High School tag

I found this on a friends blog and liked it...so here you go!

Plus, my laptop has given up the ghost and I can't get to any of my recent pictures (grrr) so this will be a good post filler for the time being while my awesome techy husband figures out how to bring my laptop back to life.

1. Did you date someone from your school? Yes, but like one does in HS, you think it's serious and thought I'd die when he moved on and dated someone else, but I lived through the ride! Funny though, I never really dated-dated my main crush!

2. What kind of car did you drive? A trusty red Mercury Tracer with red interior even. Jealous?

3. Did you pass your driver's license test on the first try? Hmm, tricky question. You see, I passed my behind the wheel driving test on the first try, but failed the written. I can't lie on this post since I have friends from HS that will call me out here if I cheat!

4. Were you a party animal? If you call hanging out with really cool mormons and always getting home by curfew a party animal, then yes.

5. Were you considered a flirt? I'd say yes if Ricky Jordan was around (I sooo was going to marry that guy)...but no not overall. The "flirt" title" is a three-way tie between Merissa, Hilary and Emily...or maybe it should just go to Emily Olsen (Boyer) ;)

6. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? Choir. And yes, I loved it...even though it wasn't considered cool.

7. Were you a nerd? Actually, I wasn't. I was so much more outgoing in HS, but like I said, I was in choir and some of those Jazz Choir getups were a bit nerdy!

8. Were you on any varsity teams? Yes, I made varsity swim team my sophomore year and was SO proud of that! I used to think my letterman jacket was the coolest thing EVER!

9. Did you get suspended/expelled? No way!

10. Can you still sing the fight song? Uh, did DHHS have a fight song?

11. Who were your favorite teachers? Mr. Woods, Mr. Mikulics and an English teacher my Senior year who I can't recall his name now.

12. Where did you sit during lunch? We drove to a pizza joint at Dana Point Harbor. Was it called Z-Pizza? Man, I so can't remember these things! But I do remember that pizza was $1.25 a slice...an extra .25 cents if you wanted Ranch dressing to dip AND I recall my first car accident returning from said Pizza joint. Oi.

13. What is your schools full name? Dana Hills High School (Dana Point, CA)

14. School mascot and colors? Blue and White. Our mascot was a Dolphin. Tough, eh?

15. Did you go to Homecoming and who with? Junior year I went with Jeff Ginn and Senior year I think I went with Ricky Jordan...or was that Winter Formal? MAN,I'm bad at this!

16. If you could go back and do it again, would you? Maybe for a day or two or even a few weeks,I realy did enjoy my HS years...but no way would I give up what I have now to go back. Life is too good right now.

17. What do you remember most about graduation? That all my friends and I wore white Jack Percels (no socks) with our dresses/skirts and thought we were SO cool! I remember my friend Shannon Smith (Hyer now) coming to surprise me from Pasadena and made me a blanket for my dorm room. I also remember being very sad to be the only one (well, besides Meg) NOT going to BYU as I felt USU was where I should be going. I moved to UT a week after graduation when I was just 17 years old. Man, I was just a baby!

18. Where did you go senior skip day? I think most every week there was a senior skip day. ;) My mom was the cool mom and would call me out of school as long as I was passing each class. So we'd go to my house and hang out. Sometimes my mom would order us a pizza and put tomatoes on top cause that's my favorite.

19. Were you in any clubs? No

20. Have you gained some weight since then? Um, considering I was 5'8" and not even 100 pounds when I graduated (and two teachers thought I was anorexic) uh, yes....I'd say I gained some weight! lol But I do think I look better than I did back in HS. Just ask anyone who knew me way back when--I was a skeleton. Blech! Though I'd take that skeletons flat stomach these days...but nothing else!

21. Who was your prom date? Junior Year Andy Normand, Senior Year, Brian Yang.

22. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion? It has already passed and no I didn't go since I had just had Leda two days prior. Good reason to skip it, don't you think?

23. Did you have a job while in high school? My first job was at Subway, and the remainder of my HS career I worked at the Mail Room. I loved working there!

Man, it's funny how much you forget in 13 years! YIKES. 13 years. Seriously?
You can see some HS photos of me if you click HERE and HERE...if you're very bored.

Halloween preview

Take one...

two...

three!


Ahh, there we go!

Now that we had one decent picture in tow, we were off to the Boo Bash at Spencer's elementary school and then to our Ward's Trunk or Treat party!

Let's just say that by the end of last nights festivities, we had one very whiny Anakin Skywalker, a grumpy Cinderella, a pretty hyper frog and two exhausted parents who were longing for some peace, a little quiet and perhaps a fun-size Snickers bar, or two.

