I'm Going All Rogue for a Second...

...while Zac is packing. Because we're moving. Tomorrow.

And here I sit, blogging, while he is working so hard. He's the best.

But I wanted to let y'all know that we are going to be internet-less for a while and, sadly, won't be able to post. But as soon as we get our high-speed connected, you bet your butts I'll have a ton to post about. Here are some up-and-coming topics:

Christmas (with pictures and present details)
The Move
School (which starts on the 5th of January and is my last semester EVER!)
The baby we are expecting in July and all the "joys" of this pregnancy so far
My birthday (January 11th if you want to send cards and or gifts) (which reminds me our new address is 1115 E 1140 S #4 Provo, UT 84606)
And anything else that might happen to us over the next week or two!

Well, stay tuned...

Sunday Snapshot (A Day Late)...

Hehehe...Thanks, Kristina.

All I Want for Christmas is a Pain-free Back...

So guess who spent the majority of Christmas Eve, Christmas, and the day after Christmas on the couch? That would be yours, truly.

I'm not sure what really pushed me over the top, but I have been having some back pain for a while now and Wednesday killed me. Between holding someone's adorable baby for a good half hour while standing, doing 45 minutes of dishes, and scrubbing the kitchen floor, my back just couldn't take it anymore. And after two sleepless and painful nights, I couldn't take the pain anymore. So I put in a call to the chiropractor's office down the road.

Well of course they were closed the Friday after Christmas, but the receptionist assured me that all three chiropractors are always on call and that if I could be there at 12:30, so would one of them. And I took her up on that.

Never having been to a chiropractor before, I didn't really know what to expect. It was cool. First, the (very attractive) guy had me bend and stretch to see what my range of motion without pain was. It was minimal. So then he figured I had a compressed disk in my lower back and did some adjustments (i.e. he cracked by back and hips). Then he put me in traction. Then he put me on a table and iced my back while a machine sent little electrodes up and down my back for 10 minutes. Then he did the same thing with the machine for another 10 minutes using heat instead of ice. And I'm going back Monday to see if it fixed anything.


I guess it helped minimize the sharp, shooting pain I got every time I moved too quickly, but the constant, pulsing pain is still hurting me. Hopefully it will be better by Monday when I go back in.

And sorry we don't have Christmas pictures up yet. I was in too much pain and needed to complain first :-) But they will be up soon, I promise!!!!

Three Years Ago Today...

We got married!!!!

Happy Anniversary to us!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

It snowed today. A lot. About 7 inches this morning. And we're expecting another 5-6 inches this evening. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, right? So that's what we did. Logan and I went out and played for a good hour and I started a snow fort that I hope to continue when Zac gets home. Also, Logan enjoyed his first cup of Hot Cocoa. He thought it was delicious. Hope you're safe and warm, wherever you're reading from!!!

Sunday Snapshot...

I just love him.

I especially love when he naps the same time as his daddy and I get things done around the house...and then just sit on the couch and watch a chick flick. Today's selection? After vacuuming the living room and re-organizing presents under the tree, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. It was one of those $3.00 day-after-Thanksgiving sale dvds. So then Zac went to Redbox and got me the second one. And now I'm going to go indulge in that now that Logan is asleep and Zac is taking a bath :-)

Gotta love lazy Sundays!

Oh Man...and a Naughty Baby...

So, despite our efforts (including Zac staying in the building until 4:30 am to talk to the custodial crew), it seems Liz's painting is gone. It sucks.

Also, this:



Yeah, so while I was eating dinner, Logan went into his room, got into the Eucerine cream lotion stuff, and rubbed it all over his shirt. So I decided maybe we'd skip the bath tonight and just lotion him up before he went to bed. Naughty, naughty boy. I hope Santa didn't see that.

Oh Man Continued...

The search turned no results. However, it turned literally no results...other people were also looking for their projects and nothing resembling any projects were found in the dumpsters. So there is still hope that maybe the custodial crew didn't throw everything out. Zac is staying in the building (it's the same building where the animation lab is) until the early morning custodial comes in to see what he can find out. Which is around 4 am. He is an amazing brother!!!! I also called the building manager and left a message to see if he can be of any help...we'll see where that goes. I'll keep you posted (Pam!).

Oh Man...

