Shumway Family Blahhhg

Friday

2012-02-10T06:47:00.003-07:00

YAY! It's Friday!

This has been a good week, but man, do I need a nap! I have had so much fun in my classes, which I love. I have a piano recital on Monday and I also start tutoring on Monday. My math teacher asked if I'd be willing to stay after class to tutor periodically for 2% extra credit added to my final grade at the end of the semester. Soooooo, I guess I'll have 102% final grade. I hope he throws a candy bar into the mix, cause who needs 102%?? ha! I LOVE math, so I'm excited to help people understand it better. FUN!!

I have a Dr's appointment this morning- I'm getting my physical exam for my VISA! woot woot! It's actually a pretty extensive exam- they have to know when you got specific vaccinations and you have to get tested for Tuberculin/PPD, HIV, Chancroid, Gonorrhea, Granuloma inguinale, Leprosy, Lymphogranuloma, Syphilis, Hepatitis, give the date of your last tetanus booster, report blood type, and RH factor. They have sections for the dr to comment on each part of your body and one for mental status. I also have to get a full chest xray. wha?? I don't understand why the xray, but ok, I'll fork out cash as long as I can get my visa.

Speaking of cash... Aaron just found out from the school that he'll be getting reimbursed for his laptop! woot woot! yay!

Last, but not least, I finally found the set of corel plates I've been searching for at my local goodwill. I'm SO happy I found them.... They are my favorite because they are what we had when I was a kid. Totally vintage. LOVE LOVE. Plus, they don't get super hot when you're heating up your food in the microwave, unlike all our other dishes. Please excuse the sheer red nastiness of my face in this photo :P

I took this picture so I could show my mom and sister the treasure I found :) sooo happy.

And in case you're wondering, yes, I'm bringing them with me to Dom. Otherwise such a purchase would be foolish.

apple store

2012-02-08T21:29:00.000-07:00

We all just got home from a trip to the apple store where Aaron bought his macbook for med school (Clarissa-we still might get Logan's for me). Man, electronics are expensive!! The kids and I messed around on the different computers and ipods, etc.. here are some comic book pics I took with a macbook while we were there.. I think it'd be fun to take a bunch of these pictures, add some word bubbles and make a family comic book. ;) tee hee.

Haiku Wednesday

2012-02-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

One two three four five

Counting syllables is fun

Unless your brain's broke.

(as mine is today. yay bad grammar)

Recital

2012-02-05T23:12:00.008-07:00

I'm sure you all are sick of hearing me talk about music. and singing. and competitions......... and jazz..... Soooooo of course I'm going to talk about it :) Actually, I just wanted to invite anyone who would like to come to my vocal recital tomorrow night (which, by the time anyone will read this, will be tonight). It is
Monday, February 6th at 7pm at the
PAC on CGCC Pecos Campus.
As usual I'll just be singing one song (it's for all CGCC vocal performance majors) and I'm sure I'll be near or at the end. They always do that to me. i guess I'm the fat lady. ;) I hope to see a few of your smiling faces there! Hasta.

Oh, and in case you were waiting with bated breath, I did eh ok at the NATS competition. I felt pretty apathetic about it, unfortunately. Oh well. I really don't like competing anyway, I just love performing, so there you have it.

NATS

2012-02-04T07:13:00.000-07:00

I'm singing in the Classical NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) Vocal Competition at 9:24 today. I'm singing 4 songs- A Mozart Aria in Italian, a piece by Strauss in German that takes immense breath support with loooong phrases, and two Art songs in English, one of which kills my diaphram. oy. I'm soooooo not up for it right now. I'm not nervous but that makes me nervous. ha. ok, I think I just need to shake it off and have someone slap me across the face to get the adrenaline going- caffeine will hurt my voice, so I can't do that.... BLEHHHHH Maybe I'll just go for a jog..... yep, that's it. ok, asta. Thanks for being my sounding board :)

Tiffershmiffany

2012-02-03T17:10:00.004-07:00

I had lunch with my good friend, Tiffany, today at Five Guys Burgers and Fries on Mill in Tempe. We smeared burger-sauce on our faces and took a pic to commemorate our outing. Awww... aren't we cute? Except for the reflection on my glasses that makes me look like I've got crazy-eye. HA!!! She and her 3 boys are moving on Wednesday to join her super-brain aerospace technician husband, Jake, in CA. We had to get together one last time before the exodus. I got to meet Charlie, her new adorable baby boy who has an alfalfa tuft at the back of his head and smiles a LOT. He's gonna be lady trouble. I also got to play tooty-tiles with her 3 yr old, Luke (sing a different note for each tile you quickly jump on. beep bop boop.. If you step on a crack you get buzzed.. errrrrrrr!). I'm gonna miss you, Tiffany! I can't wait until you visit me in Dom..... right? right? ;) Good luck, lady!

In lieu of haiku...

2012-02-02T08:53:00.009-07:00

Nope, there was no Haiku yesterday. I was too busy to write anything. However, I did NOT fail to write down my random thoughts to share with you all later. I have a notebook I keep in my car and whenever I think of something that might be fun/weird to share on the blog I write it down so I will remember later. This is the same note book that has a running list of Professorisms (see blog's right side bar) on the back cover next to the list I just started of Vanity License Plates (personalized license plates I see on the road). Here are some I've seen: OHBTIFL, HALOROX, STRWARS, DECOR4U, WKYRDRM, OOHHYEA, GOCUGRS. Fun fun. I have no idea what the 5th one means, so if you figure it out, let me know in the comments.

ANYWHO, now for the random happenings/thoughts...

-Aaron bought his ticket to Dominica. wow, that was devastating to our bank account. The trip takes two days with an overnight in San Juan (not included in the $1200 price tag). He's flying down a month or so before me. Yes, that's right. That means that when I go, I'll have an overnight in Puerto Rico with my two little kids....and I don't speak Spanish. yipes!

-I don't know if I have ever told you about my filter. It's faulty. My verbal filter. I ALWAYS have something to say about everything that I hear and I say things that are inappropriate or dumb (but always funny or clever) because I didn't run it through my filter and decide to err on the side of caution. B and I talk about it often. Her filter is more refined than mine ;) However, with a little practice over the last year I have learned to restrain a little and any time I think of a "your mom blah blah blah" or "that's what she said" or the even less appropriate "that's what your mom said" comment or something so dumb (but still witty) that it shouldn't even occur to me in the first place, I say "FILTER!" Unless I'm with Aaron.... However, there are some words I hear and think "man, that's a great word. I need to say that." This is a completely random list of words I like. Off the top of my head. LOL.

Twerp

Rotter

Crotchety

Dead Grotty(grotesque)

Frak (thank you, Battlestar Galactica)

Ridiculous
Baby-child

Fabulous

Fantastic- but I say it Fahntahzzyshtook, because in 1837 Robert Schumann composed a series of piano pieces and labeled the group "Fantasiestücke, Op. 12" and that word has stuck with me ever since we studied Schumann last year. I love it. ha ha. ohhh mannnn... welcome to my brain. If you click on the excerpt below you can hear one of the pieces from the Opus being played on an absolutely horrid piano. ha. but you'll get the idea.

I'm also a fan of inserting "freaking" into the middle of words like fan-freakin-tastic.
And I say "dude" a LOT.
There are a lot more I've thought of but I've got morning brain.

-I love the cone. McDonald's ice cream cones. The ice cream is ehhh alright until you get to the cone. I could eat the cone (w/melty ice cream) all day long (as long as I have some icewater- I always need ice water when eating an ice cream cone. Is that normal?). I told you this would be a random post.

-I am loving my classes. Piano class reminded me that I actually can play. I hate practicing at home- I need to get my piano repaired. It's 150 YEARS off-tune and the middle C hammer doesn't play. Really, middle C? Why you playin me like that? I'm supposed to play YOU. ok, yes, I know. dumb. FILTER.

-Aaron has to buy a nice laptop for school. ug. more money. Passports, plane tickets, computers, a back-supply of diabetes meds for 2 people, full physical exams with xrays for A and me with no insurance, new hearing aids for Matthew at $3000 an ear... Did I mention that we don't have a credit card? Now might be a good time to get one, says I.

-Remember how I'm going to NYC for 5 days in April for a Vocal Jazz competition with Distinguished Concerts International? I mentioned it in an earlier post, but, as it turns out, everything is going to be covered- plane, hotel, registration ($650 a person), and we get a daily food stipend. woot woot! This is good, because there was no way I'd be able to pay for it with all the other stuff we have to fork moolah out for right now. YAY! I'm super super super super excited! I had more supers memorized, but I figured you'd get the point. All you jazz-hater friends of mine can just ignore this part of the post ;)

-I've been listening to the Black Keys lately... I'm glad I revisited that. There are not many bands that can make you feel as cool while you're driving and jamming along as the Black Keys. For your listening pleasure: (and viewing pleasure- these guys are funny)

This isn't an official music video, but the official music video is a movie preview with talking over it, so I opted for this one off of YouTube:

This has already become a long post, so I'll tell you about our
friend's restaurant, Bar[en]Grill, and our visit to
Superstition Farmers Market another time :) Hasta.

TABATA

2012-01-30T06:06:00.002-07:00

I don't know if I've told y'all about tabata training, but it's supposed to be the best way to tone and get aerbobic exercise. Since you are doing 20 seconds of intense reps followed by 10 seconds of rest you get your heart rate up doing things you wouldn't think of as aerobic, so you can build muscle AND burn calories AT THE SAME TIME (8- 20/10 second sets of the same exercise, then you do another 8 sets of some other exercise and so on).
You can choose whatever exercises you want- sometimes its nice to have them written down beforehand and beside your yoga mat. Today I did Spread-Eagle situps, shoulder presses (you may need to use lighter weights), side glute/leg lifts 2x (Otherwise referred to by my bootcampers as Shumways), tricep pulls, jumping jacks, bicep curls, uhhh my brain is failing me on the others, but you get the idea- anything you want as long as you are doing them as fast and as hard as you can for those 20 second intervals.

Yay. I'm a limp noodle right now after today's workout,

but it feels dang good.

Here is a free online Tabata timer:

I use the Brittish man's voice for the countdown. :)

Have fun, crazies!

Retrokus

2012-01-26T23:16:00.002-07:00

Gray paint on my nails

is artistry in motion

@$%!*?( Woman Driver

Today: A Massage

Tomorrow: A Pedicure

got my "pamper" on

(although I know what this sounds like, no, I do NOT wear adult diapers)

Professorism of the day:

2012-01-24T16:55:00.007-07:00

"If it isn't broken, don't use it."

All professorisms are quotes I've personally heard a college professor unintentionally say without pause or correction (usually posted the same day it is said). Any similarity with fictitious events or characters was purely coincidental.

Start being AWESOME

2012-01-23T16:20:00.003-07:00

With all of the stress that I feel with everything that's going on right now (school, moving, no health insurance, money, blah blah blah) I find myself trying to think of all of the things that make me happy so I don't explode.... soooo here's a list of a few.

Things that have made me happy in the last few days:
1. When my kids play together uninterrupted for hours. They love playing pretend.
2. When Matthew is shy and hides his face in me when I introduce him to people.

3. The fact that when my tooth broke on a lifesaver I was chewing today I happened to be looking straight at/speaking with my dentist after Matthew's dentist appointment, so he just brought me back and looked at it. It made me miss even more school though.
4. Lemon sandwich cookies sooooaked in milk.

5. The scale that tells me that even though I ate badly in the last week I haven't gained anything.
6. Realizing that that same scale is off by 5 pounds and I'm not going to say any more....(only makes me happy cause it's funny- otherwise punishable by death)

7. Sisters who know when something's wrong and try to make it right.
8. A brand new neice born at home on Saturday - Hazel Jane Rasmussen (named after my great grandma and mom)

9. Quotes I've pinned
10. The Fablehaven series I've been reading on my kindle

11. Skinny cow icecream sandwiches
12. Friends I can be stupid with in the green room.

random thoughts consolidated for your amusement.