We can't wait for round two this Friday!

Good times!

On Sunday night we decided to have some family bonding time and made CHEX MUDDY BUDDIES, and my buddy Chase was first in line to help me.

I know I'm his mother, but how adorable is this face now that he smiles on cue?



Hard at work...


After our treats were ready, we sat down as a family and watched the following old school Halloween flicks on youtube: (click on them to watch)

Donald Duck-Trick or Treat 1954

Disney's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Ichabod Crane (there are 4 parts, if you're interested)

Charlie Browns: It's the great Pumpkin (3 parts)


Man, did it ever bring back memories of my childhood! Do any of you out there remember these old cartoons? I can't believe how many memories came rushing back as I watched and heard the songs! Aaron and I enjoyed snuggling on the couch, eating treats with our kids and being transported back in time to when we were kids at Halloween.

Halloween, don't you just love it?

The Pumpkin Patch...oh, and Aaron's b-day too!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABE!

Tonight we went to dinner at Ruby's with Grandma and Grandpa and then took the kids to the local pumpkin patch. Not exactly what Aaron may have envisioned for turning the big 3-5...but he didn't complain (he never does). We'll have to get a sitter and go out and celebrate on a day when I didn't have to be gone most of the day for rehearsal for Savior of the World. But I don't feel too guilty for being MIA half of the day. Have I mentioned that he went to Florida for 8 days with his family last week while I was home alone with the kids?! A pretty nice birthday gift I gave him, don't ya think? ;)


I love how Leda is holding Spencer's hand here in the only photo of the five of us that turned out.



Chase is looking so grown up with his new haircut! I have to do a double take, I hardly recognize him! Aaron cut the boys hair while I was gone today. He swears it's the same setting as last time, but I dunno...it's awfully short!


We tried to get them to all look at the camera. I swear, it's impossible.


I love this picture of the boys even though Chase is making a Damian face.


Leda's face says it all. Not the greatest quality photo, but I love how it captures her joy. What a difference a year makes. Last year she wouldn't go anywhere near the ponys, this year she was all for it!



It just wouldn't be the same without Grandma and Grandpa coming. They are so much more fun than Mom and Dad. Just ask Spencer and Leda, they'll tell you.


Our three little pumpkins.



The End.

Definition of Marriage.

I copied this from my friend Sara's blog, and I liked it. YES on Prop 8

YES ON PROPOSITION 8 in California

***I received the following from a friends blog, I couldn't have written it better myself.***

You've been tagged. PLEASE READ THIS no matter what state you live in.

Failure to pass Proposition 8 will hurt children. If gay marriage remains legal, public schools will put it on equal footing with traditional marriage. Children will likely receive “age appropriate” information about sexual relations within heterosexual and homosexual marriages.

Failure to pass Proposition 8 will hurt churches. The court’s decision will inevitably lead to conflicts with religious liberty and free speech rights. Society will become more and more hostile to traditional beliefs about marriage and family. Over time, greater acceptance of nontraditional marriage will be demanded of all people. This could impact the ability of any religion to teach and practice its beliefs. Including adoption agencies.

A YES vote will not hurt gays. In California, the law provides for marriage-related benefits to be given to civil unions and domestic partnerships. Proposition 8 does not diminish these benefits.

For your information:
On Friday, October 10th, 2008 a first-grade class took a field trip to witness a lesbian wedding in California. Click Here for the article from the San Francisco Chronicle.

A father in Massachusetts was frustrated when his kindergartner was taught about homosexuality at school by the teachers. He insisted he be notified in the future before such things were discussed so he could pull his boy out of school.He was taken to jail. Click Here for the story.

A Catholic adoption agency In the UK closed their doors because of the Government's new homosexual equality laws. The Equality Act forbids discrimination in the provision of goods and services on the basis of sexual orientation. The law was forced through Parliament last year despite past Prime Minister Tony Blair's recommendation that Catholic adoption agencies be exempted from the rules. Click Here for more info.

Earlier this month judges in Conneticut overturned the state law (just as the judges in California did) to legalized gay marriage. This is not just an issue in California. We voted years ago to keep traditional marriage as the only marriage recognized in the state of California, 4 judges overturned our vote…and we need to fight back. That is what this Proposition is about. This is happening everywhere and the leaders of the church and others have warned that the outcome of California’s vote will affect the way the other states vote. So PLEASE…even if you don’t live in California, put this on your blog or email this on. The internet knows no state line. You know contacts in California that I don’t…and so do your friends. Please pass this on as it could eventually have an effect on everyone!

