I can do whatever I want

I was listening to Radio From Hell today while driving back from spin class (no nausea today) and they have a segment called "Things That Must Go". People email in things that are basically pet peeves and I really hate the segment because it just reaffirms my thinking that most people are stupid. Today there was a woman who said that "Mommy blogs" must go. Why would she ever be interested in reading about what your child is doing or how you spent your day? It was this really long rant and the whole time I'm thinking, "Is someone holding a gun to your head and making you read these blogs?" I agree that I don't want to read about a stranger's life unless it's entertaining, but blogs are a great way for me to keep up with friends or family that live far away from me. I like to think of my blog as an online diary, like Mimi Smartypants but not nearly as smart or funny or pantsy. I'm not here to entertain but rather to keep family and friends informed on what we're doing and have something that I can keep as a record. If it entertains in the process than that's a bonus. Today I'm posting a picture of Hanna's report card because I'm proud of her and I know her grandparents would like to see it. Grace doesn't get a report card yet but more of a "progress report" and it was very positive. Her math test that she scored 100% on is hanging up next to Hanna's report card but I didn't think it was scanable.

Click to enlarge

Haven't I done enough?

A couple of weeks ago, realtors from the area toured our house and gave us feedback on it. The only real negative feedback we received was about our front yard or the "weeds" as they said. They aren't weeds (okay there are some) but native plants and wildflowers that we planted on purpose. We resisted the first time we had the realtor tour but now that we have another house being built, we really need to step up our game. I convinced Ryan to rip out the front area wild flowers/native plants, clean it up and put mulch down. It's a good thing we inherited the world's most powerful rototiller from Ryan's Great Aunt Jerry. It's probably pre-war and weighs two tonnes but man, it can rip up anything your heart desires. We call it "The Beast" because you feel like you are wrestling a wild animal when you use it. My tiny little self can't even control it so Ryan always has to do it and ends up sore for days.

We started working on the yard last week during fall break so we could make the kids help us. Nothing says "fall break" like yard work. There was much whining and little actual doing on their part but we got everything ripped out and raked in two days. This Saturday Ryan and I bought a few shrubs and a truckload of mulch to put down. We worked all morning and I have to say, I think it looks really nice.

Before

After


I will give Ryan most of the credit because I hate doing yard work. I like puttering around or pulling weeds but when it comes to hard core yard work, I'd rather supervise. I tell Ryan it's because I did a lifetime of yard work before I was 19, between my parent's house and working for the town. I've already mowed acres of grass, pulled millions of weeds and now it's my turn to be "Leonard" and supervise. It's the same reason I don't like to clean toilets, because I've paid my dues by cleaning many a gross toilet for the Town of Magrath.

mowed this...

and this

cleaned this

Things I'm glad I bought

I spent the night with Ryan in West Valley City last night. Yes, I know you're jealous because West Valley is the first place people want to go on a romantic getaway. I guess I'm just lucky that way. The truth is, Ryan had training and they got him a hotel room so I decided to join him. Today I decided since I was in the big city, I was going to take advantage of it's shopping. I looked up addresses of the stores I wanted to go to and entered them into my GPS because I don't know how to get around Salt Lake County very well. I from Utah County so me not so smart. Let me just say, if you don't have a GPS you should get one. Ryan bought ours from Cabela's with the gift card he won at the UHPA banquet and we've used it a lot since. I was able to go every place I wanted today with relative ease. I got Ryan this killer Ben Sherman sweater at The Rack which goes nicely with his scooter. As I was navigating Salt Lake, I was listening to my iPod and it got me thinking about things I've bought which I'm really happy with. So I thought I'd make a list.

*GPS-We use it on vacation or in the city. We have the Tom Tom because it came with Canada.

*iPod-I sold things on Ebay a few years ago to buy Ryan the 20G and it's been the best purchase ever. Now I have a Nano and so do the girls.

*iMac-Ryan's family has been an Apple family since the 80's and our new iMac is our 4th. Our first was a Mac Plus that Ryan's parents gave us to use when we were at university. I think I married mainly Ryan because he had a car and a computer. Oh yeah, I loved him and all.

Our first baby.


*DVR-Oh sweet DVR, how I love thee. When Ryan was a road trooper and working shift work, he would ask me to record his favourite shows. I would do this by recording them onto a VHS tape just like cavemen did. I can't tell you how many times this didn't work or I'd forget and Ryan would be sad/mad. Plus, it sucks to watch anything recorded off the tv onto VHS. Now Ryan can only blame the DVR. My favourite thing about it is that I can watch a show in record time. I can probably watch two hours of "The Biggest Loser" in 22 minutes. Attention. Span. Getting. Smaller.

