Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

My kids

Right now, at this very moment, I am loving my children. I am going to quickly put up a couple of pictures of them before those good feelings are gone.

Hunter will be 7 this month. He loves to be the star of the show and thinks that cameras were invented specifically with him in mind. He is actually really starting to be fun. I think 1st grade suits him well.


Remi is a breed all his own. He will be 4 in February. We call him Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He is either the best boy or the worst, nothing in between. He wears this hoodie almost all of the time, and always with the hood on. He said, "MOM! Don't take my hood off, do you want my hair to blow away?!"

Bentley is our baby. She will be one in January. She always lays like this. She was laying like this before she could even roll over. Strange, but she likes it. I was so nervous to have a girl. We even thought the doctor was wrong when he told us her gender. Much to my surprise, I have enjoyed her. She is definitely a brat, but I think we will keep her. The hospital will not accept returns. I know, we tried with Remi.

The fat girls unite

For most of my adult life I have been overweight. There is an acceptance process that one goes through when they become fat. First step is denial. People say things like, "I am just bloated." "It's just baby fat." "My clothes shrunk." Excuses can run the gamete. The second step is trying to hide it. Wearing sweats, t-shirts, baggy clothes. There are usually a few more steps in the middle including crash diets, yo-yo weight loss and gain. Some of the signs during this phase include, but are not limited to: tears for no reason other than the fact that the peanut butter is gone; bizarre of lame excuses for new bulges; uncharacteristic mood swings or personality changes. Exercising like a crazy person, only to lay on the couch for the week following said workout. Skipping the salad bar and heading straight to the desert table. This sign signifies that the cycle is almost complete and your loved one is about to become an official fatty. Well, lucky for me, I am way past that part. I have been official for quite some time now. Part of acceptance for me was buying plus sized clothing. This was the most difficult part of my transformation. There is an amazing thing that happens in department store when you move past the intimate apparel, through juniors, around misses, and into no mans land. The styles inevitably change. The clothing industry in general has been under the misguided notion that only 70 year old women are fat. You know the ones I am talking about. The lady with an embroidered leaf on her shirt, or maybe a picture of Tigger. Yeah, those women have it made. They can find clothes anywhere they please. But your average 20 something chubby has to look really hard. Imagine my delight when I find the one store that doesn't cater to old fat women. Lane Bryant. Glory be and hallelujah. I was so happy that I got a credit card. They have stylish clothes that are specifically designed for the horizontally challenged. It is amazing. Beautiful clothes for big beautiful girls. Wonderful. I was ecstatic, when I went shopping for new jeans a couple of weeks ago, to discover that my working out and eating healthy is finally paying off. I am currently wearing a size 4. Yup that's right. All 225 pounds of me fit into a size 4. Granted it is all tall, but still a size 4. After shopping, while eating my daily dose of chocolate I realized something. How can I wear a size 20 one day and a 4 the next? Oh, the manufactures of Lane Bryant clothing have redone the sizing. In an effort to make large women feel better, and desire to spend more money, they have claimed their own sizes. The fat girls united and claimed back the single digits. Move over skinny girls, I don't think there is enough room for both of us!

Just not feeling it

So, this morning, so far, I have accomplished nothing. I sit here at the computer at 11:00 AM in my pajamas reading blogs, looking at pictures, and just wasting time. I have been blogging now for over 3 years. Through those years I have posted several different times with different subjects, photos, thoughts, etc. Lately, I am just not feeling it. I really enjoy stalking various people through their blogs, but I just don't want to stalk mine anymore. It is not just blogging either. I am not in the mood to do much except sit on my butt and watch the clock waiting for Stephen to come home from work. Stephen keeps wanting me to write about different experiences I have had lately: I changed that alternator in our van. I finally made the perfect chocolate cake, well not perfect but pretty damn good. Our children's latest attempt to drive my soul into the fortress of hell. The list goes on but really, I'm just not feeling it. Normally I could go on and on about some useless thing. Like the fact that 90% of the population has an "innie" belly button. Sorry Angelica, I always knew you were weird. But, I just don't feel it. I don't feel like me. What's up with that?

Tag, I guess

Note: During the making of this post a child was nearly killed. Actually the near death came after. While typing about my lovely husband, his #2, el diablo was eating blueberry muffins on my nice duvet cover. I am freakin out here. He is such a shit!