2012-01-18T22:06:00.001-07:00

Listening to the boys playing in the back of the van while carpooling at 7:30 this morning brought a question to mind...
What is the plural for "triceratops?"

I love school. I love that I know people and that they like me enough to call to me from across a courtyard while I'm walking the other direction so I will come talk or walk with them. I love learning. I AM feeling the weight of a full schedule this semester and second guessing my choice of enrolling in 8 classes/18 credit hours. However, from the looks of it, I chose the right teachers to overload with... for the most part... kind of... ANYWAY, I might have some exciting news about a trip to a very north eastern popular US city for Jazz Ensemble.... to work with one Phil Mattson. BUT nothing's official as of right now, we just have to see if the college will pay for our registration fee which is.... VERY expensive. All wealthy philanthropist readers please contact me :) We are one of only two community college choirs selected in the nation- joined by two University choirs and 1 professional choir. All are a capella jazz choirs. NO choreography, thank you very much. ;) it's all about the tone, harmony, and expression.

Martin Luther King Jr Day aka Civil Rights Day was a ton of fun! Among other things we went and used our last two groupons at Bahama Bucks and I got something that is now my new favorite: 1/2 Rootbeer, 1/2 Jamaican rum Bahama Mama Rama. holy cheeseballs. It was sooooo good. I don't think I need to try any other flavors ever. ever. ever.

The other day Matthew and I were eating our favorite snack and he looked up and me and said:
Matt: Mom, I heart chips and salsa. (how cute)
Me: *smirk* sighhhh Me too.
Matt: Really, I just heart salsa. If I didn't have a chip, I'd use a spoon.

-----and then I proceeded to teach my young padawan my "pour-the-chip-crumbs-from-the-bottom-of-the-bag-into-the-salsa, mix-and-proceed-to-eat-like-unto-the-eating-of-cereal-WITH A SPOON" technique. I know this may be a little too personal to share on the blog, sorry :) *sniff* my little boy's all grown up..

Now that I've got all that out of my head, it's time for ... no, not haiku Wednesday, but a Wednesday Limerick!!

I went back to my school this week
To learn how to add and to speak
to tell girls from boys,
play keyboards with poise
And learn about rocks like a geek.

Wow, I pretty much covered all my classes except for choir and voice.... I was going to do this for the last line:

And go sing for Phil in NewYeek <-----but I would've had to do new yeek instead of new york. and thats too weird for 90% of my readers. I personally would've giggled every time I read it, though. Dang, I should've put it. I'm such a sell out. hanging head in shame and going to curl up with my kindle to read a few chapters for my Psychology & Gender Differences and Public Speaking classes tomorrow.

books

2012-01-15T16:09:00.002-07:00

Wow. If I buy all my books new

(which I will be doing for a majority of them which are published in 2012- reallly!?? 2012? You guys are on your game. [the game of ripping off students])

then I will be spending $515.00 this week on insanely overpriced paper full of information of which I will only learn 40% this semester.

That's a lot of money. sheesh! At least I have Monday to enjoy as my last weekday of freedom before the semester starts- which will include a Bahama Mama Rama from Bahama Bucks and I'm sure some lazy reading-time and some cleaning-time.

And some making crystals at home with the kids-time.

I just have to stop by the store for some ammonia first. <---yes, I know that was random. But hey, my life is random.
Hasta! Enjoy your Martin Luther King Jr day!

PS- Aaron is behind me watching Doctor Who (Doctor 9 season). how's that for random?

Music Viday-os

2012-01-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

Here are a few songs I like. (they are somewhat strange videos but if you don't like them just close your eyes and listen- but I like 'em)

you're welcome

for expanding your musical knowledge.

or as some people on facebook say,

"your welcomed"

Out of Towners day everything else

2012-01-06T15:01:00.007-07:00

see Out of Towners day 1 here

Really, the rest of the events of our week out of town kind of glommed together in my mind with no particular timing or order so I’ll just tell you some stuff we did in the order they might have happened… maybe?

We went to Provo Towne Center for some last minute gifts and the kids got to try out the hurricane simulator. HA! So much for the faux-hawk. (he asks for them all the time-his hair was WAY too long for it this day- I ended up cutting it before church on Christmas Sunday so he wouldn't look like a shaggy dog)

excited with anticipation......

VIDEO COMING SOON! (as soon as it uploads to youtube)

rattled and de-faux-hawked ha ha- nice acting, Matthew.

We visited the Salt Lake Temple with my family to see all the Christmas lights.

It was CHILLY! See my nose? frozen!

Here's cute Megan who is growing up WAY too fast...

And here’s uuuuhhhh I'm pretty sure that’s Matthew…

Speaking of that kid, after asking him repeatedly to get his gear back on he decided that he didn't need his jacket, hat, scarf and gloves post potty pit stop in the visitor's center and was left with a short sleeved t-shirt and jeans when we went back outside.... I was already really frustrated from butting heads with Megan about taking her shot and so I just held his stuff and said,

“ok, fine, we’ll see how long you last out there.”

5 minutes.

Of course everyone who saw him during that time thought we were bad parents… oh well. ;)

Then we stopped in at the Lion House Bakery in the JSMB for hot chocolate and mixed nuts (which actually consisted of many cups of spilled hot chocolate, a few burned tongues, and the realization that we had failed to adequately communicate with our Salt Lake friends when we’d be there and so didn’t get to fraternize like the old days- SORRY LORI!! Apparently WE were the mixed nuts) and then we posed for pictures in front of the tree in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

Megan and her poses.. jeesh... I can't tell you how excited I am for her to be a teenager.... uhhhh yeah.... I should've known. She's been doing that sassy leg thing from the very beginning....

here she is at age three:

HA!

Of course we had to get one of just us... awwwww.

The next morning the kids went sledding with the dads

Uncle Rob is such a good sport

William cracks me up- he is all boy- a very busy boy, just like Matt was..uhhh...is.

Meg and Eve

Matt told me later that he almost died when Rob took him down an icy staircase on the inner tube.... My heart about exploded when he told me that... if any of you remember Aaron's incident sledding down an icy staircase 5 years ago, you understand why. ROB!

We had an awesome Christmas dinner of YESSS! Mexican food! ay ay ay! I'm going to miss that when we leave... And of course I have no picture- we were busy eating, yo. I made that amazing punch that everyone's pinned on pinterest- It's the second time I've made it and they're not kidding, it is REALLY amazing.

However, I WAS the photographer for our traditional Christmas Eve Live Crèche and reading of Christ’s birth in the bible. Megan was super excited to be an angel. Matthew is the shepherd in the front with the staff and Aaron is the wise man in the very back sitting on the couch. Katie invited her friends from Portugal to join us for Christmas Eve- Louie and Maria and their baby- I wonder what they thought. lol. I was kind of sad to not be in this picture with the entire family, but when I posted it up here I saw a reflection of myself holding 2 cameras in the big mirror :) yay! I'm not an outcast after all!

Christmas Day:

YAY!

We have a tradition that everyone congregates in someone's room until everyone is awake- yeaaahhh we pretty much wake everyone up since we have no patience....

they're not excited....

We go to the top of the stairs (in Gilbert we went to the bottom of the stairs) and get in line youngest to oldest and then dad (now named grandpa) goes to check to make sure Santa came. Then he comes back and brags about all the stuff Santa brought (without ruining the surprise) and makes the kids all anxious and crazy with excitement and then gives them the ready, set, go-ahead to race down the stairs and discover the joy that is the Christmas Morning Frenzy. lol

RUUUUUUUN!!!!!

The kids each got their stocking filled, one small gift from Santa and one gift from each other (they're wearing our gifts to them- Christmas PJs that they unwrap every Christmas Eve) We prepared them for the minimal gifting since we are going to be getting rid of everything we own in the next few months and didn't see the need to spend $ on what would become future Goodwill fodder. Besides, they got gifts under the tree from aunts and uncles (my brothers and sisters) and grandparents, too. They knew that their real Christmas present was a trip to Utah to see family that loves them (and they even tell people so when they're asked :)

Some of my favorite gifts:

...since I can't take all my books with me...

I love this picture of our little family

yes, you're seeing homemade chocolate-covered cinnamon bears. yurm. These didn't make it back to Arizona... well, not undigested, anyway...

and caramel-chocolate covered pretzels. to die for. ok, not literally, but they're dang good. And other home-made-with-love treats.

We had a great drive home (much better than the drive up [see out of towners day 1]) and a very Merry Christmas with my wonderful family. I hope you did, too. But not with MY family, you crazies.

Haiku Wednesday

2012-01-04T13:33:00.001-07:00

Planting season starts

with hope and wild abandon

Start your garden now~

Planting Schedule

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T23:21:00.111-07:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

We went to a couple new years parties on Saturday- the pre-party at Betty Thude's and then the Goodman's Chateau party. I think we got home around 4am. We brought my brother Rob and his wife and kids along for the ride since they were visiting us this weekend. There was a rock climbing pillar, a huge obstacle course bouncy thing (that's the official term) and then a regular bounce house, a dance floor, the best DJ ever, and it was catered by our favorite BBQ- Coopers BBQ (good friends of ours).

I submitted Aaron's name to sing Van Morrison's Brown-Eyed Girl on Karaoke. I even dedicated it to his green-eyed girls (myself and megan). ha. then of course after he sang, the DJ called me up (at Aaron's behest) to sing Aretha Franklins respect. grr, I had just taken a huge bite of a pulled pork sandwich. boooo! I think I remember punching Aaron in the chest as I passed him on my way up to the front. lol It sounded fine except the words on the screen were not the words that are in the actual song. lame. The karaoke was intermingled with songs for dancing which was pretty awesome since a purely karaoke party is a downer.

There was a freeze dance contest which Aaron and I won. We and our friends Nick & Shelly were the last four on the dance floor after about 25 had been cut and then it was cut down to just Aaron and me so they just called the Shumways the winners since we would've been there all night trying to beat eachother. Us? Competitive? nah......

no, we're not having a who can look stranger competition. this is just us. I swear.

The prize: A Chia Tweety. BOO-YAH!

Nothing says "this is gonna be a good year" like winning a Chia Pet.

Here're Megan and me gettin down with our bad selves at the end of the night as the numbers dwindled. I think one of her moves is inspired by jump roping in PE :)

Oh man am I a dork. I look drunk. And no, I wasn't.

Party like it's 1999 y'all!

Our friends, Jon and Courtney Tanner, came to the Chateau party and we gave them a tour (I was one of the original tour guides a couple years ago, remember?) I freaked Courtney out by talking about ghosts staring out the attic windows and Me and Jon ran to the other side of a laundry shoot to freak her out when she looked in the cupboard door.... I love a good scream.

Happy New Year, people. This is gonna be a good one. And if not, MAKE it a good one!

2011 Resolve, 2012 Redo

2011-12-31T02:36:00.001-07:00

Before I forget to add it to this post, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Dang, I just re-read my resolutions from the beginning of 2011.... I kind of didn't do so hot this year.. but they are my current goals I'm working on, so maybe I'll just make a push to finish them this year, eh? Maybe all except the hugging thing. That was a little ummmmmm awkward- actually it really wasn't too bad, but I found myself telling people that it was my resolution when I did it. Maybe this year I'll just resolve to make it more natural and build up an expectation that "Stephanie just hugs?" Whatever, I'm going to barf rainbows if I talk about hugging anymore.

Yeah, that's right, double rainbow, bizashi. Go skim this first for my old 2011 resolutions

Here is how I'm going to take action to tackle my second year of these resolutions:

1. Be a more affectionate person altogether- I'm going to make a bracelet or ring that, when I see it, will remind me to talk to people and focus on them and not think of myself at all- trying hard to remember all the details of whatever they are telling me. I think this will help me care about them more and be less awkward with the hug that will inevitably come. kapiche?

