out and about running errands with a few minutes to spare before I had to pick up Thing 1 from preschool when I passed a DSW. Also known as Designer Shoe Warehouse. Now, the great part about this, was at that very moment I remembered that I had a completely untouched, unused, and fabulous gift card to DSW that my mom had gotten me back in October for my birthday. How could I have forgotten about such a magnificent thing?

I have no idea.

So, I meandered around the ENORMOUS store, and happened upon these little bad boys. They are made by a company named J-41, or Jeep brand shoes. They looked pretty cute, so I decided to give them a go. And the minute I stepped in I was sold. They felt like I was walking on clouds. Well, actually, I've never walked on a cloud, so I can't really say, but maybe a better analogy would be to say it was like walking on marshmallows. Hmmm. I've never done that either, so, crap. Let me just tell you that they were cushy, soft, and the best part? They have these fantastic, really cushy, really high inserts. Which is something that is hard to find in a shoe. Trust me, I have super-high arches, and most of the time I just feel like I'm walking without any support at all. That's why my shoe wardrobe consists mostly of keens, crocs and uggs (and a wicked awesome selection of high heels. But these only come out for church or dates, so they don't really count. High Heels and my kids? Yeah right.). Now, I can add J-41's to that super comfy shoe list as well.

Oh, and they are vegan. No leather whatsoever. And that feels good.

Only problem is, I might have to go back for the brown ones too.


So, if you happen to be in the market for some cute comfy flats, my vote is the J-41's.

I'M SO EXCITED. AND I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT. AND YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW. . . .

Yeah. I'm pretty stoked.
The family pictures are up over at the old family blog. I think they turned out better than I could have ever imagined. But, then again, they are of me and my family, so I might just be a bit biased.
Head on over there if you like. But be prepared. We are a pretty good looking bunch.
Joke, people. Joke.

BEYONCE, JT AND PAUL RUDD ROCK SNL

Just got around to watching my recorded SNL from last weekend, and this was by far the funniest skit. I had a hard time finding in online. Even on NBC. So, this was the best I could do. It is reversed for some reason, and at the end there is some dude promoting his website. Sorry about that. But the rest? Tooo funny! We're the dancers~!

DUDES. . . .

I so totally filled my car up today for $1.85 a gallon. Thank You Costco.

THIS SHOULD AT LEAST BE GOOD FOR A LAUGH. . .

Okay, so a few weeks back, I randomly needed a clock for my living room. Since my darling children had ruined my last one. So I went to T.J. Maxx knowing I was sure to find a deal, and I so did. In the clearance section I found the cutest white clock for $3. Score!

Well, I get home and I realized quickly why it was on clearance. It needed a specialized battery. Or so I thought. I tried the AAA (too small), and AA (too big) and neither one fit. On the back of the clock it said it needed a 1.5 volt battery. That's all. No indication of AAA or AA. Just 1.5 volt battery needed. Now, I know I'm not super-duper smart but since I have to buy special sized batteries for Thing 1's hearing aids I do know that batteries come in all sorts of sizes and shapes and volts (hence the 9 volt battery). And so, since I'm not really all that educated about batteries I actually went to the grocery store looking for a 1.5 volt battery. Yes. I. did. Well, after looking for a good 15 minutes and not being able to find anything between a double A and a triple A, I decided to just go to Radio Shack, since the guys there seem to know everything about anything even the least bit technical or electrical (which apparently batteries are.)

So, yes people I actually went into Radio Shack and asked them for a 1.5 volt battery! Seriously. It was all the guy could do to keep a straight face. I could tell I had just asked him a very stupid question cause he was really trying not to laugh. He says, "All triple A, double A, C, and D batteries are 1.5 volt." Hmmm. Now feeling quite stupid I said, "well I tried the double A and it didn't fit." He says, "What do you mean it didn't fit?" And then I said quite matter-of-factly, "It was slightly too large." Then he says, "Did you put it in the right way?" [Yes, I was seriously having this conversation.] Um, well I. . .that got me. I mean I know I'm not retarded, but hmmmm, now that you think about it. . . I quickly said, "Thanks for your help." And left.


And yes, I'm sure he then busted up into a fit of giggles. While I got into my car in a fit of embarrassment.


Got home, went to put the battery in, and yep, once again it doesn't fit. So, just for kicks I turned the battery around, and whaddaya know? IT FIT! Oh. My. Heck. Am I really that stupid?


Yes indeedy.


