"Mom, Yoshi pooped on the floor again"

Having two dogs is working out really well. In Max we have a built in playmate, babysitter and tattletale. A few days ago we noticed that we could be upstairs and the dogs would be downstairs playing. Max would stay and have fun up until the point when Yoshi would pee or poop in the house. At that moment he comes upstairs and sits down in front of us and just stares at us. Even if we try to ignore him, he follows us and stares some more. We realized that that is his way of saying 'I am up here with you and in case you are wondering I didn't make the piles or puddles downstairs.' It makes me laugh a little.
As far as the new puppy goes, we continue to call him Yoshi because nothing else seems to fit right now. However he has a few commonly used nicknames. Fuzzy britches and snuggle britches are the two we use most often. He really is such a cuddly dog. We love him and have fun with the two. Yoshi is mostly house trained as long as we don't let him play and get excited for too long. Max plays both older brother dog and mother dog to Yoshi.
I hate to sound so 'oh, my boys are so cute' when they aren't humans, but you've seen the pictures!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Knecht's thanks for the tutu pictures! Made my day.

The Cops

I finally left work tonight at 5:05pm. The children left at 3pm and normally on the day before a Holiday Break, the teachers are peeling out of the parking lot at 3:01, gift bags in hand. Well, that would have been me if it weren't for my student sitting in the office with the cops! A bit of a stressful day.
But my break has officially begun! I came home to an US Weekly in the mailbox, so I settled in for an hour of guilty pleasure reading. We are going to try to start a book club with a couple gals from work, so I've got to get in my fluff reading now before something important.
Any suggestions for books we should start with?
One more update: 7 inches of snow on it's way tomorrow! I remember reading a book Snowbound with Betsy when I was a little girl and it sounded so fun to be snowbound. I am going grocery shopping tomorrow for some good trapped inside food. Any good ideas?

So how do you say Latke anyway?

Today was our 'Around the World Holiday Celebration' for kindergarten. Having come from a school with no real parties to speak of and no real expectation, I am feel a little overwhelmed with the holidayness at school.
I don't know how much you guys know or what I've shared but there are 5 kindergarten classes and 4 are in a wing together and I am in exile. It is probably a wise choice on their part. :) So, they have been working together for 3 years now and I am kind of out of the loop #1 because I haven't taught with them and #2 I am far away and don't see them regularly to get the lasted update on plans.
Some things are done the same and most things are not. I kind of just guess what these things are. So, Holidays Around the World. I'm in! I'm in charge of Hanakkah. Good. Making Latkes-don't how to say it. Lat-kas or Lat-keys ??? I should take a poll, but all day people kept saying both and switching back and forth. Just another good reason to have a Jewish friend! I'm going to temple to find out!
So, I was chatting with my co-workers at lunch yesterday and they casually mention in passing something about their Christmas party on Friday! Huh?? I thought the 3 hour festivities on Thursday (today) counted as our party? So, I just found out that in order to keep up with the Kinders I have to have a little party!! No one wants to be the only teacher not celebrating and giving out candy or treats. You know the parents get the kiddies off the bus and compare treat bags and seeing that their child has none will suddenly feel that they have been assigned the wrong teacher. I hope this isn't the case, but no one wants to be the lame teacher. So, another day of craziness tomorrow. It was actually a very fun day, but one that I am grateful is over.
As of 3:30 tomorrow I am announcing to the world, or just the handful that read this rather, that I will be in my adult size feetsy jammies until I am good and ready to get out of them. That may or may not be on Saturday morning.
To the teachers reading this blog: 1 more day! If you are already on vacation: You suck! Just kidding I love you all!

More Cuteness!

Surprise!!!

I know you are thinking 'Hmm, that doesn't look exactly like Max and plus he's so much smaller. Well, that is because this is not Max.

Intoducing Yoshi...we think. We brought home our second puppy this morning after stocking up on paper towels and a extra helping of potty training patience.

We have been thinking about getting a friend for Max for a little while now and John fell in love with one of this guy's siblings on-line. So this morning, we took Max down to PetSmart and met our new little friend. His name was Miki, but we don't think we like that. He is an Akita/Lab/Sheperd mix so he and all his siblings have Japenese names.

If you know anything about Akitas, Labs and Sheperds they are big dogs. Akitas are usually 100lbs. What was I thinking? I don't know. I was in love with a tiny little dog named Cookie who was a Beagle/Terrier mix. Then I remembered how much I hate yippy dogs and I don't think there is a Terrier out there that doesn't yip. So, John retrieved Miki/Yoshi from his cage and brought him over to me and said that I could hold him. I was trying to be strong since I wanted a true lap dog, not just one that thinks he is. Well, I was holding him and he just snuggled right into my chest and was a calm and non-licking pup! He melted my heart. When I put him on the ground, he just sat there and stayed by my side.

So, now you know, the dog to human ratio in our house is now even.

Our back yard is full of snow and Yoshi was a little hesitant, but soon was out there jumping around with Max in the snow. I wish I could link a video cause they are really cute! Right now they are enjoying the peace of kennel time.

Here's another picture for the road.

What The...

A little bit crude, but a whole lot of funny! Thank John!


http://www.tamponcrafts.com/lights.html

To Quote

To quote the weather channel in regards to this weekend
"At the same time bitter cold arctic air will keep oozing southward from Canada. The combination of the arctic air and moisture produces a wide swath of wintry precipitation into early next week from the Rockies to the Northeast."

Weather Report

Last Saturday 4 inches of snow, followed up by rain = 2 inches of snow covered by 2 inches of ice
Tuesday 3 inches of snow
Thursday 4 inches of snow
Tomorrow- you guessed it...more snow!
This coming Tuesday- "oh the weather outside is frightful"
What's the temp in CA and TX? Just curious. Gina how about UT?

Magical Snow

Saturday morning we got quite a snow storm. We heard that it was going to be 3-6 inches. Well, they've got to do more than that from convincing me not to go out and get my hair cut. So at 9am, I headed out just as it started to snow. Well, I headed home 3 hrs later. I get sucked into the mall and spent probably 1 hr in Barnes & Noble just feeling excited and intelligent. I think that I love books so much because if I stand in the cookbook aisle long enough, I actually think 1)I can cook and 2) I want to cook. Every other section has a similar effect on me. Maybe not the romance section, but then again I don't frequent those aisles, so I can't really tell. Oh, and the travel section...don't get me started because that is not the topic of this post.
So, back to my snow story. Those of you who have lived in snow and survived, know that when they say 3 inches are going to fall, you don't stop your whole life, just to be inside, certainly not if it means having overwhelming hair for one more day. You assume that the plows will be out and doing there job to make everyone safe and happy AND alive! Well, you would assume that because you don't live here in the frozen tundra. It was 12:30 and I was driving home. The roads hadn't been touched by a plow and 3 inches had already fallen. Cars were fish tailing everywhere. I am a safe and cautious driver in snow and I was constantly waiting for Mr. Can't Get Off My Cell Phone to flip his car around 3 times and end up driving into my hood. It didn't happen, but it could have. The roads were horrible. So, as I sit on Main Street at a red light, I was thinking to myself, 'why aren't the plows out?' Just then I see a plow going in the opposite direction. Happiness? No! The plow was up! He was however salting the street. That just made me a little on the psycho side, so I crept home (I would have been speeding cause I was so mad, but I know better) and wrote an email and made a phone call.
So, Monday at work in the faculty room, we were all chatting about the weather, etc. I was expressing my frustration with the natives and one man who told me he was on the public works board asked me in all seriousness 'Did you expect them to start plowing before it had finished snowing?' He really thought that was ridiculous! Um-yeah, just like they do in all the other snowy states that I have lived in! Then one co-worker who has actually never left the state piped in with 'Our state is one of the best when it comes to snow removal!' What kind of crack was she smoking? I'm not sure why she thought she should add that since she has no point of reference unless of course she has taken upon herself to do some independent research on the topic! The natives are so defensive!
Anyway, I went home and didn't shovel, but instead went inside, turned on the Christmas tree and the fire and vegged. It was lovely, due to the canceling of Stake Conference and all. We just enjoyed our weekend until we realized that it sleeted almost all day Sunday and just froze onto a lovely layer of snow. I couldn't even leave the house to take supper to a friend who just had a baby. I have failed the R.S. calling chain!
It snowed another 2 inches or so last night and we are supposed to get a few more tomorrow. Shoveling aside, I have been mesmerized lately by the snow.
It really is magical! As I was driving home yesterday in it, the snow on the ground and in the air was all sparkly and glimmering. You know how in animated movies they try to make it seem like it is millions of diamond chips on the ground? Well, that is what it is like. Just gorgeous. Then last night I stood at my back door. The deck light was on and I watched the snow as it fell and swirled around the light. One second it would be falling straight, only to start falling up and then to the right and then a bunch to the left. I can't explain it adequately, but know that even though I hate salting and scrapping windshields, etc. I am loving the snow for it's beauty. Liz, I'm going to take some pictures tomorrow I hope and load them up. We don't have any dirty snow yet. Just beautiful white piles. As I live out in the country it is beautiful to look out at the acres and acres of land covered in snow and then to see a red barn popping up.
Winter has it's perks. Ask me again in two months.