2. Do one act of kindness every day... I have been service-minded this year, but unfortunately when the thought came it was "I really wish I had time to help them," or "if I had time I'd do x y z" OR "if I had money, I'd do blah blah blah" I did go out of my way to help people this year, but it was rarer than I'd have liked it to have been. I'm going to resolve to do the one act every day and who cares if I don't have time or money, it can still be done and I'm going to do it. I'm going to put a post-it on the edge of my computer screen with the quote from a hymn "Have I done any good in the world today?" 'Cause, let's face it, the computer sucks your life away. Well, it wont suck mine away, no sir. Even though I just opened a facebook account. oy vey- we'll see how long that lasts- I might have to ixnay the acebookfay if it and productive living prove to be mutually exclusive

3. I have definitely not become proficient at piano. I think I've only touched a real piano once a week only to find a starting pitch for songs I was singing in voice. I piddle whenever there is a piano nearby, but that's not real practice, only sight reading. I'm pretty close but I just need that extra push/practice; really I just need to be accountable to someone for my daily practice. Which is why I signed up to take class piano on monday and wednesday morning sat CGCC this Spring- which also made it so I had to change science classes just to do this. Now I'm taking a natural disasters and geology or some such nonsense (I figured that will be useful in Dom since there are 9 active volcano's and we'll also get hit pretty good during tornado season). I have a feeling that I'm going to be the branch pianist (church pianist for a very very small church) in Dominica so I had better get crackin. Speaking of which I saw pictures of the church building- I love it. it's bright lime green!

That's Aaron cousin, Lincoln, in the doorway- he's attending Ross right now

4. Alright people, here's your task for the next couple months. Find a band that wants a female guest singer for at least one song and give me their info. I AM going to play or sing at some kind of gig, gosh-dang-darn-fruity-nab-it! I can play piano or guitar or ukulele, I just need enough time to practice whatever I need to perform. (tee hee- forget what I said before about not being able to play proficiently- you don't need mad skills for most rock/indie songs). ready set go. thanks in advance! ha ha. no really. no seriously. I'm NOT joking. I think I must have the reputation of being overly sarcastic cause you're all still staring at your computer screens and not calling your musician friends. hrmph! Guess I'm going to have to get up and do it myself. Wee-haw!
Here we go, 2012!

It's my smolder

2011-12-30T10:59:00.006-07:00

Back story:
1. I'm a chips and salsa fanatic (as of a few months ago). After my recent miscarriage I thought back and realized that it was a pregnancy craving... well, since I again crave it incessantly I guess I was wrong. I'm a salsa monster. We ran out of chips yesterday and so I sliced and fried up some corn tortillas so I'd have a vehicle for my mild chunky salsa to make its delicious way to a mandibular paradise. <--- see what I'm working with? I'm hopeless.

2. My parents gave Matthew a "box of favorites" for his birthday on Wednesday (something they've been doing all year for everyone's birthday- favorite snack, favorite toy, favorite cereal, favorite candy, gift card to their favorite fast food place, gift card to their favorite nice restaurant, etc). He got a mulit-cereal pack (the little single serving boxes), a set of hot wheels, a box of twinkies, a bag of Doritos, uhhh some other stuff.... honestly I don't remember what else 'cause as soon as he pulled out those Doritos all the peripheral sights and sounds blurred and all I saw was that big red bag begging to be ripped opened and devoured. This was really interesting to me because normally I don't like Doritos, but the Tostito shortage in our house has desperately (and hopefully temporarily) morphed my tastes. For the last two days I've been sneaking a few here and there to eat with salsa in dark corners. ha ha ha I'm cracking myself up... but REALLY? Stealing a 7-yr-old's BIRTHDAY present? This is getting out of hand. When Matthew would catch me he'd growl "mommmyyyy!" pursing his lips to mask the smile underneath and sporting big wide eyes.

Imagine my surprise when he came up to me this morning with the infamous red bag and held it out to me,

Matt: Mom, you can have the rest of my chips if you want
[Now the big eyes belonged in MY face.]
Me: Whaaaaaaa??? [salivating]

Matt: You know, for chips and salsa

I peered into the open bag in his hands to see the handful of crumbs in the bottom of the bag and looked up at him with a scrutinizing look knowing the only reason he was offering me these chips is because

1. he wanted credit for doing something nice for me

2. he saw that reason 1 would benefit him more than this pile of tiny chip crumbs (this is seriously how the kids thinks)

Matt: It’s your decision [and then he contorted his face to give me a strange look- I was a little confused and what emotion he was trying to portray, but whatever the meaning, the sound of him saying "decision" with his bi-lateral lisp while being all serious and that look on his face was more than my laugher could stand. It exploded.]

Me: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha [regaining my composure] Why did you do that look??

Matt: It’s my smolder.

Me: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Thank you, Tangled.

munch munch

Haiku Wednesday

2011-12-28T14:25:00.002-07:00

It's Matthew's birthday (7)

been on the xbox all day

just pausing to puke

(poor kid. I'm pretty sure it's ecoli- I always tell the kids to wash their hands after touching the turtle, but do they listen? Well, most of the time, yes, they do)

Out of Towners day 1

2011-12-26T23:29:00.013-07:00

Merry Christmas, y'all. I hope everyone had a mahvelous holiday. We just got home today and I had a blast.

We went up to UT last week to spend Christmas with my family- it usually should take about 11-12 hours to get there, but we got a late start, were rerouted in Phoenix around some homicide for which they closed off a section of grand ave., took the car to AutoZone in Wickenburg to check a mysterious transmission error(turned out ok) and drove through a snowstorm in the mountains in the middle of the night (could only see the taillights in front of us and sometimes nothing at all), so it took ummmmmm FIFTEEN. yes. one. five.We got there at 5:00 in the morning. After about 3.5 hours of sleep, we ate breakfast with the family, chit-chatted for a few hours, and then went to the park with all the kids.

random playground in Springville, UT with the cousins- there was snow on the other side of the park which you can't see in this picture..... I swear it.

Me and Matt. Yes, I know you can't see my hands-they were cold!!

My toes were frozen when we left. Dang ventilated hiking shoes. I forgot that they were so breathable. booo.

Since we all had icicles hanging from our noses we came home and watched some movies and messed around (Aaron slept), then went caroling around the neighborhood with REAL candles...oooooooh... It was so chilly I even had some double hoodie action going on. alls I gotta say is burrr (obviously this is not REALLY alls I have to say since this post continues, but you get the point. One should not be able to see their breath while inside a vehicle. savvy?) And then back home jiggedy jig for my brother's Mexican hot chocolate.

Matt, Eve, Megan, Willam

Older bro Rob, younger sis Katie (8 mos pregnant), me (makeupless-aren't you lucky), mom.

Abuelita's Hot Chocolate- we were being dumb and acting like it was a picture for a commercial......*wink*

After examining the actual Abuelita (spanish for "Grandma") used on the cover of the packaging (seen above in Rob's lovely Vanna hands), supermodels Kate-mo and Demi tried to recreate her pose in their rendition of "still life with hot chocolate" aka "Double Chins never looked so good"

Katie dont kill me!!! I LOVE this picture :) We are dorks hee hee AND I love that 80s country mug.... reminds me of home.

By the way, did you know that if you leave a candy cane in your hot chocolate it dissolves the inside of the candy cane, making it like a straw??? Not only absolutely interesting, but scrumptious, too. Who knew?

Unfortunately for you, the pictures of me drawing on Aaron's face with eyeliner while he's napping on the couch are still on my dad's camera so you'll have to wait to see those.... That concludes our picture post for day one.... stay tuned for more soon!

Hasta.

(Although I know hasta is spelled this way I originally put asta so that people would pronounce it correctly. Aaron scolded me and said "just because people don't say it correctly doesn't mean you should spell it differently. People say worcestershire wrong all the time, but you don't see people spelling it wrong for their benefit")

Ixnay on the Askmay & KUSHEENO NIGHT!

2011-12-19T08:45:00.008-07:00

Ok, don't kill me .... I don't have ANY pictures of me in my mask! AND you can't even see my fun teal sparkly dress in the one blurry picture that I DO have.... ahh well, such is life ;) If any more pics turn up from other people, I'll post them.

As it turns out the masquerade was a surprise casino night. The whole thing was mardi-gras themed and they served cajun food. yuRm. I loved it. The crab cakes and jumbalaya were rather scrumptious. After dinner and some dueling piano entertainment, the wall opened up to reveal the casino room full of about 40 dealers and everything from blackjack to texas hold'em. We were all given $1000 worth of chips to play with and the two highest rollers won a laptop and a 54" TV (My sis-in-law, Valerie, won the TV after her Texas hold 'em table pooled their resources. the big cheaters) This is a really interesting situation to put Mormons in to as we don't gamble.... hum ho. Play money. hrrmm- what do you think? (Should I have asked that? Am I going to get slaughtered in the comments? yes.)

I spent almost all my time at one craps table and learned the game (after deciding that I really really do dislike black jack, as I was trying to convince Aaron of in the first place AND that roulette stinks). I got to be shooter twice. fun. The dealer thought I was pretty funny cause I had no idea what I was doing at first. Then as people came and went I learned how to play and ended up with about $5,455 at the end of the night- It's too bad I didn't catch on sooner and keep playing the horn bet every time. I made a lot of money playing that spot in addition to my other bets in the tail end. oh well. I'm sure 100% of you have no clue what I'm talking about.

Aaron went around the room accepting congratulations for his Med School acceptance and then pooped out halfway through and went to sit down so I was playing solo (ahem, I mean, with NEW friends, not alone :P ) most the night but my actual friends came and joined me near the end- L to R Diana, me, my huge virgin drink, and Shelly. The lighting makes my nose look extra pointy.
Let me reiterate: PLAY MONEY, people, play money.

^ this might look weird. it's a mirror, just so you know. and those are my yellow $100 chips making me some money on the pass line.
Just in case your eyes missed when I typed it before, this was PLAY MONEY. LOL ~Don't want the rumor mill to get a hold of me by my pointy nostrils.

Prechristmas Gutting

2011-12-17T14:12:00.000-07:00

Today we're gutting our rooms. I figured we had better start as soon as possible and I told my friend I'd hand down some toys before Christmas. Megan went through and got all of her My Little Ponies (26 in all AND accessories. She's only keeping her very first Pony, Blossom) and Matt's getting rid of the Geo Trax he hasn't used in a year. I also have a big thing of MegaBlocks. I think that the kids will just be bringing Hotwheels (he has millions) and MAYBE Littlest Pet Shop toys- (she has yet to make the final decision) and their Teddy Bears. Meg is reading over my shoulder and said "And anything we get for Christmas!" I told them that Santa will only be getting them ONE small toy and filling their stockings. Mom and Dad's gifts to them are Christmas PJs (as they are every year). So anything besides that will be coming from outside sources- grandparents and aunts and uncles- and friends.

Ok, i better go shower now- I've got to get ready for the masquerade ball I'm going to tonight..........................................

............................

......................

................

..........

......

....

LOL, ok I'll explain-

I guess I can't just leave it at that....

Aaron's work party is a masquerade ball. They're doing it at Wild Horse Pass just as they did last year, but this year instead of dressing up nice, we're going all out- black tie optional. I got my teal sparkly dress and strappy black heels yesterday with a black sequined shrug and a gold and black mask with black feathers coming out both sides. I don't know if I'll fit through the door. Oh wait, it's a really big door, so I'm sure it'll be fine.

And I'm sure they'll take pictures.

Soooo lucky you....

Love Shack (tehe I'm so funny)

2011-12-16T14:28:00.002-07:00

Just in case you were wondering who has the best salsa in the valley, I thought I'd let you know it's the Burrito Shack. yep.