My sister-in-law April tagged me to write about Stephen. I
don't know why I have struggled with wanting to do this, but I have. Of course I love my husband and think he is the bomb. But, I am a little uncomfortable getting all mushy out loud. But, I will try.

*Where did you meet? We met sledding on "TV" hill in Oak City. My friend Angelica and I had been dropped off by her dad. (We were both still 15 unfortunately) He failed to mention to her mom that we changed the location of our days events from the sand dunes to TV hill. She did not know where to find us at the end of the day. We had showed up to hang out with Angelica's soon to be beau, who shall remain nameless. Well, Mr Knight in Shining armor got cold and left us up there by ourselves to wait it out. Stephen could not leave two mildly attractive girls to freeze to death in the dark. He stayed with us until her dad came and got us. He started a fire to show off his mad scouting skills. Wow, we were certainly impressed. Come to think of it, Angelica why in the crap did you date "leave us in the cold?" He was a bum! Okay that is not really fair. He was a cute bum. I forgive you.

*How long did you date before you were married? Well, we started dating pretty much immediately there after. That was January 1997. We got married December 16, 2000. Stephen took a break from me for about 2 years to serve an LDS mission. We wrote back and forth as much as you can when one lives in the jungles of the Philippines. He came home Oct. 12 and we were married two months later.

*How long have you been married? Almost 8 years.

*What is your favorite feature of his? His big blue eyes.

*What is your favorite quality of his? His mad scouting skills! Actually, he is really likable. It amazes me how many people like me. I guess he does not tick people off like I do. He is just so nice. He does bed time with the kids every night. He gets them all ready, says prays with them, and puts them down, every night without fail. I can't hardly do it when he is not around.

*Does he have a nickname for you? He calls me by my middle name, Marie.

*Does he have a favorite color? Utah Ute red.

*What is his favorite food? Ughh, I actually have never really thought about it. He likes whatever I make. I know he loves Mexican food though. Honestly, who doesn't?

*What is his favorite sport? Football. During football season very few channels work on our dish when Stephen is watching the games.

*When and where was your first kiss? Hold on to your hats. We were at a dance on Valentines Day in 1997. We were arm in arm swaying to the music our faces all nuzzled into one another. He was breathing really heavy on my neck, ooh la la then he planted one on me. Right there in the middle of the dance floor where everyone could see. I almost died.

*What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? As a couple, what does that mean? Oh time, without children. We usually rent a movie and I fall asleep. We used to be a lot more exciting. We would rock climb, hike, golf, snow board (on my honeymoon even) but now we don't do much together that does not involve sleeping.

*Do you have any children? 3 - Hunter, Remi, Bentley

*Does he have a hidden talent? Cooking. I guess it is not that hidden for anyone that knows us. But he is the cook in our family. In fact I used to be in a supper club. We met once a month, had dinner, then exchanged recipes for the entree we brought. I never had a recipe to give because Stephen, or Angie a couple of times, made my contribution.

*How old is he? 29

*Who said I love you first? Probably him, he is such a sap.

*What is his favorite type of music? Rock n Roll baby! (Metallica, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin)

*What do you admire most about him? I admire how forgiving he is. He never holds onto anything. He just forgives and forgets. He puts up with a lot from me, and he never complains, as far as I know. He is just a darn winner! He is definitely a keeper.

So, I guess now I need to tag someone else to continue the chase. I tag Angelica, Brooke, and Angie.

It's rude not to

Well, I haven't written for a while. Truth be told, I haven't had much to say. Rural America is treating me good. For those of you who haven't had the distinct pleasure of visiting my home town, let me explain a little bit about it to you. It sits in a valley about 100 miles wide. There are about 3000 people in Delta itself. There are several smaller communities that surround Delta. One of the smaller towns is called Oak City. My husband Stephen actually grew up there. I think it was settled by two or three different families and then expanded slightly after that. Everyone is pretty much related, with the expection of my in-laws, of course.