Then I started laughing. Cause really, it's funny if you think about it. I went to two different stores in search of a 1.5 volt battery and pretty much told a sales guy what an idiot I was. Awesome. I totally rule.


Then, Hubs came home and I told him the whole story. And he laughed. Hard. I am seriously so slick.


Well, at least I got a good laugh out of it. And, lets be honest, I'm sure the sales guy told at least his 10 closest friends. So, really, if you think about it, I made alot of people laugh. And that's good. Right? Cause I know I'm smarter than that. Aren't I?

JUST CAN'T WAIT. . .

For this wedding! Love this photo, and the couple.

Being engaged is such a magical time of life, wouldn't you say? Filled with eager anticipation of the melding of two lives. Nothing but total and complete optimism about the days ahead. Time spent planning and cultivating the party that will untimately celebrate the sacred union of two and become the springboard for their life together. Magical? Indeed.

PROPOSITION EIGHT TAKE TWO

Okay, sorry for the multiple posts today, but I feel as though this needs to be discussed.

Now, for the record, I was against proposition 8 as much as the next person, but all of these LDS temple protests have got to stop. They are happening all over the country, and it's just wrong. I mean, I get it. People are mad. Raging mad, about the fact that they can't be treated equally.

And I realize that Mormon voters gave their time and money to ensure that this proposition passed, and so it's very easy to take it out on the Mormons. But really, if you are an American and believe in a democratic society, like I do, then you must understand that the majority (if only 51%) of California voters voted this way. Not just Mormons. ALL California voters. LDS were included - but so were Catholics and Jews, Evangelicals and Orthodox, African-Americans and Latinos, Asians and Anglos. ALL Californians.

I also believe in the ability to protest. But on a church's sacred grounds? Spewing hatred? It just doesn't make sense. Exhibit hate, because of what is in their opinion is a hateful proposition? I just don't get it.

Here is an article I found about the protests going on at the San Diego Temple.

San Diego Times Article


I don't know. Am I wrong about this?

TO ALL THOSE WHO'VE SERVED OUR COUNTRY

Happy Veterans Day Grandpa, Uncle Tom, Watson, and all those others who've proudly served so we could live in a free country. Thankyou!

MY PLAYLIST TODAY. IT'S ON REPEAT.

Because I have a self-diagnosed unhealthy fixation with the eighties. And because girls really do just want to have fun.



This song (Glitter In The Air) is so beautiful. I love the lyrics. And I love Pink's new album. Perfection.

And thanks to Aimee I now have an addiction to this little ditty. So catchy, yet so lovely. Plus, I think it should be my blog's theme song. "While You Were Sleeping. . . your mother blogged."

WRASL'N WILL GET YOU NOWHERE

Thanks to all my awesome readers, and your wonderful photographer recommendations, I will eventually have a beautiful (hopefully) family Christmas card to send out to all of you. Unfortunately it will be arriving in the mail a week later than originally planned.

Why, you ask? Because of this.

Do you see that shiner?

I. Was. Going. To. Kill. Him.

After calling almost every single photographer that was recommended, and finding out that apparently this is THE month to have family photos happen, I was uber-lucky to find one fabulous photographer able to squeeze me in last Friday. Hoo-ray! I ran all over town for two days, grabbing all the necessities and overnighting a few items to be sure we looked respectable enough, when in the end, it didn't even matter. Two days chock full of stress, and then Hubs decides to go and ruin our entire Christmas the day before the pictures. Ha. okay, that is maybe a little over-dramatic, but that is exactly how I felt. I called the photographer and she just laughed. And laughed. Apparently, this sort of thing happens quite regularly. And it is almost ALWAYS due to some sort of craziness involving the husband. Coincidence? I think not. Perhaps it's a conspiracy of all the husbands out there to make their wives hope they just cancel family pictures. Luckily though, his plan did not work, because she was able to change a few things around and fit us in this week. And barring we have no more black eyes, our Christmas can now go on as planned. Hopefully.

One, thing is for certain though. There will be no wrestling, and NO FUN until after our family pictures. Is that too much to ask? Bah Humbug.

YOUR DAILY GIGGLE

My aunt sent this to me the other day, and it made me laugh. Hope you are all having a great Monday!

I JUST MIGHT HAVE FROSTBITE. . .

But the Utes Won!!!!

After suggesting multiple other people who would surely enjoy a good football game in the freezing cold, I decided to please Hubs and attend blackout night with him. And boy am I glad I did. What a game!