I stopped there at 'o dark thirty in the wet foggy morning yesterday (6:20am) and ordered 3 breakfast burritos for the kids and myself while driving home from taking Aaron to work (and yes, still wearing the plaid pj pants and a hoodie). I was the only one there and knocked on the window of the corrugated steel shack to see if they were even open yet. Yep, they were.
The owners husband Kurt and wife Peggy were so friendly that I felt like family (such a cliche statement, but in this case completely true) I asked them what was in the breakfast burro- Peggy started listing..eggs, cheese, potatoes... and then Kurt added from the kitchen "and love!" I told them that they could leave the love in the two for my kids but I needed to replace mine with some "good luck" for my finals. We laughed a little as I ordered then and talked about my kids and school and the catering job they'd done the night before. When they gave me the hefty bag of burritos Kurt said "Here's a little extra love since we didn't put it in your burrito" and handed me a little Styrofoam container mark "love" and a plastic spoon. "It's a little bit of chocolate mousse left over from our job last night" Peggy added with a little smile and a twinkle in her eye. She also added as I was leaving that they sold kids size burritos for $1 so I should stop by again for lunch sometime. Wha? that's awesome.
When the kids and I got home and took out our burritos, mine had a big GOOD LUCK!!! written across the wrapper. So yeah, like family. And besides, the burritos were fabulous. We all ate halves of our burritos for breakfast and then I ate the rest of Matt's for lunch as I ran out the door later. When he found out I had eaten his he bawled. doh! I let him eat some "love" to make up for it. He loved it. No, really, he did.
I decided that I'm going to start a critic blog. It's going to have reviews on everything from food to movies to stores and toys. If you'd like to be a part of it let me know. I'll be editor along with a few others, but as long as reviews go, I'll accept submissions from whomever would like to write them- they just have to get approved is all.
Anywho, the reason I tell you about the impending drain on my time is because the BURRITO SHACK is going to be the subject of the first restaurant review. I'm excited to go interview them and take pictures. They're super cool and their food is super-nom.

Burrito Shack

5663 S Power Rd
Mesa, AZ 85212
(480) 988-6017

Mon-Sat 6 am - 3 pm

Closed Sundays (yet another reason to support them!!)

whoa.

2011-12-15T21:09:00.001-07:00

I don't think I've ever had a more stressful or difficult finals week. I am so glad it's over. I look like death warmed over. and I'm coughing and exhausted. and my hands are shaking. but I got to help Megan with her book report tonight and read Matthew a bedtime story about footprints in the snow. And my sweet husband made me brownies.

It's time for bed. g'night.

Haiku Wednesday

2011-12-14T11:25:00.001-07:00

Writing this paper

Is taking up all my time

but fascinating!
(I'll probably be turning it in a few hours late while still wearing my plaid pajama pants and a ponytail. Nobody cares what you wear the day before school's out, right?
Currently: eating top ramen in front of the computer while pouring over Tchaikovsky's biography.
On the docket for finals week: ONLY 2 MORE TESTS TO TAKE! Tomorrow. And then I'm done with music history FOREVER! woot woot! Well, I guess you can never be done with history, can you? dang, that was deep. Look at me all philosophical at 11 in the morning. Sounds like SOMEBODY had a RedBull and 1/2 of a 5-hour Energy drink at 3:30 this morning...)

Having Faith in Birth

2011-12-12T22:00:00.000-07:00

Me and B's new beautiful baby boy, Clayton :) He eats out of a really cool special bottle- I was just learning how to use it - gotsta get babysitter ready.... ;) Here is a really lovely post she wrote about getting ready for him to come. Having Faith in Birth

Dominica

2011-12-11T02:40:00.010-07:00

A lot of people have been asking me all about Dominica ever since we found out that we'll be moving there in May, so here are a few videos, pictures, and info:

DOMINICA [pronounced dom-in-EE-ka] : translated to mean “Sunday”, the day on which Christopher Columbus first saw the island. Dominica is also known as the Commonwealth of Dominica, Dominique (in french), Wai’tukubuli (“tall is her body”), and ”the nature isle of the Caribbean” but NOT the Dominican Republic.

Unique about Dominica: Home to the Kalinago Indians, the only remaining Indian population of the Caribbean; One of the filming locations for the Pirates of the Caribbean movies; One of the only untouched islands of the Caribbean; Home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Morne Trois Pitons National Park .

Called the "Nature Island," Dominica is certainly that and much more. It's literally covered with thick green jungle, punctuated by sharp-edged volcanic peaks, mountains, lakes, rivers, hot springs and waterfalls and a wide variety of green vegetation and wildlife. It's a popular cruise ship destination and a magnet for hikers and nature enthusiasts. The offshore reefs attract divers from around the world.
Agriculture is the major industry here followed closely by tourism. Travelers fortunate to visit this Eden will tell you that Dominica is a true paradise; wonderfully preserved for all to see.

It is the youngest island in the Lesser Antilles, still being formed by geothermal-volcanic activity, as evidenced by the world's second-largest boiling lake. The island features lush mountainous rainforests, home of many rare plant, animal, and bird species. There are xeric areas in some of the western coastal regions, but heavy rainfall can be expected inland.

The Sisserou Parrot (also known as the Imperial Amazon), the island's national bird, is featured on the national flag.

Location: In the Caribbean between the French islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. This area is also referred to as the Windward Islands, the Lesser Antilles, and the West Indies. Ross University is located on the north west side of the island in Portsmouth, alongside the Caribbean Sea.

Population : Approximately 70,000

Size: 29 miles long, 16 miles wide

Time Zone: Atlantic Standard (no daylight savings time... YESSSSS)

Language: English primarily, French creole (patois) is also spoken. This is a really interesting pidgeon-type of french language. If Eliza Doolittle was French, this is what she'd speak :) Here's a link

Government: Independent since November 3rd, 1978. Parliamentary democracy in place. The current Prime Minister is Roosevelt Skerrit who was first elected in 2004.

Unit of Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (abbrev. EC, ECD, or XCD) ; One US Dollar = 2.67 EC ; VAT (value added tax) applied most places.

Electricity: 220 volts (110 is in use at Ross University and in some apartments)

Climate/Terrain: Tropical, hot and humid; Hurricane/heavy rain season June-November; Volcanic, mountainous island. Nine of the Caribbean’s sixteen active volcanoes are located on the island of Dominica.

Here are some fun promotional videos of Dominica...

and the fooooood

You may hear Dominicans refer to what they call their “ground provisions“. This refers to their staple crops-dasheen, plantain, breadfruit etc. The national dish of Dominica is called “Mountain Chicken” (aka frog legs) which is scarce now because of a ban on hunting of the frog for environmental reasons. Dominicans also enjoy the national dish of Jamaica, ackee (fruit) and salt fish (codfish). The local diet in general is pretty carb heavy-lots of beans, rice, pasta, and starchy vegetables. For your protein you have the choice of chicken, chicken, and more chicken. If you want fresh fish, you can find it at the Portsmouth market or on the main road headed to Portsmouth. When the local fishermen arrive with the daily catch they will blow the conch shell. They tend to have tuna, red snapper, blue marlin and miscellaneous I have no idea what that fish is. They sell the fish whole for about 7-8 EC per pound, un-gutted. I'm most excited about the fresh fruits and vegetables growing all over the island. Avocado, green fig, mango, mangosteen, guava, banana, plantain, papaya, orange, lime, lemon, coconut, christophine, eggplant, cabbage, peppers, sapodilla, sweetsop, soursop, dasheen, cocoa, coffee, pineapple, sugarcane, watermelon, carambola, bajan cherries, custard apple, barbadine, and a ton more. There is a law against begging on the island, but there is really no need since one could survive on what grows wild there.

HHS Girlses

2011-12-11T00:24:00.003-07:00

We had a souper fun time at crackers & co today :) (See what I did there? eh? eh?) Here is a pic to document the get-together. I DID dress up all christmasy. I was the only one, but that's ok. I never really get an opportunity to wear these ridiculous christmas tree earrings, and Meg loves them, so I went ahead and took the plunge into crazy lady wardrobe. From L to R: Teresa, Tanja, Nikki, Me, Jamie.. missing a lot of our pack. hopefully we'll see them next month when we get together for our carbo load night before we run in....
The Color Run (1st of all, that sounds totally racist, 2nd of all- we don't need to carbo load for a 5k, but we needed a reason to get together, so there it is. And anyway, who doesn't like to carbo load?? I'd even do it before a marathon of Lost. Actually, I'm sure that that type of carbo load is more common than the racing variety now that I think about it. Wow, this is a long side note).
annnnd ....YES! I just noticed that Tanja's baby, Lucy, is flipping the camera off. I was hoping she would do that- she was doing it all during lunch ;)

I'm a Leaky Faucet

2011-12-09T22:13:00.002-07:00

I have cried a lot this week. It's been a good week. Ha ha- I bet you didn't expect that. Yes, I have been crying for a lot of good reasons. Things I've finally overcome through figurative blood sweat and tears. Things I've accomplished and am proud of (an especially difficult run in a Mozart Aria that I nailed in Vocal Juries today). Beautiful music. Fruition of some academic dreams(I bet you can guess what that one is). The Muppet movie. That was the most recent thing ;) The Muppets were an integral part of my childhood. Seeing them again in all their glory made me a little misty-eyed tonight.
Some of these reasons seem so silly, but they touched my heart and made me teary-eyed all the same. Perhaps my lack of sleep has something to do with it. Well, finals week will be over on Thursday. I'll be at school all of those last four days, but hopefully I'll be able to sleep this week. Last week, not so much.
I'm excited to go to my HS friends' christmas sock exchange lunch tomorrow at Crackers and Co in Chandler (...errrr....Gilbert?). I love that place. and I love my hhs girls. I should have pics to post. We all bring a cute pair of christmas socks wrapped up and do an exchange. I might even wear something Christmasy, who knows? ;)
Good Night one and all- I'm going to go cry myself to sleep. LOL nah, not really... but I just might read the third Fablehaven book....

Thought You Should Know Thursday

2011-12-08T16:05:00.005-07:00

HE GOT IN!!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

(That was quick! His interview was just Tuesday! [as mentioned here and here]

He was given the choice between going in January or going in May...

we'll be praying about that for the next few days) UPDATE: He starts in MAY!
To learn more about Dominica (where we'll be moving) see this post

Anyway....Just thought you should know.....

Haiku Wednesday

2011-12-07T23:52:00.000-07:00

Fuzzy baby head

So perfectly round and soft

God's kissable gift

(congrats on your sweet bundle of joy, B!)

Avert Your Sensitive Eyes....

2011-12-05T22:34:00.004-07:00

Ok, so this is a little irreverent- sorry about this... It's just funny and since I don't keep a for-real journal I need to put it on here.... here goes.

I am the ULTIMATE soccer mom.

I AM the TAXI of the century.

Every day we load the sleeping children in the car at 5:30am to take Aaron the 13 miles to work by 6am. Then I drive home and scramble to get the kids and myself ready, fed, get lunches made and leave at 7:40am where I run them and two kindergartner boys in the carpool to school in Queen Creek and then go straight to my school about 8 miles away. After my school is done at about 2:30 I go pick the kids up at 3 and then go to straight to Aaron's school about 14 miles now (while the kids do their homework in the car) and pick him up and we are all home by about 4 or 4:15pm. and then I fix dinner and try and do homework. or if it's on a night that I have school or Matt has Soccer or Megan has choir, there is that driving as well.
Welllll... the only reason I tell you all that is so you can imagine how I don't like to stop for errands or pretty much anything. SO much of our time is taken up in the car - and Aaron actually gets off work at 3 so he's just hum hah-ing waiting for us to pick him up.
Lately Matt hasn't been going to the bathroom when he gets a chance during recess and right after we leave the school he'll squeal
"I GOTTA GO POTTTTYYYY!!" So we have to find a gas station or somewhere to stop and let him go. It eats up so much of our time.
Well the other day, Megan had a concert for PCC that she had to get to in Scottsdale at 5 and I actually signed the kids out 15 minutes early so that I could get Aaron, then drive home, and then Aaron could leave immediately for the concert with Meg since it takes and hour to get there.
Of COURSE as soon as we left the school, Matt did it. AGAIN. I said "tough luck, kid, I'm not stoppin for anything. You're gonna have to wait until we get to daddy's work." He started squealing and crying and said "I REALLY have to go!!! EEEEEEEE!!!" I gave him a plastic water bottle and said "go to the back seat and pee in that" He was like "WHA? I can't pee in this!" I said "I am the pee pee genius. I can pee in anything. Trust me- you can pee in that." LOL So now for the last week the kids have called me the "pee pee genius." Megan did it, too and I made her go in a QT cup. I'm such a good mom. I've taken enough road trips and have had to ugently go to the bathroom in enough unfriendly circumstances that I really can go anywhere and in anything. ha ha ha. And Meg can squat as good as Sacagawea. She's had to teach her friend and her cousin. Yay camping trips.
Anyway, sorry that was such a weird post. I just had it on my mind cause the kids called me Pee Pee Genius again today. hilarious.