How retarded is this???? My sister-in-law, Liz, just finished taking the same History of Creativity class I was in...only a different section with a different teacher and different TA's. But the class was still the same...same assignments, same lectures (which made it really nice to study with her!), same text book, etc. So she had a creativity project assignment, just like me, that was due yesterday. She submitted this painting that she had been working on all semester:


Amazing, right? And this wasn't even the finished project. So you are expected to have your project on display by a certain time so it can be graded by your professor and viewed and admired by your peers and classmates. Then, after it is graded, you are free to take it home, throw it out, etc. as long as it has been graded. So Liz's painting was up when and where it was supposed to be and then graded. And then she wasn't there to take it down before the building closed. Which apparently means her stupid, STUPID TA had the right to THROW IT AWAY.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT???? WHO DOES THAT?!?!?!?!?! WHY WOULD YOU EVER THROW AWAY SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PAINTING?????? Especially one that doesn't belong to you and was done by someone else????!!!!???

I'm outraged.

So currently Liz and some of her friends are dumpster-diving for it. I know someone who works custodial in the building it was thrown away from, so I called to find out if they even had a chance of finding it. He said the dumpster hadn't been emptied all week and that there was a good chance it would be in there. I'll let you know how it goes...but until then, write letters to the Manufacturing department about how STUPID that TA was and how he should probably be fired.

First Real Time in the Snow...

So we went out last year and helped Logan stand in the snow, but this year it was a real experience for him!

When I was out doing some Christmas shopping the other night, I decided to browse through the toddler snow pants and found a cute 18-month pair on sale for 7 bucks!!!! I was really excited and I got them. Then, as luck would have it, it snowed last night and we got about 4 inches of amazing packing snow.

So here are the highlights:





We were out for about 45 minutes and Logan seemed to enjoy every second. Except the seconds I managed to keep his mittens on him. He didn't understand they were meant to stay on and keep his tiny fingers warm. Oh well.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

We put it up last Sunday, but I've been too busy writing final papers and studying for final exams that I just haven't had time to post. But, better late than never...

Also, Logan must have touched the camera lens at some point because there is a smudge in the same spot on all the pictures. The joys of having a curious 18 month old!!! Speaking of which, now that Logan is 18 months old, he is starting nursery!!!! (For those of you not familiar with the way the nursery works in our Church, kids 18 months and up stay with their families for sacrament meeting, but then go to nursery for the next two hours. It's glorious!!!!!) So Logan went for the first time yesterday. I dropped him off and he didn't even notice I had left. There were too many toys and friends. I was almost sad that he didn't protest my leaving. Well, it didn't last long. About 10 minutes later, another kid hit him and he flipped out. So I stayed to calm him down and then was able to leave again. We'll see how it goes when we move to a new ward...I'm a bit more nervous about that.

And that brings us to moving. I have arrangements for Theresa to watch Logan the day we move. And we rented our U-Haul. And I packed one box of knick-knacks and two boxes of books. And that's it. And we move 16 days from today. Oh, boy.

Eeeeeee!!!

Guess what I just got tickets for prior to them going on sale to the general public???

Thanks for the promo code, Chersti!!!!

Long Time, No Post...

I've turned into one of those annoying people that I despise. Yep. The ones who post like crazy and then seem to fall off the face of the planet. But deal with it.

There's just so much exciting stuff happening that I don't know where to begin. Or if I can begin at all. Huh? Well, Zac and I have a lot of exciting stuff coming up that we're keeping under wraps from various people. And it's probably not what you think it is. Ok, I'll let ONE secret slip.

WE'RE MOVING!!!!! We got the townhouse and we move in December 31st!!!! So why keep it a secret? Well, we are moving out of our current ward and neither one of us care to speak in Church. Which, as tradition in our ward has told us, is generally what happens when the Bishop finds out you're moving. He asks you to speak. So we're trying to avoid that one. And I almost think we're in the clear since like 6 other couples are also moving by the end of the month. Happy day!!!!

In other news? Logan is a freaking genius. This last week he got to spend a significant amount of time with his Aunt Savannah and I think all of her brains got to him. He now knows the song "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam" ...and the appropriate arm movements. It's precious. She also taught him "What does the puppy say?" and he goes "WOOF!!!" And if that weren't enough, she says "What does a kitty say?" and he responds with a high-pitched "meow!" OH MY GOSH MY KID IS AMAZING!!!!

And Savannah didn't teach him everything...he now folds his arms for prayers, and keeps them folded until you say "amen." Thanks to a dedicated and patient mother :-)

So I hope that was a good enough post for now because, as usual, Logan is demanding attention. Love to you all!!!!