The Glorious Frozen Tundra

Okay, I am about to tell you why living in the Frozen North is wonderful. I got you hooked with the title didn't I? You are remembering that last winter I was not so joyful, but you are about to get jealous. Well, unless you are one of those people that is so righteous that you never get bored at church.
So, we have been hearing for a couple days that we are going to get snow this weekend. It was originally going to be 10 inches, but then they backed the estimate down to 3-6 inches. So, that doesn't seem too bad, right? Most of us if not all have lived in Utah and we know about snow. So do people in my neck of the woods. However, we are not in Utah, so when on a stormy weekend you happen to have Stake Conference scheduled, they actually CANCEL it!!!! Now, I don't think any of you are going to be judgemental and I know for sure that some will be jealous. Not that I don't like Stake Conference, because usually it is great and I leave feeling like it was a nice change of pace. The things that I find quite unfortunate about Stake Conference include the non-padded chairs and the need to get up extra early to drive and reserve one of those padded chairs, only to find out that you were 20 minutes late and now the chapel is full of sweaters of people that are back at home eating pancakes. So, I was a little excited when I found out that we have a free weekend of cozy home worship! It will include pancakes, sitting around the Christmas tree and of course some scriptures.
Now, just so you don't think that Wisconsin Saints are 2nd rate snow folks, we actually have people that have to drive 2 1/2 hrs to Stake Conference. Apparantly the decision was made with them in mind. I remember last year when church was cancelled because it was so cold! :) It was really cold. It was at least -12 with a wicked wind chill. Everyone was wearing pants and looking kind of homeless anyway so they decided to let people stay home. Have I ever told the story about our first stop at a Wisconsin McDonald's? I really thought we must have been in the ghetto because everyone was wearing one of those quilted floor length coats with a scarf wrapped up around their heads and random gloves and ugly boots. Nothing matches when you are freezing to death. I am sure normally those people were classy looking folks, but there is a general understanding when it is anything below zero. No one goes for cute. I don't think I saw anyone looking cute here until at least April. Today I really thought about investing in some long johns even though I have issues with them. Anyone else feel like they were only designed for extremely high waisted individuals with short legs?
Just a little shout out to my CA gals. Appreciate warm toes. That is my one piece of advice. Find happiness in warmth.

Who Has the Best Friends?

That would be me! I love you guys. Thanks for calling, emailing, the cards, and all your happy thoughts. It's kind of like when the bishop stands up after fast Sunday and says 'Thank you to all that bore their testimonies out loud or in your heart." I have never really understood that, but okay. Thank you to all of you who either called me or thought about me. And thank you to those who didn't think about me today, but will think about me on Monday and hope that I had a good birthday. I am a horrible birthday friend, so know that it still counts on Monday! I love carry over birthdays anyways.
Today was kind of anti-climactic as far as birthdays are concerned. Poor John has pink eye and I have had a horrible headache for 2 1/2 days. We did have a lovely breakfast out at noon (strawberry pancakes and hot cocoa) and then spent the rest of the day relaxing. It rained/snowed today for a bit.
I usually set my New Year's Resolutions on my birthday because I always feel like my birthday is a better time to start fresh than January 1, so here goes with my goals, just in case you are curious.
1) Read my scriptures everyday!
2) Send more cards and letters. This was started when I received Laura's card in the mail and now we have become pen pals. I say that in hopes that she will get the hint that I would like to keep receiving mail from her. Other cards are also welcome. My new quest is to find cute cards and remember friend's birthdays. So, if you could all email me your addresses and birthdays, I could be a better friend. You can thank Laura!
3) Finish my quilt! Or pay someone else to finish it for me, but either way I would like the quilt on my bed by the end of next year.
4) Enjoy cooking. You are all thinking that this would take a miracle. That is true, but luckily I believe in miracles. You sexy thing. Sorry I just started singing. We have purchased a bunch of food storage stuff and I have a fabulous new book about growing a better garden next year (thanks Liz) so I am planning on becoming the next Paula Deen. Wait, does she use veggies or just butter? Anyway, you get the idea. So start praying for the miracle.
Those are pretty much my goals. Thanks again for being such wonderful friends.

Anniversary Weekend

Happy November 11th to all of you! John and I returned today from our wonderful Anniversary getaway. John made reservations for us to go up north and stay at a little place on the water. It was so wonderful to run away and forget that tomorrow I have Parent/Teacher Conferences.

Before I start the summary of our weekend, I need to preface it with John's birthday present. John decided this year that he wanted to make his own apple juice. After watching a show about a guy who was essentially and Alcohol Critic around the world, he decided that we needed to bottle our own and make a label and have a wine rack full of apple juice. The show was really fun to watch and the host was charming and funny, so that added to the charm. One of the episodes was about Champagne and he went to France and drank with a guy who was a bit of a stuffed shirt. Apparently it is not appropriate to in anyway chug champagne and somehow he had this guy doing that against his own better judgement. Okay, I'll stop because if you haven't seen the show, this anecdote is not entertaining.

So, for John's birthday I bought him some bottles, corks and a bottle corker as well as some labels. It came in the mail before we left and this was not a surprise gift.

One of our tasks in going north for the weekend was to come home with apples to go with his presents. More on this later.

Friday morning we went to our favorite breakfast place in town. It is one of those places where the manager knows us and always chats with us when we come in. So, she stopped by to chat and we told her it was our Anniversary. She was a sweetie and we had breakfast on the house. Apparently for Anniversaries and Birthdays they send out gift certificates. She said she was a little behind so we might get our card late with no gift certificate. Well, we returned home from the weekend to a card and another gift certificate for our birthdays. Happy Days are here again! So a good start to our weekend.

Later on we headed up to Door County, WI. It is up on the Pennisula near Lake Michigan. We checked into our little place right on the water. We woke up the next morning to realize that we had a beautiful view from our bedroom and the living room! There were also two balconies from our place and the sound of the water on the rocks and the ducks and geese was wonderful! It was so relaxing. The fireplace was going the whole weekend.

I got my first introduction to Bear Grylls. I got sucked right into the episode where he is walking through the Sahara and pees on his shirt and wraps it around his head to keep cool. I'm sure that when it is 130 degrees you consider doing some crazy stuff, but if I was ever really in that situation I think I would just get ready for heaven.