One more thing...speaking of potty- I was just in the bathroom and noticed...

SOMEONE PUT TOILET PAPER ON THE TP ROLL.

Wha? Who on EARTH?! This is probably the 4th happiest day of my life. I don't even know who it was and I don't even care that it's on backwards. I just care that I didn't have to do it. WOW. My world has been rocked. Thank you, little elf that I gave birth to.

Ahhhh the world is clean again....

2011-12-01T09:38:00.003-07:00

:) it's raining. you all know I love the rain. Cuz I really needed a carwash and I'm ghetto like that. For some reason it got my brain a-thinkin and as I drove to school I had a million different thoughts.... i ended up jotting them down as I drove so I could share my brain map with you (yes, I know that wasn't safe. that, too, was one of my thoughts). Here are just a few:

1. I need new wiper blades. seriously. we are not a cake. we do not need an even layer of the stuff on the windsheild. we are aiming for removal here. geeeze. Oh, and if you haven't seen the movie Flash of Genius, you need to see it. It's about the man who invented in intermittant windsheild wiper and his fight to take it back from the car company big wigs. Awesome.

2. I should not have worn these pants today. I'm wearing my cloth flats (smart) and with these shoes my too-long drag on the wet ground pants will act as mini mops in whatever room I venture. What, bio teacher? You'd like a clean path from the door to my chair? done and done. and I might even slip and land on my face for your entertainment. but it'll be extra. credit that is. and don't say I never did anything for you.

3. Yesterday I got up at 2:50 am to do homework (yes that paper I procrastinated. the day of rough draft reckoning is here). sooooo... I've not gotten a lot of sleep lately. The only reason I articulate this for you (since what student really gets sleep this time of year with all the dumb projects and term papers) is because I have (as of yesterday) developed a twitch in my upper right cheek (face, you sicko). I feel like the inspector in pink panther. Not Clouseau, the gray haired one that tries to kill him throughout the film series... oh yeah... Inspector Dreyfus. He gets the upper cheek twitch, too. Maybe I'll turn into a homocidal maniac as well. It remains to be seen. or maybe I already am one...... dot dot dot. I'm so dumb. dot dot dot

4. So in the literary vein that I am already crazy, I was dropping the kids off at school this morning and I saw a midget in my rearview mirror. i was a little startled and i thought whoa. I had no idea there was a midget parent here. turns out it was just a normal kid walking into the school. regularly proportioned and everything. so yeah. crazy. i vote yes. but it was pretty cool to see a midget.

5. You know those mints at chick fil a that people take handfuls of as they leave? and sometimes when they arrive? and in the middle of their meal? I LURV those mints. yes, caps. I must really lurv them. Well, I personally think that they are head and shoulders above the regular starlight mints they give out at sonic (head and shoulders- does anyone have a comparable phrase I can put in there? I feel so old when I use that). So imagine my surprise and delight when I found that our tricky Sonic has replaced their mints with the meltaway kind that chick fil a has! They look exactly the same as they used to but they are the heavenly consistancy of CFA's. Mama. they are nommy.

6. Last thing- I'm ushering for CGCC's musical review, Chess, tonight. It starts at 7:30, so if you want to come and see it and get your program from lovely Miss Stephanie, come tonight :)

Today, NBC. Tomorow, the WORLD

2011-12-01T00:13:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd let y'all know that Megan will be singing on NBC's EVB Live today (Thursday, 12/1) at 4pm with Phoenix Children's Chorus. They're going to sing maybe two songs for the program and I'm sure they'll talk to some kids. Should be fun. Meg is super excited and has been telling all her friends at school about it (they're all appropriately dazzled by her fame). They'll be wearing orange PCC shirts and smiles from ear to ear I'm sure. See you on the flip side!

Haiku Wednesday. Jingle Jangle.

2011-11-30T19:18:00.001-07:00

Next is December.

Why does the time fly like that?

Life is a *?!$cuss word%#*

Unsolicited Haiku

2011-11-27T13:31:00.001-07:00

My paper is due

In two wee.... what?!?! TOMORROW?!

Procrastination.

Haiku Wednesday

2011-11-23T23:01:00.017-07:00

Children, spouse, food, house

Warm clothes, good friends, bright future

For these I'm thankful

My brain doesn't work, so I have no post title...

2011-11-18T22:17:00.003-07:00

Heya.

Just thought I'd post since I'm supposed to be simultaneously hemming Megan's choir dress (that I just spent forever pinning. no not on pinterest. In REAL LIFE. whoa), painting posters for the walk-a-thon in the morning (Phoenix Children's Chorus stuff), and doing homework (Curse you, environmentalist research paper and two online bio quizzes). This is when the most blogging gets done.

Just had a few thoughts. First, did y'all see the google doodle today? About Louis Daguerre? He was the inventor of the Daguerreotype (Da-gare-o-type), the first photography process that was remotely practical or reliable. For a long time photographs were just called Daguerreotypes. Check out some articles about him by mousing over (coining that term) this paragraph for links.

Second, I discovered that I....wait for it.......am a nerd (GASP!) Yes, I know. This is brand new information. But yes, the other day I realized that whenever someone asks "how was class?" after I get out of statistics, i say "AWESOME! I LOVE statistics!"

And then on Thursday I texted Aaron during BIO to tell him that we were learning about RNA translation and how awesome it was and he replied "yeah, protein synthesis is pretty cool." and I said "oh man, we are weird." and he texted "yeah...or smart." Ha ha ha. I like being married to a biologist.

Speaking of my biologist, we found out that his medical school interview is in Anaheim on December 6th, so keep him in your thoughts and prayers on that day!! Send him some good juju :)

Ok people, leave me alone. I need to go get stuff done. and sleep. whaaa?? I know, what a nuisance. The need for sleep is God's way of saying, "will you please stop for a minute?" I'm glad we have that wonderful reset button. Thanks, God.

shhhhh.... be calm.....

2011-11-16T13:27:00.002-07:00

I have to be careful with my words right now BECAUSE oops, because if I'm not careful all the words will come out in CAPS oops, caps, sorry.... I'm a little giddy.... no, A LOT giddy right now..... I just found out that aaron has an interview with the medical school in the caribbean...... The soonest he could get in is January. EEP. oops. eep! i think my heart is going to explode. and I'm pretty sure that the corner of my mouth touched my earlobe for a few seconds there when I was smiling the world's biggest smile.

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

What I overheard...

2011-11-16T07:33:00.002-07:00

While I was doing my hair this morning and the kids were getting ready for school this morning I overheard them having this conversation:

Matt: Megan, you should try out for soccer cause you're a good kicker and that's what good kickers do
Megan: Really? you think I'm a good kicker?
Matt: yeah. and you should try out for soccer
Megan: Matthew, do you want to know why I don't try out for soccer?
Matt: Why?
Megan: Cause I forgot who was on my team last time and I messed up. And then this boy said later "YEAH MEGAN, MESS UP AGAIN!"
---------pause----------
Matt: it's ok, you just gotta remember their names and remember what they're wearing. You should still try out for soccer.

I like that. It's a good day. (And alls I've gotta say is whatever it is that someone slipped in my proverbial drink this morning is amazing. Good mood, yummy breakfast, kids on time, ahhhhhhhhhh)

Matthew and his cute face.

2011-11-14T23:16:00.002-07:00

Just thought I'd post a couple pictures of Matthew and his cute face. In a soccer uniform.

Watch out, ladies.

front and center :) What a little stud.

Thanks, God, for Spit-up

2011-11-13T00:34:00.004-07:00

Tonight I went to my B's blessingway. Have you ever heard of a blessingway? Traditionally, it is a native american ritual where an expectant mothers' closest friends come together while the mother waits for her baby to come and they offer spiritual support and such. This was not that. This was a really refreshing alternative to a baby shower (even though Brittney also had a baby shower last week, ha ha). Here's a little from the invite:

A blessingway is for honoring the mother and giving her love and support before her birthing time. Learn more about blessingways here.

Appropriate gift ideas:
~personal letter
~poem by you or someone else
~coupon offering specific help, ex: "1 hour of babysitting any weekday morning"
~something handmade for the mother
~pampering item for the mother, like lotion
A light dinner will be provided. Bring your birthy love energy and well wishes for Brittney and her baby! We appreciate your prompt RSVP. Can't wait to see you there!

We all got together for a light dinner and chatting. We went around the room and offered a poem or word of advice or spiritual thought for Brittney in preparation for her baby to come this week (yes, there were tears), shared gifts (I'll show you mine in a second), and each stamped part of a leather bracelet for Brittney to wear this week. She chose the words Birth Faith and we each stamped a letter into the leather band with a mallet. Before we left, we each chose a bead and a word to be made into a necklace for her as well. My bead was a sphere with swirled lighter shades of this dark sandy-textured sea green (HTML #698B69). I chose the word "calm." We were each given a little jar with a candle to light when we hear the news that the baby's ready to come (to remind us to keep our thoughts with her while it's lit).

This whole thing sounds so hippyish, and those who know me know I'm a little anti-hippy sentiment, but I have to say that I'd rather this than a babyshower any day (although britt's baby shower was fun- don't get me wrong- this is just a general observation). This is just so much more personal and supportive for mommy-to-be.

If you know my B, you know that her baby was found to have a cleft lip in the ultrasounds. They don't know yet if he'll have a cleft palate, but they're preparing for it. They've got special expensive bottles and B is worried about nursing and how difficult feeding him will be. She also mentioned how all of the things you normally worry about with your baby seem so trivial once you're faced with a big challenge. Mothers who worry that their baby has a little mark on their arm or funny hair or the like, need to wake up and realize what miracles their children really are. Be thankful for the cries (that means your child can breathe). Be thankful for your child's eavesdropping when you're having a serious conversation (that means your child can hear). Be thankful for the midnight feedings (that means your child can eat).

With that in mind, I made this haiku and these burp cloths (specific to her instance):

What a goofball. Do you like the fifties outlet right in the middle of the wall? I know. weird. Also, see the mickey mouse band-aid I have on my middle finger? That's cause I accidentally sawed through the top of my finger and fingernail yesterday. You'd think that the knife wouldn't make it through that sheild of a fingernail, but holy crud it sliced through like butter. fun stuff.

ug slouching. and dumb face. why do I make such faces? oh yeah, that's just how my face is. drat.

And that's just how HIS face is too, apparently. Yes, that's a QT cup back there. And yes, there's also a cup from Costco where I had the always amazing polish sausage with kraut and diet coke this afternoon for a buck fifty. Also, see the cloth I'm making- how it's got a little dip in it along the edge? That goes right by your neck so it stays on your shoulder more easily.

the haiku goes:

a baby who burps

is a baby who's well-fed.

thanks, God, for spit-up.

and I put TGFS (Thanks, God, For Spit-up) on one corner of each burp rag (using the freezer-paper method). Helps keep things in perspective. Brittney got some pictures at the blessingway so I'll post them when she sends them :)

These are made of cotton print and jersey. The top two are backed in an olive green jersey that matches the green stripe on the the 3rd cloth and the bottom two are lined in dark brown.

ADDENDUM: Here she is :)

Isn't she cute? :)

oops, I should've had her wear it on the other shoulder so you could see the writing. oh well :)

retrobdaypost

2011-11-11T09:14:00.006-07:00

I must think the spacebar is overrated. :) 'tis why I'm guessing the title is all jumbled.

I have some horrid pictures of myself that I need to post. yuck. Ha ha

Aaron had his 36th birthday on October 24th and I took him rock climbing and then to Liberty Market and Joe's Real BBQ for dinner(s). Remember the Octoberfest Burger post? Yeah, it was that night. Aaron ordered that (free birthday meal) and then went across the street and ordered me a free birthday pulled pork and cheesy potatoes from Joe's (The Cheesy Pots are bomb- you have but to add salt to unlock their true potential. epic. I could eat them for every meal and still crave them upon awakening each morning. geeze I'm so dramatic. anyway.....back to the bad pictures)

We had so much fun and spent sooooo little it's insane.