Well one thing I think is so funny about Oak City is that everyone waves to one another. I am not exaggerating when I say EVERYONE. Maybe it is a town law. I don't know, but I find it particularly funny. I asked Stephen why this is so. He said, "Everyone waves because it is rude not too." Granted there are probably only 200 or 300 people that live in this little wonder, so the odds of knowing all occupants are pretty good. But still, somehow someone must have passed a waving law. Maybe it is like the good samaritan law on Seinfield. I haven't had the guts to test the limits, I always smile and wave back, no matter what. I had to laugh this morning on my way to my in-laws home. I saw this huge truck pulling a horse trailer full of horses. I was prepared for the waving rule, so I looked the driver right in the face. She was turning and had a cell phone to her ear. I figured that cell phone and trailers had to be among the expections to apply to always waving. One shouldn't have to wave if he or she is chatting on the phone while pulling a trailer. Rule #275 after the rule about not having to wave if the driver is trying to hand a toddler a sippy while changing the music from AM 700 to something without static. (Good luck with that!) Anyway, so I figure there is no way this lady is waving, right? Wrong, she waved. Not just a hand up and down wave. She actual moved her wrist. Keep in mind she was turning right onto the highway, pulling a horse trailer full of horses and talking on the cell phone. Obviously she had no choice. Because, after all it is rude not to.

I whine because that's what I do.

Today I was chatting on the phone with a friend. We were discussing whether or not she was whiny. She has experienced some turbulence in her life recently and has been trying to share her feelings without sounding whiny. Is it possible to complain, without whining? I have been contemplating this. I complain about my children, but I am thankful to have them. I whine to any one that will listen about my latest upset. What is the difference? Why do I whine? The other night I had a tender moment that I have considered sharing. My 3 year old niece stayed with us for about 10 days. She was excellent! I did not realize that 3 years old could listen and do as they are told until she was here. Anyhow, every night we did our "bedtime routine" and got everyone bathed and dressed for bed. I was gathering the wet towels and lotion to put away, when one by one each of the kids gave me a kiss on the cheek. As I walked away, I could feel the wetness that they had left behind. Now, normally I would have some snide comment about slobbery slime or something like that. As I felt that wetness, I was suddenly glad that I was a mom and glad that someone wanted to kiss me goodnight. Strange I know, given all the whining I do, but I really am glad to be a mom. Over the last year, I have noticed my maternal instincts kicking in (yes I realize that my oldest will be seven years soon, better late than never right?) and I have felt closer to not only my children but other children as well. I love it when my friends kids are happy to see me. It makes me feel so good.

Why when I have all these wonderful experiences do I whine about life? Because it is what I do. I whine, I complain, I bitch, I moan. It is not my favorite part of my personality. In fact, it is probably one of my worst traits.

I want to know, who likes to whine? What do you have to complain about? What is really bugging you today? Today, I hate doing dishes. Not having a dishwasher is really grating on my nerves. I am complaining because I can. What about you?

My hero

Angelica tagged everyone who reads her blog to post about someone in their life that is a real hero. Now, you may or may not have noticed that I do not do tags. I don't know what my aversion is to them. I always enjoy reading other people's tags. Anyhow, I am taking on this tag because it is not about me. It is about my friend Mi'Chelle Millward Larsen. She is definitely my hero. I met Meeshie while attending Snow College. She was in my social psych class. I was newly married, newly pregnant and crazy! I don't remember what first attracted us to one another but we became friends. Meesh is the best friend that anyone could ask for. I have never met anyone else that radiates so much love. I have had other friends that I have loved as much as I love her, but I am not sure I can say that I have had any that have loved me as much.

Speak now!

Typically in years gone by I always asked people if they were okay with me adding a link on my blog to theirs. Or, I have waited until I received a request from them to add a link on my page. Links have come and gone from this blog. I am never quite sure what link adding etiquette is. In the recent months I have discovered a large amount of friends that blog. I can't keep track of what is or isn't out there. If you want me to add a link on my blog, let me know.

Daily Affirmation

I deserve good things. I am entitled to my share of happiness. I refuse to beat myself up. I am an attractive person. I am fun to be with. I'm going to do a terrific show today! And I'm gonna help people! Because I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and, doggonit, people like me!

We're Moving!

Well folks, you heard it from the horses mouth, so to speak. We are moving to Delta. Crazy I know, moving to that Hell-forsaken land. What can I say? I want to be by my momma. For those of you unaware, Stephen and I both grew up in the Delta area. His parents and mine are there. We have quickly packed up our things, encouraging those we love to run around like chickens with no heads, and we are moving this weekend. School starts on Monday. Unfortunately, Stephen will have to remain working in Provo and commute during the week until other arrangements can be made. In the mean time, "We are moving on up to the 'westside' and it looks like we're gonna get some cream from the pie
Right, right!"

Believe It!