I know I'm a bit late, but we are still riding the sweet high of the Utes victory this week. Go Utes!

*Thanks to Amy Earl Boyack for the sweet video!

TUESDAY'S TIP hanging your handbags

So, living in "The Rim" definitely has it's perks. Closet space, isn't one of them. And for a girl, who just might, have an obsession buying handbags, that is never a good thing.


So, because there was literally no other place to put my handbags I had been just putting them on the shelf above the hall coat closet. But this wasn't really working out so well. I had so many that they were all piled on top of one another, slumped over and losing their shapes. Plus, I could never find the one I wanted when I wanted it.


But one day while I was drying my hair (when it seems I get my best inspiration) I had a stroke of genius. I decided I would go to Home Depot and buy a closet rod and hang it at the very top of my coat closet (as high as I could) and then hang my handbags. Brilliant, right?!

I even installed my handbag closet rod myself! Power tools are awesome. After I unleashed my inner Tim-the-tool-man-Taylor I retrieved some kid hangers (which you can get from all-a-dollar by the way) from my kid's closets and hung the bags up.

Now, I can easily see every handbag, and they aren't getting scrunched up and ruined. It has been my most brilliant move ever. Er, at least this week!

FLASHBACK FRIDAY halloween 2007

Hope you are all having a good one!

ENLIGHTENMENT, IF BUT FOR A MOMENT.

One of the things I absolutely love lately is having quiet bath time with my baby. It seems to be a wonderful time for us to talk. About everything from princesses (she enjoys their sparkles) to potato chips (she likes the salty crunch). About things that are important to her. We wiggle and giggle, and splash, and make bubble hair. It's what I picture heaven might be.

I know I won't always be able to have quiet bath time with her. I know one day she will grow, and the tub, unfortunately won't. I know one day she won't want to share every little detail of her existence with me. I know one day she won't think I'm that great. I know. Cause I've been there.

But today as we played, she noticed, for the first time, some things about her mommy that weren't exactly perfect. She noticed my scar on my chin, my thumb, and my upper thigh. She noticed my stretch marks and asked what they were. She poked the extra flesh of my belly, and asked about my owie there. In her most innocent way, she asked why her mommy wasn't quite perfect. And just exactly what these imperfections were, and how I'd gotten them.

And as I sat there and wondered exactly what was the best way to explain all my owies, I couldn't help but realize how completely perfect my daughter was. Not a single scratch. No scars to speak of. Just perfect, baby soft, smooth skin. And at first, I felt complete sadness. Sadness at the scars, and scratches and trips to the hospital that were SURE to come. I mourned her perfect little body. In that moment I wished, wished, with all my heart that she might always stay this precious and pure.

But then I thought of my scars, my wounds, and the lessons that were in a way, forever seared to my body. In that I suppose I might never forget. My chin and my thumb hold the lesson of safety. About the importance of paying attention, and not getting lost in my imagination. Which is easy to do. My thigh holds the lesson of not taking the easy way out. There is never an easy way out. My stretch marks remind me of a time in my life when I was struggling just to stay above water. And that I don't have to abuse my body to cope. And that extra flesh around my middle, that for so long held my shame, now, I see as a badge of honor. Like my cesarean section scar, that is an outward reminder of the pain, and joy that being a mother brings. The sacrifice. The self-less-ness. The love.

All these scars are a part of me, that I suppose as I get older, are beginning to mean more to me, than perfection. My wrinkles at my cheeks are from years of laughter, and my lines in my forehead, from summers spent in the sun.

The idea of getting old is becoming less and less something I fear, and more and more, something I'm learning to embrace. What does that mean, anyway? Old? I'm old to some. And young to others. But one thing is for certain.

By the end of our tub time this morning I had decided that life isn't all joy. Nor, would I ever want it to be. With it comes loads and loads of pain. Some physical, some emotional. Some barely even tolerable. But, every painful scar has made me a better person, taught me something about myself. In essence, made me who I am today. And you want to know what? I kinda like who I am. Sure, I have loads and loads to learn, and am anything but perfect, but for today, and probably just for today, I'm okay with where I'm at. The number on the scale. The number in my skirts. It just is. It's not who I am.

I ache for the pain both physical and emotional that inevitably will find my daughter. I pray for a cushion that might cradle her falls. I hope that her heartaches might be few. I crave for her to learn the tough lessons in life. To earn her scars. To grow and become the woman I know she is completely capable of being.