"Occasionally discouragement may darken our pathway; frustration may be a constant companion. In our ears there may sound the sophistry of Satan as he whispers, "You cannot save the world; your small efforts are meaningless. You haven't time to be concerned for others." Trusting in the Lord, let us turn our heads from such falsehoods and make certain our feet are firmly planted in the path of service and
our hearts and souls dedicated to follow the example of the Lord." --Thomas S. Monson

Click Here for excerpts from the Broadcast given by Elders M. Russell Ballard, Quentin L. Cook and L. Whitney Clayton.

A good resource mentioned in the broadcast: Preserving Marriage

October 20th: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot if voting out of state. Click Here to get one.

October 27th: Last day to apply for “Vote by Mail” Click Here for info.

November 4th: Election day. Polls close at 8:00pm. Vote by mail must be received by this time and can be hand delivered if necessary.

YOU'VE BEEN TAGGED...Here's what you do:
In the broadcast we were asked to "go viral on our blogs, etc" by Elder Ballard. This is my way of going viral. If you feel this is an important issue I ask that you copy and paste this post...and post it on your blog. PLEASE keep it at the top of your blog through November 4th. which you can adjust each time you post under the "edit post" option. The internet knows NO STATE LINE. You know contacts in California that I do not...as do your friends and their friends...and so on. Please do this. If not for your own children and the effect it could have on them some day...for mine! After you have posted this...email this to your contacts and TAG all your blogging buddies to do the same. THANK YOU!

Tag 4 by 4

Ok here's the tag--

Go to your picture folders, open the 4th folder and pick the 4th picture then post.

Here's mine.....

Leda being really grumpy because how dare I ask her to stop for a second and give me a smile mid-fun!




And a close up so you could get the full effect of her grumpiness. I love having a girl. lol

Thanks Lisa for the fun idea!

I tag Erin, Hilary Storey, Shannon Hyer and Lisa A. But of course, anyone please feel free to do this tag if you'd like!

I think it's kinda fun, as every picture (good or bad) has some story behind it.

Talking with a five year old

Let's just say that Spencer and I didn't have the best night tonight after dinner.

While I was giving the kids baths, I was trying to keep my cool (since I'd lost it earlier) as I began trying to explain some things calmly to Spencer.

I said, "Spencer, I don't like to yell, but sometimes I wonder if that's the only way you hear me."

His reply?

"Well Mom, all you have to do is get a loud speaker. Like the one they have at my school, then I would hear you, for sure!"

And then I lost it.

I laughed and laughed until there were tears. Nothing like talking with a five year old to remind you that they take everything you say quite literally.

Then Spencer started laughing too, and we quickly made up. Man do I ever love my oldest, and enjoy these moments where he reminds me that he's just a kid whose learning and trying his best. And that reminds me that I'm just the mom, whose trying to do the same.



Spencer and me---July 2008

One word tag.

I have a million things to do, and this tag isn't one of them...but it was a nice break for a moment :)

1. Where is your cell phone? Car
2. Where is your significant other? Florida
3. Your hair color? black-ish
4. Your mother? Incredible
5. Your father? Talented
6. Your favorite thing? Holidays
7. Your dream last night? none
8. Your dream/goal? fulfilled
9. The room you're in? kitchen
10. Your hobby? reading
11. Your fear? loss
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? healthy
13. Where were you last night? parents
14. What you're not? tired
15. One of your wish-list items? money
16. Where you grew up? Laguna
17. The last thing you ate? noodles
18. What are you wearing? pjs
19. Your TV? off
20. Your pet? Jack
21. Your computer? warm
22. Your mood? lonely
23. Missing someone? yep
24. Your car? white
25. Something you're not wearing? shoes
26. Favorite store? Gap
27. Your summer? hot
28. Love someone? yes
29. Your favorite color? green
30. When is the last time you laughed? dinner
31. Last time you cried? Conference

Okay, I'm off to go do something productive...

Tonight

Tonight as Leda, Chase and I were driving to go pick up Spencer from a birthday party, we saw a gorgeous sunset!

The following was my conversation with Leda--

Leda: "Ooh, look at the sky, it's my favorite colors: pink, orange and blue! Look at all that pink, orange and blue...that's just beautiful, all those colors together!"

Me: "Wow, it is beautiful, Leda!"

Leda: "Ya, mom, we really, really have to show Spencer this, he will lllove it, I can't wait to show Spencer, can we show him mom, can we?"

----

It just warmed my heart that one of the first things she thought of was wanting to share this with her brother. It was one of those little moments you have with your kids from time to time, that you want to remember, so I decided I'd record it here.

Yes, these two siblings can fight; oh boy, can they ever fight. But in the end, Leda loves her big brother and wants to share with him the things that make her happy.

This fact, in turn, makes me happy.