I want you to close your eyes and use your brain for a moment with me. Think of a girl that weighs about 230 pounds. She has a few kids, has a good size front butt, not too bad legs. A slight double chin, regular size ankles. Can you see her in your minds? She is about 5"6'. Does that help? Okay now that you have your big girl in your mind. Dress her in athletic wear down to the shoes. How does she look? A little out of place, maybe, but dress her anyway. She might need two sport bras to help wield the beasts. There you go. So, now you have your chubby girl in running clothes, ready to go. What are you going to do with her? No, don't give her a donut, she obviously doesn't need it. I have an idea. Let's drive her to Bryce Canyon and have her run 13.1 miles. NO, you say? Oh yes, I say. She can do it. She has been running since May and she can do it. Perhaps she will place 356th overall out of about 1000 people, 92th in her age group with a finishing time of 2:35:08.8. Crazy idea, I know, but if this big girl can do it, so can you!

Photo Op.

These boys may want to kill each other half the time, but they will always pause for a nice photo shot. This was taken on Friday at Bryce Canyon National Park. They fought the entire way down and back. It was horrible.





It took us almost 6 hours to get home. I am glad that they are boys!






I added this just in case you thought the previous post was farse!

New Link for Awesome Website!

If you will direct your eyes to the top right hand side of the screen above the "About Me" section, you will see that I have a new link to
Sage Creek Jewelry.
It is a baby blog, just getting started. If you love jewelry, even if you don't go check it out. I have a necklace and matching earrings from Sage Creek. Every time I wear it, without fail, I get a compliment. You can click on the pictures to make them larger in another screen. The quality is amazing. The detail alluring. This is my new favorite place to buy necklaces and earrings. GO LOOK AT IT NOW! I know you will be hooked. By way of copyrights, I stole a picture from the blog. I hope the owner doesn't mind. What are you waiting for? Get off my page and go look!

We need more exposure!

Just moments ago I was checking my email on yahoo. Yahoo is powered by adds, of course. Hunter loves to sit by me and look at them across the top of the screen. With the presidential election coming up we have been swamped with "Vote for me, and all your wildest dreams will come true" adds. I refreshed the screen and a new add popped up. It was a Barack Obama add. His big smile flashed across the add. Hunter got all excited and said, "Look mom Tiger Woods is on our computer!" My kids definitely need to get out more!

Not in the mood

I haven't been in the mood lately. For what? You are thinking. For anything. I am not in the mood to make my bed, do laundry, dishes, water the lawn, deal with kids, blog, be nice. You name it, I am not in the mood. I have been trying to think of something witty to say, maybe a nice story to start the afternoon. (It is nearly noon now, I just finished breakfast. Sad, I know.) Alas I cannot think of anything nice. It is a proverbial expression. I use it a lot. "I am not the mood to listen to you fight." "I am not in the mood to discuss it." "I am not in the mood for you to cry at me all day about your brother playing with a small part that was pulled from a nameless toy in your room. It is not your special toy. You only care because he wants it."

Is anyone else not in the mood? Am I the only bleak person out there? Come on folks, wipe those stupid grins off your faces and tell me...Are you in the mood?

Potty Humor

I have decided that boys come to this world trained to acknowledge bodily functions as humor. My kids think of any gas, bubbles, or air that might sneak out as the best kind of comedy. This morning Remi was laying on my bed watching Stephen get ready for work. He passed what sounded like a fog horn from his rear part. He laughed and laughed. Stephen and I are used to this. We are both fairly mature adults. Stephen calmly explained to him that passing gas is not funny. It is gross. Remi promptly said, "It IS funny, you know, I almost woke Hunter up in his bed!" Farts are awesome!

Car Wash

I have always loved driving my car through the car wash. When I was little, my dad would fuel up at the Chevron in East Bay on University Ave. It has a car wash on site. Big blue flaps of material hitting wildly against the car, pushing it side to side threatening to tip the beast, but it never did. I used to hold my breath thinking each time that this would be the one that defied all others. This would be the exact moment that our car would be knocked to it side killing all occupants. (A little dramatic, I realize this, I was maybe 10, give me a break.)

Well, when I was about 19 or 20, Ephraim got their first automatic touchless car wash. Yeah, sure they had car washes before this, but I was thrilled. A car is driven into the bay and cleaned with sprays of water only. It is amazing! The splish splash car wash is particularly wonderful, because it's foam is multi-colored (Mind blowing, I know!) and sprays uniformly across the windows. When the boys were little we went to this wash about once a week. It was like getting a pedicure for the car.