Before all the eating, we went to AZ on the Rocks. I bought a groupon from my friend who realized she wasn't going to get a chance to use it before it expired. She only charged me $2. $2!!!!!!!?!?!? It was for a day pass/gear rental (~$22) and a $5 Pita Jungle gift card. $2! shweeeeeet. At AZ on the Rocks, you get a free day pass and rental when it's your birthday, so Aaron got in free. ha ha ha oh man did we work the system.

Here are the horrible pictures. That harness made me have a bubble butt. yuck. and my shirt is all poofed out. and I looked horrible that day anyway. AND I was slouching and sticking out my gutt in the.... nevermind. you get the idea. I dislike the pictures, but it's documenting a fun time and Aaron wanted me to post them
(THIS, Aaron, is how you know that I love you)

Gettin hooked up

Awww. isn't he cute? Happy Birthday, babe!

nice legs, honey.

(no comment)

I really did have a lot of fun climbing- it feels so good to reach the top....

However, in this case, Aaron was not belaying me (securing the rope and controlling the speed of my descent with the gear), no, on this climb I was using the "autobelay" device, which is a rope hooked up to that round diaper genie-refill looking thing. Genie details: 1. it slows your descent, but only enough so that you don't splat on the floor and 2. you have to just let go of the wall and start free falling like a dope before it engages and slows you down. It takes a second for it to engage so yeah, it's fun. And freaky the first time.

I swear if you say anything about this........

ummm ok, this is the end of the post. Thanks for reading with your eyes closed..... you didn't peek, did you? cause....... then I'd have to kill you. (awkward silence)

BY THE WAY... I don't know if I've told you before that one of my ambitions is to become a licenced climbing/rappelling instructor. My family used to go rappelling all the time growing up and I learned a lot from my dad... but it's been a long time. When I get a little bit of time and money I'm going to get certified so I can take groups out (church youth groups and also just for recreation) Also, it'd be a fun way to earn a buck.

Oh HEY! I totally forgot to tell you guys about Liberty Market- You know that The Lib, Joe's Real BBQ, and Joe's Farm Grill are all at least partially owned by this guy. Yes, Joe Johnston who always wears a straw bowler and glasses and is super friendly. You can follow him on twitter here. We saw him at Liberty on A's b-day and he asked if we were going for the Birthday trifecta (visiting all three restaurants for a free meal on your birthday) We told him that we had and he said "Now see, what you need to try next year is going in the first part of the day to all three and then after the shift change go to all three again." Talk about milking the system... wow. We had thought of doing that before, but kind of felt it was dishonest... now that we have Joe's go-ahead, it's a challenge!

Halloween costumes and other interesting stuff

2011-11-08T21:53:00.005-07:00

Halloween night.

Matthew was Indiana Jones (with a real whip made by friend David Gibbens)

Aaron was "life" and had boxes of lemon heads to hand out

I was Grecian handmaiden to Megan, who was the goddess Aphrodite (She's been really in to Greek Mythology for the last 6 months).

(I had already made my outfit for a program I sang in called Women at the Well a litte over a year ago, so all I had to make last week was Megan's outfit and jewelry and Matthew's leather satchel)

......and heeeeere's Johnny!

As you can see I had a lot of projects going on at once, but

Johnny= the minky quilt I made for my Brittney (otherwise referred to as B or really any word that starts with B). Holy Fazolis minky fabric is the devil. My house was a fuzzy fluffy mess when I was done. All of the pieced side is fur, there is no stuffing, and the other side is actually made from a very high thread count sheet so it's nice and soft, too. This is folded into fourths in this pic, I think. It's basically big enough to wrap a baby in and small enough for a little kid to carry around while sucking their thumb. And soft enough to never want to leave behind :) I want one for me now.... too bad I got all the fabric from the fur scrap pile (any fabric left on the bolt that was less than a yard) at SAS and had barely enough for the baby quilt. no duplicating.... booo... well, there is a teeny tiny little bit left... hmmm.... what to make, what to make....

It's funny- Megan will say Mom, can I have your scraps? and I'll say uhhh honey, Mommy doesn't have scraps. Anything I have left over is just fabric I'm saving for another project. ha. it's so true. but I give her some anyway.

Some funny things the kids said today:

Matt told Megan that her feet were "EXTREMELY smelly." (which, really, that boy's feet smell like pedivomit, so he's the world's shortest hypocrite)

and when we were singing the name game (you know, Stephy Stephy bo bephy banana fanna fo feffy me mi mo mephy, Stephy)

Megan said, no one do "Mutthead" cause that would be bad.

Oh, AND the 6 year old genuinely beat me in a thumb war tonight. What has the world come to? I think I'm going to have to cut down on the protein I feed that kid.

Kids make life so much more interesting. In an innocent funny sweet kind of way.

Megan the Great and the Great Marie Curie

2011-11-07T22:46:00.003-07:00

Happy Rainy Monday to you!

I have had a GREAT day today and I hope you enjoyed the rain and cold weather as much as I did :)

Megan cracks me up. She read me something she wrote in school today while I was organizing her closet and I laughed so hard that I thought maybe you'd enjoy it, too.

She was supposed to write a sentence that followed these requirements:
1. It had to be declarative
2. It had to use the word famous
3. It had to contain an adverb ending in -ly
Here's what that kid thought up. What a hoot.

"The famous monster movie star named Lomsyus from the planet Humogolon waved one of his fourteen small green arms slowly at the crowd while devouring a Thanksgiving turkey."

On a completely unrelated note, I'm wondering how many of you saw the Google Doodle today in honor of Marie Curie, who essentially donated her body (and life) to science. If you haven't read anything about her today (her 144th birthday), here's a link to a really interesting article. Enjoy it. I did.

PCC Tickets going fast

2011-11-05T15:35:00.005-07:00

Hey peeps, just thought I'd give you the heads up about the

PCC concert at the very beginning of December.

Megan loves being in this choir- I got a sneak peek of some of the numbers they will be doing at this concert and I got teary-eyed just listening to a few seconds worth. There is nothing more beautiful than children's sweet voices singing christmas music. I heard that the concerts are selling out fast, so if you want to attend one of PCC's cheapest concerts, get your tickets soon!

www.higleyarts.org

www.phoenixchildrenschorus.org

ALSO, I just found out that PCC is holding auditions in early December. Here is the info.

Haiku Wednesday

2011-11-02T22:43:00.001-07:00

Sang a silly song

Said wrong words but that's ok

Since I looked so cute

Recital Tonight-TIME CHANGE

2011-11-02T16:34:00.001-07:00

Heya peeps. As it says, they changed tonight's recital starting time from 6:30 to 7pm. It's ok to come at 6:30, though, as the house will be open and you can get a good seat. I'm like the 4th from the last, soooooo sorry about that. Im also sorry that it's not completely memorized, I'm sick and I am a zombie from the lack of sleep... LOL!!! it should be interesting

Confiscate Candy?

2011-11-01T07:20:00.000-07:00

yes I do. These children cannot fully appreciate the joy that is an AlmondJoy. How could they? Their tastebuds won't be fully developed until they're 50. They can gnaw on the now n laters and hersheys bars- whopper balls and reeses buttercups..... But their AlmondJoys? Those I will dispose of some other way... don't ask me how... I'm a little ashamed of my caloric intake over the last hour.....

a little peak at today's project.....

2011-10-29T23:59:00.002-07:00

The colors are a little off in this picture.... but I'll post a better picture tomorrow of the finished product after I give it to my B. I didn't want to show you how cute it turned out until she saw it first in person :) All super fuzzy soft stuff.... and now my entire house is super fuzzy soft. lol

Thought You Should Know Thursday

2011-10-27T23:24:00.006-07:00

Thought you should know...about this burger.

The best burger I ever ate..... for a VERY limited time at Liberty Market (ie: the rest of October).

The Oktoberfest Burger.

It features sauerkraut, emmanthaler cheese, black forest ham and a mustard aioli.

This is what Aaron ate for his free birthday dinner on Monday. (we went rock climbing and then hit Lib Market and Joe's Real BBQ for dinner. lots of fun :) He gave me a bite and I melted almost as much as the emmanthaler. It was the juiciest, most savory combination of flavors I think I have ever tasted. It took a lot of self control to not quick snatch that thing out of Aaron's hungry vice grip and make a hot mess of my face and diet. Cookie Monster would've had nothing on me.

Anyway, just thought you should know.

Haiku wednesday

2011-10-26T18:30:00.001-07:00

Cannot smell or taste

Surrounded by snot tissues

Ew. Ick. I am sick.

RAIN!

2011-10-25T08:32:00.003-07:00

Just as the kids were walking out the door this morning to get in the van for carpool, the sky threw up. yep. it couldn't hold it in any longer. All of a sudden there were huge drops that pelted and drenched the kids. It lasted a good 5 minutes, and then stopped. And it's drippy from the trees and eaves and it's bright and sunny with a dark sky. I love the smell of the rain. I love the feel of wet in the air. I especially love that the computer is right by the door and I can just leave it wide open to enjoy the atmosphere while I finish typing up my bio lab. Speaking of which, I couldn't log in to my email this morning- it was only after I realized that I'd been absent-mindedly typing "celldivision" as my password. Cell division is NOT my password. It's not even CLOSE to my password. But I'll tell you what my password should be. crazyladywhoneedsanap! shhhhh don't tell anyone.

debatedebatedebate

2011-10-24T22:57:00.002-07:00

We had an in-class 5 minute Q&A assignment in English a week and a half ago. The question was an Aristotle quote: Law is reason, free from passion. Agree, or disagree?
I just jotted something off the top of my head and turned it in, since I knew I wasn't being graded on what my response was, as long at it was well written.
Well, it turns out it did matter what my response was because we were assigned to debate groups based on our answers. BLEH! We had a lot of fun developing our arguments and today was the debate. The four members of my debate team each contributed about the same amount. I had 4 minutes to present an argument and 2 minutes later in the debate to rebutt one of the opposing team's arguments. We were totally in to it and my team did an awesome job!
We were on team Disagree. What's funny is I was always debating the other side during all of our group meetings- I told my group that it was good for them to practice, but really I believe the other side..... but I liked our argument anyway and believed everything I said. lol. long story)
Here is my argument: (Sorry about the formatting- I copied and pasted from a notecard word format to blogger format. I don't know about you but I'm not staying up all night to make it pretty. It's all about content, right? lol)

1.Laws
There is more than one type of law- take for instance, the Law of Gravity.

Let’s say I decide to walk off a 3rd story balcony and I begin to fall. Does it matter how passionate I am about living or not getting hurt? Does it matter that I have small children at home? Or that I cry on my accelerating trip to the ground?

No. Once action X has been taken, consequence Y will take place. (At this point I held up a large text book over a desk and let it drop to make a huge booming sound)

However, NATURE’S LAWS are not what we are debating today. Today we are talking about MAN’S LAWS.

2. DEFINING THE LAW:
A law is basically a rule that is enforced by an authority or by custom, or in the case of science, reality. If we leave aside things like the Law of Gravity, then "man’s law" implies, simply, a rule or set of rules to be followed...a frame work of what is right or wrong to do. Whether a law is just or not is an ethical concern, but you cannot separate the fact that a law reflects some standard custom that has been adopted (or forced).

I call it Man’s law because these are not rules set up by some unknown infallible entity. It’s important to remember that humans can create laws and humans can change or abolish them.

3. INTERPRETATION

Humans also, can interpret them many different ways.

(SHOW Oh. Card)

Oh.

For example, this one little word can be read a number of ways (I said it many different ways for the class while I held up the Oh card- you should see how many you come up with, it's fun, even if you're not dirty)

That's just one word. Think of the possibilities when you add another word to it, and another and another.

And then look, for instance, at the world’s most popular book:

The Bible. How many different religions exist that are centered on their different interpretation of this one book? And how many interpretations within each sect do you think there are?