These are mainly electronic things I'm glad we've bought but I'm fond of other purchases. I was going to write about how I love cardigan sweaters and own almost an entire draw full of them but what can I really say other than, "I love me a nice cardigan sweater".

Wouldn't it be embarrassing if I died in my gym's bathroom?

I joined Gold's Gym in Spanish Fork a few months after Evie was born. I was sinking into a deep depression and needed something to motivate me to exercise, because like I've said before, it's either exercise or medication. I convince/badgered my friend Karen (who in no way needs to go to the gym) to join with me and we started working out there a few times a week. Then gas prices skyrocketed and I found that driving the 20 miles to Spanish Fork was really costing me a lot of money. I started just going a couple of times a week and eventually it was down to Saturday mornings only. Obviously, the $29 a month I was paying was not worth it and so when it came up for renewal in September, I cancelled it. I had been running three times a week all summer and was really enjoying it and thought I'd just continue that through out fall and winter. Well guess what? In the fall it's dark at 5:30 a.m. and damn cold! I kept at it but one morning I got up to run and it just seemed creepy outside. Like, zombie creepy. Ryan didn't like the idea of me running alone in the dark anyway, so I quit. Payson has Dumbbells Gym which is very small but it has what you need. Plus it's only five miles away, well it will be when the horrible detour gone. Grace's teacher told me she taught a 6 a.m. spin class there three times a week and I like spin so this sounded perfect. I only pay $20/month and it's month to month, no contract. I went to my first class last Monday and it was going fine until about halfway through when she had us take off our bike seats for a couple of songs. About halfway though the second song I suddenly thought, "I'm going to pass out or throw up!" I went into the bathroom and stood in front of the sink with my head down. Every time I lifted my head up, I felt like I would puke or black out. Finally I sat down on the floor and put my head between my legs. I kept thinking, "This is going to be so embarrassing when they find me in here unconscious." Luckily after about ten minutes I was able to stand up and go back to class. You may ask, "Why did she go back to class?!?" It's because I didn't want to look like a puss who had to leave her first class. Why can't I have that kind of determination in other areas of my life?

Crockpot

Officially the most boring blog title ever but it's too early to be clever. I love using my crockpot in the winter because I can put the ingredients in before work and when I get home dinner is ready so I can watch General Hospital. I don't really like General Hospital, it's just the only thing on a 2 when I get home. If I have something on the DVR (like Mad Men or Biggest Loser) , I'll watch that instead. HOLY TANGENT! Anyway, crockpots are awesome and here is an entire blog devoted to cooking with one. I also get good recipes on All Recipes.

Here are a couple of my crockpot favourites:

Sloppy Joes
These are great with home made french fries.
2 tsp oil
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1/c cup chopped onion
half a green pepper chopped
1tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1clove garlic minced
1tsp salt
3/4 cup water
1/8 tsp paprika
6oz. can tomato paste
2 tbsp vinegar ( i use malt)
2 tsp brown sugar(I use more because I like them sweet)
1 tsp dry mustard
1. Brown beef in oil in saucepan. Drain.
2. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.
3. Cover, Cook on low 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours.
Serve on buns. Enjoy!

Awesome Slow Cooker Pot Roast
This is easy and my kids like it.
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
1 1/4 cups water
5 1/2 pounds pot roast
DIRECTIONS
In a slow cooker, mix cream of mushroom soup, dry onion soup mix and water. Place pot roast in slow cooker and coat with soup mixture.
Cook on High setting for 3 to 4 hours, or on Low setting for 8 to 9 hours.

I realize these are both meat centered but they are my two favourites. You can also use turkey burger for the sloppy joes. Sometimes I just crave a good sloppy joe and this is the best recipe I found for which I have to give Lori credit.

Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day

October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness month and October 15th recognized as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. So if you know someone who has suffered a loss, have them in your thoughts today. If you are someone who has suffered a loss and needs support the message boards on the SHARE site were instrumental in my healing. I'm grateful for the peace I have been able to find over the last two years but there are still days where it really hurts and all I can do is cry. This quote I found on Kimberlee's blog describes how losing a pregnancy or infant effects you for life.

"Parents who have lost a child will carry their grief with them for the rest of their lives. This is called "shadow grief." But healing and the desire and ability to get on with your lives come over time"

Shadow grief is an excellent term.

Mrs. Nolipsmomhaircrazyeyes

Nothing like a school picture to transport you back into insecurity land. I had to get a school picture this year to put in the display case at the school. All the employees have pictures in it and I was feeling kind of guilty that I didn't do it last year. I get to work one day last week and there on my desk is my school picture packet. I thought I was just getting one 2X3 to put in the display case but no, I got a full packet. Not just the weinie packet I buy my kids but the fancy packet with many, many pictures. Maybe I can write on the back of the wallet sizes and hand them out to my friends.