As life has continued on for our family I have come to see that it is a bit frivolous to wash my car at the car wash each week. I have all the equipment at home, not that I use it. Anyhow, sometimes I decide that it will be a nice adventure for the day to go through our local car wash. (Still picaresque.) The other day was one of these magnificent days. Bentley and Remi had both fallen asleep leaving only Hunter and I to enjoy the experience. I recently purchased a Hey Tom duster from flylady.net. It is wonderful. I dusted the front dash board and the passenger seat. Hunter wiped the back seats down and started to clean the above console. I took the duster from him, so that he wouldn't wipe it on the ceiling. I wiped over the compartment containing my favorite sunglasses, the duster clinging to dirty fingerprints and dust like a magnet. I moved the duster forward in one swift motion to complete the job. As I pulled the duster down I heard the passenger back door open. Oh No, I thought, I didn't. Oh yes, I did. I had hit the button opening the back door. "Idiot!" I thought. Lucky for me the water had just passed her door and I closed it allowing only a fine mist to enter my car. As the door closed I could hear that the water was still whooshing as loud as it had before. I looked over my left shoulder to see the other door open. *^%$! I quickly pushed the button to safely close this door. It would close without incident just as before. As this thought crossed my mind I saw the door slowly closing and realized with horror that the water was quickly making it's way to our open door. Tie goes the runner I saw as water sprayed into my car soaking my arm that I had thrown protectively back, (like my arm is going to keep gallons of forceful water out of my car.) I screamed, Hunter screamed, Bentley woke up, and Remi slept. I laughed and laughed. It was hysterical. Hunter said, "That was awesome!" Lucky for my Bentley, she was mostly covered and only got a little wet. We definitely got our money's worth out of this inside/out car wash.

We are the same!

Stephen and I are trying to introduce a new parenting fad, or mantra of sorts for each family member:

"SAY NO TO INDIVIDUALISM!"

There is no need for children to grow up competing with one another to try and show that they are best. Everyone should be the same. If one of your children cannot ride a bike, none of them should. If your 3 yr old is not ready to read, by all means, do not let your 6 yr old learn. This would make his abilities stand out. And if by some chance, your baby cannot grow hair, shave the older children bald, so that she will not feel bad.

Music Monday

Today I would like everyone to go back in their minds to the fall of 1998. I was a senior at Delta High School, trying my best to enjoy life to the fullest. My best friend was Angelica Ward. We were practically inseparable. Stephen had just left to do his own thing. It was a Saturday night, the exact date escapes me. Angelica and I were restless. We wanted to do something crazy. Lucky for us we had Sarah Cross to grace our existence. She is one crazy broad, and I loved her for it. Sarah has always been a bit eccentric. She always had the most exciting ideas of fun. Some were good and some not so good for any of us. Well, this particular Saturday night she was at her best. The three of us got all dressed up in our best formal dresses. Annie Draper made us the most beautiful corsages made from marigold flowers. Marigolds? Yes, they are not the typical orchid, they are not part of the Orchidaceae family at all. But they were all we had. So there we were, three hot chicks dressed to kill. We got in my little 1982 mercury lynx with faux wood paneling and drove the 45 minute drive to Fillmore, Utah. Their high school was having the annual homecoming dance. It was a formal dance, and we just happened to be dressed for the occasion. The dance was held in the gym and every song played was a slow, nice, dance close to your boyfriend song. Well, we requested "Gettin Jiggy With it" from Will Smith. The dance floor cleared and the three of us took the floor. It was hilarious. I loved it. Every time I hear this song, I think of my date with Angelica and Sarah and how we ripped up the floor. I tried to find the picture that goes with this blog, but my scanner isn't working. Ah good times!

Music Monday

Brooke started a tag on music. I think this is a wonderful idea. Music defines so many different situations in life. Think of all of the music we have running all around us each day. Commercials, television programs, movies, stores, the car, it is everywhere. I am surprised that the refrigerator doesn't play music when the door is opened. I always have a song playing in my head, kind of like Homer Simpson.

There are few things that bind us together in commonality. With the exception of the crazy cults that might not allow any kind of music, most people across the world listen to some form of music. Try and name five things that humanity in general has in common. I am willing to bet my morning doughnut that music would be one of them. Music speaks to the soul. It inspires, it leads, it angers, it softens. It has the ability to conjure any emotion desired with it's beat, words, and melody.