But mostly of all, I wish for her to one day be able to have a moment of enlightenment in a tub full of bubbles, where she too, can realize that experiencing pain in this life can lead to happiness and joy.

HELP!

So, I've said it before, and I'll say it again; one of the best things about blogging is being able to get reader reviews and recommendations of products and services. Because really, who knows better than someone who has actually used the product or service, right?

And now, I am asking, ever so politely, for you all to pretty please, pretty please, comment and let me know who your favorite local (SLCers) photographer is. Have you had a session taken with you or your family/children that you LOVE? If so, who took those pretty little pictures?


Thank you, thank you. I'm sure you will get a blessing in heaven for providing me with your beloved photographer's name. Or, at least a good dose of karma for helping a sister out.

TUESDAY'S TIP laundry fun

Okay, first off, I realize that it is Thursday, and not Tuesday. But things are just a bit crazy, and honestly I am ready for Halloween to be over already. But one thing that is in order? My laundry.


I used to hate doing the laundry, and truth be told, I still do, but now, it is much, much easier. My old laundry tactic was simple. Avoid it as long as possible, then when I could no longer see my laundry room floor, Hubs being the awesomest Hubs ever, finally because he loves me so, would spend all weekend cleaning, folding and putting it away.


Great tactic, right? Except when you find out you are out of clean drawers. Then, not so much.

So, after last weeks marathon laundry session I decided I needed a new plan. So, my new plan was that each day of the week I would designate a certain portion of the laundry to be done that day.

For example:

Monday: Hubs and my whites
Tuesday: sheets & towels
Wednesday: Hubs and my darks
Thursday: Thing 1 & Thing 2
Friday: enjoy the clean laundry room.

I even got a little compulsive and made laminated reminder charts. One is taped to our bathroom mirror, and the other is down on the washing machine. This has been a vital part of said plan. Because Hubs is an early riser, and always up before me, he usually gets right up and puts the first load in. Then, by the time I roll out of bed, I can go down and change over the load to the dryer and put the second load in if necessary (Tuesdays & Wednesday we always have two loads. the other days usually one). Then, after I put the kids down for quiet time/nap time I go and fold the load and put it away. Now that last part is key. Putting it away the same day I do it. And even better, as soon as I fold it. Cause really I can load up on clean laundry in my laundry room just as easily as dirty laundry.

While at first I resisted this plan, because honestly, I kind of liked having a day where every piece of laundry in the whole house was clean, I quickly got over that idea, because it's just really not all that realistic. There is always something getting dirty. Always.

So, now, thanks to my laundry plan, for the past two weeks, my laundry room has looked like this:
instead of this:

I realize many of you have probably been doing something similar to this plan for years. This is because I have brilliantly smart readers. But I thought I would share this little tip with you just in case there were a few of you out there who were like me: laundry challenged. Just know, there is hope. Just make yourself a laundry chart, laminate it (cause it's fun), and get ready to lead a less-stressful, more organized life.

JUST SO YOU KNOW

Dressing up as a pregnant teenager for your church Halloween party? Not. The. Best. Idea.

Seriously, how have people not seen this movie? Getting the funny, puzzled look from people was kinda fun though. They would act like they knew what we were, but didn't. Then they would kinda ask. Hilarious.

Peace Out Homeskillets!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DP!

Hope you are having a great birthday!

FYI

Just so you all know, when the lady at the MAC counter tells you that the liquid eyeliner is waterproof she means it.

She also means that it is soap-proof, lotion-proof, babyoil-proof, butter-proof, olive oil-proof, facewash-proof, eucerin-proof and dove-proof.

Because of this, Thing 2 went to church wearing her fairy princess makeup. Which is very reverent. She also slept in it 3 times, and two days later it looked just as perfect as the minute I put it on.

By Monday I was ready to have my child back, and the fairy princess gone. Only cost me $4.49. Aparently oil-based eye makeup remover pads are the ONLY thing that can handle the liquid eye liner.

Halloween is very fun.

ALEMTUZUMAB

The one bright spot, in a otherwise crazy day.

I NEED A RAISE

Today I left a twenty dollar tip.

That's right. $20.00. And no, I did not eat two-hundred dollars worth of food. Not even close. After running a few last minute errands to finish up our Halloween costumes for a few parties this weekend, I decided (badly, I now realize) to take my kids to lunch at Souper Salad.