We also saw some fun things while out and about including a restaurant/gift shop with grass growing on the roof.

I also was really intrigued by this building.

Here's a close up of the sign.

Any ideas about what kind of thing is going on here? Is this a tax write off for someone? The garage has an address and a churchy name. It was right near a boat dock, thus the dock part. I'm just not sure I would sign up to go on that retreat unless of course the retreats all take place on their boats. I am going to look into this. Okay, I just did and this is what I've found. It's legit. I do have to say that I enjoy the agenda item 'God Surprise Me.'

Okay, back to our vacation. Saturday morning we had breakfast at this cute little Restaurant/Gift Shop. I don't think that they actually have restaurants up there that don't also double for a gift shop. This one was cute though. Guess what I had for breakfast?

That's right! Special Occasion French Toast. A few variations on Rachel's recipe, but very delicious anyway. They used apricot preserves and three kinds of cheese. Cream cheese, ricotta and Monterrey Jack. Hmmm...that's what I thought too. Instead of pecans, they rolled it in granola. It was yummy. I told the manager about Rachel's and how she only makes it for special occasions and he agreed that it was a lot of work. I did see it on another menu as well. Maybe it's a standard up here. I've never seen it offered before at a restaurant.

I will have to finish the rest of the weekend in another blog because I am falling asleep at the keyboard.

One of the Perks of Living in the Frozen Tundra

It is starting to winterize here and the battle for warmth has begun. So, I tell the story of my new favorite possession in the world.
As my birthday is approaching (November 17th, Address: 6861 Moon Light Circle, Sun Prairie, WI 53590), John has been on the hunt for the perfect birthday present. He doesn't take a list and I never quite know what I will get. He has never disappointed. This year my birthday came early and is going on the books with the best birthday present ever. If you have previously given me a birthday present, I apologize, but I think you will agree when you see.
John is the worst at keeping secrets when he is excited about something. He smiles and hints like a kid a Christmas. It is fun to watch especially considering how much I love getting presents. The more he gets excited, the more I know that I am in for a treat.
It has been getting cold here and almost everytime I comment on the chilly weather John will say 'Well, soon you won't be cold.' Hint #1: I am getting something warm for my birthday. (about 500 Hint #1s were dropped)
John has a habit of stealing all the covers which leaves me freezing at night. I actually spent one evening waking up every 2-3 hours for lack of covers. So, I sleep with my own covers now and he sleeps with his old down comforter. While complaining to him about his nightly cleptomania, he mentions that I will not be suffering much longer.
So Hint #2: I am getting something to keep me warm at night. He has efficiently divulged my birthday present as either a pair of jammies or a down comforter of my very own. He tries to be slick.
So, I got my birthday present early.
Here it is folks.
That's right! Adult Sized feetsy pajamas! Note the yellow duckies all over! Check out the little piggie ones too. My new daily routine goes something like this:
Wake up warm in my new jammers
Stay in bed for way too long fighting the fact that I have to get out of my pajamas
Finally get out of my pajamas and get ready for work
Go to work and wish I was home in my pajamas
Leave work and speed home
Put on my pajamas
Live Happily Ever After

The Joy of Halloween

I am feeling a little brave tonight, so I will share with you a picture of one of my students. I would never dream about this if he were not in costume, complete with a mask. I have wanted to share with you A Day in the Life for awhile, but you wouldn't get it unless I was able to share with you the stories of this little fella. We had the discussion before Halloween about their costumes. Of course most couldn't contain their excitement and had spilled the beans before this discussion. This little kiddo did not actually ever have to tell me what he was going to be. Everyday he plays the part so well. Here see him in costume:

Now, having seen these lovely and realistic poses, I need you to imagine the constant practicing that must occur in order for him to so perfectly imitate a Power Ranger. Know that this happens primarily between the hours of 8am and 3pm. We have a little routine down. He begins acting like his favorite super hero (do they qualify?) and I proceed to tell him that he is not a Power Ranger and in desperate moments that Power Rangers aren't real. I feel like in those moments that I have revealed secrets about Santa Claus. Only, he doesn't actually believe me on either count. Within two minutes he is back to his practicing. Our Guidance lady at school thought she would be helpful by reminding him that Power Rangers help people and that he needs to stop spanking other kids in the bathroom if he is to become a true P.R. I don't know if the encouragement was needed, but her attempts to connect were noble.

Quote of the Day

Okay, I am sitting here next to John and I leaned over to hug him. This is the insight he had to share.
"You really smell good." John
"That's cause I'm a girl." Me
"True, all girls smell good, even the ugly ones." John
"LOL" me

"Don't put that on your blog." John
"Okay" me

A Life-long Obsession is DEAD!!

I have always had a mysterious attraction to cookie cutters. Everywhere I went, I found a gift shop with random shaped cookie cutters. I had to buy them because for some odd reason I believed that I would use them. Well, I got rid of my collection a few years back when I realized that I was moving them from apartment to apartment and had never touched their little metal blades to any form of dough.
So, I should have been prepared with the temptation that struck me in JoAnn's not too long ago. I saw a bag of Halloween shaped cookie cutters and the rest is history. They came home with me and sat on my countertop for weeks as I prepared myself for tomorrow. This time I was determined to use them.
So, Friday night with John gone to Michigan for computer stuff, I set to work. I used my no-fail cookbook and whipped up a batch of cookie dough. Reading through ALL the directions has never been one of my strengths, so you can imagine I was a little annoyed when the directions said 'roll dough into balls and squash with a cup to flatten.' Hmmm..I had picked the wrong recipe. Apparently the one for cookie cutters is different and has to be stronger to withstand the rolling and cutting. So, I made my little ball sugar cookies and munched away.
Well, tomorrow is Halloween as you all know and as I teach little Munchkins I felt the need to do something festive. I usually don't get this urge, but since all the other teachers pulled it together and assigned a Room Mother to plan and carry out classroom parties, and I neglected all of the above, I needed to do something to show that I am worth my weight in flour at least. So, I found the correct recipe and started this evening.
Again, not having read the directions all the way through, I was not so happy to read the 'roll dough into balls and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.' So, either next time I am going to read all the directions before cooking or I am never going to cook again. I have not really decided how to go on this one yet.
Well, after waiting the appropriate time for the dough to chill, I began the process of rolling and cutting. At this point, and no sooner, I realize that I do not own a rolling pin. Nice. For some very obvious reason I did not register for one when I got married. I was wishing tonight that I had.
So I pulled out the largest plastic cup that I could find. I'm just going to say it. Making sugar cookies sucks!!! What is the point? They don't even have chocolate in them. What the heck! I wasn't thinking. I just thought about how fun it would be for the little kids to decorate these cookies tomorrow after we cut up our pumpkin and count seeds, etc.
After rolling out my first piece of dough and moving the cookies to the cookie tray, I couldn't even figure out the shape of the cookie anymore.
I have officially finished making my first and last ever batch of sugar cookies. I really don't love anyone enough to ever do this again, so don't ask.
Next time a Holiday approaches, remind me to get a Room Mother. There has to be at least 1 out of 17 moms that likes making sugar cookies. Ya think?
So, my cookie cutters are looking for a new home and I think the urge to buy cookie cutters is gone forever.

Tag I'm It!