"I'm so glad we're friends. Isn't Jeff cute? I think he likes you. Band is going to be awesome this year. Grade Twelve rules! BFFs forever, Shea."

Well it's not going to happen because I opened them up and threw up a little in my mouth. What is up with those crazy eyes?! Why didn't God bless me with an upper lip? Why do I have "mom hair"? What am I going to do with all these pictures? There is an 8X10! Seriously, the only people who would want this picture is maybe my parents. Even Ryan used the words "crazy eyes" and he is usually pretty blind to my imperfections. Anyway, for Christmas I think I'm going to frame my school picture and this one of Monti's (who teaches grade seven) in a double frame and give it to my parents. Only they could love Crazy Eyes and Serial Killer.

Fuzzy Bunny's Guide to You-Know-What

"Mom is there something you can do so that you won't have babies after you're married?"

"Yes. You can take a pill or um, do other things. Why?"

"Well, I want to get married to Johnny but I don't want to have babies."

"Why?"

"Because I think it's going to hurt really bad."

"It doesn't hurt that bad. (Why did I lie?) Okay it hurts but it's worth it. What if I didn't have you because I didn't want to hurt?"

"I can adopt."

I think it's time to start talking to Hanna in a little more organized manner about certain things. We've answered her, very few, questions over the years but I can tell she's starting to be curious about boys, girls, bodies and what they do. On the recommendation of several friends I bought The Care & Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls for Hanna and I to look at together and discuss. It doesn't talk about sex but more about bodies and what happens to girls before and during puberty. I'm going to read it first and then pick areas that I think she's ready for us to discuss together. For example, she doesn't need to see the picture of how to put a tampon in and honestly I'm not ready to hear the "Eww gross!" that will more than likely come out of her mouth if I show her that now. If she follows the women in her family, she won't have to worry about that for a few more years. Anyway we already covered this topic in the Nordstrom bathroom. I'm now looking for recommendations of books that would help me talk to Hanna and Grace about sex. Because Lord knows I need all the help I can get. The only book I have is Doctor Talks to 5-to-8-Year-Olds which was first published in 1967. I don't know where I got this book and it's driving me crazy trying to remember. I think I must have found it somewhere, because I know I didn't purchase it. It does a lot of comparing animals to humans which I think is an acceptable way to ease children into things. Don't be fooled by the cute pictures of baby animals because it does become very frank:

"The father places the sperms in the body of the mother much as the male animals do. But humans do it when they love one another and want a baby. Then the father lies next to the mother. The penis, which is usually soft, becomes hard so it can enter the mother's vagina...that special opening that leads to the waiting egg."

That's right, I'm mentally gearing up for this. These are things that were never taught to me as a child. I had to wait until high school biology class to learn about it and I still don't think I really understood it all. I find this part of parenting so confusing. I don't want to say too much but I also don't want them to be as in the dark as I was. I'd love to hear any ideas or personal stories about how you have handled this with your own children. Book ideas would also be great.

At least you're not an elephant Hanna.

The Lawrence Welk Show

I was laughing so hard I was crying when I saw this last night. Those little hands were genius!

Check this out!

Our house for sale blog was featured on Nesting Place today. I'm going to pee my pants with excitement! Now if this will just sell our house I'll be forever in her debt. I normally have 2 hits per day on that blog and this morning I already have 730. BTW, Nesting Place is where I got my paint colour for our new home, Tobacco Road.

Pizzeria Seven Twelve

There is something fantastic in Orem and it's name is Pizzeria Seven Twelve. Nancy had heard about it and tonight she took us out to thank us for looking after her dogs while she was in Dallas. Grace and I had the Margherita pizza and I was in heaven. Thin, oven cooked crust with hand pulled mozzarella, olive oil and basil. I could have eaten the entire pizza but I held back because I wanted leftovers to enjoy tomorrow. The pizza was fantastic but let me talk about the dessert because it was really what made my day. Fresh out of the oven, peach and raspberry cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream. Perfection! My only complaint was that my leechy family ate about half of it after I let them have a taste. Do your taste buds a favour, do not let another day go by without trying this place. It's a little pricey if you take the whole family but if you went out with your significant other and shared a pizza/dessert, it wouldn't be too bad. I had to laugh when we walked out because in the parking lot there was a Mercedes G55 Kompressor and a Maserati which means rich people have given it their stamp of approval. So be prepared to be eating with a lot of conspicuous consumption Utah County douches. The food makes up for it though.

Pizzeria Seven Twelve Blog

Salt Lake Weekly Review