And it's not like this was the first time we've been there, but it was the first time I've been there by myself with the kids. And let's just say, um, it didn't go so well. Now, I take my kids out to eat all the time. And usually we are pretty successful. I'd say about 92.5% of the time we get in, eat, get out and on with life, without any problems. Today? Not. So. Much.

I knew we were off to a bad start when we had to wait about 5 minutes for a cashier so we could pay just to eat. In that time period, Thing 1 managed to drop his tray, and lick it. Seriously. He just doesn't get it. We've had the germ discussion many times. Ewww. Finally we pay, and Thing 1 heads straight for the pudding, of course. And pudding my friends, tends to be rather messy. And yes, he managed to make a disaster of the pudding. Chocolate all in the vanilla. Vanilla all in the chocolate. It was a travesty. But I didn't even get to see it all go down, cause I was trying to wrangle Thing 2, who apparently has a severe allergic reaction to the ground, in which, if her feet happen to tragically touch it, she starts screaming and crying like a madwoman.

So, I've got Thing 2 on my hip, my bag, and two trays of food. Um, yeah. And I have no earthly idea where Thing 1 is. Oh, now I see him. He is trying to fill his entire tray with cottage cheese. And managing pretty well, except for the scoop of goldfish drowning in the two messy scoops of pudding. I love how he is so independent. *wink*.

Finally get settled, am just biting in to my delicious, warm, bread stick when Thing 2 decides to knock over her drink while she was trying to blow her straw wrapper across the table at Thing 1. (A special thank you at this time should go out to Hubs for teaching her this lovely trick.) Only one spilled drink, eh, not so bad. We've survived worse. Continue to eat our lunch when out of the blue, Thing 1 announces he needs to go potty and runs at the speed of light off to the bathrooms by himself. Nice. Now what? Try to talk Thing 2 into going to the potty? Just let him go by himself? I just don't think 4 is old enough to go to a public restroom by yourself normally, but since we sat, at a table where I could see the bathroom entrance I decided to just let him go, and watch to make sure no one else was to go in there. So, I'm waiting. And waiting. And then, out of nowhere.

CRASH!

And, you guessed it. The crash came from the boys bathroom. Oh, great. I grab Thing 2, who is mid-bite of her ice-cream, say a quick prayer, and sprint to the bathroom with a stubborn two-year old aboard my hip. Get into the bathroom to find Thing 1 on the ground (gross--germs!) in a very large, very bright blue pool of hand soap. And the broken dispenser (see picture above) on the ground, in pieces. The water is running, and the soap is EVERYWHERE! Oh, by the way, Thing 1 decided on this day to brilliantly wear his an army costume out for the day. Which is hanging off of him, COVERED in blue goop.

I try to put Thing 2 on the ground, but apparently she must have a fatal allergy to the boys bathroom floor, cause she is clinging to me like a koala. I try to help Thing 1 up, strip his costume off of him, during which he has the audacity to complain about it. "But it's my costume, Mom! I can't be an army guy without it." To which I just responded with my you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me-about-your-costume-that-is-now-covered-in-soap-along-with-the-entire-bathroom-floor-that-I-now-have-to-clean-up look. It was a magical look, because he just went quiet. So, I decided that there was only one thing to do. Leave.

Ha. Just kidding. I'm not that bad. I grabbed Thing 1, told him to stand against the bathroom wall, and to not move a muscle. I thought about having him help clean up, but the floor was so slippery that he kept falling so I just decided it would be easier for me and my hip-monkey to do it. So, while holding Thing 2 I grabbed as many paper towels as humanly possible and just started pushing all the bright blue goop to the drain. If it weren't for that drain, I'm not sure what I would have done. So, yes, today I scooped soap OFF THE BOYS BATHROOM FLOOR. And I didn't get any diseases. That I know of. Yet. Pray for me please.

After I mostly got things cleaned up, I found the nearest waitress, told her about the dilemma, and made Thing 1 apologize. Then I apologized. Profusely. I could tell this wasn't news she wanted to hear. And I apologized again.

And then I headed back to the table with Thing 1 (bare-chested) in his shorts (luckily he had shorts on), his soapy army costume in my hand, and Thing 2 still attached with her death grip on my hip. Not two seconds later, Thing 1 announces he needs to go to the bathroom. Seriously. Are you kidding me? He had the audacity. He says "it's poop this time mom, and it's coming out." To which Thing 2 responded, "We don't say potty words." That was my cue to leave. I laid down a twenty dollar tip. And we left. Before we could cause any more damage.