So, who is the most popular girl ever? That's right, it's me. I have officially been tagged again by Bronwyn. There is a slightly different format, so here I go!
5 Things I was doing 10 years ago:
1) I wish I could remember. I think I was at Ricks. I'll pretend this was the year.
2) Meeting Bronwyn!!!
3) Crushing on boys
4) Listening to Chris LeDoux and feeling a little country.
5) Bon fires at the sand dunes

5 Things on my To-Do list:
1) Make sugar cookies
2) Finish topping the apple trees
3) Spend the weekend reading and crafting
4) Watch the episode of The Office that I missed last night while chaperoning a youth dance. Ugh!
5) Get brave and make visiting teaching appointments for Oct 30th! :)

5 Snacks I enjoy:
1) Brownies
2) Chocolate chip cookies (right out of the oven, all gooey and warm)
3) Rocky road ice cream
4) A glass of Egg Nog with some gingersnaps! Yum!
5) A bowl of Captain Crunch Berries

5 Snacks I should like:
1) Apples
2) Celery Sticks
3) Pretzels
4) Baby carrots
5) Guacamole- I have lost many friends over my hatred of all things Avocado. Don't worry the best ones stuck around.

5 Songs I know the lyrics to:
1) Karma Cameleon
2) Just Kiss Me- Harry Connick Jr. (I love you if you read my blog! What a dream!)
3) Happy Birthday
4) Can't Hurry Love
5) Love is a Battlefield Wo-o-o-o-o-oh!

5 Things I would do if I had a million dollars:
1) Quit my job
2) Create some sort of trust and live off the interest FOREVER. I don't know if $1 million is enough to do that with? How about 2 million? Okay, so with $2 million.
3)Buy a plane and have John get his pilot's license so he could chauffeur me all around the world. 1st to visit my friends whenever and 2nd to take you all on wonderful vacations
4)Go shopping- clothes, jewelry, slipper socks. You name it!
5) Pay Wendy's mom to come and decorate my house

5 Bad habits:
1) Leaving clean clothes in the hamper. I hate folding. The other day John was looking for some socks. He was frustrated that he couldn't find them in the normal spot of laundry basket and instead I had folded them and put them away! Sneaky girl. I'm always keeping him on his toes.
2) Not listening to voicemail on my home phone. #1 I assume it is a phone call for Adam Tevis, who used to have this number. If you are out there Adam, please call those people and give them your real digits!! For the love! or #2 I figure it is someone who wants me to do something and I don't actually want to talk to them because then I'll have to say yes or think of an excuse really quick. Don't get me wrong, I like being helpful sometimes, but just not when I'm in my jammies. Since I get in my jammies by 4pm, you better be quick.
3) I don't make my bed. Sad because we have a beautiful duvet cover and cute throw pillows that sit in the corner of the bedroom.
4) I don't exercise!
5) I don't floss! :( I once had a dentist tell me 'Only floss the ones you want to keep.' No nagging, just that one little statement. Thanks Dr. Allred, I still hear your voice in my head almost daily. That really should motivate me. Doesn't.

5 Things I will never wear again:
1) Plaid flannel shirts 5 sizes too big
2) Side ponytail. Although now I am kind of wishing I had long hair just so I could wear a side pony for the evening. I would make myself smile. John is away on business so no one would have to know. Except that I would probably take a picture and post it on the blog. Good thing I have short hair.
3) Lee Press On Nails! What a waste. Anyone ever have luck with those?
4) Jumpers that scream 'I'm a missionary and lost my waist!'
5) Ugly shoes. Life is too short!

*One thing I wish I could wear soon: A cute pair of striped toe socks. I'm in the market if you see any.

5 of my favorite toys:
1) My sewing machine
2) My computer. My current favorite thing to do is to make photo collages. Happy girl.
3) Water filled hula hoops. My goal as a little girl was to be able to hula hoop. I was a total failure, but never gave up hope. Then one day about 5 yrs ago, I discovered the world's most important invention. The Water Hula Hoop! I pulled it out of the box at Wal-Mart and started to Hula Hoop. As the hoop went around and around without dropping to my ankles, I actually cried. Yep. Lifetime dream accomplished.
4) Bop It
5) Dice and cards for all sorts of fun

Oh, I get it!

So, I didn't get what being tagged was about. I thought it was just her way of saying 'Update your blog, Woman!' No, really it was her way of saying 'I want to learn more about you than I learned in the time we were roommates.' I know, Rachel, You just can't get enough, you just can't get enough. Know that I am singing and dancing in my chair right now.
Okay, six things about me...

1) Unlike Rachel, I think there are many things cuter than Primary kids. I of course spend enough time with Sun Beam age kids all day, so when the weekend comes I try to avoid small children at all cost. So here it is. I dread the day that I will get called to serve in the Primary. I know the day will come, but it will be one of those 'I am saying yes because I don't say no, but not because I really wanna do this' moments.

2) I sing into a glitter microphone daily and dance on the carpet with my kids. I also shimmy in front of 5 yr olds and at church. Rachel taught me that there is no inappropriate time to shimmy. I hope that was the message.

3) I am someday going to win Best of Show for a quilt that I made. It is not a pipe dream folks. I'm gonna get talent one of these days.

4) I have spent an entire day sitting on the couch watching the Marathon America's Next Top Model. Then I spent the evening practicing faces and poses because I got brainwashed into thinking it was all reality. Well, I guess it is reality, just not MY reality. Remember me at my bridal pictures Rachel and Heather? The photographer told me to give him a sexy look. I am pretty sure that I looked anything but sexy.

5) I am in love with Paula Deen! Who doesn't love anything made with lots of butter and heavy cream? I drool during each episode. P.S. I don't really like to cook!

6) My idea of the world's best invention/product, aside from the shower and running toilets is the individual Nestle's Tollhouse Cookies!!! I hate making cookies because I just want a few and by the time I have made one batch, eaten half of the dough and burned the rest of the cookies, it is too long of an evening. Way to go Nestle's!

There you have it. Two posts in one day! I hope I get extra points for this.
Love you guys!

Barnacle!!

Sadly, my kids are not as funny as in previous years. Perhaps because they are native English speakers, they don't make so many of the comments that leave me howling. Today I did luckily have a moment that at least made me chuckle.
We were playing abc BINGO. One little table of kids seemed to not be having much luck. Either I gave them BINGO cards with numbers on them, or they just weren't that skilled at recognizing letters yet. So, after almost every letter that I called out, they would sigh and get a little frustrated that they didn't have it. After a few of those, my little Drama King started saying 'Barnacle' after every letter. So soon the whole table was excitedly calling out 'Barnacle.' I let them keep at it because it made me smile.
It was one of the few reasons I had to smile today. Too bad this next part happened today also or I would have two blog worthy items.
NEWSFLASH...I am not certified to teach kindergarten in Wisconsin!!! Aren't you all shocked? Yeah, me too!
So, here's the story. Yesterday, my principal met me in the hall and asked when I had prep time to chat with her. I went to her office during prep time but she wasn't there. So, I ran into her in the hall after telling a co-worker that she wanted to talk to me and thinking that my friend said 'I'm sure you'll be fired' as opposed to what she really said 'I'm sure you'll be fine.' So, I related this to my principal chuckling and she unfortunately wasn't chuckling back! YIKES! So, then she asked me 'Are you licensed to teach kindergarten?' Um...is this a trick question?
Come to find out, the state Department of Education has me listed on the computer as only having a license to teach 1-8. Well, as you can imagine I got a little confused and scared out of my mind. Well, I remembered that my license listed PK-8 and also a certification for 1-8, so I felt confident in applying for this position. AND I need to add that my school district hired me, so they must have been convinced.
So, as the state agency informed me that the first 'certification' of PK-8 was a joke and that it is just the general category that my license falls under and the second 'certification' of 1-8 is the specific category. Hmmm... well, there is no reason looking at the license that anyone would understand that. I didn't get it, my principal didn't get it, the district people didn't get it, but now they are trying to screw me over!! Nice.
So, this only came to their attention with me because they are apparently changing the name of the first 'certification' to just state Elementary. So, the licenses will read something like: You are licensed to teach Elementary grades 1-8. Won't that be so much nicer. I was talking to the semi-grumpy lady at the state and I asked her if this 'general' label had created many similar problems and this is why they were changing the name? She hesitatingly agreed.
So, I know you guys are dying to know what I am going to do now? Well, they are going to issue me an emergency license, and if they think I am paying the $100 fee that goes with that, they are insane. I am going to finish out this year with my kiddos and then either a)teach another grade at this school b)teach another grade at another school or c) become a full time domestic goddess! Okay, domestic goddess is never going to be possible, but maybe domestic priestess. I think you only have to do 1/2 as much housework for that title.