EEeeeee!!!

Yep. It's tonight. I'm trying to keep my expectations low because I KNOW it won't be half as good as the book, but I'm still excited. And the best part? I'm going to see it in Las Vegas with Kate! EEEeee!!!!!

Sunday Snapshot...

Since I never posted a Friday Foto.

And now that Logan climbs on EVERYTHING, I thought a tree-climbing picture would be appropriate :-)

So I Was Thinking...

...that the Christmas Holiday season is kind of lame for me. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and all, but every year I end up feeling a little jipped. Check this out:

December 23rd: Our wedding anniversary
December 25th: Christmas
January 1st: New Years
January 11: My birthday

So four of the most celebrated days of my year all happen in about a two-week period. Which is no big deal and I normally wouldn't complain, but I have another semi-important date to celebrate this year. It's the five year anniversary of my baptism and conformation into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And guess when that falls...December 28th. Yep. Just another special day to me over-shadowed by the rest of the hubbub of the busy holiday season. So though I rarely complain about my anniversary or birthday being overlooked due to Christmas, I'm making a big deal out of this one.

So what, exactly, am I looking for in terms of celebration? I don't really know. But it's sort of a big deal to me. I was thinking maybe I'd buy myself a gift. I've been browsing paintings by Greg Olsen, Del Parson, Simon Dewey, Liz Lemon Swindle, and a few other ones that have caught my eye recently. Here are some of the ones I like:

"Lost No More" by Greg Olsen

"The Good Shepherd" by Simon Dewey

"Once Lost" by Del Parson

So what are some of your favorites I should consider???

Flashback: Ninja Baby!!!

As told in a previous post, all of my pictures of Logan in his costume are not centered because he kept running away. But trust me, he was the cutest freaking ninja baby you have ever seen!

With our neighbor, Meg


Quite possibly the only picture of him with his ninja hat on


With best buddies Damon and Justin :-)

Flashback: Carving Pumpkins!!!

So it's about a week and a half late, but here are pictures from the night we carved pumpkins...


The Big Boys carving their pumpkins

If Your Friends Jumped Off a Bridge...

Would you do it, too? Probably. So most of my friends and even some family members have been passing this post around, so I'm doing it, too. So what if I'm a follower rather than a leader sometimes?

Bold the things you've done:
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Disney World...I'm counting it)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

41 out of 99. Maybe a trip to Salt Lake is due come spring...and visiting Paris would knock a couple more off. As would a trip to Italy...

Factoid Friday...

Yes faithful blog-readers, it's a special installment of the regular Friday post: Factoid Friday. While Talking to Zac's mom today, she mentioned how her kids are always asking about Logan...what can he do, is he talking, how much they miss him, etc, etc. So I decided maybe today would be a good time to post the random things my busy boy is up to these days...

First, movement. He has been walking for a good three months now and has recently started running. So just about every single one of the pictures I took of him on Halloween show him in the far right-hand side of the shot, running out of the frame just as I snapped the picture. It's great. Also, today he went down three steps without holding on to anything. He is becoming a stair master :-) Logan also has mastered the skill of walking backwards and it has become one of his favorite things to do. It's hysterical.


Second, vocabulary. Logan still signs (the most frequently used ones are more, food/eat, drink, please, candy, and bath) but he is quickly picking up on real words, too. Among the perfected ones are: Daddy, mama, na-na (Savannah or banana, depending on which one is closer to him when he wants her/it), uh-oh, ba-ba, ball, baby, and ducky. And though he doesn't say yes or no, he shakes or nods his head all the time.


Which brings me to communication. Logan totally knows what he wants (or doesn't want). If I ask him, "Are you hungry?" he either responds with a nod and the sign for eat or he shakes his head no. He does the same for baths and taking naps/going to sleep at night. When I ask him if he's ready for bed (and he is) he nods yes and then waves. It's adorable. And never leads to temper tantrums, unless he is, in fact, not ready for bed. He is also specific in communicating what foods he wants or doesn't want. The usual response to "Logan, would you like some turkey?" is a fervent no. Then there is the question, "Would you like a hot dog?" to which he almost always responds with, "Oooohh!" and a nod yes or even clapping.