Moral of the story: Don't ever take two kids to Souper Salad by yourself. Ever. Even in emergency situation. Even if someone offers you a free meal. It's just not worth it. Trust me.

Epilogue: Thing 1 made it home just in the nick of time. Everything came out fine. The costume is in the wash. And both are down for quiet time.

I. Need. A. Raise.

EDWARD

Um, yeah. 11.21.08 Mark your calendars ladies. Pretty sure Hubs would rather be bitten by a vampire than go see this flick. Anyone up for a little Girls Night Out?

A SONS REQUEST

In many ways my childhood can be divided into parts. Before. And after. For example, before they took out the merry-go-round at my elementary school. And after.

In fact, I remember the exact day they took it out. That dismal, dreary, depressing day will be forever seared into my memory as the day that my world changed. The word on the street, and swirling around my first grade classroom, was that over the summer, a young girl, who was playing at the school with her friends on the merry-go-round, got her leg caught underneath the merry-go-round and broke her back which tragically left her paralyzed. I'm not really sure if this story was true, or, was just a fear tactic the administration employed to scare us into believing that there was valid reason to be taking away such a wonderful part of our playground, and childhood.

I can remember feeling distinctly that just because some girl had poor luck, wasn't reason enough for us all to suffer. I can also remember feeling horrible to be feeling that. But you must understand. You see, it wasn't that I didn't care about that girl, if she did in fact exist, it was that I just, in my simple mind, couldn't fathom life without my beloved merry-go-round.

The merry-go-round seemed to hold almost magical-type powers. Grabbing hold of the cold metal bars, and running, running, running toward the freedom that could be only felt once you jumped on and held on for dear life while you spun, spun, spun into oblivion. The world turning into a blur. Children running, swinging, & playing into the smeared together background. The very essence of childhood can be found spinning on a merry-go-round. Round, and round and round I would turn. Holding on, enjoying every bit of centrifical force I could grasp.

The merry-go-round was the playground toy that was so big and so large that it seemed it had enough room for every single child to experience the pure bliss that could be found within it's magical grip. It had it seemed, an almost mystical way of being a playground toy of inclusion. All were welcome, as long as they could run, spin, and hold on. As I remember these feelings, I can't help but smile, and remember the spinning, the twirling, the laughing. Childhood at it's sweetest.

Today, I had a rare opportunity to spend a little one-on-one time with my son. After running a few errands I asked him what he would like to do, just with mommy. And he simply said, "Let's eat macaroni & cheese and then go to the park." My son seems to be growing up so quickly it seems, right before my eyes. Often times I look at just how tall he is, and think to myself, "No! Stop growing. Don't get old & complicated. Stay small & simple." So, to hear his uncomplicated request of a day spent with mom, sounded just perfect.

After our lunch of macaroni & cheese (for him) and Thai curry soup (for me), we headed on over to the park. And we played, and played, and played. This particular park we went to was, in my opinion, hands down, the best park we've ever been too. I had some errands to run over in Murray, so we went to the Murray City Park to play. And the park there is brand new, and fantastic. It is filled with new equipment, and to my absolute delight, two modern day versions of the merry-go-round.

I hadn't been on a merry-go-round since first grade. You see, it seemed that story about the injured girl must have made the rounds, because as soon as we lost ours, all the other schools and parks were tearing their merry-go-rounds out as well. I now understand why. Because of the danger, the fear, and the lawsuits. But oh the fun! The fun!

So, when I saw those merry-go-rounds, the first thing I did, was grab my son, and run, faster than any adult should, towards the fun. And we spent the next hour spinning, spinning, spinning. For just a short time, I forgot who I was. I forgot I was an adult. With responsibility. With bills. I didn't care that I was the only parent playing on the playground equipment, let alone on the merry-go-round. I spun. With. My. Kid. For a blissful twenty or thirty minutes. We turned, and spun and swung until we were both completely worn out. Then we fell, utterly exahusted, on the grass, and rested. But while we layed there, and I listened to the innocent thoughts of my four year old son, I said a prayer. At that very moment I thanked God. Thanked him for my son. Thanked him for letting me be a mother. Thanked him for the wonderful gift it was to see joy through my child's eyes. Thanked him for dirty, sweaty, little boys. Thanked him for merry-go-rounds. And most of all, I thanked him for a few moments of pure, unadulterated bliss. I thanked him for the gift of feeling, if only for a minute, exactly like a child again.

Today I thank God for having a boy, and a park where I could spin.