Crying Like a Weee Baby

I am sure I am one of the 13 million people who cried like a wee babe as I watched and listened to Elder Wirthlin speak at Conference. Not only was it a wonderful talk, but what an incredible moment of pure charity when Elder Nelson stood with him to steady and support him. I am so grateful for Conference! The very message he was sharing was of giving help and love in the small moments of life. Could it have been exemplified in any better way? Fantastic Conference! I feel like we should have a favorite Conference talk blog. Anyone?

I just can't help myself

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!What can I say? This is so much fun. I will stop at some point. Probably now, because what could be funnier than this?

I couldn't resist

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!Andrea, you are too cute!! Gotta love the shimmy!!

Good Ole' Fashion Fun

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!All I have to say is Hayden is a great dancer for such a little guy and Gina, have you heard of modesty? As I tell my kindergarteners, No one wants to see your chonies!

Yummy Pumpkin Stuff

Katie emailed me the recipe!!!! Here it is:

3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 large can pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
Mix all ingredients together. Spread in a greased 9 X 13 pan. Sprinkle 1 box of yellow cake mix over the pumpkin mixture. (I actually only use 2/3 of the cake mix, because I don't like the 'crust' too thick.) Pour 1 cup melted butter over the dry cake mix, making sure it covers the mix completely. Sprinkle with 1 cup chopped pecans. Bake at 325 for 40-45 minutes. Enjoy!

The Beauty of the Over-share

Well, I am sitting here wondering if I should type what I am about to type and I can't stop myself. This is a story about one of my students. I have this hidden fear that even though my last name does not appear anywhere on my blog and no real clear identifying features that would be google-able, that a parent will find this blog and be upset that I was sharing a story about their child. I will of course leave names off of my hilarious stories, but I really must share.
So today, it was rest time and one of my students asked to, and went to the restroom. Not two minutes after returning he wanted to go again. I asked him to come over to my desk. I said 'little boy, you just went to the bathroom 2 minutes ago, why do you need to go again?' He responded 'well, sometimes when I fart really hard, my underwear gets wet.' !!!!!!!!!!!
So, off he went to the restroom. Who am I to get in the way of that. I really had all I could do not to fall out of my chair. The funniest part was that he was so matter of fact about it. It was a good and funny day, so I am remembering again why I am a school teacher.

Two Good Days

Well, this is the second day in a row that I have come home from work and said 'Wow, that was a great day!' Aaaaaaahhhhh! It's a good feeling. We even had Open House last night and it went well. I have really nice parents so it is always fun to see them and I refrained from saying to them 'I love your child, but sometimes they drive me a little crazy.' I just said the first part. After I took my game face and high heels off, I came home to veg! Isn't cable a beautiful thing? I think my DVR has currently 137 America's Next Top Model episodes taped. I tried to select 'only record the new episodes' option, but I still have several everyday. Hmmm... No hablo DVR!
So, tonight we are headed off to the Corn Maze with the YM/YW. We have been adequately warned by the owners that the teenagers must be watched carefully as they have had several church groups that have been quite naughty! I'm already aware of which of our kids might fall into this category. Through my mind races the 'I'm not a teacher after 4pm' mantra, but then I realize that my stewardship over them consists of not allowing them to cut through and cheat in the corn maze. Yada yada yada. We want to be sure to get invited back next year- I think.
Well, I have a request. Rachel, I need you to post the yummy pumpkin stuff recipe on your blog. I think it is technically Katie's recipe, but she doesn't have a blog yet, so help a girl out.
I am pretty sure that we are having a workplace bake-off for the holidays and I have allowed my ultra-competetive, but not highly talented side come out. I WANT TO WIN!!! The only chance I have is if I steal that recipe and woo them with the heaven that is Yummy Pumpkin Stuff. Can't wait to show off my blue ribbon or Best In Show!

Pros and Cons of Having my Job

Pros:
1) um......
2) Good excuse to not iron for John in the morning
3) um.....
4) Good excuse for why the house isn't spic and span clean
5) um......
6) Money to pay back bills and student loans

As you can see, working is almost completely useless. Anyone else in agreement? I feel like I never should have answered Laura's "Do you love your job" poll, quite so confidently. I had not yet started my teaching job for this year. Can we repost the poll and I'll vote again?

Cons:
1) Temper tantrums (from kids, not me, although the next time one of the kids gets going, I think I am going to have one of my own)
2) I have no partner teacher in my classroom this year, preventing me from laughing hysterically when the kids are funny or when I am funny
3) I got yelled at by a 5 year old yesterday.
4) I make children cry at least 4 times a day by delivering such horrible news as 'It's time to stop coloring.' or 'please stop playing twister on the carpet' or 'could you put your scissors away and stop cutting your friend's hair'.
5) Taxes
6) Wisconsin teacher's salary
7) Not enough personal time to update my blog! Sadness.
8) Waking up in the morning
9) Some sort of nightime or after work meeting on an almost daily basis
10) The incredible pressure of improving test scores even when 98% of kids are meeting the academic goals of the school and district. Hmmmm....

I feel like since work has been so stressful and sad, I have been robbed of the ability to blog. Hopefully things will look up soon and I will be back to the world of happy blogging.
Hope you all are doing well.

Why I might look like a Battered Woman tomorrow

I am kind of thinking that by the time tomorrow morning rolls around, I am going to have a shiner and maybe some brusing on my nose! The culprit? My puppy. Now I still say puppy because he is only 8 months old and I think that qualifies, but really, he weighs almost 70 lbs. For the most part he is unaware that he is now huge and insists on being a lap dog. He usually walks up to the sofa and instead of just jumping up, like a dog his size would do, he puts his front paws up and slowly scoots his body forward. Then he pulls one leg up and tries to pull himself onto the couch. It is quite funny to watch.
Normally I am excited for him to just get the idea of jumping up. Tonight, he did. Well, he actually flew up. John was chasing him around with a small rubber duckie key chain flashlight that I couldn't pass up at Bed, Bath and Beyond. It quacks when you push the light button. So, John is turning the light on and off, the duck quacking all the while. Meanwhile, Max is flying around the living room and somehow lands on my face with his foot. Of course I was on the phone and ended up screaming at Bronwyn. Sorry 'bout that!
Then just moments ago, I was sitting here and Max came in with that pathetic 'I need a little attention' look. He is very good at this one. So, I have him jump up with his front paws and I gave him a lovely little scratch on his ears. How does he repay me for that kindness? He pulls his head back and bites my nose!!!
So, I am hoping that I am not bruised in the morning, and that if I am, my co-workers believe it was the work of an over-active pup and do not call the cops on John.

Do I always teach the cutest kids?

Okay, so after a week and a half of teaching my new group of kindergarteners, I can say that I really do have the cutest kids. Again? Yep, I know. I'm a lucky gal. So, I have this one little girl who has the longest eye lashes in the universe. You know how I love long eyelashes on kids. So, we were reading one of my new favorite books Mrs. Spitzer's Garden . I asked 'What is a garden?' My little eyelash girl raises her hand and says, oh so seriously 'A garden is where they have lots of flowers that need water and sun and love to grow.' Um, okay, how cute is she? And might I add, not too much water. I have too often turned my love for my plants, into a flooding nightmare. Regardless of what others would tell me, I never believed that plants didn't need to be watered everyday. Now, I have learned to neglect my plants and they thrive. Happiness is.