Is clapping a fine motor skill? Probably a gross motor skill. But either way, he claps. He's done it for a long time, but recently he has been clapping to things he likes (eg a giant Kung-Fu Panda statue in the Animation building Zac spends most of his time in). He also claps when people on tv clap, and he recently started clapping after we say prayers. He folds his arms now when we pray and after the "amen" part, we usually are so happy and excited that he was reverent the whole time that we praise him. So now he thinks clapping is part of praying. Oh well. The other adorable thing he does now is give kisses. It's typically an open-mouth one, but he still gives kisses none the less.


He also knows when he needs a diaper change. He will usually bring me a diaper, but if he's distracted and I have to point out that he stinks, he will go right to his changing table and wait for me. It's disgustingly precious. Also precious? He loves to take my cell phone (or the house phone, or the remote which he seems to think is a phone) and hold it up to his ear and jabber away. So cute.

Well, I think that's enough for now. So why, pray tell, is this not a "Family Foto Friday" post? Well reader, that is because Liz is taking some family pictures tomorrow for us. So you'll just have to stay tuned next week...

Family Foto Friday...

This one is for my two favorite guys in the whole world:


It's a totally random shot, but they are both handsome! Plus the sunset in the background was sweet. So why, you may ask, is this a picture of Zac and Logan instead of a Halloween one? Well, that is a good question. My first response would be that I don't have a picture of Logan in his costume uploaded yet. And the second reason I would give is because these two guys are precious. They went and got me a dozen roses this morning just because (and I quote from the card), "We love you and we're lucky to have you in our lives." So kisses to my two favorite boys in the whole world!!!!

Pun'kin Pickin'...

Daddy, I want THIS one!

Ok, I guess this smaller one will do...



Yay for family day at the pumpkin patch!

Late Night, er, Morning...

So I'm working on a manuscript for my creative writing class and have been all semester. A few weeks ago, however, I started really hating it. I hated my characters, I hated my story, I hated writing. So I put writing on hold for a bit. But last night I forced myself to sit down and write for at least an hour at 11:30 pm.

I stopped writing at 4:30 am.

I no longer hate my story or my characters.

And I didn't make it to my 6:00 am aerobics class.

Family Foto Friday...

*GASP* I GOT THE CAMERA TO UPLOAD!!!!!! (Well, after three attempts, but still!!!) SO here is a picture from the pumpkin patch:
And more pictures to follow soon-ish!

Fun Guessing Game...

So my best friend Dani's brother Steve's girlfriend Mel (got all that???) had this fun game posted so I'm totally copying it because it was a lot of fun for me :-) The idea is to get people to guess what the song titles and artists are. If you have a guess, put the number and who you think it is in a comment. I've added the correctly guessed ones to a playlist if you're REALLY bored and want to listen :-) And maybe to make it interesting, I'll send a prize to whoever gets the most! So here are the "rules":

Step 1: put your iTunes on random.
Step 2: post the first line (or so) from the first 50 songs that play
Step 3: strike out the songs when someone guesses correctly (I'll italicize them)
Step 4: don't be a 'playa-hater', don't cheat

Good Luck!!!

1. Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner
2. Well you're a real tough cookie with a long history
3. Come, come ye saints no toil nor labor fear
4. Babe, I'm leaving, I must be on my way/ the time is drawing near
5. She grew up in an Indiana town/ had a good lookin momma who never was around
6. O Holy night the stars are brightly shining (It was Charlotte Church, but I'll give it to you!
7. There was a time when men were kind/ When their voices were soft/ And their words inviting
8. And now I'm all alone again, no where to turn, no one to go to
9. My friend the communist/ Holds meetings in his RV
10. I can show you the world/ shining shimmering splendid
11. There were nights when the wind was so cold/ That my body froze in bed if I just listened to it right outside the window
12. I'm coming out of my cage and I've been doing just fine
13. Fly me to the moon, let me play among the stars (yes it was Frank!)
14. We've come a long, long way together/ through the hard times and the good
15. Looks like we made it/ look how far we've come my baby
16. Bad day, looking for a way/ Oh, looking for the great escape
17. Quando sono solo sogno all’orizzonte e mancan le parole
18. Every time our eyes meet/ this feeling inside me is almost more than I can take
19. Could you whisper in my ear the things you want to feel
20. You say yes, I say no/ you say stop, I say go go go
21. Cuz it's all in my head/ I think about it over and over again -Not Usher :-)
22. How does she know you lover her/ how does she know she's yours
23. Life ain't always beautiful, sometimes it's just plain hard
24. I'm so scared that the way that I feel is written all over my face
25. She's got a shack floatin' down the Pontchartrain
26. Skipping beats, blushing cheeks I am struggling/ Daydreaming, bed scenes in the corner café
27. Baby I've been waiting for you/ don't run away now, got nothin' to lose
28. You're in my arms and all the world is calm/ the music playing on for only two
29. Creek goes rippling by/ I've been barefootin' all day with my baby
30. It's a new day but it all feels old/ it's a good life, that's what I'm told
31. When I'm done with thinking, then I'm done with you/ When I'm done with crying, then I'm done with you
32. I am walking past the sprinklers and the newly painted porches and the lemonade-stand girls on a suburban afternoon
33. Sara spelled without an "h" was getting bored
34. The storm is calling but I don't mind/ People are dying, I close my blinds
35. When I get where I'm going/ On the far side of the sky
36. She's got you wrapped up in her satin and lace/ Tied around her little finger
37. Well I saw fireworks from the freeway
38. When the road gets dark/ And you can no longer see
39. In the club on the late night, feelin' right/ Lookin' tryin' to spot somethin' real nice
40. The thing about love is I never saw it coming
41. Silence and quiet again in my life/ Far form these moments I wish I was
42. 90 miles outside Chicago/ Can't stop drivin' I don't know why
43. Mother can you hold me together/ It's so dark and I'm losing my way
44. If I told you things I did before, told you how it used to be
45. I was nurtured, I was sheltered/ I was curious and young
46. The trouble with schools is they always try to teach the wrong lessons
47. Night/And the spirit of life calling/(Mamela)/And a voice/ With the fear of a child asking Mamela (This one is actually from the Broadway Musical, but whatever)
48. I heard you crying loud/ All the way across town
49. I haven't seen His face but I have seen His miracles/ I haven't heard His voice but His spirit speaks to my heart
50. I wasn't jealous before we met/ Now every man that I see is a potential threat


Well, that was fun for me at least!!! I'll give you a week before I reveal the missed ones :-)

(The bolded ones still need to be guessed, the italicized ones are done! Way to go so far!!!)

Picture Tag...

Hahaha..almost sensing my frustration with cameras and pictures right now, I was tagged. But here we go...
Post the fourth picture in your fourth sub-folder and explain it:

This was Logan's first time out in the snow last November. We didn't have a coat for him yet (we knew my mom was getting one for Christmas) so he was wearing two hoodies, snow pants, and sneakers. Fun times! I hope he still likes the snow this year :-)

And the four people I'll tag: Dani Williams, Kate Headlee, Rachel Winsor, and Sara Oblad.

Becoming a FLY Lady...

So my friend/aerobics buddy, Rachel, was telling me about this website... the FlyLady. The actual page can be found here but I can sum it up real quick. Basically, it is a 9-month program for de-cluttering your home and your life. I really liked the first part that talks about "CHAOS" (Can't Have Anybody Over Syndrome) because that's totally me. I hate having people over without advanced notice because my house isn't necessarily dirty, but it's definitely not tidy on any given day. So today's assignment? Shine your sink.

And I did. I feel accomplished.

In other news, we went to a pumpkin patch. I'll post more about that when we get pictures. Ugh. Which reminds me. First, the cable that connects the camera to the computer stopped working. That presents the first challenge...getting the pictures uploaded to the computer. But I could deal with that.

The thing I can't deal with is the screen on the camera. Sometimes it works and other times it doesn't. And lately it's been more of the not working sort. When I turn on the camera, instead of seeing the blue "Canon" screen, it just goes white and fuzzy. And then it's anybody's guess as to when it is going to turn on. Sometimes it will after you've taken a few pictures, and sometimes it just needs to warm up (or something to that effect) and will decide to start working if you've just had it on long enough. And then, on occasion, it just won't work at all. So most of my pictures from the pumpkin patch are a complete mystery to me because I: 1. Couldn't see them when I was taking them, 2. Can't play them back because the screen is in a not working phase, and 3. I can't upload them to the computer. So I'm a bit frustrated. Maybe I'll have another cd made again...

But until then, I have a shiny sink.

Why I Souldn't Be Allowed to Have an Expensive Cell Phone. Ever...

Seriously, I can't believe I'm admitting to this, but I suck at life. I think Zac's text message to me last week sums it all up nicely: "You're a serious liability to your phone." So let me take you on a journey through the last year or so of my many, many cell phones and you'll understand completely...