“Anything that is open to human interpretation is subject to passion”

(I paused and said this again distictly for drama and memorability. tehe) (I also had it up on the projector)

4. PASSION

What a word. Love, rage, selfishness, greed, seduction, anger, betrayal, revenge, sex… these all have such strong feelings attached to them, but what about someone who is passionate about caring for the elderly or small children? Someone who is passionate about art? Or music? Passion is emotion. Not insanity or chaos. All humans feel it in one way or another, and it influences their actions.

Passion is why we have laws.

5. LETTER & LOOPHOLES
Now, laws are just WORDS on PAPER. Many people call it “the letter” of the law (letters make up words-makes sense). Another definition of the letter of the law is following the law exactly as it is written, despite the intent of the writers or the spirit in which the law was written.

When such actions take place, it is called a loophole. It is discouraged to use loopholes and is seen as dishonest.

(this next pink part I cut out for time's sake, but got to use it in my rebuttal- which was awesome!)

I read an article about a man who found a loophole to homeownership. By officially claiming that a foreclosed $350K house was his via paperwork that cost him $14 to file with the city, he gained ownership of the home; For a whopping $14 dollars. Squatters rights and all. Sounds fantastic. But is this honest? No, the bank, in good faith, paid the homebuilders money that they now will never see. Personally I think that the judge was just amused and thought this dude was too clever to knock down

6. SPIRIT & CONCLUSION

When one obeys the spirit of the law but not the letter, one is

doing what the authors of the law intended, though not necessarily adhering to the literal wording

The Letter of the law is balanced by the Spirit and visa versa, but since interpretation of the law comes through imperfect humans, the spirit is subject to our passions

If I would be so bold, I’d amend Aristotle’s words to say
"Law is reason, balanced by passion," but you all, being human, might interpret that differently than I intended, so I’ll just leave it alone.

Thought You Should Know Thursday

2011-10-20T23:00:00.002-07:00

I thought you should know that there is
a CGCC vocal majors recital on
November 2nd at 6:30 at the PAC on campus.

Instead of all the classical and opera stuff I've been practicing, I'll be singing this:

Just fun and no stress :)

Come and support the arts.......... and me :)

See you there!

www.cgc.edu/arts CGCC Box Office 480-732-7342

Oh my my my my my.....

2011-10-20T08:53:00.004-07:00

All aboard the crazy train. Seriously it's been a madhouse around here- On top of all of my regular homework, this week saw the taking of the hardest test that will be given in my Bio class (this class section is for bio majors- remind me why I'm in it?????), the first day of debates, my rhetorical analysis paper due date, picture retakes for the kids, and still yet to come: extra credit this morning in Bio if I play this on my guitar and sing:

HOLY CHEESINESS... I don't know if I can do it... but for extra credit??? Decisions, decisions... Humiliation or a chance to make up for procrastination in studying for my exam this week.... ACK!

AND

Singing this Italian aria that's not yet memorized for a voice studio class (in front of all the other vocal majors) on Friday, right before rushing to.......

.............................

Volunteer in Meg's class. I'll be teaching them an Art Masterpiece lesson tomorrow on this guy:

Albrecht Durer

Check him out on albrecht-durer.org

AND

Making about 15 posters for the PCC (Phoenix Children's Chorus) Walk a Thon which are due Saturday morning.

AND

Aaron's birthday dinner on Sunday!

Wake me up when it's all over. please.

Haiku Wednesday

2011-10-19T23:06:00.001-07:00

Aaron took a pic

while I burned the midnight oil....

homework crazy face

(hee hee I'm giving him a really weird crazy pokey school teacher face)

Tute Tuesday

2011-10-18T23:27:00.001-07:00

Wow, it's already the first tute tuesday and I've done NOTHING. But really, are you surprised? I've got too much HOMEWORK. and no camera. SOoOoOoOoOoooo with halloween coming up WAY too fast, I decided to give you a sharetorial (a tutorial I compiled, but stole {ahem, I mean borrowed} pretty much all material from other web-locales).

Here is a reeeeeally cool idea for halloween costuming-

Black and white photography costume. Here's an example:

Isn't this cool?

Just make sure that your clothes are black, white, or some scale of gray with no other hue to it. And your hair is either colored black, gray, or is covered. Here is a tutorial on how to do the makeup. You will have to match this makeup color to all exposed skin, so black tights would be preferrable to fish nets or lace stockings.... if you do chose to use a sheer legging make sure to put makeup on your legs, too. whew!

I also bought the veiling to make one of these para mi. Woot woot.

classy, but not as floppy as this:

and sexy, but more vintage looking than this:

.. and more hat-ish? we'll see.

Maybe I'll post a tutorial on how to make one once I'm done!

BAHAMA BUCK GROUPON- Wha?!?!?!?!?! Epic.

2011-10-15T13:18:00.003-07:00

Holy Shlamoly- I just bought a few groupons for 1/2 off Shaved Ice at Bahama Buck's.

If you use this link I'll get credit- after you get yours you can do the same for your friends :)

This is exciting. WE LURV BahamaMamaRamas
DONT forget the Tropic Crème.

Thought You Should Know Thursday

2011-10-13T18:34:00.000-07:00

Who shops at Fresh and Easy?

I heart that place. Not as much as I heart Sprouts, but pretty close. Do you know why I love it so? No, it's not because I can nom a whole bag of their granola in one sitting- it's amazing. No, that, my friends, pales in comparison to.........Their clearance section. DUN DUN DUUNNNNNNN.

The Fresh and Easy policy is to keep food always fresh, so they try and keep the food for only a few days before they bring in a new delivery. SO, as a result, all of their fresh food items have a short window of time before their sell by date comes up. Every night when the stores close the employees take all the items off the shelf that needed to be sold that day, and they mark them down anywhere from 40-80% off. The items are then put back out in their specially marked clearance section. I've gotten all types of produce, bread, cookies, rice pudding (extra yummy) Tiramisu (scratch that last comment- this one is extra yummier), scones, dinner rolls, salad mixes, reeeeally cheap steak, roast, and brats.

The best time to shop Fresh and Easy if you're looking for those marked down clearance items is right at closing time while they are stocking the secion at 9:45pm, or when they first open at 8am. Throughout the day they will mark down clearance items even more, however the selection will be sparse. I LOVE Fresh and Easy!! I can get produce for our family for CHEEEEEEAP. And since I try and have a full fruit bowl on the table at all times for when my kids get the munchies, cheap produce= healthy kids.

Speaking of which, I am currently nomming a bowl of summer squash sauteed in butter, garlic salt, and pepper. Dinner cost me 50¢ tonight. Thought you should know.

100th post of 2011 Haiku....blitz?

2011-10-12T22:16:00.085-07:00

Ok, ok, I know I promised tutes and recipes, but it's taking so long to get it together that I slacked on posting ANYTHING at ALL! I missed my blog. So I decided to reconnect with my thousands of readers (ahhh I'm so funny) and post a haiku blitz..... and follow up with my for-real-blitz-mania-tastic. There'll be pandemonium. It's not a party without a little levity. Sooooo... I'm now presenting....... The 100th post haiku blitz. Please, when you comment do it in haiku form (You don't really have to but it'd be a hoot) {yes, I just said hoot. don't judge me. I'm old.} [and I used the fun parentheses] Here are a few haiku poems I wrote today for your weekly Japanese poetry fix. oh joy :)

Locked gates bar your way

but with gentle words you may

peek inside my heart

gulp gulp gulp gulp gulp

water drenching tongue, throat, chest

Thirst greedily quenched

Mischief and a song

exuberance and sorrow

chambers of my heart.

I feel gluttony

you see hot and sexy me

perspective is key

No, this picture doesn't have anything to do with
the haiku below but I love it, so..... you're welcome. :)

I wrote a haiku

Aaron didn't like it so...

I made him write one:

Steph needs a haiku

but I'm not that creative

at 1 in the morn

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Hope you liked the poor excuse for a blitz replacement!
Good day, sir!

Haiku Wednesday

2011-09-21T23:23:00.000-07:00

Curse you, protein shake!

Not even expired yet

Gelatinous funk.

Current Obsessions

2011-09-18T21:27:00.002-07:00

NOM

Just Sayin.

2011-09-17T17:20:00.001-07:00

Thought You Should Know Thursday

2011-09-15T18:09:00.007-07:00

Hey bloggies :)
I am making something up called "Thought You Should Know Thursday," where I tell you about something I think you should know about. uhhh... yeah... that was a little reduntant. sorry. Like the Pinterest post, or the post I wrote about Ingrid Michaelson. Well, today is Thursday and I have something I think you should know.

I have a new music crush.

It's on Jukebox the Ghost.

Here are a couple of my faves

for your listening pleasure :) Enjoy.
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Hold It In

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Summer Sun

Isn't that awe-freakin-tastic?

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Anyway, just thought you should know.

Haiku Wednesday

2011-09-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

Loving all the rain

Planted garden during storm

Seedlings Emerging

Quodonkulous

2011-09-12T20:37:00.004-07:00

Aaron: Megan, you have some glitter in your hair

Megan: tsk well, that's what you get when

you put a box of wishes on your head

Squink.

2011-09-12T19:09:00.006-07:00

Yeah, I couldn't think of a post title. So squink it is. And the picture has nothing to do with the post. I just thought it was weird. Megan saw it and said "Whoa... that is creepy." I agree.

I'm just doing homework..wait, no I'm posting on my blog.... which is what I like to call "taking a break" yeeeaaaahhhh... Thought I'd post a little sumpn sumpn (how does one spell such things???) to keep you guys fed and happy.

After my millionth phone murder, I now have a new one. I think I'll name him George. He is of the prepaid variety but not too shabby lookin'. I have 1000 texts and 1000 minutes and 30MB mobile web access a month for $30. I really hope that George lasts me more than a month. I'd be so sad to find him at the bottom of the washer as I did his predecessor.

Update on Meg and her diabetes: Megan had another Endocrinology appointment and for those of you who are familiar with the normal parameters of a healthy A1C test, hers was 6.5! yay, girly! I'm so proud of my daughter for being such a big girl and taking this blow to her childhood like a champ.

Last week I cried over a bio test :) I know, right? Totally lame. The teacher set a too-short time for an online quiz and I think my brain was crying. The overflow flooded out my tear ducts and there you have it: me crying over homework. booooo. I like to say I'm not a crier, but you know all that stuff about actions being a loud mouth and something about words not being able to talk over them. yeah. that. waa waa.

Speaking of homework, I better get back to it. Here I come, Mozart, Haydn, and Organic Chemistry Lab! wee wah.

"Quiet.......silence everywhere, Milky-White"

2011-09-01T17:24:00.002-07:00

Have you noticed anything different about the blog in the last two weeks? no? That there is no annoying music blaring when you come to my blog? Isn't it wonderful? No rushing for the volume controls or trying to scroll to the bottom of the blog fast enough to pause it before you scream at the screen in frustration? "Noooooo!!!!!!" yeah, I guess I decided it was time. That i was done pushing songs on y'all. i really like it.

Here's a nugget of kid's quote joy for y'all:

Matt: What do tacos look like in Japanese?
Meg: Matt, they look just the same as they do here. Except maybe they have fish. and vegetables. and different meat.

With that in mind I wonder what the burrito I'm going to eat tonight looks like in Japanese.... hmmm.. I'm not sure, but I know there'll be beans and cheese and sauce ... and it'll be from Elmers... the best burrito place in downtown Chandler. It might even be accompanied by strips 'n' cheese. Ok, I need to stop before i eat an inanimate object within close proximity... NOMZ

Another random note- I am thinking I'd like a side job as an editor. If anyone knows of anyone in need of such services, please give me their info, or them mine :) Thanks, cheekies!

Haiku Wednesday

2011-08-31T01:09:00.003-07:00

Stovetop, you siren

I am your gormandizer

Who's stuffed with regret

(I seriously am gonna hurl just looking at that picture of the box...