Speaking of happiness...it is now autumn here in Wisconsin. How much do I love this time of year? It is just about the best thing ever. So, to celebrate the new season I did a little shopping today and found the cutest little jacket. Wearing cute jackets and sweaters is probably on the Top 10 list of Why Autumn is the best season.

10) Early frost= frozen mosquitos. Here's to not having to wear bug spray everyday.

9) Thanksgiving and fall decorations are cuter than Christmas decorations.

8) Egg Nog is on it's way

7) Really cute socks

6) Candycorn

5) Lighting fires at night

4) Flannel sheets

3) Trips to the L.A. County Fair!!!!!!!

2) Hoodies/Cute jackets and sweaters

1) It isn't winter yet!

ClearPlay

I remember the day I was chatting with Rachel about the temptation that was Little Miss Sunshine. Rated R, but with such a killer cast. Steve Carrell is all I should have to say. Toni Collette too! Yeah, so I think we were both back and forthing by saying 'Well, if there was going to be a movie for which I would be willing to break the history of not watching R rated movies, this would be it, hoping that the other person would just buy the movie tickets already.
I don't know if any of you are familiar with a new beautiful invention called ClearPlay . It is a magical DVD player that edits a movie as you watch it! You download the filter from the internet and it edits as it plays the DVD. You would think it would be horrible, like most tv edited movies when they replace swear words with 'farglesnout' or something equally ridiculous that kind of messes with the enjoyability of the movie. It also edits out violence, etc. So, we purchased this lovely machine for about $50 and have happily been watching MANY of those 'I'd really love to see those, if only...' movies.
So, last night the missionaries came over and after they left, I was content with the idea of heading upstairs and recuperating from one REALLY long day. But, I decided to go downstairs and watch a movie. I picked The Pianist because I hadn't seen it (obviously) although I couldn't remember what it was about. I vaguely remembered that I had wanted to see it. So, I popped it in and settled in for a story about the Holocaust.
Rachel, remember a few years back when somehow I ended up reading three books in a row on that topic? I put a serious moratorium on anything similar and have stuck to it pretty well these last few years. Until, last night!
If you thought Million Dollar Baby was bad, don't watch this. I honestly don't know if I have ever cried so much in my life. Hard to imagine, I know! John can attest. It was bad! It really is like any other Holocaust movie that just makes me so sad that those feelings of fear and hatred could truly exist in the human soul!!!! So, after the movie was over, I openly sobbed for about an hour. I didn't go to bed until about 1:30 due to the despair. The moratorium is back on. So, I am going to proceed with a little more caution as I watch movies that are now available to me. I have got to get some sleep!

Have you seen this?

I have quite recently been out of touch with what is happening in the real world. I have spent so much time consumed with getting ready for school to start, that I have fallen behind on some news highlights. So, tonight I decided it was time to catch up.
I was grateful that I didn't wait any longer. I might have missed this.
All I can really say is WOW! I just watched Gridiron Gang not too long ago about The Rock creating a football team in juvie to create peace and unity. Who knew dancing would do the same.

Why I teach kindergarten and other stuff...

Well, it has been a bit since I last posted. My brain is mush by the time I get home. Between 5pm and 10pm, I have to make some polite conversation with my husband and try to sound awake and interesting. I don't know how I'm making out with that, I'll check with him and let you know.
I don't know how ABC recitation is so exhausting, but let me assure you that it is. Maybe it is the VERY involved reenactments of The Three Little Pigs and all my singing and dancing that is killing me. The kids all seem to be enjoying themselves and they are keeping me laughing and on my toes.
I have a fun little group this year. Yesterday, after I had told the story of The 3 Little Pigs, I wanted to check for comprehension and a little sequencing. This is sometimes hard for 5 year olds as they jump to the most interesting part instead of listening to the question. Case in point, yesterday. So I asked 'What happened at the beginning of the story? What was the first thing that happened?" A little kid answered 'The wolf blew the house down." I prompted them again, "That did happen, but not at the beginning. What was the first thing that happened?" In all seriousness, one of my kids got a really excited look on his face and said "I know, I know." So, I called on him. His response: "FIRST, the sun came up and THEN the wolf blew the house down." He was very satisfied with himself. Since then, I have realized that if he is telling anything that happened, it is very logical for him to begin by announcing that the sun came up. It seems similar in frequency to "It came to pass..." in the scriptures. "The sun came up and... I went to school." "The sun came up and we went to the park." "The sun came up and ...You fill in the blank."
Thursdays are our early release day for staff development and team planning. I had two meetings to attend today, but didn't make either of them. I'm not too broken up about that, but I certainly stayed busy. One of my kids who gets picked up every day, kept telling me that he was supposed to go on the bus. I've learned to never trust 5yr olds for this sort of information because more often than not 'My mom wants me to go home on the bus,' almost always means 'Man, I see my friends riding the bus, so I think I wanna try.' Well, unfortunately this kid actually meant that he was supposed to be on the bus and by the time I reached his mom, the bus had left.
Then another one of my students was lost and the police got involved and it only ended with me sobbing in the office imagining my little new student wandering a neighborhood scared and alone. Even after she was located, I had staff members checking in on me the rest of the afternoon to make sure that I was emotionally stable. I hadn't been introduced to many of them yet, but I think that was an appropriate way to get to know me. Comfort me while I'm crying!
I wish that I could upload pictures of my cuties or little video clips of them. They are hilarious. I had a kid who was practically playing Twister on the carpet today. The only problem is that the carpet was full of other children who were not as willing to put their right hand on the green spot, etc. I got on the carpet and imitated the Twister display and the kids couldn't stop laughing. I think they missed the point. I can imagine what they are telling their parents tonight. :) Gotta love kindergarten.
Another highlight: I made 3 children cry because I didn't give them stickers. It was kind of weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth crying. Hmm...I don't think I like stickers anymore.
Well, folks that is a little update on my life.
Oh, and I was in Wal-Mart the other day and heard over the speakers "Step By Step" by New Kids on the Block. Beautiful moment. I thought immediately of all the people I should call, but then I realized that almost every building in this town is a cell phone death zone. So, I just walked around Wal-Mart with a goofy grin on my face.
Hope you guys are doing well. I am now up 40 minutes past my new bed time, so, I'm off.

Boy, Oh, Boy!!

Well, tonight I met me new group of students and I just have to say that I am going to have a fun year! I wish that I could include on here pictures of them, but alas, I can't. Just know that I again have adorable kids. I have one little boy who is just a riot. He is going to be so much fun. He is so verbal and excited about school and was so ready to go. Then there was an equally excited little girl. AND THEN, there was the little boy with his grandma that didn't want to leave. He actually left with his head hung down. Cute, huh? And I have a little girl with the cutest eyelashes ever! You know I am a sucker for long eyelashes. I had three kids that didn't come, but I guess I'll meet them on Tuesday. Fun times!

Mike

Okay, I need to do a post about this picture! I didn't know that Mike Cook played the guitar. My mom came to visit in May and we went to the Farmer's Market at the Capitol and I about fell over. Check this guy out. You know everyone has their twin. This guy was Mike. I don't think he is nearly as fun or interesting, but it made me a little CA homesick!

My Neglect

Okay friends. I am feeling bad for neglecting my lovely little blog. And super sad that I have left that particular picture of Gina up for this long. As we all know there are many more lovely pictures of Gina out there. So, sorry Gina!