We got new phones (LG LX5300's from Verizon) in July of 2007. They were the "buy one get three free" phones, so it's not a huge deal. Just keep that in mind.

I had no problems until about January 2008 when, in the same week, I dropped my phone in a snow bank AND in a glass of Lemonade. You can actually read about all the specifics with that incident here. But I ended up getting it to work for a while until my camera screwed up. So I took it to Verizon and they gave me a new one.

So after using phone #2 from mid-February 2008 till this last August of 2008, no problems. Only two phones in one year? That's not so bad. But it gets worse. Many of you will recall the incident with the laundry, but if not, here is a brief summary. I was getting ready to do some laundry and while stripping the sheets off our bed, I forgot that I had tossed my phone on them. I proceeded to wash the sheets AND my cell phone and didn't realize it until I heard a *klunk* while tossing the sheets in the dryer. Oops. So I called the insurance place and, after a $50 deductible for my stupidity, I received phone #3.

Well, phone #3 was total crap. It was a refurbished phone that had no antenna and therefore no reception. So I called and complained and they sent me phone #4 for free.

Phone #4 was also refurbished and also pretty sucky. The earpiece was wobbly and ONE DAY AFTER the limited warranty expired (8 days after receiving it), the earpiece completely broke off from the bottom mouthpiece. I called the insurance company and, since the warranty was up, I was expected to pay another $50 deductible. Well I wasn't about to do that, so after being on the phone for over an hour, I talked my way into a NEW- not refurbished but NEW- phone for which I paid nothing. Go me.

So phone #5 has been with me now for just over a month. And guess what. Last week, I dropped it in the tub while giving Logan a bath. I pulled it out immediately after it hit the water and dried it with my hairdryer and then stuck it in a bag of rice overnight and...IT WORKED!!! I used it for about a week with just about no problems.

And then I did it again. Tonight I was wearing the same jeans I wore last Wednesday night with the same stupid pockets and while I was washing Logan's hair, the phone slipped out of them and into the tub. Only I don't know how long it was under water this time. So I pulled it out of the water and dried it again and the battery didn't get wet (which is good because that means they should be able to fix it at the store instead of having to send away for another one) but the inside of the flip screen in a little screwy. So it's in the bag of rice again, but I don't know if it will work this time. I can still make calls, but I think I'm going to see if I can get another one just in case it starts getting really messed up.

So that will put me at phone #6 on this plan. Thank goodness for insurance and for the cheapest phones ever, right? I don't know what I would do if we had sprung for the more expensive phones...

Homecoming Parade 2008...

Was really cold. And sad because Mat and Dani and James were not present. Because for some reason they moved to freaking San Antonio. *Sigh* Anyways, we had a lot of fun Last Year at the Homecoming parade so we wanted to hit it up again this year.

Similarities from last year to this year:
1. I wore the same sweatshirt.
2. We went to Brick Oven afterwards.
3. We got a lot of candy.

Differences from last year to this year:
1. Sans Mat, Dani, and James.
2. Sans Stormtroopers (again, see the post from Last Year)
3. Logan isn't a tiny baby anymore!
4. Aunt Liz came with us and took some super cute pictures:



So yeah...that's what happened. I also had Liz take a picture of the Tubas in honor of Uncle Steeeeeve again, but I don't have that picture yet. I'll add it when I get it, though :-)

Twilight Paper...

So for my Creative Writing class, one of our assignments was to actually read Twilight and then write a paper on it, telling why (or why not) it "works." Naturally, I chose the affirmative. I started off tying in religious undertones, but that got too preachy. But maybe as a follow-up... Anyways, here's what I wrote. Then tell me what you think...as a whole and as a piece of Young Adult literature, did it "work"?