I think I ate 5 servings while I did homework
and drank 4 bottles of water on top of that. Oy oy oy)

Random Shmandom

2011-08-27T21:47:00.002-07:00

I helped mark the boundaries of the Gilbert youth soccer fields this morning from 8-11. It was REEEEEALLY humid and hot and clouds of mosquitoes were bouncing off me. I saw them land on the rims of my glasses. I don't think I got one bite, though. They were so thick I'm surprised I didn't bite THEM. Thank you, bug spray. Even though you stung my face when I put you on, I owe you one. We'll see how next Saturday goes..... hopefully my sweat wont be as unrelenting. Either way, I'm there to make sure all the fields get lined and Matthew has a place to play his soccer games. Go my favorite sports team! Score a goal... unit... basket! Beat the opponents soundly! (comedian Brian Regan)

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Matt: Megan, I have lots of movies in my head!

Meg: Matthew, those are called memories, silly!

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Matt: (after screaming his head off about a spider that scrambled up his arm) It was big and it had like five legs!

Me: Matthew, spiders have eight legs. Like an octopus.

Matt: They DO? ok, it had like eight legs and it was brown, I think it was a black widow.

Me: uhhh. ok. whatever.

(How on earth did a 6 yr old male not know that spiders have 8 legs?? I've failed as a parent)

Retroku

2011-08-25T22:34:00.001-07:00

Guitar Class tonight

I can't feel my fingertips

The cost of progress

I'm officially in love.

2011-08-25T14:29:00.005-07:00

yes. with the dancing lemon...

wait, no, that's NOT what I meant to say. but clooooose.

I'm in love with lemon. the fruit. I love it on just about everything. I love it especially on any type of vegetable

(especially asparagus and broccoli).

I just had lemon squeezed on my left-over redskin mashed potatoes. hohklahoma. it was delish.

And this kid in the lemon costume ain't too weird.
ok, I lied. it is.
it's even weirder on an adult.

Why on EARTH would you EVER need or want to dress up as a lemon?
EEK!

-and might I add, please do not EVER search the term "lemon cartoon" in google pics...... seriously.

Love me some lemons!

Harden your kids and watch them grow

2011-08-24T23:00:00.000-07:00

Just waiting for my zune to charge so I can go jogging. So, of course, I blog. We went to a company swim party tonight at Mesquite Aquatic Center and it brought me back to the good old days when I went there for swim team practice during the summer. I'd get up and ride my bike 3 miles to get there at 6 am. I'd swim my little hiney off for an hour and then ride my bike home. I was 12. What 12 year old do you know now-a-days that would do that? We're so used to going everywhere in our air conditioned cars. Let your kids get out and explore! If they don't want to, just shove them out with a bottled water and a snack, say "have fun!," and lock the door. And then you can cry as you watch them through the window. We used to have so much fun outside. We'd make bike trails with jumps and we dug a tunnel that led to a big underground room. We'd make blowtorches out of aerosol cans and play in mud. We even played night games in our front yards. Yes, it's hot. That's what water is for. Kids need no-parent time to be inventive. It helps their brains, I swear it!
(Just make sure to have homeowners' insurance cause it saved my parents when Rob set our shake-shingle roof on fire.... on accident....of course )
Here's a news article about "outside time" from Wales- and seeing as I'm mostly Welsh, I say it's fitting that I link to it :)

Review..... of the Review.

2011-08-22T08:46:00.004-07:00

While I wait for the flat iron to heat up I thought I'd tell you all that the show on Saturday went awesome!

I got to rub shoulders with some performers from CA and NY and everyone did amazing on their songs! Aaron and I sang Alone in the Universe (Seussical). He was horton the elephant and I was Jojo the mayor's son. I sang an Annie Medley with Rebecca Barney, Fly Fly Away solo (Catch me if you Can), and then I was in a women's ensemble number of Cell block Tango (Chicago) where was had to dress in black and act all sexy complete with fishnet stockings and in which I had a monologue about how I shot my husband Bernie cause he wouldn't stop popping his gum. yeeahhhhh... I was a little embarrassed to do that one in front of the family. ha. Then we had 2 full ensemble numbers- Whistle a Happy tune (The King and I)/It's a Grand Night For Singing (A Grand Night For Singing) mash up and The Money Song (Avenue Q).

There were about 25 acts and I was really so impressed with everyone's performances. Some seriously great performers there and I was flattered to have been asked to perform alongside them.

When we were packing up after the show, my opening act partner, Steve Wertz (the NY guy), told me that they should bring Wicked to AZ and I should play Elphaba (the green wicked witch). I told him that he could be the one to bring it here and I'd do it as a personal favor to him. LOL I really loved working with such talented and complimentary people.

Ok, so now that I got the review review out of the way and my flat iron is hot I just wanted to say it's my first day of school and this is going to be a FULL SEMESTER holy hannah. Ready or not, here I come.

AND I thought I'd eat some crow and tell you that there is a a REALLY PESKY MOSQUITO buzzing around my head. dang blammit! :)

Have a super great Monday, y'all!

Moaskee toes

2011-08-18T09:42:00.000-07:00

Moaskee-toes. The emphasis is on the Mo.

I have mixed feelings about mosquitoes. Not like the mixed feelings I have about the 202/60 overpass over by ellsworth. No, I actually have a respect for the convenience of said overpass and I think it's really cool and futuristic-looking. Like I'm in the middle of a futurama episode. but I also hate that it blocks the view of the majestic superstitions as you're heading west on the 60. So.... love/hate category.

However, mosquitoes evoke a different emotion. Actually I should say that they anti-voke. SOMEtimes they are pesky, but I don't hate them. I think it's because of the fact that everyone attributes their strongest emotion, HATE, to them. Why so crazy? Everyone's strong emotions trigger an "I really don't care" attitude in me <-----that's very much me. Like when we went camping with a bunch of girls this weekend and all the girls (and women chaperone's) were squealing about big bugs. I came over and threw the bugs (wowza they WERE big) out the door and had to teach the girls that the bugs weren't there to harm them. They're just hangin out. yep, mosquitoes are pesky bugs, but they're easy to kill. They are like little flying hairs- so fragile and easy to dispose of. Besides which there are tons of anti-mosquito products that will ward them off. dont be a-hatin.

However, I have to say that they give me both mild annoyance and mild pleasure as well. bad: when I just smacked my face really hard after feeling one on my eyebrow, good: when they land on my arm and I can squish them like a blood balloon. that's pretty cool.

Retroku

2011-08-18T08:08:00.001-07:00

hair, clothes, ruffle bed

ruler table, sewing tips

Pinterest in my head.

All Aboard! Pinterest is the new black.

2011-08-15T20:08:00.002-07:00

Ok, I know this is soooo over-blogged in blogiverse, but I decided that enough of my real live face-to-face friends haven't heard of Pinterest, so I needed to spill the proverbial beans. Pinterest is bookmark meets facebook. sooooo...... "facemark"... or better yet, "bookbook."

Pinterest is a site that gives you a personal profile where you can store links to pages that you like and you can organize them in folders, or what they like to call "pinboards" or just "boards." The best part is that all of these "bookmarks" you pin are represented by large pictures instead of just words which is extra wonderful for us "visual" females :) yay! (and yay for quotation marks, cuuuuuuuzzzz I'm using them a lot in this "post.")

What i really like is that they have a "Pin It" button you can add to your browser toolbar so that if while you are surfing the internet you find something interesting, all you have to do is click the button and add it to one of your pinboards without leaving the site.

You can "like" and comment on other people's pins and you can also "repin" something you find and like on someone else's boards. You can follow individual boards or people and you have your own followers as well (which is twitterish... so, maybe it's twitbookbooker).

Want to check it out?

Here is MY pinterest profile...

Have fun!

Isn't this precious?

2011-08-15T13:08:00.001-07:00

Artist: Matthew Shumway

Source: 1st Grade Classroom

I love the thumb nubbins. And that smiley face is adorable. It's interesting to see how your children view themselves.

2011-08-15T08:21:00.001-07:00

Every desire you have at its core exists because you think attaining it will make you happy; but happiness can only be attained in the present moment. Therefore any desire you have to be happy in the future is blocking your ability to be happy now. Only when you are at peace with what is now, will you ever find happiness now.
Jackson Kiddard

Mellowists and December Mushroom.

2011-08-11T14:53:00.004-07:00

Yes, I know that this will be the fourth post in two days..... I have fought the urge to post all day, but I just wanted to say that I'm so excited for our anniversary date tonight! Mellow Mushroom and Decemberists concert on the Docket! wee wah.

Prickly Pear Jelly

2011-08-11T12:25:00.004-07:00

Ok, Rebekkah, this is for you J

I made this tutorial in 2009 and apparently I didn’t post it on the blog... uh yeah.. who knows why. I did it a week before teaching the young women how to do it at an activity. In the pictures Matthew is his cute 4-yr-old self. awww. cute. Anyway, I’m posting it now because:

ItS tImE tO pIcK yOuR pRiCkLy PeArS!

This week, people! If you don’t have access to one, just drive out to ASU East- we have the most productive prickly pear cacti I’ve ever seen right by the VA Hospital.

Things you’ll need:

Tongs
Rubber Gloves- BTW you'll get pokies EVERYWHERE.
Bucket
A hat. cause it’s hot out there.

Pick Prickly Pear Fruits in late July or Early August when very ripe. Pick them with tongs and they should almost lift off the plant without effort. If they are hard to remove, they are not ready so don't force it (first hose down cactus fruits if the plant is in your yard, if not, swish with water after fruits are picked). Easy Peasy! Don't be afraid, my 4yr old did it! Just pinch and twist.

however, I don't think any of us will look as cute as this when we're picking them .... it's not possible to attain this level of cute past kindergarten!

Here they are in the bucket all yucky and dirty- wash them off- I used a potato scrubber.

Here they are all washed and ready to cook

Barely cover clean fruits with water in large kettle and simmer with lid on until very soft.

Mash with Potato Masher. This will look really weird and the little brownish greenish slimey seeds will emerge. I love nature.

Do not strain. Now cover a deep bowl or pot with a pillowcase and pull tight and bind the case with a rubberband. This is your seive.

Sieve through clean cloth. Do not squeeze fabric or try to mush fruit while on the cloth as this could move pricklies through the cloth and into your juice. Just pour the mush on top and let it sit for 15-20 minutes or so so that all the juice can work it's way through on it's own. Patience is, in fact, a virtue.

Rinse remains down the disposal then wash fabric in washer.

Now you have your Prickly Pear Juice! Kudos!

(note: For a stronger flavor you can reduce your juice by

boiling it down to your desired strength. This concentration works fine, though)

Here is the Recipe for the Jelly:

CACTUS JELLY (that's what my mom calls it)

Stir in tall kettle:

3 ½ cups cactus juice

½ cup lemon juice

1 pkg pectin
(little side note... Instead of Sure Gel pectin, there is a new pectin that you can get in UT[and maybe here] called Ultra Gel- it minimizes the amount of sugar you put in your jellies and jams!
With Sure Gel you use 3 cups smashed fruit and 4 cups of sugar.
With Ultra Gel you use 4 cups smashed fruit and 2 cups of sugar.
Amazing right? Anyway, just thought you should know- you'd have to experiment with this recipe a little since the amounts are a little different, but basically whatever measurement you use for the fruit, you'd use 1/2 of that measurement for the sugar.)
Bring to boil and add:

5 cups sugar (or if using sure gel, ~1¾ cups sugar)

Return to boil. Let boil 3 minutes. Skim off bubbles, if necessary. Pour into hot pint jars. Seal with lids and rings. Let cool. Jars should seal (pop) as temperature lowers.

Wah-LA!

One more note: you will be finding pricklies in your kitchen for the next week no matter how many times you mop. YE BE WARNED

Haiku Wednesday. again.

2011-08-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

Nothing tastes as good

Said the mother to herself,

as thin feels. Nothing.

(except maybe the tiramisu cake that you can special order at albertsons.

That tastes about as good as I weighed in highschool.)

Haiku Wednesday

2011-08-10T11:31:00.003-07:00

Their first day of school

no idea who dressed them (lol)

...........I think I'm lonely.
:(