1st item of business: Koodos go to Rachel for the institution of the blog letter. It seems that there is a craze for the letter writing. Should I join in? Yes? OK

Dear Stupidest Teacher on the Planet Who Didn't Really Want to Live Past Today,

Remember this afternoon, when I was leaving the staff room after turning on the laminator to warm up? I saw you and informed you that I had done so and that there was VERY little lamination film left. Remember that pile in your hand and my mentioning that I was going back to my room to get my stuff that I needed to laminate? Do you remember any of this? I really need to assume that you honestly don't remember any of these things because as I was sitting in my room moments later (getting my papers together) you walked past my room on the way to yours with your arms full of your laminated work. Hmmm... did I not mention the note that was attached to the laminator saying 'Don't be greedy and jump ahead of someone in the laminating line when there is almost no film left.'? Okay, so the note didn't say that, but as a fellow teacher, you know the lamination etiquette. It is one of the top teacher laws around. Next to 'Don't eat my food out of the fridge.'

Did you also forget that unlike you, I would not be back at the school again before parents and kids arrive on Thursday night? Do you remember me mentioning that to you, explaining that it was important that I get mine done today instead of waiting for the new film to be loaded tomorrow?

Well, lucky for you, I have been reading my scriptures lately and really focusing on being a nice person. Not so nice that I won't blog about this incident, but nice enough that I didn't take down one or two of your student's names from your door, making you feel silly and forgetful on Thursday night. See how well this nice thing is working for me? Maybe you should give it a try.

Your friend,

The other teacher

Item of business #2: I HATE MOSQUITOS!!!!!

Since our flooding we have been overwhelmed with mosquitos. Last night John and I were out in the garage working on something and I sprayed thouroughly with OFF! I think it contains 800% DEET, so it should work right? Wrong! A mosquito crawled in my shoe!!!!!....and bit my heel!!!!!!!! HELLO? Isn't that a lot of work for a little bug just to ruin my life? Does anyone know how annoying it is to have a never ending itch on your heel? And that one is to match my other 37 mosquito bites that I already have! I HATE MOSQUITOS!!!!

Item of business #3: If you have not heard about Landon's amazing progress, you need to stop right now before leaving a witty comment and immediately go to Sara's blog and read about Landon coming off the ventilator! Miracle of miracles.

Item of business #4: I love you guys and miss you terribly!

Thursday Night

Okay, John and I cancelled our cable during one of these post season moments when I realized I never really watched tv. Mostly because our basement is freezing. On really hot days it is heaven, but most days it is not really freezing, so I don't make my way down to the basement where resides the only tv in the house. So, we canceled the cable. Now that The Office is going to start back up, I am having a serious desire to reinstate the cable box. Plus, I miss Paula Deen! Well, the other day I picked up some magazine and saw something almost too good to be true. There is a new show...of course on Thursday nights...with, get ready.....Michael Vartan AND Dylan McDermott! HELLO!!! I was pretty excited and almost ready to give up The Office if the time conflicted. Not really, but almost! Then I went to ABC.com and checked out a trailer for it. I am so sad. It seems to be a show about obviously hot men who are tramps! Sad, huh? Extra-marital affairs seems to be the main feature. I think we should all write letters! Waste of talent and eye candy!

Sadness

Oh, where, oh where is my little book 'The Giver'? Oh, where, oh where could it be? I have been getting so over-anxious about school starting and it is taking it's toll on me. So the other day, I decided that since it has been raining almost non-stop, I should just get a good book, curl up on the couch and read while listening to the rain and forgetting about school. So, I went to my bookcase and searched and searched for The Giver. I think it is probably my favorite book. And, guess what? It is nowhere to be found.

So, I gave up the search and went to nap. It was a good alternative, but today I have determined to just relax and try to forget about school. I didn't bring home any little projects to work on and every time John catches me on a teacher website he is now kicking me off. So, I am needing to start a book. I am feeling like a re-read, so I need some help deciding.

Choice #1: To Kill a Mockingbird

Choice #2 Ender's Game

Choice #3 My Side of the Mountain

Choice #4 Bras & Broomsticks

Now you have probably already heard of the first three, but may need a little help with the fourth one. So here's a little link. Bras and Broomsticks

Another moment from my perfect day

Well, I have already blogged today about my peeing pup. I was so hopeful that that would be the low point of my day and considering that it was SO bad, it would be hard to imagine that the day wouldn't turn better at that point. Wishful thinking.
After my Visiting Teachers came over, my new Relief Society President stopped by with her daughter. Her daughter is applying to be part of a gifted and talented class at school and she had to write an essay. She approached me last week and asked if I would help her with it. I said yes, because we habitually do that at church even without realizing what we are thinking.
Let me mention that I don't actually like writing. So, helping her was a bit out of my comfort zone to begin with. Why would she ask me for help? Well, because I am a teacher so I should feel good about that. Hmm...should. So she brought the essay to church yesterday and I told her I would take it home and review it and then she could come over today and I would give her my suggestions. Sound good? Yeah, it was. The essay she wrote was good and I only had a couple of ideas for her. So she and her mom are sitting on the couch across from me as I have my legs crossed in front of me. We are chatting about quilts and other things when to my complete embarassment I realize that my second pair of pants of the day are my slippery zipper pants. That is right.
You know how you go and buy a lovely pair of pants that are new and beautiful and perfect in every way except that for some unknown reason the zipper just falls down all the time? You know those pants. We have all had a pair. If you haven't, I don't want to be friends anymore.
Now, of course you realize that the really bad part isn't necessarily that the zipper is down, but it is the wondering how long your pride has been wounded without even knowing it. I'm just wondering if the lovely pefectly white haired Visiting Teacher was embarassed for me earlier in the morning and didn't have the heart to say anything because I had already shared my embarassment of being peed on?

The Amanda Conspiracy

When I was living at the McMillan's house, I realized what was named by Dave, 'The Amanda Conspiracy." This consisted of a pitcher with water and ice. It doesn't sound so intriguing or dangerous, but for some unexplainable reason, these elements combined to create a very upsetting phenomenon. EVERY time that I would pour a glass of water, the ice that had been trapped in the pitcher behind that little spout, would somehow break lose at the very moment that my glass was just about full. This would create a sudden and rushing waterfall into an already full glass. Water would go everywhere and I would then be searching for a change of clothes. As cautious as I got, I could not avoid it. This went on for years until now, I refuse to use pitchers like that, or ice goes in the glass first!
Well, I have rid myself of that conspiracy, but I feel that Max is working on a new one to keep me alert and on my toes. I know that I have previously mentioned that my dog is wonderful and I adore him, etc. These loving feelings frequently flee as I am faced with a VERY naughty puppy.
The other night I came home with just enough time to fix dinner before the Sister Missionaries were to arrive at 6pm. So, I open the door, with arms full of groceries only to smell the most unmistakable odor in the universe! DOG POOP! Yep, you guessed it, Max had once again pooped in his kennel. He has been housetrained for a long time now, but as you all know, he has been a little 'runny' lately. Sorry about that, but that kind of poop is so much more difficult and disgusting to clean up than just regular ole' poop. So, I am racing around the house, kicking the dog (just kidding, even though I wanted to), trying to clean and get dinner on!
Now, come with me to my lovely bathroom where I am this morning washing my hands as I prepare to go down and meet my Visiting Teachers who are coming over for a little chat. Max was upstairs and wandering in and out of the bedroom. I didn't realize he was standing by my side until.....I felt something on my pant leg. I looked down and to my HORROR I see my dog lifting his leg and PEEING on MY LEG!!!!!
I don't even know what to say here, because I know that you are all just laughing in your seats at this very moment. So, I'll give you a second to compose yourselves and gain a little compassion and empathy. ....... another second?.......Okay. Back with me now? Yes, that is right, my dog that I love very much and feed daily, pet and take out, buy cute toys for at Petsmart, PEED ON MY LEG! 5 seconds after changing my pants, my brand new VTers come to the door with smiles, wanting to know how I am doing!!
So, I am realizing that I no longer can have visitors from church over at the house. Somehow Max senses that they are coming and decides to ruin my life. Is there really any other way to view this?
John thinks that because I am nice to him that he is marking his territory. Maybe I shouldn't be so nice. He also said that the internet article he read said that when that happens you shouldn't get mad because it is hardwired into their brains to mark! I am going to hardwire him in a very different way if he continues to pee on me! And how exactly are you supposed to not get mad? It was also suggested to me that perhaps, since he has never peed by lifting his leg before (he always just squats) that he was trying to do one of those 'Look Mom what I can do now' things.
Either way, he is not on the list of my favorite things today!
Anyone looking for a new dog?