It is hard to pin down what exactly makes a particular novel good or bad, accepted and loved, or rejected and reviled. However, when certain aspects are addressed, when bases are broken down, it becomes a little bit clearer as to why a work of fiction does well or not. Twilight, in all of its vampiristic glory, “works,” especially for the age group it is marketed toward. It is a piece of young adult fiction and serves all of the purposes of just that. It is a coming-of-age novel, it is a romance, it contains the super-natural elements the market is eating up right now, and it is creatively written.
In any good coming-of-age story, the main character undergoes adventures and inner turmoil in his or her growth and development while dealing with family, friends, or community issues. Bella Swan is a typical character in this respect. Only this creative novel adds in another twist in which the main character of Bella, as well as the reader, is able to get swept away in the world of vampires. One of the more interesting aspects of the book is that we never get a sense for how unique and beautiful Bella is, until we start to see her through Edward’s eyes. This being a first-person narrative, it takes a while for the reader to understand how Bella- so awkward that she can trip while walking on a flat surface- could have fascinated such a magnificent being such as Edward. This is yet another reason why the story “works”; it surreptitiously helps the reader (especially when placed in Bella’s shoes) to realize the world and other people around them see them in a different, and sometimes better, light than they see themselves. Meyer’s deft hand is able to bring the realization of how special Bella actually is, very slowly and deliberately.
The second reason Twilight seems to work and speak to such a vast audience is due to the romantic element. However, this is where some of the novel’s greatest critics take issue. Edward Cullen, the vampire, is perfect - and we are reminded of exactly how perfect nearly too often. While reading the book, it is easy to become frustrated with the never-ending descriptions of his perfect body, perfect hair, indescribable model-like looks, but the reader has to realize this is not written in the third person. It is a first-person narrative, so the reader is getting the story as Bella tells it, and how Bella sees it. His burning black eyes, or warm topaz/butterscotch eyes, are magnets to her, as are every single movement he makes. It is not difficult to step back into high school and remember a first love (or crush) and recall similar feelings. Their eyes never ceased to captivate you; their smile melted you; when they kissed you, you felt faint. And you felt these things every single time you saw that person. Perhaps that is also why the “flat” character of Edward works for the general readership of the Twilight saga- everyone wants their own perfect love and it becomes all too easy to find those qualities in Edward.
The third reason that seems to make this particular novel work in the world of young adult literature is the super-natural element that is so popular in today’s market. Not only was Meyer able to incorporate the fantastical, but she was able to create a different view of a genre that has been done countless times before. The representation of the vampires, their unique talents, and the exceptional way in which they blend into society is marvelous, and provides a firm backbone to the story. While this is a story that is decidedly told in our world, and while this is more of a coming-of-age story than a vampire story, there are still vampires in it, and they needed to be believable. If not, the entire story, no matter how well told, falls apart, and the reader is left wondering why the vampires are even in the story. Meyer’s vampires, and their lore, are distinctly drawn and magnificently add one more aspect to the book that makes it work as a whole.
Twilight is a wonderful example of a piece of young adult fiction that “works.” Not only is it a coming-of-age story, a romance, and a fantasy, but it is creatively written. All of these things came together in one nice, neat package that, love it or hate it, created a fan-base that has kept it on the best seller list for the last 97 weeks(1).
(1) http://content.usatoday.com/life/books/booksdatabase/default.aspx

I Can't Believe I Wrote That...

So I read this blog. It makes fun of Mormon life (married right out of high school, already having babies, talking about her amazing husband, crazy long abnormal names, the Young Women's program, and Type-o's up the wazoo) and tends to make me laugh. So the author has random giveaways and all you have to do to enter is write a comment on her blog. I've found in the past that the more creative the comment, the better. So I wrote this:
TAMN...oh my heck I am sha-rieking out!!! If Confrince isn't enuff...now your having another giveaway this weekend, to!!! AHHH!!!! Please, please pick me for something...I would love any of them, but a photography session for my baby boy would be AMAZING!!! Then when he marries one of your adorable feti they can compare baby pics and she how gorgeous THEY'RE babies are going to be!!!!
Ugh. I hated making the misspellings. But if that's what it takes to win, so be it. Wish me luck!

Family Foto Friday...

I'm an AUNT!!!! So this week's Family Foto is of MY NIECE!!!!!



Ella Michelle was born via C-Section at 2:08 pm on October 2, 2008. I believe she was 7 lbs 15 oz and 20 inches long...someone correct me if I'm wrong! We're really glad she's here safe and sound and made the family just a little bit bigger!

I'm super excited (though not as much as her parents, I'm sure) because growing up, I loved my aunts and uncles SOOO much and I couldn't wait to be an aunt someday. As I got older I started worrying that I would marry an only child and I would never have nieces and nephews...but thanks to the eight thousand in-laws I have, no worries there! So thanks Matt and Erin for fulfilling one of my greatest desires! And way to have one B-E-A-UTIFUL baby!

Aunt Liz is Amazing...

So Liz took these pictures in the car on the way to Vegas. They're freaking GORGEOUS!!! Of course having a cute baby doesn't hurt...