The song I would like to discuss from my blog today is Depeche Mode's "Somebody." This has to be one of the cheesiest songs I can think of. I first heard it when I was in college. My roommate and friend (there is a definite distinction) Jill Farnsworth, now Jill Norris, knew all the words. We would call the college radio station every two hours, when they switched the DJ, and request it. She would stand on the couch and sing it to the roommates like she was giving a concert. Jill is the type of person that can light up the darkest room. I can't think of anyone that doesn't like to be around her. It was so much fun. Every time I hear this song, I think of her and how much I envied the happiness the radiated from inside of her. It makes me smile.

If there are any of you that don't read Brooke blog, which I can't imagine because she is a wonderful writer, I have copied and pasted part of her post that includes Music Monday:

"Therefore, I am hereby announcing that Monday will now be (drum roll.....) "Music Monday" (catchy, huh?) A lot of you have music on your blogs, so I'm tagging everyone who reads this (no one is left out!) to write a post about one of the songs on your blog each Monday. It can simply say why you like it, etc. Or it can be about how you had your first kiss to the song, blah, blah. Even if you don't have music on your blog, you can still write about songs you like. Anyway, I am doing it, so that I will have a tag to do :) Sooooo...EVERYONE, TAG, YOU'RE IT! :)"

Brooke, I hope that this is okay with you. I don't have the brain power to reword it.

TAG!

You never forget how to ride a bike!

I am going to have to come up with a big fat bullshit on this one. Yesterday, I was showing Hunter how I learned to ride a bike and I have never forgotten. I rode from our church, to my house and back again. I was doing really well. Granted, a few days earlier the sprocket tried to eat my leg. It ripped a hole as big as my face in my pant leg. I was so mad. My best pair of jeans. Damn bike! I'm surprised that I decided to have a rematch. This time I wore gym shorts, perfect bicycling attire. I rode around the church parking lot, down the curb, around the van and back. I was feeling extremely comfortable. It must be true, I thought, you don't ever forget this kind of thing. Well that's when I got the great idea to jump the curb. Let me repeat myself, jump the curb. As in lift the front wheel of the bike up bring the entire bike up the 3 foot wall that had to have been the curb. (Accurateness need not apply.) Well, without going into to much detail. I flipped the bike over, scraped my leg, hit my ribs, and after all of that, I caught myself on the sidewalk. Stephen thought I might break an arm or something, but no, I came away with only minor bruises to my legs and ego.

I Am America (And So Can You)

"I AM A GAY AMERICAN. AND I COULDN'T BE GAYER NOW THAT THE GAYS ARE ON THE RUN. OF COURSE, I'M USING "GAY" THE WAY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS INTENDED, TO MEAN "HAPPY," BEFORE IT WAS STOLEN FROM THEM BY THE GAYS, JUST LIKE THEY STOLE THEIR TIGHTS, WIGS, AND CODPIECES." -Stephen Colbert

Stephen has been reading this book "I Am America (And So Can You)" by Stephen Colbert. It is hilarious! On the back of the book he writes, "A great read! I laughed, I cried, I lost 15 pounds! I cannot recommend this book highly enough." Stephen and I have been hysterical over him. I love his satirical humor. You can also watch him on the Colbert Report. I am always crying by the time the show ends because I have been laughing so hard.

Flashback Friday

This photo is of me and Stephen's younger brothers. Eric is to my right and Spencer is to my left. They were so much fun. When Stephen was a junior, he got it in his head that he needed to take another junior to the Junior Prom. I was a year younger in school so I didn't qualify. I spent the night with these two hotties chugging mountain dew and watching stupid movies. Ah the good ol' days! By the way, when I was a junior, I was perfectly fine with my senior boyfriend taking me Go figure!

This picture was taken at my Homecoming dance a few days before Stephen left on his mission I am surprised that I was even smiling.
It wasn't my happiest time ever. :(

Flashback Fridays

Ali tagged everyone to do a Flashback Friday. I love them so I decided to start doing it. Great idea Al!

This Friday I am flashing back to toddler age. I don't know exactly how old I am in this picture, but I definitely have red hair at this point, no denying it. My nemesis throughout life, the hair. What can you do though right? Dye it you say? Not this hair. I have dyed it and it returns to its natural state before about a month is over. So I have given in and go all natural.