Highlights

I keep sitting down to write this blog and update about my trip and for some reason it feels like writing in my journal after a lot has happened. Then I realized that you don't want all the details. Just the blog worthy highlights. So, here they are:

Saturday was our D.C. day.
The Korean War Memorial is probably my favorite thing in D.C. The Vietname Memorial is astounding in the number of men and women who lost their lives, but the Korean War Memoril is so personal. You are looking into the faces of those young people who gave up their future dreams to represent their country. I have such a deep feeling that regardless of how we personally feel about whatever conflict we are involved in, theirs is such a tremendous sacrifice. Time away from friends and family and all things familiar and always with the knowledge that they may give their lives to represent their country!

Sunday we drove down to Jamestown. We actually attended church there, (at the Jamestown Settlement) :) and a man from Texas and myself took turns addressing the humble congregation of about 7. I spoke about prayer!

So, this picture is not of me at the pulpit, although I do have one for those interested parties. This is on the ferry on the way over to Jamestown. We asked a woman to take a picture of us. I don't think she'd ever used a camera before!
She looked so awkward holding the camera all crooked. Funniest thing.

I was making a little cornmeal for some delicious biscuits that I cooked up on the hearth. Well, not really, but look how cute I am! Makes up for the fact that I didn't make a treat, huh?
Jamestown was super fun and I learned something about John. He likes to meander through museums. He reads the stuff and checks out all the displays. It was wonderful and relaxing. The only problem of the day was when we went to the two vending machines that sold water, they were both out! Isn't it nice to know that in the original Jamestown, clean water was so readily accessible?

Okay, this little fella was a cutie. I am normally not a huge racoon fan. We had a few especially brave ones during our recent camping trip that I know were conspiring to nibble on my toes. But, this guy was very none threathening. He was just looking for left overs. I think he found a muffin and was happy. What shall we name him? When I was little, the mascot of our Girl Scout camp was a racoon. Ricky Racoon, I think. But then again you know my memory, so I might just be making that up.

Well, this is of course my second favorite picture of the trip. You'll see why it isn't my favorite picture in just a minute!! John and I were driving along and we saw that and about died. I just love it. Jammin for Jesus! We flew past it and John said, 'Do you want me to turn around so you can get a picture of that?' See why he is the perfect man? He knew that picture was too good
to pass up!

This picture is titled 'Livin' the Dream.' Why, you ask? It looks like a normal picture of you taking a hike. Well, yes that is true, but the where is very important here. I am hiking on the Appalachian Trail!!! That's right fulfilling a lifelong dream. Actually, the dream is the camp and hike the whole trail, but that is not in the current plans, so this was certainly a great 'tide me over until that day' moment. We didn't hike for very long, but it was wonderful. The Blue Ridge Mountains are really spectacular. We couldn't have asked for a better day.


Well, here is is ladies and gentlemen!!! The best picture of the trip!!! I mean seriously. And just one more 'I really married the right man' moment. John saw this guy walking up behind us and he said 'hey Amanda, I need to get a picture of you.' I have edited myself out of the picture to make it more dramatic, but it was a classic fake a photo moment! Well done John. I think it is hilarious that some of my favorite moments of our D.C. trip have nothing to do with D.C. I just love it that men like this exist even though I didn't know that men that old wore boxers. I just wanted to share the love with you guys!

The Joyous Hotel

So, we got our airfare, hotel and rental car as a combo offere which really was a great price. So, having looked up the hotel on-line, I thought we would be in a great hotel. Look at the lobby. Doesn't it look nice? Well it was suspiscious to me that there was only one other picture of the hotel. So, thinking nothing of it, off we went. We got our car and drove to the hotel. We pulled up and went inside to find the lobby a little warmer than expected, but still cool. It had been unfortunately hot in D.C. the week before and cooled down just for our visit. So, we checked in and started to make our way to the room. Let me mention before you view these next pictures that the hotel did provide little 'Please excuse us while we make our hotel more comfortable for you' signs. So as we headed up the elevator and down our hallway, I was a little surprised by the very old carpet, etc. This is one of those hotels that has a prime location (Dupont Circle) and beautiful old esthetics, so they can pretend that they are a luxury hotel, while not providing basic things like functioning air conditioning!! That's right, when we entered our room, it was sooo muggy! We went to turn on the AC and realized that it was on! So we called the front room and they brought us a box fan. It did make all the difference in the world. I do have to say that our room was very beautiful and the hotel was in a great location, but when you stay in an old building you are bound to get surprises. I guess? Here are a couple pictures.

Okay, I'm pretty sure that most old towns/cities honor heroic men by giving them statues in the center of town and it seems that in D.C. they must always be on a horse. This statue was right outside our hotel window and I didn't even take the time to check who it was honoring. Partly because there are about 807 similar statues in the city. That may not be an accurate number, but if anything it is a little higher than that. I saw them everywhere. I hope someone takes the time to read the inscription because it seems to me that if you are going to get a statue like this, especially in Washington D.C., you probably did some great stuff. If anyone ever wants to make a statue of me, make sure that I am riding in a convertible or something. Horses are too much work.

Since our hotel was undergoing some construction,

this was a daily sight in our lobby. Yep. That is a table saw. I obviously was being super sneaky while taking this picture.

So, here is the little side hallway that apparently doubled as a storage room. During the weekend there was a mattress and box spring in the hall. Hm.... That door near the room service tray was luckily not someone's room. Yikes is really all there is to say. It became kind of like a game. "I wonder what is going to be in the hall today!" And, check out the carpet!

So, word to the wise, Stay somewhere else.

I Ran Away!!

I haven't blogged in a few days and since I am newly addicted to the blog it is surprising. However, I have a very good excuse. John and I were expecting a visit from his brother and family last Friday. Well, unfortunately they have been having some family sickness that took it's toll on Angie (sister-in-law) who happens to be pregnant with her 7th child. They were planning on road tripping from Idaho to our home which in ideal circumstances can be trying. So, they decided to postpone their trip. We were sad that they didn't come and visit us! Since John already had the time off of work, he decided to vacation anyway. So, he called me from work on Thursday and said 'You need to start packing. We are going away this weekend." A very good reason to always have the laundry done. So incase you need to leave on a last minute vacation you are prepared. Knowing that this is possible with John, I will make sure I am more on top of my domestic responsiblities. So, I scrambled to convince some good friends that they wanted to come over twice a day to take our dog out and give him medicine that he was on. Luckily, they said yes and we were off. Friday morning we got on our plane for Washington D.C.!!

Liz? Who knew?

Well, I was unaware that Liz Long has a webpage. I did a google search for your name and lookie lookie. http://www.geocities.com/wellesley/7187/ Turn up your speakers ladies.
It's just good to know that you are out there preaching the word! Hallelujah!