Apparently at this age, I was pretty vain. My mom said that I loved getting my picture taken, and always smiled. When you are this little, who doesn't love getting photographed? Especially, when chubby thighs and double chins are the style.

Can I stay a bit longer?

As you may or may not have noticed I finally added music to my site.

100 songs that make me tick

When I first set up my blog a few years ago, I had to pick a title. At that moment I was listening to one of my favorite songs. My favorite music always makes me want to stay a bit longer. To enjoy the moment forever. Music can take the worst day and make it better. I can close my eyes and see the music and forget all my troubles. The music has a wide range of audiences. I am not typically a sappy person, as some of you probably have seen. I have a hard time with PDA, which Stephen absolutely loves. He is so good to always tell me he loves me. I have a hard time always telling him that. But with music, you don't have to pick the right words to express your thoughts, it is just there. Sappy music is perfectly acceptable. This selection beings with one of my all time favorites and finishes with a song that makes me think of Stephen every time. It starts and ends with what is most important, Love.

I hope you can find at least one song that makes you smile.

Enjoy!

More Pictures of Bentley

I took some pictures of Bentley the other day while all the boys were gone. I am definitely not a good photographer, but I think they turned out alright. While I was taking the photos, I accidentally had the camera on video and got footage of Bentley peeing on the blanket. It was hilarious!

Baby Bentley

Stephen and I took some pictures of Bentley in her blessing dress. This was not a easy task. Babies do not cooperate very well! In fact I think this is one of the only decent ones we got.

Angie wanted to see some pictures of the kids. Right now I don't have much to say about them.

The boys smothering Bentley.

Bentley, encouraging them even more by laughing at them.

Bentley, more curious about Hunter than the camera.

What's on your mind?

It is about 4:00 AM. I just fed Bentley, and find myself restless. My thoughts are too loud. What's on your mind you ask? Well, nobody asked, but I am going to share it anyhow. Yesterday I overheard someone make this comment: "I could care less." For some reason I cannot stop thinking about what she meant by that sentence. She was speaking about a topic that she no longer wanted to give any thought. She was tired of dealing with it and wanted it known that she was done and COULDN'T care less. I wanted to lean over to her and say, "you mean, you couldn't care less, right? Saying that she could care less does in fact mean that she could going on caring about the subject more than she did right at that moment. For some reason I seem to notice when people use the word 'could' instead of 'couldn't' in that phrase. I always have to restrain myself from correcting them. Why? Why do I care? I know what was meant by the phrase. Get over it and GO TO SLEEP!

Be on your best behaivor

This is in the Philippines. It reads, "Don't pee here, there, or anywhere."

How do you feel about the poor guy that got so fed up he had to paint the word pee on the side of his building in big bold letters?







This is my personal favorite. They don't care where you spit, just do it quietly please.

If you reveal your secrets to the wind you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.
-Kahlil Gibran

Welcome back

Well, a lot has changed over the course of this last year. At the end of March 2007, I started working at the last place one could imagine me working: a daycare. One can only work in low income housing for so long before the craziness seeps in. I had started to feel like I was going to lose it when a lady that I go to church with asked me if I wanted a new job. What was I thinking? DAYCARE? ME? I should have have said no when I had the chance. But, I didn't. I started in the 3 year old class room on March 26. By May, I was ready for a change. I moved out of the 3's and started doing accounts receivable. Well, one thing led to another and I found myself doing about 4 jobs for the price of one. Anyhow, that phase has passed me by. I now find myself unemployed. My last day of work was January 25th. What a glorious day (singing) aaaaaaaahhh!

On January 27th at 7:20 PM I started my next adventure. I had a baby girl.


Wow are girls different than boys. She looks pretty much the same, well with the obvious exception of the actual girl parts. She smells pretty much the same, but there is a distinct contrast between her and either of my boys. She is sooooo good. I can honestly say that I have really enjoyed having her around these last two weeks. Oh I almost forgot hmmm (clearing my throat)

Annoucing the birth of Bentley Lyn Hintze.

Weight: 7 lbs. 9 ozs.
Height: 18 inches

Both of the boys are eating her up. They are driving me crazy wanting to love her and hold her.






Hunter has absolutely been madly in love with her!













Remi is a little more standoffish, but he loves getting his picture taken.








Thus begins our new saga!